The Sacrament of Holy Orders: The Matter, Form and Minister (2)

The matter of the Sacrament of Holy Orders is the imposition of the hands by the bishop, in silence, and the form consists in the words of the Consecratory Preface. Pope Pius XII solemnly defined this:  

Wherefore, after invoking the divine light, We of Our Apostolic authority and from certain knowledge declare, and as far as may be necessary decree and provide: that the matter, and the only matter, of the Sacred Orders of the Diaconate, the Priesthood, and the Episcopacy is the imposition of hands in silence, but not the continuation of this imposition by the extension of the right hand nor this continuation accompanied by the words ‘Receive the Holy Ghost’…The form consists of the words of the ‘Preface,’ of which the following are essential and therefore required for validity: ‘Grant, we beseech Thee Almighty Father, to Thy servant here present the dignity of the priesthood; renew in his heart the Spirit of holiness that he may conserve the ministry of the second order received from Thee and that by the example of his manner of life he may instill good conduct.’ (Apostolic Constitution Sacramentum Ordinis, November 30, 1947)

It is of the utmost necessity for the Church to have many holy priests, ministers of God and dispensers of His grace through the sacraments, their preaching and the example of virtue they set. 

“Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He send forth laborers into His harvest.” (Mt. 9:38 and Lk. 10:2)

“He that receiveth you, receiveth Me: and he that receiveth me, receiveth Him that sent Me” (Mt. 10:40 and Jn. 13:20).

O Lord, grant us priests, holy priests, many holy priests!