Maybe this is very simple, or maybe this is mysteriously profound, but what do you have to say about this observation from an Easter Rite priest? I am specifically interested in commentary on the phrase that I emphasized:

Christ is our High Priest…and our Sacrifice. While there are many priests and many services, there is truly only one Priest and one Sacrifice. The Apostle Paul wrote that Jesus is “such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens” that there is no need “to offer sacrifices first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, in offering himself” (Hebrews 7:26-27, Douay-Rheims). Christ offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice upon the cross. Then, to extend this grace through geography and temporal time, He shared His priesthood with human beings. While the West emphasizes the priest’s actions in persona Christi, the East emphasizes the counterbalancing truth that it is truly Christ Who performs the full service – offering the sacrifice of Himself and receiving it purely for our salvation.

Is this priest suggesting a distinction that doesn't exist (do both understandings express the same concept, but in a different way)? Is there a difference between a priest acting in persona Christi, as compared to Christ himself acting through a person?

http://www.ncregister.com/blog/guest-bl ... -of-israel

I have no idea what distinction he thinks he's making.

Sometimes, when those of us from the East delve deep into our tradition (a good thing), we fall into the trap of making a caricature of the West as being too technical and not leaving room for mystery. My best guess would be that this is what happened here.

Well said. And illuminative.

Over the years, I have learned to be very cautious about saying what other people believe.

that would be my best guess, fwiw.

I also like Jack's thoughts: