Seven Qualities Needed in

the Clergy

Table of Contents
Introduction
Introduction..........................................................................................................................1
Humility...............................................................................................................................1
SaintInGregory
additionthe to Great.......................................................................................................2
being people of prayer, these are the type of people we need in the
Church. They have laid it waste, and it hath mourned for me. With desolation is all the
Patience................................................................................................................................3
land made desolate; because there is none that considereth in the heart. (Jeremias 12:11)
Priorities...............................................................................................................................4
WeThehave recommended
Lesson is taken from thatthe everyone
Treastisespend on thean hour aofday
Benefits in prayer,
Patience by St. ifCyprian,
not longer.
Anyone
Bishopwhoanddoes
Martyr not..............................................................................................................4
realize how important prayer is is not ready to enter the Church
and be a useful part of the Church. They can enter, but need to learn the Art of Prayer.
Perseverance........................................................................................................................5
Selflessness..........................................................................................................................6
Obedience............................................................................................................................6
Humility
Spiritual Joy.........................................................................................................................7
Strength................................................................................................................................7
Few Catholics understand the virtue of humility. Even worse yet, they do not
Closing Thoughts.................................................................................................................7
understand how to obtain this virtue. Instead, the majority of souls are lost through the
negligence of acquiring this virtue. It states in Sacred Scripture that God gives grace to
those that are humble. If you are not humble 1) your heart will be hardened 2) you cannot
properly judge spiritual matters 3) you cannot be in the state of grace if you do not have
humility 4) you are dead member in the Body of Christ.
The Pharisees were rebuked because they observe the letter of the law and not the
spirit. Prideful souls wish only to see the external attractions. They wish to obtain only
the external appearances of piety. I fast twice in a week: I give tithes of all that I
possess. (Luke 18:12) While humility, wishes to be completely unseen and hidden. This
is depicted well with the Publican. And the publican, standing afar off, would not so
much as lift up his eyes towards heaven; but struck his breast, saying: O God, be merciful
to me a sinner. (Luke 18:13)
Our happiness in Heaven is solely based upon one virtue: humility. The more we
abase ourselves the more we are able to unite to God closer. The more we realize our
misery the more God will fill us with His perfections. We can make more analogies that
could be written in volumes of books.
The hardest person to correct is one who has a contracted habit. A contracted
habitual act is the most deadly enemy. Sin never wishes to be discovered. Sin never
wishes to be exposed. Sin never wants its roots to be pulled out of the ground. Sin wants
to stay were it is comfortable, convenient, and relaxing. Sin wishes to always correct
others while never correcting itself.

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 It is here where we must begin. We must begin with ourselves. The old saying
states, charity starts at home. The house of virtue must have humility as its foundation. St.
Teresa of Avila writes that humility and charity, as virtues, are inseparable. If we boast
that we have charity to our neighbor, but lack the virtue of humility, what profit does our
soul obtain? We are nothing but liars. We begin by looking at ourselves by saying. I am
the problem. I am the problem. I am the problem. And we must say it with the deepest
conviction. We must always assume responsibility for all failures. We must accuse
ourselves first before others that we failed God. If a physical catastrophe would erupt, for
example an earthquake, St. Gemma Galgani used to blame herself as the sole cause of
God's anger. This is charity. Charity hides the faults of others. The Blessed Virgin Mary
hides our sinfulness under her cloak of innocence. It as if all the blame should put on our
dearest mother's heart. And is that just? Should be Blessed Virgin Mary be blamed for our
sins?

Steps
I must realize that I have a problem.
I must admit that I have a problem.
I must truly want to change.
I will not give myself any excuses.
I will constantly (hourly) renew my efforts/resolutions.
I must say to myself, I am prideful, impure, wicked on a daily basis.

Saint Gregory the Great

In his life of Saint Benedict:

THE first degree of humility is obedience without delay. This beseemeth those
who, either on account of the holy servitude they have professed, through fear of hell or
for the glory of life everlasting, count nothing more dear to them than Christ. These,
presently, as soon as anything is commanded them by the Superior, make o delay in doing
it, just as if the command had come from God. Of such, our Lord saith: At the hearing
of the ear he hath obeyed me. 1 And to teachers He saith:
He that heareth you, heareth me. 2 Therefore, such as these, leaving
immediately everything, and forsaking their own will, leave unfinished what they were
about, and with the speedy foot of obedience follow by deeds the voice of him who
commands. And thus, as it were in one and the same moment the command of the master
and the perfect work of the disciple in the speed of the fear of God, go both jointly
together, and are quickly effected by those who ardently desire to advance in the way of
eternal life. These take the narrow way, of which the Lord saith: Narrow is the way
which leadeth to life. 3 They live not according to their own will, nor follow their own
desires and pleasures, but, abiding in monasteries, walk according to the command and
direction of another, and will to have an Abbot over them. Without doubt these fulfil that
saying of our Lord: I came not to do my own will, but the will of Him Who sent me. 4

1
I Cor. ii. 9.110
2
Ps. xvii. 45
3
Matth. vii. 14
4
Joan. v. 30

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 This obedience will then be acceptable to God and pleasing to men, if what is
commanded be not done fearfully, slowly, coldly, or with murmuring, or an answer
showing unwillingness; because the obedience which is given to superiors is given to
God, Who hath said: He that heareth you, heareth Me. 5 Hence it ought to be done by
the disciples with a good will, because God loveth a cheerful giver 6 If the disciple
obey with ill-will, and murmur, not only in words, but also in heart, although he fulfil
what is commanded him, it will not be acceptable to God, Who considereth the heart of
the murmurer. For such a work he shall not have any reward, but rather incurreth the
penalty of murmurers, unless he amend and make satisfaction.
The second degree of humility is, if anyone, not wedded to his own will, seeks not
to satisfy his desires, but carries out that saying of our Lord: I came not to do My own
Will, but the Will of Him Who sent Me. 7 The scripture likewise saith: Self-will
engendereth punishment, and necessity purchaseth a crown.
The third degree of humility is, that a man submit himself for the love of God,
with all obedience to his superior, imitating thereby our Lord, of Whom the Apostle saith:
He was made obedient even unto death. 8
The fourth degree of humility is, that if, in obedience, things that are hard,
contrary, and even unjust be done to him, he embrace them with a quiet conscience, and
in suffering them, grow not weary, nor give over, since the Scripture saith: He only that
persevereth to the end shall be saved. 9

Patience
Saint Cyprian wrote something on patience, which I apparently published to
Scribd. We must wait on the Lord. And while we are waiting we work on becoming
saints.
Actually it is Psalm 26:14: Expect the
Lord, do manfully, and let thy heart take
courage, and wait thou for the Lord.
We are at 28 years and counting.
Actually we could go back forty five years,
if we wish to go back to the first time We
felt the call to the priesthood.
He that is patient, is governed with much
wisdom: but he that is impatient, exalteth
his folly. (Proverbs 14:29) We cannot get
ahead of ourselves. We must wait on the
Lord and His time and do things His way.
Everyone wants to rush out and get it done
yesterday. And what does impatience
cause? It causes burn out, which leads to a

5
Luc. x. 16
6
II Cor. ix. 7
7
Joan. vi. 38.
8
Phil. ii. 8.
9
Matth. xxiv. 13.

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 loss of faith in many cases.

We must first be purified and then purify others; be filled with wisdom
and make others wise; become light and give light; be near to God and lead
others to Him; be sanctified and sanctify; guide others by the hand and counsel
them with knowledge. (Saint Gregory Nanzianzen)

The patient man is better than the valiant: and he that ruleth his spirit than he that
taketh cities. (Proverbs 16:32) We must learn to rule our own spirit before we can be of
any use to anyone else.

Priorities

A part of patience is taking things step at a time, that is getting our priorities
straight.

The Lesson is taken from the Treastise on the Benefits of Patience by St.
Cyprian, Bishop and Martyr

Dearly beloved brethren, I am about to speak to you concerning patience and to

set forth to you how useful and convenient a thing it is ; and how shall I begin better, than
by saying that you will have need of patience to listen to me? Yea, your very hearing and
learning cannot but be an exercise thereof. For, only when a sermon or soul-profiting
teaching is patiently given ear to, can it profitably enter the heart. Dearly beloved
brethren, there are divers paths of heavenly wisdom, wherein we are invited to walk, if
we would reach in the end unto the reward wherewith God hath prepared to crown hope
and faith ; but I find no path more sure to lead to life and glory than this, that while we
humbly strive (in all fear and in all godliness) to obey the commandments of the Lord, we
should set our chiefest guard in an unceasing watch over our patience. The philosophers
of this world have also professed a kind of patience, but their patience is as false as their
wisdom, for who can be wise or patient who knoweth nothing of God's wisdom or God's
patience?
But as for us, dearly beloved brethren, we are the real philosophers, whose
wisdom lieth not in words but in deeds ; and is manifested, not in the professional garb
affected by the philosophers of our day, but in the truth which is eternal. We are they
whose knowledge hath the inward consciousness, but our lives are the lives of servants
and worshippers of God. Let it be ours, then, to shew forth by spiritual watchfulness, that
patience which is a part of the teaching which we have learnt from heaven. Patience is
one of God's own virtues, whereof he hath made us partakers with him. Our great Head is
the Captain of the patient ones ; for it is through patience that he hath crowned himself
with glory and honour. Yea, God is himself the Source, the Increase, and the Dignity of
patience ; and it behoveth man to love what is beloved of God. Thus God's own Majesty
commendeth to man a love of patience. Therefore, if God is to be to us both Lord and
Father, let us follow after the ensample of his patience, since it behoveth servants to be
obedient, and it is unbecoming in sons to be unworthy of their parentage.

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 By our patience God draweth us toward himself, and keepeth us his own. Patience
doth soothe anger, bridle the tongue, govern the mind, keep peace, set rules of self-
control, break the onset of lust, still the swelling of temper, put out the fire of begotten of
hatred, make the rich meek, and relieve the need of the poor ; patience doth guard in
virgins their blessed integrity ; in widows, their careful purity ; in such as be married their
single-hearted love one toward the other. Patience doth teach such as be successful to be
lowly-minded ; such as be unfortunate, to be brave ; and all to be gentle when they are
wronged and insulted. Patience maketh a man soon to forgive them that trespass against
him ; and if he have trespassed against any, long and humbly to ask his pardon. Patience
doth fight down temptations, bear persecution, and endure unto the end in suffering, and
in the uplifting of our testimony. Patience is the moat that guardeth the stout foundations
of the castle of our faith.

Perseverance
Matthew 10:22: And you shall be hated by all men for my name' s sake: but he
that shall persevere unto the end, he shall be saved.
Jesus said of these times: And because iniquity hath abounded, the charity of
many shall grow cold. But he that shall persevere to the end, he shall be saved.
(Matthew 24:12-13)
Why do we persevere in the profession of the Faith whole and entire? It is
because we have hope. We hope for two things. The first is eternal life and happiness in
heaven. Secondly we hope for the universal conversion, which we are absolutely certain
shall come to the Church.
Saint Alphonsus says: St. Jerome says that many begin well but few persevere.
Saul, Judas, Tertullian, began well, but ended badly, because they did not persevere in
grace. The Lord, says St. Jerome, requires not only the beginning of a good life, but also
the end: it is the end that will be rewarded. St. Bonaventure says that the crown is given
only to perseverance. Hence St. Laurence Justinian calls perseverance the gate of
heaven. No one can enter paradise unless he finds the gate of heaven. My brother, at
present you have renounced sin, and justly hope that you have been pardoned. You are
then the friend of God: but remember that you are not yet saved. And when will you be
saved? When you will have persevered to the end.

Selflessness
Charity seeks not her own. (I Corinthians 13:4) Saint Alphonsus has an
excellent instruction on this I am working on.
So likewise every one of you that doth not renounce all that he possesseth,
cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:33)
I BESEECH you therefore, brethren, by the mercy of God, that you present your
bodies a living sacrifice, holy, pleasing unto God, your reasonable service. And be not
conformed to this world; but be reformed in the newness of your mind, that you may
prove what is the good, and the acceptable, and the perfect will of God. (Romans 12:1-
2)

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 The commitment we must make requires all that we have and are. Jesus saith to
him: If thou wilt be perfect, go sell what thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt
have treasure in heaven: and come follow me. (Matthew 19:21) We are talking about
spiritually renouncing all attachment to things of earth in order to pursue holy things.
Saint Bonaventure says: All religious perfection consists in the renunciation of
self-will. This renunciation equals a martyrdom in merit. As the head of the condemned
falls under the axe of the executioner, so is the will, the head of the soul, sacrificed to
God by the sword of obedience. (Religious Sanctity c. viii)

Obedience
A book could be written on obedience, and I am writing it. (Actually the saints
are doing the lion's share of the work.)
Saint Ignatius says: I also desire that this be firmly fixed in your minds, that the
first degree of obedience is very low, which consists in the execution of what is
commanded, and that it does not deserve the name, since it does not attain to the worth of
this virtue unless it rises to the second degree, which is to make the Superior's will one's
own; so that there is not merely the effectual execution of the command, but interior
conformity, both willing and not willing the same. Wherefore, it is said in Scripture:
"obedience is better than sacrifice;" (I Kings 15:22) for, according to St. Gregory: "In
victims the flesh of another is slain, but in obedience our own will is sacrificed." (Morals
book 35) And because this disposition of the will in man is of so great worth, so also is
the offering of it, when by obedience it is offered to his Creator and Lord.
But he who aims at making an entire and perfect oblation of himself besides his
will must offer his understanding (which is a further and the highest degree of
obedience), not only willing, but thinking the same as the Superior, submitting his own
judgment to his, so far as a devout will can bend the understanding. For although this
faculty has not the freedom of the will, and naturally gives its assent to what is presented
to it as true, there are, however, many instances when the evidence of the known truth is
not coercive, in which it can with the help of the will, favor this or that side. And when
this happens every obedient man should conform his thought to the thought of his
Superior. And this is certain, since obedience is a holocaust in which the whole man
without the slightest reserve is offered in the fire of charity to his Creator and Lord
through the hands of His ministers; and since it is a complete surrender of himself by
which a man dispossesses himself to be possessed and governed by Divine Providence by
means of his Superiors, it cannot be held that obedience consists merely in the execution,
by carrying the command into effect and in the will's acquiescence; but also in the
judgment which must approve the command of the Superior, in so far (as has been said)
as it can, through the energy of the will, bring itself to this.

Spiritual Joy
Saint Bonaventure says: A spiritual joy is the greatest sign of divine grace
dwelling in the soul.

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 Saint Honoratus said: This joy in one hour of prayer in the silence of the night,
makes a soul forget all the labors of the day; being wrapt in God, she expiates the depth
of this world of heavenly joys, which no tongue can express.
Aside the times when you need the ministrations of a professional physician,
your six best doctors are sun, water, air, exercise, diet and joy. They are always waiting
there for you. They cure your ills and do not cost you a cent. Achieving Peace of Heart,
by Fr. Irala, page 109.
We need to be joyful as little children, obedient to the Lord.

Strength
Saint Paul says: But the foolish things of the world hath God chosen, that he may
confound the wise; and the weak things of the world hath God chosen, that he may
confound the strong. 10 True strength is not absolutely necessary. We should not reject
the weak, but we need a few strong men to be able to do the hard work, the weak are
unable to do. For we rejoice that we are weak, and you are strong. (II Corinthians
13:9)

Closing Thoughts
Tell me, if you were elected king but were obliged to spend the night preceding
your entrance into your capital city where you were to be crowned, if you were
compelled to pass that night in much discomfort in a stable, would you not joyfully
endure it in expectation of your kingdom? And should not we, in this valley of tears,
willingly live through adversities, in expectation of one day obtaining the kingdom of
heaven? asks St. John Chrysostom.
It is time we got serious about our vocation.

10
I Corinthians 1:27