The sacrament of “Holy Orders is the sacrament through which the mission entrusted by Christ to his apostles continues to be exercised in the Church until the end of time: thus, it is the sacrament of apostolic ministry” (CCC, 1536). Through the sacrament of the Holy Orders, the bishops and priests align their souls to Jesus Christ, the head and shepherd of the Church.

Old Testament Foundations – Melchizedek

Melchizedek, the king of Salem is first mentioned in Genesis Chapter 14. Abraham after rescuing Lot, is visited by Melchizedek. In book of Genesis, Melchizedek is described as the Priest of the Most High (Genesis 14:18); in the Letter to Hebrews, He is described as without father, mother, or ancestry, without beginning of days or end of life, thus made to resemble the Son of God (Hebrews 7:3). Thus Melchizedek foreshadows Jesus Christ, who is the King of righteousness and Priest of the Most High, the Son of God. Further the actions of the priest Melchizedek, who offered bread and wine during his meeting with Abraham, prefigures the sacrament of the Eucharist.

Old Testament Foundations – Aaron & the Levites

During Israel’s exodus from Egypt, God specifically chose Aaron and the Levites for priestly service and to preside over the affairs of the temple including offering the sacrifices for the atonement of sins.

“Now the LORD said to Moses:

Summon the tribe of Levi and station them before Aaron the priest to serve him. They shall discharge his obligations and those of the whole community before the tent of meeting by maintaining the tabernacle. They shall have responsibility for all the furnishings of the tent of meeting and discharge the obligations of the Israelites by maintaining the tabernacle. You shall assign the Levites to Aaron and his sons; they have been assigned unconditionally to him from among the Israelites. But you will appoint only Aaron and his descendants to exercise the priesthood.” (Numbers 3:5-10)

Holy Orders Instituted by Christ

Jesus Christ instituted the sacrament of the Holy Orders during the Last Supper. After Jesus broke the bread and gave it to His disciples, he instructed the disciples to do this in remembrance of Him. Thus he appointed the disciples to continue the Eucharistic ministry.

Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” (Luke 22:19)

Jesus commissions disciples to proclaim the good news

When Jesus met the disciples after His Resurrection, he commissions them to proclaim the good news to all ends of the earth.

Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” (John 20:21-22)

Jesus instructs Peter to tend His sheep

The resurrected Jesus also instructs Peter to tend and feed His sheep, and thus to imitate Christ and be a good shepherd of His church.

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” A second time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.” (John 21:15-16)

Jesus asks the apostles to baptize the nations

Before Jesus ascended into heaven, he further commissions the apostles to make disciples of nations and baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.” (Mathew 28:18-20)

The most important ministry of the priest is to offer the Holy Mass and to preach the gospel. The priests act in persona Christi which is Latin for “in the person of Christ” for the church today. Ordination to priesthood is a beautiful gift from God. Let us remember our beloved bishops, priests and deacons in our prayers.