Page:TheYoungMansGuide.djvu/161

 all thy  soul  fear  the  Lord,  and  reverence His priests"  (Ecclus.  vii.  31).  It  is  said  expressly,  His  priests;  and  if  this  was  said  in regard  to  the  priests  of  the  old  covenant,  how much  more  does  it  apply  to  the  priests  of  the new  covenant,  to  the  priests  of  the  Catholic Church.

For indeed,  these  are  the  ambassadors  of Christ  to  men,  the  instruments  which  He employs,  in  order  to  bestow  the  greatest  benefits upon  us. On the  threshold  of  our  life, at its  earliest  commencement,  He  sends  the priest, in  order  that,  by  means  of  holy  Baptism, heaven  may  be  opened  to  us,  and  we may  be  made  sons  of  God,  and  fellow-heirs  of Jesus  Christ. He sends  the  priest,  in  order that he  may  instruct  us  in  the  truths  of  the faith, and  in  the  way  of  salvation,  may  guide us in  the  paths  of  virtue  and  piety,  and  prepare  us  for  the  worthy  reception  of  the  holy sacraments of  Penance  and  of  the  Altar. Again, He  sends  the  priest,  in  order  that  he may  be  our  faithful  counselor  and  sincere friend. He sends  the  priest  when  our  hearts are bowed  with  sorrow  and  when  despair threatens to  overwhelm  us,  in  order  that  he may  be  to  us  a  loving  father,  and  may  pour into our  wounds  the  oil  and  wine  of  salutary exhortations  and  divine  consolations, and heal  us  by  means  of  the  sacrament  of Penance.

2. Furthermore,  God  will  send  the  priest when we  are  overtaken  by  sickness,  even  if