Prezbiter szafarzem sakramentów i głosicielem Słowa Bożego w wybranych posoborowych dokumentach Kościoła

Abstract

The article shows the manner of reception and implementation of the Conciliar document on the ministry and life of priests Presbyterorum ordinis in the most important Church documents which have been published after Vatican II. The following post-Conciliar documents of the Church have been analyzed: the Apostolic Constitution of Paul VI Pontificalis Romani recognitio, the theological and pastoral introduction to the ordination rite of priests, the Catechism of the Catholic Church and an instruction published on August 4, 2002 by the Congregation for the Clergy: The Priest, Pastor and Leader of the Parish Community. The issue of priestly and prophetic functions of presbyters has been treated in detail. These are the two most important functions which flow from the reception of the Sacrament of Holy Orders. All documents strongly emphasize that the priest performs these functions by acting in close union with Christ and in identifying himself with Him in persona Christi. By proclaiming the Good News and offering the Sacraments the priest sanctifies himself and contributes to his own salvation and the salvation of those entrusted to him. The post-Conciliar documents emphasize that through the priestly and prophetic ministry of the presbyter Christ continues His saving mission. Thanks to the ministry of priests, Christ still breaks the Bread and opens the Scriptures to us (Lk 24,30-32). The presented documents express a great concern for the formation of candidates for the reception of Holy Orders. It seems that today many priests experience an identity crisis and that’s why it is necessary to keep going back to the Conciliar and post-Conciliar teaching of the Church about the prophetic and priestly function of presbyters.