Lesson 9 - The Pope, Bishops, Priests, and Deacons

(Lesson 9)

The Pope, Bishops, Priests, and Deacons

“On this rock I will build my Church” Matt 16:18

Discussion Guide:

The word hierarchy is often used in the Church to denote the three grades of ordination: bishop, priest, and deacon. The hierarchy is of Divine institution and can trace its roots back to New Testament times. These three grades of ordination correspond to the three grades of the Sacrament of Holy Orders. The bishops are the successors of the apostles. They possess the fullness of the priesthood to rule a diocese as its chief pastor, in due submission to the primacy of the pope. The pope is the Bishop of Rome. He is the successor of the apostle Peter and is the chief pastor of the Catholic Church. A priest is the minister of Divine worship. By his priestly ordination he receives the power to offer sacrifice (to celebrate the Eucharist), to forgive sins, to bless, to preach, and to sanctify. In the exercise of these functions, he is subject to the authority of the bishop to whom he has promised canonical obedience. The name deacon means minister or servant. They are at a lower level of the hierarchy. They receive the imposition of hands not unto the priesthood, but unto the ministry.

The priesthood is a calling from God. We must always pray for our priests because they are the shepherds of the flock. We should give the priest respect even if we do not always agree with him. We should never be afraid to approach our priests with questions, recommendations, or even complaints. We should love them and think of them as members of our own family.

Discussion Points:

· The hierarchy of the Church refers to its organized structure

· It would be impossible to have unity without a structured system

· The pope is the successor of St. Peter

· Papal infallibility pertains to teachings on faith and morality

· The cardinals elect the new pope while guided by the Holy Spirit

· There are three degrees of ordination

· Know the name of your Bishop, all the priests in your parish, and any deacons

· The Church only ordains men because that is how Jesus established the sacrament of Holy Orders

· Protestant churches do not have valid ordinations

Excerpts from: ORDINATIO SACERDOTALIS

Apostolic letter of John Paul II (On reserving Priestly ordination to men alone)

1. Priestly ordination, which hands on the office entrusted by Christ to his Apostles of teaching, sanctifying and governing the faithful, has in the Catholic Church from the beginning always been reserved to men alone. This tradition has also been faithfully maintained by the Oriental Churches.
…the position of the Catholic Church: "She holds that it is not admissible to ordain women to the priesthood, for very fundamental reasons. These reasons include: the example recorded in the Sacred Scriptures of Christ choosing his Apostles only from among men; the constant practice of the Church, which has imitated Christ in choosing only men; and her living teaching authority which has consistently held that the exclusion of women from the priesthood is in accordance with God's plan for his Church."

In the Apostolic Letter Mulieris Dignitatem, I myself wrote in this regard: "In calling only men as his Apostles, Christ acted in a completely free and sovereign manner. In doing so, he exercised the same freedom with which, in all his behavior, he emphasized the dignity and the vocation of women, without conforming to the prevailing customs and to the traditions sanctioned by the legislation of the time."

3. Furthermore, the fact that the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God and Mother of the Church, received neither the mission proper to the Apostles nor the ministerial priesthood clearly shows that the non-admission of women to priestly ordination cannot mean that women are of lesser dignity, nor can it be construed as discrimination against them. Rather, it is to be seen as the faithful observance of a plan to be ascribed to the wisdom of the Lord of the universe.
The presence and the role of women in the life and mission of the Church, although not linked to the ministerial priesthood, remain absolutely necessary and irreplaceable.

The New Testament and the whole history of the Church give ample evidence of the presence in the Church of women, true disciples, witnesses to Christ in the family and in society, as well as in total consecration to the service of God and of the Gospel. "By defending the dignity of women and their vocation, the Church has shown honor and gratitude for those women who-faithful to the Gospel-have shared in every age in the apostolic mission of the whole People of God.

4. Although the teaching that priestly ordination is to be reserved to men alone has been preserved by the constant and universal Tradition of the Church and firmly taught by the Magisterium in its more recent documents, at the present time in some places it is nonetheless considered still open to debate, or the Church's judgment that women are not to be admitted to ordination is considered to have a merely disciplinary force.

Wherefore, in order that all doubt may be removed regarding a matter of great importance, a matter which pertains to the Church's divine constitution itself, in virtue of my ministry of confirming the brethren (cf. Lk 22:32) I declare that the Church has no authority whatsoever to confer priestly ordination on women and that this judgment is to be definitively held by all the Church's faithful.

The Pope, Bishops, Priests, and Deacons

“On this rock I will build my Church” Matt 16:18

Opening Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we pray for the pope, the bishops, all of the priests, and all of the deacons throughout the world. May You always lift them up and encourage them to be faithful witnesses to the Gospel. May they always be ministers of the love of Your Son Jesus Christ through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Theme:

To understand the different degrees of ordination. To have some information regarding the Papacy. To understand the function of each level of ordained minister. To explain the institution of the priesthood by Jesus Christ and the teaching of the Catholic Church on this subject.

Bible Readings:

Matt 16:18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

1 Timothy 3:1 The saying is sure: If any one aspires to the office of bishop, he desires a noble task.

1 Timothy 3:8-9 Deacons likewise must be serious, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for gain; they must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.

Explanation of the Bible readings: Matthew Chapter 16 recalls how Jesus instituted a special grace of leadership upon the apostle Peter. In the language of the time, binding and loosing were clearly references to having authority. Since the earliest times, the Church has always asserted this as a proof text for the primacy of the Bishop of Rome. All successors of St. Peter are given a special charism of infallibility by the Holy Spirit when officially teaching matters of faith and morals. (See Catechism references below) The readings from the book of 1 Timothy show us that there was an organized hierarchy in the Church from the earliest times. There have always been different ministries and different gifts of the Spirit spread throughout the Church. The laying on of hands is often referenced in Sacred Scripture and corresponds to the sacrament of Holy Orders. (Acts 6:6, Acts 13:3, 1Tim 1:6)

Teaching:

Why are only men priests? This is a common question that deserves a competent explanation. Some people believe that it is because of a male dominated Church that is prejudiced against women. Nothing could be further from the truth. The Church teaches that the male priesthood if of Divine origin. Our Lord Jesus Christ instituted the sacrament of Holy Orders once and for all on Holy Thursday. The sacrament is received by men only because this is the way that the sacrament was established by Jesus Christ. This teaching can never change. It is a doctrine of our faith that no one has the authority to change in any way - not even the pope! (See Pope John Paul II’s letter Ordinatio Sacerdotalis) Some people unnecessarily inflict division and dissention among the faithful when they challenge this teaching. They are doing a great disservice to the unity of the Catholic Church.

See the Catechism reference below:

"Only a baptized man validly receives sacred ordination." The Lord Jesus chose men to form the college of the twelve apostles, and the apostles did the same when they chose collaborators to succeed them in their ministry. The college of bishops, with whom the priests are united in the priesthood, makes the college of the twelve an ever-present and ever-active reality until Christ's return. The Church recognizes herself to be bound by this choice made by the Lord himself. For this reason the ordination of women is not possible. CCC 1577

The pope is the Bishop of Rome. He is the successor of the apostle Peter and is the chief pastor of the Catholic Church. The College of Cardinals elects the pope. The pope handpicks certain bishops to become cardinals and they in turn elect the new pope in the event of the Pope’s death.

Papal Infallibility: Infallibility refers to papal teaching concerning matters of faith and morals, and then only when the Holy Father speaks with the full authority he has as the chief shepherd of the flock of Christ. It has nothing to do with the personal moral life of the pope. A pope, no matter what his morals might be, would enjoy this prerogative; infallibility has nothing to do with impeccability, or inability to sin. The pope is still a human being, and since even the "just man falls seven times a day," it is not to be wondered at that the lives of some of the popes have not been edifying. The power of infallibility does not depend on his holiness.

Bishops are the successors of the apostles and the priests are their authorized co-workers. Deacons are ordained to a ministry of service. The bishop is the head of the diocese and a priest is charge of a parish. The cathedral is the home parish of the bishop. Cardinals are appointed to their position by the pope and they have special honor. They are responsible for selecting a new pope in the event of the popes death.


Catechism of the Catholic Church:

Episcopal ordination - fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders

1555 "Amongst those various offices which have been exercised in the Church from the earliest times the chief place, according to the witness of tradition, is held by the function of those who, through their appointment to the dignity and responsibility of bishop, and in virtue consequently of the unbroken succession going back to the beginning, are regarded as transmitters of the apostolic line."

1556 To fulfill their exalted mission, "the apostles were endowed by Christ with a special outpouring of the Holy Spirit coming upon them, and by the imposition of hands they passed on to their auxiliaries the gift of the Spirit, which is transmitted down to our day through episcopal consecration."

1559 …. The character and collegial nature of the episcopal order are evidenced among other ways by the Church's ancient practice which calls for several bishops to participate in the consecration of a new bishop. In our day, the lawful ordination of a bishop requires a special intervention of the Bishop of Rome…

The ordination of priests - co-workers of the bishops

1562 …. "The function of the bishops' ministry was handed over in a subordinate degree to priests so that they might be appointed in the order of the priesthood and be co-workers of the episcopal order for the proper fulfillment of the apostolic mission that had been entrusted to it by Christ."

1563 "Because it is joined with the episcopal order the office of priests shares in the authority by which Christ himself builds up and sanctifies and rules his Body… Through that sacrament priests by the anointing of the Holy Spirit are signed with a special character and so are configured to Christ the priest in such a way that they are able to act in the person of Christ the head."

1566 "It is in the Eucharistic cult or in the Eucharistic assembly of the faithful (synaxis) that they exercise in a supreme degree their sacred office; there, acting in the person of Christ and proclaiming his mystery…From this unique sacrifice their whole priestly ministry draws its strength.

The ordination of deacons - "in order to serve"

1569 "At a lower level of the hierarchy are to be found deacons, who receive the imposition of hands 'not unto the priesthood, but unto the ministry."….

1570 Deacons share in Christ's mission and grace in a special way. The sacrament of Holy Orders marks them with an imprint ("character") which cannot be removed and which configures them to Christ, who made himself the "deacon" or servant of all. Among other tasks, it is the task of deacons to assist the bishop and priests in the celebration of the divine mysteries, above all the Eucharist, in the distribution of Holy Communion, in assisting at and blessing marriages, in the proclamation of the Gospel and preaching, in presiding over funerals, and in dedicating themselves to the various ministries of charity.

1571 Since the Second Vatican Council the Latin Church has restored the diaconate "as a proper and permanent rank of the hierarchy," while the Churches of the East had always maintained it. This permanent diaconate, which can be conferred on married men, constitutes an important enrichment for the Church's mission.

Faith words:

Apostolic Succession: The legitimate office and authority of the bishops is dependant on apostolic succession. It is derived from the twelve apostles, whose office was instituted by Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.

Collegiality: Refers to the bishops, united under the pope as an Episcopal community.

Infallibility: The charism of divine assistance which assures the entire Church, the pope and the college of bishops freedom from error in matters of faith and morals.

Presbyter: Another word for a priest.



Reflection Questions:


What do you know about the current pope from the media and from others in the Church?






Can you think of any ways that you could be of assistance to your parish priest?






Why do you think Jesus decided to leave a visible priesthood on Earth?


Catechism References to the Authority of the Pastors of the Church:

2034 The Roman Pontiff and the bishops are "authentic teachers, that is, teachers endowed with the authority of Christ, who preach the faith to the people entrusted to them, the faith to be believed and put into practice." The ordinary and universal Magisterium of the Pope and the bishops in communion with him teach the faithful the truth to believe, the charity to practice, the beatitude to hope for.

2035 The supreme degree of participation in the authority of Christ is ensured by the charism of infallibility. This infallibility extends as far as does the deposit of divine Revelation; it also extends to all those elements of doctrine, including morals, without which the saving truths of the faith cannot be preserved, explained, or observed.

2036 The authority of the Magisterium extends also to the specific precepts of the natural law, because their observance, demanded by the Creator, is necessary for salvation. In recalling the prescriptions of the natural law, the Magisterium of the Church exercises an essential part of its prophetic office of proclaiming to men what they truly are and reminding them of what they should be before God.

2037 The law of God entrusted to the Church is taught to the faithful as the way of life and truth. The faithful therefore have the right to be instructed in the divine saving precepts that purify judgment and, with grace, heal wounded human reason. They have the duty of observing the constitutions and decrees conveyed by the legitimate authority of the Church. Even if they concern disciplinary matters, these determinations call for docility in charity.

2038 In the work of teaching and applying Christian morality, the Church needs the dedication of pastors, the knowledge of theologians, and the contribution of all Christians and men of good will. Faith and the practice of the Gospel provide each person with an experience of life "in Christ," who enlightens him and makes him able to evaluate the divine and human realities according to the Spirit of God. Thus the Holy Spirit can use the humblest to enlighten the learned and those in the highest positions.

2039 Ministries should be exercised in a spirit of fraternal service and dedication to the Church, in the name of the Lord. At the same time the conscience of each person should avoid confining itself to individualistic considerations in its moral judgments of the person's own acts. As far as possible conscience should take account of the good of all, as expressed in the moral law, natural and revealed, and consequently in the law of the Church and in the authoritative teaching of the Magisterium on moral questions. Personal conscience and reason should not be set in opposition to the moral law or the Magisterium of the Church.

The Gospel of John Chapter 17

“The Priestly Prayer of Jesus”

When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven and said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify thy Son that the Son may glorify thee, since thou hast given him power over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom thou hast given him. And this is eternal life, that they know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent. I glorified thee on earth, having accomplished the work which thou gavest me to do; and now, Father, glorify thou me in thy own presence with the glory which I had with thee before the world was made.
"I have manifested thy name to the men whom thou gavest me out of the world; thine they were, and thou gavest them to me, and they have kept thy word Now they know that everything that thou hast given me is from thee; for I have given them the words which thou gavest me, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from thee; and they have believed that thou didst send me. I am praying for them; I am not praying for the world but for those whom thou hast given me, for they are thine; all mine are thine, and thine are mine, and I am glorified in them. And now I am no more in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to thee. Holy Father, keep them in thy name, which thou hast given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. While I was with them, I kept them in thy name, which thou hast given me; I have guarded them, and none of them is lost but the son of perdition, that the scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them thy word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I do not pray that thou shouldst take them out of the world, but that thou shouldst keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; thy word is truth. As thou didst send me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be consecrated in truth.
"I do not pray for these only, but also for those who believe in me through their word, that they may all be one; even as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. The glory which thou hast given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and thou in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that thou hast sent me and hast loved them even as thou hast loved me. Father, I desire that they also, whom thou hast given me, may be with me where I am, to behold my glory which thou hast given me in thy love for me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, the world has not known thee, but I have known thee; and these know that thou hast sent me. I made known to them thy name, and I will make it known, that the love with which thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them."