Whereas, by the testimony of Scripture, by Apostolic tradition, and the unanimous
consent of the Fathers, it is clear that grace is conferred by sacred ordination, which is
performed by words and outward signs, no one ought to doubt that Order is truly and
properly one of the seven sacraments of holy Church. For the apostle says; I admonish
thee that thou stir up the grace of God, which is in thee by the imposition of my hands.
For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love of sobriety. 38
In chapter four of the same session, the Council would continue: “But, forasmuch as in the
sacrament of Order, as also in Baptism and Confirmation, a character is imprinted, which can
neither be effaced nor taken away” 39 and that the Church had diverse ministries included in Holy
orders. These orders were part of a hierarchy of the Church in which the bishops rule the Church
of God:
And if any one affirm, that all Christians indiscriminately are priests of the New
Testament, or that they are all mutually endowed with an equal spiritual power, he clearly
does nothing but confound the ecclesiastical hierarchy, which is as an army set in array;
as if, contrary to the doctrine of blessed Paul, all were apostles, all prophets, all
evangelists, all pastors, all doctors. Wherefore, the holy Synod declares that, besides
[Page 173] the other ecclesiastical degrees, bishops, who have succeeded to the place of
the apostles, principally belong to this hierarchial order; that they are placed, as the same
apostle says, by the Holy Ghost, to rule the Church of God; that they are superior to
priests; administer the sacrament of Confirmation; ordain the ministers of the Church;
and that they can perform very many other things; over which functions others of an
inferior order have no power. 40
The other “ecclesiastical degrees” I believe, are mentioned in one of the previous passages of
session twenty three,
And whereas the ministry of so holy a priesthood is a divine thing; to the end that it might
be exercised in a more worthy manner, and with greater veneration, it was suitable that,
in the most well-ordered settlement of the church, there should be several and diverse
orders of ministers…For the sacred Scriptures make open mention not only of priests, but
38
J. Waterworth, Ed. and trans. The Council of Trent The canons and decrees of the sacred and oecumenical
Council of Trent, (London: Dolman, 1848) Accessed June 30, 2018
http://www.documentacatholicaomnia.eu/03d/1545-
1545,_Concilium_Tridentinum,_Canons_And_Decrees,_EN.pdf, Session23/3.
39
Ibid. Session 23/4
40
Ibid.
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