There is an essential difference between the priest of the Old Testament and that of the New Testament. The former took charge of the Temple by heredity, and his holiness was above all ritual. The latter's priesthood is charismatic and spiritual. The charism was transmitted by the imposition of hands which conferred the gift of the Holy Spirit on to the elected one as well as an initial inner holiness which he is to cultivate through his actions. Like all charisms, this one has the common welfare as its goal; the edification of the Church, the mystical body of Christ. 

1Tim.4:14; 2 Cor.5:20; 1Cor.4:1-2

www.americancatholic.org/Newsletters/SFS/an0702.asp

The Sacrament of Holy Orders    www.vatican.va/archive/catechism/p2s2c3a6.htm

Holy Orders (Fathers of the Church)    www.cin.org/users/jgallegos/hlyord.htm

The Ministerial Priesthood and the New Testament    www.cin.org/users/james/files/priest.htm

The Priesthood    www.scripturecatholic.com/the_priesthood.html

What is the Priesthood?    www.circleofprayer.com/priesthood.html

Did Jesus Give Priests to the Church?    www.catholic.com/thisrock/2004/0404sbs.asp

Called to Holiness and Service: Ordained Ministry

www.americancatholic.org/Newsletters/VAT/aq0804.asp

The Ministerial Priesthood    www.christusrex.org/www1/CDHN/ministpr.html

The Sacred Powers of the Priesthood    www.catholicdoors.com/teaching/book2/2-12.htm

The Male Priesthood: The Argument From Sacred Tradition

http://catholiceducation.org/articles/apologetics/ap0069.html

Celibacy and the Priesthood   www.catholic.com/library/celibacy_and_the_priesthood.asp

                                                               www.catholiceducation.org/articles/apologetics/ap0165.html

                                                               www.ewtn.com/expert/answers/celibacy_of_priests.htm

Celibate Priesthood   http://catholiceducation.org/articles/religion/re0545.html

The Spirituality of Celibacy    http://catholiceducation.org/articles/apologetics/ap0166.html

The Relevancy of Priestly Celibacy Today   http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cclergy/documents/rc_con_cclergy_doc_01011993_revel_en.html

Why are priests celibate?   www.holyspiritinteractive.net/questions/whycelibacy.asp

Celibacy is a Gift   www.catholic.com/thisrock/2001/0102fea5.asp

Priesthood in Transition    www.americancatholic.org/Newsletters/CU/ac0797.asp

Ordination Rite    www.carr.org/~meripper/faith/o-priest.htm

Called to Holiness and Service: Lay Ministry

www.americancatholic.org/Newsletters/VAT/aq0904.asp

The Call to the Laity    www.spiritualitytoday.org/spir2day/833536goergen.html

The Role of the Laity    www.saint-mike.org/library/laity/laity.html

                                                http://www.bc.edu/bc_org/research/rapl/church-in-america/steinfels.html

Lay Ministry and its purpose    www.catholicdoors.com/faq/qu19.htm

On the Participation of the Laity in the Priestly Ministry

www.ewtn.com/library/PAPALDOC/JP2LAITY.htm

Decree on the Apostolate of Lay People (Apostolicam actuositatem)

www.ewtn.com/library/COUNCILS/v2laity.htm

Holy Orders and Women (Early Church Fathers)    www.cin.org/users/jgallegos/priest.htm

Women Priests — No Chance   http://catholiceducation.org/articles/apologetics/ap0001.html

The Dignity of Older People and their Mission in the Church   

www.ewtn.com/library/CURIA/PCLOLDER.HTM

QUIZ:

Holy Orders    www.usccb.org/catechism/quizzes/orders.htm