by Bishop Raymond A. Lucker
Diocese of New Ulm

There has been an ongoing discussion in the Church on the priesthood. Among others, the following issues have been raised: What is the role of priestly ministry today?, What is the future of the priesthood?, How do we respond to the shortage of priests?, and What is the relationship between the priesthood of the laity and the ministerial priesthood? It is the latter issue about which I would like to make a few comments.

It is a teaching of the Church that all of its members share in the priesthood of Christ. As the Preface for the Chrism Mass declares, "Christ gave the dignity of a royal priesthood to the people he has made his own."

It is also a teaching that there is an essential difference between the priesthood of the ordained and the priesthood of the laity. Only ordained priests can preside at the Eucharist. "Acting in the person of Christ he brings about the Eucharistic Sacrifice and offers it to God in the name of all the people. For their part the faithful join in the offering of the Eucharist by virtue of their royal priesthood. They likewise exercise that priesthood by receiving the sacraments, by prayer and thanksgiving, by the witness of a holy life, and by self denial and active charity." (Vatican II)

Only priests can administer the sacraments, in particular the sacrament of Reconciliation and the Anointing of the Sick. Only priests can be assigned as pastors.

Recently an instruction came from offices in the Vatican "On the Collaboration of the Non-Ordained Faithful in the Sacred Ministry of Priest." The intent of that document was to give support to priests. Unfortunately the tone and manner in which it addressed the role of the laity was negative and not especially helpful.

What does the Church teach about the role of the laity? What are the essential teachings of the Church about the lay faithful?

1. The Constitution on the Laity emphasizes that the Church is the People of God. All members of the Church, ordained and non-ordained, hear the same words of Jesus. "I came that you may have life." "I call you friends." "I chose you." "Love one another as I love you." "Take up your cross and follow me."

2. The members of the Church of Jesus Christ are called the Body of Christ. "We, though many, are one body in Christ." (Rom 12.5) We are the hands and feet, lips and heart of Christ. Jesus is our brother and we are brothers and sisters of each other.

3. God created all people, male and female, in his likeness. Every person is created with dignity and value. What is more, "There does not exist among you Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female. All are one in Christ Jesus." (Gal 3, 28) The Church teaches that there must be no discrimination based on race, nationality, sex, or social or economic condition.

4. By our Baptism and Confirmation all members of the Church share in the life and ministry of the Church. All are called to use the gifts of the Spirit to build up the Church and to work for the transformation of society.

5. All members of the Church share in the teaching office of Christ. The II Vatican council was very clear about this. "The holy People of God shares also in Christ's prophetic (teaching) office. The body of the faithful as a whole, anointed as they are by the Holy One, cannot err in matters of belief." Parents, catechists, teachers, youth leaders, all of us in our daily life proclaim our faith in the message of Jesus by our life, teaching, and example.

6. All members of the Church are called and gifted by the Spirit for their ministry. A key teaching and an important shift in emphasis by the Second Vatican Council is that "The lay apostolate is a participation in the saving mission of the Church itself. Through their Baptism and Confirmation all are commissioned to that apostolate by the Lord himself." (Church 33)

7. All of the faithful have right to be heard. They are free to make known their needs, especially spiritual ones, and their desires to the pastors of the Church. As is written in the Code of Canon Law, "In accord with the knowledge which they possess, they have the right and even at times a duty to manifest to the sacred pastors their opinion on matters which pertain to the good of the Church." (c. 212)

8. The Christian faithful have a right to receive the spiritual goods of the Church from their pastors and especially the word of God and the sacraments.

Yes, the Church has a lot to say about the role of the non-ordained in the Church. One time Pope St. Pius X asked a group of Cardinals, "What is the greatest need of the Church today?" Various ones replied, "More Churches, more schools, more priests, a greater use of the press." "No", said the Pope, "Give me in every parish a handful of lay people, alert, well informed, devoted, and I will change the face of the earth."

As we begin to prepare for our participation in RENEW 2000, it is important to stress the absolute necessity of the role and work of the ordained ministers in the Church. We will also devote a great deal of attention to the rightful place of the laity.

April, 1998