THE DIGNITY OF THE SACRAMENT AND OF THE PRIESTHOOD
THE VOICE OF CHRIST
HAD you the purity of an angel and the sanctity of St. John the
Baptist, you would not be worthy to receive or administer this
Sacrament. It is not because of any human meriting that a man
consecrates and administers the Sacrament of Christ, and receives the
Bread of Angels for his food. Great is the Mystery and great the
dignity of priests to whom is given that which has not been granted
the angels. For priests alone, rightly ordained in the Church, have
power to celebrate Mass and consecrate the Body of Christ.
The priest, indeed, is the minister of God, using the word of
God according to His command and appointment. God, moreover, is there
-- the chief Author and invisible Worker to Whom all is subject as He
wills, to Whom all are obedient as He commands.
In this most excellent Sacrament, therefore, you ought to
believe in God rather than in your own senses or in any visible sign,
and thus, with fear and reverence draw near to such a work as this.
Look to yourself and see whose ministry has been given you through the
imposition of the bishop's hands.
Behold, you have been made a priest, consecrated to celebrate
Mass! See to it now that you offer sacrifice to God faithfully and
devoutly at proper times, and that you conduct yourself blamelessly.
You have not made your burden lighter. Instead, you are now bound by
stricter discipline and held to more perfect sanctity.
A priest ought to be adorned with all virtues and show the
example of a good life to others. His way lies not among the vulgar
and common habits of men but with the angels in heaven and the perfect
men on earth. A priest clad in the sacred vestments acts in Christ's
place, that he may pray to God both for himself and for all people in
a suppliant and humble manner. He has before and behind him the sign
of the Lord's cross that he may always remember the Passion of Christ.
It is before him, on the chasuble, that he may look closely upon the
footsteps of Christ and try to follow them fervently. It is behind him
-- he is signed with it -- that he may gladly suffer for God any
adversities inflicted by others.
He wears the cross before him that he may mourn his own sins,
behind him, that in pity he may mourn the sins of others, and know
that he is appointed to stand between God and the sinner, never to
become weary of prayer and the holy offering until it is granted him
to obtain grace and mercy.
When the priest celebrates Mass, he honors God, gladdens the
angels, strengthens the Church, helps the living, brings rest to the
departed, and wins for himself a share in all good things. |
Of the dignity of this Sacrament, and of the office
of the priest
The Voice of the Beloved
If thou hadst angelic purity and the holiness of
holy John the Baptist, thou wouldest not be worthy to receive or to
minister this Sacrament. For this is not deserved by merit of man
that a man should consecrate and minister the Sacrament of Christ, and
take for food the bread of Angels. Vast is the mystery, and great is
the dignity of the priests, to whom is given what is not granted to
Angels. For priests only, rightly ordained in the church, have the
power of consecrating and celebrating the Body of Christ. The priest
indeed is the minister of God, using the Word of God by God's command
and institution; nevertheless God is there the principal Author and
invisible Worker, that to whom all that He willeth is subject, and all
He commandeth is obedient.
2. Therefore thou must believe God Almighty in
this most excellent Sacrament, more than thine own sense or any
visible sign at all. And therefore with fear and reverence is this
work to be approached. Take heed therefore and see what it is of
which the ministry is committed to thee by the laying on of the
Bishop's hand. Behold thou art made a priest and art consecrated to
celebrate. See now that thou do it before God faithfully and devoutly
at due time, and shew thyself without blame. Thou hast not lightened
thy burden, but art now bound with a straiter bond of discipline, and
art pledged to a higher degree of holiness. A priest ought to be
adorned with all virtues and to afford to others an example of good
life. His conversation must not be with the popular and common ways
of men, but with Angels in Heaven or with perfect men on earth.
3. A priest clad in holy garments taketh Christ's
place that he may pray unto God with all supplication and humility for
himself and for the whole people. He must always remember the Passion
of Christ. He must diligently look upon Christ's footsteps and
fervently endeavour himself to follow them. He must bear meekly for
God whatsoever ills are brought upon him by others. He must mourn for
his own sins, and for the sins committed by others, and may not grow
careless of prayer and holy oblation, until he prevail to obtain grace
and mercy. When the priest celebrateth, he honoureth God, giveth joy
to the Angels, buildeth up the Church, helpeth the living, hath
communion with the departed, and maketh himself a partaker of all good
things. |