Benedict remembers when he was Giovanni. He was born in a rich family, very very rich, with a long history. However, in his grandfather's time, his family was targeted by their enemies, they did not lose much wealth but many of his family perish as a result, except his grandfather, who died not long after, and his father. His father and mother have him, his younger brother and sister, who are 8 years younger than him and are twins. However, they are sickly.
"Dad, Mom, I want to become a priest." said Giovanni to his parents.
"No, you don't. None of my children is allowed to become a priest, or to become a consecrated religious. Plus you have to succeed me, leading this family." Giovanni's father raises his voice in anger and admonish him harshly.
"No, don't, Giovanni. If you join the clergy, who is gonna take care of us when we are old. Son, please remember the 4th Commandment 'Honor your father and mother', and taking care of us belongs to this commandment.' said his mother.
"NO, I'm going to take part in the entrance examination to the seminary, I already have the letter of recommendation from our parish priest. You can't stop me." said Giovanni then he runs out of the house.
After that, he stayed with the parish priest. However, he did not expect that his father bribed the director of the seminary to fail him. This director then told the bishop badly about him, making the bishop force his parish priest to return him to his parents.
Just once week later, a car accident happened, and his parents perish. Giovanni had to take over their wealth. There was a time he thought he should have sold the wealth, but he thought of his siblings who were sick and they needed money, so he decided to stay in the secular world. And as he stayed secular, he always felt angry with the heretic and corrupted bishops and priests, along with the coward ones, who dare not to admonish their brothers.
. . .
"Holy Father, it's time to assume the ceremonies for your sacerdotal ordination."
"Uh, ok, I . . . We are ready."
The ceremonies are assumed, the first part is no different from the ceremonies for ordaining deacon, there are just a few changes of words in the formula.
The Cardinal Bishop of Ostia also asks the archdeacon if Benedict is worthy, and the answer is the same.
"Dearly beloved brethren, the captain of a ship as well as the passengers are in the same condition as to safety or danger. Their cause is common, therefore they ought to be of the same mind. Indeed, not without reason did the Fathers ordain that in the election of those who were to be employed in the service of the altar the people also should be consulted. For it happens here and there that, as to the life and conduct of a candidate, a few know what is unknown to the majority. Necessarily, also, people will render obedience more readily to the ordained if they have consented to his ordination."
Now, with the help of the Lord, the deacon are to be ordained priest. As far as I can judge, his life has been of approved goodness and pleasing to God, and, in my opinion, merits for him promotion to a higher ecclesiastical honor. However, lest one or a few be mistaken in their judgment, or deceived by affection, we must hear the opinion of many. Therefore, whatsoever you know about his life or character, whatsoever you think of his worthiness, freely make it known. Testify as to his fitness for the priesthood according to merit rather than according to affection. If anyone has anything against him, before God and for the sake of God let him confidently come forward and speak. However, let him be mindful of his condition." asked the Cardinal to the clergy and the people, then there is silence, indicating that they have no objection.
The Cardinal turns to Benedict, instructing:
"Dearly beloved son, you are about to be ordained to the order of the priesthood. Strive to receive it worthily, and having received it, to discharge its duties in a praiseworthy manner.
The office of the priest is to offer sacrifice, to bless, to govern, to preach, and to baptize. Truly, it must be with great fear that you ascend to so high a station; and care must be taken that heavenly wisdom, an irreproachable character, and long-continued righteousness shall commend the candidates chosen for it.
It is for this reason that the Lord, when commanding Moses to select from the whole people of Israel seventy men to assist him, and to impart to them a share in the gifts of the Holy Spirit, added this direction: Take whom thou knowest to be elders among the people. Now you have been typified by the seventy men who were elders, if, observing the Ten Commandments of the Law by the help of the seven-fold Spirit, you will be men of virtue, mature in knowledge as well as in work.
Under the same mystery and figure, the Lord chose in the New Testament seventy-two disciples and sent them two by two, to go before Him, preaching. Thus He wished to teach by word and deed that the ministers of His Church should be perfect in faith and practice, in other words, that they should be grounded in the twin virtue of charity, namely, the love of God and the love of neighbor.
Therefore, endeavor to be such that, by the grace of God, you may be worthy to be chosen as helpers of Moses and the twelve apostles, that is, the Catholic bishops who are signified by Moses and the twelve apostles. Truly wonderful is the variety with which holy Church is endowed, adorned, and governed. Its ministers are men ordained to various orders, some bishops, others inferior in rank, priests and deacons and subdeacons; and out of many members distinguished as to dignity, the one body of Christ is formed.
And so, dearly beloved son, chosen by the judgment of our brethren to be our helper in the ministry, maintain in your deportment inviolate purity and holiness of life. Understand what you do, imitate what you administer. Inasmuch as you celebrate the mystery of the death of the Lord, you should endeavor to mortify in your members all sin and concupiscence. Let your teaching be a spiritual medicine for the people of God and the odor of your lives a delight for the Church of Christ. May you thus build up, by preaching and example, the house, that is, the family of God, so that your promotion may not be a cause of damnation for me, nor the reception of so great an office for you, but rather of reward. May He by His grace grant it to us."
"Amen!"
Then just like the previous ordinations, the Litany of the Saints is chanted while Benedict prostrates on the floor.
Then the Cardinal, with his right hand extended, prays:
"Let us pray, dearly beloved brethren, to God, the Father Almighty, that He may multiply heavenly gifts upon these His servant whom He has chosen for the office of the priesthood. May he by His help accomplish what he undertakes at His gracious call. Through Christ our Lord."
"Amen!"
The Cardinal turns the Altar, kneels down and then turns to Benedict, saying:
"Hear us, we beseech Thee, Lord our God, and pour out upon this Thy servant the + blessing of the Holy Spirit and the power of priestly grace. Sustain him forever with the bounty of Thy gifts, whom we present to Thy mercy to be consecrated. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy son, who lives and reigns with Thee in the unity of the same Holy Spirit, God,
Forever and ever."
"Amen."
"The Lord be with you."
"And also with thee."
"Lift up your hearts."
"We have lifted them up unto the Lord."
"Let us give thanks to the Lord our God."
"It is meet and just."
"It is truly meet and just, right and profitable unto salvation to give thanks at all times and in all places to Thee, holy Lord, Father Almighty, eternal God, Giver of honors and Dispenser of all dignities. Through Thee all things progress; by Thee they are sustained; through Thee the endowments of our rational nature are continually raised to a higher perfection according to a wisely appointed plan.
Thus have come into existence priestly orders and the office of Levites, instituted amid sacred mysteries. When Thou didst appoint high priests to govern the people, Thou didst also choose men of lower rank and inferior dignity to be at their side and to assist them in their work. Thus didst Thou multiply in the desert the spirit of Moses through the minds of seventy judicious men, so that with their help he easily governed the countless multitudes of the people. In like manner Thou hast bestowed upon Eleazar and Ithamar, the sons of Aaron, the fullness of their father's priestly power, so that there might be a sufficient number of priests for the offering of salutary sacrifices and the performance of the numerous sacred rites. By the same providence Thou, O Lord, has joined to the apostles of Thy Son teachers of the faith; and with their help they have filled the whole world with the glad tidings of the gospel.
Therefore, we beseech Thee, O Lord, give also to us such help in our infirmity; we need it so much more than they, as our weakness is so much greater. We beseech Thee, almighty Father, invest this Thy servant with the dignity of the priesthood. Do Thou renew in his heart the spirit of holiness, that he may hold the office, next to ours in importance, which they have received from Thee, O Lord, and by the example of his live point out a norm of conduct. May he be prudent fellow laborer of our order; may the pattern of all justice shine forth in him so that, when he will give a good account of the stewardship entrusted to him, he may receive the reward of eternal bliss.
Through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever."
"Amen!"
Then the archdeacon comes forward, help Benedict take off his vestments, except the stole. Benedict then comes forward and kneels down before the Cardinal.
The Cardinal arranges the Benedict's stole, which up till now is worn over his left shoulder, to across his neck and form a Cross in front of his chest, saying:
"Receive the yoke of the Lord; for His yoke is sweet and His burden light."
Then the archdeacon gives the Cardinal a white Roman chasuble, on which there are two Crosses, one on the front, one on the back, in the middle of the front cross is the icon of Christ Pantocrator, in the middle of the back cross is the icon of the Blessed Virgin holding the Divine Child. The back part is folded up. The Cardinal vests Benedict with it, saying:
"Receive the priestly vestment, by which charity is signified; for God is powerful to increase unto thee charity and perfection of work."
"Thanks be to God." Benedict replies.
Then all kneel down, while the Cardinal prays:
"O God, Author of all holiness, from whom comes true consecration and the fullness of benediction, do Thou, O Lord, pour out Thy gracious blessing upon this Thy servant, upon whom we confer the honor of the priesthood. May he, by gravity of demeanor and strictness of life, prove himself to be elder, trained according to the principles which Paul set forth to Titus and Timothy. May he keep Thy law before his mind day and night, believe what he reads, teach what he believes, and practice what he teaches. May he show forth in his person justice, constancy, mercy, fortitude, and all other virtues, be leader by his example, inspire strength by exhortation, and preserve the gift of his ministry pure and undefiled; may he change by a holy benediction bread and wine into the body and blood of Thy Son for the worship of Thy people. And having kept his conscience pure and true his faith in never failing charity, may he rise on the day of God's just and final judgment, full of the Holy Spirit, to perfect manhood, in the full measure of the age of Christ. Through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with Thee in the unity of the same Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever."
"Amen!"
Then the Cardinal also kneels down, intones the following hymn, which is continued by the choir:
"Veni Creator Spiritus..." (Come Holy Ghost, Creator, come...)
After the hymn is finished, the Cardinal seats himself, the archdeacon comes and helps him take off his white gloves. Then a cloth is spread over his lap. Benedict approaches, kneels before him, he hold his hands out, both palms are turned upward, and the sides of the little fingers touch each others. The archdeacon holds out a cruet filled with holy oil.
The Cardinal dips his thumb into the holy oil, draws a line from the thumb of the right hand to the index finger of the left and from the thumb of the left hand to the index finger of the right, and then anoints the whole of both palms, saying:
"Vouchsafe, O Lord, to consecrate and sanctify these hands by this unction and our + blessing."
"Amen!" Benedict replies.
"That whatsoever they shall bless may be blessed, and whatsoever they shall consecrate be consecrated and sanctified, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."
"Amen!"
The archpriest comes up, helps Benedict join his hands, and binds them with a white cloth, while the Cardinal purifies his thumb.
After a while, the archpriest helps Benedict purify his hands and once again, Benedict comes before the Cardinal, and kneels down.
The Cardinal presents to him a chalice containing wine and water, and a paten with a host lie on top of it, all are given by the archdeacon. The archpriest once again comes forward, and helps Benedict take the paten between the index and the middle finger, touching with the index finger the paten and host and with the middle finger the cup of the chalice. The Cardinal recites:
"Receive the power to offer sacrifice to God and to celebrate Mass for the living as well as for the dead. In the name of the Lord."
"Amen!"
Then the archpriest leads Benedict to the side, help him purify his hands again, since he touch the host, or consecrated bread, with his finger since it is the body of Christ, and he needs to purify his hands first after touching before doing something else.
Then Benedict comes to the Cardinal for the 3rd time, to receive the power to forgive sins.
The Cardinal lays his hands on Benedict's head, saying:
"Receive the Holy Ghost; whose sins thou shalt forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins thou shalt retain, they are retained."
Then the Cardinal helps him unfold the back part of the chasuble, saying:
"May the Lord clothe thee with the robe of innocence."
The next part of the ordination is the Promise of Obedience to the bishop who ordains the priest, however, considering that it is the Pope himself being ordained here, this part is skipped as the Pope only owes his obedience to God.
The Cardinal, holding his crozier, exhorts the newly ordained priest:
"Dearly beloved sons, since the office which you will perform is beset with considerable danger, I admonish you to learn carefully from other experienced priests the order of the whole Mass, the consecration and the breaking of the host, and the communion, before you begin to celebrate Mass."
The Cardinal then bless Benedict:
"May the blessing of the almighty God, the + Father, the + Son, and the Holy + Ghost, descend upon you, that you may be blessed in the priestly order, and offer up the sacrifice of propitiation for the sins and offenses of the people to almighty God, to whom be honor and glory forever and ever."
"Amen!"
Then the Cardinal sit down on his seat, instructing Benedict - the newly ordained priest about what he as to do after receiving the Orders, among which are his first four Mass, one is for Thanksgiving, one dedicated to the Holy Ghost, one dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, one for the faithful departed.
"Also pray to Almighty God for me." said the Cardinal
"Gladly!" Benedict replies then returns to his seat, preparing for the bishop consecration.
"I . . . We finally become a priest, what We have always wanted. My parent, devout faithful they were, giving their congratulations to families that produce a priest or a religious, never gave their blessing to Us. The Lord has helped Us fulfilled Our call. Blessed be His name."
Before he realizes it, tears have begun to roll down his face.
"He is . . . crying? Tears of happiness?" thought many.
The devout clerics can not help but cry too, because Benedict's tears remind them of their ordination day.
"Those tears must be real, right? Maybe...maybe we will have a saintly Pope after a long time." thought the devout nobles.
Meanwhile, the impious silently sneers those tears.