Thomas J. Murphy
Sacramenls and Minislry
The priest's traditional role as minister of the sacraments may be a unique clue to priestly identity in today's Church.
No element of Church !ife has undergone such examination in the last ten years since Vatican II as has the Roman Catholic priest. He has been the subject and object of inquiries and questionnaires; the NCCB has commissioned and published the results of thorough historical, psychological and sociologi- \ cal studies; he. ~e!Cha,s looked intensely at his own meaning and role .. Vatican II laid the ground work for this unique search for the definition and role of the priest today. In the Constitutions on The Church, Litu1¡gy, and The Church in the Modern World, the role of the priest would be discussed and explained in the context of the Church and every facet of religions !ife. In the Decrees of Vatican II, his relationship to bishops, laity, and missionary activity would be expressed in words that have become part of the Catholic vocabulary--collaboration, witness, fraternity, accountability, professionalism and on and on 'and on. Vatican II's Decree on The Ministry and Life of the Priest} emphasizes that the- primary duty of the priest is to proclaim the Gospel of God to ali, to perform sacred functions, and to 83