By Henry Aloysius Barry
The characteristic element of the Holy Ghost is injected into it when charity so purifies the soul that it has a love only for what is right and a nausea toward what is wrong. On general principles the enemy of knowledge is the enemy of love. I speak of course of ordinate knowledge, reserving a margin for the relative application to the practical character of persons and states of life with their modulating circumstances, such as bodily infirmities. Knowing God profoundly we will love Him so; spreading the knowledge before others we will attract their love to God. The two purposes achieve the perfection of the Holy Ghost in our lives —"the charity of God is poured forth in our hearts by the Holy Ghost." "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God, with thy whole heart"—but this is not all; something more is necessary to complete the circle of charity and embrace the perfection of the love of the Holy Ghost—"thy neighbor as thyself." Pope Leo urges all to disseminate far and wide the better knowledge and love of Jesus Christ, by teaching, persuading, exalting. (Encycl. Holy Year 1900.) That is, one should have the grace of Jesus Christ, namely, the Holy Ghost within one's heart and let its flames leap forth to consume others in the same knowledge of Jesus Christ and the same love of the Holy Ghost. In one word, let each of us be in his own way and in the measure of his gifts and opportunities a "Father of the Church," that is to say, begetting children to Christ by righteousness of life and knowledge. Says St. Isidore of this blend:— "Whoso shall be placed over people to instruct and establish them in virtue ought of necessity to be in every respect holy himself and in no point found reprehensible. Because whoever charges another with sin should be himself alien to sin. For who could have the effrontery to accuse his subjects when they could immediately retort: first learn to do right yourself? Since in the first place he who occupies himself in admonishing others to right living should correct himself so as to be an ideal himself of a good life in all things and provoke, by doctrine and deed, all men to do what is right. The knowledge of Scripture is required of him, because if a bishop is merely a good-living man, such a life is only an advantage to himself. But if he is erudite in doctrine and speech, he can instruct others also, teach his own and defeat his adversaries, who, if they are not refuted and vanquished, can easily pervert the hearts of simple folk." (Ad. St. Fulg. Cap. v.)
"As some also of your own poets said" (Acts xvii, 28) of magistrates is infinitely more predicable of the christian teacher:—
"He, who the sword of heaven will bear
Should be as holy as severe;
Pattern in himself to know,
Grace to stand, and virtue go;
More nor less to others paying,
Thou by self-offences weighing
Shame to him, whose cruel striking
Kills for faults of his own liking!"
"As some also of your own poets said" (Acts xvii, 28) of magistrates is infinitely more predicable of the christian teacher:—
"He, who the sword of heaven will bear
Should be as holy as severe;
Pattern in himself to know,
Grace to stand, and virtue go;
More nor less to others paying,
Thou by self-offences weighing
Shame to him, whose cruel striking
Kills for faults of his own liking!"
