Untitled - Saints' Books

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CHAP, ix.] The Zeal of the Priest. 165
neglect the souls of others, they
hell with the damned." ]
A certain priest in Rome felt great fears
will be condemned to
at death for
his eternal salvation, although he had led a life of retire
ment and piety. Being asked why he was so much
afraid, he answered: I am afraid, because I have not
labored for the salvation of souls." He had reason to
tremble, since the Lord employs priests to save souls,
and to rescue them from vice. Hence, if a priest do not
fulfil this duty, he must render to God an account of all
the souls that are lost through his fault: If when I say to
the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; thou declare it not to him,
nor speak to him, that he may be converted from his wicked
way ana live; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but
I will require his blood at thy hand? Thus, says St. Greg
ory, speaking of idle priests, they shall be accountable
before God for the souls whom they could assist, and
who are lost through their negligence. 3
Jesus Christ has redeemed souls with the price of his
blood: For you are bought with a great price? But these
souls the Redeemer has intrusted to the care of priests.
Unhappy me, said St. Bernard, when he saw himself a
priest, if I be negligent in taking care of this deposit;
that is, of the souls whom the Redeemer considered to
be more precious than his own blood. 5 Seculars have
to render an account of their own sins, but priests must
1 "
Si Sacerdos suam tantum disposuerit salvare animam, et alienas
neglexerit, cum impiis detrudetur in gehennam."
2
"Si, dicente me adimpium: Morte morieris; non annuntiaveris
ei, neque locutus fueris ut avertatur a via sua impia, et vivat, ipse
impius in iniquitate sua morietur, sanguinem autem ejus de manu tua
requiram." Ezech. iii. 18.
Ex tantis procul dubio rei sunt, quantis, venientes ad publicum,
prodesse potuerunt." Past. p. i, c. 5.
4
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Empti enim estis pretio magno." i Cor. vi. 20.
5 "
Si depositum, quod sibi Christus sanguine proprio pretiosius
iudicavit x contigerit negligentius custodire." In Adv* Dom* s. 3.