CCC 1551 This priesthood is ministerial. “That office. .. which the Lord committed to the pastors of his people, is in the strict sense of the term a service.”¹ It is entirely related to Christ and to men. It depends entirely on Christ and on his unique priesthood; it has been instituted for the good of men and the communion of the Church. The sacrament of Holy Orders communicates a “sacred power” which is none other than that of Christ. The exercise of this authority must therefore be measured against the model of Christ, who by love made himself the least and the servant of all.² “The Lord said clearly that concern for his flock was proof of love for him.”³

1 LG 24.
2 Cf. Mk 10:43-45; 1 Pet 5:3.
3 St. John Chrysostom, De sac. 2, 4:PG 48, 636; cf. Jn 21:15-17.