The faith of our fathers - Carmel Apologetics

THE PRIESTHOOD. 451but every Sunday he mounts the pulpit to vindicatethe claims which God has on His subjects and;certainly, if every attorney is bound to study his client scause before he defends it, no matter how trifling thethe obligationissue, how much more imperativeisof the Priest to study well his case, when he reflectsthat an immortal soul is on trial, and before menwho are often the worst enemies of their own souls.He has to convince the people that the narrow roadis to be followed, which their inclinations abhor, andthat the broad road is to be abandoned, which theirself-love and their passions tend to pursue.Conviction in this case requires rare tact as well as eloquenceand learning.But the minister of religion has to defend the soulnot only against the corruptions of the heart, butalso against those doctrinal errors which are dailyspringing up in every direction, and which are plausibly preached by false teachers, who bring to theirsupport the most specious arguments, couched in themost attractive language. To refute these errorsoften requires the most consummate skill, and a profound knowledge of history and the Holy Scripture.It is no wonder, then, that the Church insists thather clergy be educated men. Hence our ecclesiastical students are usually obliged to devote from tento fourteen years to the diligent study of the modernand ancient languages, of history and philosophy, andthe great science of theology and the Holy Scripture,before they are elevated to the sacred ministry.