That to the Bishop belongs exclusively the administration of this Sacrament is matter of certainty, and is easily proved by the authority of Scripture, by traditional evidence the most unequivocal, by the unanimous attestation of all the Holy Fathers, by the decrees of Councils, and by the practice of the Universal Church. Some Abbots, it is true, were occasionally permitted to confer Minor Orders: all, however, admit that even this is the proper office of the Bishop, to whom, and to whom alone, it is lawful to confer the other Orders: Sub-deacons, Deacons, and Priests are ordained by one Bishop only, but according to Apostolic tradition, a tradition which has always been preserved in the Church, he himself is consecrated by three Bishops.
We now come to explain the qualifications necessary in the candidate for Orders, particularly for Priesthood. From what we shall have said on this subject, it will not be difficult to decide what should also be the qualifications of those who are to be initiated in other Orders, according to their respective offices and comparative dignities. That too much precaution cannot be used in promoting to Orders is obvious from this consideration alone: the other Sacraments impart grace for the sanctification and salvation of those who receive them Holy Orders for the good of the Church, and therefore for the salvation of all her children. Hence it is that Orders are conferred on certain appointed days only, days on which, according to the most ancient practice of the Church, a solemn fast is observed, to obtain from God by holy and devout prayer, ministers not unworthy of their high calling, qualified to exercise the transcendant power with which they are to be invested, with propriety and to the edification of his Church.
In the candidate for priesthood, therefore, integrity of life is a first and essential qualification, not only because to procure, or even to permit his ordination, whilst his conscience is burdened with the weight of mortal sin, is to aggravate his former guilt, by an additional crime of the deepest enormity; but, also, because it is his to enlighten the darkness of others by the lustre of his virtue, and the bright example of innocence of life. The lessons addressed by the Apostle to Titus and to Timothy [1] should, therefore, supply the pastor with matter for instruction; nor should he omit to observe, that whilst by the command of God bodily defects disqualified for the ministry of the altar in the Old Law, in the Christian dispensation such exclusion rests principally on the deformities of the mind. The candidate for Orders, therefore, in accordance with the holy practice of the Catholic Church, will first study diligently to purify his conscience from sin in the Sacrament of Penance.
In the Priest we also look not merely for that portion of knowledge which is necessary to the proper administration of the Sacraments: more is expected an intimate acquaintance
- ↑ Tit. i. and 1 Tim. iii.
