Untitled - Saints' Books

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CHAP, in.]
Sanctity Necessary for the Priest. 55
God ! As in heaven God has appointed certain angels
to assist at his throne, so on earth, among men, he has
destined priests to procure his glory. Hence he says to
them, / have separated you from other people? St. John
Chrysostom writes: Therefore has God chosen us, that
like angels we may live with men on earth." And God
himself says, / will be sanctified in them that approach to
Me. 3 That " is,"
adds the commentator, my sanctity
shall be shown forth by the sanctity of my ministers.
II.
What Should be the Sanctity of the Priest as the Minister of
the Altar.
St. Thomas says, that greater sanctity is required in a
priest than in religious, on account of the most sublime
functions of his ministry, particularly in the oblation of
the sacrifice of the Mass.
adds the holy Doc
Hence,"
tor, the cleric who is ordained sins more grievously
under similar circumstances if he does anything con
trary to the sanctity of his state than the religious who
is not ordained." 5 Listen to the celebrated maxim of
St. Augustine: "A good monk will hardly become a
good Hence no one can be cleric." called a good
ecclesiastic unless he surpasses a good monk in virtue.
true minister of the altar," says St. Ambrose, is
1 "
2 "
Separavi vos a caeteris populis, ut essetis mei." Levit. xx. 26.
Idcirco enim nos (Deus) elegit, ut veluti angeli cum hominibus
versemur in terris." In i Tim. horn. 10.
3 "
4 "
Sanctificabor in iis qui appropinquant mihi.
Levit. x. 3.
Agnoscar sanctus ex sanctitate ministrorum."
5 "
Quia, per sacrum Ordinem, aliquis deputaturad dignissima ministeria,
quibus ipsi Christo servitur in Sacramento altaris; ad quod requiritur
major sanctitas interior, quam requirit etiam religionis status.
Unde gravius peccat, caeteris paribus, clericus in sacris Ordinibus constitutus,
si aliquid contrarium sanctitati agat, quam aliquis religiosus qui
non habet Ordinem sacrum." 2. 2, q. 184, a. 3.
6
Bonus monachus "
vix bonum clericum facit."
Epist. 60, E. B.