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THE PRIESTHOOD


 


 

HAPPINESS RESTS ON THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD AND THE PURSUIT OF GOOD WORKS

Every philosopher has a description of happiness. Zeno, Aristotle, Theophrastus and the Peripatetics maintained that a happy life consisted in virtue; except that virtue for them pertained to advantages of the body.

Sacred Scriptures has it that happiness rests on a knowledge of Divine things and on the fruits of good works, "This is eternal life. . .to know Thee, the only true God and Jesus Christ Whom Thou has sent." And about works: "Everyone that has forsaken house, or brethren or sister or father or mother or wife or children or lands for My Name's sake. . .shall inherit eternal life."

If a man is always busy talking and yet is slow to act, he shows by his acts how worthless his knowledge is. Besides, it is much worse to know what one ought to do and yet not to do what one has learnt should be done.

On the other hand, to do good works without knowledge of Divine things is useless; it is like raising a beautiful Dome upon a bad foundation.

Let your virtue be perfect, i.e. there must be reasonable agreement between words and acts.

St. Ambrose:  Duties of the Clergy, Bk. II, Chap. 2

 

 

 

 

 

(01-15-04)

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                                                                                        - Teresa of Avila

 


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