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What is Priesthood?
The Catholic priesthood was instituted by Christ himself, to administer His Sacraments, to teach, sanctify and lead the people of God towards the Kingdom of God. Christ’s own priesthood and the priesthood of the New Covenant can only be understood through the ministry of the Jewish priesthood, which was grounded on offering sacrifice.
The Catholic sacrificing priest, or Sacerdos (Latin- doer of sacred things), receives a permanent “character” on his soul at ordination; he acts in the person of Christ to make present Jesus’ Sacrifice on the Cross during the Mass. When the priest absolves sins, it is Christ who truly absolves; when the priest blesses, it is Christ who truly blesses. When the priest anoints, it is Christ who heals. The priest’s hands themselves are anointed for great things.
The priesthood is a call from Christ to a relationship with Him which is grounded on discipleship & service to his people. The priest is called to become transparent, so that it is Christ who is seen through him. In so doing, the priest is blessed with his own fulfilment and sanctification. By the time Christ left Earth to return to the Father in heaven, he had called certain followers (the Apostles) to continue his Mission of establishing the Kingdom of God on Earth until that final day when he returns to us and he will be “all in all” (1 Cor 15:28). The priesthood is an extension of that work, and is therefore a continuation of the work of Christ in the world.
A CALL TO SACRIFICE
Christ asks some men to follow him more intimately and sacrifice their own desires. The call is written in the core of their very being, and therefore it brings fulfilment.
Priesthood must never be considered as an occupation like any other. It is a particular way of life in which a man is invited to enter more deeply in relationship with God, conforming himself to be more like Christ.
AN EFFICACIOUS SIGN OF GOD WORKING AMONG US TODAY
[The priest] offers his humanity to Christ, so that Christ may use him as an instrument of salvation, making him as it were into another Christ. – Blessed John Paul II
Priesthood is known within the Church as the Sacrament of Holy Orders. By definition, a Sacrament is an ‘outward sign of an inward grace’. God continues his work of drawing all people to himself and He continually pours out his gifts on us.
The priesthood is a physical manifestation of that work continuing. Through the action of the priest, Christ continues his mission in the world of today.
FOUNDED BY CHRIST AS GUARDIANS AND SHEPHERDS
Priests can trace the origins of their ministry back to Jesus and the apostles. Christ himself chose the apostles and gave them a share in his mission and authority:
“As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.” (Jn. 20:21)
“[W]hatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” (Mt. 18:18)
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations. Baptise them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Mt. 28:19)
Since the time of the apostles successors have been comissioned (ordained). This remains an unbroken line of succession today.
Jesus has not forsaken his Church, the priests are called to be one with Him to protect the Church throughout the ages. Therefore the priest insofar as he functions his ministry acts in the person of Christ the Head (of the Church).
A GREAT GIFT TO THE WORLD
In recent years the media, and the world have focussed their attention on the sacrifices that men have to make when they become priests. Christ’s love was sacrifical in that he gave himself up completely that we may be saved. For priests the greatest sacrifice they make is the call to celibacy.
But we should take heart in making such sacrifices as Christ himself said:
“I tell you the truth, no-one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the Gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields— and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life” (Mark 10,29-30).
The sacrifice is transformed in the love of Christ, and can be seen as a very beautiful thing. In return, Christ has given his priests the power to forgive sins and the power to bring Jesus himself to the altar in the Mass! In addition the priest also has the privilege to break open the Word of God to the people, and accompanying the pilgrim people of God on their journey back to Him.
Once you have renounced everything, really everything, then any bold enterprise becomes the simplest and most natural thing in all the world. – Blessed John XIII – Diary, 5th May 1928
ALTER CHRISTUS (ANOTHER CHRIST)
Through the laying on of hands at ordination, the man is transformed at his very core so that he can represent Christ the Good Shepherd for us, Christ as the Head of the Church. He offers his very self in sacrifice to the Father and he stands before the Church as Christ ‘in person’. During the Liturgy, when the priest speaks, it is Christ himself who speaks. In Confession when the priest forgives the sinner, it is Christ himself who forgives. When he visits and cares for his people, it is Christ who knocks at the door.
NECESSARY FOR THE WORLD TODAY
God is alive, and he needs people to serve Him and bring Him to others. It does make sense to become priests: the world needs priests, pastors – today, tomorrow and always, until the end of time. – Pope Benedict XVI to seminarians
We live in a world of need. The world is searching for meaning, it has lost sight of its true identity. People are asking “What is the purpose of my life?”, “What happens at the end?”, “Where can I find happiness?”. The world lacks love and therefore it lacks fulfilment.
Wherever there is Human Need there is the Catholic Priesthood!
God has not abandoned us. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, into the world as an answer to all our desires. And Jesus Christ continues to answer us through his priests.
It is the priest who makes Christ himself present in the Eucharist. It is the priest who leads men and women to God. The world needs priests, because ultimately the world needs Christ.
