Untitled - Saints' Books

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CHAP, iv.] Chastisement of the Sinful Priest. 83
selves as ministers of a God, let us blush
to become the
slaves of sin and of the devil, says St. Peter Damian. 1
Let us not imitate the folly of seculars that think only
of the present. // is appointed unto men once to die, and
after this the judgment? We must all appear
at this
judgment: We must all be manifested before the judgment
seat of Christ, that every one may receive the proper things of
the body, according as he hath done? To each of us the
That
Judge shall say: Give an account of thy stewardship?
is, of your priesthood; how have you exercised it? for
what end have you exercised it ?
Dearly beloved priest,
were you now to be judged, would you feel satisfied and
content with the manner in which you have discharged
your ministry? Or would you not say: When he shall
examine, what shall I answer him ? 5 When the Lord
chastises a people, the chastisement begins with the
priest, for he is the cause of the sins of the people,
either by his bad example, or by his negligence in at
tending to their sanctification. Hence the Lord says,
The time is that judgment should begin at the house of God?
In the slaughter described by Ezechiel, God wished the
priests to be the first victims of his vengeance: Begin ye
at my sanctuary? That is, says Origen, with the priests."
A most severe judgment, says the Wise Man, for them that
bear rule? And unto whom, says Jesus Christ, nmch is
1
Nobilem necesse est esse Sacerdotem, ut, qui minister est Domini,
erubescat se servum esse peccati." Ofusc. 25, c. 2.
2 "
Statutum est hominibus semel mori; post hoc autem, judicium.*
3 "
Heb. ix. 27.
Omnes nos enim manifestari oportet ante tribunal Christi, ut referat
unusquisque propria corporis, prout gessit." 2 Cor. v. 10.
4
"
Redde rationem vilicationis tuae." Luke, xvi. 2,
5 "Cum quaesierit, quid respondebo illi?" Job, xxxi. 14.
6
"Tempus est ut incipiat judicium a domo Dei." I Pet. iv. 17.
7 " A
sanctuario meo incipite."
Ezech. ix. 6.
*
"Judicium durissimum, his qui praesunt,
fiet." Wisd. vi. 6.