Case report
“MINISTERS OF YOUR JOY” POPE BENEDICT XVI ON THE PRIESTHOOD
Joseph Murphy
; Sergretaria di Stato, Citta del Vaticano
Abstract
The article examines the nature of priesthood and the
reflections of Pope Benedict XVI on this theme during the first year
of his Pontificate.
The first part of the essay deals with the debate on the nature of
priesthood. According to the traditional Christocentric, ontological
and sacramental understanding, the priesthood is rooted in the
being of the man who ministers. In the 1960s a more social and
functional view came to the fore, which describes the priesthood in
terms of a ministry to the congregation within the social institution
called the Church. Joseph Ratzinger developed his own theological
understanding of the priesthood in the aftermath of the Second
Vatican Council, at a time when the very meaning of what it
means to be a priest was hotly debated. In line with the Council’s
teaching, he renews the traditional Christocentric conception of
the priesthood, centred on the celebration of the sacraments, by
incorporating what is valid in more recent approaches, particularly
the emphasis on preaching God’s word and guidance of the
community.
The second part touches upon the priesthood as the
continuation of the mission of Christ. The saving mission of
Jesus Christ, the divine Son, is the basis for Joseph Ratzinger’s
theological reflection on the priesthood. Christ’s whole being is
mission and relationship. To emphasise the Christological and
sacramental nature of the apostolic ministry, Joseph Ratzinger
refers to St Paul’s priestly and liturgical description in Rom 15:15-
16. A second text is 1 Pet 5:1-4 which Ratzinger describes as a
kind of “mirror of priests”.
Part three examines the Christological basis of the priesthood
which has consequences for the priest’s personal spirituality and
his manner of carrying out his ministry. To avoid the degeneration
of priestly life into mere activism, Joseph Ratzinger emphasises
the importance of prayer and contemplation which, apart from
restoring our joy in the Lord, are the most important of truly
pastoral activities. At the personal level, Joseph Ratzinger stresses
the need for the priest to cultivate a relationship of friendship with
Christ. This friendship, accompanied by obedience to Christ’s will
is, in fact, the secret of holiness.
The fourth part looks upon the priest as a man of truth and
joy. By living in accordance with the truth, in fidelity to God and
to his revealed law, man “comes to experience himself as loved by
God and discovers joy in truth and in righteousness – a joy in God
which becomes his essential happiness”.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
22591
URI
Publication date:
21.6.2007.
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