Untitled - Saints' Books

"
"
INSTR. ii.] . Good
Example of the Priest, 235
who shows to
says that the word presbyter signifies "one
the people (by word and example) the way from exile
1
of heaven." This, the Apostle has
to the kingdom
taught: In all things show thyself an . . .
example, that he
who is on the contrary part may be afraid, having no evil to say
of us?
St. Peter Damian says that the Lord has separated
priests from the laity that they may observe a rule of
life different from that which the people follow. 3 And
from this rule seculars learn to lead a life of virtue.
Hence St. Peter Chrysologus calls the "the
priest form
of virtues." 4 And, addressing a priest, St. John Chrysostom
has said: "Let the splendor of your
life be the
common school and model of virtues." This, as St.
Bernard writes, the sacerdotal ministry itself demands. 6
In order to see the people sanctified, David prayed to
the Lord in the following words: Let Thy priests be clothed
with justice, and let
Thy saints rejoice? To be clothed with
justice, the priest must give an example of every virtue,
of zeal, of humility, of charity, of modesty, etc. In a word,
St. Paul says, that we priests should, by holiness of life,
show ourselves to be true ministers of the God of holi
ness. But in all things let its exhibit ourselves as the minis
ters of God, in chastity, in knowledge, in long-suffering,
. . .
etc. And 8
before him Jesus Christ taught the same: If
1
"Presbyter dicitur prsebens iter, scilicet populo, de exsilio hujus
mundi ad patriam ccelestis regni."
Gemma an. 1. I,
a
In omnibus teipsum praebe exemplum,
.
c. 181.
. . ut is qui ex adverse
est, vereatur, nihil habens malum dicere de nobis." Tit. ii. 8.
z
Ut quid enim a populo (Sacerdotes) segregantur, nisi ut divisam a
populo vivendi regulam teneant?" Opiisc, 18, d. 2, c. 2.
4
Forma "
virtutem." Serm. 26.
5 "
Sit communis omnibus schola exemplarque
splendor." In Tit. hom. 4.
6 "Cathedram sanctitatis exigit ministerium hoc."
7
virtutum vitse tuee
"Sacerdotes tui induantur justitiam, et sancti tui exsultent." Ps,
cxxxi. g.
8
In omnibus exhibeamus "
nosmetipsos sicut Dei ministros,
castitate, in scientia, in longanimitate 2
. ., ."
Cor. vi. 4.
... in