nd count themselves happy if they secured it. Think of it! To
stand so near our Blessed Lord that they are able to see His sacred body
resting upon the altar, and to offer the wine, which a few minutes later
is changed into His very blood!

*279 Q. What is necessary to receive Holy Orders worthily?
A. To receive Holy Orders worthily it is necessary to be in the state of
grace, to have the necessary knowledge, and a divine call to this sacred
office.

"Knowledge"--that is, to be able to learn and to have learned all that a
priest should know.

"Divine call," explained before in the explanation of vocation, a word
that means call. (See Lesson 6, Q. 51.)

*280 Q. How should Christians look upon the priests of the Church?
A. Christians should look upon the priests of the Church as the
messengers of God and the dispensers of His mysteries.

"Messengers." Our Lord said to His Apostles: "As the Father sent Me, I
also send you." That is, as the heavenly Father sent His Beloved Son,
Our Lord, into the world to save men's souls, so Our Lord sends His
Apostles and their successors through the world to save souls. God told
the priests of the Old Law that if they did not warn the people of
coming dangers they would be held responsible for the people; but if
they warned the people and the people did not heed, then the people
would be responsible for their own destruction. So, too, in the New Law
the priests warn you against sin, and if you do not heed the warning the
loss of your soul will be upon yourself. Therefore you should take every
warning coming from the ministers of God as you would from Himself, for
it is really God that warns you against sin, and the priests are only
His agents or instruments. "Dispensers"--that is, those who administer
the Sacraments.

*281 Q. Who can confer the Sacrament of Holy Orders?
A. Bishops can confer the Sacrament of Holy Orders.

"Confer"--that is, give or administer. So can a cardinal, if he be a
bishop, and so can the Holy Father, who is always a bishop, and called
bishop of Rome, while Pope of the whole Church. It will be well here to
give some explanation about cardinals--who they are, and what they do.
In the United States the President has about him ten prominent men
selected by himself, and called his Cabinet. They are his advisers; he
consults them on all important matters, and assigns to them various
duties. The Holy Father, who is also a ruler--a spiritual ruler--not of
one co