er unwilling subjects, but over the hearts
and affections of his people.

His spiritual children pay him not only the tribute of their money, but
also the tribute of their love which royalty can neither purchase nor
exact.

He is a _shepherd_, because he leads his flock into the delicious pastures
of the Sacraments and shelters them from the wolves that lie in wait for
their souls.

He is a _father_, because he breaks the bread of life to his spiritual
children, whom he has begotten in Christ Jesus through the Gospel.(501)

He is a _judge_, whose office it is to pass sentence of pardon on
self-accusing criminals.

He is a _physician_, because he heals their souls from the loathsome
distempers of sin.

St. John, in his Apocalypse, represents the Church under the figure of a
city. "I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from heaven,
from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband."(502) Our Savior is
the Architect and Founder of this celestial city. The Apostles are its
foundation. The faithful are the living stones of the edifice. The
anointed ministers of the Lord are the workmen chosen to adjust and polish
these stones, that they may reflect the beauty and glory of the sun of
justice that perpetually illumines this city. The Priests are engaged in
adorning the interior of the heavenly Jerusalem by enriching, with virtue,
the precious souls entrusted to their charge. "God gave some, indeed,
Apostles, and some Prophets, and others Evangelists, and others Pastors
and Doctors, for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the
ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ,"(503) which is His
Church. What an honor is this to the Priest of the New Law! Surely God
"hath not done alike to every nation, and His judgments He hath not made
manifest to them."(504)

With how much more force may we apply to the successors of the Apostles
the words which God spoke to the Priests of the Old Law: "Hear, ye sons of
Levi. Is it a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel hath separated
you from all the people and joined you to Himself, that ye should serve
Him in the service of the tabernacle, and should stand before the
congregation of the people and minister unto Him?"

Our Savior affectionately puts this question three times to Peter: "Simon,
lovest thou Me?" And three times Peter answers Him, "Lord, Thou knowest
that I love Thee." What proof of love, then, does Jesus exact of Peter?
Does He sa