on the ROYAL PRIESTHOOD
from the
DOGMATIC CONSTITUTION on the CHURCH
Lumen Gentium
(Vatican II, Lumen Gentium, 21 Nov. 1964)
 

Nicea, Icon,
St. Kath.-Sinai,1800

10. CHRIST the Lord, high priest taken from among human beings (cf. Heb. 5:1-5), made the new people a kingdom of priests to God, his Father (Rev. 1:6; cf. 5:9-10).

10. Christus Dominus, Pontifex ex hominibus assumptus (cf. Hebr. 5,1-5) novum populum "fecit regnum et sacerdotes Deo et Patri suo" (Apoc. 1,6; cf. 5,9-10).

The baptized, by regeneration and the annointing of the Holy Spirit, are consecrated to be a spiritual house and a holy priesthood, that through all the works of Christian people they may offer spiritual sacrifices and proclaim the perfection of him who has called them out of darkness into his marvellous light (cf. 1 Pet.2:4-10).

Baptizati enim, per regenerationem et Spiritus Sancti unctionem consecrantur in domum spiritalem et sacerdotium sanctum, ut per omnia opera hominis christiani spirituales offerant hostias, et virtutes annuntient Eius qui de tenebris eos vocavit in admirabile lumen suum (cf. 1 Petr. 2,4-10).

THEREFORE all the disciples of Chist, persevering in prayer and praising God (cf. Acts 2:42-47), should present themselves as a sacrifice, living, holy, and pleasing to God (cf. Rom. 12.1).

Ideo universi discipuli Christi, in oratione perseverantes et collaudantes Deum (cf. Act. 2,42 ad 47), seipsos hostiam viventem, sanctam, Deo placentem exhibeant (cf. Rom. 12,1),

They should everywhere on earth bear witness to Christ and give an answer to everyone who asks a reason for the hope of an eternal life which is theirs. (cf. 1 Pet. 3:15).

ubique terrarum de Christo testimonium perhibeant, atque poscentibus rationem reddant de ea, quae in eis est, spe vitae aeternae (cf. 1 Petr. 3,15)

       Though they differ essentially and not only in degree, the common priesthood of the faithful and the ministerial or hierarchical priesthood are none the less ordered one to another; each in its own proper way shares in the one priesthood of Christ. [See Pius XII, Alloc. Magnificate Dominum,2 Nov. 1954: AAS 46 (1954) p. 669. Litt. Encycl. Mediator Dei, 20 Nov. 1947: AAS 39 (1947) p.555]

Sacerdotium autem commune fidelium et sacerdotium ministerale seu hierarchicum, licet essentia et non gradu tantum defferant, ad invicem tamen ordinantur; unum enim et alterutrum suo peculiari modo de uno Christi sacerdotio participant.2

The ministerial priest, by the sacred power that he has, forms and rules the priestly people; in the person of Christ he effects the eucharistic sacrifice and offers it to God in the name of all the people.

Sacerdos quidem ministerialis, potestate sacra qua gaudet, populum sacerdotalem efformat ac regit, sacrificium eucharisticum in persona Christi conficit illudque nomine totius populi Deo offert;

THE faithful indeed, by virtue of their royal priesthood, participate in the offering of the Eucharist.³

fideles vero, vi regalis suo sacerdotii, in oblationem Eucharistiae concurrunt,3

They exercise that priesthood, too, by[:]

(1) the reception of the sacraments,

(2) prayer and thanksgiving,

(3) the witness of a holy life,

(4) abnegation

(5) and active charity.

illudque

in sacramentis suscipiendis,

in oratione et gratiarum actione,

testimonio vitae sanctae,

abnegatione

et actuosa caritate exercent.

11. The sacred nature and organic structure of the priestly community is brought into operation through the sacraments and the exercise of virtues. 

11. Indoles sacra et organice extructa communitatis sacerdotalis et per sacramenta et per virtutes ad actum deducitur.

Incorporated into the Church by Baptism, the faithful are appointed by their baptismal character to religious worship; reborn as sons of God, they must profess before men the faith they have received from God through the Church.⁴

Fideles per baptismum in Ecclesia incorporati, ad cultum religionis christianae charactere deputantur et, in filios Dei regenerati, fidem quam a Deo per Ecclesiam acceperunt coram hominibus profiteri tenentur.4

By the sacrament of Confirmation they are more perfectly bound to the Church and are endowed with the special strength of the Holy Spirit.  Hence they are, as true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread the faith by word and deed.⁵  

Sacramento confirmationis perfectius Ecclesiae vinculantur, speciali Spiritus Sancti robore ditantur, sicque ad fidem tamquam veri testes Christi verbo et opere simul diffundendam et defendendam arctius obligantur.5

TAKING part in the eucharistic sacrifice, the source and summit of the Christian life, they offer the divine victim to God and themselves along with it.⁶

Sacrificium eucharisticum, totius vitae christianae fontem et culmen, participantes, divinam Victimam Deo offerunt atque seipsos cum ea;6

And so it is that, both in the offering and in Holy Communion, each in his own way, though not of course indiscriminately, has his own part to play in the liturgical action.

ita tum oblatione tum sacra communione, non promiscue sed alii aliter, omnes in liturgica actione partem propriam agunt.

Then, strengthened by the body of Christ in the eucharistic communion, they manifest in a concrete way that unity of the People of God which this holy sacrament aptly signifies and admirably realizes.

Porro corpore Christi in sacra synaxi refecti, unitatem Populi Dei, quae hoc augustissimo sacramento apte significatur et mirabiliter efficitur, modo concreto exhibent.