|Catechism of the Catholic Church| IntraText - Text II. The
Sacrament of Holy Orders in the Economy of Salvation The
priesthood of the Old Covenant 1539 The chosen people was
constituted by God as "a kingdom of priests and a holy nation."6
But within the people of Israel, God chose one of the twelve
tribes, that of Levi, and set it apart for liturgical service;
God himself is its inheritance.7 A special rite consecrated the
beginnings of the priesthood of the Old Covenant. the priests
are "appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to
offer gifts and sacrifices for sins."8 1540 Instituted to
proclaim the Word of God and to restore communion with God by
sacrifices and prayer,9 this priesthood nevertheless remains
powerless to bring about salvation, needing to repeat its
sacrifices ceaselessly and being unable to achieve a definitive
sanctification, which only the sacrifice of Christ would
accomplish.10 1541 The liturgy of the Church, however, sees in
the priesthood of Aaron and the service of the Le