Untitled - Saints' Books

"
"
CHAP, x.] The Vocation to the Priesthood. 203
he writes: "God does not destine men to such or such a
vocation without favoring them with gifts at the same
time, and preparing them in such a way as to render
them capable of fulfilling the duties of their vocation;
for, says St. Paul: Our sufficiency is from God, who also
hath made us fit ministers of the New Testament? As each
person, then, will be able to discharge with facility the
office to which God elects him, so he will be unfit for the
fulfilment of the office to which God does not call him.
The foot, which is
given to enable us to walk, cannot see;
the eye, which is
given to see, is incapable of hearing;
and how shall he whojs not chosen by God to the priest
hood be able to discharge its obligations?
It belongs to the Lord to choose the workmen who are
to cultivate his vineyard: I have chosen . . .
you, and have
appointedyou that you should go, and should bring forth fruit?
Hence the Redeemer did not say, Beg of men to go and
gather the harvest; but he tells us to ask the master of
the
3
crop to send workmen to collect it. Hence he also
said: As the Father hath sent Me, I also send you."
When
God calls, he himself, says St. Leo, gives the necessary
helps. 5
This is what Jesus Christ has said: I am the door.
By Me if any man enter in he shall be saved, and he shall go
in, and go out, and shall find pastures. 6 He shall 7
go " in:"
" 1 quos Deus ad aliquid eligit, ita praeparat et disponit, tit ad
id ad quod eliguntur, inveniantur idonei, secundum illud: Idoneos
nos fecit ministros Novi Testament!.
(2 Cor. iii. 5.) P. 3, q. 27^ a. 4.
Ego elegi vos, et posui vos, ut eatis et fructum afferatis."
John, xv. 1 6.
Rogate ergo dominum messis, ut mittat operarios in messem
suam." Ltike, x 2.
4 "
5
Sicut misit me Pater, et ego mitto vos." John, xx. 21.
Qai mihi honoris est auctor, ipse mihi fiet administrationum adjutor;
dabit virtutem, qui contulit dignitatem." In die ass. sucz, s. i.
6 "
Ego sum ostium. Per me si quis introierit, salvabitur; et ingredietur,
et egredietur, et pascua inveniet." John, x. g.
r
"
Ingjedietur.