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THE PRIEST
THE PRIEST:
WHO IS HE? WHAT DOES HE DO? WHAT IS HIS CALLING?
A priest serves the People of God, the Church. His life is to be a life of
service, in imitation of Jesus Christ the High Priest, who came “to serve, and
not to be served.”
 The priest not only imitates Jesus Christ, he lives in a unique unity with Him.
Pope John Paul II has written of this mysterious, sacred unity of the priest
with Christ on a number of occasions. In Pastores Dabo Vobis, his document on
the formation of priests, he writes:
“Their mission [the priest] is not theirs, but is the same mission of Jesus.
“Priests are called to prolong the presence of Christ, the one high priest,
embodying His way of life and making Him visible in the midst of the flock
entrusted to their care.
“In the Church and on behalf of the Church, priests are a sacramental
representation of Jesus Christ, the head and shepherd, authoritatively
proclaiming His Word, repeating His acts of forgiveness and His offer of
salvation, particularly in baptism, penance and the eucharist, showing his
loving concern to the point of a total gift of self for the flock, which they
gather into unity and lead to the Father through Christ and in the Spirit.” (Pastores Dabo Vobis
14, 15)
The diocesan priest makes a vow of obedience to the bishop and serves a
“particular Church” (a diocese) under the bishop’s authority. The diocesan
priest vows to live a celibate life, and is therefore able to give himself
totally and completely to the work of Jesus Christ and the Church. He does not
take a vow of poverty (as religious priests do), but is called to live a simple
life with a spirit of detachment from the things of this world.
The diocesan priest works hard, and prays hard. It is a disciplined, rigorous
life that brings with it many crosses in living the life of Jesus Christ. It is
a calling from Christ to continue His work in the world, with its finest
expression in the preaching of the Word of God and the administration of the
sacraments. The priesthood brings with it unique and special graces from God that make it more than worth any sacrifice or effort he will be asked
to give.
Are YOU being called by Jesus Christ to serve Him and the Church as a priest? If
there is any possibility, check it out. The call of Christ to the priesthood is
a rare and precious gift, and should not be put off or left aside. If the call
is real, there will be an abundance of peace and joy in one's heart, knowing
that he is doing what he was created by God to do with his life.
For questions or more information, send an e-mail to the
Vocation Director.
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