Day 218: Summary of Holy Orders

The sacrament of Holy Orders is conferred by the laying on of hands followed by a solemn prayer of consecration asking God to grant the ordinand the graces of the Holy Spirit required for his ministry. Ordination imprints an indelible sacramental character. CCC 1597

Today's reading from the Catechism consists of an "In Brief" on what has already been covered on Holy Orders. As I have nothing further to add, I will keep today's posting likewise brief.

The Catechism Compendium summarizes the authority that the priestly ministry exercises:

Ordained priests in the exercise of their sacred ministry speak and act not on their own authority, nor even by mandate or delegation of the community, but rather in the Person of Christ the Head and in the name of the Church. Therefore, the ministerial priesthood differs essentially and not just in degree from the priesthood common to all the faithful for whose service Christ instituted it. (#336)

I also like this commentary from the Catechism Companion, Vol II: 

God can communicate directly to the people themselves, but he has called certain people to act uniquely as his ambassadors, offering sacrifice to the Lord on behalf of the people and bringing back to them God's grace. God calls ordinary men to be priests, just as he calls ordinary men and women to marriage. They have ordinary hearts that are incapable of loving perfectly, but broken people can be representatives of God. Every one of us is called to a vocation so that we might serve. In pouring our lives out, we have the opportunity to become more and more like Jesus. (p. 200)

Finally, Dr. John Bergsma has an interesting video that while not specifically on the Sacrament of Holy Orders, is related to the Catholic priesthood. I really enjoyed his excellent book Jesus and the Dead Sea Scrolls so this was particularly good to watch for me.