T
Telstar
Guest
Exactly. Jesus told us to “take up” our cross and follow Him. The first way we do that is by joining ourselves to Him on the Cross, as the Priest offers Mass on behalf of all present. But, we also do it by offering all we do, whether by our “works”, or by offering our prayers for ourselves and others, or just by living our lives every day and following the will of God for us. We do it by resisting sin and keeping our hearts and minds focused on God, not just on Sunday, but every day of the week. The main purpose and function of any priest is to offer sacrifice to God. The laity are given their office of “priesthood” through Baptism, but it is not the same Office of Priest that comes through the laying on of the hands of the Bishop. That is a totally different thing.
That denial began with men like Luther and Calvin who rebelled against the lawful Authority of the Church, which was given to Her by Jesus Christ. They first rejected the Authority of the Priesthood (which they belonged to) and knew that they had to undermine that Authority by preaching against it in order to turn the hearts and minds of men against the Catholic Church. It was the only way they could justify their own sinful actions, to themselves and to those that they sought to win over to their way of thinking. That denial continues to this day for the same reasons. Because, if the Catholic Church received Her Authority and the Priesthood from Jesus Christ, then those who oppose that Authority are actively working against Christ, Himself. The Catholic Church is the Body of Christ that was given His full Authority through the Apostles. In particular, the highest Authority of the Church was given directly to Peter and his successors. If you do not wish to submit to that Authority, then you have to deny it’s existence.