§ 2. On The Power And Offices Of The Individual Orders

1891. I. The Order of EPISCOPATE confers on a presbyter the power of confirming, ordaining, judging concerning the Faith, and consecrating things pertaining to divine worship.

The OFFICES of a Bishop annexed to the power of Order are the following: Administration of Order and Confirmation; likewise consecration of altars and churches, of oil of the sick, of catechumens and chrism, of chalices and patens, of Kings and Queens; veilings of Nuns, and the major or solemn blessing. - The offices annexed to the power of jurisdiction will be briefly explained in Part IV (cf. n. 2250 and following).

1892. II. The Order of PRESBYTERATE confers on a deacon the power of consecrating the Body and Blood of Christ, of remitting and retaining sins, and of feeding subjects by work and doctrine.³ It is established from Trent, l. c., can. 1. - See in what words the Offices of a presbyter are described in the Pontifical: "It belongs to a Priest to offer, to bless, to preside, to preach, to baptize" (see also n. 2266 and following).

1893. III. The Order of DIACONATE confers on a subdeacon the power of immediately assisting the priest in solemn Mass, by extending to him the paten with the host, and the chalice with wine, and of chanting the Gospel, and of preaching.⁴ The Diaconate pertains to the divinely instituted hierarchy, as is established from what was said at n. 1888; for under the name of ministers at least deacons are comprehended. Their OFFICES, besides those already commemorated, are the following: 1. To baptize solemnly, but only with permission of the pastor and in grave necessity; for a deacon who, without commission, even in a case of necessity, baptizes solemnly, incurs irregularity (cf. n. 1462). - 2. To minister the Eucharist; but neither is this licit to them unless from commission, and in a case of grave necessity: such as if the priest is lacking to the people approaching Communion; otherwise he would be irregular. 3. To carry the pyx or monstrance with the Eucharist. - 4. To wash Corporals, in default of a subdeacon.⁵

1894. IV. The Order of SUBDIACONATE confers on the ordained the power of serving the deacon in solemn Mass and solemnly chanting the Epistle.

The OFFICES of subdeacons, besides the most grave obligation of reciting the divine Office daily and of observing perpetual chastity, can be stated briefly thus: 1. To minister to the deacon at the altar; to prepare wine, bread, linens, etc., for the Sacrifice; to chant the Epistle with the maniple in solemn Mass; to carry the chalice and paten to the altar; to pour water into the chalice; to hold the paten elevated; to carry the peace to the choir. 2. In processions to carry the cross; to wash corporals and purificators: as is prescribed in the Roman Pontifical.⁶

If a subdeacon is lacking for solemn Mass, Superiors can, if necessity exists, permit that a cleric marked only with minor Orders be substituted for him, to chant the Epistle, but without the maniple (thus from the decree of the S. R. C. on July 5, 1698, ad 18).⁷ For if he intended to exercise the proper office of a Subdeacon, he would incur irregularity⁸ (cf. n. 1943).

1895. V. The Order of ACOLYTHATE confers on a cleric the power of carrying cruets to the altar, and of lighting candlesticks and lights on it. (From the ROMAN PONTIFICAL.) - "The OFFICE of an Acolyte is to prepare the ampullae of wine and water for the Sacrifice of the Mass, and to extend them to the Subdeacon; to carry candles to the same Sacrifice and to minister to it: whence he is also called candle-bearer."⁹

1896. VI. The Order of EXORCISTATE confers on a cleric the power of expelling demons from the possessed, lest they impede them from Communion (FROM THE ROMAN PONTIFICAL.) The OFFICE of an Exorcist is to impose hands over those vexed by unclean spirits, for adjuring and casting them out; likewise for exorcizing catechumens.¹⁰ "But in order that an exorcist be able to exorcize solemnly, there is required also the conferral of jurisdiction, or permission of the Bishop. Yet this is not by common law, but by a particular precept of Bishops prohibiting exorcism without their permission. - It was said solemnly, since any one of the faithful can privately command demons, that they not harm, nor impede the faithful from sacred actions"¹¹ (cf. n. 622).

1897. VII. The Order of LECTORATE confers on a cleric the power of reading the sacred Scriptures in church (From the ROMAN PONTIFICAL.) - The OFFICE of a Lector is: 1. To chant Lessons and read sacred Scriptures outside Mass (for in Mass it is the office of the Subdeacon); 2. to catechize, or to teach catechumens the rudiments of faith; 3. to bless bread and all new fruits. Thus the ROMAN PONTIFICAL.¹²

1898. VIII. The Order of OSTIARIATE assigns to a cleric the power of opening, closing, and guarding the church. (From the ROMAN PONTIFICAL.) - To his office moreover it belongs to ring bells, to admit the worthy into the church, to expel the unworthy, namely infidels, heretics, and the excommunicated.¹³

1899. IT IS ASKED. What are the effects of TONSURE?

Resp. Tonsure, although it is not an Order, nor confers any power, nevertheless by the institution of the Church obtains manifold effects and precious privileges, namely: 1. The tonsured man is transferred to the clerical state. And hence it is why the hairs themselves are cut off, and indeed in the manner of a crown, by which the royal dignity of those who have been called into the lot of the Lord is splendidly expressed. - 2. Clothed with a surplice, he can intervene in choir for singing the divine Offices. 3. He acquires the privilege of forum, by which he is exempted from the jurisdiction of the lay forum. 4. He also acquires the privilege of the canon, so that those injuriously striking him incur excommunication reserved to the Pope, if the striking is grave; but to the Bishop, if light. 5. The tonsured man becomes capable of an ecclesiastical benefice, provided he has 14 years. 6. He becomes capable of every ecclesiastical jurisdiction, for conferring benefices, bringing censures, and judging spiritual causes. - 7. He becomes proximately apt to receive Orders. For although one not yet tonsured is validly ordained, nevertheless he receives Orders illicitly, and sins gravely against the precept of Trent (sess. 23, cap. 1).¹⁴