Untitled - Saints' Books

"
"
Labor
:
CHAP, ix.] The Zeal of the Priest. 167
away through the ardor with which he wished to see the
work of redemption accomplished, that men might be
saved. From this St. John Chrysostom justly infers,
that there is
nothing more acceptable to God than the
salvation of souls. And 1 before him St. Justin said:
Nothing is so pleasing to God as to labor to make
others better." 2 Our Lord once said to Bernard Colnado,
a priest who had labored much for the conversion
of sinners:
for the salvation of sinners, for this
is what is most pleasing to me." This is so dear to
God, adds Clement of Alexandria, that the salvation of
men appears to be his sole concern. 4
Hence, addressing
a priest, St. Laurence Justinian said: "If
you wish to
honor God, you can do no better than labor in behalf
of the salvation of souls."
St. Bernard says that in the eyes of God a soul is
more valuable than the whole world. 6 Hence, accord
ing to St. John Chrysostom, a person pleases God more
by converting a single soul than by giving all his goods,
7
to the poor. Tertullian asserts that to God the sal
vation of a single sheep that has strayed away,
is as dear
as the salvation of the entire flock. 8 Hence the Apostle
1 "
Nihil itagratum Deo, et ita curse, ut animarum salus."
In Gen.
horn. 3.
2 "Nihil tam Deo gratum, quam operam dare ut omnes reddantur
meliores."
3 "
Labora pro salute
carissimum."
4 "
peccatorum; hoc enim prae omnibus est mihi
Nihil aliud est Domino curae, praeterquam hoc solum opus, ut
homo salvus fiat."
5 "
Oral, ad Gentes.
Si Deum honorare conaris, non aliter melius. quam in hominis
6 "
salute, poteris actitare." DC Compunct. p. 2.
Totus iste mundus ad unius animas pretium aestimari non potest."
Medit. c. 3.
7 "
Etsi ingentes erogaveris pecunias, plus efficieris, si unam converteris
animam." In I Cor. horn. 3.
8 "Erat una pastoris ovicula; sed grex una carior non erat." De
r<Knit.