Holy Orders and Matrimony
As taught in the Catholic tradition
The sacraments at the service of communion and the mission of the faithful.
The "Sacramental Economy" is a term that describes the way God manages His household—the Church—through the communication of the fruits of Christ’s Paschal Mystery. Within this divine arrangement, the seven sacraments are the primary channels of grace. While the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist) lay the foundations of the Christian life, and the Sacraments of Healing (Penance, Anointing of the Sick) provide for the restoration of the soul, there exists a third category: the Sacraments at the Service of Communion. These are Holy Orders and Matrimony. They are unique because, while they certainly contribute to the personal salvation of the recipients, their primary purpose is directed toward the salvation of others. If they contribute as well to personal salvation, it is through service to others that they do so.
By the end of this lesson
- **Identify** the primary purpose of the "Sacraments at the Service of Communion" as being directed toward the building up of the Church and the salvation of others.
- **Distinguish** between the "Common Priesthood" of all the baptized and the "Ministerial Priesthood" received through the Sacrament of Holy Orders.
- **Explain** the three degrees of Holy Orders—Episcopate (Bishops), Presbyterate (Priests), and Diaconate (Deacons)—and their respective roles in the Catholic hierarchy.
- **Articulate** the "Nuptial Mystery" as described in Ephesians 5, explaining how Christian marriage is a sacramental sign of Christ's love for the Church.
- **Trace** the biblical development of the indissolubility of marriage from the creation accounts in Genesis to Christ's teaching in Matthew 19.
- **Defend** the Catholic teaching on the essential properties of marriage: unity, indissolubility, and openness to procreation.
- **Apply** the concept of "Total Gift of Self" to the daily lived experience of both ordained ministers and married couples.
- **Compare** the Catholic understanding of these sacraments with other Christian traditions, specifically regarding the "character" of orders and the sacramental nature of the marriage bond.
Scripture
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