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All clergy, including deacons, priests, and bishops, may preach, teach, baptize, witness marriages, and conduct funeral liturgies. Only priests and bishops can celebrate the sacraments of the Eucharist (though others may be ministers of Holy Communion ), [13] Penance (Reconciliation, Confession), Confirmation (priests may administer this ...
- The Pope. Each Pope that has ever held the position, both past, present, and future is, in fact, the direct successor to Saint Peter himself. As the head of the Catholic Church, the position of the Pope is one that is heavily governed by both politics and religious faith.
- Patriarchs. Bishops who are the heads of several local autonomous Churches can be granted the title of Patriarch or sui juris. These Patriarchs are granted authority over the Bishops of their particular branch of the Church, as well as members of their congregations.
- Major Archbishops. When the leader of an autonomous branch of the Church that is both large enough and stable enough to govern themselves, but due to historical, ecumenical, or political limitations, are unable to be classified as a Patrich of their Church, they can instead be granted the title of Major Archbishop.
- Cardinals. Cardinals are basically the princes of the Catholic Church. While they may not be an integral part of the theological structure of the Catholic Church, they are nonetheless held in high esteem, are greatly honored and respected by the community at large, and are very important for maintaining the political structure within the Church.
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The Catholic Church has different rules for the priesthood in the 23 Eastern Catholic Churches than those in the Latin Church. The chief difference is that most of the Eastern Catholic Churches ordain married men, whereas the Latin Church, with very few exceptions, enforces mandatory clerical celibacy.
Learn More. 1. What is ordination?Ordination is the sacramental ceremony in which a man becomes a deacon, priest, or bishop and enabled to minister in Christ's name an...
What does a priest do? The basic work of a priest is to proclaim the Word of God. Now this can be done in a number of ways. A priest has to spend time preparing for, and then performing the Sacraments—Eucharist, Reconciliation, Baptism, Funerals, Marriages, Sacrament of the Sick.
The strength of the Roman Catholic Church historically has been rooted in its priests, especially in its parochial clergy. Roman Catholicism for centuries has fostered a distinct clerical identity, symbolized by clerical garb , which sets priests as a class apart from lay Catholics.
The Priest at Mass. General Principles. The Eucharistic sacrifice of the Mass is the action of Christ (General Instruction of the Roman Missal[GIRM], no. 11)(1)and of God's people, in which the human race adores the Father, through Christ, in the Holy Spirit (16), and the faithful join themselves to Christ in giving thanks and in acknowledging ...
