Christians, when the need may arise, to lay down their lives for the brethren, and pastors to give their life for the sheep, is in an especial way laid upon every priest in the self-oblation of the Holy Mass, which is the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
3. Lastly, the word configuration expresses the conformity of the priest to the great High Priest. S. Paul says that the Son is figura substantiæ ejus—that is, the figure or express image of the substance of the Father. The Greek text reads, χαρακτὴρ τῆς ὑποστάσεως αὐτοῦ· the character of His substance.[1] The priest, then, is the figura Christi, the express image of Christ, the χαρακτὴρ or character of Christ, because upon him is impressed the image of His priesthood, and a share in it is given to him. He is, as S. Paul says, configuratus morti ejus[2]—configured to His death. In every Mass we set forth "the death of the Lord until He come."[3] And we make oblation of ourselves in conformity to His oblation to the Father. Albertus Magnus and S. Thomas have said truly that no greater power or dignity, than the power and dignity of consecrating the Body of Christ, was ever bestowed on man; and no greater sanctity or perfection can be conceived than the sanctity and perfection required for so divine an action in the priest.
