The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1960-01-29

priestly life"
CONCERNING the second
point, the Pontiff said that
when it is said of a priest,
he is a man of heart this is
the first happy note begin
ming a praise in which. nor
mally, many people willingly
join"
A RIPPLE of laughter went
through the hall when the
Pope added that admiration
for a priest of heart often
goes so far as ito forgive him
even those less suitable and
less opportune exuberaat i'm
pulses of the head.
The heart of the priest must
be filled with love, Pope John
said. in the same way that his
head must shine forth the
truth.
THE HEART, he continued,
must be filled with An ard
ent, pious and vibrating love
of Jesus, open to all those
overflowings of mystical in
timacy which render magnet
ic the pious priests practice
of prayer, love the Holy
Church and OF souls, particu-
larly those souls entrusted to
Our care and to Our most
sacred responsibility"
He said that charity and
fraternity compete with the
study of the publication not
only of the soul but also of the
body and Of the flesh"
TO ILLUSTRATE this point
he cited the First Epistle of
st. Peter, which touches close
ly the reality Of the priestly
life. and which, the Pope said,
is filled and strengthened by
the grace that creates angels
ana saints, but is not immun-
lied against the temptations
of the flesh"
The Pope told his priests
that the heart also is of the
flesh, and heart and flesh
must travel together"
On this same point. but in
a more intimate tone, he con-
tinued;
BELOVED
and sons, this burden of Ours
of sacred pontifical and pas
toral responsibilities finds
comfort in the many graces
with which the Lord helps
Our unworthiness. We invite
you to share Our spirit in
blessing the Lord.
The Pope expressed sad
ness over those who have
strayed from their priestly
calling, saving that they bring
great dishonor and very
great and bitter sorrow to the
Church and to souls"
He went on to say.
I'VE ARE PARTICULAR.
LY grieyed that some
can have prattled to the eff
feet that it would be good or
convenient for the Catholic,
Church to renounce what for
centuries upon centuries has
been and remains one of the
most noble and pure joys of
its priesthood.
THE LAW or EccLESI.
ASTIcAL celibacy and the
care of making it prevail re-
main always as a reminder Of
the battles of heroic times
when Christ's Church had to
fight and achieve the success
of its glorious triple descrip-
ton, which is its constant en-
blem Of victory" Christ's
Church-free, chaste and ca
tholic."
A spontaneous explosion of
applause burst like a thunder
clap at this point and forced
the Pope to pause before con-
tinuing.
land NOW" the Pope said,
"We have reached the third
point of the observations. .
Do not be dislnayed by what
VIZ are about to say.
w have the impression
that, on this point of con-
trolling ones tongue. we all
sin more or less, and that TO
know how to remain silent
and to speak at the proper
time, and speak well. is a sign
Of great wisdom and great
priestly perfection"
HERE THE POPE cited the
Epistle of ST. james which,
he said, should be committed
to memory and placed on the
wall Of every priests home.
These are serious and
burning words" the Pope