Memoria
In Etruria natus et ad Petri cathedram anno 440 evectus, verus pastor et pater animarum fuit. Fidei integritatem omnimode firmare satagens, Ecclesiæ unitatem strenue defendens, incursus barbarorum pro viribus repellens vel mitigans, iure meritoque Magnus meruit appellari. Mortuus est anno 461.
Ex Sermónibus sancti Leónis Magni papæ (Sermo 4, 1-2: PL 54, 148-149)
Specialis nostri ministerii servitus
Licet univérsa Ecclésia Dei distínctis ordináta sit grádibus, ut ex divérsis membris sacráti córporis subsístat intégritas, omnes tamen, sicut ait Apóstolus, in Christo unum sumus; nec quisquam ab alteríus ita est divísus offício, ut non ad conexiónem pertíneat cápitis cuiúslibet humílitas portiónis. In unitáte ígitur fídei atque baptísmatis indiscréta nobis socíetas, dilectíssimi, et generális est dígnitas, secúndum illud beatíssimi Petri apóstoli sacratíssima voce dicéntis: Et ipsi tamquam lápides vivi superædificámini in domos spiritáles, sacerdótium sanctum, offeréntes spiritáles hóstias acceptábiles Deo per Iesum Christum; et infra: Vos autem genus eléctum, regále sacerdótium, gens sancta, pópulus acquisitiónis.
Omnes enim in Christo regenerátos, crucis signum éfficit reges, sancti vero Spíritus únctio cónsecrat sacerdótes: ut præter istam speciálem nostri ministérii servitútem, univérsi spiritáles et rationábiles christiáni agnóscant se régii géneris et sacerdotális offícii esse consórtes. Quid enim tam régium quam súbditum Deo ánimum córporis sui esse rectórem? Et quid tam sacerdotále quam vovére Dómino consciéntiam puram, et immaculátas pietátis hóstias de altári cordis offérre? Quod cum ómnibus per Dei grátiam commúne sit factum, religiósum tamen vobis atque laudábile est, de die provectiónis nostræ quasi de próprio honóre gaudére; ut unum celebrétur in toto Ecclésiæ córpore pontifícii sacraméntum, quod, effúso benedictiónis unguénto, copiósius quidem in superióra proflúxit, sed non parce étiam in inferióra descéndit.
Cum ítaque, dilectíssimi, de consórtio istíus múneris magna sit nobis matéria commúnium gaudiórum, vérior tamen nobis et excelléntior erit causa lætándi, si non in nostræ humilitátis consideratióne remorémini; cum multo utílius multóque sit dígnius ad beatíssimi Petri apóstoli glóriam contemplándam áciem mentis attóllere et hunc diem in illíus potíssimum veneratióne celebráre, qui ab ipso ómnium charísmatum fonte tam copiósis est irrigatiónibus inundátus, ut cum multa solus accéperit, nihil in quemquam sine ipsíus participatióne transíerit. Verbum caro factum iam habitábat in nobis, et reparándo humáno géneri totum se Christus impénderat.
A sermon of St Leo the Great
The special obligations of our ministry
Although the universal Church of God is constituted of distinct orders of members, still, in spite of the many parts of its holy body, the Church subsists as an integral whole, just as the Apostle says: We are all one in Christ. No difference in office is so great that anyone can be separated, through lowliness, from the head. In the unity of faith and baptism, therefore, our community is undivided. There is a common dignity, as the apostle Peter says in these words: And you are built up as living stones into spiritual houses, a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices which are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. And again: But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people set apart.
For all, regenerated in Christ, are made kings by the sign of the cross; they are consecrated priests by the oil of the Holy Spirit, so that beyond the special service of our ministry as priests, all spiritual and mature Christians know that they are a royal race and are sharers in the office of the priesthood. For what is more king-like than to find yourself ruler over your body after having surrendered your soul to God? And what is more priestly than to promise the Lord a pure conscience and to offer him in love unblemished victims on the altar of one’s heart?
Because, through the grace of God, it is a deed accomplished universally on behalf of all, it is altogether praiseworthy and in keeping with a religious attitude for you to rejoice in this our day of consecration, to consider it a day when we are especially honoured. For indeed one sacramental priesthood is celebrated throughout the entire body of the Church. The oil which consecrates us has richer effects in the higher grades, yet it is not sparingly given in the lower.
Sharing in this office, my dear brethren, we have solid ground for a common rejoicing; yet there will be more genuine and excellent reason for joy if you do not dwell on the thought of our unworthiness. It is more helpful and more suitable to turn your thoughts to study the glory of the blessed apostle Peter. We should celebrate this day above all in honour of him. He overflowed with abundant riches from the very source of all graces, yet though he alone received much, nothing was given over to him without his sharing it. The Word made flesh lived among us, and in redeeming the whole human race, Christ gave himself entirely.
