Sacrament of Holy Orders
Tonsure
Minor Orders
Porter
Reader
Exorcist
Acolyte
Major Orders
Litany of the Saints
The Major Orders
The SubdiaconateThe Diaconate
The Priesthood
| according to the Traditional Catholic Rite of Holy Orders |  |
by A. Biskupek, S.V.D
Mission Press, 1954
Imprimi Potest
May 4, 1942 Charles Michel, S.V.D. Provincial
Imprimatur
May 4, 1942 + Samuel A. Stritch, D.D.
Archbishop of Chicago
There are three Major Orders:
They are called major or sacred because of their dignity,
powers, and obligations. Of these orders two are sacramental, namely, the
diaconate and the priesthood: only these two orders imprint upon the soul
the indelible mark of the priesthood, that is, a special similarity with
Christ, the divine High Priest. We do not mention the consecration of a
bishop as a special order, because the episcopal order is that of the priesthood
in its highest perfection. In the bishop are vested the full powers of
the priesthood; but not all these powers are conferred upon the ordinary
priest, who is therefore a priest of lower rank.
Major orders must be conferred during Mass, and, as a rule, on the Ember Saturdays, the Saturday before Passion Sunday, and Holy Saturday. For a grave reason, however, the bishop may also confer them on any Sunday or feast of obligation.
The rite of conferring major orders is more solemn that that of minor orders. The features of the preceding ordinations remain:
- the call,
- the instruction,
- the bestowal of the office, and
- prayer.
