There are three levels to the Sacrament of Holy Orders: Deacon, Priest, and Bishop. Ultimately, the Sacrament of Holy Orders is the configuration of a man into Jesus Christ. The Sacrament of Holy Orders is only conferred on men because Jesus is a man and Holy Orders configures a man into Jesus. This is why Jesus only chose men when He ordained His first priests on Holy Thursday. I know the male priesthood is a contentious issue for many Catholics and non-Catholics, but we can’t change what God did Himself.
Many use the argument “women weren’t respected at this time in history” or “Jesus would have been persecuted if He chose women then.” Those who stand by this argument are quick to forget that Jesus was persecuted anyway and the reason for His persecution was for breaking Jewish laws and cultural norms. Jesus touched lepers, cured on the Sabbath, and talked to Samaritans. Women also had their own “prayer leaders” in Jewish communities. If Jesus wanted to, He could have organized the Apostles and disciples in the same way having female leaders, like Mary Magdalene or His own mother, work with women and the 12 men working with men, but He didn’t do that. Jesus did something very different and unique. It’s worked for 2K+ years, even with evil priests and bishops beginning with Judas Iscariot.
Now, let’s talk about each level of Holy Orders, beginning with Deacons. We see the first ordination of Deacons in Acts of Apostles 6: 1-7. “Deacon” comes from the Greek word “Diakonia” which literally means “servant.” Deacons are configured to Christ the Servant (think of Jesus washing the feet of His Apostles on Holy Thursday). As we read in the Acts of Apostles, Deacons were ordained to serve the Apostles by watching over the money and caring for the sick. Over the many centuries, the Diaconate was reduced to a “step” before ordination to the priesthood and the idea of a man being a permanent deacon fell by the wayside. It was only during the Second Vatican Council in the 1960’s that Bishops wanted to resurrect the role of permanent Deacons for married men who felt called to be servants in the Church. If there’s any married man that thinks he may be called to serve the Body of Christ as a Deacon, please reach out to me or Deacon Mike for more information. If there’s unmarried men who feel called to the Diaconate, feel free to reach out to us too, but know that if you’re unmarried when ordained you must make a promise of celibacy, meaning you cannot get married.
Priesthood is the second level of Holy Orders, and we are configured to Christ the Head of the Church (in persona Christi capitis). Again, when a priest celebrates any of the Sacraments, it’s not Fr. Dominic doing “his thing,” it’s Jesus bringing about a spiritual reality. As a priest, I’m called to conform my life as best as possible to Jesus’ own life. I’m still an active sinner, but when I celebrate a Sacrament I’m no longer Fr. Dom, I’m Jesus. When I’m not celebrating any of the Sacraments, I’m Fr. Dom the normal sinner in need of God’s mercy and grace. Priests in our Latin Rite (compared to some Eastern Rites and the Orthodox) remain celibate in our vocation because Christ Himself was a celibate man and our celibacy allows us the freedom to serve as many people as possible. Also, because priests are configured to Christ the Head (compared to Deacons who are configured to Christ the servant) we have the authority of Christ to celebrate the Eucharist, forgive sins, and call down the Holy Spirit.
Bishops have the fullness of Holy Orders in that they have the full authority of Christ the head to celebrate all seven Sacraments and they exercise the charism of governance over the local Body of Christ. In the Sacred Scriptures the words for priest and bishop are used synonymously, presbyter (priest) and episkopoi (bishop), because in the first 200-500 years of Christianity there was no need to distinguish between a priest and a bishop. When Dioceses, or territories, started to be created a Bishop was named to govern the priests and deacons in that region. Eventually it was discerned that the charism for governance was given by the Holy Spirit to certain men who would act in the place of an Apostle working with priests and deacons to serve the people of God. Through the centuries it became preferred that Bishops would be appointed by the successor of St. Peter, the Pope, although there were plenty of Kings, Queens, and Emperors, and other Bishops, who chose their own Bishops/successors without the Popes approval.
Never forget that among the first priests/bishops ordained by Jesus Himself was Judas Iscariot. Our Lord knew exactly what He was doing from the moment this all started. We all have examples of terrible priests in our lives, myself included, but the Church is bigger and stronger than any one sinner…and Judas wasn’t alone. Peter denied Christ on Good Friday and Thomas denied Christ’s resurrection until he could see it for himself. We’re all sinners and yet God chooses us despite our sinfulness to inspire saints who inspire saints to build the Kingdom of God.