The faith of our fathers - Carmel Apologetics

""444 THE FAITH OF OUR FATHERS.on earth, shall be bound also in heaven; and whatsoever you shall loose on earth, shall be loosedalsoin heaven." To them alone He gave the power toforgive sins, saying: Whose sins you shall forgive,they are Toforgiven."them alone He gave thepower of consecrating His body and blood, and dispensing the same to the faithful. He has empoweredthe Priests of the New Law to impart the grace ofregeneration in Baptism. He has assigned to themthe solemn duty of preparing the dying Christianfor his final journey to eternity Is any man sick:among you ? Let him bring in the priests of theChurch, and let them pray over him, anointing himwith oil, in the name of the Lord." 1As far as heaven is above earth, as eternity isabove time, and the soul is above the body, so farare the prerogatives vested in God sministers higherthan those of any earthly potentate. An earthlyprince can cast into prison or release therefrom.But his power is over the body. He cannot penetrate into the sanctuary of the soul. But the ministerof God can release the soul from the prison of sin,and restore it to the liberty of a child of God.To sum upin one sentence the titles of a Catholic Priest :He is a king, reigning not over unwilling subjects,but over the hearts and affections of his people.He is a shepherd, because he leads his flock intothe delicious pastures of the sacraments, and shelters1James v. 14.