All Christians are called to "priestly service"

Christian service is not an option.  By the Sacraments of Initiation we have been incorporated into the body of Christ.  As a result we are called to participate in Christ's work of "re-creating" the world.  The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains our call this way:
 

Some Christians are called to an ordained priestly service:

Besides participation in the "common" priesthood, to which all Christians are called, some are called to participation in the ordained, or "ministerial", priesthood.

God's choice of the tribe of Levi for liturgical service is seen by the Church as "a prefiguring of the ordained ministry of the New Covenant". CCC, 1541

And so the ordained, or ministerial, priesthood "is at the service of the common priesthood" (CCC, 1591) and is "conferred by the sacrament of Holy Orders".  CCC, 1591

Ordained bishops are the direct successors of the apostles:

The sacrament of Holy Orders gives bishops the authority and responsibility to:

• shepherd Jesus' followers,

• lead them in worship and service, and

• instruct them in the way of salvation.

The leadership role among the apostles was held and exercised by Peter.  Consider just a few examples of how he exercised this leadership.  Peter

Just as Peter held a special leadership role among the apostles, so his successor, the bishop of Rome, holds a special leadership role among the bishops.  CCC, 882-884

This special leadership role of the bishop of Rome prompted eleventh-century Christians to give him a special title: pope, which means "father of the fathers".  Christians have continued to call him by this title.

One of the awesome responsibilities of the pope and bishops is to pass on, free from error, the teachings Jesus entrusted to them (Matthew 28:16-20).  This responsibility introduces us to the importance but vastly misunderstood teaching concerning infallibility.  CCC, 888-892

What about Infallibility?

One day Jesus was instructing his disciples.  In the course of  his instruction, he turned to Peter and said:

And just before ascending to his Father, Jesus commanded Peter and the apostles to teach all nations. (Matthew 28:20)  To help them do this, Jesus gave them the Holy Spirit (John 16:13) and promised to be with them always, "to the end of the age".  (Matthew 28:20) 

It is against this general background that we must consider the subject of infallibility.

Infallibility is freedom from error:

Simply put, infallibility means that God will not allow the Church to depart from the teachings of Jesus in matters of faith and morals.

Somewhat as the Holy Spirit guided the authors of Scripture in matters related to salvation, so the Holy Spirit guides the teachers of the Church in matters of faith and morals.  We sometimes speak of this guidance as the gift of infallibility. (John 16:13)   The exercise of this charism takes several forms.    (CCC, 890)

Ordained priests are coworkers of the bishops:

As the early Church grew in numbers, the bishop could no longer serve all the people entr4usted to his care.  He, therefore, ordained coworkers to help him.  Given the name presbyters (priests), they were put in charge of smaller units (parishes) of the bishop's assigned territory (diocese).

As a result, the priest is the ordained minister with whom we are most familiar.  The custom of remaining unmarried goes back to early Christian times, but it did not become universal practice in the Western Church until the twelfth century. 

Remaining unmarried takes its inspiration from Jesus, who remained celibate (unmarried) throughout his life.  Thus, in the Catholic Church today the priest serves as a sign of Christ's presence among us.  Celibacy also serves the practical purpose of permitting the priest greater freedom in serving his flock.

Living a celibate life does not necessarily make the priest a holier person.  It simply affirms a priest's unique commitment to Christ and his Church.  One attempt to express the ideal of this commitment is "Thou Art a Priest Forever" by Jean Lacondaire, a French monk:

Deacons assist the bishop and the priests:

Today deacons provide a wide variety of services in the community.  They preach, baptize, and officiate at marriages and funerals.  They do not celebrate the Eucharist, the sacrament of Reconciliation, or the sacrament of Anointing of the Sick.  CCC, 1569-1571

What about religious communities?

There are religious communities of priests, sisters, and brothers.  Members of religious communities often take vows of poverty (foregoing ownership of goods), chastity, and obedience to their religious superior.  CCC, 925-927

Taking vows does not elevate members of religious communities into a position in the Church that is higher and holier than that of other Christians.  It carves out for them a different Christian lifestyle - a different way of striving for the same perfection to which every Christian is called.  (Matthew 5:48)

Each religious community has its own particular spirit or spirituality.  It is tailored to help its members carry out the particular ministry to which the community has committed itself in a special way: educating the young, working among the poor, preaching the Gospel in mission countries.

Religious communities embrace a lifestyle in keeping with their particular spirit and area of service to the Church.

A brief history:

The word order comes from Latin referring to a civil or governing body. The Church borrowed this term for certain groups of persons, such as widows, virgins, spouses, catechumens ... as well as bishops, priests and deacons.

The bishops or episcopos [Greek for overseers] were the first to be recognized as special recipients of sacramental grace, beginning with the Apostles commissioned by Christ at the Last Supper, and then their successors. As the Church grew these men were assisted by the prebyteros [Greek for elders] and the diakonoi [Greek for those who served or assisted.]

The order of presbyter or priest did not become sacramental until around the third to fourth century, when the bishops were no longer capable of caring for the rapidly growing Christian communities on their own. The office of deacon was at first one of charitable care for the community, leaving the bishops free for liturgical and sacramental responsibilities. In the fourth century they changed into assistants to the bishop at liturgical services, and then began to fade out of existence around the 10th century, except as a transitional stage leading to priesthood. After Vatican II the diaconate was reinstated, and is commonly known as the permanent diaconate.

About Ordination:

Ordination refers to a rite, a religious and liturgical act, which integrates an individual into one of the three orders or degrees of Holy Orders [bishop, priest or deacon].  Ordination confers that gift of the Holy Spirit which permits one to exercise a "sacred power".

Priesthood comes from Christ himself, and is established for a life in service to the Church Of the People of God.

Ministerial priesthood shares in the one priesthood of Christ. Ordination, like Baptism and Confirmation, is said to leave a permanent imprint or indelible mark upon the character of the recipient. It is the culmination of a process of:

• discernment, where a call from God to a life of service is realized,

• a period of study or preparation, and spiritual growth, and

• the confirmation by those given the responsibility of testing that call.

Are you interested in the priesthood?

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