for them in heaven if they fulfil their duty in holiness; and on the contrary how strict a judgment awaits them if by their negligence or indolence, which God forbid, it happens that any perish.
"Finally, from all these (obligations) taken together—that is, from equity, from sacerdotal charity, from the promise of obedience, from the sanctity of the oath—there arises the reciprocal obligation between the priest and his own Bishop, by which both are happily bound faithfully to fulfil their respective offices, united together by common toil and by mutual co-operation."[1]
9. "Wherefore, if, which God avert, it ever happen that any one fall from the manifold grace of this state, let him know that those things which in others are light in priests ought to be judged as grave. For the most part, that which in a layman is not a fault to those in sacred Order is a sin."
A blot upon a layman's coat is little seen; a spot upon an alb cannot be hid.
The Church must guard the souls of the faithful, and the sanctity of the priesthood, and the honour of the faith, the Church and our Divine Master.
If this seems a harsh note to end with, let us
- ↑ Conc. Prov. IV. Dec. x. § 3-7.
