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| As to whether a priest may minister after a lapse.
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VI.
(As to whether a priest may minister after a lapse.)
For those are in error who think that the priests
of the Lord, after a lapse, although they may have exhibited true
repentance, are not capable of ministering to the Lord, and engaging
their honourable offices, though they may lead a good life thereafter,
and keep their priesthood correctly. And those who hold this
opinion are not only in error, but also seem to dispute and act in
opposition to the power of the keys committed to the Church,
whereof it is said: “Whatsoever ye shall loose on earth,
shall be loosed in heaven.”2747
And in short, this opinion either is not the Lord’s, or it is
true. But be that as it may, we believe without
hesitation, that both the priests of the Lord and other believers may
return to their honours after a proper satisfaction for their error, as
the Lord Himself testifies by His prophet: “Shall he who
falls not also rise again? and shall he who turns away not
return?”2748
And in
another passage the Lord says: “I desire not the death of
the sinner, but that he may turn, and live.”2749
| 2749 Ezek.
xviii. 32 and xxxiii. 11. | And the prophet David, on his
repentance, said: “Restore unto me the joy of Thy
salvation, and uphold me with Thy free Spirit.”2750
And he indeed, after his repentance,
taught others also, and offered sacrifice to God, giving thereby an
example to the teachers of the holy Church, that if they have fallen,
and thereafter have exhibited a right repentance to God, they may do
both things in like manner. For he taught when he said:
“I will teach transgressors Thy ways, and sinners shall be
converted unto Thee.”2751
And he
offered sacrifice for himself, while he said: “The
sacrifice for God is a broken spirit.”2752
For the prophet, seeing his own
transgressions purged by repentance, had no doubt as
to healing those of others by
preaching, and by making offering to God. Thus the shedding of
tears moves the mind’s feeling (passionem).
And when the satisfaction is made good, the mind is turned aside from
anger. For how does that man think that mercy will be shown to
himself, who does not forgive his neighbour? If offences abound,
then, let mercy also abound; for with the Lord there is mercy, and with
Him is plenteous redemption.2753
In the
Lord’s hand there is abundance of all things, because He is the
Lord of powers (virtutum) and the King of
glory.2754
For the
apostle says: “All have sinned, and come short of the glory
of God; being justified freely by His grace, through the redemption
that is in Jesus Christ: whom God hath set forth to be a
propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness
for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of
God; to declare, ‘I say,’ at this time His righteousness,
that He might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in
Jesus.”2755
And David
says: “Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and
whose sins are covered.”2756
Man,
therefore, is cleansed of his sin, and rises again by the grace of God
though he has fallen, and abides in his first position, according to
the above-cited authorities. Let him see to it that he sin no
more, that the sentence of the Gospel may abide in him:
“Go, and sin no more.”2757
Whence the apostle says: “Let not sin therefore reign in
your mortal body, that ye should obey the lusts thereof: neither
yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin:
but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead,
and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For
sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the
law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin because we are not
under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not,
that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are
to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto
righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of
sin; but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was
delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the
servants of righteousness. I speak after the manner of
men.”2758
For
greater is the sin of him who judgeth, than of him who is judged.
“Thinkest thou,” says the apostle, “O man, that
judgest them that do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt
escape the judgment of God? or despisest thou the riches of His
goodness, and forbearance, and long-suffering? Dost thou not know
that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? But, after
thy hardness and impenitent heart, thou treasurest up unto thyself
wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment
of God; who will render to every man according to his deeds: to
them who, by patient continuance in well-doing, seek for glory, and
honour, and immortality, eternal life; but unto them that are
contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness,
indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man
that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Greek:
but glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh
good.”2759
My
brethren, shun not only the holding, but even the hearing, of the
judgment that bans mercy; for better is mercy than all whole
burnt-offerings and sacrifices.2760
We
have replied to your interrogations shortly, because your letter found
us burdened overmuch, and preoccupied with other judgments. Given
on the 8th day of October, in the consulship of the most illustrious
Antonine and Alexander.”2761
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