Original scientific paper
On Priestly Obedience
Ivica Raguž
orcid.org/0000-0002-0083-0325
; Catholic Faculty of Theology, J. J. Strossmayer University of Osijek, Đakovo, Croatia
Abstract
The article examines the priestly ministry (of diocesan priests) through the lens of obedience. In order to understand the priestly ministry as obedience we used the reflections of Hans Urs von Balthasar on the priestly ministry. Balthasar is of the opinion that the priestly ministry has the role of presenting and manifesting the so called "naked obedience", "metal obedience", which Jesus Christ himself realized on the Cross. This "metal obedience" is not an end in itself, but it should serve the realization of greater love in the Church. Further analysis shows the way in which the priestly ministry, precisely in the view of representing Christ's "metal obedience", differs from the other two classes in the Church, the laity and religious. The concept of depersonalization and functionalism against all subjectivism and oddity is very important for the understanding of priestly ministry as obedience. The second part of the article examines some aspects of priestly obedience in the pastoral. The priest is primarily called to be obedient in regard to their own ministry, as well as to the bishop, the spiritual director, friends, and then also to their own parish community. This last aspect of priestly obedience is especially important because it enables the priest to be a true shepherd of the community entrusted to him. There is also a warning about the dangers of priestly obedience that can be perverted into a way of achieving ecclesiastical power and careerism. The article concludes with a brief reflection on Christ's kenotic obedience in the Hymn from the Letter to the Philippians (Phil 2: 6-8). Christ's kenotic obedience should serve as a role model for all the faithful, and especially priests.
Keywords
priestly ministry; obedience; Hans Urs von Balthasar; evangelical counsel; state
Hrčak ID:
153293
URI
Publication date:
24.2.2016.
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