What happens during the Ordination Mass?
Ordination is the sacramental ceremony in which a man becomes a deacon, priest, or bishop and is enabled to minister in the name of Christ and the Church. There are three ordinations in the Sacrament of Holy Orders: diaconate (for deacons), presbyteral (for priests), and episcopal (for bishops). Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., Archbishop of Newark, will ordain three men to the priesthood during a presbyteral ordination on Saturday, May 25, at 10 a.m., and three transitional deacons during a diaconate ordination on Sunday, May 19, at noon. Both ordination Masses will take place in Newark’s Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart.
Ahead of this Sunday’s diaconate ordination, read on to learn all about the rituals of the ordination Mass, which are each rich in meaning and history.
The Rite of Ordination
The beginning of the Mass contains the usual Introductory Rites, Liturgy of the Word, and the Proclamation of the Gospel, which is then followed by the Rite of Election.
The Election
A deacon calls out the names of the men being ordained. The men are presented to Cardinal Tobin. A priest asks the cardinal to ordain the candidates. Cardinal Tobin then asks about their worthiness.
The Homily
Cardinal Tobin reflects on the men’s role as priests in the Archdiocese of Newark.
The Promise of the Elect
As they kneel before Cardinal Tobin, the men profess their desire to undertake the vocation of priesthood, preach the Gospel, celebrate the sacraments, and teach the Catholic faith. Cardinal Tobin then places his hands around each ordinandi’s clasped hands.
Litany of Supplication
Cardinal Tobin asks the faithful to pray for the men. The ordinandi lie face down in the sanctuary while the litany of the saints is sung. The gesture symbolizes the priests’ unworthiness for the office and dependence upon God and the prayers of the Christian community.
Receiving stoles and chasubles
The deacons remove their stoles and don the priestly stoles and chasubles. The stole symbolizes the authority and responsibility to serve in imitation of Christ. It reflects the line from Scripture: “For my yoke is easy and my burden light.” (Matthew 11:30) The chasuble is the principal garment of the priest celebrating the Eucharist and is the outermost vestment.
The Anointing of the Hands
Cardinal Tobin anoints the palms of each ordinand with chrism, signifying the hands of the newly ordained priest are being prepared for the sacred duties and vessels, which will be part of the priestly ministry. For example, the priests will offer the bread and wine, anoint the sick, and bless people.
Anointing with oil stems from the Old Testament and indicates someone or something is being set apart for a sacred task or duty.
The Handing of Bread and Wine
After the gifts are received for the Eucharist, Cardinal Tobin places the paten holding the bread and the chalice containing the wine into each of the priests’ hands, highlighting that the Eucharist is the heart of the priesthood and the importance of celebrating the Eucharist in the life of the priest.
The Laying of the Hands, Prayer of Ordination
This is when the actual ordination takes place. With this ritual, Cardinal Tobin and the other priests invoke the Holy Spirit to come down upon the one to be ordained, giving him a sacred character, and setting him apart for the designated ministry. This is an ancient tradition in the Church, which is mentioned in the Bible.
How does one prepare for ordination to the priesthood?
A man has to engage in a challenging program of priestly formation that lasts from five to 13 years, depending upon his background and the seminary he attends. There are three levels of seminary: high school, college/pre-theology, and theology. Seminaries address four types of formation: human, spiritual, academic (intellectual), and pastoral. In addition to the academic course work, seminarians participate in a full schedule of spiritual activities like daily Mass, Liturgy of the Hours (morning prayer and evening prayer), and spiritual direction and retreats. At each level of seminary training, the seminarian prepares for future pastoral ministry in various settings, such as schools, religious education programs, hospitals, prisons, and parishes. Each aspect of the formation considers the human person. Human growth and development are fostered by community living, workshops, and other programs. The formation of future priests includes practical learning, too. For example, the men experience what it is like to preach, preside at Mass, and conduct pastoral counseling.
Do priests take vows?
Priests who belong to a religious order (e.g., Dominicans, Benedictine, Franciscans, etc.) take the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. Diocesan priests make two promises- celibacy and obedience. These promises are part of the ordination ceremony. It is also expected that diocesan priests will lead a life of simplicity consonant with the people they serve.
For those who attend
The Rite of Ordination is a solemn ceremony in the Catholic Church. During the ceremony, it is advised that no one leaves the pews to take photographs, as this will take from the dignity of the ceremony, disrupt the service, and obstruct others’ view. The Archdiocese requests that all visitors take non-flash photography from their seats.
A professional photographer for the Archdiocese of Newark and the seminaries will be present to take official photographs. Only the official photographer is permitted at the altar rail to take photos. These photos will be available to the newly ordained through the Vocations Office in the weeks following the ceremony.
Immediately before the end of the ordination ceremony, Cardinal Tobin will stand on the altar steps with the newly ordained for a formal photo. At that time, visitors are permitted into the center aisle briefly to take photographs. When this moment is over, visitors must return to their seats so the recessional can begin.
To learn more or view the livestream of the ordination ceremony, visit www.rcan.org or www.newarkbasilica.org.
This report was compiled with information provided by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
