Page:The Eternal Priesthood (4th ed).djvu/269

Rh we are taught by the Catholic Church in its solemn ritual, and in the very act of conferring the priesthood. As God commanded Moses 'to choose out seventy men from the whole people to be his helpers, to whom the Holy Ghost should distribute His gifts,' so the Lord Jesus chose out presbyters of the second order to help the Apostles—that is, the Catholic Bishops—that He might teach His Church, both by word and deed, that the ministers of His Church ought to be perfect in faith and in works—that is, founded in the virtue of the twofold love of God and our neighbour.' For priests are chosen by God, that, being commended by heavenly wisdom, pure morals, and a lasting observance of justice, and 'keeping the ten commandments of the law they may be, by the Sevenfold Spirit, upright and mature in knowledge and in action; and that, preserving in their morals the integrity of a chaste and holy life, the pattern of all justice may shine forth in them."'

2. "Let priests, therefore, bear in mind that sanctity in them is presupposed. 'That for the reception of sacred Orders simple sanctifying grace by no means suffices; but that beyond this, interior perfection is required, as is proved by the unanimous