Day 210: The Sacrament of Holy Orders

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. It includes three degrees: episcopate, presbyterate, and diaconate. CCC 1536

In today's reading, the Catechism discusses the next sacrament, Holy Orders. This sacrament, like Matrimony, is "directed towards the salvation of others; if they contribute as well to personal salvation, it is through service to others that they do so" (CCC 1534). 

The Catechism Compendium gives a summary of why this Sacrament is called Holy Orders:

Orders designates an ecclesial body into which one enters by means of a special consecration (ordination). Through a special gift of the Holy Spirit, this sacrament enables the ordained to exercise a sacred power in the name and with the authority of Christ for the service of the People of God. (#323)

It is through Holy Orders that the mission given by Christ to the Church is carried out (Matt 28:18-20), most especially in the Mass and the Sacraments. 

Priests lay their hands on the ordinands during a Catholic rite of ordination.