The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1877-07-15
MsrnIng Star and Catholic Messenger.
u NV oRI.EAEs. sUNDAY. JULY Is 1871
TIE INFLUENCE OF THE CATHOLIC
PRIESTHOOD.
CNsw York Catholic Review,


(Nsw York Catholic Review.)
In one of his best known sermons Dr.
Newman dwells with all the force and per
spicuity for which he lie famed, on the fact
40 apt to be forgotten that men and no
angels are the ministers of the Gospel
That Ia to say, Catholics are, in one sense
apt to expect too much of priests, to forge
that they are human, and to be 1nDeces
sarily shocked and scRpdalized &C occa
si0nsl little shortcomings, which in Other
men they would fnd perfectly natural and
4 scarcely count as faults. What in lay man
Ia often regarded as an amia6le weakness
In priest is looked upon as little short o.
~ crime.
This feeling on the part of the laity
towards the clergy is very natural and ct }
of explapation. Bey ond all possible ques
ton the character and Office and dignity OF
\ the priesthood cannot be set too high.
There is nothing higher than,- nothing
really 80 high as, the priesthood in this
world. The priest is the offerer of the
Divine Sacrifice, the minister of the sacra
ments which give grace to the soul and
strengthen 1t he is the mediator between
God and His people, as Moses was; 10 is
the direct and immediate Representative Oh
earth of our Lord Jesus Christ, the pastor
OF eouls, and~h bis person, character, and
office are sacred. So that, taking into con-
sideratfon the awfuluess, tic sublimity Of
his great office, the nearness with which be,
of necessity, stands TO Christ. it is not too
much to say that if every priest ia not a
saint, he ought to be.
Still, we must bear in mind that in
another and the ordinary sense, the priest
is human like ourselves, made Of flesh and
blood, subject to all the ills and tempta-
tions to which flesh is heir. He is not
lifted mp on a height and set apart from
among the people, his head and heart
serene in the height of heaven, living on
day by day in passionless calm-a sort
of mysterious antomaton appointed to
perform certain offices for mau. No; he
is something far different. He is q man of
men, whose life, if it he true to his voca
ton, is O living sacrifice. Sharing to the
full all the passions, troubles, trials, temp
tations of men, he takes them, groups
them together, and makes of them an altar
whereon he lays himself out as sacrifice
to be consumed before his Gcd by the fire
of suffering and penitence, and prayer.
This is not at all fancy sketch it is
the true paiest, but most ipadequately ex
pressed. The man who lives this life
and, heaven be praised there are thou
sands who do live it's theoferos, man
who bears God about in him. The light
of God shines in his face the peace of
God is set as heavenly seal on his heart
the charity of God lives in him and makes
holy all round about him. Men are never
deceived in him. However lowly, how
ever degraded, however proud they inva-
riably recognize the finger of God, and
most easily when it is visible in the crown
and glory of Gods work here on earth
man.
It is men such as these who move the
world, more than the greatest of captains
or of statesmen. Their lives make the
Earth holy, and are in themselves the most
sxonderfnl testimony to the reality of the
divine Creator. And when to this good
ness is joined the highest culture, a pro.
found knowledge of the science of God,
deepened, strengthened, and widened by
constant prayer and meditation, the world
sees, indeed, and readily recognizes, a per-
feet man.
We talk much and hope much about the
conversion of this great country to the
Catholic faith. Judging humanity, it is
certainly work within accomplishment;
for the United States, instead of having re
iected the word of God, has received it
and allowed it free scope and
Exercise. There is, however, much stony
ground to be broken up, many thorns and
brieTs in the way. The Church here was
planted by martyrs and so claimed for
christ. 1t must be won by saints, by
baintly lives; and where are we to find
baints if not among the clergy? chaste
priesthood, chaste people. Sanctity is
Eympatby with the people the second |
When a man is holy, learned, cultivated, |
and alive to the movements of the time, the |
aspirations of the people round him aud |
heir needs, he will need no trumpeting to
announce him to the world, his work viii |
make itself felt perforce; people will look |
TO him as their natul al guide, and he will |
go out of life and up to heaven, leaving |
behind him rich Legacy to the Church, |
the country, and to aftertime.
An amusing instance was told a Haup.
ton, Va, correspondent, of tie quick |
wittedness of negro preacher, who had |