J
John_Russell_Jr
Guest
Sorry if this came out with some computer code, especially about the spiritual and corporal works of mercy. In future I’ll figure out how to do a blog effectively and post a link.
Helloo all. i wrote this letter below to a non catholic ( protestant ) who kept saying what’s so special about priests. Can you read it and add your suggestions and comments to help me perfect it for a blog and to go on my website in a new forum I’m setting up along with a big upgrade very soon. I appreciate your help.
Good question. Many people in the modern world ask this question. Many catholic priests don’t seem to know the answer too. This article will attempt to help explain what is different about priests. Perhaps it will even help some priests overcome their identity crisis and help them and all understand the subject much better and help all see the unique and special role priests have in the church.
Q. What is a priest?
A.
PRIEST. An authorized mediator who offers a true sacrifice in acknowledgment of God’s supreme dominion over human beings and in expiation for their sins. A priest’s mediation is the reverse of that of a prophet, who communicates from God to the people. A priest mediates from the people to God.
Christ, who is God and man, is the first, last, and greatest priest of the New Law. He is the eternal high priest who offered himself once and for all on the Cross, a victim of infinite value, and he continually renews that sacrifice on the altar through the ministry of the Church.
Within the Church are men who are specially ordained as priests to consecrate and offer the body and blood of Christ in the Mass. The Apostles were the first ordained priests, when on Holy Thursday night Christ told them to do in his memory what he had just done at the Last Supper. All priests and bishops trace their ordination to the Apostles. Their second essential priestly power, to forgive sins, was conferred by Christ on Easter Sunday, when he told the Apostles, “For those whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven; for those whose sins you retain, they are retained” (John 20-22, 23).
All the Christian faithful, however, also share in the priesthood by their baptismal character. They are enabled to offer themselves in sacrifice with Christ through the Eucharistic liturgy. They offer the Mass in the sense that they internally unite themselves with the outward offering made by the ordained priest alone.
Also- In the early church priests were called presbyters. An explaination follows-
PRESBYTER. In the early Church a member of a group (usually of priests) who advised a bishop. Together they formed the presbytery, which, under a bishop, was the governing body of a community. The presbyter having no official duties, he was often commissioned by the bishop to teach, celebrate Mass, and baptize. Presbyters were usually of advanced age and, like a bishop, chosen by the people. Their rank was above that of deacons but inferior to that of bishops. There was no restriction on their number.
Whilst priests are sinners as we all are a priest lives in a state of perfection. This does not mean the priest is perfect but that he lives a life where he is constantly called on to perform the works of spiritual mercy and corporal mercy. Not many people have a vocation that requires this.
Helloo all. i wrote this letter below to a non catholic ( protestant ) who kept saying what’s so special about priests. Can you read it and add your suggestions and comments to help me perfect it for a blog and to go on my website in a new forum I’m setting up along with a big upgrade very soon. I appreciate your help.
Good question. Many people in the modern world ask this question. Many catholic priests don’t seem to know the answer too. This article will attempt to help explain what is different about priests. Perhaps it will even help some priests overcome their identity crisis and help them and all understand the subject much better and help all see the unique and special role priests have in the church.
Q. What is a priest?
A.
PRIEST. An authorized mediator who offers a true sacrifice in acknowledgment of God’s supreme dominion over human beings and in expiation for their sins. A priest’s mediation is the reverse of that of a prophet, who communicates from God to the people. A priest mediates from the people to God.
Christ, who is God and man, is the first, last, and greatest priest of the New Law. He is the eternal high priest who offered himself once and for all on the Cross, a victim of infinite value, and he continually renews that sacrifice on the altar through the ministry of the Church.
Within the Church are men who are specially ordained as priests to consecrate and offer the body and blood of Christ in the Mass. The Apostles were the first ordained priests, when on Holy Thursday night Christ told them to do in his memory what he had just done at the Last Supper. All priests and bishops trace their ordination to the Apostles. Their second essential priestly power, to forgive sins, was conferred by Christ on Easter Sunday, when he told the Apostles, “For those whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven; for those whose sins you retain, they are retained” (John 20-22, 23).
All the Christian faithful, however, also share in the priesthood by their baptismal character. They are enabled to offer themselves in sacrifice with Christ through the Eucharistic liturgy. They offer the Mass in the sense that they internally unite themselves with the outward offering made by the ordained priest alone.
Also- In the early church priests were called presbyters. An explaination follows-
PRESBYTER. In the early Church a member of a group (usually of priests) who advised a bishop. Together they formed the presbytery, which, under a bishop, was the governing body of a community. The presbyter having no official duties, he was often commissioned by the bishop to teach, celebrate Mass, and baptize. Presbyters were usually of advanced age and, like a bishop, chosen by the people. Their rank was above that of deacons but inferior to that of bishops. There was no restriction on their number.
Whilst priests are sinners as we all are a priest lives in a state of perfection. This does not mean the priest is perfect but that he lives a life where he is constantly called on to perform the works of spiritual mercy and corporal mercy. Not many people have a vocation that requires this.
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