The ministerial or hierarchical priesthood of bishops and priests participates in the one priesthood of Christ. The faithful who have been baptized share also in the one priesthood, but their participation in the priesthood differs essentially from that of the hierarchical priests. The common priesthood of the faithful enables them to take part in Christian worship in union with the ministerial priest and with Christ our great High Priest.
The priesthood is focused on the Mass, for it is through the liturgy, especially the divine Eucharistic sacrifice, that the work of our redemption is exercised. In the liturgy the full public worship is performed by the Church, the Mystical Body of Jesus Christ, that is, by the head and its members.
Christ is Our Great High Priest
Though they differ from one another in essence and not only in the degree, the common priesthood of the faithful and the ministerial priesthood are nonetheless interrelated. Each of them In its own special way is a participation in the priesthood of Christ. The ministerial priest, by the sacred power he enjoys, and acting in the person of Christ, brings about the Eucharistic sacrifice, and offers it to God in the name of all the people. For their part, the faithful join in the offering of the Eucharist by virtue of their Batismal (royal) priesthood. They likewise exercise that priesthood by receiving the sacraments, by prayer and thanksgiving, by the witness of a holy life, by self denial and by active charity.
In the Person of Christ
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 the person of Christ. Christ is the source of all priesthood: the priest of the Old Law was a figure of Christ, the priest of the New Law acts in the person of Christ.
This Priesthood is Ministerial
That office which the Lord committed to the pastors of His people is in the strict sense of the term a service: it is entirely related to Christ and to men; it depends entirely on Christ and on His unique priesthood; it has been instituted for the good of men and the communion of the Church. The sacrament of Holy Orders communicates a sacred power which is none other than that of Christ. The exercise of this authority must therefore be measured against the model of Christ, who by love made Himself the least and servant of all. The Lord said clearly that concern for His flock was proof of concern for Him.
Some Priests are Given Special Honors
A Cardinal is a priest or bishop belonging to a group selected to advise the Pope in the government of the Church. Cardinals have the right of selecting a new Pope after the death of the reigning Pontiff. A Monsignor is a priest honored by the Pope at the request of the bishop. An Abbott is a priest who exercises jurisdiction over a religious community which is similar in some respects to that exercised by a bishop of a diocese. Deacons assist the priest in serving the people of God. They have a function in the Eucharistic liturgy, they proclaim the word of God, and preach when called upon, they distribute communion, baptize, bless marriages, and lead wake services among other duties, as needed by the pastor and the community.
The faithful should take seriously their obligation to pray for the priests who serve our communities. It is important to pray for vocations. We need ministerial priests to make available to us the sacraments, channels of grace, the life of the soul.
Christ our Mediator: Yesterday, Today and Forever
St Paul says, “Therefore He had to become like His brothers in every way, that He might be a merciful and faithful High priest before God in their behalf, to expiate the sins of the people (Heb. 2:17) Christ is the mediator between us and the Father. “God is one. One also is the mediator between God and men, the man Jesus Christ, who gave Himself as a ransom for all (I Tim2:5-6).
Through His priesthood, Jesus, the mediator between God and man, preached His Gospel to the people, established His Church to carry on His work among people of all ages, and gave His life as a sacrifice for our sins. Jesus offered to the Father the sacrifice of His life as a sacrifice for our sins. Jesus offered to the Father the sacrifice of His life on the Cross. He continues His work as mediator in the Church through the ministry of His priests.
