The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1916-08-26

mistake of non-C Catholics consists in
interpreting st. Paul's words as if
they excluded any other mediator.
We know from holy scripture that
God graciously accepted the media
ton both of men and angels, and
st. Paul himself calls Moses a media
tor" Galatians ii:19-20).s Il stood be-
tween the Lord and you," says Moses
in Deut. v:2-5. And God Himself
speaks as if He could not act without
this intercession-as if it were really
necessary condition for the bestowal
of His graces: Il sought among
them for a man. he says, that might
stand in the gap before me, in favor
of the land, that | might not destroy
it, and | found none" czech.
xxi: 800 IF there be an angel to
mediate for him, then God is gracious
to him and says: Loose him from
going down to the pit: l have found
ransom" Job XXXiii:23.)
We clearly see from these passages
of holy scripture that God is pleased
to accept the mediation of men, to
say nothing of that of angels. This
being so, what must we think of the
power and efficacy of the mediation
of the priest in his official, sacerdotal
capacity, whose dignity and power, as
| such, are greater than that of angels!
He is indeed, as Tertullian calls him,
another Christi" his dignity is such
that, according to st. Bonaventure,
the gentle st. Francis said: Were
| | to meet an angel and a priest to-
gether, l would honor the priest in
preference to the angel" And the
great Cardinal Newman speaking of
| the earthly life of the blessed mother
| of God after the ascension, says
"She did but humbly seek her Son in
their (the priestsO daily Mass, who
though her ministers in heaven were
her superiors in the Church on earth.
When the priest prays for the people,
and when he offers up the holy
sacrifice of the Mass he acts as
Christ. He acts in the name and by
the delegation of Christ He does not
| t'NJ ITO 10 l1C bONy vi AIll loCJ
or This is the blood of Christ" but
This is My body, this is My blood"
We read in history that the Portu-
guese admiral, Albuquerque, was,
with his vessel, in a fearful storm
that threatened every moment to over.
whelm them. Falling on his knees
he seized an infant, and holding it
| up to the angry clouds, he cried 20
God, Almighty Father, save us for
the sake of this innocent babe" His
| prayer was instantly granted With
how much more clemency does not
God hearken to us when He beholds
daily, from the rising of the sun to
its setting, the all-holy, innocent
Jesus lifted up on high by the con.
secrated hands of His priests, be.
seeching the heavenly Father for
mercy and blessings upon His chill.
dren. The priest prays to God for the
people, and like heavenly dew Gods
graces are showered down upon in.
| dividuals and families; upon all the
people.
Do we sufficiently realize the great
gift that God has left us, in giving to
us this thrice royal priesthood? We
fear not. Do we pray God to bless
defend and regard our priests? Do
we fervently ask God to keep and
preserve our spiritual fathers in
holy grace, that they may perform
their God-given mission and duties as
worthy ministers of God and brothers
of Jesus Christ-the Great High
Priest of God? Do we daily pray for
the eternal rest and perpetual light
for the souls of our departed Fathers
in God? We earnestly ask each OF
our readers to honestly ask them.
selves these serious questions. If
they can answer YES" may God be
thanked; if NO." then from today
make amends. God will surely bless
and reward you for praying for your
priests, living or dead.