VII. The Effects of the Sacrament of Holy Orders

We must begin by purifying
ourselves before purifying others; we must be instructed to be able to
instruct, become light to illuminate, draw close to God to bring him close to
others, be sanctified to sanctify, lead by the hand and counsel prudently. I
know whose ministers we are, where we find ourselves and to where we strive. I
know God’s greatness and man’s weakness, but also his potential. [Who then is
the priest? He is] the defender of truth, who stands with angels, gives glory
with archangels, causes sacrifices to rise to the altar on high, shares
Christ’s priesthood, refashions creation, restores it in God’s image, recreates
it for the world on high and, even greater, is divinized and divinizes.⁸²

and the holy Cure of Ars: “The priest continues the work of redemption on
earth…. If we really understood the priest on earth, we would die not of
fright but of love…. the Priesthood is the love of the heart of
Jesus.”⁸³

From The Catechism of the Catholic Church – rosary.team

Original Link: https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P4Y.HTM