The Catholic Church, the one true Church, has always accepted that worthy (moral) priests are participants in the bringing of Jesus fully present in the Holy Eucharist (the consecrated bread or the consecrated wine); Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. We, as successors of the apostles, follow Jesus' admonition to join with Him, becoming one with Him (Jesus uses the priests body and voice at the consecration of the actual "Last Supper" of 33 A.D., but visible to us here and now.), in His offering of sacrifice to God the Father.
At each Mass, during the consecration, Jesus unites with a worthy priest celebrant and merged with the priest pronounces the words He speaks at the Last Supper, "This is My Body," and later says, "This is My Blood". In effect Jesus is consecrating the bread and wine at the Last Supper. The bread and wine are part of the Last Supper event. The hosts are the product of the breaking of the unleavened bread at the "Last Supper". The living Jesus is fully present under both forms.
When we take Holy Communion, priests and people, we are given the opportunity to share our works with Jesus' offering of works He did during His life on earth. Both His and our works of bringing others to the true Christian Church are presented to God the Father along with His unique salvific offering that opens the gates of Heaven to those who believe.
Publicly presenting our offerings to Jesus when receiving Him in Holy Communion is the highlight of the Mass. We are first brought to a fuller understanding of the faith through readings of Sacred Scripture and the explanations of it by worthy priests. The priest then prepares and consecrates the bread and wine in persona Christi in order to offer his own sacrifices and those of the priesthood of the people in conjunction with the High Priest's (Jesus Christ) own offering to the Father when Holy Communion is received.
When we receive Holy Communion our unselfish offerings/sacrifices, evidenced by our practice of faith found in the corporal and spiritual works of mercy, or even our daily duties well done, are also brought to Jesus' cross if we received Him while in the state of grace. Anyone receiving Jesus while not in the state of grace commits the grievous sin of sacrilege.
The Church teaches that there is both a ministerial priesthood and a priesthood of the faithful. Both groups are intended to join in Jesus' offerings as did Saint Paul when he said, "Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of his body, which is the church," (Col. 1:24). Peter tells us, "But rejoice to the extent that you share in the sufferings of Christ so that when his glory is revealed you may also rejoice exultantly. (1Pet. 4:13)
The opening of the gates of Heaven suggests that there are those walking in the footsteps of Christ serving Him and training those around them in faith. (There are those of Old Testament times who have already served and are waiting to enter Heaven when the gates are opened by Jesus' perfect offering.) We, the faithful, have been instructed in the will of God the Father by authorised priests using Biblical teachings. Faithful Catholics are intended to carry on Jesus' work, by word and example, following His instruction, "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Ghost," (Mt 28:19),.
Only in the Catholic Christian Church is there a true ministerial priesthood authorised to act in persona Christi (in the person of Jesus our Savior). No other religion has the authority to offer sacrifices to God the Father through Jesus our Lord, the mediator between the heavenly Father and mankind. Worthy priests participate with Jesus at the "Last Supper" offering where the offerings of people of faith are made when they worthily receive Holy Communion, the living Jesus under a new form. The Eucharistic hosts must be consecrated through a moral priest in concert with Jesus.
For it says in scripture:
"Behold, I am laying a stone in Zion, a cornerstone, chosen and precious, and whoever believes in it shall not be put to shame." Therefore, its value is for you who have faith, but for those without faith: "The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,"and "A stone that will make people stumble, and a rock that will make them fall." They stumble by disobeying the word, as is their destiny. But you are "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may announce the praises" of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
Ex. 19:6 You shall be to me a kingdom of priests, a holy nation. That is what you must tell the Israelites." Rev. 1:5b-6 To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, who has made us into a kingdom, priests for his God and Father, to him be glory and power forever (and ever). Amen. Rev. 20:6 Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over these; they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for (the) thousand years. Rev. 5:10 You made them a kingdom and priests for our God, and they will reign on earth."
Php. 3:10 to know him and the power of his resurrection and (the) sharing of his sufferings by being conformed to his death" 2Tim. 1:8 So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord nor of me a prisoner for his sake; but bear your share of hardship for the gospel with the strength that comes from God.
