Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Feast of the Chair of Peter: "I exhort the presbyters"

Do not lord it over those assigned to you,
but be examples to the flock.

The bishop is "the steward of the grace of the supreme priesthood," especially in the Eucharist which he offers personally or whose offering he assures through the priests, his co-workers. The Eucharist is the center of the life of the particular Church. The bishop and priests sanctify the Church by their prayer and work, by their ministry of the word and of the sacraments. They sanctify her by their example, "not as domineering over those in your charge but being examples to the flock." Thus, "together with the flock entrusted to them, they may attain to eternal life."
-- CCC 893

Image: Altar of the Chair, Basilica San Pietro, Roma.

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