in broken words, or by the last transient gleam of a peaceful and grateful look, are a reward beyond all earthly recompense.
When the penitents and mourners and children and the poor love and surround a priest, he has the surest countersigns of his Master's love. The special friends of Jesus are his friends, and in him they see both the servant and the Lord.
3. The last reward of a good priest is a happy death. A calm conscience in charity with all men is the witness of God's work in him. The priest may say, "Being confident of this very thing, that He who hath begun a good work in me will perfect the same until the day of Jesus Christ."[1] Ipse perficiet. "We know that we have passed from death unto life because we love the brethren."[2] We not only believe and hope, but we know. We know that where there is a. stream there must be a fountain. We know that the love of brotherhood flows from the love of God. Whosoever loves God is united with Him, and the second death has no power over those that are His. A good priest will say, "I am not conscious to myself of anything, yet am I not hereby justified. He that justifieth me is the Lord."[3] His sentence I await. Nevertheless, "if
