Page:The Eternal Priesthood (4th ed).djvu/74

62 the less wisely as he shall have made more or less progress in Holy Scripture."

Eighthly, in his seven visits to the heavenly court in the daily Divine Office.

Ninthly, in the rule of life given to him and wrought into him in the seminary, which, in outline at least, has become a second nature, directing, constraining, counselling, and ordering his life in its union with God.

Lastly, in the law of liberty, the highest and most constraining of all obligations, to which we will return hereafter.

With such abundant means of confirming himself in the interior spiritual perfection in which he was ordained, and of attaining continually a nearer conformity to the mind and life of his Master, no priest can fail of any degree of humility, charity, and sanctity, except through his own fault. God has done for us more than we could ask or think. And "the gifts and the calling of God are without repentance" —that is, there is no change of mind or purpose towards His priests, whom He has chosen to be His representatives, and to be, like Himself, "the light of the world" and "the salt of the earth."