Day 212: In Persona Christi

The ministerial priesthood has the task not only of representing Christ - Head of the Church - before the assembly of the faithful, but also of acting in the name of the whole Church when presenting to God the prayer of the Church, and above all when offering the Eucharistic sacrifice. CCC 1552

In today's reading, the Catechism discusses mainly the ministerial priesthood acting in persona Christi and "in the name of the whole Church". This does not mean that priests act alone, for by Baptism and Confirmation all the faithful are "consecrated to be . . . a holy priesthood" through our participation and "each according to his own vocation" (CCC 1546). Nevertheless, bishops and priests, indeed one could say all those who receive Holy Orders, carry a special burden in service to God and the faithful. As the Catechism Companion, Vol II notes:

Just as the failings of a father can be devastating to his family, those of the priest can be equally so for the family of the Church. There is a weight put on priests to live up to their call and take care of their spiritual children, as they have, in some ways, a higher capacity to lead others into sin through their own sins. This is why they need to follow the example of Christ. (p. 188)

I also like how the Catechism Companion comments on the "royal priesthood" (1 Pet 2:9) for the faithful:

Any suffering, work, and rejoicing can be united to that of Jesus, and when we worship him at the Mass, we can unite to his offering of self to the Fathers as well - but in a different way than a priest or a bishop can. Jesus is the prime example of unconquerable authority and power, and he puts it to use for the service of those around him, modeling what it is to be a good man. (p. 188)

Finally, Dr. Brant Pitre has a good video on this: