Presbyterium
Presbyteriumis a modern term used in theCatholic ChurchandEastern Catholic Churchesafter theSecond Vatican Councilin reference to acollegeofpriests,in active ministry, of an individualparticular churchsuch as adioceseoreparchy.The body, in union with theirbishopas a collective, is a symbol of the collaborative and collegial nature of their sacerdotal ministry as inspired by the reforms made during the Second Vatican Council.
The presbyterium is most visible during the ordination of new priests and bishops and theMass of the Chrism:theHoly ThursdayMass where the blessing of theoilsused in the sacraments ofBaptism,Confirmation,Anointing of the Sick,andHoly Orderstakes place. They are also visible during other specialliturgicalfunctions such as thewakeandburialof their bishop.
Liturgically, within Catholicism, the presbyterium is the area of the church in which the clergy functions. It is more commonly called thesanctuary.
Etymology[edit]
The wordpresbyteriumis the Latinised form of theGreekπρεσβυτέριον(presbuterion), 'council of elders, presbytery',[1]fromGreekπρεσβύτερος(presbuteros), the comparative form ofπρέσβυς(presbus), 'elder'.[2]
Presbyterate[edit]
Thepresbyterateis another term used to refer to the sacerdotal collegiality of priests with their bishop, commonly used in theAnglican Communion.Within churches which holdapostolic succession,it is reflected in theconcelebrationof theEucharist,in joining the bishop in the laying on of hands on an ordinand to the priesthood, in collegial processions, at inductions, funerals, and other liturgical activities. In theCatholic Churchit is used to refer to the second order of priesthood - one is said to be "ordained to the presbyterate". Paragraph 1536 of theCatechism of the Catholic Churchstates that there are three distinct orders of apostolic ministry in the sacrament of Holy Orders:episcopate,presbyterateanddiaconate[3]