CONTEMPLATIONS ON THE PRIESTHOOD. By St John Chrysostom.

“For the priestly office is indeed discharged on earth,but it ranks amongst heavenly ordinances; and very naturally so:for neither man, nor angel, nor archangel, nor any other created power, but the Paraclete Himself, instituted this vocation, and persuaded men while still abiding in the flesh to represent the ministry of angels. Wherefore the consecrated priest ought to be as pure as if he were standing in the heavens themselves in the midst of those powers.” (p46,-Vol IX,NPNF).

(After referring to Elijah on Mt Carmel)…”There stands the priest, not bringing down fire from Heaven, but the Holy Spirit:and he makes prolonged supplication, not that some flame sent down from Heaven may consume the offerings, but that grace descending on the sacrifice may thereby enlighten the souls of all, and render them more (refined) than silver purified by fire. Who can despise this most awful mystery, unless he is stark mad and senseless?” (p47,IBID).

“…and what priests do here below God ratifies above,and the Master confirms the sentence of His servants. …For indeed what is it but all manner of heavenly authority which He has given them when He says,’Whose sins you remit they are remitted,and whose sins you retain they are retained.’ What authority could be greater than this? ‘The Father has committed all judgement to the Son’,But I see it all put into the hands of these men by the Son.”(IBID)

“…when one is required to preside over the Church, and be entrusted with the care of so many souls, the whole female sex must retire before the magnitude of the task,and the majority of men also;…”(p40,IBID).

“I know my own soul, how feeble and puny it is: I know the magnitude of this ministry, and the great difficulty of the work; for more stormy billows vex the soul of the priest than the gales which disturb the sea.” (p.49, IBID).

“The divine law indeed has excluded women from this ministry, but they endeavour to thrust themselves into it; and since they can effect nothing of themselves, they do all through the agency of others…”(p.49,IBID).

“And all men are ready to pass judgement on the priest as if he was not a being clothed with flesh, or one who inherited a human nature…”(p.52,IBID).

“For there are many other qualities, Basil, besides those already mentioned, which the priest ought to have, but which I do not possess: and above all, this one:-his soul ought to be thoroughly purged from any lust after the office: for if he happens to have a natural inclination for this dignity, as soon as he attains it a stronger flame is kindled, and the man being taken completely captive will endure innumerable evils in order to keep a secure hold upon it, even to the extent of using flattery, or submitting to something base and ignoble,…”(p.50,IBID).

“But I am of (the) opinion one ought to exercise so much caution in the matter, as to shun the burden of the office,” (IBID).

“And in saying this I am not in opposition to the blessed Paul, but in complete harmony with his words.For what says he? ‘If any man desire the office of a bishop, he desires a good work.’ Now I have not said that it is a terrible thing to desire the work,but only the authority and power.” (IBID).

“For he who does not desire to be exhibited in possession of this authority, does not fear to be deposed from it, and not fearing this will be able to do everything with the freedom which becomes Christian men.” (IBID).