Church Document
Presbyterorum Ordinis
Document of the Second Vatican Council (1965)
The Decree on the Ministry and Life of Priests, promulgated on the Council's last working day. Three chapters treat the place of the priesthood in the Church's mission, the priest sharing through ordination in the one priesthood of Christ the Teacher, Priest and King; the priestly ministry itself — the ministry of the word, the sacraments and above all the Eucharist as the source and summit of all evangelisation, and the pastoral guidance of God's people — together with the priest's relations with his bishop, with his brother priests, and with the laity, and his duty to foster vocations; and finally the life of priests, their call to holiness in and through their ministry, celibacy embraced as a gift, voluntary poverty and obedience, the spiritual helps of prayer, study and retreat, and the just provision to be made for their support.
Excerpt
Priests by sacred ordination and mission which they receive from the bishops are promoted to the service of Christ the Teacher, Priest and King.
Key themes
The priesthood in the mission of the Church
The ministry of the word and the sacraments
The Eucharist as source and summit of evangelisation
Relations with the bishop, brother priests, and the laity
The call to holiness in priestly life
Celibacy, poverty, obedience, and the support of priests
Document type
Council document
Issuing authority
Pope Paul VI / Second Vatican Council
Issued date
Related documents
- lumen-gentium
- optatam-totius
- christus-dominus
- sacerdotalis-caelibatus
Content subtype
council_decree
