It is just one week to Jack’s ordination.But how will he become a priest? How is one ordained? First, Bishop Philip will lay his hands on Jack’s head in silence. Then, he will say the Prayer of Ordination. The laying-on of hands is the ‘matter’ of the Sacrament of Holy Orders; the Prayer is the’ form.’ When both have been done, Jack will be a priest.

Laying on of hands is a practice we have inherited from Judaism and is found throughout the Old Testament. For example, Jacob put his right hand on the head of Ephraim and his left hand on the head of Manasseh and blessed them (Genesis 48.14-15). Aaron and his sons placed their hands on the heads of animals to be offered in sacrifice (Leviticus 1.4 & 3.2). And when Moses asks God to choose a ruler to succeed him, God says: ‘Take Joshua, the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him’ (Numbers 27.18). The Apostles continued the practice by laying on hands of those chosen to be their co-workers (Acts 13.2-3). And in the oldest surviving description of an ordination rite, which appears in the third-century Apostolic Tradition, hands are laid. But what does it signify? We can say at least this: it designates upon whom the grace of ordination is being called down and expresses the will of the bishop that they should receive it.

After Bishop Philip has laid on hands, each priest present will do the same. This is not an essential part of the Rite but is a beautiful expression of their desire and consent that Jack should be ordained a brother priest.

Bishop Philip will then pray the Prayer of Ordination:

‘Draw near, O Lord, holy Father,

almighty and eternal God,

author of human dignity:

it is you who apportion all graces.

Through you everything progresses;

through you all things are made to stand firm.

To form a priestly people

you appoint ministers of Christ your Son

by the power of the Holy Spirit,

arranging them in different orders.

Already in the earlier covenant

offices arose, established through mystical rites:

when you set Moses and Aaron over your people

to govern and sanctify them,

you chose men next in rank and dignity

to accompany them and assist them in their task.

So too in the desert

you implanted the spirit of Moses

in the hearts of seventy wise men;

and with their help he ruled your people with greater ease.

So also upon the sons of Aaron

you poured an abundant share of their father’s plenty,

that the number of the priests prescribed by the Law

might be sufficient for the sacrifices of the tabernacle,

which were a shadow of the good things to come.

But in these last days, holy Father,

you sent your Son into the world,

Jesus, who is Apostle and High Priest of our confession.

Through the Holy Spirit

he offered himself to you as a spotless victim;

and he made his Apostles, consecrated in the truth,

sharers in his mission.

You provided them also with companions

to proclaim and carry out the work of salvation

throughout the whole world.

And now we beseech you, Lord, in our weakness,

to grant us this helper that we need

to exercise the Priesthood that comes from the Apostles.

Grant, we pray, Almighty Father,

to this your servant the dignity of the Priesthood;

renew deep within him

the Spirit of holiness;

may he henceforth possess this office,

which comes from you, O God,

and is next in rank to the office of Bishop;

and by the example of his manner of life,

may he instil right conduct.

May he be a worthy co-worker with our Order,

so that by his preaching

and through the grace of the Holy Spirit

the words of the Gospel may bear fruit in human hearts

and reach even to the ends of the earth.

Together with us,

may he be a faithful steward of your mysteries,

so that your people may be renewed in the waters of rebirth

and nourished from your altar;

so that sinners may be reconciled

and the sick raised up.

May he be joined with us, Lord,

in imploring your mercy

for the people entrusted to his care

and for all the world.

And so may the full number of the nations,

gathered together in Christ,

be transformed into your one people and made perfect in your Kingdom.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God for ever and ever.

℟ Amen.

When Bishop Philip pronounces the final ‘ever,’ Jack will be Fr Jack, a priest – forever.