In many respects, the rite of ordination of deacons, priests, and bishops are similar to each other. All include common elements such as a calling of the candidate to receive Holy Orders, the questioning of the candidate, the Laying on of Hands, prostration, Prayers of Consecration and exchange of a sign of peace. Obviously, the different rites for each Major Order have substantial distinctions from each other because they confer a different degree of Holy Orders on a candidate.

After the Gospel is read, the candidate is called by the notary so that the candidate's worthiness is explicated to the faithful present. It is here that the Church officially calls him to the priesthood, after a thorough formation period of academic study, spiritual growth and pastoral training. The rite of ordination continues after the homily. The candidate is examined by the Bishop so that the candidate may state publicly his commitment to priestly life and ministry. For priestly ordination, a specific promise is made in which the candidate promises to faithfully "...celebrate the mysteries of Christ...for the glory of God and the sanctification of God's people...". After this, the Litany of Saints and Intercessory Prayers are chanted while the candidate lays prostrate before the altar. Immediately following the Litany, the Bishop approaches the candidate and performs the ancient scriptural gesture of the Laying on of Hands, which is the outward act of conferring the Sacrament of Holy Orders configuring the candidate to act as Alter Christus, Other Christ, in the Church and before the world. All concelebrating priests present approach the candidate and, individually and in silence, perform the same gesture of the Laying on of Hands after which they remain on either side of the Bishop until the consecratory prayer is completed. The Prayer of Consecration is chanted by the Bishop asking God “… to grant to this servant … the dignity of the priesthood. Renew within him the Spirit of holiness. As co-worker with order of bishops may he be faithful to the ministry … and be to others a model of right conduct. … so that the words of the Gospel may reach the ends of the earth and the family of nations, made on in Christ, may become God’s one, holy people. …” There then follows the investiture of the newly ordained with the priestly stole and chasuble, sign of the new priest's office within the liturgy. The priest's palms are then anointed by the Bishop with Sacred Chrism as a sign of the priest’s duty to offer sacrifice to God within the Mass. It is by the hands of a priest that many of the Sacraments are administered to the faithful, especially the celebration of the Sacred Mysteries of Holy Mass. The Bishop then presents the new priest with the chalice and paten, the vessels by which the priest would faithfully celebrate Mass, with the words: "Accept from the holy people of God the gifts to be offered to him. Know what you are doing, imitate the mystery you celebrate: model your life on the mystery of the Lord's cross". The ordination rite concludes with a sign of peace extended to the new priest by the Bishop and all concelebrating priests as a sign of the unity of the presbyterate and the priestly ministry. The newly ordained concelebrates with Bishop the remainder of the Mass. This Mass is his First Mass. It is a customary practice for the newly ordained to celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving the following day, in which he does so as the principle celebrant.