<P> Bishops are chosen from among the priests in the Catholic Church . Among Eastern Catholic Churches, which permit married priests, bishops must be widowers or unmarried, or agree to abstain from sexual contact with their wives . It is a common misconception that all such bishops come from religious orders . While this is generally true, it is not an absolute rule . Catholic bishops are usually leaders of territorial units called dioceses . </P> <P> Normally, bishops administer the sacrament of Holy Orders . In Latin - rite Catholic churches, only bishops (and priests with authorization by the local bishop) may licitly administer the sacrament of confirmation, but if an ordinary priest administers that sacrament illicitly, it is nonetheless considered valid, so that the person confirmed cannot be actually confirmed again, by a bishop or otherwise . Latin rite priests with special permission of the diocesan bishop or the Holy See can lawfully administer confirmation; every Catholic priest must administer confirmation, even without permission, to children in danger of death . In Eastern Catholic Churches, confirmation is done by parish priests via the rite of chrismation, and is usually administered to both babies and adults immediately after their baptism . </P> <P> The word either derives ultimately from the Greek πρεσβύτερος / presbuteros meaning "elder" or the Latin praepositus meaning "superintendent ." The Catholic Church sees the Priesthood as both a reflection of the ancient Jewish priesthood in the Temple, and the work of Jesus as priest . The liturgy of ordination recalls the Old Testament priesthood and the priesthood of Christ . In the words of Thomas Aquinas, "Christ is the source of all priesthood: the priest of the old law was a prefiguration of Christ, and the priest of the new law acts in the person of Christ" Summa Theologiae III, 22, 4c . Priests may celebrate Mass, hear confessions and give absolution, celebrate Baptism, serve as the Church's witness at the sacrament of Holy Matrimony, administer Anointing of the Sick, and administer Confirmation if authorized to do so by the Bishop . See Presbyterorum Ordinis for the Second Vatican Council decree on the nature of the Catholic priesthood . </P> <P> The Diaconate is one of the three Major Orders in the Catholic Church . The first deacons were ordained by the Apostles in Acts of the Apostles chapter 6 . The ministry of the deacon in the Roman Catholic Church is described as one of service in three areas: the Word, the Liturgy and Charity . The deacon's ministry of the Word includes proclaiming the Gospel during the Mass, preaching and teaching . The deacon's liturgical ministry includes various parts of the Mass proper to the deacon, including being an ordinary minister of Holy Communion and the proper minister of the chalice when Holy Communion is administered under both kinds . The ministry of charity involves service to the poor and marginalized and working with parishioners to help them become more involved in such ministry . As clerics, deacons are required to say the Liturgy of the Hours daily; Deacons, like bishops and priests, are ordinary ministers of the Sacrament of Baptism and can serve as the church's witness at the sacrament of Holy Matrimony, which the bride and groom administer to each other . Deacons may also preside over funeral rites outside of Mass, They can preside over various services such as Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, and they may give certain blessings . </P>

When was the sacrament of holy orders initiated