Today, as I continue our discussion of the meaning of each of the four separate ways we experience Christ’s presence in the Mass, we’ll discuss Christ’s presence in the person of the priest. Hearing this assertion for the first time might be a little jarring. After all, it seems a bit presumptuous and prideful for a mere human to say that he “is Christ,” but I assure you, that the understanding of “in persona Christi” is a bit more nuanced than that. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states, “The redemptive sacrifice of Christ is unique, accomplished once for all; yet it is made present in the Eucharistic sacrifice of the Church. The same is true of the one priesthood of Christ; it is made present through the ministerial priesthood without diminishing the uniqueness of Christ’s priesthood: “Only Christ is the true priest, the others being only his ministers”(1545). The flawed, human nature of a priest is said to not be a factor in the reception of sacraments, because it is Christ who actually confers them! As Pope Saint John Paul II teaches, in persona Christi “means more than offering ‘in the name of’ or ‘in the place of’ Christ. In persona means in specific sacramental identification with the eternal High Priest who is the author and principal subject of this sacrifice of His, a sacrifice in which, in truth, nobody can take His place” (Dominicae Cenae, 8). It is because of this “sacramental identification” that the priest says, “This is My body…This is My blood.” In that moment, it is Christ himself who is speaking and offering himself to the Father. Is the mystery deep? Sure. Are the words that we use to describe it up to the task? Not really.
The priest isn’t just bringing about a memorial of Christ’s sacrifice. When Jesus commanded, “Do this in memory of me,” he was asking for his disciples, specifically the apostles, to do exactly as he did. He didn’t say, “Remember that I did this.” That difference in wording points out the same directness of action and expectation that can be found when Jesus is speaking in Matthew’s Gospel. Jesus said, “Amen, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again, [amen,] I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything for which they are to pray, it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father.For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them”(Matt 18:18-20).
Again, just like last week, so much more could be said! If there is any aspect of the liturgy that you’d like to know more about, just let me know. Let me also take this opportunity to encourage you to join me in participating in the “Catechism in a Year” discussion that will gather on the second and fourth Wednesday evening (6:30-8:00pm), or Thursday morning (9:30-11:00am) each month. There is still time to join the study. Contact me with any questions that you might have.