heology, in its articles of belief, has here set up
the absolute necessity of the sacraments and of the priesthood;
consequently, between the superficial and central divisions of religion
the union is complete. The Catholic sacraments, therefore, are not
merely symbols; they possess in themselves "an efficacious power,
a sanctifying virtue." "That which they represent, they really work
out."[3177] If I am denied access to them, I am cut off from the
fountains to which my soul resorts to drink in grace, pardon, purity,
health and salvation. If my children cannot be regularly baptized, they
are not Christians; if extreme unction cannot be administered to my
dying mother, she sets out on the long journey without the viaticum; if
I am married by the mayor only, my wife and I live in concubinage; if
I cannot confess my sins, I am not absolved from them, and my burdened
conscience seeks in vain for the helping hand which will ease the too
heavy load; if I cannot perform my Easter duties, my spiritual life is a
failure; the supreme and sublime act by which it perfects itself through
the mystic union of my body and soul with the body, soul, and divinity
of Jesus Christ, is wanting.--Now, none of these sacraments are valid if
they have not been conferred by a priest, one who bears the stamp of
a superior, unique, ineffaceable character, through a final sacrament
consisting of ordination and which is conferred only on certain
conditions; among other conditions, it is essential that this priest
should have been ordained by a bishop; among other conditions, it is
essential that this bishop[3178] should have been installed by the Pope.
Consequently, without the Pope there are no bishops; without bishops
no priests; without priests no sacraments; without the sacraments no
salvation. The ecclesiastical institution is therefore indispensable
to the believer. The canonical priesthood, the canonical hierarchy is
necessary to him for the exercise of his faith.--He must have yet more,
if fervent and animated with true old Christian sentiment, ascetic and
mystic, which separates the soul from this world and ever maintains it
in the presence of God. Several things are requisite to this end:

* First, vows of chastity, poverty and obedience, that is to say, the
steady and voluntary repression of the most powerful animal instinct and
of the strongest worldly appetites;

* Next, unceasing prayer, especially prayer in common, where the emotion