Three Degrees of Order
From the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Simplified
Bishop - Priest - Deacon (1554)
From the very beginning, the three degrees of Church ministry have been called bishop, priest, and deacon. Catholic doctrine recognizes two degrees of ministerial participation in Christ's priesthood - the episcopacy and the presbyterate. The deaconate is meant to serve these two orders. Therefore, the word sacerdos (priest) denotes bishops and priests. However, all three orders (the two degrees of priesthood and the degree of service) are conferred by sacramental "ordination" (Holy Orders).
"Let everyone revere the deacons as Jesus Christ, the bishop as the image of the Father and the priests as the senate of God for without them one cannot speak of the Church" (St. Ignatius of Antioch).
Bishop - The Fullness of Sacred Orders (1555-1557)
In the chief place are the bishops who, because of the unbroken succession going back to the beginning, are transmitters of the apostolic line (Second Vatican Council).
The apostles received a special outpouring of the Spirit and they passed this gift on by the laying on of hands. Paul told Timothy, "Keep alive the gift that God gave you when I laid my hands on you" (2 Tim 1:6).
The fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders is conferred by episcopal consecration.
Three Powers (1558)
This Episcopal consecration confers the offices of sanctifying, teaching and ruling. By the laying on of hands and the words of consecration, the Holy Spirit is given and a sacred character is impressed. The bishop takes the place of Christ himself and acts as his representative. "By the Holy Spirit, the bishops have been constituted true and authentic teachers, pontiffs and pastors" (Second Vatican Council).
The Episcopal Body (1559)
By this consecration and by hierarchical communion with the Pope and other bishops, the bishop becomes a member of the episcopal body. The Church's ancient practice of several bishops consecrating every new bishop witnesses to the bishop's collegial nature. Today, a lawful episcopal ordination also requires the intervention of the Pope.
The Local Church (1560-1561)
As Christ's vicar, the bishop has two duties - the pastoral care of his particular Church and a solicitude for all the Churches. By divine institution, all bishops have a responsibility for the Church's apostolic mission. Therefore, Eucharist celebrated by the bishop has special significance.
Ordaining Priests as Co-Workers (1562-1564)
Bishops entrust various Church members with offices of ministry. The function of the bishop's ministry is handed over in a subordinate degree to priests as co-workers of the episcopal order to fulfill the Church's apostolic mission.
Joined to the episcopal order, priests share in Christ's authority. Therefore, the priesthood of priests is given by its own particular sacrament. Through the sacrament and the Spirit's anointing, priests receive a special character, are configured to Christ and are able to act in the person of Christ.
Although dependent on the bishop, priests are associated with him by their sacerdotal (priestly) dignity. By Holy Orders they are consecrated to preach the Gospel, to pastor the faithful and to celebrate divine worship.
For the Whole World (1565-1566)
The priest's spiritual gift is not for a limited or restricted mission but for a universal mission. They are prepared to preach the Gospel to the end of the world.
They exercise the supreme degree of their office in the Eucharistic assembly. In the sacrifice of the Mass they make present again Christ's spotless offering to the Father. From this unique sacrifice, their priestly ministry draws its strength.
The Brotherhood of the Priests (1567-1568)
With their bishop, priests constitute a unique sacerdotal college (presbyterium). In each local assembly, they represent the bishop, assume his duties and exercise their ministry in communion with him. The bishop sees them as co-workers and sons. To the bishop, the priests owe love and obedience.
All priests are bound together in an intimate sacerdotal brotherhood. Especially in a diocese, they form (with the bishop) a priestly body. Their unity is expressed liturgically by their imposition of hands (after the bishop) upon the newly ordained.
Deacons, a Ministry for the Bishop (1569-1571)
Deacons, at a lower level of hierarchy, receive the imposition of hands "not for the priesthood but for the ministry." The bishop alone lays hands, signifying the deacon's special attachment to him.
Deacons receive a permanent imprint (character) which configure them to Christ. Among other tasks, the deacon assists at the Eucharist, distributes Communion, preaches, baptizes, blesses marriages and does works of charity.
The Latin Church restored the deaconate as a permanent rank of hierarchy which can be conferred on married men. It is important that men who carry out Church ministry are "strengthened by the imposition of hands, bonding their tasks more closely to the altar and made more fruitful by sacramental grace" (Second Vatican Council).
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