SVEĆENIŠTVO KAO POSREDNIŠTVO - BITI IZMEĐU BOGA I LJUDI
PRIESTHOOD AS INTERMEDIACY - Between God and people

Summary/Abstract: The intention of this work is to show that the priesthood is essentially determined by the idea of intermediacy. The identity of the priest in the Church, as a theme to reflect upon during the “Year of the Priest”, becomes clear if that identity is founded on Christ’s priesthood. With this in mind, the author of this article develops five consecutive themes: 1) The reasons for the crisis in priestly identity are not only to be found in social change but also in the way the Church understands itself and its salvific ministry. Therefore the theological explanation of the nature of the priest’s ministry is crucial. 2) The history of redemption has a sacramental structure, which means that the encounter with God (salvific event) is realized in a human way (ad modum humanum) through word and act/event. This means that we are dealing with the visible intermediacy of salvation. 3) Christ’s priesthood, specifically addressed in the Epistle to the Hebrews, is very important in its personal intermediacy between God and people; Christ’s intermediacy has an ontological foundation in the theandric constitution of Jesus Christ, and that intermediacy is realized in the Paschal mystery. 4) Ministerial priesthood in the Church, according to Christ’s will and the apostolic ministry and consecration, continues Christ’s intermediacy between God and people. The priest, through sacramental ordination, becomes part of Christ (this is the sacramental character of priesthood); he leads to Christ those who believe in him and those who look for him; he also mediates, sacramentally, the grace of salvation. 5) The identity of the priest, as understood by the Catholic Church, is realized in permanent and personal self-formation into Christ. Therefore, every priest is called to be transparent for Christ the Savior; transparent in his personality; transparent in his words and his deeds.

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