Untitled - Saints' Books

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CHAP, in.]
Sanctity Necessary for the Priest. 65
worthy manner interior perfection is l
required."
Priests
should be holy, that they may give glory, and not dis
honor to that God whose ministers they are: They shall
be holy to their God, and shall not profane His name? Were
a minister of state seen playing in the public places,
frequenting public-houses, associating with the rabble,
speaking and acting in a manner calculated to reflect
dishonor on the king, what regard could such a minister
entertain for his sovereign ? By bad priests, who are
his ministers, Jesus Christ is covered with shame. St.
John Chrysostom says that of unholy priests the Gen
tiles might say, "What kind of a God have those that
do such things
? Would he bear with them if he did
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not approve of their conduct?" Were the Chinese, the
Indians, to see a priest of Jesus Christ leading a scandal
ous life, they might say, how can we believe that the
God whom such priests preach is the true God ? were
he the true God, how could he bear them in their
wickedness without being a party to their crimes?
Hence the exhortation of St. Paul: In all things let us
exhibit ourselves as ministers of God. 4 Let us, he says,
addressing priests, appear as true ministers of God, in
much patience bearing with peace, poverty, infirmity, per
secutions; in watchings and fastings vigilant in what re
gards the glory of God, mortifying the senses; in chastity,
in knowledge, in sweetness, in charity unfeigned in guarding
holy purity, in attending to study in order to assist souls,
in practising meekness and true charity to our neighbor;
Interior perfectio ad hoc requiritur, quod aliquis digne hujusmod
actus exerceat." 2. 2, q. 184, a. 6.
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2
Sancti erunt Deo suo, et non polluent nomen ejus."
Levit. xxi. 6.
3
"Qualis est Deus eorum, qui talia agunt? numquid
talia facientes, nisi consentiret eorum operibus?" Horn. 10.
4
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In omnibus exhibeamus nosmetipsos sicut Dei ministros:
sustineret eos
in multa
patientia, in vigiliis, in jejuniis, in castitate, in scientia, in suavilate, in
caritate non ficta: quasi tristes, semper autem gaudentes; tanquam nihil
habentes, et omnia possidentes." 2. Cor. vi. 4.
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