Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/214

 the Temple. They assisted  with  the  sacrifices,  sacred  canticles,  and  the instruction of  the  people,  and  purified  the  sacred  vessels.

The Priests  were  to  be  holy.  “Let  them,  therefore,  be  holy,  because  I am  holy”,  said  the  Lord  (Lev.  21,  8). Whenever they  had  any  service to perform  in  the  Sanctuary,  they  had,  under  pain  of  death,  to  keep away from  their  wives,  guard  against  all  defilement,  and  abstain  from all intoxicating  drink. This purity  of  life  was  signified  by  their  white tunic; and  purity  of  intention  by  the  white  turban  or  tiara.

The High  Priest  was  to  be  most  holy.  The  inscription  on  the  gold plate on  his  mitre  meant  that  he  belonged  entirely  to  God,  and  that his thoughts  were  to  be  constantly  fixed  on  Him. The breast-plate,  on which  were  inscribed  the  names  of  the  twelve  tribes,  implied  that  he was  to  bear  the  people  lovingly  in  his  heart,  and  be  careful  for  their welfare. The bells  on  his  upper  tunic,  which  sounded  at  each  step he took,  reminded  him  that,  by  word  and  deed,  he  had  to  be  a witness to the  true  faith.

Jesus, the Anointed.  It  was  only  when  the  priesthood  was  first instituted that  priests  were  anointed;  later  on,  this  was  not  done. But every High  Priest  was  anointed  when  he  entered  on  his  office,  and every High  Priest  was  called  the  Anointed. Jesus Christ,  being  the great and  eternal  High  Priest  who  always  liveth  to  make  intercession for us  (Hebr.  7,  25),  is  especially  called  “Christ”,  or  the  Anointed.

The priesthood  of  the  Old  Covenant, a type  of  the  priesthood  of  the New  Covenant.  As  there  was  a gradation  in  the  former,  so  is  there  in the  latter. The gradation  in  the  Church  of  Christ  is  twofold:  one  of order  (Bishops  or  High  Priests,  Priests  and  Deacons  or  Ministers),  and one of  jurisdiction,  i.  e.  power  of  ruling  (Pope,  Patriarchs,  Archbishops or  Metropolitans,  Bishops  and  Priests). As in  the  Old  Testament  there was only  one  High  Priest,  so  the  Christian  Church  considered  as  a whole has only  one  High  Priest  (Bishop  of  bishops),  the  Pope,  who  is  the  visible representative of  our  invisible  High  Priest,  Jesus  Christ. And even  as the  High  Priest  of  the  Old  Testament  was  called  “Holy  of  the  Lord”, so do  we  call  the  Pope  “Holy  Father”,  because  he  fills  the  holiest  office on earth.

The Christian  priesthood  is  far  higher  than  the  Jewish  priesthood. The latter  was  propagated  by  natural  descent,  the  former  is  perpetuated by  a spiritual  descent,  i.  e.  by  means  of  Holy  Orders,  which  is  one  of the  seven  sacraments. The Jewish  priests  could  only  offer  typical  sacrifices; Christian  priests  offer  up  the  true  Lamb  of  God  who  taketh  away the  sins  of  the  world. The former  partook  of  earthly  meat-offerings; the  latter  receive  the  priceless  Flesh  and  Blood  of  the  Divine  Saviour. The Jewish  priests  prayed  for  the  people; Christian  priests  remember them  daily  in  the  holy  Sacrifice  of  the  Mass,  and  also,  except  in  Masses for  the  dead,  give  their  blessing  to  the  faithful.