Holy Orders

“The end for which God has instituted the priesthood has been to appoint on earth public persons to watch over the honor of his divine majesty, and to procure the salvation of souls.” -St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori

Regarding priests, Holy Orders is the sacrament that bestows upon a man the sacred priesthood of Jesus Christ. No one can make himself a priest, only Christ has the authority to do so and He entrusted this authority to His Church. Also, no one becomes a priest for himself but rather always for others, to give His life generously to the needs of Christ and His people. It is not for nothing that a priest is called “father,” since by his service of teaching (munus docendi), divine worship (munus liturgicum) and pastoral governance (munus regendi), a priest truly fathers God’s people by leading and nurturing them to union with God.

In Roman antiquity, an Order designated a civil or governing body. Thus, Holy Orders means the incorporation of a man into a body, or succession or line established by Christ. Since the beginning, the ordained ministry has been conferred and exercised in three degrees: deacons, priests and bishops. The ministries conferred by ordination are irreplaceable for the organic structure of the Church: without the bishop, presbyters, and deacons, one cannot speak of the Church. Like baptism and confirmation, ordination imprints an indelible sacramental character or spiritual mark on the soul. St. Jean Marie Vianney once said, “The priest continues the work of redemption on earth. If we really understood the priest on earth, we would die not of fright but of love. The Priesthood is the love of the heart of Jesus.”

Here are some basic steps to guide your discernment:
1. Prayer Deepen your relationship with Jesus Christ.
2. Spiritual Direction with your Parish Priest or Spiritual Director.
3. Visit the local vocations office.
4. Be Active with your discernment by participating in vocational programs.
5. Visit the seminary or a religious community.
6. Make a Decision Begin the application process.

If you would like to read more on this topic, see below:

Houston Vocations Seminarians
Catechism on Holy Orders

Also, you may be interested in viewing the following videos below.

CFR's on What is the Catholic Priesthood?
I will follow: Two Catholic Priest's Vocation Stories
 

To Save A Thousand Souls: A Guide for Discerning a Vocation to Diocesan Priesthood

Father Brett A. Brannen has helped hundreds of people with discerning many vocations through his book.