IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) V // €■. {./ s^"" fe ,> <€?- €<° f& w., y. Vx ^ i.O I.I 1.25 1^5 \13 . IIIIIM "' m - 1^ 1.4 IIIM [2.2 1.6 % (^ /a o /a CT/, el '>. '-''N '^y^ ^m" ^>-' y.^^j. '<*# ,'>"■ M 9 ^>. 7 O / Photographic Sciences Coiporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. K380 (716) 872-4503 iV (v ^% ^^ ^^.^ «^'^ 1^ ^.^^ *s v- ..^ * ^n,> ^ i^ CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHM/ICMH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Institute for Historical MScroreproductions Institut canadien de microreproductions historiques 1980 Teciinical and Bibliographic Notes/Notes techniques et bibliographiques The Institute has attempted to obtain the best original copy available for filming. Features of this copy which may be bibliographically unique, which may alter any of the images in the reproduction, or which may significantly change the usual method of filming, are checked below. L'Institut a microfilm^ le meilleur exemplaire qu'il lui a 6t6 possible de se procurer. Les details de cet exemplaire qui sont peut-dtre uniques du point de vue bibliographique, qui peuvent modifier une image reproduite, ou qui peuvent exiger une modification dans la m^thode normale de filmage sont indiqu6s ci-dessous. D n D D n Coloured covers/ Couverture de couleur I I Covers damaged/ Couverture endommagde Covers restored and/or laminated/ Couverture restaur6e et/ou pelliculde □ Cover title missing/ Letit titre de couverture manque Coloured maps/ Cartes g^ographiques en couleur Coloured ink (i.e. other than blue or black)/ ere de couleur (i.e. autre que bleue ou noire) □ Coloured plates and/or illustrations/ Plane iches et/ou illustrations en couleur Bound with other material/ Relid avec d'autres documents Tight binding may cause shadows or distortion along interior margin/ La reliure serree peut causer de I'ombre ou de la distortion le long de la marge intdrieure Blank leaves Pdded during restoration may appear within the text. Whenever possible, these have been omitted from filming/ II se peut que certaines pages blanches ajoutdes lors d'une restauration apparaissent dans le texte, mais, lorsque cela 6tait possible, ces pages n'ont pas ^''4 filmdes. □ Coloured pages/ Pages de couleur □ Pages damaged/ Pages endommag^es □ Pages restored and/or laminated/ Pages restaurdes et/ou pelliculdes n D Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/ Pages d6color6es, tachetdes ou piqu6es Pages detached/ Pages d^tachdes Showthrough/ Transparence Quality of print varies/ Qualiti in^gale de I'impression I I Includes supplementary material/ Comprend du materiel supplementaire Only edition available/ Seule Edition disponible Pages wholly or partially obscured by errata slips, tissues, etc., have been refilmed to ensure the best possible image/ Les pages totalement ou partiellement obscurcies par un feuillet d'errata, une pelure, etc., cnt 6t^ filmdes d nouveau de fapon d obtenir la meilleure image possible. D Additional comments:/ Commentaires suppl6mentaires; D This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ Ce document est filmd au taux de reduction indiqud ci-dessous. 10X 14X 18X 22X 26X 30X 7 n 12X 16X 20X 24X 28X 32X e Stalls IS du nodifier ir une ilmage The copy filmed here has been reproduced thanks to the generosity of: University de Sherbrooice The images appearing here are the best quality possible considering the condition and legibility of the original copy and in keeping with the filming contract specifications. L'exemplaire film6 fut reprodult grdce d la g6n6rosit6 de: University de Sherbrooke Les images suivantes ont 6t6 reproduites avec le plus grand soin, compte tenu de la condition et de la nettetd de l'exemplaire filmd, et en conformity avec les conditions du contrat de filmage. Original copies in printed paper covers are filmed beginning with the front cover and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, or the back cover when appropriate. All other original copies are filmed beginning on the first page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impression. BS Les exemplaires originaux dont la couverture en papier est imprim^e sont film6s en commenpant par le premier plat et en terminant soit par la dernidre page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration, soit par le second plat, selon le cas. Tous les autres exemplaires originaux sont film6s en commenpant par la premidre page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration et en terminant par la dernidre page qui comporte une telle empreinte. The last recorded frame on each microfiche shall contain the symbol ^♦-(meaning "CON- TINUED "). or the symbol V (meaning "END "), whichever applies. Un des symboles suivants apparaitra sur la dernidre image de cheque microfiche, selon le cap: le symbole — ^ signifie "A SUIVRE", le symbole V signifie "FIN". Me>ps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, loft to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent Stre filmds d des taux de reduction diffdrents. Lorsque le document est trop grand poi r dtre reproduit en un seul c!ich6, il est film^ S partir de Tangle supdrieur gauche, de gauche d droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images n^cessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mdthode. errata I to t 9 pelure, on & n 32X 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 /' >'■ r-. (\ ii % V -^t li J ■.■■•■ m ',*»r>l.! 'm % T THE HOLY PRIEST OK NECESSITY AND MEANS Of acquiring and perfecting Sacerdotal Sanctity, BY L'ABBE H. DUBOIS. HONOEAEY CANON, SUPERIOR OF THE GREAT SEMINARY OF COUTANCt:f. AUTHOR OF " La Pratique du Zele Eccldsiastique et de la Pratique du Christiauisme k rusajje des gens du monde." AppRoovli PAB Mgb. Daniel, fivfouEi ns Coutancks. ' -■,* TrMslaied from the French. i MONTREAL : J. THEO. ROBINSON, Printer. 1889. 7W OJ w'"- '-^'-^^^;x uv >T» *"* greater iter will greater ion. i a fatal hich we satisfied isly suf- V many i be ill d many ir sanc- (i EST. sacer- by the priest neces- ed on est, I Id not lenda- les, to single esnot ■yy no ;hful ; most Be thou an example of the faithful, in word, in conversation, in charity, in faith, in chastity. Till I come, attend unto reading, to exhortation, and to doc- trine. Neglect not the grace that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with imposition of the hands of the priesthood. Meditate upon these things, be wholly in these things, that thy profiting may be manifest to all. Take heed to thyself, and to doctrine : be earnest in them. For in doing this thou shaltboth save thyself and them that hear thee. — Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world : and certainly we can carry nothing out. But having food, and wherewith to be covered, with these we are content. — For the desire of money is the root of all evil. — But thou, man of God, fly these things: and pursue justice, godliness, faith, charity, patience, mildness, — Labour as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. — No man, being a soldier to God, en- tangleth himself with secular businesses. — Carefully study to present thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. — But shun profane and vain bablings. — But be thou vigilant, labour in all things, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil thy ministry. Be sober. — Fight the good fight of faith ; lay hold on eternal life where- unto thou art called." The pious and attentive perusal of these immortal epistles ought to suffice to engage us to labor with a generous determination to attain to that degree of sanctity which they positively require in us. To com- ment on them would be only dwarfing the force of their divine energy ; still it may not be amiss to offer a few grave and solid considerations furnished by the most reliable authority. Relative to sanctity in gen eral let it suffice here to lay down a few fundamental principles which are universally admitted. It is lillBP 12 THE HOLY PRIEST. :!| lii obligatory for all to acquire sanctity. God gives every- one sufficient grace to acquire it. The Kingdom of Heaven is the home of the saints ; nothing defiled can enter therein. Sanctity has degrees more or less eminent. It is not necessary to possess the most perfect degree of sanctity in order to gain Heaven. The last two are the most frequently abused by such as settle quietly down into a permanent state of im- perfection. When a man is devoid of an ardent love for God, a great zeal for the sanctificationof hisown soul, a lively horror for venial sin — not being firmly determined to correct his imperfections, being satisfied with avoiding mortal sin — he shuns the company of the fervent to frequent those who are tepid and negligent in God's service. If the simple faithful acted in this way it would in- deed be a great evil ; because our Divine Lord ad- dressed the following words to all without exception : " Be ye holy as I am holy." " This is the will of God, your sanctification." " Be ye perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect." The disorder in question would be much less revolting in the people than in those whose life is professionally holy, such as that of religious and especially of priests. We will be enabled to avoid this rock upon which so many have been wrecked, by keeping constantly before the mind's eye the fact that, while sanctity possesses different degrees, some are bound by their station in life to possess it in a more perfect degree than others, as our Blessed Saviour very clearly inti- mates by these words : " Much will be required of him to whom much was given." ves every- ingdorn of ng defiled 3re or less 3st perfect ed by such Lte of im- 3r God, a 1, a lively rmined to L avoiding ervent to in God's ivould in- Lord ad- i:ception : 1 of God, leavenly would be se whose ?ious and n which instantly sanctity by their degree rly inti- d of him THE HOLY riUEST. 13 Is it not quite evident, by reason of the intimate relations we hold with God, through the exercise of the duties of a sacred ministry from which angels are excluded, a ministry which cliarges us with the sancti- fication of souls and secures to us graces of predilection in a profusion known to God alone — is it not evident, I say, that our sanctity ought to be greater than that ol the simple faithful who have never received such signal favors? It is in virtue of this principle, so reasonable and just, that the angels of the highest choir in Heaven are holier than those of an inferior choir, it is in virtu'i of this principle that St. Johu the Baptist, the prophet and precursor of Jesus, was pro- claimed by the Saviour to be the iioliest among the children of men. Finally, it is in virtue of this prin- ciple that Mary, through her divine maternity, is the holiest, the most perfect, and the most favored in grace, merit and glory, of all created bein 's. This is why her conception was immaculate, her life most holy, her death miraculous, and as long as God will be God, the angels and saints shall receive her as their august Queen. According to this same principle, sanctity in a super- eminent degree should be the priest's glorious append- age. For, since that sanctity is measured by the intimate relation which the dignity with which he is invested establishes between liimself and God, and sir.ce that relation is of such a nature as to identify him with our eternal Priest, Jesus Christ, and merit for him the title of an " Alter Christws,'" great ought to be the sanctity he should possess. If that sanctity should be proportioned to the dignity conferred upon him on the day of his ordination, who can comprehend it ! The human mind becomes bewildered in trying t; ! iili u THE HOLY PHIEST. to grasp it. " Grandis sacerdotnm dlgnitas /" exclaims St. Jerome. We must be satisfied with admiring it ; to attempt to explain it would be dwarfing the true notion ot it. Consider the priest in the exercise of the simplest function of his sacred ministry, examine this act with the eye of faith and you will feel your admiration aroused by its excellence. It cannot be otherwise ; for the priest in the exercise of his sacred duties has nothing in common with the vile interests of earth. He soars above them, and from the sublime elevation of the holy priesthood to which the hand of God has raised him they are forever debarred. Constantly in immediate relation with God, ' whose holy will he carries out relative to souls, the true minister of Jesus Christ, whose work he carries on, may truly say with St. Paul, in virtue of the sublime dignity con- ferred on him: *^ And 1 live, now not I; but Christ livetli in me." Man disappeared the moment I be- came a priest; from that time I live not, but Christ liveth in me. As if he would say, Jesus absorbs me, Jesus metamorphoses me; I have so often received Him in Holy Communion that He replaces my whole being. I am His eye. His arm. His hand. His foot. His flesh, His soul and His heart. " I live, now not 1 ; but Christ liveth in me. Behold this priest with the eye of faith while dis- charging his sacred duties, and you will readily under- stand that there is no exaggeration in all that has been said. Whose place does the priest hold, when by his breathings, his blessings and exorcisms he de- livers the soul of the neophyte from the slavery of Satan at the baptismal font; where, by the regen- erating waters of holy baptism, he makes it the living temple of the Holy Ghost? Is it not Jesus who >> exclaims miring it ; ? the true e siinplest s act with idmiration otherwise; duties has of earth. elevation r God has stantlv in ' will he r of Jesus truly say nity con- sul Christ ent I be- ut Christ orbs me, received ly whole His foot, now not lile dis- y under- that has when he de- very of J regen- e living lus who 3, THE HOLY PKIEST. 15 blesses by ^is hand, sanctifies by /lis breathings and finally baptizes by kis sacred ministry? Hie est qui hiiptizat in .sjnrikt saiicto. 8t. John the Baptist says : " The one upon whom you shall see the dove descending is the one who baptizes." "Peter may baptize," says St. Augustine ; " he is authorized to do so, but let him remember that it is Jesus who baptizes through \!8 agency. Paul may baptize, but let him know that it is Jesus who baptizes by h s ministry." And when that child comes to the age of reason, when his intelligence is emancipated from the cloud of infimcy, and asks for other spiritual food ; in whose name and by whose authority will the priest break the bread of life to him ? Wliose doctrine shall he plant in his heart? The word of life which his lips pro- nounce, is it his own or the Word of God ? When th.'it same child merges into manhood and comes with the assembled faithful to receive the priest's instruction as the expression of God's will in his regard, whose place does the priest hold ? in whose name does he preach the Divine Word ? Of whose voice is he the mouth- piece, if not of Him who said ? Go and reproach my people with their sins. Preach the Word in season and out of season. Go preach the Gospel to all nations. But woe to him if instead of preaching God he preaches for selfish interests! Woe to him if for such motives he betrays his sacred trust and makes a sacrilegious use of the Divine Word ! which St. Augustine com- pares to the profanation committed by the unworthy- receiver of the holy eucharist : inasmuch as Jesus would have the Divine Word held in the same esteem as His sacred body and blood ! Non minus reus erit, qui verbum Dei p&rperam audierit, quam qui corpus Ghristi in te/ram cadei'e sua 'negliyentia praesuinpserit. Non minus est verhum Dei quam corpus Christi. And when by that Divine Word a Magdalen has been moved 16 THE HOLY riUEST. i^ il » f to repentance, an arrogant Saul changed into a vessel of election, an Augustine converted, whose place will the priest hold when those trophies of Divine gractt shall come, and hathed in tears cast themselves down at his feet to obtain by his authority the par- don of their sins? Behold this man seated in the confessional, ex- changing a few words with penitents on their knees beside him, raising his hand from time to time over them, and by three words which his lips pronounce, absolves them from their sins, closes hell and opens heaven, and at each instant transforms sinners into saints ! Verily is it man or God who sits upon this tribunal of mercy ? Priests of Jesus Christ, what is it that we do in this sacred tribune 1 ? It is true that we pro- nounce a certain formula of words, but have those whom we pardoned offended us personally ? By no means; and nevertheless is it hot of the person offend- ed that pardon must be asked and obtained ? Why then do those repenting sinners come to us for pardon ? They have offended God, and they by their tears sue for pardon from a sinful man like themselves. mys- tery of incomprehensible greatness on the part of man and merciful condescension on the part of God ! Yes, priest of the living God, holding the place of Jesus Christ, exercising His ministry, acting in His name and by virtue of the Divine power with which He has invested you, you are authorized to say to each sinner with sovereign authority, Ego te ahsolvo ! And so true is it that it is God who acts through you and by you, that were a judge of this world to cite you be- fore his tribunal to extort from you the secrets con- fided to you by God's people, your unqualified reply THE HOLY PRIEST/ 17 Into a vessel whose place es of Divine t themselves ity the par- 'essional, ex- their knees :o time over s pronounce, 11 and opens sinners into this tribunal is it that we ihat we pro- ■ have those ly ? By no erson often d- ned ? Why for pardon ? ir tears sue ^es. mys- part of man iGod! he place of inoj in His with which sav to each olvo ! And h you and cite you be- ecrets con- ified reply " should be : I know nothing of the things you ask me. And why ? Because to you, not as man, but as God's representative, the people have confided the secrets of their hearts. Hence, I repeat it, you hold God's place in the discharge of your sacred duties, you are His mouthpiece to pronounce His decrees. How sublime and incomprehensible the dignity and power invested in you! a power which provoked the Jews to ask with indignation, "Who but God can forgive sins i Let the priest ascend the altar now. not to replace Jesus Christ, but to produce Him. Words fail to give expression to the greatness of the act, " Deficient Verbal If by the eye of faith we contemplate the wonders that surround us, we cannot fail to adore with fear and trembling the eternal God, whom, by the power of a few words, the priest brings down from lie iven every morning in the holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Behold the Catholic priest at the altar ! ! ! God ! what a spectacle ! The God of Heaven obeys the voice of man when he says, as if Jesus Christ Himself said: Hoc est enim co^'pus meum. A man by pronouncing those five words operates the miracle of transubstan- tiation, immolates the Son of God upon the stone of Sacrifice, holds the Court of Heaven in ecstacy, brings down torrents of grace upon earth, arrests the thunder- b)lts of God's vengeance from falling upon thousands of sinners, liberates the souls in Purgatory ; a man performs and renews these prodigies every day on which he celebrates holy Mass. And Jesus Christ never fiils to obey the authority of His word. Verily I ask is tiiis being a man ? Does he belong to the human family ? Do the angels, illumined by the light of glory, on beholding the dignity with which hu- a I[ 18 THE HOLY PRIEST. manity is honored, see in the priest only an ordinary man, the daily sacrificer of the God wlioin they adore ? ^ Instead of wasting our energies in admiring this in- comprehensible prodigy, let us put our hand on our heart, and ask ourselves, if this most exalted dignity does not require more than ordinary sanctity in those whose privilege it is to possess it ? Let us ask our- selves, if the priest thus favored is really what he ought to be when he descends — I will not say to the level of sinners — the thought makes us shudder — but to an inferior degree of christian virtue ? Can such a priest consider, without trouble and confusion, multi- tudes of the pious faithful his superiors in sanctity and christian perfection ? Does he levere and respect in himself his sacred character as the fnithful revere and respect it ? They consider him as the shadow of God. Those pious souls instructed in the school of the Holy Ghost, measure his sanctity as it ought to be measured, namely : by the sublimity of his sacred duties and the divinity of the holy priesthood. In the sacred sanctuary of our conscience, we en- dorse by anticipation the answers to those questions. The priest ascends the altar every day to immolate the divine victim and receive the body and blood of Jesus Christ. Who will dare assert that this act does not require in him who performs it an inviolable sanctity ? He enters the tribunal of penance invested with power to raise the sinner from the grave of sin and reconcile him to God, to give spiritual energy to the tepid Christian, to lead the Justin the ways of perfec- tion, to console, enlighten and direct thousands of souls in the way of salvation. Is this the work of a THE HOLY PRIEST. 19 an ordirirtry wliom they niring this in- liand on our alted dignity ctity in those t ns ask our- sally what he not say to the shudder — but ? Can such a ifusion, multi- n sanctity and md respect in ful revere and le shadow of ) school of the ought to be sacred d '.5 ties lence, we en- e questions. immolate the )lood of Jesus act does not ible sanctity ? nvested with of sin and energy to the lys of perfec- thousands of e work of a priest de^•oid of piety ? Is it not rather the work of a saint? He ascends the pulpit to preach the word of God to the multitude, to sound the divine trumpet, to ex- plain the Gospel, and render its austere doctrine ac- ceptable to his hearers, to preach the necessity of prac- ticing virtue and avoiding sin. Not being equal him- self to what he would have others be, would he lie discharging his duty as a faithful apostle, as a good and faithful servant? Can we suppose that God would be satisfied with his service? He is sent as the representative of Jesus Christ to the people, to be His minister and co-laborer, to exer- cise His sacred ministry, going like Him in search of sinners, consoling the afflicted, helping the poor, giving his life and labors for the salvation of all, becoming all to all that he migJd lead all to God. Can all this be done with a heart filled with cold indifference, a soul possessed of languid piety and ordinary sanctity ? The necessity of sanctity in the priest is self-evident ; this evidence reposes on principles so solid and pal- pable that a man, who is ever so little versed in Chris- tian perfection, can perceive at a glance why tiie priest is specially obliged to be holy. Take the untutored savage of the forest who has only the figure of man ; take him from the forest where he dwells with wild beasts ; instruct him in the truths of our holy religion sufficiently to give him an exact idea of the principle dogmas of Christianity; tell him for instance that 1,800 years ago men were so corrupt and degraded that they were unable to satisfy divine justice; that the eternal Son of God became man to save them; that He was born in a stable ; that He earned His bread by the sweat of His brow ; that He suffered a long and cruel mm I ' ;■'! I I ! M 20 THE HOLY PRIEST passion. Tell him that on the eve of His pnssion nnrl death He gave His power and nuthority to a few men who were like allDtherrnen; lie hud chosen thorn to he His successors, His ministers, in a word, to be otiifr Ghri»l8 like Himself. Headtlressed totliem these won- derful words: " As my Father has sent me I also send you; Go, preach, baptize, immolate me upon the altar; wash away sins; close the gates of Htdl ; open those of Heaven ; I leave you the keys of both places; do what you have seen me do for the salvation of souls ; be the depositories of my power ; still more, conimu- nicate it to otliers ; perpetuate the priesthooil wliich I have established so that there shall be priests upon earth till I come to judge the living and the dead; priests such as I have been during my mortal life; zealous teachers of the purest moral. Saviours of souls, wresting them from the snares of Satan, powerful me- diators between human perversity and divine sanctity." Say this and this only to the poor savage, and then ask him what man of all men ought to be the holiest the most perfect, and the most virtuous ? and doubt not that he will hesitate for a moment in saying that that man is the priest. It is not necessary to go to the Indian for an answer to our question ; we shall find it in the very heart of our holy religion. During the public life of our Blessed Redeemer He was followed by multitudes of people who heard Him, questioned Him, and admired Him ; and on witnessing His miracles lauded the sanc- tity of His doctrine, and loudly proclaimed His divinity. He loved them most tenderly, as may be seen from the works of mercy wliich he operated every day in their favor. Howevei", although all without exception were dear and very dear to Him; still He had a few intimate, privileged friends whom He hon- ored with His confidence^ and destined to be His §lo- ) ; 'is pnssion nnrl to a few men sen thorn to be [], to be other em these won- me I also send upon the ivltar; .1 ; open those jth phices; do it ion of souls ; more, coiinnu- ?stliooil which e priests upon Lud the dead ; y mortal life ; I'ioury of so\ds, , powerful nie- vine sanctity." age, and then je the holiest, IS ? and doubt n siiying that THE HOLY PRIEST 21 for an answer very heart of c life of our nudtitudes of and admired uded the sanc- oclaimed His y, as may be [)erated every all without lim ; still lie horn He hon- be His glo- rious successors in the discharge of Flis divine functions; we mean Ilis Apostles. Now we ask : Who at that time should luive had the grentest love for Jesus ? Of whom had He a right to exact the greatest devotednoss, perfection and zeal? Is it not evident that it ,'. as from His Apostles and Disciples? Is it not because of our profound convic- tion of this truth that we have conceived so much horror for i\\v crime of Judas and the denial of Peter? We detest, indeed, tlie deicide of the Jews, but we detest a hunrlred times more the abominable trjason oi' the perfidious Iscariot. The great disparit^y between his title of Apostle and that of traitor, merited by his crime, fills the heart with indicrnation. The thoui'ht •o just and true, that his heart should have burned with love instead of venom for Jesus, that he should have been as holy as he proved to be infamous, so far absorbs the mind that we know not how to give ex- pression to the horror which his act evokes. As an Apostle, he ought to have loved Jesus most ardently, and he delivered Him into the hands of His murder- ers ; as an Apostle, he ought to have labored for the salvation of souls, and he plunged his own soul into hell ; as an Apostle, he ought t6 have edified the world, and he became its scandal and execration. This line of conduct so shocking and revolting begets in the christian soul a feeling of anguish which she is unable to control. But whence does this irresistible sentiment arise, if not from that rigorous principle of justice which points out, that the closer our union is with God the greater ought to be our fidelity to serve Him? The truths, already adduced to prove the necessity of sanctity in the priest, are energetically corroborated i««i 22 THE HOLY PRIEST. Il ) ; ■:'i III i ' I !i by our divine Saviour iVi these words *' Cui Dtidiinn (hitvm est, multum qiiacrctur ah cor And who receives more grace thiui the priest? Who cnu compute the torrents of benedictions and heavenly i'avors henpcd upon him the day of his ordination, if he is duly dis- posed ? God never refuses to bless a good and duly autlior- ized vocation to any profession whatever, })rovided the subject be duly disposed ; and the graces that God will melu out to him will be proportioned to the iniport- auce of the state of life which he has embraced, tliHt he may be enabled to discharge in a worthy manner all the duties thereof. xVccording to this principle, which no one will gain- say, how many and liow great must be the graces granted tlie young priest, who, lecble and inex- perienced, scales the mountjiin of the Lord, honored with his confidence and the execution ol his grentest designs, the sacrilicer of his divine Son, a constant mediator between hea\'en and earth, obliged by his office to labor ardently, not only for his own salvation, but also for that of those confided to his care ! Will he not receive in their fullest plentitude the graces that he needs both for himself and for hisbreth- ern, provided he place no obstacle in the way ? Who can duly realize or comprehend the magnifi- cence of the spiritual gifts with which the soul of this young man is adorned at that miOment, when it can be truly said of him: — Tn cs sacerdos in oetcrimml There transpires at that moment ineflable mysteries which God alone knows, but which are often revealed in the young priest, first by a holy dread, then by sighs and tears, and finally by eminent acts of virtue and sanctity. Yes, when he is truly called, when he '* Cm iniiliinii who iH'Coives compute the avors he!i])C'(l le is duly dis- clulv authoi- ver, ))iovi(le(l aces that God to the import- as embraced, in a worthy 311 e will gain- g races e the le and in ex- Lord, honored >1 his greatest I), a constant bliged by his wn salvation, to his care ! lentitude the for liisbreth- way ? the magnifi- soul of this len it can be oitenmm ? le mysteries ten revealed !ad, then by lets of virtue ed, when he THE HOLY riUEST. 23 ?i faithfully corresponds to his vocation, when he takes God for his portion and renounces forever the vain pleasures of the world, the blood of Jesus Christ, which he drinks every day, will fill his soul with tor- rents of divine grpce, lighting up in him that lively active faith which operates prodigies. Those virtues which edify and attract, that charity which wins the atfections of all, those transports of ze il which touch the hearts of the most obdurate sinners! Behold some of the fruits of those divine graces, when they fall into a sacerdotal heart well disposed to receive tv )m ! And for those graces so precious and so numerous, graces reserved for the priest only, will he not have to render a strict account to God who gave them for a very marked purpose, namely : for his own sanctifi- cation and the sanctification of those committed to his care ? And will God suffer those graces of predilec- tion to remain sterile — graces, each one of which is the price of the blood of His divine Son ? . Will God dis- pense him from acquiring that sanctity which his sacer- dotal character calls for, and accept an ordinary sanctity common with the simple faithful, in return for his great and glorious gifts ? No; assuredly that can- not be ; for that would be introducing an order which implies the negation of the sovereign justice of Him who has said : '* Cat multam tlatam est, mulfiim quaeretur ah eo." But even if God did not make the acquisition of I this sanctity obligatory in the spiritual interest of the priest himself, and even if the priest did not suffer any risk thereby, it is absolutely certain that he is bound to acquire it, in order to discharge the essential obligation that he has contracted on becoming a priest, namely: to labor incessantly for the salvation of souls. !■ U THE HOLY PEIESt. i! I ; II The priest is a saviour of sonls ; behold his title ! All hi'^ thoughts, words and actions ought to be engag- ed in procuring God's honor and glory, and the salva- tion oF souls ; behold the nature of his obligations, the rhities nf his profession ; behold the fuiidamental point upon wliich will lie biised thnt interrogatory to which lie must Miiswer, when standing at the feet of the Sovereign Judge, from whose lii)s he will lieur thos(! formidable words : '' JRedcJe rationem vUiicationis tuaty It is established bej^ond all doubt, that the priest is rigorously obliged to labor for the salvation of sonls; but how shall he be able to fulfil this obligation if he is not a holy priest? If he is lax and tepid in the work of his own salvation, what zeal can he have for that of others ? what will engage him to go in search of the lost sheep, and, like the Good Shepherd, bring him on his own shoulders back to the fold? If his own piety has grown cold, how can he impart any fer- vor to that of the faithful? If he recoils before tri- vial difficulties in the work of his own salvation, how can he make anv sacrifice for that of his brethren ? The saints never fail to draw whole multitudes after them in the way of salvation ; why ? because they are saints themselves and are able of their abundance to share with others. But for the priest who is devoid of sanctity, w^hat can he give ? nothing, save of the abundance of his spiritual poverty. The high esteem in which sacerdotal sanctity is held by worldings who cannot suffer its absence in the priest, make it an imperative duty for him to be up to the standard of his vocation. Those men, while lead- ing scandalous lives, submerged in the sink of iniquity, strangers to every act of religion, behold the saint in the priest. To their mind the one cannot be separated from the other j and they can conceive no other idea I 1 THE HOLY PRIEST. 25 ihold his title ! lit to be engag- aiid the salva- 3bligations, the dameiital point itorv to which :lie feet ot* the will lie:ir those icatlonls tuae.^^ Fit the priest is jtion of souls; )ligation if he d tepid in the n he have for o go in search lepherd, bring fold? If his mpartany fer- )ils before tri- lalvation, how his brethren ? Ititudes after luse they are abundance to \n\\o is devoid , save of the )f a priest devoid of sanctity than a horrible mon- Istrosity. Hence, all his efforts to reclaim them to God Iwill remain sterile and fruitless, unless his sanctity Ibe up to the standard of his sacerdotal character. lOtherwise they will treat him with such disdain and jonterapt as hypocrisy usually meets with. The holy priest is respected and revered by the jmost dissolute. The libertine who has no placo in Ihis heart for virtue, and no word to say in its favor, [will not fail to give expression to his feelings of grati- tude and praise for tlie holy priest. Tlie most en- venomed tongue lauds his virtues, his mildness, modesty, simplicity and disinterestedness, his life of retreat and study. His virtuous life conciliates the esteem of all. The good and evil alike will say : Be- hold a true priest! behold a holy priest! one who realizes the sublimity and perfection of his divine ministry ! CHAPTER IF. THE SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED : OTHER PROOFS OF THE NECESSITY OF SACERDOTAL SANCTITY. mctity isheld ence in the n to be up to , while lead- i of iniquity, the saint in be separated 10 other idea In presence of the preceding grave and numerous considerations, need we be surprised to see the highest authority insist most energetically on the necessity of sacerdotal sanctity? If the Old Testament is replete with passages insisting on the highestorder of sanctity for its priesthood, what shall we say of the perfection that the priesthood of Jesus Christ demands, —a priest- hood of which the former is but the figure? iii ll III I I f i \ i\ 26 TIIK HOLY PRIEST. The Holy Ghost, speaking by the mouth of the apostle of the Gentiles, says ; — Since the priest is the dispenser of God's gifts, his life should be irreproach- able. Hence, he recommends that priests must not be subject to pride, anger, sensuality, or avarice ; on the contrary, they must be mild, affable, sober, just and holy. He obliges the priest to edify the faithful by word and example. He repeats, in terms still more energetic; — Man of God ! shun what God detests ; and practice justice, piety, faith, charity, patience, mildness. Let us not deceive ourselves by supposing that after all he gives us nothing more here than divine coun- sels; this is a fatal illusion. These are not the words of the apostle exhorting us. Tliey are the words of the Divine Master commandins; us: "T chars-e thee before God, who quickeneth jdl things, and before Christ Jesus, who gave testimony under Pontius Pilate, a good confession, that thou keep the commandment without spot, blameless, unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." When the Holy Ghost addresses us in terms like these, how can we venture to presume that we are priests according to God's heart, if we serve Him with tepidity and indifference ? Should we consult the Fathers and Doctors of the Church on the necessity of sacerdotal sanctity, we shall find them to be its strongest and most energetic ex- ponents. Volumes would not contain all that they have said in its favor ; and to select the best of their sayings on the subject is a most difficult task, since they were at all times equally eloquent when they spoke or wrote on it. St. Ambrose calls it a God-like profession — "i>e/^'ca ^ro/edsio.'' He adds that it is iuiinitely superior to all THE HOLY PRIEST. 27 mouth of the he priest is the I be irrenroach- •iests must not y, or avarice ; , affable, sober, riest to edify He repeats, in od ! shun what , faith, charity, osing that after m divine coun- } not the words 3 the words of T charge thee 2,s, and before Pontius Pilate, commandment g of our Lord ddresses us in presume that , if we serve •octors of the Ictity, we shall lenergetic ex- [hat they have their sayings ce they were )oke or wrote ion — ^'Deifica uperior to all \ie greatness of this world — *' Nihil excelJoHiiis in hoe fvculoy He holds it superior not only to the rank of [ings, but also to that of angels — " Pmetullt vos sac€r- Jotes regihus et imperatoribusj i)raetulit vos angelis." St. Gregory and St. Thon:as affirm that the angels Generate the holy priesthood — " Saccrdofmm Ipsi moqiie angell certerantury St. Ligori remarks that all [he angels of heaven united together could not absolve |he sinner from one single sin. St. Augustine, contemplating the dignity of the )riest at the altar, exclaims — " voierahiUs sanctititdo nauuum ! feVix cxercitium ! Qui creavit me sine me., )se creavit se medlante me'' Pope Innocent III., considering the immense powers )f the priest, says : " Licet heatinsi uia virgo excellentior hilt Apostolis, non tanien illi, sed istis Dominiis claves •egni co'Joi'iim commisit.'^ And St. Bernardine, so re- lowned for his tender piety toward the mother of God, says : " Virgo henedicta, excnsa me, quia non loquor contra ie, sacerdotlum prcetidit si(/per te^ While our Fathers in the faith dwell in glowing terms on the greatness of our august minist'^y, they )oint out in the same breath the necessity of sjinctity in the priest, and a sanctity that is pre-eminently )erfect. "Yes," says St. Ambrose, "the sanctity of the priest ought to be fir superior to that of the simple taitliful ; in poiiit of sanctity the priest should have lothing in common with the multitude." " Niliil in mrerdofe cominwie ciun midtitudine. Vita sacerdotls noiponderare debet, sicut prceponderat gratia^ I \\l' ," il il ll 2d THE HOLY I'lilEST. St. Chrysostom , after having placed the priest above the whole court of celestial spirits, adds these memorable v^^on's which we should constantly medi- tate : ** Nonne accedentem ad altare sacerdotem, sic pumm esse oportet ac'si in ipsls c.cdis coUocafus, inter coelestes illas virtutes medius staret ? Quoero ex te, quorum ilium (sacerdotem) in or dine collocablmus ? quantam vera integrifatem ah eo exigemus? quaidam reVujioiiein] Go7i- sidera eiiim, quales manua hoe,c admimstrardis esse opor- teat, qualem Unguam quce verba ilia cjfundat ! quo solari radio non pnriorem esse oportet iiianum carnem Ghrlstl dimderdtm ? Unguam quoe tremendo nunls sanguine ru- hescit ? '' In another place he says; '•'• Socerdos debet habere vltani immaculatam, id omnes in Ulum, vclutl in aliquod exemplar excellens, intueantur. Idclrco '}ios elegit J)eus ut simus quasi luminaria et nmgistri cuiterorum, ac velut angeli versemur in terris." What share can tepidity have in the life ot the priest who meditates the above passage and directs his actions according to its spirit ? St. Augustine positively declares that every one who becomes a priest pledges himself thereby to lead a holy life : ^^Glericus duo professus est : sanctitatem et clericatum." St. Gregory has the following passage in his pastoral which should be the priest's vade mecuni: "Necesse est ut sacerdos, moriuus omnibus passionibus, vivat vita dicind.'* ''Magna dignitas sacerdotum^^ says St. Lawrence Justinian, ''sed magnum est pondus. In alto gradu positi, oportet quoque ut in virtutuni vulmine sint erectly THE HOLY PRIEST. 29 St. Thomas, the angel of the school, speaking from la theological standpoint, says : Priests should not onlv Ibe virtuous but perfect in virtue. ^^Perfecti in vlrinfe lesse deheni." Desiring to be more explicit he continues : Y^ Or dines sacriiirceexigimt snnctltatem; unde pondns ordl- hium imponetfdum parietihuH jam per sfDictifdfcin deslc- U'afis, id est, (df hnmore citloruin." ConsidtM- well the two reasons from which he draws his conclusion. Firstly, since the priest is superior to the laity in dignity he ought to be superior to them in virtue. " J.(/ idoneam Uxecutionem ordiniun non sufficit bonitas qualtscom- jQUE, SED REQUIRITUR BONITAS EXCELLENS, id sicut UU \qni ordlnem 8uscipiunt, super plehem constihmntur gradii \ordinis, itci et superiores sint merito sanctltatls.^' Second- ly, since the priest receives in holy Orders the power to consecrate the body and blood of Jesus Christ, he ought to be possessed of a greater sanctity than that requiied m the religious state. " Quia per sacrum ORDINEM ALIQUIS DEPUTATUR AD DIGNISSIMA MINISTERIA, QUIBUS IPSI CiiRiSTO servltiir In sarrainento alfaris, ad qitod requiritur major sanctitas interior quam re- QUIRAT ETIAM RELIGIONIS STATUS." Thus it is clearly manifest that all the Fathers and Doctors of the Church are unanimous iu their declara- tions as to what the sanctity of the priest ought to be, by reason of the sublime functions of his holy state. Their authority cannot be questioned, while their doc- trine on the matter is corroborated by the highest authority on earth, the authority of God's Church. She has always urgently insisted in her Councils and Canons on the neceasity of sacerdotal s(i)ictlty. She has never ceased to manifest her great solicitude for the sanctity of her priests, for the acquisition and preser- vation of which she has furnished them with rules and imposed strict obligations. The Fourth Council of 30 THE HOLY PRIEST- Carthage says : ^^Quiaancti non sunt, sancta tract are 71071 ileheiitr ^^Eam V08 virtutem indidte,'' says the Fourth Council of Milan, ^'nt lideant alii, qwisi lumen nliquod, vestram aandltafein ehicere. Qiue si mat/ad In allis vifm Chris- tianae iNstifHfis reqnirifw, certe in vohis, qui ni//sferiornni Dei ininiiiiri dioinwque (jrathte dispenMitores estis, major inesfic debet.. '^ • : I . t ■■ , i The Holy Council of Trent says : " Monennt EjuHcopi SHOs clericos in qiiocAinqne or dine faerint, ut conversa- tio)ie,serinone, scientid, Dei popalo prmeant, inemores ejns quod scripttiin est: Sancti estote, quia, ego sajictus sttni* And in order to leave no misgivings as to whether the priest is wnly required to avoid mortal sin, the Holy Council adds the following words: '^ Lcvia etiarn de- liata, qme hi ipsis laaxirna essent, effiujiant sacerdotes.^^ " Dece'j omnino," says the same holy council, " deri- cofiiii sortein Domini vocatos, vita/n moresqtie coniponere, ut hahitit, (jestit, incessa, sermone aliisque omnihas rebus, nil 7iisi grave, uioderatum ac reli(jio)ie plenum prae se erauf. And again, relative to the celebration of holy mass, this council says : '* Necessarium fatemur, nidlum aliud opus adeo sanctum et divinum tractari posse quam hoc tremendum mijsterium. Satis apparet omnem operant in eo esse ponendani, ut quanta niaxinie fieri potest, inter iori cordis munditia peragatur.'' Hence, it is evident that there is no exaggeration in all the sayings of tlie holy doctors and great theologians concerning the sanctity required in the priest ; since they are sanctioned by the authority of tlie Church, expressed not only in desire by her canons and coun- eta TRACTARE urth Council juod, vestram vltcn Chris- mf/sferlornm s pMIs^ major eant Eplscopl ut conversa- we mores ejus scmcttf,s stiiti' wlietlicr the 11, the Holy )kt etlam de- %cer dotes r incil, " deri- e compoif.ere^ nihus rehusj *iHm prne se holy mass, idhim a/lud se qtiam hoc iperam in eo st, iuteriori jgeration in theologians iest ; since he Church, ! and coun- THE HOLY PPJEST. 31 oils, but also by her acts, deeming no efforts too arduous in order to insure to her clergy a sanctity equal to their sublime vocation. Why has she separated them from the muss of the faithful, and given them a special rule of life? It is because, seeing in them the heads of the flock of Jesus Christ, she would have their sanctity suWi me like their position, and consequently superior to that of their people. Zealously laboring for their sanctification from the very beginning of their clericature, on giving them holy tonsure, and thereby a right to dwell in her sanc- tuary, she demands of them a formal renunciation of the vain pleasures and foolish joys of this world, that, their hearts being free from all earthly attachment, they can truly say : '^ Dominas pars Jiaereditaiis nieae et calicis meir Why does she impose on them with such inflexible firmness the law of celibacy, which is the glory of the Catholic priest; and wins for him the love and esteem of all, even of the most degenerate among savage na- tions ? Why is this law if not to remind the priest that carnal satisfixctions can have no share in his spir- itual life and divine vocation ; that the sacrament of marriage, holy as it is, is not holy enough for him ; that the corporal part of his being is in some way spir- itualized, since it is the living tabernacle of Jesus Christ who cannot suffer in it even the appearance of sin ? Why has the Church commanded her clergy to wear a dress different from that of lay people? Why has she condescended to determine even its color and form? Why has she sometimes threatened to punish with canonical censure those who, without sufficient reason, appear in public without it? Why all this, if hot be I 1 .1 I' 32 THE HOLY PRIEST. cause, this dross, unlike all others, being in some way a special siuii of our sanctity, may serve as a con- stant monitoi', pointing out to us by its color that we are dead to tlio world and ourselves ; and by its form that we should be the constant exponents of the modesty of our Divine Master before His people? " Modeslia vestra iiota sit oninihuH hoinmibiis.'' Yes, moHt assuredly this holy garment is, in the intentions of holy Mother Church, the ensign of the sanctity of him who wears it. Why has she established those venerable institutio a which are called seminaries, and which are sacerdotal nurseries ? Wliy, after having founded them does she sustain and encourage them with so much zeal and so- licitude, and oblige all aspirants to the holy priest- hood to pass three entire years within their sacred walls ? Because she considers them as the schools of Jesus Christ; and she would have them learn from the Divine Master the virtue and science which they should possess, in order to fulfill their obligations to- wards God and His people. The Church does not establish seminaries for other professions su(;h as medicine, law, and other liberal pursuits. No. The students of these branches seek and obtain a knowhdjxe of their science in the midst of the most populous cities. Ordinary means satisfy the children of the worhl who aspire to nothing liigher than the ordinary sanctity in life. But when there is question of the formation of a priest the scene changes Tlie importance of the work calls lor important means. The Church founds special houses; she gives them priests renowned for their virtue and science. Piety, recollection and regularity 'rei^^n and flourish within their precincts. Here she THE HOLY PRIEST. 33 moulds her young levites in sacerdotal virtue and science, and disposes them to receive worthily the dif- ferent orders which raise them hy degrees to the holy priesthood. Does not all this [)reach most eloquently the neces- sity of sacerdotal sanctity in tlio priest? Are not all tliose means of sanctification like so many mouths by which holy Mother Church incessantly exclaims : " Be ye holy !" '' Efitote sancil P^ Be purilied more and more, you who seek the honor of carrying, not only the vases of the Lord, but the Lord himself: ^' Miuidaniiai qidfertis casa Do)nini?'* well indeed did the saints comprehend the true meaning of those sacred truths, when, appalled by tho sublime grandeur of the holy priesthood, and tlie super-eminent holiness which it requires, they recoiled with a sacred dread before its heavy responsibility ! Among them we count men renowned for their sanctity and science ; men who have been the light and honor of the Church ; the Cyprians, Athanasius', Martins, Gregories, Chrysostoms, Ful- gences, who, when there was question of elevating them to the lioly priesthood, concealed themselves, that some other one, more worthy in their estimation, might be chosen for that dignity. How edifying it is to see an Alexander, an Anatolius, an Augustine, and many others consecrated, so to speak, in spite of themselves. " You have done me violence," ex- claimed the illustrious Bishop of Hippo : " Vis tnlld facta est merito peccaiorani meorumr This holy fear was so great with some that they committed excesses truly prodigious. We see St. Ephrem feign insanity ; an Ambrose endeavor to* blacken his own reputation j an Ammonius cut off his 3 I !i ' 1. 84 THE HOLY PEIEST. own ears, and threaten to cut out his tongue, should the people persist in havinp^ him raised to the priesthood. I have not found a single saint, writes Cyril of Alex- andria, who has not recoiled before the heavy respon- sibility of the sacred ministry. ^^Onwcn sanctos reperio, divini mhmtcrii Ingcntcm vcliitl molonformidantea.'^ Some may suppose that those sentiments prevailed only during the early days of Christianity, when faith was as lively as morals were pure. Such, however, is not the case. For saints ot every age and clime have always regarded with reverential awe the sub- lime dij^nity of the holy in-iesthood, on account of the great perfection it requires in those who receive it. According to the pious Abelly, St. Vincent de Paul was penetrated with such profound sentiments of es- teem for the excellency and sanctity of the sacerdotal character, and the indispensable obligation, which it imposes upon those who receive it, to lead a pure, holy and angelical life, that he said of himself: '^ If I were not a priest, I would never consent to become one, for I am most unworthy." If we offer no further comment on this all important subject, it is not because it is now exhausted. How- ever, we feel that what has been already said, cannot fail to make a salutary impression upon our pious readers. We fancy that, if they are already saints, they will labor arduously to attain to a more perfect degree of sanctity ; and if, unfortunately, there are some who are far from possessing the sanctity required by their sacred vocation, they will deeply deplore the past, and henceforward lead a life truly worthy of their holy profession. Under the eye of God, and in the light of our own conscience, let us put the following questions to our- THE HOLY rPJEST. 36 selves : — Am I a priest according to the heart of Jesus Christ, when T todtlle rehictantly and languidly over the paths of sacerdotal virtue, instojul of walkiuo: gen- erously and manfully in the acc()ini)lishment of all my priestly ■ L 52 THE HOLY PEIEST. I\^ They enshrine their life in their defects, which dwell in their hearts like importunate hosts, which they con- sider less painful to suffer than to expel. Here they breed dissipation, levity, raillery, vivacity, suscepti- bility, idleness, immortification, negligence and tepidity in the service of God. They possess a zeal that scarcely merits the name, and which is chiefly sustained by ordinary v orks, and is never found in those great enterprises and pious industries, so well known to the holy priest. Of course they do not say that they are holy priests ; but they do say that they can save their souls without doing more. But when the last hour comes, when men see things in their true light, with- out disguise, their peace proves to be what their lives were — false ; and now it recedes to give place to trouble and regret. Behold the state of priests here in question, as far as we are able to express it ! priests who rarely correct their defects, who seldom or never fortify their virtues, who labor not to acquire sacer- dotal sanctity, the necessity of which St. Thomas energetically points out, when he says that "priests should be not only virtuous, but perfect in virtue;" add- ing that "theirs should be an excellent piety, a piety more perfect than that required for the religious state." L it us appeal to experience once more. Where are those priests who were known to have such and such defects the first or second year of their sacerdotal life ? Have they, by repeated efforts, succeeded in removing them? If to-day we find them the slaves of levity, dissipation, idleness, and raillery, devoid of taste or love for piety, shall we find them, after the lapse of ten years, grave, recollected, studious, charitable, and full of fervor for their spiritual exercises ? Consider what is daily transpiring around us, and see if we are often edified b^ such reforms ? that these reflections ma tar; wh be ope im trt THE HOLY PRIES i. 53 m 7 i- y 7 t e e pr r may sink deeply in our hearts, and fill us with a salu- tary dread for the reforms that we expect from a future, which for some may never come, and for others will be very short ! " Gum metu et tremore vestram salutem operamini." Future ! subject of fatal illusions! true image of the deceitful mirage, which leads the unwary traveller into abysses which it conceals from his view ! Dearest brethren, be not victimsof this fatal siren ! Re- member that each day, passed without si combat, fortifies our defects and weakens our virtue ; while by our resis- tance to God's appeals, we diminish the number of graces which He would grant us, and we enervate our will. We should bear in mind that later on, we will be un- able to accomplish with limited graces and an enervated will, what we have not the courage to do now under more favorable circumstances. Remember that the priest's zeal is in perfect keeping with his sanctity, and that, consequently, the salvation of many souls may depend on the perfection which we defer from day to day. In conclusion, we should never count on the morrow to reform. This very day, just now, is the time to begin. " Dixi, nunc cepi.^' A writer, dolefully cele- brated, spoke truly when he said : " It is time enough. you say, to begin to-mori'ow. Folly! This time, which you abuse, digs your grave, and to-morrow J brings eternity !" m >, Ir' insriDEsc. \ '^ PAGE Pkeface V Part First. Necessity of Sacordotul Sanctity. — Can we say that we possesed it in the past ? — Do we possess it at the present time ? — What are our intentions relative to it henceforward ? 9 Chapter I. — Special Necessity of Sanctity in the Priest. — Proofs of this necessity 10 Chapter II. — The same subject continued. — Other proofs of the necessity of Sacerdotal Sanctity 25 Chapter III.— Eelative to Sacerdotal Sanctity.— What have we been in the past ? — What are we at present ? — What do we propose to be henceforward ? 36