The faith of our fathers - Carmel Apologetics

""452 THE FAITH OF OUR FATHERS.It is true indeed that, owing to the rapidly-increasing demand for clergy in the Dnited States, ourBishops have hitherto been sometimes compelled toabridge the course of studies of the candidates forthe ministry but now that the Church;is morethoroughly organized, and that seminaries are multiplied among us, they are happily enabled to extendto their young levites the advantages of a full termof a literary and theological training.If the Priest should be eminent for his learning,he should be still more conspicuous for his virtues,for he isexpected to preach more by example thanby precept. If in,the Old Law God charged Hispriests with the admonition "Be : sanctified, ye thatcarry the vessels of the 1Lord," how much morestrictly is holiness of life enjoined on the Priests ofthe New Dispensation, who not only touch the sacredvessels, but drink from them the Precious Blood ofthe Lord ?Purer," says St. Chrysostom, than any solar ray,should that hand be which divides that flesh, thatmouth which is filled with spiritual fire, that tonguewhich ispurpled with that most awful blood."In order to foster in us the spirit of personal piety,we are constantly admonished by the Church to bemen of prayer. The Priest should be like those angels whom Jacob saw in a vision, ascending to heavenand descending therefrom on the mystical ladder.He isexpected to ascend by prayer, and to descend1Isaiah lii. 11.