The faith of our fathers - Carmel Apologetics

"450 THE FAITH OF OUR FATHERS.Boul, liemust be conversant with its various distempers, and must know what remedy is to be appliedin each particular case. If society justly holds theunskilful physician responsible for the fatal conseGod will call to aquences of his malpractice, surelystrict account the spiritual physician who, throughcriminal ignorance, prescribes injudicious remediesto the souls of the patients committed to his charge.As judge of souls, he must know when to bindand when to loose ;when to defer and when to pronounce sentence of absolution. And if nothing isso disastrous to the republic as an incompetentjudge, whose decisions, though involving life anddeath, are rendered at hap-hazard, and not inaccordance with the merits of the case so ;nothingis more detrimental to the Christian commonwealththan an ignorant priesthood, whose decisions injuriously affect the salvation of souls.The advocate in our courts of justice feels boundin conscience and in honor to study the case of hisclient with the utmost diligence, and to defend himbefore the jury with all the eloquence which he cannot involve moremaster. And yet the suit maythan a brief imprisonment or even a limited fine.But the Priest, like Moses, stands before God to intercede for His people, and stands before the peopleto advocate the cause of God. For, he not onlyascends daily the altar to plead for the people, and tocry out with the prophet, O"Spare, Lord, spare Thypeople, and give not Thy inheritance to reproach ;