What are the three degrees of holy orders?

[mrspk]

Hi,
What are the three degrees of holy orders? Are they deacon, priest, and bishop?
God bless you.
mrspk

 

[GoGoDiego]

It is. Or formally: Diaconate, Priesthood, Episcopal (Bishop)

 

[Micosil]

Indeed. From the Catechism:

III. THE THREE DEGREES OF THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY ORDERS

1554** “The divinely instituted ecclesiastical ministry is exercised in different degrees by those who even from ancient times have been called bishops, priests, and deacons.”** Catholic doctrine, expressed in the liturgy, the Magisterium, and the constant practice of the Church, recognizes that there are two degrees of ministerial participation in the priesthood of Christ: the episcopacy and the presbyterate. The diaconate is intended to help and serve them. For this reason the term sacerdos in current usage denotes bishops and priests but not deacons. Yet Catholic doctrine teaches that the degrees of priestly participation (episcopate and presbyterate) and the degree of service (diaconate) are all three conferred by a sacramental act called “ordination,” that is, by the sacrament of Holy Orders:

Let everyone revere the deacons as Jesus Christ, the bishop as the image of the Father, and the presbyters as the senate of God and the assembly of the apostles. For without them one cannot speak of the Church.

(Emphasis mine)

 

[bmonk]

Notice that even “priest” is somewhat of a mistake. Technically, a priest is a bishop or presbyter (“elder”), and the three distinct orders of ordination are deacon, presbyter and bishop. But most people don’t bother with that distinction, any more than many distinguish sisters (who take perpetual vows) from nuns (who take solemn vows).