THE NATURE OF PRIESTHOOD.
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a partial conformity.[1] The character we receive is impressed, not on the essence, but on the powers of the soul—that is, on the intellectual or the affective powers—and is either passive or active.[2] The character of Baptism is a passive power for the reception of all other Sacraments, and for conformity as sons to the Son of God. The character of Confirmation is an active power for the public witness of the faith, and for the life of action and of patience as good soldiers of Christ. The character of Ordination is an active power for the exercise and ministry of divine worship.[3] The sacerdotal character, therefore, is a participation of the Priesthood of Christ and the closest configuration to Him in His office of
- ↑ "Et propter hoc etiam Christo non competit habere characterem; sed potestas sacerdotii ejus comparatur ad characterem sicut id quod est plenum, et perfectum ad aliquam sui participationem."—Ibid. a. 5.
- ↑ "Character est quoddam signaculum quo anima insignitur ad suscipiendum, vel aliis tradendum ea quæ sunt divini cultus. Divinus autem cultus in quibusdam actibus consistit. Ad actus autem proprie ordinantur potentiæ animæ, sicut essentia ordinatur ad esse. Et ideo character non est sicut in subjecto in essentia animæ, sed in ejus potentia."—Ibid. a. 4.
- ↑ "Divinus autem cultus consistit vel in recipiendo aliqua divini vel in tradendo aliis. Ad utrumque autem horum requiritur quædam potentia: nam ad tradendum aliquid aliis requiritur quædam potentia activa; ad accipiendum autem requiritur potentia passiva. Et ideo character importat quamdam potentiam spiritualem ordinatam ad ea quæ sunt divini cultus."—Ibid. a. 3, and q. lxxii. a. 5.
