Every baptized person is a priest — not in the same way as a priest ordained by a bishop — but nonetheless a priest. A priest offers "gifts and sacrifices for sins" (Heb 5:1; 8:3). A baptismal priest is to offer the following sacrifices:

• his body as a living sacrifice (Rm 12:1),
• "a sacrifice of praise" (Heb 13:15),
• "good deeds and generosity," for "God is pleased by sacrifices of that kind" (Heb 13:16),
• the great oblation of keeping God's law (Sir 35:1),
• the peace offering of observing the commandments (Sir 35:1),
• the sacrifices of charity and almsgiving (Sir 35:2), and
• the atonement of avoiding injustice (Sir 35:3).

The Church teaches: "For all their (the laity's) works, prayers, and apostolic undertakings, family and married life, daily work, relaxation of mind and body, if they are accomplished in the Spirit — indeed even the hardships of life if patiently born — all these become spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. In the celebration of the Eucharist these may most fittingly be offered to the Father along with the body of the Lord" (Catechism, 901).

Baptismal priests, sacrifice.

Nihil Obstat:  Reverend Ralph J. Lawrence, August 9, 2000

Imprimatur:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, August 18, 2000