THE VICAR OF CHRIST SPEAKS
on the role of the Laity
INSTRUCTION on Certain Questions regarding the Collaboration of the Non-ordained Faithful in the Sacred Ministry of Priest
Sixth Installment: THEOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES - part two
1. The Common Priesthood of the Faithful and the Ministerial Priesthood
The characteristics which differentiate the ministerial priesthood of Bishops and Priests
from the common priesthood of the faithful and consequently delineate the extent to
which other members of the faithful cooperate with this ministry, may be summarized in
the following fashion:a) the ministerial priesthood is rooted in the Apostolic Succession, and vested with "potestas sacra"(29)
(29: Cf. Second Vatican Council, Dogmatic Constitution Lumen Gentium, nn. 10, 18, 27, 278; the Decree Presbyterorum Ordinis nn. 2, 6: Catechism of the Catholic Church, nn. 1538, 1576.)
consisting of the faculty and the responsibility of acting in the person of Christ the Head and the Shepherd.(30)
(30: Cf. John Paul II, Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation, Pastores dabo vobis, nn. 15: AAS 84 (1992), p. 680; Catechism of the Catholic Church, n. 875.)
b) it is a priesthood which renders its sacred ministers servants of Christ and of the
Church by means of authoritative proclamation of the Word of God, the administration of
the sacraments and the pastoral direction of the faithful.(31)
(31: Cf. John Paul II, Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation, Pastores dabo vobis, n. 16: I.c., pp. 681-684; Catechism of the Catholic Church, n. 1592.)
To base the foundations of the ordained ministry on Apostolic Succession, because this
ministry continues the mission received by the Apostles from Christ, is an essential point
of Catholic ecclesiological doctrine.(32)
(32: Cf. John Paul II, Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation, Pastores dabo vobis, nn. 14-16: I.c., pp. 678-684; Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Letter Sacerdotum ministeriale (6 August 1983), III, 2-3: AAS 75 (1983), pp. 1004-1005.)
The ordained ministry, therefore, is established on the foundation of the Apostles for the
upbuilding of the Church: (33)
(33: Cf. Ephesians 2: 20; Rev/Apoc: 21: 14.)
"and is completely at the service of the Church".(34)
(34: John Paul II, Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation, Pastores dabo vobis (25 March 1992), n. 16; AAS 84 (1992), p. 681.)
"Intrinsically linked to the sacramental nature of ecclesial ministry is its character of
service. Entirely dependent on Christ who gives mission and authority, ministers are truly
'servants of Christ' (Rom 1, 1) in the image of him who freely took for us 'the form of a
slave' (Phil 2,7). Because the word and grace of which they are ministers are not their
own, but are given to them by Christ for the sake of others, they must freely become the
slaves of all".(35)
(35: Catechism of the Catholic Church, n. 876.)
NEXT ISSUE: Theological Principles -part three 2. Unity and Diversity of MInisterial Functions
DAILY CATHOLIC Vicar of Christ Speaks volume 8, no. 37
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