Untitled - Saints' Books

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CHAP, x.] The Vocation to the Priesthood. 193
2. SCIENCE AND TALENTS.
The second mark is the talent and learning necessary
for the fulfilment of the duties of a priest. Priests must
be masters to teach the people the law of God. For the
lips of the priest shall keep knowledge, and they shall seek the
law at his mouth. 1
Sidonius Apollinarius used to say:
Ignorant physicians are the cause of many deaths." 2
An ignorant priest, particularly a confessor, who teaches
false doctrines and gives bad counsels will be the ruin
of many souls; because, inconsequence of being a priest,
his errors are easily believed. Hence tvone Carnotensis
has written: "No one should be admitted to holy Orders
unless he has given sufficient proofs of good conduct and
learning."
A priest must not only have a competent knowledge
of all the rubrics necessary for the celebration of Mass,
but must be also acquainted with the principal things
that regard the sacrament of penance. It is true, as we
have said in the preceding chapter of this work, th,at
every priest is not obliged to hear confessions, unless
there is
great necessity for his assistance in the district
in which he lives; however, every priest is bound to be
acquainted with what a priest must ordinarily know in
order to be able to hear the confessions of dying per
sons; that is, he is bound to know when he has faculties
to absolve, when and how he ought to give absolution
to the sick, whether conditionally or absolutely; what
obligation he ought to impose on them, if
they are under
any censure. He should also know at least the general
principles of Moral Theology.
Labia enim Sacerdotis custodient scientiam, et legem requirent
ex ore ejus."
Mai. ii. 7.
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Medici parum docti multos occidunt." Lib. 2, ep. 12.
Nulli ad sacros Ordines sunt promovendi, nisi quos vita et doctrina
idoneos probat."
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