Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1914-05-30
Brief Explanation of Ceremonies
That viii Interest Their
Friends.
Spend Years I'm Diligent Prepar-
alton For Their Sacred
Office.
INVESTED With TWOFOLD POWER

During the next month hundreds
of young men who have completed
their education in the seminaries of
the United States and Europe will
be elevated to the dignity of the
priesthood. A brief explanation of
the ordination ceremonies will doubt
less be of interest to our readers who
number among their friends those
who have spent years in diligent
preparation for this sacred office.
The young candidate, having pre-
viously received tonsure, the four
minor orders, the major orders of
sub-deacon and deaconship, now pre-
sents himself for ordination to the
priesthood. Vested in amice, alb,
maniple and stole, bearing the
chasuble upon the left arm, and a
lighted candle in the right hand, he
proceeds to the sanctuary. The
deacons to be promoted to the priest
hood are presented to the Bishop by
the archdeacon with the following
bequest: Most Reverend Father,
our holy mother, the Catholic
church, asks that you would ordain
the deacons here present to the bur-
den of the priesthood" The Bishop
replies: do you know whether they
are worthy?" The archdeacon an
swers: GAS much as human fraility
permits. 1 know and testify that
they are worthy to receive the bur-
den of this Office"
tion at this good testimony, the or
daining prelate answers: Thanks be
to God" This question of the
Bishop is put to the archdeacon be-
cause, in the primitive church, It
was the duty of the archdeacon to
watch over the junior clergy, and
hence knew who among them was
worthy of promotion. The office of
archdeacon no longer exists In this
regard and today the rector OF the
seminary is Obliged to answer con-
cerning the worthiness of the candi-
date Not contented with the an
swer of the archdeacon. the Bishop
turns toward all those present, both
clergy and laity, and announces to
them that he is about to promote
those kneeling before him to the
priesthood, and that II any one has
anything to allege against any one
of the candidates he may freely de-
clare it. No objections being raised
the Bishop then proceeds to admon-
ish the candidates of the duties and
functions of the priesthood and
exhorts them to discharge them
faithfully.
Those to be ordained then pros
trate themselves in the sanctuary
and the Litany of the Saints is
chanted. Toward the end of the
litany the Bishop. having put on his
mitre and taken his crosier. turns
toward those prostrated and prays,
"That thou wouldst vouchsafe to
bless, sanctify and consecrate these
When the litany has been chanted
the candidates rise and the imposi-
tion of hands takes place. Accord
ingly the Bishop first, and then all
the priests present. one after an
other, lay both of their hands on the
head of each of the candidates sue
cessively, and while the priests hold
their hands extended over the per-
son to be ordained the Bishop asks
them to unite their prayers with his
''That God will pour out over his
servants whom He has chosen for the
priesthood the fullness of his heav-
emily gifts that the office which is
imposed upon them through the
grace of the Most High might also
be administered TO them by his di-
vine grace"
After the imposition of hands the
Bishop crosses the stole over the
breast of the newly ordained priest,
saying "Take upon thyself the yoke
of the Lord, for his yoke is sweet
and his burden is light" The priest
is then invested with the chasuble
and reminded that IL represents
charity, For God is mighty to in
crease In thee His charity and to
make perfect thy works" The Holy
Ghost is then invoked by the hymn,
"Veni Creator" After the first
verse has been sung and the choir
continues with the remainder OF the
hymn the Bishop proceeds to anoint
the thumb and the index finger OF
each hand and then the palms OF
both hands OF the priest, after which
the Bishop presents TO each the
chalice with wine and water and the
paten with an altar bread, saying
Receive the power to offer sacrifice
to God ard 10 celebrate mass as
well for the living as for the dead
In the name of the Lord"
If you have ever witnessed an
ordination you VIII have observed
that the back part OF the chasuble
of the newly ordained priest Is
folded in half and the meaning of
this Is the following: At ordination
| the priest is invested with two
fold power. the power TO offer the
sacrifice OF the mass and the power
| 10 forgive sins. The first power is
given by the first imposition OF the
hands The second. although Inn
parted In the first imposition. Is
nevertheless again expressly and
specially conferred by a second i'm
position which takes place at the end