10 Quotes That Reveal the Meaning of the Priesthood

Everything is different as soon as a man kneels before a bishop to receive Holy Orders. It is a holy moment that he is not just a man who has Good intentions. He joins the Catholic priesthood – a person selected by God to fulfil a very special task.

What is so special about the priesthood of the Catholics? The priesthood of Catholics is not similar to any other religious vocation. A Catholic priest gets the Sacrament of Holy Orders. This sacrament provides him with supernatural powers to accomplish his ministry.

There is something that the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us. It states that a priest is no better or more sacred than other individuals. The office of priesthood, instead, is totally reliant on Christ and his exclusive priesthood. it has been produced to the benefit of men and the fellowship of the Church. if you are quotes lover and went to read more quotes than visit quotes slide.

God’s Appointed Guardians: The Divine Purpose of Priesthood

who elected priests to their divine task? The priesthood was clearly defined by God himself.

“The end for which God has instituted the priesthood has been to appoint on earth public persons to watch over the honor of his divine majesty, and to procure the salvation of souls.” – St. Alphonsus Liguori

In this quote we can see the dual purpose of any Catholic priest. First, they have to worship the divine majesty of God. Second, they have to labor towards the salvation of souls. St. Alphonsus Liguori knew that it is a heavy burden to priests. They have to take care of the glory of God as well as the portrait of the eternal life of people.

This mission is still fulfilled by the parish priests of today in America. They worship at the altar when they partake Mass. They labor to our salvation when they hear confessions or visit the sick.

“For when you see the Lord sacrificed, and laid upon the altar, and the priest standing and praying over the victim, and all the worshippers empurpled with that precious blood, can you then think that you are still among men, and standing upon the earth?” – St. John Chrysostom

St. John Chrysostom makes us observe something extraordinary. When we are in Mass, we are not merely spectators of some man performing an observance. Christ himself is performing his work through his priest. The priest becomes the representative of God on earth. This is not the reason, the man is special, but the grace of God is done through him. if you went to read Quotes for Saturday Morning than visit this page.

Supernatural Authority: The Priest’s Power in the Sacraments

So, what is the power of a priest? The saints realized that God is the only source of priestly power.

“What tongue, human or angelic, may ever describe a power so immeasurable as that exercised by the simplest priest in Mass? Who could ever have imagined that the voice of man, which by nature hath not the power even to raise a straw from the ground, should obtain through grace a power so stupendous as to bring from Heaven to earth the Son of God?” – St. Leonard of Port Maurice

This quote reveals to us something unbelievable. A priest can not even stir a straw with his fingers. However, he is able to bring Jesus Christ down to earth in the middle of Mass through the grace of God. This occurs whenever a priest utters consecration of the bread and wine.

St. Leonard of Port Maurice desires us to be amazed at this mystery. The Eucharist is not a symbol. Indeed it is Christ himself, who is conveyed to us by the ministry of priests.

“O my child, bethink you that just as the bee, having gathered heaven’s dew and earth’s sweetest juices from amid the flowers, carries it to her hive; so the Priest, having taken the Saviour, God’s Own Son, Who came down from Heaven, the Son of Mary, Who sprang up as earth’s choicest flower, from the Altar, feeds you with that Bread of Sweetness and of all delight.” – St. Francis de Sales

St. Francis de Sales explains the work of priests in a beautiful way using beautiful words. The priest collects Christ in the same way that a bee collects sweet nectar. Then he shares this spiritual food with the people of God. The Eucharist starts being our Bread of Sweetness.

We get to know why we require priests with the help of this quote. They do not only teach us about God. In the sacraments they actually do give us God himself.

Living Icons of Christ: The Priest as Extension of Jesus’

“The priesthood is the love of the heart of Jesus. When you see a priest, think of our Lord Jesus Christ.” – St. John Vianney, patron saint of parish priests

Simple but effective advice is provided by St. John Vianney. Whenever we look at a priest, we are expected to remember Jesus Christ. This is not due to the fact that priests are flawless. The reason is that they are the bearers of the love of Christ in their calling.

St. John Vianney had seen this with his own eyes. He was a parish priest and loved the people of God. He knew that the reason why priests are here is to make us see the heart of Christ.

This fact assists us in taking better care of our priests. We may still admire their consecrated profession, when we observe their infirmities. When we observe their ministry, we are able to praise God because he gave us his gift.

“He made them, the vicars of his love.” – St. Ambrose

St. Ambrose refers to priests as vicars to his love. A vicar is one who is doing on behalf of one other individual. So ministers do instead of the love of Christ to us.

This implies that Christ is the one who visits a hospital when the priest is visiting the person. When a priest pardons sins, it is Christ pardoning. Every time a priest is doing Mass, Christ is giving himself again.

Bridging Heaven and Earth: The Transcendent Nature of Priestly Ministry

What happens during Mass? The saints assist in the cognizance of the heavenly reality of the service of priests.

“Are you not, on the contrary, straightway translated to Heaven, and casting out every carnal thought from the soul, do you not with disembodied spirit and pure reason contemplate the things which are in Heaven?” – St. John Chrysostom

St. John Chrysostom challenges us to reflect on what actually occurs when we are taking Mass. He states that we are translated to Heaven. This implies that we are somehow involved in worshiping heaven on earth.

This occurs since the priest is at the alter in persona Christi Capitas. He bridges heaven and earth. As a result of his ministry, we are able to experience heavenly realities even when we are still on earth.

St. John Chrysostom puts a call on us to get our hearts ready to Mass. We must put away all the carnal thoughts because then we are more able to receive this heavenly worship.

“O admirable dignity of priests! In their hands, as in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Son of God becomes incarnate.” – St. Augustine

St. Augustine does not give us one of our ten quotes but his words help us to comprehend the priestly dignity. He likens the hands of the priest to the womb of Mary. The same way Jesus entered the world when he was in the womb of Mary, he appears in the hands of the priest during Mass.

Never Alone: The Divine Companionship That Sustains Priests

“People who say that we priests are lonely are either lying or have got it all wrong. We are far less lonely than anyone else, for we can count on the constant company of the Lord, with whom we should be conversing without interruption. We are in love with Love, with the Author of Love!” – St. Josemaria Escriva

St. Josemaria Escriva directly attacks the concept that priests live alone. According to him, the company of the Lord is with priests always. They are supposed to be talking with Jesus Christ all the time.

This quote brings out the beauty of the life of priests. Even as priests sacrifice marriage and family life, they are rewarded. They have the joy of spending their entire life as good friends with Christ.

St. Josemaria Escriva explains that the priests fall in love with Love. This implies that they have decided to love God first of all. This love comes into their lives and brings their lives a purpose.

“The priest is not his own; he belongs to God and to souls.” – St. John Vianney

St. John Vianney defines the meaning of the service of priests. A priest is not a self-serving living being. He is entirely a servant of God and his subjects.

What These Quotes Reveal About the True Meaning of Priesthood

So what can we learn out of all these quotes? Collectively they reveal us a few significant realities regarding the meaning of the priesthood.

God gave authority and appointment to the priesthood: God alone decided to create the priesthood. This power is not something that priests select. It is a gift of Christ via the Sacrament of Holy Orders.

Sacramental Power and Responsibility: Priests do possess actual power of bringing Christ to us by the sacraments. This is a lot of responsibility. They need to apply it to serve God and save souls.

Personal Communion with Christ: Priests have a special manner of uniting with Christ. They are persona Christi Capitas. It is through this union of their ministry that it is given its strength and relevance.

Praying for Those Who Serve: Our Response to Understanding Priesthood

What is our reaction to these facts? An appreciation of the definition of the priesthood must alter our way of thinking and behavior.

The first, we ought to be most thankful to our priests. They have sacrificed their lives on behalf of God and us. We are able to personally thank them and also help them in their ministry.

How can we provide useful assistance? Our priests we can assist in a number of ways:

• Attend Mass regularly and participate fully
• Thank our parish priests for their service
• Include priests in our daily prayers
• Support priestly vocations by encouraging young men to consider the priesthood
• Be patient with priests when they make mistakes
• Volunteer to help with parish activities
• Give generously to support priestly ministr
• Praying for vocations to the priesthood
• Encouraging young men who show signs of a calling
• Supporting seminary education
• Showing young people the beauty of priestly life
• Living our own faith fully to inspire others

The Eternal Significance of the Priesthood

These are quotes that bring out the meaning of the priesthood, which demonstrates something wonderful. The priesthood is not merely a profession or even vocation. It is the means by which God keeps in touch with his people.

Christ is working on earth through priests. He continues to teach, heal, forgive and feed his people. This is made possible by the priesthood.

What should we remember? These are the truths that we must bear in mind whenever we encounter a priest. We are supposed to see Christ working in him. The gift of this to the Church of God we must thank God.