This is the fourth blog in this 7-part series on the sacraments during a pandemic, specifically during this Coronavirus pandemic. We've already explored confession, the Eucharist, and matrimony. There are four sacraments left to go. Today we explore Holy Orders.
Holy Orders are the means by which men become deacons, priests, and bishops within the Catholic Church, and it must be in that order. These are the three types of ordained men in the Church and although some men have different titles, such as Monsignor, Archbishop, Nuncio, or even Pope, they are all still one of the three main types.
Jesus Christ and Saint Paul recommend men to remain celibate and to seek after the things of Our Lord. Jesus Christ tells those who can, to give up marriage and follow him. Although marriage is considered a good and a sacrament, and thus a path to salvation, receiving holy orders and becoming a priest is considered a higher good in the Church.
It is also important to note that the sacraments come through priests who act as Alter Christi meaning Jesus Christ acts through the priest. Therefore, it not the priest as a fallen individual who effects the sacraments but Jesus Christ from whom all sacraments flow. But because Jesus Christ effects the sacraments through the priests, priests are absolutely essential in the life of the Church.
As mentioned earlier, the sacraments come from the Sacrifice on Calvary which is made present at the altar during each Mass. But the particular means by which the sacraments come to be efficacious is through the priest. Without priests, there are no sacraments. Their importance cannot be understated.
Does this absolute necessity of having priests for the sacraments and thus to continue the Church on earth specifically mean ordinations must occur continuously even in the face of threats? I think we must take a prudent view of this. As mentioned in a previous post about matrimony, although ordination is a good and one of the highest goods, it is not absolute essentially that they be carried out at all times. According to ---, there are currently 414,582 priests in the world. Obviously this isn't a static number and is probably an estimate, although a very precise one. This particular statistic was created by Georgetown University. I'm not sure the exact method used to acquire such a precise number, but I suppose each diocese reports the number of priests, and then each country's conference of bishops compiles these and send this information to a central repository. Of course, religious orders would also do this. I can imagine a high amount of accuracy in this area.
In any event, it also notes that the number of priests is in decline overall. I am not sure the current trend but the number has gone from 419,728 in 1970 to 414,582 in 2017. Although these numbers are quite comparable, it is important to note that the number of people on earth, as well as the number of Catholics, in that same time frame has almost exactly doubled. Therefore, the number of priests per Catholic is half of what it used to be.
Having said all of this, and given the importance of priests overall, the urgency of immediately ordaining priests during an ongoing pandemic, seems minimal. Priestly ordinations should be large and festive events involving hundreds or thousands of people from the Catholic community. It is an edifying event which really shows the faith of the people and in particular of these men who follow this call from God. In a time of pandemic, very few people would likely attend. It would become an almost private event. The joy and splendor of what is taking place would be minimized.
Of course, theologically speaking, even if no one was there except the bishop to administer the sacrament, it would still be equally efficacious. I just believe it would lack much in the way of solemnity and importance within the community. On top of this, it could create negative feelings within the Catholic community and the region as a whole. The Catholic community may regret not being able to attend an ordination or feel they are being asked to put themselves at risk in order to do so. The community may perceive the actions of the Church as being callous and uncaring towards individuals. Obviously we do not do things for the approval of society at large which accepts many evils. But the Church must always be a beacon of light and hope, not of scandal.
Overall, in my humble opinion, ordinations to the priesthood ought not take place when most people are quarantined or self-isolating due to a pandemic such as Covid19. Please provide your feedback and comments below! Join me tomorrow as I discuss my thoughts on another sacrament!
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