Untitled - Saints' Books

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CHAP, x.] The Vocation to the Priesthood. 199
tion; secondly, because he shall be deprived of the con
gruous and abundant helps, without which, as Habert
writes, he shall be absolutely unable to comply with the
obligations of his state, but shall fulfil them only with
great difficulty. He will be like a dislocated member,
which can be used only with difficulty, and which causes
deformity.
Hence Bishop Abelly writes:
He who of himself, with
out inquiring whether he has a vocation or not, thrusts
himself into the priesthood will no doubt expose himself
to the great danger of losing his soul; for he commits
against the Holy Spirit that sin for which, as the Gospel
says, there is hardly or very rarely any pardon."
The Lord has declared that his wrath is provoked
against those who wish to rule in his Church without
being called by him. On this passage St. Gregory says,
It is
by themselves and not by the will of the Supreme
Head that they reign. Divine vocation is entirely
wanting to them, and they have followed only the ardor
of vile cupidity, not certainly to accept, but to usurp this
4
sublime dignity. How many intrigues, adulations, en
treaties, and other means do certain persons employ in
order to procure ordination, not in obedience to the call
of God, but through earthly motives But woe to such
!
" 1
Manebitque in corpora Ecclesise velut membrum in corpora
humano suis sedibus motum, quod servire potest, sed segre admodum
et cum deformitate. De Ord. p. 3, c. i, 2.
2 "
Qui sciens et volens, nulla divinae vocationis habita ratione, sese
in sacerdotium intruderet, baud dubie seipsum in apertissimum salutis
discrimen injiceret, peccando scilicet in Spiritum Sanctum, quod qiiidem
peccatum vix aut rarissime dimitti ex Evangelio discimus." Sac.
chr. p. I, c. 4.
3 "
Ipsi regnaverunt, et non ex me,
eos." Os. viii. 4.
. . . iratus est furor meus in
4 " Ex se, et non ex arbitrio summi Rectoris, regnant: nequaquam
divinitus vocati, sed sua cupidine accensi, culmen regiminis rapiunt
potius quam assequuntur." Past. p. I, c. i.