Sacrament

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Holy Orders

This is the 2nd sacrament of service.  This too is a marriage:  a marriage between a man and God's holy people.  In the Rite of Ordination, the man humbly lays on the floor while a Litany of Saints is called upon to assist him in the work that God has called him to do.  The Community witnesses this commitment at the man takes the Book of the Gospels and promises to be a witness of the Good News.  He takes the cup and the bowl used in Eucharist that he will serve the People of God and bring them to the Table where all are welcomed no matter who they are.  And his hands are anointed with the Sacred Chrism that they now are to be Christ's hands and heart to the world. 

The preparation to be a priest is lengthy:  a four year bachelor's degree with a heavy emphasis on philosophy, a four year theology degree (Master's of Divinity) with a year internship half way through out in a parish to serve the people.  A man is give these five latter years to be formed into the humble servant intellectually, physically, emotionally and, above all, spiritually whom he needs to be for all of you.
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NOTE:  The Church encourages that all Catholics in their life time experience an Easter Vigil and the welcoming of new Catholics, the dedication of a new Church, and the ordination of a priest.  3 incredible, highly ritualized celebrations of the Church.