Page:The Eternal Priesthood (4th ed).djvu/274

262 darkness for light, they think it enough if they keep the faithful of Christ from mortal sin."

S. Paul tells all Christians that they are dead, and their life hid with Christ in God. He bids them, therefore, to be heavenly-minded. He bids them also to be perfect; to forget the things that are behind, and to stretch forth to the things that are before, for the prize of their high vocation. S. Jude says: "But you, my beloved, building yourselves upon your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of God." S. Paul, again, tells the Ephesians "that he prays that by comprehending with all the Saints what is the breadth, and length, and height, and depth of the love of Christ, they may be filled unto all the fulness of God." And with all this before us, we hear it said that perfection is for priests, nuns, and recluses; but for all others it is lawful and enough if we aim at keeping them out of mortal sin. Few will say this; but many act as if they would say it, and as if it were their belief. Of how much glory God is robbed; of how much sanctity souls are deprived; for what innumerable venial sins they who so act are responsible; how many, walking on the