Holy Orders 聖秩聖事

The seven sacraments touch all the stages and all the important moments of Christian life: they give birth and increase, healing and mission to the Christian’s life of faith. – Article 1210 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church

The sacrament of Holy Orders is an apostolic ministry; it entrusts baptized men called by God to the mission that Christ entrusted to his apostles and continues to be exercised in the Church until the end of time. Although the whole Catholic Church is called to share in the priesthood of Christ, also known as the “common priesthood of the faithful”, the Holy Orders is its own sacrament, a means by which Christ builds up his Church. (CCC 1536, 1547)

In other words, the common priesthood of the faithful is exercised in leading a life in the Spirit, which is one of faith, hope and charity. This unfolding of baptismal grace is directed and served by the ministerial priesthood. Priests ordained by bishops exercise their service by teaching, divine worship and pastoral governance. (CCC 1591-1592)

For more information on the sacrament of Holy Orders, please contact the Vocations Office of the Archdiocese of Vancouver.

聖秩聖事主耶穌親自建立的。為繼續祂在世時的宣揚福音工作，於是便在基督徒中，揀選一些特別獻身的人去擔任牧養人靈的專職。在這聖事中，賦與領聖事者一個不滅的神印，使他永為司祭；專務行聖事、獻聖祭、宣揚福音及照顧天主子民的工作。

司鐸聖召是天主賞賜的一份特殊禮物，而這禮物只給與教會內一個很小的百分比的男教友。凡接受這禮物的，應該運用它來服務教會；使自己的生活更親密地與主與人結合。

「當耶穌沿著加里肋亞海行走時，看見西滿和西滿的兄弟安德肋在海裏撒網，他們原是漁夫。耶穌向他們說：「來，跟隨我！我要使你們成為漁人的漁夫。他們便立刻拋下網，跟隨了祂。」〔谷.1：16-18〕這是基督傳人的最好寫照：首先耶穌主動的召叫他們來跟隨祂，這是第一步，是來自天主的主動邀請，繼而宗徒的回應：他們便立刻拋下網，跟隨了祂。是那麼的一個敏捷、決斷、乾淨俐落和毫無保留的回應。這些都是一個司鐸為回應鐸品聖召所不可缺少的精神。在教會憲章第四章說：每個人都有成聖的使命，所不同的是成聖的方法各異罷了。司鐸的成聖方法，就是透過領受從基督而來的司鐸聖職，奉獻自己的一生，專務祈禱、傳揚福音的工作；並因這聖事的不滅神印，從上主手中領受了行使職務的特殊神恩。

中文資料取自香港教區’天主教教義函授課程 ‘