Brief explication of the priestly ordination ceremony
I invite you to read the following explanation before the beginning of the ceremony.
1. It begins as an ordinary solemn Mass with the opening rites of the Mass followed by the readings and the Gospel.
2. At this point, everyone sits down, and the priestly ordination ceremony begins
a) The ordinands are called by name, and they stand up and respond in Latin: "Adsum" (Here I am).
b) Then the person responsible for the formation of the future priests asks the Bishop to ordain them. After a brief dialogue in which he asks if the candidates are worthy, they all sit down, and the Bishop preaches a homily.
c) At the end of the homily the ordinands stand up. The Bishop asks them a series of questions: if they want to be priests, to be committed to preaching the Gospel, etc.
d) Then the candidates prostrate themselves on the floor as a sign of humility and supplication. In the meantime, the "Litany of the Saints" is sung, invoking the saints' intercession to help the future priests
This is followed by the most important moment of the ordination:
e) Laying on of the Hands: The Bishop lays his hands on the head of each candidate. This gesture represents the Holy Spirit descending upon the ordinand.
f) Consecration Prayer: the Bishop says the Prayer of Ordination while the candidates are kneeling before him. This prayer expresses the meaning of ordination: God takes possession of these men and consecrates them as true priests of the New Covenant, according to the image of Christ the High and Eternal Priest, to preach the Gospel, to be shepherds of the Church, and to celebrate divine worship. The candidates become priests, a special gift of the Holy Spirit, by the imposition of the Bishop's hands and the Prayer of Ordination.
After the consecration prayer, the deacons are now priests. At this moment, the new priests are clothed with a stole and a chasuble. These vestments are an external manifestation of the ministry they will exercise in the liturgy from now on.
Next comes a series of rites that are called "explanatory" because they describe with signs and symbols the functions of the new priest.
g) Anointing of the hands with chrism: this anointing signifies the priests' particular participation in the priesthood of Christ. They are the hands that bless and that will consecrate the bread and wine.
h) Handing over bread and wine: The Bishop places in the hands of each new priest the bread and wine to be consecrated in the Mass. This gesture indicates the function of the new priests to celebrate the Eucharist and to follow Christ crucified.
i) Embrace of the Bishop: The new priest goes up again to see the Bishop, who gives them a hug of peace. With this gesture, the Bishop receives the newly ordained priest into his ministry. The other priests present at the ceremony also greet the newly ordained priests and welcome them into the priestly ministry.
3. The Mass continues as usual with the Eucharistic Prayer. This part is the center and summit of the celebration of the liturgy. The new priests will pronounce for the first time the words of Consecration, the exact words uttered by Jesus Christ at the Last Supper.