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Holy Orders

It is through Holy Orders that the mission entrusted by Christ to his apostles continues to be exercised in the Church until the end of time: thus it is the sacrament of apostolic ministry.”

Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1536

Holy Orders is the sacrament through which the mission entrusted by Christ to his apostles continues to be exercised in the Church until the end of time: thus it is the sacrament of apostolic ministry. It includes three degrees. Two degrees of ministerial participation in the priesthood of Christ: the episcopacy (bishop) and the presbyterate (priest), and the diaconate which is intended to help and serve them.