Rite of Ordination to the Priesthood: Promise #4

The final promise made to the bishop at the priesthood ordination defines what the priest is. The promise says:

Promise #4: Are you resolved to consecrate your life to God for the salvation of his people, and to unite yourself more closely to every day to Christ the High Priest, who offered himself for us to the Father as a perfect sacrifice?

This final promise definitively declares the image and life of the priest. We are to completely configure ourselves to the image of Christ. We are to be an Alter Christus (another Christ) to God's people. As such, we consecrate or dedicate completely our being to the service of God's people. We are to be Christ in the life of His people. We are Christ at the baptism of a child. We are Christ witnessing the marriage of a couple. We are Christ at the funeral of a parishioner. We are Christ anointing a sick person. We are Christ absolving one of their sins in the confessional. Most importantly, we are Christ in the Eucharist calling down the Holy Spirit to transform the bread and wine into the True Body and Blood of Jesus Christ himself.

Everything a priest does is to be in the image of Christ. Shortly after this promise, the bishop lays hands on our head and at the very moment, the Holy Spirit imprints an indelible mark on our soul forever changing us. We is now branded eternally as a priest. As Psalm 110 says, the Catholic priest is "a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek." This promise directs us to conform our lives to parallel this indelible mark to be placed on our soul. We are called to serve Christ by bring Christ to the whole world. Until next time...God bless.

posted by: crossman at 09:02 | link | comments |
rite of priesthood