Sunday, February 26, 2017
Youcat commented through CCC – Question n. 250 - Part III.
(Youcat answer - repeated) The priests
of the Old Covenant saw their duty as mediating between heavenly and earthly things,
between God and his people. Since Christ is the “one mediator between God and
men” (1 Tim 2:5), he perfected and ended that priesthood. After Christ
there can be an ordained priesthood only in Christ, in Christ’s
sacrifice on the Cross, and through a calling and apostolic mission from
Christ.
A deepening through CCC
(CCC 1543)
In the consecratory prayer for ordination of deacons, the Church confesses:
Almighty God…, You make the Church, Christ's body, grow to its full stature as
a new and greater temple. You enrich it with every kind of grace and perfect it
with a diversity of members to serve the whole body in a wonderful pattern of
unity. You established a threefold ministry of worship and service, for the
glory of your name. As ministers of your tabernacle you chose the sons of Levi
and gave them your blessing as their everlasting inheritance (Roman Pontifical, Ordination of Deacons
21, Prayer of Consecration).
Reflecting and meditating
(Youcat comment) A Catholic priest who administers the
sacraments acts not on the basis of his own power or moral perfection (which
unfortunately he often lacks), but rather “in persona Christi”. Through his
ordination, the transforming, healing, saving power of Christ is grafted onto
him. Because a priest has nothing of his own, he is above all a servant. The distinguishing
characteristic of every authentic priest, therefore, is humble astonishment at
his own vocation.
(CCC Comment)
(CCC 1544)
Everything that the priesthood of the Old Covenant prefigured finds its
fulfillment in Christ Jesus, the "one mediator between God and men"
(2 Tim 2:5). The Christian tradition considers Melchizedek, "priest of God
Most High," as a prefiguration of the priesthood of Christ, the unique
"high priest after the order of Melchizedek" (Heb 5:10; cf. 6:20; Gen
14:18); "holy, blameless, unstained" (Heb 7:26), "by a single
offering he has perfected for all time those who are sanctified" (Heb
10:14), that is, by the unique sacrifice of the cross.
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