Part II, Chapter III: Edification and Example to be: Given by Preachers

Edification and Example to be

Given by Preachers

PREACHING the Gospel is simply a continuation of the divine mission of Christ. Preachers, therefore, should imitate the great Master whom they represent. "Jesus began to do and to teach" (Acts 1, 1). "He was mighty in work and word before God and all the people" (Luke 24, 19).

Consequently, preachers should be living examples of devotion and virtue, especially humility , obedience and charity.,Likewise, they should avoid as a plague anything that savors of vanity and ambition, and they should never show any signs of seeking the pulpits of large churches. They should be willing to go to the poorest parishes and the smallest, as well as to the wealthiest and most isolated churches in order to walk in the footsteps of the Divine Master who said: "He bath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor" (Luke 4, 18), and one of the proofs of the divinity of His mission was: "The poor have the gospel preached to them" (Matt. 11, 5).

Preachers, should always be careful not to put themselves forward, but should rather give place to other preachers, speaking of these latter always with esteem and affection. Each one should excuse and defend his confreres charitably whenever they are unjustly blamed, and guard at all times against jealousy. Nor should they excuse themselves from preaching when the congregation is very small, remembering always that even one soul created to the-image and likeness of God and redeemed by Christ's Precious Blood is well worth the labor and effort of all the theologians, the preachers and even of all men and angels. Indeed, the salvation of a soul is of infinite value, as Christ Himself

demonstrated when He took special care to instruct the poor Samaritan woman at the well, thus proving that He would gladly have come into the world if there had been only one soul to instruct and save.

Likewise, if your audience is not so attentive as it should be, you must not show displeasure, which would be a proof of vanity.

Nothing should be said in a sermon simply for effect or self-glorification, to show one's erudition o r wisdom, nor should any personal touch be permitted to enter into the theme. The words of the Apostle St. Paul should be kept always in mind: "We preach not ourselves, but Jesus Christ our Lord" (2 Cor. 4, 5).

Make your life conform to your preaching, and let your actions speak as loudly as your words, so that like St. John the Baptist you may be lucerna ardens et lucens, "a burning and a shining light" (John 5 , 35), burning before God, shining before men; burning in prayer, shining in action; burning from Within, shining from without; burning in words, shining in deeds.

Be particularly devoted to the virtues of temperance, frugality and abstinence. Give a true example of abstemiousness when visiting in another parish, so that this spirit of mortification may be a silent lesson to those about you. In visiting, too, you should be careful to give every evidence of sobriety.

Avoid familiarity with seculars, especially women, lest suspicions be engendered in the minds of others. Ut non vituperetur ministerium nostrum (2 Cor. 6, 3).

Your whole deportment should place you beyond the faintest or least suspicion of avarice or greed and show clearly your detachment from temporal things and your devotion only to the eternal. Consequently, you should ask no recompense for your services, but you should receive thankfully whatever the charity of the people will offer out of the goodness of their hearts.

Never discuss the faults and shortcomings of other priests or religious. Show a great respect for parish priests and never undertake any activity without their sanction. Incite the faithful to love and respect them.

Try to be kind and accessible to all. Be ever ready to do good to. every person without exception, i n imitation of the charity of the Master,

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"who went about doing good, and healinig all that were oporessed by the devil" (Acts 10, 38). Be especially kind to the poor, pressed them rather than the rich, in their homes, in prison and in hospitals. Have a tender solicitude for the afflicted, consoling them and urging them to turn their sufferings to spiritual advantage.

Endeavor to reunite families and members of broken homes, being always careful not to take sides, showing to both factions that your only interest is the promotion of God's glory and the salvation of souls.

Let your conversation be modest, gentle and edifying, taking advantage of every opportunity to speak of things eternal. Bear the good odor of Christ everywhere, but especially in consecrated places where your Christian conduct should be an inspiration. This will apply especially to the church, where by silence and piety you will show the faithful the great respect due to the house of God.

Finally, you should be in imitation to St. John the Baptist, vox clamantis (Matt. 3, 3), that is, you should act and live in such manner that everything about you will be a continual proof that you are a man of God. Let the world see in your actions, your walk, your person, your gestures, your attire, your daily habits, the reflection of your interior life, which will prove beyond doubt that you are a priest, not only at the altar and in the pulpit, but in every place and in every thing you do and think and say. Thus, you will always preach piety, modesty, humility, simplicity and all the other virtues. 84-