Priest and priesthood for the 21st century

Abstract

Reflecting firstly about the priesthood as a phenomenon of human society, and only after that considering the question “Who is the Christian priest?”, I want to emphasise the most fundamental role of the priests, i.e., to be a mediator. Therefore, the first question is phenomenological, trying to ask about the “thing” (priesthood) itself. After analysing that and considering the key role of the priest, the Christian meaning of priesthood will be discussed. Following that, the practical questions “How can someone prepare to be a good priest?” and “Who and how can someone be helped to live priesthood well?” are stated and examined. The chapter is concluded by asking about the main challenges for Christian priests in the 21st century, especially in central Europe, and whether experiences from living in totalitarian regimes in the 20th century can enrich the vision of the Christian priesthood. [extract]