Quotations about priesthood

This is just a small selection of quotes on or about the priesthood appearing in our forum. If you want to see more, or add your own, please visit this topic . In order to post or view certain sections, you will need to register first - it is instant and free.

“You have to be a real man if you want to become a priest.” — John Cardinal O'Connor

“Do not be afraid to give your life to Christ! Nothing will ever replace the ministry of priests at the heart of the Church! Nothing will ever replace a Mass for the salvation of the world! Dear young and not so young who are listening to me, do not leave Christ's call unanswered.” — Pope Benedict XVI

“The priesthood is the love of the heart of Jesus. When you see a priest, think of our Lord Jesus Christ.” — St. John Vianney

 "What is a priest! A man who holds the place of God - a man who is invested with all the powers of God. 'Go,' said Our Lord to the priest; 'as My Father sent Me, I send you. All power has been given Me in Heaven and on earth. Go then, teach all nations. ... He who listens to you, listens to Me; he who despises you despises Me.' When the priest remits sins, he does not say, 'God pardons you'; he says, 'I absolve you.' At the Consecration, he does not say, 'This is the Body of Our Lord;' he says, 'This is My Body.'" — St. John Vianney

 "The priestly vocation is essentially a call to sanctity, in the form that derives from the Sacrament of Holy Orders. Sanctity is intimacy with God; it is the imitation of Christ, poor, chaste and humble; it is unreserved love for souls and self-giving to their true good; it is love for the church which is holy and wants us to be holy, because such is the mission that Christ has entrusted to it. Each one of you must be holy also in order to help your brothers pursue their vocation to sanctity." - Pope John Paul II

 "The priest is not a priest for himself; he does not give himself absolution; he does not administer the Sacraments to himself. He is not for himself, he is for you." — St. John Vianney

"The world looks to the priest, because it looks to Jesus! No one can see Christ; but everyone sees the priest, and through him they wish to catch a glimpse of the Lord! Immense is the grandeur of the Lord! Immense is the grandeur and dignity of the priest!" - Pope John Paul II

"It is of extreme necessity that a priest be holy and perfect. This is evident, from the high dignity of his office, his dignity as an 'alter Christus', an imitation and personification of Christ, whose place he takes and who was all-perfect. What then are his obligations as regards sanctity? Namely this, that always no matter how holy and perfect he may think he now is, he must always seek to become more holy and more perfect. For there is no standing still in the spiritual life—the minute he thinks he is holy enough and need not strive for greater sanctity then does he begin to fall back. True, he will be tempted to this—the devil will try to convince him that he is holy enough—that he is no longer obliged to strive and seek perfection—he must be on the watch for this and then act immediately—for the devil is wary and wise and knows how to work on us, little by little to drag us down—until your dying breath then always realize your unworthiness, your dependence on God and keep desiring and praying for and working for a greater degree of holiness." - Fr. Lloyd Ryan, founder of the Sisters of Our Lady Immaculate.

"For the priestly office is indeed discharged on earth, but it ranks amongst heavenly ordinances; and very naturally so: for neither man, nor angel, nor archangel, nor any other created power, but the Paraclete Himself, instituted this vocation, and persuaded men while still abiding in the flesh to represent the ministry of angels. Wherefore the consecrated priest ought to be as pure as if he were standing in the heavens themselves in the midst of those powers." - St. John Chrysostom

See also our resources page or the FAQ for commonly asked questions about the priesthood/training/celibacy