“SERVANTS OF YOUR HAPPINESS” (2 COR 1:24).THE THEOLOGY OF THE MINISTRY OF JOSEPH RATZINGER

Abstract

This article offers some of Joseph Ratzinger’s reflections on ministry and priesthood, the primate and the collegiate and, therefore, on collegiate and synod principles. The German theologian remembers the simultaneous vertical and horizontal dimensions – human and divine in the church. As well as the inherent apostolicity and episcopacy, Ratzinger remembers the also essential instances of Catholicity and of Petrine ministry. He also expresses the necessity of preaching the Word, administering the sacraments and ministering the Church. For his part, he relates priesthood ministerial with the concept of sacrifice. Actually, he establishes continuity between Christ,the apostles and their successors and collaborators, and presbyters; through which we are reminded of the priority of the ontological-sacramental dimension of the priestly order, in terms of the merely functional one.