YOUCAT Question n. 250 - Part VI. How does the Church understand the sacrament of Holy Orders?
(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 1548
a) In the ecclesial service of the ordained minister, it is Christ himself who
is present to his Church as Head of his Body, Shepherd of his flock, high
priest of the redemptive sacrifice, Teacher of Truth. This is what the Church
means by saying that the priest, by virtue of the sacrament of Holy Orders,
acts in persona Christi Capitis (Cf.
LG 10; 28; SC 33; CD 11; PO 2; 6): It is the same priest, Christ Jesus, whose
sacred person his minister truly represents.
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 1549)
Through the ordained ministry, especially that of bishops and priests, the
presence of Christ as head of the Church is made visible in the midst of the
community of believers (Cf. LG 21). In the beautiful expression of St. Ignatius
of Antioch, the bishop is typos tou
Patros: he is like the living image of God the Father (St. Ignatius of
Antioch, Ad Trall. 3, 1: SCh 10, 96;
cf. Ad Magn. 6, 1: SCh 10, 82-84).
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