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 our relatives  desert  us. He will  send  him, in order  to  help  us  to  save  our  souls,  even  if by  so  doing  he  were  to  risk  his  own  life. He will send  the  priest  in  order  that  he  may  assist us in  our  last  conflict,  and  bring  us  pardon  in the  sacrament  of  Penance,  and  give  us  the food of  our  souls  in  the  Holy  Viaticum,  courage and  strength  in  Extreme  Unction.

Even after  we  have  breathed  our  last,  God will send  the  priest,  in  order  that  he  may  pray for us  and  offer  the  Holy  Sacrifice  in  our behalf, and  thus  cause  our  soul  to  be  delivered all  the  sooner  from  the  fire  of  purgatory.

Wherefore thank  God,  dear  reader,  for all these  great  benefits,  and  reverence  His priests —  His  ambassadors,  by  whom  He sends  His  gifts.

3. But  non-Catholics  and  even  unreasonable and  evil-minded  Catholics  are  often heard to  say:  "It  would  be  quite  right  to reverence  priests  if  all  priests  were  worthy ambassadors  and  instruments  of  God." Some malicious  persons  are  guilty  of  a  most abominable injustice,  in  that  they  lay  the open sins  and  failings  of  individual  priests as a  burden  upon  the  shoulders  of  the  whole class and  dare  to  make  the  infamous  remark : "They are  all  alike!  "  "  They  are  all  of  the same  cloth!" It is  true  that  God  permits unworthy members  to  be  found  in  every class, members  who  disgrace  the  body  to which  they  belong;  and  in  this  respect  He makes  the  priesthood  no  exception. On this