he Prophets and Apostles, and are not
we as much in need of the Holy Ghost as the primitive Christians were? If
God could make feeble men the ministers of His mercy then, why not now?

But should a Priest consider himself greater than other men because he
exercises such authority? Far from it. He ought to humble himself beneath
others when he reflects to what weak hands God assigns power so
tremendous. He should remember what our Savior said to the seventy-two
disciples, who, returning with joy from their first mission, cried out to
Him: "Lord, even the devils are subject to us in Thy name." But Jesus
checked their vain-glory, saying: "I saw Satan like lightning fall from
heaven. Behold, I have given you power ... but rejoice not in this, that
spirits are subject to you; but rejoice in this, that your names are
written in heaven."(506) The Priest does not forget that "the most severe
judgment shall be for them that bear rule,"(507) and that "judgment should
begin at the house of God."(508) The words of the Apostle are present to
his mind: "What hast thou that thou hast not received? And if thou hast
received, why dost thou glory as if thou hadst not received it?"(509) As
well might the vessel that is filled with precious liquor boast of being
superior to the vessel that is filled with water. The Priest knows full
well that the powers he has received from God are given to him not to feed
his own vanity, but to enrich the hearts of the faithful; and that, though
instrumental in pointing out to others the way to heaven, he himself,
unless adorned with personal virtues, will become a reprobate, like those
unhappy Priests of Jerusalem who directed the Magi to Jesus in Bethlehem,
but did not go thither themselves.

"I have planted," says the Apostle, "Apollo watered, but God gave the
increase. Therefore, neither he that planteth is anything, nor he that
watereth, but God that giveth the increase."(510) We perform the outward
ceremony; God alone supplies the grace.

The obligations of the minister of God are, therefore commensurate with
his exalted dignity.

The Priest is required to be a man of profound learning and of solid
piety. "The lips of the Priest shall keep knowledge, and they (the people)
shall seek the law at his mouth."(511) The Lord denounces the Priests of
the Old Law because they neglected to study the Sacred Sciences: "Because
thou hast rejected knowledge, I will reject thee, that thou shalt not do
the offi