What is the Sacrament of Holy Orders?

Holy Orders is the sacrament through which men are ordained as deacons, priests, or bishops to serve the Church. It is one of the two Sacraments of Service (along with Matrimony). The sacrament is conferred by a bishop through the laying on of hands and a consecratory prayer. There are three degrees of Holy Orders: (1) Deacons — assist at the altar, proclaim the Gospel, baptize, witness marriages, and perform works of charity. Permanent deacons may be married men. (2) Priests — celebrate Mass, hear confessions, anoint the sick, and shepherd a parish. Latin Rite priests take a vow of celibacy. (3) Bishops — possess the fullness of the sacrament and can ordain other clergy. Holy Orders imprints an indelible character on the soul. The Church teaches that only baptized men can be validly ordained, following Christ's choice of male apostles and the unbroken Sacred Tradition of the Church.