Chapter I. On the Nature and Division of Order

1513. - By the name of Order here is understood a grade of Clerics consecrated for special ecclesiastical Offices.

Order is defined: a Sacrament of the new law by which spiritual power is handed over, and grace is conferred for duly undertaking ecclesiastical functions.

1514. Things to be established. - I. Order is a true Sacrament of the new law, properly so called. - See the arguments among the Dogmaticians.

II. Seven Orders are numbered, namely, Presbyterate, Diaconate, Subdiaconate, Acolythate, Exorcistate, Lectorate, and Ostiariate. The first three are called Major or even Sacred; the others Minor. - See the arguments among the Dogmaticians.

1515. Questions. - Quaer. 1° What is the nature and property of these Orders?

Resp. 1° Ostiariate is the Order by which there is conferred a special power of opening or closing the door of the Church, of admitting the worthy, and of excluding the unworthy.

2° Lectorate is the Order by which a special power is handed over of reading psalms and lessons from the pulpit in the Church, and of catechizing the people, or instructing them in matters of Faith.

3° Exorcistate is the Order by which there is conferred on someone a special power of casting out demons through exorcisms instituted by the Church.

Nevertheless today the faculty of exorcizing is reserved to Priests alone, who can use it only with the license of the Ordinary (n. 376).

4° Acolythate is the Order by which there is conferred on someone a special power of serving the Subdeacon during the solemnities of Mass, of lighting candles, and of preparing and presenting the cruets of wine and water.

5° Subdiaconate is the Order by which there is conferred on someone a special power of serving the Deacon in solemn Mass, and of chanting the Epistle with solemn rite.

6° Diaconate is the Order by which there is conferred a special power of immediately assisting the Presbyter in solemn Mass, of chanting the Gospel during solemnities, of preaching, of solemnly baptizing, and of dispensing the Most Holy Eucharist. But whether the Deacon, in order to preach at any time, needs the special license of the Bishop, or whether the license of the Pastor or Rector of the Church suffices, seems to have to be defined from particular statutes or custom. Cf. n. 1257. II. 1287. III.

7° Presbyterate is the Order by which there is conferred a special power of consecrating the Body and Blood of Christ in the celebration of Mass, of absolving from sins, and of feeding subjects by work and doctrine.

To these add Episcopate and First Tonsure, of which the former is the complement of Priesthood itself, but the latter is not an Order, but a disposition to Orders, by which someone is enrolled as a Cleric.

Quaer. 2° Whether Diaconate is a Sacrament?

Resp. Affirmatively, according to the common and certain opinion. - See the Dogmaticians.

Quaer. 3° Whether Subdiaconate also is a Sacrament?

Resp. It is disputed; the more probable OPINION denies. For both the matter of the Sacrament of Order is lacking, namely imposition of hands, and also its form; for in the form of Subdiaconate the conferral of grace is not expressed, but only of spiritual power. Nor does Subdiaconate seem to be numbered among the Major Orders from divine institution, but only ecclesiastical, since among the Greeks it is not held as a Sacred Order.¹

Say the same concerning the Minor Orders.²