Day 214: Priests and the Presbyterate

"All priests, who are constituted in the order of priesthood by the sacrament of Order, are bound together by an intimate sacramental brotherhood, but in a special way they form one priestly body in the diocese to which they are attached under their own bishop..." The unity of the presbyterium finds liturgical expression in the custom of the presbyters' imposing hands, after the bishop, during the rite of ordination. CCC 1568

In today's reading, the Catechism discusses priests and the presbyterate in the Church. The priest is the one with Holy Orders who will be the most common for the laity and everyone else to interact with. As "co-workers" with the bishops, and especially in their acting in persona Christi in the sacrifice of the Mass, they owe obedience to their local bishop and the Church and are called especially to imitate Christ with lives of holiness.

The Catechism Compendium gives a summary of the effect of ordination to the priesthood:

The anointing of the Spirit seals the priest with an indelible, spiritual character that configures him to Christ the priest and enables him to act in the name of Christ the Head. As a co-worker of the order of bishops, he is consecrated to preach the Gospel, to celebrate divine worship, especially the Eucharist from which his ministry draws its strength, and to be a shepherd of the faithful. (#328)

The Catechism Companion, Vol II has some good commentary on the priesthood:

Just as with the episcopacy, the presbyterate is called to participate in the trifold office of making holy, instructing, and governing - in imitation of Christ's trifold office of priest, prophet, and King. Priests are fellow workers with the bishops, forming a unique kind of brotherhood to serve the Church for the glory of God the Father. (p. 192)

Roman Rite Catholic priest celebrating his first Mass

Maronite Catholics in Lebanon celebrate a new priest