Program of Priestly Formation 6th edition

THE MINISTERIAL PRIESTHOOD | 15

have been called by the Spirit, but in virtue of his configuration to Christ, the Head and Shepherd, the priest stands in this spousal relationship with regard to the community.” 41 This Christological foundation is particularly important for the life of the celibate priest. By the grace of the virtue of celibate chastity, a priest is a sign of the chastity of Christ. Formation for living priestly celibacy should take the chastity of Christ as a point of reference at every stage in all of its dimensions. As Pope Benedict XVI affirms, “The fact that Christ himself, the eternal priest, lived his mission even to the sacrifice of the Cross in the state of virginity constitutes the sure point of reference for understanding the meaning of the tradition of [priestly celibacy in] the Latin Church.” 42 The second point of reference for priestly identity, following the priest’s relationship with Christ, is his relationship to the Church. “As a mystery, the Church is essentially related to Jesus Christ. She is his full ness, his body, his spouse.” 43 The priest’s specific configuration to Christ brings about this special relationship to his Body, the Church. Within the Body, he represents Christ, Head and Shepherd, Servant and Spouse, as a co-worker with the bishop. The nature and mission of the ministerial priesthood can only be fully understood within the mystery of the Church, “as a service to the glory of God and to the brothers and sisters in their baptismal priesthood.” 44 “The ministry of the priest,” then, “is entirely on behalf of the Church; it aims at promoting the exercise of the common priesthood of the entire People of God.” 45 To understand who he is, and therefore how he should live, the priest must understand himself in rela tionship with the Church. His participation in Christ’s priesthood is called “ministerial” precisely for its service to the members of the Body. Pastores Dabo Vobis expands our understanding of the ecclesio logical scope of the ministerial priesthood by noting that it “is ordered 27. ECCLESIOLOGICAL EXPRESSION 28. 29.

41 42 43 44 45

Pastores Dabo Vobis , no. 22. Sacramentum Caritatis , no. 24. Pastores Dabo Vobis , no. 12. Ratio Fundamentalis , no. 31. Pastores Dabo Vobis , no. 16.