The Catechism speaks extensively on this subject. Here are but a few of the many citations:
782 The People of God is marked by characteristics that clearly distinguish it from all other religious, ethnic, political, or cultural groups found in history:
- It is the People of God: God is not the property of any one people. But he acquired a people for himself from those who previously were not a people: "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation."
- One becomes a member of this people not by a physical birth, but by being "born anew," a birth "of water and the Spirit," that is, by faith in Christ, and Baptism.
- This People has for its Head Jesus the Christ (the anointed, the Messiah). Because the same anointing, the Holy Spirit, flows from the head into the body, this is "the messianic people."
784 On entering the People of God through faith and Baptism, one receives a share in this people's unique, priestly vocation: "Christ the Lord, high priest taken from among men, has made this new people 'a kingdom of priests to God, his Father.' The baptized, by regeneration and the anointing of the Holy Spirit, are consecrated to be a spiritual house and a holy priesthood."
803 "You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people" (1 Pet 2:9).
1268 The baptized have become "living stones" to be "built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood." By Baptism they share in the priesthood of Christ, in his prophetic and royal mission. They are "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, that [they] may declare the wonderful deeds of him who called [them] out of darkness into his marvelous light." Baptism gives a share in the common priesthood of all believers.
In the Ot only the priest could enter into the Holy of holies.. but the curtain was rent and now we all can enter in and come to the thrown of God ..
We have the privilege to offer praise and offer off ourselves and our lives as living sacrifices..no longer needed the blood of the lamb
That very gift of the priesthood of the believer removes the need for a priesthood to offer sacrifices..
Am I safe in understanding that the catechism then teaches that Hebrews is correct in stating that we as believers can then enter boldly into the presence of God thanks to the work of Jesus on the cross? As such we can bring our petitions to God directly?