Priesthood is a sacred institution of service to God and the human world. As an institution, it brings the human person in touch with a deity or divinity in an attempt to foster a relationship and enhance the life of the world and the human person. Unlike any other priesthood, the Catholic Priesthood is unique and essentially built on the Priesthood of Christ, the Eternal High Priest. As a priesthood with a difference, it is a divine calling from Christ Himself who chooses and shares his divine power and authority with men (Luke 9:1-6) that they may continually offer, not bulls any longer, but rather Christ as the most sublime sacrifice to God his Father; take his Good news to the world, heal and serve the needs of the people.
He is properly a Servant
Notably, there exist an essential difference between the ministerial priesthood and the common priesthood of all the faithful. While the latter is exercised by the unfolding of baptismal grace – a life of faith and charity, a life according to the spirit; the former is ordered to be at the service of the common priesthood. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church “this priesthood is ministerial” that is an office which in its core, the Lord has committed to the pastors of his people for strictly service.
More also, it is a service 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 is therefore measured against the model of Christ, who by love made himself the least and the servant of all.
The Lord said it clearly in the gospel of Mark “But it shall not be so among you; whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of man also came not to be served but to serve, and give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mk 10:42-45) The love the priests bear is intertwined in their service to all. In fact, this love of the heart of Jesus is made concrete as our priests make Jesus descend on the altar at every Holy mass, listen to our problems, hear our confessions, pray for and with us, bless our homes and marriages.
He bears the Love of Christ to all
The Conciliar Document, Lumen Gentium No. 10 is so definitive about this “it is the same priest, Christ Jesus, whose sacred person his minister truly represents… acts in persona Christi Capitas.” Simply put, even the service he renders he does not in his own accord but in the place of Christ who acts through him. Little or no wonder, Fulton Sheen and many
scholars are so empathic about the maxim “The Priest is not his own.” He is nothing but Christ’s – in essence. He is called to be like Christ whose love reaches to the end, agape – the love that enable him to break through into the divine. (Joseph Ratzinger)
And here lies the essence of the priesthood of Christ – the priest yet the victim. Borrowing Fulton Sheen’s expression, he notes “The priest becomes a victim like Christ who after incarnation offer himself for sins, as victim.” Isaiah speaks of this victim, the one who bows to the stroke: no word comes from him. (Isaiah 53:7). In a manner of utmost self-giving to God and humanity, the Sacerdos offer the repose of body in order that others may have peace of soul; he remains pure in order to recompense for the excesses of the flesh committed by sinners. The priestly service for the People of God is well-understood in the matters: teaching (munus docendi, divine worship (munus liturgicum) and pastoral governance (munus regendi).
He is not a Super-Human
Verily, verily, we must grasp Christ’s intent, that regardless of the unworthiness of the priest who remains Christ’s instruments of sanctifying his own flock, Christ still acts through them for the Lord said clearly that his concern for his flock was the essence at all times.
Also, we must be aware that though the presence of Christ in the minister does not mean he is ipso facto preserved from human weaknesses, the spirit of domination, error or sin (CCC 1550). But no sin of any Christ’s instrument or minister impedes the fruits of Grace Christ himself bestows on his Church. Some ministers’ sins had or continues to be a sign of infidelity to the Gospel of Christ, but without mincing words, all of Christ’s faithful especially the laity must be aware that the Eternal High Priest still continues to bestow Grace to his flock.
Finally, it must be reiterated that the Christ’s minister is expected to continually give all of himself as Christ did without holding back even his life. They learn from Christ each moment how to surrender all and not their partial self; for the concern for Christ flock remains the proof of their love for him. In this sense, we must be aware and shun some recent views about the priesthood where priests are perceived as ‘those who cannot be faithful to their vows’ or worse still as breadwinners, philanthropists, an ostentatious way of life etc. We must re-echo the undiluted teachings of the Church, priests are nothing but servants of the mysteries of Christ.
DEDICATED TO ALL PRIESTS: ON THE WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR THE SANCTIFICATION OF ALL PRIESTS, MOST SACRED HEART OF JESUS 2024
Adeleke, O’ James
Student and Growing Writer
