Priesthood Sunday

This weekend is Priesthood Sunday. So let’s ask the question: what is a priest? From a sacramental perspective, a priest is a living sacrament where the man is united to Jesus in a unique way. When the priest acts as priest (celebrating Mass, hearing confessions, etc.), he acts “in persona Christi” or “in the person of Christ.” This means that in the Mass or in the confessional, it is not Fr. So-and-so who is praying or speaking, it is Jesus Himself. Every sacrament serves as a sign pointing to some higher, spiritual reality; the priest is a living sacrament in that he serves as the sign of Jesus’ presence within the Church.