# Lehre und Wehre_St. Louis Missouri_August 1863_S256
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

256 Pastoral Hints from the Church Fathers.

A faithful servant proves, by his deeds, that what he teaches in words is true. (Ambrose. In cap. 2, ep. ad Tit.)

Nothing is so perilous before God, so shameful before men, in a priest, as not to say freely and openly what he believes. (Ambrose. Lib. 5, ep. 29, ad Theodosium.)

Above all I beg you, that your godly prudence consider that in this life, and especially at this time, nothing is easier, and more pleasant, and more agreeable to men, than the office of a bishop or presbyter or deacon, if the matter is discharged only superficially and in a way pleasing to men — but nothing before God more wretched, and more sorrowful, and more damnable; likewise, that in this life, and especially at this time, nothing is more difficult, more laborious and more dangerous than the office of a bishop or presbyter or deacon — but before God nothing more blessed, if one does military service as our commander commands. (Augustine. Ep. 148, ad Valerium.)

If the hearer does not receive the seed sown through you, nor bring forth the fruit of obedience, you nevertheless receive the reward for the counsel you have imparted, and will receive no lesser recompense for not having been heeded than you would have received had you been obeyed. What lay in you, you have performed; for we are not bound to persuade the hearers, but only to admonish them. (Chrysostom. Conc. I, de Lazaro.)

There are many priests, and few priests. Many in name, few in deed. Take good heed, therefore, how you sit (in the seat of Christ), for it is not the pulpit that makes the priest, but the priest the pulpit; it is not the place that sanctifies the man, but the man the place. Not every priest is holy, but every saint is a priest. Whoever stands well in the pulpit receives honor from it; whoever stands badly in it disgraces the pulpit. For an evil priest his priesthood becomes a crime, not a dignity. For in sitting in judgment, you are, if you live well and teach well, the judge of all; but if you teach well and live badly, you condemn yourself alone. For by living well and teaching well you instruct the people how they must live; but by teaching well and living badly you instruct God how he must condemn you. (Chrysostom. Homil. 43, in Matth., op. imperf.)

A teacher must consider what he says, to whom he speaks, when he speaks, how he speaks, and how much he speaks. For if any one of these is lacking, the speech will not be fitting. (Gregory the Great. Homil. 11, in Ezech.)