Our three-fold call to holiness through Baptism

Yesterday, my granddaughter Lily asked me to help her with some 4^th grade religion homework.

She had a paper divided into 3 columns with the headers Priest, Prophet, and King.  She was to read the chapter in her religion textbook and come up with a short phrase to describe her responsibility in each of the roles as a baptized Catholic.  

Under “Priest” she had written “to pray”.  I thought that it was a good start, but a little incomplete, so I asked her to think about what else a priest is called upon to do.  She thought about it, and added, “and to be holy”.  I couldn’t argue with that!  After a little more discussion, I convinced her that we could put our heads together and come up with a description for each column tying them up with a common thread.

Here is basically what we came up with:

Priest	Prophet	King
To practice the faith-to be holy and pray with and for others.	To teach the faith-help others in their holiness through our example.	To share the faith- through service to others, especially the poor.

This homework assignment was a pretty good reminder for me of the sublime dignity conferred on all of us through our baptisms. We, too, must embrace these shared offices of priest, prophet, and king.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church is clear about the priestly office.

Baptism makes us members of the Body of Christ. … “to be a holy priesthood” (1 Peter 2:5). By Baptism they share in the priesthood of Christ, in his prophetic and royal mission. They are “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people …” (1 Peter 2:9). Baptism gives a share in the common priesthood of all believers (CCC, 1267, 1268).

There are two participations in the one priesthood of Christ. There is a ‘common priesthood’ and a ‘ministerial priesthood’. Ordained priests, by Holy Orders, become members of the ministerial priesthood. Yet the common priesthood designates all the baptized. Sharing in the priesthood of Christ begins at one’s Baptism.

The common priesthood and the ministerial priesthood worship together at Mass. We are a priestly community. The lay faithful worship alongside the ordained priest(s). Both make offerings to God. The priest is specifically ordained to confect the Eucharist — to offer and consecrate the bread and wine — on behalf of those gathered. The laity, too, actively participate by offering themselves and their gifts and sacrifices to God.

Christ, high priest and unique mediator, has made of the Church “a kingdom, priests for his God and Father” (Revelation 1:6, see 5:9–10; 1 Peter 2:5,9). … The faithful exercise their baptismal priesthood through their participation, each according to his own vocation, in Christ’s mission as priest, prophet, and king (CCC, 1546).

Besides the priestly office, there is also a prophetic and a kingly one. In the ministerial priesthood, these are fulfilled by preaching and teaching and in governance of the Church.

In the common priesthood, with faith and the grace of the sacraments, we must bring Christ to our families, towns, and the wider culture. The faithful are sent out from Mass to go and serve Christ wherever life takes them. They are very much in the front lines for Christianity, to consecrate the world, to make it holy.

We act prophetically when we speak the truth, and live the Gospel by example before our families, neighbors, and co-workers. Our mission is “accomplished in the ordinary circumstances of the world” (CCC, 905).

Our kingly office is exercised by our leadership in temporal affairs, acting as Christ would. Jesus, the king of heaven, gave his life to conquer sin and death, to bring resurrection and new life. By bringing Christ’s leadership and governance in our own spheres, we offer renewal and new life where it is most needed.