WHAT IS THE PRIESTHOOD?

By Baptism, Christians have a share in Christ’s priesthood. This is commonly referred to as “the common priesthood of all the faithful.” However, certain members of the faithful are ordained to participate more in Christ’s priesthood through the sacrament of Holy Orders. This is known as the ministerial priesthood. Christ, the source of the common and ministerial priesthoods, is our high priest. The Church thus understands there to be a threefold structure: the common priesthood of all, the ministerial priesthood of the ordained, and the high priesthood of Christ.

Bishops have been tasked with sanctifying, governing, and teaching; they’re considered to have the “fullness” of holy orders. The priests participate in the bishops’ ministry of ruling, teaching, and sanctifying. “Bishops and Priests receive the mission and faculty (‘the sacred power’) to act in persona Christi Capitis (in the person of Christ, the head). 

Those who have been ordained through sacramental ordination share in the priesthood of Christ in a unique way.  They are uniquely and intrinsically transformed to represent Christ, the Good Shepherd for God’s people. In offering their lives to the Father, as do all Christians, they also stand before the Church and minister to the faithful as Christ’ in person. In doing so, they teach with the authority of the Church as Christ teaches; the sins they absolve in the Sacrament of Penance Christ forgives; when the Eucharist is celebrated, it is Christ’s offering of himself that becomes present.