Concept in Definition ABC
Miscellanea / / July 04, 2021
By Florencia Ucha, in Sep. 2013
The word priesthood presents a special use in the field of religion, since there it is used to designate both to the dignity, the position and the exercise of the profession of priest that an individual displays.
Position, dignity and exercise of the profession of priest that an individual develops in religion
The priest is a man who dedicates himself in a professional and exclusive way to practice as mediator between the members of a religious community and the divinity that they worship, for example, in the case of Christianity , between God and Christians.
It should be noted that in polytheistic religions, for example in Roman and Greek cultures, each deity had its own priests, so Zeus had one, Aphrodite another, etc.
While and especially in ancient times the priest used to occupy a social position of privilege.
Precisely in the Middle Ages, the clergy, as the group of priests of the Catholic Church are called, had a notable relevance and influence on the political plane as well as in the religious context.
Catholicism: attend the seminary to become a priest
To serve as a priest, in the Catholicism, the aspiring priest must enter to the seminar which is a institution of training designed for this purpose and through which once the relevant studies have been completed and approved, the person will be able to access the priestly ministry.
That is, the purpose of the seminar is to shepherds training.
Requirements
Among the conditions that are required are: being a man, having a clear priestly vocation, intellectual capacity and be a Catholic, and have received the sacraments of Baptism, Communion, Confession, and Confirmation, and accept the celibacy.
Generally, seminaries belong to a diocese and its authority maximum is the bishop.
Also in Judaism there are these institutions trainers.
Reception of the sacrament of Holy Orders
An individual who has received the sacrament of holy orders in the Christian religion will be formally considered a priest.
Meanwhile, once he is in this condition, his mission will be to serve God and the Church exclusively and permanent, dedicated to prayer, evangelization and being the medium between the faithful and God, that is, absolute dedication and full.
Once consecrated, the priest may exercise the following functions: government, celebration of the sacraments and evangelization.
Like the other sacraments, such as baptism or communion, the holy order implies a huge commitment and for life, except for resignation or serious cause and withdrawal.
This sacrament is only transmitted by a bishop via the laying on of hands and the recitation of a prayer in which God is asked to grant grace.
It is worth clarifying that in Catholicism this sacrament is conferred only on men and not on women, although in other aspects of Christianity it is transmitted to women.
Now, there are different levels of order: diaconate, priesthood and bishopric ...
Deacons can baptize and marry couples, priests can celebrate communion and forgive sins through the sacrament of confession.
And the bishops are reserved the exclusivity to grant the sacred order, plus the rest of the previous activities.
We must say that celibacy is a mandatory condition that all priests and bishops must meet and respect.
Is a rule that must be complied with, otherwise the person who does not comply with it can be thrown out.
Although it is one of the most discussed and controversial norms of Catholicism, its repeal has never been discussed within the Church, that is, it has always been questioned from the outside.
For his part, high priest It will be the highest authority of a confession.
For example, it is that Catholics also call the Pope Supreme Pontiff.
Special dedication that a person manifests in a noble task
On the other hand, in the language colloquial this word is also widely used to account for the dedication and commitment that a person has with the performance of an activity, profession or task that stands out for its nobility.
Of course this usage derives directly from the original reference attributed to it in religion.
“ Teaching is a priesthood for my brother.”
Topics in Priesthood