Untitled - Saints' Books

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INSTR. n.i Good Example of the Priest. 233
virtues, and thus give glory to that God who has con
ferred on him an honor so singular and sublime. So,
said the Redeemer, let your light shine before men, that they
may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in
heaven Of this obligation St. John Chrysostom reminds
priests. "Therefore," says the saint,
"has God chosen
us that we may be luminaries." Pope Nicholas has
written the same, saying that priests are the stars that
enlighten the people on every side. 3 "They are,"
said
the Pontiff, according to the words of Daniel, they that
instruct many to justice shall shine as stars for all eternity,
stars shedding light on their 4
neighbors, far and wide."
But, to be a luminary, it is not enough for the priest to
enlighten by his words: he must also give light by his
good example.
the life of a priest,"
as St. Charles
Borromeo used to say, is precisely the beacon on which
seculars, navigating in the midst of the ocean and dark
ness of the world, keep their eyes fixed in order to escape
destruction." And before him St. John Chrysostom
said: "The
priest ought to lead a life of order, that all
may look to him as to an excellent model; for God has
chosen us, that we might be, as it were, luminaries
and teachers to others. The life of the priest is the
light that is placed on the candlestick to give light to
all. Neither do men light a candle and put
it under a bushel,
but on a candlestick, that it
may
shine to all that are in the
1 "
Sic luceat lux vestra coram hominibus, ut videant opera vestra
bona, et glorificent Patrem vestrum, qui in coelis est." Matt, v. 16.
2 "
Idcirco nos elegit, ut simus quasi luminaria." In 1 Tim. horn. 10.
3 "
Stellae longe lateque proximos illuminantes." Ep. ad Synod.
Silvan.
4 "
Fulgebunt . . . qui ad justitiam erudiunt multos, quasi stellar in
perpetuas aeternitates. Dan. xii. 3.
5
Sacerdos debet vitam habere compositam, ut omnes "
in ilium veluti
in exemplar excellens intueantur; idcirco enim Deus nos elegit, ut simus
quasi luminaria et magistri caeterorum." In i Tim. horn. 10..