Untitled - Saints' Books

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230 Material for Instructions. [PART 11.
INSTRUCTION II.
THE GOOD EXAMPLE THAT THE PRIEST SHOULD GIVE.
JESUS CHRIST has instituted two orders in his church:
one, of the simple faithful; the other, of ecclesiastics:
but with this difference, that the former are disciples
and sheep, the latter are masters and shepherds. To
the laity St. Paul says: Obey your prelates, and be subject to
them. For they watch as being to render an account of your
souls. And 1
to ecclesiastics St. Peter has said: Feed the
flock of God which is
among you? And in another place
we read: Take heed to yourselves, and to the whole flock
wherein the Holy Ghost hath placed you bishops, to rule the
church of God?
Hence St. Augustine has well said, that there is
nothing more difficult, nothing more dangerous, than
1
the office of priest."
The difficulty and danger of the
office of a priest arise precisely from his obligation to
lead a holy life, not only by interior, but also by exterior
sanctity, that others may learn from him, holiness of
life. If the one that is over thee is
good, he will be thy
nurse; if bad, he will be thy tempter," writes the same
saint. 6
The Scripture says that in Jerusalem the people
lived in holiness because of the godliness of Onias the high-
1
"Obedite praepositis vestris, et subjacete eis; ipsi enim pervigilant,
quasi rationem pro animabus vestris reddituri." Heb, xiii. 17.
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Pascite, qui in vobis est, Dei."
gregem
i Pet. v. 2.
Attendite vobis et universo gregi, in quo vos Spiritus Sanctus
posuit episcopus, regere Ecclesiam Dei." Acts, xx. 28.
4 Epist. 21, E. B.
5 "
Bonus si fuerit, qui tibi praeest, nutritor tuus est; malus si fuerit,
tentator tuus est,." Serm. 12, E. B.