Untitled - Saints' Books

"
who
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
INSTR. ii.] Good Example of the Priest. 239
powerful than speaking."
To persuade others, the
preacher must show that he himself is convinced of the
truth of his doctrine; but how can he evince such a con
viction when his conduct is in opposition to his preach
ing ? He," says the author of the Imperfect Work,
neglects to practise what he teaches, teaches not
others, but condemns himself." 2
The sermon, says St.
Gregory, which is commended by the life of the preacher
persuades and moves. 3 Men believe the eyes sooner
than the ears, that is, they are convinced more easily by
the examples that they see than by the words that they
hear.
Since," says an ancient Council,
men believe
the eyes rather than the ears, it is
necessary for a priest
to give good example, as well in dress as in all his
actions."
Priests are, as the Council of Trent says, the mirrors
of the world, in which all look at themselves, and from
which they take examples for the regulation of their life:
Others fix their eyes upon them as upon a mirror, and
derive from them what they are to imitate." 5 And
long before the holy Council, St. Gregory said the same:
The priest should shine before others by good example,
for the people see in him, as in a mirror, what they must
do, what they must avoid." G And the Apostle
writes: We
1 "
Dabis voci tuse vocem virtutis, si, quod suades, priiis
tibi illud
cognosceris persuasisse. Validior operis quam oris vox." In Cant. s.
59-
2 "
Qui non facit quod docet, non alium docet, sed semetipsum condemnat."
Horn. 10.
a
Ilia vox libentius auditorum corda penetrat, quam dicentis vita
commendat." Past. p. 2, c. 3.
"
Quoniam magis oculis quam auribus credunt homines, necesse est
ut Sacerdos bonum praebeat exemplum, tarn in vestitu quam in reliquis
actionibus."
5 "
In eos tamquam in speculum reliqui oculos conjiciunt, ex iisque
sumunt quod imitentur." Sess. 22, de Ref. c. I.
6 "
Decet Sacerdotem moribus clarescere, quatenus in eo, tamquam
in vitae suae speculo, plebs, et eligere quod sequatur, et videre possit
quod corrigat." Epist. 1 7, ind. i, ep. 32.