Untitled - Saints' Books

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1 80 Material for Sermons. [PART i.
reservoir and then a canal. The 1
saints have converted
more souls by their prayers than by their labors.
3. WORKS OF A ZEALOUS PRIEST.
The works in which a zealous priest should be em
ployed are:
I. The correction of sinners. Priests who see insults
offered to God and remain silent are called by Isaias
But to these mute dogs shall be imputed all
mute dogs?
the sins that they could have but have not prevented.
"Do not be silent," says Alcuin,
"lest the sins of the
people be ascribed to you."
Some priests abstain from
reproving sinners because they do not wish to disturb
their peace of mind; but, says St. Gregory, for this
peace that they desire, they shall miserably lose peace
with God. 4 An animal falls, exclaims St. Bernard, and
many are found to lift it; a souls falls, and no one is
found to raise her up.
5
Yes, sinners are not
converted,
" 1
although, according to St. Gregory, priests are specially
appointed by God to point out the path of virtue to
those who go astray/ Hence St. Leo adds: The priest
who does not withdraw another from error proves that
he is himself involved in it." St. Gregory writes that
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we kill as many souls as we see committing sin without
endeavoring to apply a remedy. 8
Concham te exhibebis, non canalem. Canales hodie in Ecclesia
multos habemus, conchas vero perpaucas." In Cant. s. 18.
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4
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Canes muti, non valentes latrare." Is. Ivi. 10.
Nolite tacere, ne populi peccata vobis imputentur." Epist. 28.
pacem desiderant, pravos mores nequaquam redarguunt; et
6 "
consentiendo perversis, ab Auctoris sui se pace disjungunt." Past. p.
3, c. i, adm. 23.
5
Cadit "
asina, et est qui sublevet earn; perit anima, et nemo est
qui reputet." De Cons. 1. 4, c. 6.
Eligitur viam erranti demonstrate." Epist. 1. 7, ind. 2, ep. no.
Sacerdos qui alium ab errore non revocat, seipsum errare demonstrat."
Ep. ad Tttrrib. c. 15,
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Nos qui Sacerdotes vocamur, tot occidimus, quot
quotidie tepide videmus. In Ezech. horn. n.
ad mortem ire