Untitled - Saints' Books

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66 Material for Sermons. [PART i.
as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing appearing afflicted at
being deprived of the pleasures of the world, but enjoy
ing the peace which is the portion of the children of
God; as having nothing, but possessing all things poor in
earthly goods, but rich in God; for he that possesses
God, possesses all things.
Such ought priests to be. In a word, they ought to
be holy; because they are the ministers of the God of
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holiness: Be holy, because I am holy. They ought to be
prepared to give their lives for souls, because they are
the ministers of Jesus Christ, who, as he himself has
said, came to die for us who are his sheep: I am the good
shepherd. The good shepherd giveth His life for His sheep?
They ought, in fine, to be entirely employed
in inflam
ing all men with the holy fire of divine love; because
they are the ministers of the Incarnate Word, who came
into the world for that purpose: / am come to cast fire on
the earth, and what will I but that it be kindled?
David earnestly besought the Lord to grant, for the
benefit of the whole world, that his priests might be
clothed with justice: Let the priests be clothed with justice?
Justice comprises all virtues. Every priest should be
clothed with faith, by living according to the maxims
not of the world, but of faith. The maxims of the world
are: It is
necessary to possess wealth and property, to
seek the esteem of others, to indulge in every amuse
ment within our reach. The maxims of faith are: Happy
are the poor; we should embrace contempt, deny our
selves, and love suffering. The priest must be clothed
with holy confidence; hoping for all things not from
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"Sancti estote quia ego sanctus sum." Levit. xi. 44.
Ego sum Pastor bonus. Bonus Pastor animam suam dat pro ovibus
suis.
x. John, n.
Ignem veni mittere in terram; et quid volo, nisi ut accendatur?"
Luke, xii. 49.
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4 Sacerdotes tui induantur justitiam."
Ps. cxxxi. q.