The Unity of the Priesthood

7/29/2019 The Unity of the Priesthood

1/25


2/25

Introduction

The One Priesthood of Christ

The Common Priesthood of the Faithful

The Ordained Priesthood

The Unity of theCommon Priesthood of the Faithfuland the Ordained Priesthood


3/25

The one priesthood of Christ

Everything that thepriesthood of the OldCovenant prefigured

finds itsfulfillment inChrist Jesus, the

"one mediatorbetween Godand men."


4/25

The one priesthood of Christ

Melchizedek

"priest of God MostHigh,

Christ, the unique

"high priest after theorder of Melchizedek


5/25

The one priesthood of Christ The redemptive

sacrifice of Christ isunique, accomplishedonce for all; yet it ismade present in the

Eucharisticsacrifice of theChurch.


6/25

The one priesthood of Christ The same is true of the one

priesthood of Christ; it ismade present through theministerial priesthood

without diminishing theuniqueness of Christ's

priesthood: "OnlyChrist is the true

priest, the othersbeing only hisministers."


7/25

Introduction






8/25

What is the Common Priesthood

of the Faithful?


9/25

Common Priesthoodwho has made us into a kingdom, priests for his God and Father,

to him be glory and power forever [and ever]. Amen. Rev. 1:6 Cf. Rev. 5:9-10 Cf. 1 Pet 2:5,9

"a kingdom,priests for his

God and Father."

The faithful exercise their baptismal priesthood through theirparticipation, each according to his own vocation, in Christ'smission as priest, prophet, and king. CCC, 1546

exercise throughparticipation

Through the sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation thefaithful are "consecrated to be . . . a holy priesthood." CCC, 1546consecrated


10/25

The faithful in virtue of their royal

priesthood,join in theoffering of the

Eucharist. They likewiseexercise that priesthoodin receiving thesacraments,and thanksgiving, inthe witness of a holylife, and by self-denialand active charity.


11/25

Introduction






12/25

What is the Ordained Priesthood? This priesthood is ministerial. "That office . . . which the

Lord committed to the pastors of his people, is in thestrict sense of the term a service. It is entirely related

to Christ and to men. It depends entirely on Christ and on hisunique priesthood; it has been instituted for the good of menand the communion of the Church. The sacrament ofHolyOrders communicates a "sacred power"which is noneother than that ofChrist. The exercise of this authority musttherefore be measured against the model of Christ, who by love

made himself the least and the servant of all. "The Lordsaid clearly that concern for his flockwas proof of love for him. CCC, 1551


13/25

How is the Ordained Priesthood

United to the Common Priesthood

of the Faithful? The ministerial or hierarchical priesthood of

bishops and priests, and the common priesthood of

all the faithfulparticipate, "each in its

own proper way, in theone priesthood of Christ."


14/25

licet essentia et

non gradu tantum differant While being "ordered one to another," they differ

essentially. In what sense? While the commonpriesthood 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 ofthe common priesthood. It is directed at the

unfolding of the baptismal grace of allChristians. The ministerial priesthood is a meansbywhich Christ unceasingly builds up and leads his Church.For this reason it is transmitted by its own sacrament, thesacrament of Holy Orders.


15/25

The ministerial priest by the sacred power he

enjoys, teaches and rulesthe priestly people;acting in the person ofChrist, he makespresent the Eucharisticsacrifice, and offers it to

God in the name of allthe people.


16/25

teacher,sanctifier,

leader

(teacher,sanctifier,

leader)

teacher,sanctifier,

leader

teacher,sanctifier,

leader

Jesus Church Sacraments

Bishop

Priest

Deacon

Laity


17/25

Ministerial Priesthood it is Christ himself who is present to his Church as Head of his Body, Shepherd ofhis flock, high priest of the redemptive sacrifice, Teacher of Truth.

by virtue of the sacrament of Holy Orders, acts in persona Christi Capitis CCC,1548

acts in personaChristi

The ministerial priesthood has the task not only of representing Christ - Head ofthe Church - before the assembly of the faithful, but also of acting in the name ofthe whole Church when presenting to God the prayer of the Church, and above all

when offering the Eucharistic sacrifice. CCC, 1552"In the name of the whole Church" does not mean that priests are the delegates ofthe community. CCC, 1553

acts in the nameof the whole

Church

The ministerial priesthood is a means by which Christ unceasingly builds up andleads his Church. For this reason it is transmitted by its own sacrament, thesacrament of Holy Orders. CCC, 1547

as Christs meansfor the building

up of the Church


18/25

Ministerial Priesthood The ordained priesthood guarantees that it really is Christ who acts in the

sacraments through the Holy Spirit for the Church. The saving missionentrusted by the Father to his incarnate Son was committed to the apostlesand through them to their successors: they receive the Spirit of Jesus to actin his name and in his person. CCC, 1120

as connection toChrist and the

Apostles

The ordained ministry or ministerial priesthood is at the service of thebaptismal priesthood. CCC, 1120, 1547, 1592

as service to thecommon priesthood

The Christian tradition considers Melchizedek, "priest of God Most High,"as a prefiguration of the priesthood of Christ, the unique "high priest afterthe order of Melchizedek"; "holy, blameless, unstained," "by a single offeringhe has perfected for all time those who are sanctified," that is, by the uniquesacrifice of the cross. CCC, 1544-1545

completedependence on the

priesthood of Christ


19/25

Ministerial Priesthood "Whilst not having the supreme degree of the pontifical office, and notwithstanding the factthat they depend on the bishops in the exercise of their own proper power, the priests arefor all that associated with them by reason of their sacerdotal dignity; and in virtue of thesacrament of Holy Orders, after the image of Christ, the supreme and eternal priest, theyare consecrated in order to preach the Gospel and shepherd the faithful as well as tocelebrate divine worship as true priests of the New Testament.". CCC, 1564

connection to thebishops

It depends entirely on Christ and on his unique priesthood; it has been instituted for thegood of men and the communion of the Church. CCC, 1120, 1547, 1592

for the sake of menand the community

of the Church

"Christ is always present in his Church, especially in her liturgical celebrations. He ispresent in the Sacrifice of the Mass not only in the person of his minister, 'the same nowoffering, through the ministry of priests, who formerly offered himself on the cross,' butespecially in the Eucharistic species CCC, 1088, 1548-49

presence of Christ


20/25

Introduction






21/25

Common Priesthood Ordained Priesthood

is exercised by theunfolding of baptismalgrace, - a life of faith, hopeand charity, a life according

to the Spirit

at the service of thecommon priesthood... anddirected at the unfolding of

the baptismal grace of allChristians

Priesthoodof Christ


22/25

Unity and Diversity of

Ministerial Functions

munusdocendi

munussanctifi-

candi

munusregendi

essenceof

pastoralministry

Only the Sacrament of Orders gives the ordained minister a particularparticipation in the office of Christ, the Shepherd and Head in his EternalPriesthood.


23/25

Unity and Diversity

Common Priesthood

munusdoce

ndi ever more united

with Christ, they

exhibit the grace ofBaptism andConfirmation in alldimensions of theirpersonal family,social andecclesial lives, andso fulfill the call to

holinessaddressed to allthe baptized.

munussanctifica

ndi "are called . . . to

be witnesses to

Christ in allcircumstances andat the very heart ofthe community ofmankind"

(GS43 4).

munusrege

ndi the power to uproot

the rule of sin

within themselvesand in the world, bytheir self-denialand holiness of life(cf. LG 36).


24/25

Summary on the

Priestly, Prophetic and Kingly People

Priestly People

share in thepriestly dignityof Christ

Must presentourselves as

sacrifice,living, holyand pleasingto God

PropheticPeople

by sensus fideithe people ofGod receivesthe Word ofthe Living God

Kingly People

received fromChrist thepower toovercome sin

to serve Christ

in others


25/25

Thank you!

Documents

The Unity of the Priesthood