Animated Video: What is a Catholic Priest?
Was Jesus the perfect high priest?
- Yes!
- He instructed perfectly, sanctified perfectly, and offered sacrifice perfectly to His Father.
What was the sacrifice that Jesus offered perfectly to His Father in heaven on our behalf?
- Jesus gave His own life on the cross out of love for man to atone for our sins and open the gates of Heaven.
Who is the priest who offers the sacrifice at every Catholic Mass?
- Jesus!
- Jesus is the sacrifice and the one who offers sacrifice.
So, what is the role of a Catholic priest at Mass?
- The priest re-presents Christ. He makes Christ present and visible.
- Through his ordination, the priest participates in the one priesthood of Christ.
- A Catholic priest acts “in the person of Christ”. This is an incredible mystery!