...Almighty Father, grant to this servant of your the dignity of the priesthood. Renew within him the Spirit of holiness. As a co-worker with the order of bishops may he be faithful to the ministry that he receives from you, Lord God, and be to others a model of right conduct. May he be faithful in working with the order of bishops, so that the words of the Gospel may reach the ends of the earth, and the family of nations, made one in Christ, may become God's one, holy people. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
This sacrament configures the recipient to Christ by a special grace of the Holy Spirit, so that he may serve as Christ's instrument for his Church. By ordination one is enabled to act as a representative of Christ, Head of the Church, in his triple office of priest, prophet, and king.
As in the case of Baptism and Confirmation this share in Christ's office is granted once for all. the sacrament of Holy Orders, like the other two, confers an indelible spiritual character and cannot be repeated or conferred temporarily. (CCC 1581-1582)
Since it is ultimately Christ who acts and effects salvation through the ordained minister, the unworthiness of the latter does not prevent Christ from acting. St. Augustine states this forcefully:
| As for the proud minister, he is to be ranked with the devil. Christ's gift is not thereby profaned: what flows through him keeps its purity, and what passes through him remains dear and reaches the fertile earth.... the spiritual power of the sacrament is indeed comparable to light: those to be enlightened receive it in its purity, and if it should pass through defiled beings, it is not itself defiled. (CCC 1584) Interested in finding the right vocation for you? Click Here |
Photo credits with great thanks to Scott C. Park. | Créditos de las fotos con gran agradecimiento a Scott C. Park.
Este sacramento configura al que lo recibe con Cristo por una gracia especial del Espíritu Santo, para que pueda servir como instrumento de Cristo para su Iglesia. Por la ordenación uno está capacitado para actuar como representante de Cristo, Cabeza de la Iglesia, en su triple oficio de sacerdote, profeta y rey.
Como en el caso del Bautismo y la Confirmación, esta participación en el oficio de Cristo se concede de una vez por todas. el sacramento del Orden Sagrado, como los otros dos, confiere un carácter espiritual indeleble y no puede repetirse ni conferirse temporalmente. (CCC 1581-1582)
Puesto que es Cristo, en última instancia, quien actúa y efectúa la salvación a través del ministro ordenado, la indignidad de este último no impide que Cristo actúe. San Agustín afirma esto con fuerza:
En cuanto al ministro orgulloso, debe ser clasificado con el diablo. El don de Cristo no se profana por eso: lo que fluye por él conserva su pureza, y lo que pasa por él queda caro y llega a la tierra fértil... la fuerza espiritual del sacramento es, en efecto, comparable a la luz: los que han de ser iluminados la reciben en su pureza, y si pasara a través de seres contaminados, no se contaminaría a sí mismo.
(CCC 1584)
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