Things are taken for granted which no longer exist. It is supposed that the churches are full, that careless Christians attend the services, and that the confessionals are frequented; all of which are often mere gratuitous assumptions. Something must be done before such notions are borne out by facts; namely, our priests must be taught how to attract men to the church and the confessional, and then to instruct them when they are there.
Lastly, the young students might meet together during the vacations, and mutually aid one another by their common experience. Parish priests might also meet in a similar manner, and communicate to each other their reflections and the progress of their labors, in all simplicity and charity, just as young lawyers do. Then we might anticipate the happiness of seeing every thing that is false, borrowed, factitious, artificial, stiff, vehement, trite, and noisy, together with all unmeaning action, monotony, and ennui, descend from the pulpit; and of seeing their places occupied by the true, the simple, the natural, the powerful: in a word, by the Gospel.
Chapter XI.
Study.
Study a Duty
The State of the World calls for Knowledge on the part of the Clergy.
Knowledge has always been one of the Glories of Religion.
All the eminent Men in the Church were Men of Study.
Reasons adduced for not studying, answered:
Want of Leisure;
natural Aptitude;
the Plea of having already studied sufficiently;
that one is fully equal to the Requirements of the People committed to his Charge.
From what has been said above, it will readily be inferred that much study is called for on our part—study of the sciences and study of mankind, study of books and study of the human heart. … In order to attain a noble simplicity, to acquire ease, and to be natural, a man must possess profound knowledge. I even venture to say that a little study leads us away from the natural, whereas much study conducts us to it.
But there are other and still stronger motives for study on our part: namely, duty, and the salvation of mankind. It has been said, and that truly, that piety is the first and most essential requirement. We admit that it is so; but genuine piety consists in the faithful discharge of the duties of one's station. Now, it is absolutely impossible for a priest at the present day, whatever position he may occupy, to discharge his duty without an adequate amount of learning.
For, what is a priest? He is the depositary of the science of life, and is debtor therein to every man. He is bound to trace out the way for all; for the small and great, the young and aged, the learned and ignorant, the humble and proud together.
He is bound to confront human passions and errors, to expose their wiles, to withstand the assaults of vice, and to enlighten the minds and win over the hearts of men by the power of the Gospel. A priest's need of knowledge is truly paramount. …