Posted on 06/13/2010 12:16:24 PM PDT by markomalley
.- Thousands of pilgrims and faithful gathered at noon Sunday in St. Peter’s Square to pray the Angelus with the Holy Father. Before the prayer, he said that the fruits of the recently ended Year for Priests could never be measured, but are already visible and will continue to be ever more so.
“The priest is a gift from the heart of Christ, a gift for the Church and for the world. From the heart of the Son of God, overflowing with love, all the goods of the Church spring forth,” proclaimed Pope Benedict XVI. “One of those goods is the vocations of those men who, conquered by the Lord Jesus, leave everything behind to dedicate themselves completely to the Christian community, following the example of the Good Shepherd.”
The Holy Father described the priest as having been formed by “the same charity of Christ, that love which compelled him to give his life for his friends and to forgive his enemies.”
“Therefore,” he continued, “priests are the primary builders of the civilization of love.”
Benedict XVI exhorted priests to always seek the intercession of St. John Marie Vianney, whose prayer, the “Act of Love,” was prayed frequently during the Year for Priests, and “continues to fuel our dialogue with God.”
The pontiff also spoke about the close of the Year for Priests, which took place this past week and culminated with the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. He emphasized “the unforgettable days in the presence of more than 15,000 priests from around the world.”
The feast of the Sacred Heart is traditionally a “day of priestly holiness,” but this time it was especially so, Benedict XVI remarked.
Pope Benedict concluded his comments by noting that, in contemplating history, “one observes so many pages of authentic social and spiritual renewal which have been written by the decisive contribution of Catholic priests.” These were inspired “only by their passion for the Gospel and for mankind, for his true civil and religious freedom.”
“So many initiatives that promote the entire human being have begun with the intuition of a priestly heart,” he exclaimed.
The Pope then prayed the Angelus, greeted those present in various languages, and imparted his apostolic blessing.
So are you saying that Jesus Christ is not a priest?
Are you saying that St. Paul did not claim to minister in the manner of a priest?
Perhaps you could explain what your understanding of the role of the priest is?
All the things I've been trying to say.....LOL!
An authorized mediator who offers a true sacrifice in acknowledgment of God's supreme dominion over human beings and in expiation for their sins. A priest's mediation is the reverse of that of a prophet, who communicates from God to the people. A priest mediates from the people to God.
Christ, who is God and man, is the first, last, and greatest priest of the New Law. He is the eternal high priest who offered himself once and for all on the Cross, a victim of infinite value, and he continually renews that sacrifice on the altar through the ministry of the Church.
Within the Church men who are specially ordained as priests to consecrate and offer the body and blood of Christ in the Mass. The Apostles were the first ordained priests, when on Holy Thursday night Christ told them to do in his memory what he had just done at the Last Supper. All priests and bishops trace their ordination to the Apostles. Their second essential priestly power, to forgive sins, was conferred by Christ on Easter Sunday, when he told the Apostles, "For those whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven; for those whose sins you retain, they are retained" (John 20-22,23).
All the Christian faithful, however, also share in the priesthood by their baptismal character. They are enabled to offer themselves in sacrifice with Christ through the Eucharistic liturgy. They offer the Mass in the sense that they internally unite themselves with the outward offering made by the ordained priest alone.
In the early Church a member of a group (usually of priests) who advised a bishop. Together they formed the presbytery, which, under a bishop, was the governing body of a community. The presbyter having no official duties, he was often commissioned by the bishop to teach, celebrate Mass, and baptize. Presbyters were usually of advanced age and, like a bishop, chosen by the people. Their rank was above that of deacons but inferior to that of bishops. There was no restriction on their number.
Dear brothers and sisters!
The Year for Priests concluded a few days ago. Here in Rome we experienced some unforgettable days with the presence of more than 15,000 priests from every part of the world. So, today I would like to give thanks to God for all the good things that have come to the universal Church this year. No one could ever measure them but certainly they see them and still more they will see their fruits.
The Year for Priests concluded on the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which is traditionally the “day of priestly sanctification”; this time it was so in a very special way. In fact, dear friends, the priest is a gift from the Heart of Christ: a gift for the Church and for the world. From the Heart of the Son of God, overflowing with charity, there stream all the goods of the Church and in a special way it is the origin of the vocations of those men who, conquered by the Lord Jesus, leave everything to dedicate themselves entirely to the service of the people, following the example of the Good Shepherd. The priest is formed by Christ’s charity itself, that love that moved him to give his life for his friends and also to pardon his enemies. Because of this priests are the first builders of the civilization of love. And here I think of many priests, known and unknown, some elevated to the honors of the altar, others whose memory remains indelibly in the faithful, perhaps in a small parish community -- as happened in Ars, that village of France where St. John Marie Vianney undertook his ministry. There is no need to add words to what has been said of him in recent months. But his intercession must accompany us from now on. May his prayer, his “Act of Love,” that we have recited so many times during the Year for Priests, continue to nourish your colloquy with God.
There is another figure whom I would like to recall: Father Jerzy Popiełuszko, priest and martyr, who was proclaimed “Blessed” just last Sunday in Warsaw. He exercised his generous and courageous ministry alongside those who worked for freedom, for the defense of life and its dignity. His work in the service of goodness and truth was a sign of contradiction for the regime that governed Poland at that time. The love of the Heart of Christ led him to give his life, and his witness was the seed of a new springtime in the Church and society. If we look at history we can observe that so many pages of authentic spiritual and social renewal have been written by the contribution of Catholic priests, animated only by the passion for the Gospel and for man, for his true religious and civil liberty. How many initiatives of integral human promotion have begun in the intuition of a priestly heart!
Dear brothers and sisters, let us entrust all the priests of the world to Mary’s Immaculate Heart -- whose liturgical memorial we celebrated yesterday -- so that by the power of the Gospel they may continue to build in every place the civilization of love.
[Translation by Joseph G. Trabbic]
[After the Angelus the Holy Father greeted the pilgrims in various languages. In English, he said:]
I am happy to greet all the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors present for this Angelus prayer, especially the group of faithful from Seychelles. Last Friday, the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, I had the joy of concluding the Year for Priests, marked by moving moments of community prayer and adoration. Let us continue to remember all priests in our prayers, thanking Christ for this great gift of his love and asking him to keep them in his grace as faithful friends and ministers. I wish you all a pleasant stay in Rome and a blessed Sunday!
© Copyright 2010 - Libreria Editrice Vaticana
[In Spanish, he said:]
I cordially greet the Spanish-speaking groups that have participated in this Marian prayer, particularly the faithful from Colombia and Mexico, as well as the members of the Brotherhood of Our Father Jesus of Nazareth and Holy Mary of Sorrows, of Jaen.
Precisely in this Andalusian diocese, and specifically in the city of Linares, the beatification of Manuel Lozano Garrido took place yesterday. [He] was a faithful layman who knew how to irradiate the love of God with his example and his writings, even among the sufferings that confined him to a wheelchair for nearly 28 years. At the end of his life, he also lost his sight, but he continued to win hearts for Christ with his serene joy and his unwavering faith.
Journalists can find in him an eloquent testimony of the good that can be done when one's pen reflects the greatness of the soul and is put at the service of truth and noble causes. Happy Sunday.
[Translation by Kathleen Naab]
[In Italian, the Pope said:]
I would like first of all to recall with joy the proclamation of two new blesseds, both of whom lived in the last century. Yesterday in Spain, Manuel Lozano Garrido was beatified. He was a layman and journalist who, despite sickness and handicap, worked with Christian spirit and fecundity in the field of social communications. This morning in Slovenia, Cardinal Bertone, as my legate, presided at the final celebration of the National Eucharistic Congress, in which he proclaimed blessed the young martyr Lojze Grozde. Grozde was particularly devoted to the Eucharist, which nourished his indestructible faith, his capacity for sacrifice for the salvation of souls and his apostolate in Catholic Action to bring other young people to Christ.
Nah! It’s just etymology. I don’t think the concept of bird has changed much since the Lancashire Poet called them Bryddes 600 years ago or less.
That’s not to say that the idea hasn’t changed. I’m am suggesting that in the face of anti-catholic complaints about priests at least they held onto the word.
Mind you, what we really need to look at for either side is the word “sacerdos,” and I guess I will someday.
How’ve you been? How’s them hosses and the family?
Thanks, Mark!
So evidently can you.
.... but scripture speaks for itself.. NO priesthood in the new testament church .
I've granted no OT priesthood in the Church. But you have not shown that Christ's priesthood is not in the Church, which was the point I was suggesting.
Once again, you argue not against what we teach but against some fantasy of your own mind.
If God had intended a priesthood in the new church, He would have said so ..using the Greek words for priest
Oh please. And if He had intended Sola Scriptura He would have said that, probably in German or French, no doubt. And if He had intended sola fide he would certainly have avoided saying, "And so you see man is not saved by faith alone."
And yet we are accused of rubber hermeneutics! As far as I can see we are called a kingdom of priests, and yet you will have no priests in the Church.
I'll stick with the Bible.
In your religion obviously, but not in biblical Christianity...
The argument, however, is circular. The assumption implicit in citing them is that the ‘true’ church somehow ceased about a generation after the death of John. And this assumption requires that the promised gift of the spirit was kind of a dud. In the protestant view it took the Holy Spirit about 1500 years to get his act together enough to make a successful stand against those awful, stupid, and superstitious successors of the Apostles.
Not accurate at all...We do know that the 'true church' didn't die off in spite of your religion's attempt to snuff it out and burn it's scriptures...
There was however always a remnant to pass along and preserve what God had revealed...
So when Jesus promised the 12 that they would be led into all truth, he left out the part about “in 1450 years give or take.”
The Holy Spirit was not promised to just the 12...All Christians are indwelt with that same Spirit that leads to all truth and raised Jesus from the dead...That Spirit of Truth...
The fact that so many reject the written truth of God is evidence that the 'flesh', the 'old man', still has plenty of power and is resistant...
“And to whom you have pardoned any thing, I also. For, what I have pardoned, if I have pardoned any thing, for your sakes have I done it in the person of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 2:10
In any religion, the facts of English etymology are still facts. The English word 'priest' is derived from the Greek word presbyteros, no matter where or whom you worship.
I'm not going to read the rest of a post which starts with trying to make a philological observation into a sectarian slander.
The hosses are fine. We just joined a small church...still Southern Baptist. The pastor went to a Presbyterian seminary, but he agrees that God loves every person, wants them to convert, and grieves that they do not - which is good enough for me.
I’ve tended to avoid the religion threads because most of the posters are the same ones, and I think we harm the cause of Christ when we focus too much on our differences and not on what unites us. Jesus is Lord, and there has never been a time nor will be a time when He is not Lord. God’s grace and the sacrifice of his only begotten son makes possible our redemption from sin. We are saved from our sin, and compelled by the new life within to seek obedience to God.
Our many theological differences will be settled in God’s time by God, probably by showing us we didn’t understand what we were questioning, or asked from bad motives.
I’ll pray from time to time for those I’ve debated, but won’t post a lot. May God bless you richly and deeply and bring you safely home!
Backatcha.
I hope the pastor and the congregation are good, what, conduits of grace and comfort and growth in the Spirit for you. A good sermon is a wonderful thing.
Thank you for your post...I had not long ago read further of Constintine and also of the Roman populace then....which were very much involved in occultic worship complete with an adorned and robed priesthood, and other alter/idol rituals practiced and fully acceptable in Rome. It was what they did on a very normal basis. Even Constantine objected to these infiltrating the church.
Hello Mark....could you condense that a bit and perferably from the scripture references as you see it.
The American definition has no impact on this Judith ...The Bible is written in greek so it is the greek definition that matters..there was no such thing as English in Israel at the time the scriptures were written .
There are greek words for priest.. and neither of them are cited as roles for the church..
There was no such thing as a priest in the new church for 300 years.. but there were ELDERS ... overseers and deacons .
because those positions are scripitual
"a member of the governing body of an early Christian church
It was Rome that changed the definition of Elder..the Greek is SPECIFIC. Think of the word Compute..it had another meaning than we use today..the definition was expanded in recent years..
Elder has a Greek meaning one that your definition notes.. It was Rome that changed the meaning to fit their definition and purposes.
Paul knew the word for priest and if there were to be priests..he would have said so
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