CIUDAD to - the Catholic Kingdom!

THE CORONATION 495
that thou seek to make
574. I wish then, my daughter,
up for this fault and abuse among the children of the
Church as far as possible. I give thee to understand,
that even from my throne in heaven I look with venera
tion and respect upon the priests who are on earth. Thou
must always regard them with the same veneration, as
if they were at the altar, or holding the most blessed
Sacrament in their hands or at their breast; and even
the ornaments and all their vestments thou shouldst hold
in great veneration, just as I with reverence provided
garments for the Apostles. Then, besides what thou hast
understood and written concerning the divine Scriptures,
thou must gage thy esteem for these writings by what
they contain and enclose, and by the means which the
Almighty took to incite the Evangelists to write them.
As well in the Gospels as in the rest of holy writings the
Holy Ghost himself lent his assistance, in order that the
Church might be rich and prosperous in the abundance
of doctrine, of science and light concerning the mys
teries and operations of the Lord. To the supreme pon
tiff of Rome thou must render highest obedience and
veneration before all other men ;
and when thou hearest
him mentioned, show reverence by inclining thy head
as if thou heardst the name of my divine son or my own
named in thy presence; for on earth he takes the place
of Christ, and when I lived in the world, I showed my
reverence whenever the name of saint Peter was pro
nounced. In order that thou mayest practice my doc
trine and find grace in the eyes of the Most High, whom
all these works please very much and who considers
none of them small if done for his love, I wish that thou
be very attentive and a most faithful follower of my
footsteps.
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