In Persona Christi

[oiccic]

ok, i believe that the term "In Persona Christi" means "in the peron of Christ." is this correct? and whne is the priest talking in it? what is the effect of it? how is it that Christ is speeking through him? and how did we come to know that it happens (ie logic? scripture?...) thank you :tiphat:
tom

[Adeodatus]

Yep, 'in persona Christi' means 'in the person of Christ'.

The priest speaks [i]in persona Christi [/i]when He celebrates the sacraments. It is always Christ who acts in His sacraments. It is Christ who baptises, Christ who confirms and sends the Spirit, Christ who feeds us with His Body and Blood, Christ who forgives sins, Christ who ordains the clergy, Christ who makes couples share in the bond of unity between Him and His Church, Christ who heals the sick.

So when the priest says, 'This is my Body', it is Christ speaking through him to effect this sacrament. The 'my' does not refer to the priest, but to Christ. Hence we say, the priest acts 'in persona Christi'.

Now you may have noticed that when I went through the sacraments, there are some sacraments which can be administered by lay people (baptism, marriage). So in this sense all the baptised can be said to act 'in persona Christi'. This happens even apart from the sacraments, for example in the Liturgy. When you read the Scriptures at Mass or sing the Psalms, it is Christ proclaiming the Word of God through you. When you pray, it is the Spirit of the Lord praying in you, helping you to pray, uttering things in sighs to deep for words. When you intercede for someone else, it is Christ acting in and through you, without denying your freedom, helping you to do so.

To distinguish the special role of priests and bishops by virtue of the sacrament of Holy Orders, Pope John Paul II prefers to use the term 'in persona Christi capitis Ecclesiae' (in the person of Christ the Head of the Church) to distinguish it from the ordinary sense of 'in persona Christi' which applies to all the baptised (including non-Catholics).