A life in the service of the Lord PRIESTHOOD: To live abundantly, you must serve the Lord Jesus Christ,

who Himself became our example. He served all the way to Calvary, and there He was the obedient servant, "obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross" (Phil. 2:7-8). What is the priesthood? Before dealing at length with the meaning of the priesthood in the Catholic Church, there is value in first looking at the priesthood in general, as revealed to us by God in the Sacred Scriptures, because today in so many circles there is such widespread confusion. People are being told that priests are really no different from the rest of the faithful. They are being told that at most priests are only ministers of the Gospel. Yet they have learned over the years that the priesthood is the sublimest dignity that God can confer on a human being. First then, let us look at the priesthood in the Old Testament revelation. As we read the pages of the Old Law, going back to the early history of Israel, we see that priests were an essential part of the chosen people. Their function was to act as mediators between the people and God. A priest was, therefore, first of all a mediator. This concept has been refined, deepened, and expanded but not substantially changed from the Old Law to the New Law. He stood between the people whom he represented and the God whom he addressed. The essence of Priesthood is to serve, to complete a service to God and a service to man.

Social/moral Issues of Priest One of the Issues of priesthood is Sex abuses there are lot of cases of sex abuse especially in remote places. Under the rules the priest are not allowed to exercise sex because they must be single and holy in serving God thats why marriage is not also allowed in their vocation.

What actions should be made regarding the issue? The Vatican council must provide counselling and treatment to the priest who committed sexual abuse because these priest needs attention and after the counselling and treatment there must a council to decide whether to re-assign or not. They must prove first that there is a sexual abuse made and if there is they must investigate if the priest is still suitable to this kind of vocation because if they will allow this kind of priest it will be discriminatory to other priest who doesnt commit this kind of act. The image of priest will be stained even if there are just few who commits sexual abuse. According to the USCCB, Catholic bishops in the 1950s and '60s viewed sexual abuse by priests as "a spiritual problem, one requiring a spiritual solution, i.e. prayer". However, starting in the sixties, the bishops came to adopt an emerging view based on the advice of

medical personnel who recommended psychiatric and psychological treatment for those who sexually abused minors. This view asserted that, with proper treatment, priests who had molested children could safely be placed back into ministry, although perhaps with certain restrictions such as not being in contact with children. This approach viewed pedophilia as an addiction, such as alcoholism which many feel cannot be cured but which can be treated and restrained.

Reflection: Priesthood plays a vital role in the community of believers because they represent god and they teaching the word of god. I idolized those priests who are humble enough not to be tempted by issues nowadays in their vocation. Im also sad because I have friends who are studying theology that their acts are not necessary in priesthood vocation. The Vatican must issue rules regarding how to choose people in this kind of vocation because if they will be doing wrongful act that will destroy the image of priest who are holy. Being a priest is not a simple job its a vocation in which there must be a calling. Every seminarian must know the essence of priesthood before entering the seminary in order for theme to hold a strong foundation if someday they will become a priest.

Prayer: O Jesus, our great High Priest, Hear my humble prayers, Father. Give him a deep faith, a bright and firm hope and a burning love which will ever increase in the course of his priestly life. In his loneliness, comfort him in his sorrows, strengthen him in his frustrations, point out to him that it is through suffering that the soul is purified, and show him that he is needed by the Church, he is needed by souls, and he is needed for the work of redemption. O loving Mother Mary, Mother of Priests, take to your heart your son who is close to you because of his priestly ordination, and because of the power which he has received to carry on the work of Christ in a world which needs him so much. Be his comfort, be his joy, be his strength, and especially help him to live and to defend the ideals of consecrated celibacy. Amen.