The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-10-26


EVERY PRIEST RECEIVES
at his ordination. Before God, what
ever his position in the church, the peo-
pies spiritual wants are entrusted to
his charge. AS a minister of Christ,
the priest becomes in a special man.
ner a member of his family and must
cooperate with him in the salvation
of souls, and thereby be instrumental
in making his passion and death eff
cacious. Through the sacrifice of the
mass, which he offers daily, and the
canenical prayers enjoined by the
church as a public duty, he appeases
the anger of God and moves him to
compassion for the lost sheep.
His commission does not end here.
Not only is the priest the steward of
the mysteries of Cod but he is an
thorized to reconcile men with God,
that he might be Precipitation for
the sins of the people, as St Paul
expresses it. Before the close of this
solemn ceremony the ordinary seated
in his chair imposes hands on the
newly ordained and gives him that
power which was first exercised by
Christ himself, and secondly by his
/ apostles, whom he commissioned to act
in his name, and empowered and au-
thorized to transmit the same to their
successors in the ministry. The words
used by the bishop are the words of
Christ: Receive the holy ghost; whose
sins you shall forgive they are for
j given, whose sins you shall retain they
are retained" What a combination of
powers, of dignity and of high and
noble offices.
The judge, who is the interpreter of
! the law, and to whom is confded the
administration of justice, is held in
| the highest rank among the digni-
| taries of the land. Their selection from
| the brother members of the law is
because they are presumed to be of an
unimpeachable character and above
all bias and corrupt influence. Their
probity and integrity are commensu-
rate with their high official calling. Yet
their duties are simply to decide be-
tween man and man, to interpret the
law and decide in favor of the right
full owner. Their highest duties and
the ones to which the greatest respon-
sibility is attached. consist in declar-
ing persons charged with grave crimes,
innocent or guilty, entitled to the
rights OF. freemen or only fit subjects
for a prison cell. If for all this they
are so highly and justly honored in
the community, how shall we measure
the
DIGNITY AND HONOR
due to the Christian priesthood? For
as the civil judge sitting on the bench
interprets the law, SO does the priest
in the tribunal of confession sit in
judgment as the minister of Jesus
Christ. The words of absolution fall
ing from his lips reach the throne of
mercy, and through his words heaven.
so to speak, opens and shuts its doors;
for whatever he forgives in earth is
forgiven in heaven, and whatever he
retains on earth is retained in heaven"
Here are the words of every priest in
that tribunal: May the Lord Jesus
Christ absolve you, and l, by his au-
thority, do absolve you" Only by
virtue of the commission from Jesus
Christ, and which has come down the
stream of time for 10 centuries. does
he act. In that capacity he will re-
prove. correct and instruct the erring
child who has strayed away from his
fathers house, and by all the gentle
means at his command lead him back,
like the prodigal son, to a life of vir-
tue and honesty.
THE TRUE PRIEST
is the lamp in the house of the Lord,
elevated above the darkness that en-
shrouds the world. He lifts up those
lettering steps of those who are weak
and frail. His prayers, like those of
Moses and aaron, are replete with
abundance Of graces and blessings; for
he by virtue of his vows, title and
authority, prays not as a private in
dividual, but as public minister, es-
tablished for men in spiritual matters.
He speaks in the name of the whole
church, and because of his sacerdotal
VOWS and priestly character, he speaks
in the name of Jesus Christ appearing
before the altar, clothed with the same
titles and rights.
Such are the power. dignity. author
ity and excellence of the Christian
priesthood with which the young can
didate has been this day invested.
Henceforth he will be a cO-operatOr of
our Lord in the salvation of souls
through the administration of the sac
rament and preaching the divine word !
BY the authority of the church he re-
ceives today from the ordinary of this |
diocese his credentials to teach, bap-
tie, offer the one oblation and recon- |
Gle sinners with God in the tribunal |
of confession; assist the dying in their !
journey to eternity by the sacrament |
of extreme JUNCTION and unite in mar
riaga the faithful entrusted to his spir-
itual charge. For all these high and |
noble offices and power and dignity |
with which he is now vested, in the |
name of his lordship and the Catholics |
of Salt Lake, congratulate the young |
priest and salute him for the first |
time with that endearing term which |
helps to cement the union between the |
true priest and people and merit their
reverence and love-Father Casey.
Taken from among men. he is or
dained for men in the things that ap
pertain to God" May his labors in the |
be full of blessings for himself
and the people; may the spirit of truth
guide and direct him in all things,
and may his zeal and devotion, hui
mility and charity win for him the good
viii Of his people and the favor of
heaven.
THE NEW PRIEST.
Peter Casey was born in the County
Ireland in 1869, and be-
gan his studies in Maynooth uniyer-
sity. In 1895, through i'll health, he
was forced to abandon study AMI
sought America il the hope of regain
ing health. N IT receiving much BEN
eft in the eastern states he came to
Denver about six months ago. and the
emit that he decided to make the west
his future home. Having obtained ex-
eat from the bishop of his native do
eese, he now becomes affiliated with
the diocese of Cheyenne and will re-
ceive as his first charge the parish of
Evanston, Wyo.
MUSIC AND FLOWERS.
When one considers that the season
Of roses is past, the high altar and