a dangerous illness, be sure not to put off the receiving of the Holy Sacraments to the last moment; otherwise death may surprise you when it is no longer possible to have the attendance of a Priest.
Holy Orders.
1. On whom did Christ Himself confer the Priesthood?
On His Apostles.
2. Was the Priesthood to end with the death of the Apostles?
No; no more than the Church was to end at their death.
3. How was the Priesthood continued?
By the Sacrament of Holy Orders.
4. What is Holy Orders?
Holy Orders is that Sacrament which communicates to those who receive it the full power of Priesthood, together with a special grace to discharge their sacred duties well.
5. What are the principal powers of the Priesthood?
1. The. power to change bread and wine into the Body and Blood of our Lord; and 2. The power to forgive sins.
The power of consecrating bread and wine Christ gave to His Church at the Last Chapter (comp, p. 263, quest. 9); and the power of forgiving sins He gave after His Resurrection (comp. p. 275, quest. 4),
6. Is there in Holy Orders also a visible sign which indicates the communicating of the invisible power and grace?
Yes, there are several: the imposition of hands and the prayer of the Bishop, and the delivery of the chalice with wine, and of the paten with bread.
The imposition of hands and prayer are also mentioned in Holy Scripture: 'I admonish thee, that thou stir up the grace of God which is in thee by the imposition of my hands.' Thus wrote St. Paul to Bishop Timothy, 2 Tim. i. 6; and in a similar manner, 1 Tim. iv. 14. By prayer and imposition of hands Paul
