Final answer:
The Bishop confers the Sacrament of Holy Orders primarily through the laying on of hands, an act which symbolizes the conveyance of the Holy Spirit and grants the ordinand the authority to perform clerical duties.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Bishop confers the Sacrament of Holy Orders through the laying on of hands. This ancient ritual, mentioned both in the Old and New Testament, symbolizes the conveyance of the Holy Spirit and in the context of Holy Orders, authorizes the ordinand within the church to perform clerical duties such as celebrating the sacraments, preaching, and absolving sins. The anointment with holy oil may also occur as part of the ordination, but is not the defining act of conferring the sacrament itself.
Biblical precedents, historical church practices, and the writings of the early church affirm that the laying on of hands is integral to the ordination process. Contingent on the level of Holy Orders - whether as a deacon, priest, or bishop - additional rites and symbols could be incorporated, but the essential element remains the laying on of hands by a bishop.
In the Catholic Church, and many other Christian traditions, ordination is much more than a ceremonial practice. It signifies a profound spiritual transformation, distinguishing the ordained from the laity and granting them new responsibilities within the community of believers. This does not negate the belief in the priesthood of all believers, but rather, acknowledges certain roles and functions necessitate formal ecclesiastical recognition and consecration.