Holy Orders. Today, the Fourth Sunday of Easter, is Vocations Sunday: let us pray that the Lord will give men (and women) the courage to respond to His call to the priesthood (and religious life). The …More
Holy Orders.
Today, the Fourth Sunday of Easter, is Vocations Sunday: let us pray that the Lord will give men (and women) the courage to respond to His call to the priesthood (and religious life). The sacrament of holy orders is conferred in three ranks of clergy: bishops, priests, and deacons. Bishops (episcopoi) have the care of multiple congregations and appoint, ordain, and discipline priests and deacons. They sometimes appear to be called "evangelists" in the New Testament. Examples of first-century bishops include Timothy and Titus (1 Tim. 5:19–22; 2 Tim. 4:5; Titus 1:5). Priests (presbuteroi) are also known as "presbyters" or "elders." In fact, the English term "priest" is simply a contraction of the Greek word presbuteros. They have the responsibility of teaching, governing, and providing the sacraments in a given congregation (1 Tim. 5:17; Jas. 5:14–15). Deacons (diakonoi) are the assistants of the bishops and are responsible for teaching and administering certain Church tasks, such as the distribution of food (Acts 6:1–6). Here, in Blackfriars, we see BIshop Mark Jabale OSB seated on the faldstool with a Dominican priest on the left, and a Dominican deacon on the right.
Source: Lawrence OP on Flickr
Today, the Fourth Sunday of Easter, is Vocations Sunday: let us pray that the Lord will give men (and women) the courage to respond to His call to the priesthood (and religious life). The sacrament of holy orders is conferred in three ranks of clergy: bishops, priests, and deacons. Bishops (episcopoi) have the care of multiple congregations and appoint, ordain, and discipline priests and deacons. They sometimes appear to be called "evangelists" in the New Testament. Examples of first-century bishops include Timothy and Titus (1 Tim. 5:19–22; 2 Tim. 4:5; Titus 1:5). Priests (presbuteroi) are also known as "presbyters" or "elders." In fact, the English term "priest" is simply a contraction of the Greek word presbuteros. They have the responsibility of teaching, governing, and providing the sacraments in a given congregation (1 Tim. 5:17; Jas. 5:14–15). Deacons (diakonoi) are the assistants of the bishops and are responsible for teaching and administering certain Church tasks, such as the distribution of food (Acts 6:1–6). Here, in Blackfriars, we see BIshop Mark Jabale OSB seated on the faldstool with a Dominican priest on the left, and a Dominican deacon on the right.
Source: Lawrence OP on Flickr