Ordained for men in the things that appertain to God
The human race has always felt the need of a priesthood: of men, that is, who have the official charge to be mediators between God and humanity, men who should consecrate themselves entirely to this mediation, as to the very purpose of their lives […]
The priest, according to the magnificent definition given by St. Paul is indeed a man “taken from amongst men,” yet “ordained for men in the things that appertain to God” (cf. Heb 5: 1): his office is not for human things, and things that pass away, however lofty and valuable these may seem; but for things divine and enduring.
These eternal things may, perhaps, through ignorance, be scorned and contemned, or even attacked with diabolical fury and malice, as sad experience has often proved, and proves even today; but they always continue to hold the first place in the aspirations, individual and social, of humanity, because the human heart feels irresistibly that it is made for God and is restless till it rests in Him.
Excerpts from PIUS XI.
Ad catholici sacerdotii, 20/12/1935
Representative of the Risen Christ
The priest represents Christ. What is implied by “representing” someone? In ordinary language it usually means being delegated by someone to be present in his place, to speak and act in his stead because the person he represents is absent from the practical action. Let us ask ourselves: does the priest represent the Lord in this way? The answer is no, because in the Church Christ is never absent, the Church is His living Body and He is the Head of the Church, present and active within her. […]
Therefore the priest, who acts in persona Christi Capitis and representing the Lord, never acts in the name of someone who is absent but, rather, in the very Person of the Risen Christ, who makes Himself present with His truly effective action.
Excerpts from BENEDICT XVI.
General Audience, 14/4/2010
Midway between God and human nature
Who can tell how many chastisements priestly prayer wards off from sinful mankind, how many blessings it brings down and secures? […]
The Christian, though in prosperity so often forgetful of God, […] in every peril whether private or public, has recourse with special trust to the prayer of the priest. To it the unfortunate of every sort look for comfort; to it they have recourse, seeking divine aid in all the vicissitudes of this exile here on earth. Truly does the priest occupy a place midway between God and human nature: from Him bringing to us absolving beneficence, offering our prayers to Him and appeasing the wrathful Lord.
Excerpts from PIUS XI.
Ad catholici sacerdotii, 20/12/1935
The priest must know how to teach the true doctrine…
The priest should have full grasp of the Catholic teaching on faith and morals; he should know how to present it to others; and he should be able to give the reasons for the dogmas, laws and observances of the Church of which he is minister. Profane sciences have indeed made much progress; but in religious questions there is much ignorance still darkening the mind of our contemporaries. This ignorance the priest must dispel. […]
The modern mind is eager for the truth, and the priest should be able to point it out with serene frankness; there are souls still hesitating, distressed by doubts, and the priest should inspire courage and trust, and guide them with calm security to the safe port of faith, faith accepted by both head and heart; error makes its onslaughts, arrogant and persistent, and the priest should know how to meet them with a defence vigorous and active, yet solid and unruffled.
Excerpts from PIUS XI.
Ad catholici sacerdotii, 20/12/1935
…and not his own ideas
The priest does not teach his own ideas, a philosophy that he himself has invented, that he has discovered or likes; the priest does not speak of himself, he does not speak for himself, to attract admirers, perhaps, or create a party of his own; he does not say his own thing, his own inventions but, in the medley of all the philosophies, the priest teaches in the name of Christ present, he proposes the truth that is Christ Himself, His word and His way of living and of moving ahead.
Excerpt from BENEDICT XVI.
General Audience, 14/4/2010
Nothing grieves the Church more than the sins of her pastors
How can we forget, in this regard, that nothing causes more suffering for the Church, the Body of Christ, than the sins of her pastors, especially the sins of those who become “thieves and robbers” of the sheep (cf. Jn 10:1 ff.), lead them astray by their own private teachings, or ensnare them in the toils of sin and death? […]
The Church needs holy priests; ministers capable of helping the faithful to experience the Lord’s merciful love, and convinced witnesses of that love.
Excerpts from BENEDICT XVI.
Homily, 19/6/2009
The danger of neglecting his own sanctification
It would be a grave error fraught with many dangers should the priest, carried away by false zeal, neglect his own sanctification, and become over immersed in the external works, however holy, of the priestly ministry. Thereby, he would run a double risk. In the first place he endangers his own salvation, […] In the second place he might lose, if not divine grace, certainly that unction of the Holy Spirit which gives such a marvellous force and efficacy to the external apostolate.
Excerpts from PIUS XI.
Ad catholici sacerdotii, 20/12/1935
“Watch and pray”
Let the priest not trust in his own strength nor be complacent in his own gifts nor seek the esteem and praise of men but let him imitate Christ, who “did not come to be served but to serve” (Mt 20:28), let him deny himself according to the teaching of the Gospel (cf. Mt 16:24), detaching himself from the things of the earth in order to follow the Divine Master more easily and more readily. […]
Yes, watch, beloved sons, because priestly chastity is exposed to so many dangers, whether by reason of laxity in public morals, or because of the allurements of vice which you find so easily seductive in these days, or, finally, because of that excessive liberty in relations between the sexes which at times dares to insinuate itself even into the exercise of the sacred ministry. “Watch and pray” (Mk 14:38), mindful that your hands touch those things which are most holy, that you have been consecrated to God and are to serve Him alone.
Excerpts from PIUS XII.
Menti nostræ, 23/9/1950
The soul of a priest should have continuity with the altar
The priest should, therefore, study to reproduce in his own soul the things that are effected upon the Altar. As Jesus Christ immolates Himself, so His minister should be immolated with Him; as Jesus expiates the sins of men, so he, by following the hard road of Christian asceticism, should labour at the purification of himself and of others. […]
Only when we have become one with Christ through His oblation and ours and when we have raised our voice with the choir of the inhabitants of the heavenly Jerusalem, […] strengthened by the virtue of our Saviour, shall we be able to descend in safety from the heights of sanctity to which we have attained, to bring to all men the life and the light of God by means of our priestly ministry.
Excerpts from PIUS XII.
Menti nostræ, 23/9/1950
