PRIESTHOOD, a vocation not a profession, is an essential part of the Catholic Church.
From Abel’s time until today’s newly ordained, it has been centred around the one perfect sacrifice offered by the Man-God Jesus Christ on Calvary. It is therefore male.
Celibacy, a counsel of Jesus Christ and St Paul, is legitimately asked for by the Church and, for good reasons, has been reiterated by the Post-Vatican II popes.
As is the case with Baptism and Confirmation, Holy Orders are lasting and cannot be repeated. It is a permanent state.
So whence comes the idea that it can be transient?
The ordained priesthood implies more than “breaking bread”.
Through it bread and wine become the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, Calvary is re-offered to the Eternal Father and we receive Holy Communion.
Every Christian is called to “teach” the Gospel according to his/her vocation. Not all are called to be preachers.
Sacrifice and priesthood are inseparable. The laity exercise their royal priesthood by uniting themselves to the sacrifice of Calvary through the Masses offered by their ordained priests.
Lay-led liturgies lack this important element which is the highest act of religion and the visible sign that we adore God above all else.
Should we break with tradition to the extent some seem to imply?
Methinks our archbishop wisely and necessarily calls us to prayer (“Spiritual renewal”, CL 31/7/05). Prayer, however, must go hand in hand with action.
The deliberations of Synod 2003 showed faith education as a needed priority. If we as Christians are to combat the culture of the worldly we must teach and live The Catechism of the Catholic Church from the cradle to the grave.
Only then can those two great sacraments given to prolong the life of the Church – Matrimony and Holy Orders – begin to re-christianise.
N. MACKENZIE
Taigum, Qld
