Jesus with us always, and the indwelling of the Holy Ghost in every pure and humble soul, above all in the soul of a pure and humble priest, of a faithful and fervent pastor. If we realise these things as the merchant realises the market-place and his bales of merchandise, or the money-lender his securities and his coins of gold, then we shall live in this world, but not of it, as those who have risen with Christ[1] and are already "blessed with Him in heavenly places."[2] This realisation of unseen and heavenly things is better than all external rules to guard and strengthen a priest. It is an internal light and strength, which he carries with him at all times and in every place, sustaining the sacramental grace of his priesthood: and this is a divine and unfailing help in every peril or need.
4. Another potent help in a priest's life is preaching the Word of God to others. S. Paul said: "God sent me out not to baptise, but to preach the Gospel." The Council of Trent says that preaching is the chief office of Bishops;[3] and if it be the chief work of the Bishop, how much more of the priest. If Isaias was afraid to speak in the name of God because he was "a man of
- ↑ Col. iii. 1.
- ↑ Ephes. i. 3.
- ↑ Sess. xxiv. De Ref. c. iv.
