Topic: Can you tell me about the relationship between Leviticus 8 and the Catholic ordination rite?

Date originally posted: March 12, 2002

Source of this posting: Moderator response to emailed question

Moderator who originally posted this source: J. Ruffo

Question: A commentary on the book of Leviticus says; `The prescriptions of Exodus 29  and Leviticus 8 live on in part in the ordination rites of the Roman Catholic Church.'  No references or bibliography are given.  Can you clarify the particulars as they relate to these passages, and especially to Leviticus 8?  (I am doing a major commentary on Leviticus and thus very much need your help!)

Answer: 

Dear Lloyd, 

Wow!  What did you do to manage such a homework assignment!  I am not a scripture scholar, and would suggest that you approach the scripture prof at your school to ask for better references. 

Reflecting back on my own ordination, Lloyd, I can say for sure that verses of both Exodus 29 and Leviticus 8 are apparent in today’s rite of ordination to the priesthood.  Both Ex. 29:5, and Lv 8:2; and Lv 8:7 refer to the garments worn by the priest-to-be.  We still vest the candidates for ordination in “tunics” or albs, a “girdle” or cincture around his waist, and an “ephod” or outer chasuble.  Both Ex 29:7 and Lv 8:12 refer to an anointing with chrism.  In today’s liturgy of ordination, the newly ordained is anointed by the ordaining Bishop with blessed oil on his hands.  Finally, Ex 29:44 refers to male priests being ordained for God’s service, and this too certainly still applies today. 

In so far as all the killing of bulls, rams, and lambs, the dissections, careful separations of body parts, and the splashing of blood, I am so grateful that we don’t do any of that anymore!  Imagine the mess! 

I know this isn’t much help to you, Lloyd, but I do hope that you’ll be able to get in touch with an expert in this field who’ll be able to give you a more scholarly explanation than I ever could.  Good luck with the assignment. 

Father John