The perfection of charity is determined by its extension.
The first extension is to persons, as to friends and to enemies. The second extension is to acts—that is, to the fulfilment of the commandments and of the counsels.
But the new commandment, which is twofold, includes all commandments and all counsels. This personal perfection does not mean a sinless state, and it is compatible with infirmity and the failures of infirmity in which there is no deliberate will to sin.
S. Bernard says: Indefessum proficiendi studium, et jugis conatus ad perfectionem perfectio reputatur.
Studere perfectioni, esse perfectum est; profecto nolle proficere deficere est.[1]
Such, then, is the nature of perfection to which all are called. And to this, before ordination, as the Council teaches, all who desire to enter the priesthood ought to have attained.
3. "For which reason the dignity of the priesthood is derived from a twofold source. Priests are the beloved companions of Jesus, and receive a share in His own mission, which He received of the Father.
- ↑ Ep. ccliv. tom. i. p. 534.
