Eucharist

[una_fide]

Since the Bible calls us all priests (I think in either Romans or Revelation), why can't any Catholic (after confession) go up during the Mass and consecrate the Eucharist? Why can only people who have recieved the Sacrament of Holy Orders consecrate the host? I am a Catholic, and I just want to get this straight.

[Pio Nono]

JMJ
5/29 - Vigil of Pentecost

una_fide,

St. Peter, in his first epistle, refers to the Church as "a holy nation, a royal priesthood..." It's good that you want to get this whole thing straight; it's one of the essential tenets of Protestantism that there is only one degree of priesthood, which is the priesthood of all believers given at baptism. However, there is another, higher degree of priesthood that comes from the apostles. It is to [i]this[/i] degree of priesthood that the action of the Eucharistic sacrifice has been granted. However, this is not to say that the common priesthood is not to offer their own types of sacrifice; the daily troubles, joys and hopes are to be offered as a "pleasing sacrifice" to the Lord. Hope this helps.

Yours,
Pio Nono