Actually, I've never understood why the Catholic church has priests, male *or* female. I have only ever seen the word "priest" used in the Bible to refer to the leaders of the Jewish people. Of course, the New Testament refers to Christians in general as a royal priesthood in 1 Peter. But, then we're all priests by that definition.
Does anyone know why the Catholic church uses the term "Priest"? And is there any correlation between the role of the priest in the Jewish faith and the role of the priest in the Catholic faith? I know that the Jewish priests presented sacrifices for the sins of the Jewish people. Is there some kind of similar role for Catholic priests?
Maybe someone can refer me to a website that has this info.
Thank you!
Candi
The Presbyters of the bible were the functioning priests. Also according to the bible some priests converted to the new faith and would have continued in their capacity as the new faith regarded itself as a correction, a reform of Judaism.
Priests (presbuteroi) are also known as "presbyters" or "elders." In fact, the English term "priest" is simply a contraction of the Greek word presbuteros. They have the responsibility of teaching, governing, and providing the sacraments in a given congregation (1 Tim. 5:17; Jas. 5:14–15).Of course, as the Catechism of the Catholic Church makes clear, the central liturgical celebration of Catholicism, the mass, is regarded as
The Holy Sacrifice, because it makes present the one sacrifice of Christ the Savior and includes the Church's offering. The terms holy sacrifice of the Mass, "sacrifice of praise," spiritual sacrifice, pure and holy sacrifice are also used, since it completes and surpasses all the sacrifices of the Old Covenant.The priest, representing Christ, presides over this liturgical sacrifice.
Don't forget that Jesus Christ is our only necessary high priest.