Semper Excelsior writes again - "Who really is the Catholic Priest?"

 This true story took place in Paris many years ago, when the world was more carefree than it is today. 

An actor, who was playing the part of a Catholic priest, was in such a hurry to leave the theater one day after his performance, that he did so while still wearing his costume, which was the traditional full length black cassock. As he hurried along the street, there appeared a small child before him. With joy, the child took the actor's hand and kissed it! "Good morning, Father," he called over his shoulder as he ran happily away.

Reverence and Familiarity

The actor was astonished! That innocent action of the child made such a deep impression on him. As he continued walking he thought, who on earth is a Catholic priest that he would attract such reverence and familiarity? The question did not leave his mind. He began his research and study into Catholicism, and happily, this led him to becoming a Catholic!

Where is this reverence for priests now? Reverence that leads to such conversions? Respect that sets them apart from the rest of humanity?

We mustn't be fooled by the fact they look like the rest of us. The Catholic priest harbors Divinity within him!  He is called Another Christ - Alter Christus. You and I are not an Alter Christus, but the priest is. He is different. He is like the Tabernacle with the hidden Christ inside - silent, secret but there. In the confessional the priest as an Alter Christus brings us the tender mercy of God. 

Priest - Alter Christus - Another Christ

At the altar the priest, an Alter Christus breathes out upon the Host, speaking in the very person of Christ, "This is My Body" so that we, too, may briefly possess the Divine within us. What a mystery! What a grace!

As Jesus can no longer walk among us, He has hidden Himself inside the priest so He can draw out of us our childlike love and reverence for Him.

As Jesus carried the Cross, the priest carries the whole world on his shoulders with his prayers.

As Jesus was tossed about on a boat, the priest is tossed about this world, exiled, unwanted.

And thus he knows he is truly following in the footsteps of that Divinity within him, when as Alter Christus he sleeps through the storm, because he knows, all is God's will.

"If the world hate you, know ye that it hath hated me before you." (Jn 15:18),

Part 2 - Importance of the Priestly Office

- by St Alphonsus Liguori, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

St Alphonsus Maria, Bishop and Doctor of  the Church

The dignity of the priest is estimated from the exalted nature of his offices.

Priests are chosen by God to manage on earth all his concerns and interests. "Divine," says St. Cyril of Alexandria, "are the offices confided to priests." 

St. Ambrose has called the priestly office a Divine profession. A priest is a minister destined by God to be a public ambassador of the whole Church, to honor Him, and to obtain His graces for all the faithful. The entire Church cannot give to God as much honor, nor obtain so many graces, as a single priest by celebrating a single Mass; for the greatest honor that the whole Church without priests could give to God would consist in offering to Him in sacrifice the lives of all men. But of what value are the lives of all men compared with the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, which is a sacrifice of infinite value? What are all men before God but a little dust? As a drop of a bucket, as a little dust. They are but a mere nothing in His sight: All nations are before Him as if they had no being at all. 

Thus, by the celebration of a single Mass, in which he offers Jesus Christ in sacrifice, a priest gives greater honor to the Lord, than if all men by dying for God offered to Him the sacrifice of their lives. By a single Mass, he gives greater honor to God than all the Angels and Saints, along with the Blessed Virgin Mary, have given or shall give to Him; for their worship cannot be of infinite value, like that which the priest celebrating on the altar offers to God. 

-The Priest -
Amabssador of the Whole World to intercede with God 

Moreover, in the holy Mass, the priest offers to God an adequate thanksgiving for all the graces bestowed even on the Blessed in Paradise; but such a thanksgiving all the Saints together are incapable of offering to Him. Hence it is, that on this account also the priestly dignity is superior even to all celestial dignities.

St John Chrysostom,
Bishop, Doctor of the Church

Besides, the priest, says St. John Chrysostom, is an ambassador of the whole world, to intercede with God and to obtain graces for all creatures. The priest, according to St. Ephrem, "treats familiarly with God." To priests every door is open. 

Jesus has died to institute the priesthood. It was not necessary for the Redeemer to die in order to save the world; a drop of His Blood, a single tear, or prayer, was sufficient to procure salvation for all; for such a prayer, being of infinite value, should be sufficient to save not one but a thousand worlds. But to institute the priesthood, the death of Jesus Christ has been necessary. Had he not died, where should we find the victim that the priests of the New Law now offer? a victim altogether holy and immaculate, capable of giving to God an honor worthy of God. As has been already said, all the lives of men and Angels are not capable of giving to God an infinite honor like that which a priest offers to Him by a single Mass.

All the lives of men and Angels are not able to offer the infinite honour
that a priest offers to God by a 
Single Holy Mass
at the
Mother of Perpetual Succour Oratory, Christchurch, N.Z.