§ 1. On The Effects Of Sacred Ordination

1889. I. The effects of Order, AS REGARDS THE ORDAINED HIMSELF, are the following three:⁹

1. The conferral of GRACE, both habitual and sacramental, according to what was said concerning the Sacraments in general (n. 1394-1396). - This grace, whose excellence is to be judged from the sublimity of the ministry,¹⁰ is imparted only to those who worthily receive the Sacrament.

2. The imprinting of an indelible CHARACTER, on account of which no Order can be repeated. It is established from Trent (sess. 23, can. 4). All who validly receive the Sacrament are marked with this character.

3. The conferral of the POWER of exercising the functions of the Order which is received. - This power is concerned with spiritual things, and first of all with the real body of Christ, or with the Most Holy Eucharist, with some preeminence; and it is conferred on all who validly receive the Sacrament; indeed also on those who are promoted only to the Subdiaconate or to minor Orders, although, more probably, they do not receive a character. Nor are helps of grace lacking to these, granted by reason of the prayers of the Church.

1890. II. The effect of Order, AS REGARDS THE CHURCH, is the permanence in it of the divinely instituted hierarchy. - For thus Trent speaks (sess. 23, can. 6): "If anyone shall say that in the Catholic Church there is not a hierarchy instituted by divine ordination, which consists of Bishops, presbyters, and ministers: let him be anathema." From these words it is openly gathered that the Sacrament of Order (as the Roman Catechism notes) chiefly regards the utility of the Church and its beauty.¹

What, you will ask, is the DIFFERENCE between the power of ORDER and the power of JURISDICTION?

Resp. A threefold difference chiefly can be assigned. - The FIRST arises from the manner in which each power is ACQUIRED; for the power of Order is conferred through sacred Ordination; but the power of jurisdiction is transmitted through mission, which is defined: "The legitimate assignment of subjects, or legitimate deputation for exercising a spiritual office." - The SECOND is had from the OBJECT or END of each power: Order, or ministry, sanctifies men through rites; but the power of jurisdiction rules and directs them through magisterium and discipline. - The THIRD difference is taken from the manner in which each power INHERES IN THE SUBJECT: the power of Order inheres immutably; hence Bishops and Priests always and everywhere validly do those things which are duly performed by the force of Order alone; but jurisdiction, since it is conferred from the mission of the Church, can be limited or entirely taken away, and therefore acts of jurisdiction can be made null by a Superior. - Add that one power is able to stand without the other, as is clear in a Bishop instituted, who, although not yet consecrated, obtains jurisdiction over his diocese; while a titular Bishop has the power of Order without jurisdiction, at least proper jurisdiction.²