The faith of our fathers - Carmel Apologetics

"CELIBACY, ETC. 459to her thorough organization ;others to the far-seeingwisdom of her chief pastors. Without undervaluing these and other auxiliaries, I incline to the belief that, under God, the Church has no tower ofstrength more potent than the celibacy of herclergy. The unmarried Priest, as St. Paul observes (1 Cor. vii.), is free to give his whole timeundivided to the Lord, and can devote his attentionnot to one or two children, but to the entire flockwhom he has begotten in Christ Jesus, through theGospel while the married minister is divided be;tween the cares of his family and his duties to the"Acongregation. single life," says Bacon, "dothwell with churchmen ; for, charity will hardly waterlground, where it must first fill a pool."3d. The world has hitherto been converted byun^married clergymen, and only by them will it continue to be converted. St. Francis Xavier and St.Francis de Sales could not have planted the faith inBOmany thousands of souls, if they were accompanied on their journeys by their wives and children.Of all the gems that adorn the priestly diadem, noneis so precious and indispensable in the eyes of thepeople as the peerless jewel of chastity. Withoutthis pearl, the voice of a Hyaciuthe becomes asBounding brass and a tinkling cymbal with;" it, thehumblest missioner gains the hearts of multitudes.Everybody is aware of the numerous conversions1Essays, p. 17.