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Objection 1: It would seem that the episcopate is an Order. First
of all, because Dionysius (Eccl. Hier. v) assigns these three
orders to the ecclesiastical hierarchy, the bishop, the priest, and
the minister. In the text also (Sent. iv, D, 24) it is stated
that the episcopal Order is fourfold.
Objection 2: Further, Order is nothing else but a degree of power
in the dispensing of spiritual things. Now bishops can dispense
certain sacraments which priests cannot dispense, namely Confirmation
and Order. Therefore the episcopate is an Order.
Objection 3: Further, in the Church there is no spiritual power
other than of Order or jurisdiction. But things pertaining to the
episcopal power are not matters of jurisdiction, else they might be
committed to one who is not a bishop, which is false. Therefore they
belong to the power of Order. Therefore the bishop has an Order
which a simple priest has not; and thus the episcopate is an Order.
On the contrary, One Order does not depend on a preceding order as
regards the validity of the sacrament. But the episcopal power depends
on the priestly power, since no one can receive the episcopal power
unless he have previously the priestly power. Therefore the episcopate
is not an Order.
Further, the greater Orders are not conferred except on Saturdays
[The four Ember Saturdays]. But the episcopal power is bestowed
on Sundays [Dist. lxxv, can. Ordinationes]. Therefore it is
not an Order.
I answer that, Order may be understood in two ways. In one way as a
sacrament, and thus, as already stated (Question 37, Articles
2,4), every Order is directed to the sacrament of the Eucharist.
Wherefore since the bishop has not a higher power than the priest, in
this respect the episcopate is not an Order. In another way Order
may be considered as an office in relation to certain sacred actions:
and thus since in hierarchical actions a bishop has in relation to the
mystical body a higher power than the priest, the episcopate is an
Order. It is in this sense that the authorities quoted speak.
Hence the Reply to the First Objection is clear.
Reply to Objection 2: Order considered as a sacrament which
imprints a character is specially directed to the sacrament of the
Eucharist, in which Christ Himself is contained, because by a
character we are made like to Christ Himself [TP, Question 63,
Article 3]. Hence although at his promotion a bishop receives a
spiritual power in respect of certain sacraments, this power
nevertheless has not the nature of a character. For this reason the
episcopate is not an Order, in the sense in which an Order is a
sacrament.
Reply to Objection 3: The episcopal power is one not only of
jurisdiction but also of Order, as stated above, taking Order in the
sense in which it is generally understood.
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