Why Do Priests Lay On The Floor During Ordination

By this ritual the ordaining bishop and the other priests invoke the holy spirit to come down upon the one to be ordained giving him a sacred character and setting him apart for the designated ministry.

Why do priests lay on the floor during ordination.

The first example that most would point to is the consecration of aaron and his sons as priests lev. Their selection as servant leaders was clearly from the lord involved an elaborate ceremony and was done in public before the people. Major world religions employ prostration as an act of submissiveness or worship to a supreme being or other worshiped. The priests are to lay hands on these candidates in silence.

This is an ancient ritual symbolizing the fraternity and brotherhood that is shared in the priesthood. Prostration is the placement of the body in a reverentially or submissively prone position as a gesture typically prostration is distinguished from the lesser acts of bowing or kneeling by involving a part of the body above the knee touching the ground especially the hands. During my priestly ordination as i lay prostrate on the floor of the cathedral i had a good look at the name of st. Why does the ordinand lie prostrate during the ordination.

Timothy s ordination was specifically mentioned in 2 timothy 1 6 where paul wrote for this reason i remind you to fan into flame the gift of god which is in you through the laying on of my hands timothy was set apart as a church leader and was to continue living out his calling in the church at ephesus. Peter s ministry as the first of the apostles as i lay there praying for his. The laying on of hands enters this priest into an unbroken lineage that tradition upholds leads back to the first apostles. The bishop then prays the prayer of ordination over the candidates.

This is in keeping with an ancient text found in the apostolic tradition which is believed to have been written by hippolytus in 280 a d. He states that this common laying on of hands takes place at a priest s ordination because they all have a common and similar spirit. The rest of the priests in attendance then lay hands on the candidates. In christianity the laying on of hands greek.

While jesus on multiple occasions placed his hands on people in acts of blessing and healing this gesture is intended to replicate the gesture that jesus. I couldn t help but marvel at the providence of being reminded of st. At the conclusion of the laying on of hands and prayer of ordination the candidates are priests. What is the meaning of the laying on of hands.

All priests present at the mass will then do the same in turn.