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A Worthy Priest in the Person of Christ (In Persona Christi)


(Article by Fr. Paul Coutinha SAC)

The phrase “In Persona Christi” is not new to us. We know it. We have heard it explained. Probably we need to reflect on it again and again as Priests trying to live our lives as best as we can in a world of temptations and sin. We are continuously called to be more and more “in persona Christi” that is, in the person of Christ.

It is the Sacrament of baptism that incorporates the believer into the eternal Priesthood of Christ. This has been called the common priesthood – a call to which every baptized person is called. Now, this call is to be sustained with grace. 

This grace comes from God and God gives this sustaining grace through the Ministerial Priesthood. The Ministerial Priesthood is made up of bishops and priests, and also deacons to a lesser extent (I mean permanent deacons not transitional). These are given the specific purpose/ministry of sustaining and renewing the members of the Church so that they can carry out the Church’s mission to the world.

Through the grace of the sacrament of Holy Orders the bishops, priests, and deacons to a lesser extent become In Persona Christi, and are given the power to act in the person of Christ. They act when they carry out the mission of sanctifying above all in and through the Sacraments, teaching, and guiding. We act in Persona Christi when we celebrate Mass, forgive sins, preach and perform other acts of shepherding, teaching, guiding, and also administration in the name of the Church.


This is a special gift to be chosen and incorporated into the person of Christ. As a result, we are called to be holy, righteous, men of faith and remain blameless in every way. Does it happen? No, it does not. There is weakness and sinfulness in every person including those in the Ministerial Priesthood (bishops/priests/ Deacons). But the presence of Christ in us does not erase or remove our human weaknesses, frailty, and sin. One has got to work very hard to grow in both human and Christian maturity.


However, the Priest’s sin cannot impede the validity and fruitfulness of the sacraments. Because he acts not in his person but he acts in the person of Christ. Therefore as we have learnt in Theology sacraments are efficacious. They impart the grace they signify. The Priest either a good one or a bad one at that does not give the sacraments their power but God does. The sacraments are valid and effective even if the minister is deep in sin. It is a supreme example of God’s mercy. God expects us to go through daily conversion though. Conversion is a process. At no point in our life can we say that we have learnt everything. At no point in our life can we say that we have reached the holiness of life. It is a life struggle to journey from being a sinner to being a saint. Temptations are many. That is one reason we constantly need to examine ourselves, return to understanding the basics of our faith and vocation. Why did I become a Priest? What do I need to do to remain a Holy Priest, a worthy Priest in the Person of Christ (In Persona Christi).  

 

 

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