What does it mean to be a priest?

Like all things in the Church the priesthood can only be understood in reference to Christ. Christ has the unique mission of bringing all people into the Kingdom through his death and Resurrection. However, this mission is not his own:

Jesus therefore has his life and mission given to him by the Father. Jesus continues to accomplish his saving ministry through those men we call priests. For these men have inherited this promise made by Jesus to the apostles:

This promise aptly hints at the central mystery of what it means to be a priest. For it tells us that priesthood is first of all not a job or a role but a vocation whereby an individual makes present to the people of God, Christ the head of the Church!

Obviously a priest cannot make Christ present to the Church and the world through any natural talent of his own. This ability is a gift of grace from God. Our faith tells us this gift is given through the Sacrament of Orders. And it is through this gift that the priest is able to forgive sins, anoint, preach, and ultimately preside at the great event of our redemption the Eucharist.

This is not to say a priest's natural talents are not important. Any gift from God is mediated through our humanity, hence the long training involved in preparing for the priesthood. For a priest's whole personality - human, spiritual, intellectual and pastoral - needs to be moulded so that the gift of the priesthood can shine more fully in him.

Priesthood then finds it source and origin in Christ.

History also bears testimony to the fact that Christ calls many different types of people to live out this vocation of service.

Maybe he is calling you?