The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1921-05-21
THE SANCTiTY OF. THE PRIEST
OF GOD.

Of all things existing in the world
today outside of Christ in the Blessed
Sacrament-the most real thing in an
unreal world-the most wonderful to
me is the Catholic priesthood. Like
an oasis in the desert, like. light
house on the ocean, there shines be-
fore our eyes the beauty, the sanctity,
the purity, the nobility of the, priests
of God, writes Catholic mother.
To them do we bring our innocent
babes to be washed in the cleansing
waters of Baptism. To them do we
bring our little ones at the age OF
reason to be purified from their sins
in the Sacrament of Penance, conf
dent from the knowledge of past ex-
perience ourselves, that they will
guide their footsteps in the paths of
virtue from childhood even to old age.
From them do we derive strength
in the storm of temptations which be-
set the human race, consolation in
the heavy sorrows which must come
to all. At the hour of death our ag-
ony is 1essened and hope of Heaven
brought near by the presence of the
holy priest of God, who blesses our
last sigh.
And through the Mass Of our priests
do we receive that Bread of Christ
without which ourN>sOuls would die.
Daily if we so desire, and strange to
say many do not desire, we may re-
oo;vo fro,, +loo oopcaoro+nd hands of
the priest Our Lord Jesus Christ Him
self, who longingly yearns to give Him.
self to our souls to be our strength.
Do we sustain them by our pray
ers? In gratitude to God and to them
do we and our children pray every
day that they may receive more grace,
more strength, in their heavy respon-
sibilities? They are not immune from
temptations, and We owe them sup
plications to God For us they have
given up all human ties of affection
to consecrate themselves to God and
the salvation of souls.
Let us encourage them by our love
of God and holiness of life, by our
help in their good works, by the fire.
quent reception of those saving Sac
raments without which opr souls be-
| come starved and Withefed, destitute
of all good fruits.
What high honor God bestows
| upon the parents of priest! What
! greater blessing could Our Lord give
to the beautiful Sacrament of Matri
mony, which, through His Church, He
has endowed with so much holiness
for those who enter upon it rightly
| in the love and fear of the Lord.
Shall we mothers and fathers not
long and desire for that grace to come
to our families? Why should we not
like the parents of many great saints
offer up our children to Him; especial
fy our first born sons? He will mo-
accept the Offering, unless He so de
sires, but the offering will bring graces
to us. We understand that a priest i:
called and chosen by God, and influ
ence should never be brought to bear
But we should train our children il
reverence for the priesthood.
i We should encourage virtue at ever!
step of life, make the love of Goo
and Church attractive to our little
ones.
i Above all we should remember ou
boys virtue is as carefully to b,
i watched and tended as our girls. /
we expect virtuous young men, W,
mothers must make our little boy
watchful over their own souls. Her
lies the mothers responsibility, he
greatest care
Il Let us remember that holy prizes
i is the greatest work of God