Sunday, July 18, 2010

St. Alphonsus Liguori: Jesus Died to Institute the Priesthood

Jesus has died to institute the priesthood. It was not necessary for the Redeemer to die in order to save the world. A drop of his blood, a single tear, or prayer, was sufficient to procure salvation for all; for such a prayer, being of infinite value, should be sufficient to save not one but a thousand worlds. But to institute the priesthood, the death of Jesus Christ has been necessary. Had he not died, where should we find the victim that the priests of the New Law now offer, a victim altogether holy and immaculate, capable of giving to God an honor worthy of God? As has been already said, all the lives of men and angels are not capable of giving to God an infinite honor like that, which a priest offers to him by a single Mass.

~ From Dignity and Duties of the Priesthood by St. Alphonsus Liguori ~

Mary, Mother of Jesus Christ, Eternal High Priest, Mother of all priests and our Mother, help us respond generously to the Holy Spirit's request, through the voice of His Church, to offer up to God Eucharistic adoration for priests. Amen.

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