Pledged to Pursue Sanctity for the Sake of God's People

Ecce sacérdos magnus, qui in diébus suis plácuit Deo, et invéntus est iustus: et in témpore iracúndiæ factus est reconciliátio.

Just now at Terce, the last words of this verse struck me: et in tempore iracundiae factus est reconciliatio.

Certainly, Jesus is the great high priest, but the calling of all of us who stand before the altar in His stead is unmistakable. That we might be found just in God's sight and hence fulfill our task as mediators, as intercessors!

Reading the reflections of St. John of Avila on the priesthood, his insistence on the necessary blamelessness of the life of the priest who offers sacrifice on behalf of the people, who holds Christ in his hands, perhaps begs to answer the skeptics for the grounding which I found this morning in these few words of the Divine Office.

Pray for priests! That we might mirror the Lord Jesus in His sanctity and His sacrifice for the sake of the life of the world!

PROPERANTES ADVENTUM DIEI DEI