What is a sign that Baptism Confirmation and Holy Orders have in common?

Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Orders are all sacraments (= signs) of initiation.

A sacrament is defined as:

- a visible sign,

- instituted by Christ,

- for the transmission of grace.

Baptism (received at any age) brings the grace of God's forgiveness of all personal sins, and erases the trace of Original Sin which we all inherit from Adam and Eve. The baptised person becomes a member of the mystical body of Christ, the Church.

Confirmation (received by one who has attained the age of reason) confers actual graces upon the recipient, who in freely choosing to be confirmed expresses his desire to confirm the choice of baptism that was usually made by his parents. The confirmed person becomes an adult member of the Church.

Holy Orders, which can be conferred only by a bishop, initiates a man into the priesthood of Christ as an ordained minister. He would normally have been ordained a Lector, then a Deacon beforehand, and may subsequently be consecrated a bishop, which is the fullness of the priesthood. Elevation to archbishop or cardinal and even election as Pope are higher honours, but the episcopacy (becoming a bishop) is already the fullness of the priestly state.