Untitled - Saints' Books

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Let
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246 Material for Instructions. [PART n.
disciples on account of the prerogative of chastity. 1
And Jesus intrusted his mother to John on account of
his purity, as he consigns to the priest his Church and
himself. Hence Origen says
: "Above all should the
priest who assists at the altar of God be girt about with
2
And according to St. John Chrysostom, a
chastity."
priest should have purity which would entitle him to
stand among the angels. 3 Should none, then, but vir
gins be promoted to the priesthood
? St. Bernard
answers: "Long
continuance in chastity is regarded as
virginity."
4
Hence the holy Church guards nothing with so much
How many coun
jealousy as the purity of her priests.
cils and canons enforce it? no one," says Inno
cent III., be admitted to holy orders unless he be a
virgin, or a man of approved chastity;"
and he ordained
5
that "they
who are in holy Orders, if they lead not a
chaste life, are to be excluded from every dignity: ab
omni gradum dignitate? St. Gregory says: No one
should approach the ministry of the altar unless his
chastity has been proved." St. Paul assigns the reason
7
why the ministers of the altar are obliged to lead a life
celibacy: He that is without a wife is solicitous for the
things that belong to the Lord, hoiv he may please God; but
1
"Prse caeteris discipulis diligebat Jesus Joannem, propter praero
gativam castitatis."
2
Ante omnia, Sacerdos, "
qui divinis assistit altaribus, castitate debet
accingi."
In Lev. horn. 4.
3 "
Necesse est Sacerdotem sic esse purum, ut, si in ipsis coelis esset
collocatus, inter ccelestes illas Virtutes medius staret." DC Saccrd. 1. 3.
4 "
5 " Nemo
Longa castitas pro virginitate reputatur." De Alodo b. viv. c. 22.
ad sacrum Ordinem permittatur accedere, nisi aut virgoaut
6 "
probatze castitatis exsistat.
Eos qui in sacris Ordinibus sunt positi. si caste non vixerint, excludendos
ab omni graduum dignitate." Cap. A multis, de tet. et quol.
Ord.
7 "
Nullus debet ad ministerium altaris accedere, nisi cujus castitas
ante susceptum ministerium fuerit approbata." Epist. \. i, ep. 42.