161. Powers and Duties of Priests

Rubrics or rules for the proper execution of the services of the Church, for the exact conduct of any liturgical function. The rubrics of the Church are contained in the Missal, Breviary, Ritual, Pontifical, and Ceremonial. In books, rubrics are printed in red, for clearness and distinction. The chief liturgical books of the Latin Rite are six: The Missal contains all the prayers and ceremonies used for Mass, for each day of the year. The Breviary is the priests' prayer book, containing the Divine Office without chant. The Ritual contains all the services needed by a priest which are not in the Missal or Breviary, such as the administration of the sacraments. The Pontifical and Ceremonial are the Bishops' books. They contain the rites for episcopal functions such as Pontifical Mass, Confirmation, ordinations, consecration of altars, etc. The Martyrology is an enlarged calendar giving names and short accounts of the lives of the principal saints commemorated on each day of the year, in different parts of the Catholic world.

What are the effects of ordination to the priesthood?

— The effects are:

1. An increase of sanctifying grace.

One of the purposes of God for calling a man to the sacred ministry is to have him offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. This is a most high office, for the accomplishment of which God surely gives grace, and more grace.

2. Sacramental grace, through which the priest has God's help in his sacred ministry.

The duties of God's ministers are innumerable and difficult; they must have sacramental grace. God Who knows this well, certainly furnishes every grace necessary for the Sacrament of Holy Orders.

3. A character, lasting forever, which is a sharing in the priesthood of Christ, and which gives the priest supernatural powers.

Once a man is ordained priest, he is a priest forever. The sacrament imprints an indelible mark in the soul; it cannot therefore be repeated.

What are the chief supernatural powers of the priest?

— The chief supernatural powers of the priest are: to change bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, and to forgive sins in the sacrament of Penance.

1. A priest is given the power to celebrate Mass, and administer the sacraments except Holy Orders and Confirmation. A Bishop can administer all the sacraments: he has the "plenitude of power," being made successor of the Apostles.

The priests who apostatize, or are suspended or excommunicated still remain priests. They retain the power, although not the authority, of priesthood. For example, they have the power of saying a true Mass, although they would sin grievously if they did so. However, they cannot forgive sin, except in the case of the dying; absolution is a judicial power, and needs jurisdiction.

2. The schismatical Greek priests have received their orders from validly ordained bishops. Therefore, even though they are not united to the Catholic Church, they have the power to say Mass.

When these schismatical priests return to the unity of the Church, they are not re-ordained.

3. Except for the schismatical churches, no non-Catholic denomination has had validly ordained bishops; none has true priests.

A number of these non-Catholic denominations call some of their ministers "bishops"; but they are so only in name, as they have not been validly ordained. And so with their other ministers; they are not priests, since they received no valid orders.

What are two classes of priests?

— They are: secular priests and religious priests.

1. Secular (or diocesan) priests are those who belong to a diocese. They are bound to obey the bishop, and may not change from one diocese to another without the consent of the bishops of both dioceses.

Secular priests are generally in charge of the parishes; that is, they act as parish priests or pastors (also called rectors).

2. Religious (or regular) priests are those who are members of religious orders or congregations, such as the Augustinians, Benedictines, Dominicans, Franciscans, Jesuits, Redemptorists, Salesians, etc. Religious are bound by the three evangelical vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. They vow obedience to their superiors, and live in the community with their brethren.

Not all members of religious communities are priests. Many take the religious vows, but do not receive the Sacrament of Holy Orders: that is, they are not ordained. Then we call them brothers.

What are the chief duties of a priest?

— The chief duties of a priest are: to live in celibacy, and to recite the Divine Office daily: other duties vary in accordance with the function undertaken or position held.

1. The priestly vow of celibacy is taken when a man is received into the subdiaconate. Catholic priests do not marry, in imitation of Christ Himself. The Apostles, after they were called to the ministry, left all they had. Elias, Eliseus, Jeremias, and St. John the Baptist, lived in celibacy.

A priest is ordained for the exclusive service of God: his talents, his time, his very life belong to His service. St. Paul says: "He who is unmarried is concerned about the things of the Lord, how he may please God. Whereas, he who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how he may please his wife; and he is divided" (I Cor. 7:32-33).

2. A priest must read the Divine Office, a series of prayers, in the Breviary; for this approximately one hour is needed every day.

The Office is in prescribed and fixed order, including psalms, canticles, writings of the Old Testament prophets and of Apostles and Fathers of the Church, passages from the Gospels, hymns, and special prayers in honour of the Blessed Mother and the Saints. The reading of the Divine Office has not only devotional value as prayer; it also has a practical value, in refreshing the priest's memory regarding much of what he has learned, keeping him mentally alert, better qualified for his duties.

3. A pastor must be ready to visit the dying at any hour of the day or night, even though the patient be suffering from a contagious disease. He must instruct his people, and guard them from harm. A pastor is the shepherd of his flock.

He must build and maintain a church, a convent, a school. He must hear confessions hour after hour as long as there is need. He must administer the sacraments, say Mass, attend to the poor, etc.

4. Religious, or regular, priests generally devote themselves to prayer, and to the spiritual and corporal works of mercy. They have charge of schools, hospitals, orphanages, and other charitable institutions. They organize missions and retreats, and engage in press work and religious propaganda.

Religious are usually employed by the Pope as missionaries to convert the pagans. In many cases, they also act as parish priests.