Division of the government whose purpose is to exercise a specific function in the administration
A Ministry is a department or division of the government of a nation: economy, defense, labor, foreign relations, production, justice, internal security, agriculture, commerce, among others. Each of the ministries in which a government is divided has a concrete and specific function within it and has the responsibility of an authority called a minister, which will respond to the highest authority: the president of the government in question..
For example, the ministry of defense of a nation will be in charge of everything that pertains to the national defense of a country and is generally in charge of the control of the armed forces. Obviously, it responds to the directives that the current president and head of the executive want to take in this regard.
For its part, the ministry of economy of a nation has the task of assisting the president in everything concerning the economic policy that is developed, the administration of public finances, trade, and economic relations at all levels with the rest. of the provinces that make up the country.
Building in which the offices of the ministry are located
On the other hand, the term is also used to designate the building in which the offices of the ministerial department are located., then, it is used interchangeably both to refer to each ministerial division and to designate the physical space in which each one functions. “The Ministry of Agriculture announced important benefits that will reach the majority of agricultural producers; the demonstration at the doors of the labor ministry was really bloody ".
Generally, the ministries are close to the headquarters of the central government.
There is no universal denomination for each government department, they will depend on each country and may, according to needs, be modified by the executive branch of the day.
In addition, some countries, such as Argentina, have the figure known as Chief of the Cabinet of Ministers, such position is carried out by an official appointed by the president, who will have under his orbit and main activity carry out the coordination of actions between the different ministries.
The questions that turn out to be general in this sense, is that the authorities of the ministries, that is, the ministers, are appointed by the executive power, there will never be an official in charge of a ministry who does not agree with the official government proposal, it would be politically unfeasible. And the other issue is that their physical headquarters are located in the national capital, close to the activity of the central power, as we have already pointed out.
The religious ministry
On the other hand, in religion we also find a reference since in that way the office and dignity of the priesthood is called. As we know, priests are men consecrated to God, who were trained and ordained to exercise as such and are in charge of officiating the popular rite of Mass, the most important celebration within the Catholic religion.
In this case also those who exercise this activity will be called ministers.
In the Catholic Church they have great relevance because they are in charge of administering the Sacraments (Baptism, Eucharist, Marriage, Confirmation, Penance, Anointing of the Sick).
Of course, none of these sacraments will be valid if they are not administered by a formal minister belonging to the church.
Administration of Sacraments
Baptism is the first sacrament and one of the most relevant because it makes the faithful a Christian and also because it will erase the original sin with which we are all born. Baptism by ablution or pouring is the way that is widely administered today in Catholicism by ministers.
