Page:Essays on Catholicism, Liberalism, and Socialism.djvu/59

world, in their being the channels through which men receive the grace of God, and in the supreme and incommunicable right to remit and retain sins. In a word, the highest dignity is not the privilege of a portion, but that which belongs alike to all; this supreme dignity is neither the episcopacy nor the pontifical authority, but that of priest.

If we take an isolated view of the pontifical authority, the Church would seem to be an absolute monarchy. If we consider by itself its apostolical constitution, it would seem to be a powerful oligarchy. If we regard on the one side the dignity common to prelates and priests, and on the other the wide distinction between priests and the people, it would seem to be an immense aristocracy. But when we behold the vast multitude of the faithful spread throughout the world, and see priests, bishops, and pontiffs employed in their service, and that nothing is ordained in this great society for the aggrandizement of those who govern, but for the salvation of those who obey; when we consider the consoling dogma of the essential equality of souls; when we remember that the Saviour of mankind suffered the torments of the cross for each and every man; when the principle is proclaimed that it is the duty of the good pastor to die for his flock if necessary; when we reflect that the ultimate object of the different ministries of the priesthood is the reunion of the faithful,—the Church viewed in this light appears like an immense democracy, in the most glorious acceptation of this word, or at least like a society instituted for an end essentially popular and democratic.

And, what is most surprising of all is, that the Church really is all that it appears to be. In other societies