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| Chapter XLIV. Every one ought to apply himself to the duties suited to his character. Many, however, are hindered by following their fathers' pursuits. Clerics act in a different way.
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Chapter XLIV.
Every one ought to apply himself to the duties suited to
his character. Many, however, are hindered by following their
fathers’ pursuits. Clerics act in a different way.
224. Each one knows
his own powers. Therefore let each one apply himself to that
which he has chosen as suitable to himself. But he must first
consider what will be the consequences. He may know his good
points, but he must know his faults also. He must also be a fair
judge of himself, so as to aim at what is good and avoid what is
bad.
225. One is more fitted for the post of reader,
another does better for the singing, a third is more solicitous for
exorcising those possessed with an evil spirit, another, again, is held
to be more suited to have the charge of the sacred things. All
these things a priest should look at. He should give each one
that particular duty for which he is best fitted. For whither
each one’s bent of mind leads him, or whatever duty befits him,
that position or duty is filled with greater grace.
226. But as this is a difficult matter in
every state of life, so in our case it is most difficult. For
each one is wont to follow his parent’s choice in life.317
| 317 Cic. de
Off. I. 31, § 114. | Thus those whose fathers were in
the army generally enter the army too. And others do the same
with regard to the different professions.
227. In the clerical office, however,
nothing is more rare than to find a man to follow his father’s
footsteps,318
| 318 It has been
supposed that St. Ambrose in this passage by “father” means
“spiritual father,” in whose hands the teaching and
guidance of the young was put. But there is no reason why the
word should not be taken in its ordinary sense. If so, however,
the father must have been in one of the inferior orders only, or else
his children must have been born before he was admitted to the
priesthood. For elsewhere (I. 258), as here, St. Ambrose clearly
shows that absolute continence is required of priests, after entering
on their sacred office. | either because
the difficulties of the work hold him back, or continence in the
uncertain days of youth is too difficult to hold to, or the life seems
to be too quiet for the activity of youth. So they turn to those
pursuits which are thought to be more showy. Most, indeed, prefer
the present to the future. They are fighting for the present, we
for the future. Wherefore it follows that the greater the cause
in which we are engaged, the more must our attention be devoted to
it.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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