My dear Parishioners,
Peace! While the “Year for Priests” has ended it is still timely to go over the various In Brief passages in the Catechism of the Catholic Church regarding Holy Orders. We will then resume with Article Two (2) of the Creed. There are eleven (11) of these passages which will help us to appreciate this sign of grace entrusted to the Church by Christ Himself, the Great High Priest. The following is a reflection on article 1595.
When the Catechism teaches us about the Ordained Priesthood we are reminded that not only are the Bishops to be united with and under the Successor of Saint Peter, the Pope, but Priests similarly are to be united with and under their Bishop who is a Successor of the Apostles.
Sometimes when the term ‘dignity’ is used we often think ‘stuffy’ or ‘arrogant.’ This is foreign to the notion of priestly or ‘sacerdotal dignity’ as understood by Mother Church. The Office of the Ordained is one of dignity not because of the particular man who has been ordained, but more because of the One who is made present through the words and deeds of the ordained, Christ Jesus the Lord. Whether it is a Bishop or a Priest offering the Holy Mass or granting absolution in the Sacrament of Penance or Anointing the Sick the sacrament is no more or less valid or effective in itself, because it is Christ who is the primary actor in the sacraments. The gloria ad extra (external glory) is greater whenever the Bishop does what he does surrounded and assisted by his Priests. The personal holiness of the Bishop or Priest likewise does not diminish the actual power of the sacraments but may effect one’s willingness to approach the sacraments. We are not the only ones who would like to receive the sacraments from holy ministers, that was (and is Christ’s desire too).
As a Bishops depend upon the Bishop of Rome for his office, the Priests likewise depend upon their Bishops for whichever Parish or Ecclesial Office in which to serve. So often all we know is the Parish Priest (Pastor) and his associates (if he has any). This is the ‘normal’ or ‘ordinary’ Ecclesial Office which Priests exercise. There are other Ecclesial Offices in which Priests often serve: School Chaplain and or Teacher, Vicars General, Judicial Vicars. These are particular ‘pastoral functions’ which presuppose the grace of Ordination, the ‘being’ of a Priest united to Christ the Head by the laying on of hands and prayer of consecration.
Together with and under the direction of the Bishops, Priests work as a body (‘presbyterium’) and individually in building up the ‘Particular Church’ which is the specific Diocese (or Eparchy in the Eastern Rites). The Catechism distinguishes between the specific portion of the People of God which is the Parish and the specific portion of the People of God which is the Particular Church. When treating the article of the Creed about the Church we will treat this in greater depth.
God bless you!
Father John Arthur Orr