Tuesday, February 28, 2017
Youcat commented through CCC – Question n. 250 - Part V.
(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 1547)
The ministerial or hierarchical priesthood of bishops and priests, and the
common priesthood of all the faithful participate, "each in its own proper
way, in the one priesthood of Christ." While being "ordered one to
another," they differ essentially (LG 10 § 2). In what sense? While the
common priesthood of the faithful is exercised by the unfolding of baptismal
grace -a life of faith, hope, and charity, a life according to the Spirit-, the
ministerial priesthood is at the service of the common priesthood. It is
directed at the unfolding of the baptismal grace of all Christians. The
ministerial priesthood is a means by
which Christ unceasingly builds up and leads his Church. For this reason it is
transmitted by its own sacrament, the sacrament of Holy Orders.
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 1548 b) Now the minister, by reason of the
sacerdotal consecration which he has received, is truly made like to the high
priest and possesses the authority to act in the power and place of the person
of Christ himself (virtute ac persona
ipsius Christi) (Pius XII, encyclical, Mediator
Dei: AAS, 39 (1947) 548). Christ is the source of all priesthood: the
priest of the old law was a figure of Christ, and the priest of the new law
acts in the person of Christ (St. Thomas Aquinas, STh III, 22, 4c).
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