A sacrament of service
What Is Holy Orders?
Holy Orders is one of the two Sacraments of Service — alongside Marriage — meaning it is directed not primarily toward the personal sanctification of the recipient, but toward the service and salvation of others. Through ordination, a man is configured to Christ in a unique way and given the authority to act in his name.
The sacrament has existed since the night of the Last Supper, when Jesus told his apostles: "Do this in memory of me." The Catholic Church understands those words as the institution of the priesthood — the authority to celebrate the Eucharist, forgive sins, and shepherd God's people.
Like Baptism and Confirmation, Holy Orders leaves a permanent mark on the soul. A priest is a priest forever — even if he later leaves active ministry.
Three distinct roles
The Three Degrees of Holy Orders
Deacon
DiaconosDeacons are ordained to service — assisting at Mass, proclaiming the Gospel, preaching, baptizing, witnessing marriages, and performing works of charity. There are two kinds: transitional deacons (men preparing for priesthood) and permanent deacons (married or celibate men who serve permanently as deacons).
💡 Permanent deacons may be married men. This is one of the few ordained roles open to married men in the Latin Church.
Priest
PresbyterPriests are ordained to celebrate the Eucharist, hear Confessions, anoint the sick, and preach the Gospel. They serve under the authority of their bishop and are the primary pastoral ministers of parish life. In the Latin Church, priests take a vow of celibacy.
💡 The priest acts in persona Christi — in the person of Christ — when celebrating the sacraments. This is why only an ordained priest can celebrate Mass or hear Confessions.
Bishop
EpiscoposBishops possess the fullness of Holy Orders. They govern a diocese, ordain priests and deacons, confirm, and serve as the successors of the Apostles. The Pope is the Bishop of Rome and the head of the worldwide college of bishops.
💡 The unbroken line of bishops from the Apostles to today is called Apostolic Succession — one of the defining marks of the Catholic Church.
Discerning a vocation
Do You Feel Called?
A vocation to the priesthood or diaconate is not something a man chooses the way he chooses a career. It is something he discerns — a calling from God recognized and tested over time, in prayer, in community, and in conversation with the Church.
If you feel drawn to the priesthood or religious life — even as a quiet, uncertain pull — the right next step is to speak with your pastor or contact your diocesan vocations office. They are experienced in helping men discern whether this call is real and how to respond to it.
John 20:22–23
"Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone's sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven."
Have questions about vocations or the priesthood?