The Twofold Priesthood: the Internal Priesthood participated in by all faithful.

[Xavier]

The Catechism of Trent explains to us, "Twofold Priesthood

But as Sacred Scripture describes a twofold priesthood, one internal and the other external, it will be necessary to have a distinct idea of each to enable pastors to explain the nature of the Priesthood now under discussion.

The Internal Priesthood

Regarding the internal Priesthood, all the faithful are said to be Priests, once they have been washed in the saving waters of Baptism. Especially is this name given to the just who have the Spirit of God, and who, by the help of divine grace, have been made living members of the great High-Priest, Jesus Christ; for, enlightened by faith which is inflamed by charity, they offer up spiritual sacrifices to God on the altar of their hearts. Among such sacrifices must be reckoned every good and virtuous action done for the glory of God.

Hence we read in the Apocalypse: Christ hath washed us from our sins. in his own blood and hath made us a kingdom, and Priests to God and his Father. In like manner was it said by the Prince of the Apostles: Be you also as living stones built up, a spiritual house, a holy Priesthood offering up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ; while the Apostle exhorts us to present our bodies a living sacrifice holy , pleasing unto God your reasonable service. And long before this David had said: A sacrifice to God is an afflicted spirit: a contrite and humble heart O God thou wilt not despise. All this clearly regards the internal priesthood.

The External Priesthood

The external priesthood, on the contrary, does not pertain to the faithful at large, but only to certain men who have been ordained and consecrated to God by the lawful imposition of hands and by the solemn ceremonies of holy Church, and who are thereby devoted to a particular sacred ministry."

Thus, the importance of "offering up" (together with the Sacrifice of Christ, and with all the Holy Masses offered up by Priests in the world) all our actions for the glory of God, including good works and our daily cross. What more can we as faithful learn and appreciate about this doctrine of the internal Priesthood conferred at Baptism, and how better can we apply it in our daily Christian life and our walk with God?

[Xavier]

To show us the importance of "offering up" all our daily actions, good works, Holy Masses we assist at, Holy Communions, Rosaries, other prayers, sacrifices and suffering, together with His Body, His Blood, His Wounds, His Heart, Jesus has many times given promises like these.

"1. Those who offer themselves up with Me in union with My Wounds and Most Precious Blood to the Heavenly Father in reparation for the sins of the world, I'll lead, guide and comfort them with My Grace, so that thet won't need the comfort of men.

2. Those who daily offer up to the Heavenly Father their work, sacrifices and prayers in union with My Most Precious Blood and My Wounds in reparation can be certain that their prayers and sacrifices are written in My Heart, and that a great grace from the Heavenly Father awaits them.

3. Those who offer up their suffering, prayers and sacrifices with My Most Precious Blood and My Wounds for the conversion of sinners, their happiness in eternity will be doubled, and from there they'll be able to convert many by their prayers.

4. Those who offer My Most Precious Blood and My Wounds, with contrition for their sins known and unknown, before each Communion they receive, they can be certain they'll never make an unworthy Communion and that they'll raise their place in Heaven. (Note well: if one is aware he has a mortal sin, then sacramental confession is required before going for Holy Communion)

5. Those who after Confession, offer My suffering for all the sins of their whole lives and pray voluntarily as a penance the Rosary of the Holy Wounds, their souls are as pure and beautiful as just after Baptism and therefore, they may pray after each such Confession for the conversion of a great sinner.

6. Those who daily offer up for the dying of the day, My Most Precious Blood, while in the name of the dying, express sorrow for their sins and offer My Most Precious Blood for their sins, can be certain that they've opened Heaven's gates for many sinners, and that they may hope a beautiful death for themselves.

7. Those who honour My Most Precious Blood and My Holy Wounds with deep meditation and respect and offer them up several times daily for themselves and all sinners will experience on earth a sweet foretaste of Heaven and will feel a profound peace in their hearts.

8. Those who offer up to My Person as God alone for all humanity, My Most Precious Blood and My Wounds, especially from the Crowning with Thorns, as an apology and penance for the sins of the world, can cause reconciliation with God, obtain many graces and indulgences against severe punishments, and for themselved, obtain Infinite Mercy from Heaven.

9. Those who in serious illness offer up for themselves My Most Precious Blood and My Wounds, together with their illness, and pray to Me through My Most Precious Blood for help and health, they'll be heard at once, their pain eased, and an improvement will occur, and if they are incurable, they should persevere; they'll be helped.

10. Those who in their great spiritual need pray the Litany to the Most Precious Blood and offer it up for themselves and for all mankind, will obtain help, Heavenly consolation and a profound peace, and thereby be strengthened in their suffering or released from it.

11. Those who inspire others to honour My Most Precious Blood and to offer It up, and who honour It above all other treasures and goods, and who make often and with profound belief and trust adoration to My Most Precious Blood, they'll have a place of honour near My Throne, and will have from there great power to help others especially in converting them."

[John Lamb]

This useful distinction is a good starting point for clarifying why women can't be priests. It's also helpful for understanding the dignity of the faithful and the efficacy of their assistance at the Mass. In fact, we might say that while the ordained priest is entirely necessary for bringing about the Mass materially speaking, it is entirely possible for a particular member of the faithful to be more united to the Mass spiritually speaking than the priest, and therefore more intimately related to the mystery & the fruits of the Mass spiritually and interiorly, even while the priest maintains his more intimate union with the Mass materially and externally.

When women try to enter the priesthood – despite the Church telling them it's impossible – it's like they're giving up being Our Lady stood at the foot of the Christ in intimate union with Christ the High Priest in offering up the adorable sacrifice, in order to be the bad thief: crucified beside Christ, yes, but mocking Him and His sacrifice.

[Xavier]

Thanks, John. Yes, Baptism makes us partakers of the internal Priesthood of Christ, and gives us the right and even the duty to assist and participate at the Holy Sacrifice. We recall that in the early Church, by contrast, catechumens were dismissed before the Offertory. Hence, all Baptized Christians, both men and women, are made Priests by Christ as far as the internal Priesthood is concerned, and we should be aware of it, and conscious that we are made so in order to pray and sacrifice and suffer for the world in imitation of Our Lord and Our Lady.

Of course, it is de fide that holy orders cannot be conferred on a woman. A woman religious is called to be a Bride of Christ, that is the next highest dignity in the Church immediately after the external Priesthood. But all even of the Faithful participate in the Priesthood of Christ, so how much more will Nuns, consecrated entirely to Him, participate in it. As we read in the life of many women Saints from St. Gertrude to St. Catherine to St. Therese to St. Faustina to St. Jacinta to saintly Sr. Lucia etc, offering up one's own life as a sacrifice in union with the Sacrifice of Christ is what is most pleasing to God, and many of these holy women did so perfectly. In the Divine Mercy Chaplet, the Chaplet of St. Gertrude, the Chaplet of the Holy Wounds etc, Jesus revealed to various saintly Sisters the importance of offering up His Body and His Blood, in union with the Holy Mass, offering His Wounds and His Heart to the eternal Father etc.

Faithful Catholics should realize we are given great gifts by our Baptism and Confirmation which seal us in Christ. We are made His members and partakers of His internal Priesthood. We are given the power and the obligation to unite all we do to His offering on the Cross, as the Catechism of Trent tells us, for the greater glory of God. As we remember His holy and heroic death for us on the Cross, let us offer our lives to Him, resolved to live only for Him Who died for us.

[Xavier]

Ten Other Promises of Our Blessed Savior: From the Book, Pilgrim's Guide to Paradise.

I. Those who expose a Crucifix in their homes or place of work and decorate it with flowers will reap many blessings and rich fruits in their work and undertakings, and immediate help and comfort in their cares and suffering.

II. Those who look at a Crucifix only a few minutes when they are tempted or in battle or struggling, especially when tempted to anger, will at once master themselves, the temptation and sin.

III. Those who daily meditate for fifteen minutes on My Agony on the Cross will at once support their suffering and annoyances, first with patience, then later with joy.

IV. Those who very often Meditate on My Wounds on the Cross with deep sorrow for their sins and guilt, will soon attain a deep hatred of sin.

V. Those who very often, at least twice daily, offer up to the Heavenly Father My Three Hour Agony on the Cross for all neglects, indifferences and failures to follow inspirations will shorten or be completely spared of the punishments for them.

VI. Those who gladly pray the Rosary of My Holy Wounds with devotion and great trust, while meditating on My Agony on the Cross, will obtain the grace to fulfill well all their duties, and by their example, will inspire others to do so,

VII. Those who inspire others to honor the Crucifix and My Most Precious Blood and Wounds and who also make known My Rosary of the Holy Woulds, will obtain quick answers to all their prayers.

VIII. Those, who pray the Way of the Cross daily over a long period of time and offer it for the conversion of sinners, can save a whole parish.

IX. Those who three consecutive times - it need not be in one day - visit an image of My Crucifix, honor it and offer to the Heavenly Father, My Agony and Death, My Most Precious Blood and My Wounds for their sins will have a beautiful death, will die without agony or fear.

X. Those who every Friday at 3 P.M. (the Hour of Christ's death in Scripture and Tradition - Xavier) meditate on My Passion and Death for fifteen minutes, offering them up with My Most Precious Blood and My Wounds, for themselves and for the dying of the week, will achieve a high degree of love and perfection, and can be certain that the devil won't be able to do further spiritual or bodily harm to them.