Untitled - Saints' Books

J
1 82 Material for Sermons. [PARTI.
quence of not being able to go often to the church, live
in ignorance of even the principal mysteries of faith.
IV. Lastly,
it is
necessary to be persuaded that the
work which is most conducive to the salvation of souls
is the administration of the sacrament of penance. The
Venerable Louis Fiorillo, of the Order of St. Dominic,
used to say^ that by preaching the priest casts out the
net, but by hearing confessions he draws it ashore and
takes the fish. But some may say this is a very perilous
office. There is no doubt, dearly beloved priest, says
St. Bernard, that to become the judge of consciences
is attended with much danger; but you shall fall into
greater danger if through sloth or excessive fear you
neglect to fulfil this office when God calls you to it.
"Woe to you," says the same saint, you are a Supe
"if
rior! But a greater woe to you if through fear of com
manding you shrink from doing We have
good."
already spoken 2
of the obligation of every priest to em
ploy the talent that God has given him that he may save
and we have already said that at his ordination a
souls;
priest is destined in a special manner for the administra
tion of the sacrament of penance. But you may say
that you are not qualified for this office, because you
have not studied theology. But do you not know that a
priest is bound to study The ? lips of the priest shall keep
knowledge, and they shall seek the law at his mouth? If you
did not intend to study in order to be able to assist your
neighbor, why did you become a priest? Who, says the
Lord, asked you to take holy Orders ? Who required
these things at your hands that you should walk in My courts ? 4
" 1
Vae tibi, si praees; sed vae gravius, si, quia praeesse metuis, prodesse
refugis!" Epist, 86.
2
Page 158.
Labia enim Sacerdotis custodient scientiam, et legem requirent ex
3 "
ore ejus."
Mai. ii. 7.
4 "
Quis quassivit haec de manibus vestris, ut ambularetis in atriis
meis?" Is. i. 12.