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Q: Why is it that in Scripture we see no Christian priests? Other than the High Priesthood of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and universal priesthood of all believers, there seems to be silence concerning legitimate priests for today in the New Testament. Why would this be so, since the priesthood is such a critical element in the Catholic Church?
Russell
Dear Russell:
It is clear from Sacred Scripture that the Apostles, our first bishops, were assisted by a number of helpers as they began the work of spreading the Good News, and of establishing and supporting the early Christian communities. The leaders of these Christian communities took on a variety of roles, and Sacred Scripture describes the offices being conferred by the laying on of hands, as occurs today during the ordination of priests. The word priest is a contraction of presbyter (from the Greek, presbuteros). The terms for ministry were somewhat fluid in the apostolic age, and often presbyter and bishop were used interchangeably, but by the end of the first century the three degrees of Holy Orders were firmly established and represented distinct functions in the Christian community.
Holy Orders is one of the Catholic Church's seven sacraments, and its three degrees are: episcopacy, priesthood, and diaconate. When we use the word 'episcopacy' we are referring to the order of bishop, which is the highest level of the sacrament, sometimes referred to as the 'fullness of the priesthood.' Bishops ordain priests, deacons, and other bishops; that is, they administer the Sacrament of Holy Orders. The next level of Holy Orders is that of priest. A priest is an ordained man who, in addition to the office of ministry and preaching, acts in the Person of Christ at the Eucharistic Sacrifice, and offers it to God in the name of all the people. A priest can administer six of the seven sacraments: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Penance, Sacrament of the Sick, and Matrimony. Finally, the word 'diaconate' refers to the order of deacon. There are two kinds of deacons. A 'permanent' deacon is a man who is ordained to serve in the Church. He is not a priest, nor is he preparing for the priesthood. Deacons, who are not referred to as permanent, are those men who become deacons while advancing to the priesthood. A deacon assists the priest and people in many ways, including preaching and administering the Sacraments of Baptism and Matrimony.
Holy Orders has roots in the Old Testament:
"The sacrament (Holy Orders) was prefigured in the Old Covenant in the service of the Levites, in the priesthood of Aaron, and in the institution of the seventy 'Elders.' (Numbers 11:25). These prefigurations find their fulfillment in Christ Jesus who by the sacrifice of the cross is the 'one mediator between God and man' (1 Timothy 2:5), the 'High Priest' according to the order of Melchizedek.' (Hebrews 5:10). The one priesthood of Christ is made present in the ministerial priesthood." (Catechism: 324).
The Letter to the Hebrews (4:14-16) speaks of Jesus the Great High Priest, and then of the priest chosen from the people:
"Every high priest chosen from among mortals is put in charge of things pertaining to God on their behalf, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is subject to weakness; and because of this he must offer sacrifices for his own sins as well as those of the people. And one does not presume to take this honour, but takes it only when called by God, just as Aaron was." (Hebrews 5: 1-4)
St Paul also mentions the three-fold ministry of the Church, when he lists the qualifications of bishops (1 Timothy 3-7), and of deacons (1 Timothy 8-13), and speaks of the laying on of hands by the council of 'elders' (1 Timothy 4:14), a term also used interchangeably with presbyters. St Paul himself ordained elders during his visits to the various churches in Antioch (Acts 14:23).
Catholics believe that Christ instituted the ministerial priesthood of the Church during the Last Supper. After Jesus had consecrated the bread and wine and had given it to his disciples, he then conferred the priesthood on them with the words: "Do this in memory of me." (Luke 22:19) In this way the priesthood is bound indissolubly with the Eucharistic Sacrifice. Jesus also washed the feet of the disciples, conveying the message that, in the words of the Holy Father, "the ministerial priesthood is an expression, not of domination, but of service."
The priesthood of all believers, or common priesthood, to which you refer, is the sharing of the faithful in the one priesthood of Christ. Through their Baptism and Confirmation, the faithful are "consecrated to be... a holy priesthood" (Lumen Gentium 10) offering to God their daily lives and labours as spiritual sacrifices, pure and holy, acceptable to the Father. The ministerial priesthood of bishops and priests is at the service of the common priesthood, and is the means by which Christ, the source of all priesthood, continues his saving mission in the Church and in the world.
God bless,
Father Norbert