form the Hierarchy, with jurisdiction to teach and govern. The Pope is the
successor to St. Peter; the bishops, the other Apostles.
In spiritual power, the priesthood incorporates the diaconate; the episcopate
incorporates the priesthood and diaconate. In fact, episcopal ordination is
the norm of Orders as established by Christ, while priesthood and diaconate
are lesser degrees of the same sacrament of the Church. All three degrees
were possessed by the Apostles and later, in conformity with the direction
of Christ, were passed on by them wholly or in part to others as the
requirements of the growing Church dictated. Thus we see in Scripture the
Apostles, by a visible rite involving prayer and the laying of hands,
ordaining assistants and successors separate and apart from the rest of the
laity:
“Select from among yourselves seven men of good standing, full of the
Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this task...They had these
men stand before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them”
(Acts 6:3-6).
“While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, Set
apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.
Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them
off. So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia; and
from there they sailed to Cyprus...” (Acts 13:2-4).
“And after they had appointed elders for them in each church, with prayer
and fasting they entrusted them to the Lord in whom they had come to
believe...” (Acts 14:23).
“I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the
laying on of my hands...” (2 Tim. 1:6).
“I left you behind in Crete for this reason, so that you should put in order
what remained to be done, and should appoint elders in every town, as I
directed you” (Tit. 1:5).¹
1
The Catholic priesthood is identical with this office of elder. In fact, the word
“priest” is simply an abbreviated English rendering of the Latin transliteration
(presbyter) of the Greek word for elder––presbuteros.
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