This is the moment when the whole cathedral holds its breath. While the congregation sings the Litany of the Saints, the men about to be ordained lie face down, full length, on the stone floor. The names of the saints roll on, their prayers are invoked, and families in the front row see their son, brother or friend in a posture they have never seen before. No ordination emoji can capture that today, and 🧎 falls well short.
Holy Orders is received in three degrees: deacon, priest, bishop. The central gesture is the same for all three: the bishop lays his hands on the candidate’s head in complete silence, followed by the prayer of ordination. At a priestly ordination, every priest present then comes forward to lay on hands in turn, which makes a long line of white albs. Then come the gestures proper to each degree: the anointing of the hands with chrism for the priest, the Book of the Gospels handed to the deacon, the mitre and crosier for the bishop.
We would love an emoji to congratulate, to share the date, to promise prayers to someone about to say yes for life. Two hands resting on a bowed head, a figure lying before the altar, a stole over a white alb: send us your drawing. Every diocese ordains someone sooner or later, so it will not sit idle.
Amen !by AI Generator
Amen !by AI Generator
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