Page 25 - Read and Recognize

Read and Recognize

Every candidate for the priesthood is expected to become acquainted
with and learn to love his bishop to the best of his ability so that a
father-son-relation can develop and the future priest, with the love of a
child, may pass on the teaching of his father and high priest. And so my
candidates for the priesthood spend their time as much as possible in
my house. What would a Timothy, a Titus, a Philemon be without their
enthusiasm for the teaching of their teacher Paul? What would they be
without their spiritual love of sons towards him?
This is lacking in the Church!

Oh, how many times have the Apostles failed their tests with their divine
Teacher! And yet they were ordained by Him. CHRIST was not inter-
ested in memorization and marking, but He instructed them with
simplicity and in due course gave them the HOLY SPIRIT, who brought
to their mind everything he had taught them.

Thus I also proceed with my priests. It is the same success because it is
the faith of the high priest at the laying on of hands that achieves it.
Would that the Church still had this belief in the working of the HOLY
SPIRIT! Meanwhile the candidates for the priesthood of the Official
Church, under exam nerves and pressure to achieve high marks with
their intellect and human powers of recollection, have to tremble quite
often for the longed-for desire of their heart!

This practice does again not correspond to the imitation of JESUS
CHRIST and the Apostles!

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