Matters Pertinent to the Sacrament of Orders

The wearing of the tonsure (that is, having the head shaved in the form of a crown) is a fitting practice for those in orders.

The conferring of tonsure is a ceremony which officially sets a man in the ranks of the clergy. It is not an order, not even one of the minor orders which do not belong to the sacrament itself. The tonsuring of a candidate for orders is a preliminary ceremony, and it regularly precedes the receiving ofthe first minor order; it is then called the prima tonsura or first tonsuring.

Tonsure is not a ceremony of renunciation by which aman gives up temporal goods. It is a ceremony of dedication to the service of God before all else. Hence the cleric (that is, thetonsured man) is not to be unduly or excessively occupied with temporal goods, but he is not forbidden their ownership and use.

There is need of the office of bishop. The bishoppresides over others, and makes orderly all the divine ministries.He has the fullness of the priesthood, and to him belongs the power and duty of ordaining candidates who are prepared to receive orders.

The office of bishop (that is, the episcopate) is not a special order. It is the order of priesthood in its fullness.

The pope as supreme pontiff and vicar of Christ is above all other bishops by divine right and appointment. His is not only the fullness of the priestly office and order, but the fullness of universal jurisdiction in the Church. He is also the supreme and infallible teacher of the universal Church in matters of faith and morals.

Special vestments are properly used by the clergy in their official religious functions. These vestments, mostly ancient in origin, are full of symbolical meaning, and their use reverentlymanifests the faith of clergy and people.