REFLCTIONS
ON IMMITATION OF CHRIST BOOK
JOBIN
THAYYIL.
In imitation of Christ
book 4 chapter three and seven explained very well about the dignity of
priesthood.Chapter 5 says that priest is higher than the purity of angels and
the holiness f St. John the baptize. Because they were not granted the great
dignity of priest. Only priest, validlyordained in the church, have the power
of offering holy mass and consecrating the body of Christ. Priest stand in the
place of Christ using God’s words according to His command and institution but God
Himself is the principal author and unseen worker in this sacrament. So priest
should offer this adorable sacrifice with great reverence and devotion and the
life of a priest should be blameless. He is bound by a stricter self discipline
and isobliged to strive for perfection. It is the obligation of a priest to
lead a good life as a good example for others. His conversation must not be on
the level of other local people in the world but rather, with the angels in
heavenor with the holy people of perfect life on earth.
A priest, clothed in
his sacred vestments, take the place of Christ, Offering humble prayers and
supplications for his people. Before him and behind him he wears the cross of
our Lord, that he may always be mindful of passion of Christ. He bears the
cross before him that he may humbly suffer for God whatever injuries are done
to him that he may have sorrow for his own sins and behind him that he may
realize that he has been place between God and humankind in order to mourn over
the sins of others with compassion.
This chapter explained very well about
priestly life and its dignity. Priesthood is a wonderful gift that we receive
from God. It is not because we are worthy but it is because of his mercy and
love He grand us this gift. The words of St. Paul are proving this. “Consider
your own call brothers and sisters, not many of you were wise by human
standards, not many were powerful, and not many were noble birth. But God chose
what is foolish in the world to shame thewise, God chose what is weak in the
world to shame the strong God chose what is low and despised in the world ,
things that are not to reduce to nothing things that are , so that no one might
boast in thepresume of God ( I Cor.1:26).” So as followers of God we have to be
humble and abandon ourselves in to the hands of God.
In chapter 7 it
explains how a priest should do the celebration. He should handle and receive
the sacrament with great humility and reverence of heart full of faith and
loving intention of giving honor to God. He should examine his conscience
carefully and to the best of his ability cleanse and purify it, by sincere
contrition and humble confession. So that he may not be aware of anything to
fill him with remorse or prevent his free approach to God. He has to ask sorry
for all his sins. He should give his body and his soul in to Gods keeping that
he may be found worthy to offer sacrifices to God and to receive sacraments of
His body with profit.
These chapters really
helped me to understand about the precious gift of God that is priesthood and
how I have to be a good priest. It also gives me the knowledge how I have to
make me worthy to do this ministry. It really encourages and advises me to live
according to my call as St Paul says “however that may be let each of you lead
the life that the Lord has assigned to which God called you.” (1 Cor. 7:7)
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