328. What is the effect of ordination to the priesthood? (part 1)
(Comp 328) The anointing of the Spirit seals the priest with an indelible, spiritual character that configures him to Christ the priest and enables him to act in the name of Christ the Head. As a co-worker of the order of bishops he is consecrated to preach the Gospel, to celebrate divine worship, especially the Eucharist from which his ministry draws its strength, and to be a shepherd of the faithful.
“In brief”
(CCC 1595) Priests are united with the bishops in sacerdotal
dignity and at the same time depend on them in the exercise of their pastoral
functions; they are called to be the bishops' prudent co-workers. They form
around their bishop the presbyterium which bears responsibility with him for
the particular Church. They receive from the bishop the charge of a parish
community or a determinate ecclesial office.
To deepen and explain
(CCC 1562) "Christ, whom the Father hallowed and sent
into the world, has, through his apostles, made their successors, the bishops
namely, sharers in his consecration and mission; and these, in their turn, duly
entrusted in varying degrees various members of the Church with the office of
their ministry" (LG 28; cf. Jn 10:36). "The function of the bishops'
ministry was handed over in a subordinate degree to priests so that they might
be appointed in the order of the priesthood and be co-workers of the episcapal order for the proper fulfillment of the
apostolic mission that had been entrusted to it by Christ" (PO 2 §
2).
Reflection
(CCC 1563) "Because it is joined with the episcopal
order the office of priests shares in the authority by which Christ himself
builds up and sanctifies and rules his Body. Hence the priesthood of priests,
while presupposing the sacraments of initiation, is nevertheless conferred by
its own particular sacrament. Through that sacrament priests by the anointing
of the Holy Spirit are signed with a special character and so are configured to
Christ the priest in such a way that they are able to act in the person of
Christ the head" (PO 2). [IT CONTINUES]
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