The ministerial orders of the
Roman Catholic Church are those of
bishop,
presbyter (more commonly called
priest in
English), and
deacon. The
ordained priesthood and the common priesthood (or priesthood of all the baptized
faithful) are different in function and essence. The Catholic Church teaches that when a man participates in priesthood, he participates in the priesthood of Christ Himself. All men who, through the
Sacrament of
Holy Orders, have become priests participate in Christ's priesthood; they act
in persona Christi Capitis, in the person of Christ, the Head of His Body, the Church.