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Reply. The answer is in the affirmative, for the prophet says:
"Thou are a priest forever according to the order of
Melchisedech."[1575]
The meaning is that the priest Melchisedech typified, far more than
the other priests of the Old Law, Christ the priest: and there are
four reasons given for this.
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1) Because Melchisedech offered bread and wine,[1576] and not
sheep and oxen, as Aaron did. But Christ at the Last Supper
offered His body and His blood under the appearance of bread and
wine.
2) Because Melchisedech is presented to us in Sacred Scripture as
"without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither
beginning of days nor end of life,"[1577] that is, contrary to
the custom of Sacred Scripture, no mention is made of his parents.
In this he represents Christ's eternal priesthood, who had neither
earthly father nor heavenly mother.
3) Because Melchisedech, having received tithes from Abraham as
the superior of the latter, blessed Him and the lawful priests of the
Old Law; and thus he typified the superiority of Christ's
priesthood over that of the Law.
4) Melchisedech means the same as king of justice and of peace; But
Christ was king of justice and of peace.
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What has been said suffices for Christ's priesthood. It must be
remembered that there cannot be a more perfect priesthood because no
other priest can be more united to God, the victim, and the
people.[1578]
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