Jun 5 Fri
Can a person become a priest just for a couple of years?
Christ, we read in the Epistle to the Hebrews, "holds his priesthood permanently, because He continues forever. Consequently, He is able for all time to save those who draw near to God, since He always lives to make intercession for them."
The priesthood of Christ is one and unique; it becomes present through the ministerial priesthood. Yet “Only Christ is the true priest; the others are his ministers.”
There are two ways of participating in the one priesthood of Christ:
- The common priesthood of the faithful, which is conferred through Baptism and Confirmation.
- The ministerial priesthood of the ordained minister, which is at the service of the common priesthood of the faithful.
Holy Orders is the sacrament that confers the spiritual power and the grace that is needed to fulfill the ecclesiastical functions properly:
- The Eucharist.
- The forgiveness of sins.
- The preaching of the faith, the administration of the sacraments, and government in all that refers to faith and the sacraments.
In this sacrament, the subject receives a special configuration to Christ, as Head of the Mystical Body, called the character. This enables him to participate in Christ’s priesthood in a unique way. The sacrament imprints an indelible (permanent) sacramental character on the soul.
The character cannot be repeated or conferred temporarily.
It is true that someone validly ordained can, for a just reason, be discharged from the obligations and functions linked to ordination, or can be forbidden to exercise them; but he cannot become a layman again in the strict sense.
This “Forever” also matches the Church’s mission.
What if a priest is unworthy?
- Since it is ultimately Christ who acts and effects salvation through the ordained minister, the unworthiness of the latter does not prevent Christ from acting. Christ’s spiritual power in the sacrament (his grace and other effects) is comparable to light: those to be enlightened receive it in its purity; even if it passes through defiled places, light is not defiled.
In the Latin Church, the sacrament of Holy Orders for the priesthood is normally conferred only on candidates who are ready to embrace celibacy freely, and who publicly manifest their intention of staying celibate for the love of God's kingdom and the service of men.
This measure is particularly convenient, as celibacy allows a greater surrender to Christ, a closer imitation of his example, and greater availability for the service of the Church and all souls. Further, it offers an eschatological witness by showing the reality of eternal life, “for in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage.”
Thus,
“Do not be afraid. Do not be alarmed or surprised. Do not allow yourself to be overcome by false prudence.
The call to fulfil God’s will - this goes for vocation too - is sudden, as it was for the Apostles: a meeting with Christ and his call is followed…
- None of them doubted. Meeting Christ and following him were one and the same."