Untitled - Saints' Books

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A
DIGNITY AND DUTIES OF THE PRIEST.
Qt&moniticrns Nmssars for l)int rolio Qit^s tlje Spiritual
ta priests.
THE present little work is entitled Collection of
Materials," and not Discourses or Spiritual Exercises,
1
because although
I have endeavored to collect the
material belonging to each subject, I have not observed
the order necessary for a regular discourse, nor have I
extended the thoughts. They are given without order,
and expressed briefly, that the reader may select the
authorities, subjects, and thoughts that are most pleas
ing to him, and may afterwards arrange and extend
them as he pleases, and thus make the discourse his
own. For experience shows, that a preacher will scarce
ly deliver sentiments with fervor and zeal unless he has
first made them his own, at least by selecting them from
among others, and arranging and extending them, in
composing the discourse. Hence, I have taken from
different authors several passages that have the same
signification, so that the preacher may select those that
please him most.
I have said so much to explain the aim of the work.
Let him who gives the spiritual exercises to priests be
careful, first of all, to propose to himself a good end in
his instructions:
I. This end must be not to gain the character of a
man of learning, of talent, and of eloquence, but only
the sanctification of his hearers.
to give glory to God by
1
Selva* . . . See Notice, page 5.