To review previous writings visit the archive
Click here for Bishop Manning's series on "The Year of The Eucharist"
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To review previous writings visit the archive Click here for Bishop Manning's series on "The Year of The Eucharist" |
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July 2009
Article No. 29 in a series by Bishop Kevin Manning,
Catholic Outlook, July 2009
At the beginning of my treatment of the Decree on the Ministry and Life of Priests in the June issue of Catholic Outlook, I concluded with article 3 in Chapter 1. This month I want to comment on Chapter 2 of the Decree which has three sections:
Priestly functions
The first section presents three aspects of the priestly ministry:
teaching, administering the sacraments and pastoral care. It is worth noting
that the ministry of a bishop is treated in the same way.1
Teaching, administering the sacraments and pastoral care unite to form the single ministerial priesthood. Moreover, there is a very clear correspondence between these three functions and Christ in His threefold character of prophet, priests and king.
These titles should not be too sharply distinguished; any attempt to build a theology of priesthood on such a division can easily appear artificial. We must remember too that the laity shares the same three sides of the Christian character (Constitution on the Church, 34-36)
In considering "teaching" the Decree stresses "the Mystery of Christ", and a secondary concern is with modern problems and method; in the sections "Administering the Sacraments" the stress is upon the centrality and overwhelming importance of the Eucharist; in "Pastoral Care" it is upon the value of close human contacts.
What stands out in articles 4-6 of The Decree on the Priestly Life and Ministry is the evangelical and human character. These articles exude warmth when they speak about the Word of God, the Eucharist, or the way in which pastors help lead their flock to a more mature religious life. It could well be said that the Council did not produce anything better than these pages on priestly ministry.
This is no narrow cultic conception of the priesthood, for the priest is clearly minister of the Word, which duty culminates in the celebration of the liturgy of the Word during Mass.
You might note that the priest's proclamation of the Word in Mass is, according to the decree "inseparably joined to the response of the people who hear."
This proclamation has no ex opere operato effect; its effect depends on people really being present and understanding. The decree, here, is closely related to the whole series of articles in the Liturgy Constitution on the Word of God. (33, 35, 48, 52, 56)
Article 5 contains the Council's longest general treatment of the ministry of the sacraments, which is also closely linked with parts of the Liturgy Constitution.2
What stands out, as in all the conciliar documents, is the enormous emphasis placed upon the Eucharist. There is no suggestion that the seven sacraments are looked upon as more or less equal.
Instead: "The other Sacraments, as well as every ministry of the Church and every work of the apostolate, are linked with the Holy Eucharist and are directed towards it. For the most Blessed Eucharist contains the Church's entire spiritual wealth, that is, Christ Himself, our Passover and Living Bread … the Eucharist shows itself to be the whole source and apex of preaching the Gospel."(5)
To emphasise that the priest is an ordained minister of the whole Gospel in no way takes away from the central importance in his life and in that of the Church of the Eucharistic celebration.
On the contrary, this is the very heart of the Gospel, just as it is the very heart of the Church. It is here, above all, that Christ's true words are encountered in a supremely solemn way, the community of Christians is established and nourished, and the strength to shoulder the Gospel mission is obtained.
The priest's duty is to build up the local Eucharistic community of God's people in all the dimensions of its meaning.
Relations with others
Articles 7 and 8 describe the diocesan presbyterate, the union of priests
surrounding the bishop. The relationship of priest with the bishop should be
expressed in the whole way of life of the diocese: close friendship of priests
with bishop; genuine teamwork, unaffected obedience, and a diocesan senate.
The presbyterate is something that must be lived by priests between themselves, demonstrated by:
In article 9 several of the ideas on pastoral work and clergy/laity relations of article 6 are taken up and developed. Both should be seen in the light of the Constitution on the Church, Chapter 4 and the Decree on the Lay Apostolate.
The chief point here is that in "pastoral" work the character is very different, as seen in the context of a laity learning of its calling equally with the clergy to seek perfection and work in the apostolate.
Distribution of priests and vocations
As regards the distribution of priests and vocations: article 10 ratifies
and strongly encourages the practice that has grown up more and more in recent
years of diocesan priests entering into mission outside their own diocese.3
Clearly, it is necessary to make it far easier and more normal for diocesan priests to change their field of work and go where the needs are greatest.
In this the Council is trying to make the pattern of the Church's ministry more flexible, and also to decrease the differentiation between secular and regular clergy.
One might ask if it is unreasonable to suggest that in well-provided dioceses every secular priest might be expected to do at least three years of extra diocesan service.
Obviously, priests sent on a diocesan mission need preparation, and continuing support, and regular short orientation courses should be provided for people who are not members of the missionary societies, but who have volunteered for overseas work.
Generally, it is better they do not come singly, so those concerned can plan suitable accommodation arrangements, while resolutely avoiding the temptation to develop into yet another missionary society.
Article 11 speaks of questions concerning vocations to the priesthood. This can best be treated in conjunction with article 2 of the Decree on Seminary Formation.
1 Christus Dominus, 30.
2 See also the Decree on the Eastern Catholic Churches 12-18, 27,
and the Decree on Ecumenism 22 which touches into the ecumenical significance
of the Sacraments.
3 Decree on the Bishops Pastoral Office 6 & Decree on
Missionary Activity 38.
