T Abduction from the site http://www.teologiaspirituale.it/ introduce a song from the proposed text Gregory the Great, Pastoral Rule . From the site you can download the full version , which I highly recommend reading. This is a text still valid today, given the current state of the Catholic Church with the problems associated with the scandal and abuse against young people. Already elsewhere, I had taken a sort of criticism of insensitivity against the shepherds of souls in their care, although far from addressing issues such details. My criticism since the arguments of a letter from a priest who had written to the monthly magazine of St. Paul Jesus. You can read, albeit with the necessary detachment, all to the site: http://www.mistica.info/unsuggest13.htm . Beyond my little personal considerations, it is better to hear what the Pope Gregory had to say by writing to the bishop of Ravenna. addition, to be fair, I must say that in fact the words to the shepherds (priests) actually seems to be aimed at all those who somehow read and studied and passionate about the issues and spiritual soul. Somehow, everyone, even if not vested with an official position, has the responsibility for what he writes and says, especially in trying to live in accord with (compared to what was said) his life, quoting Gregory the Great, we must not trample with their way of life as understood by the mind, not fight with our habits as in the words . Consistency should be obtained not only the clergy (Catholic or not), but of all of us, especially those who have educational duties.
not occupy the place of the government of souls who live in the way they fail to do what they have learned by studying
There are some rules that investigate the spiritual life with expert care, but then trample the their way of life what they can with the intelligence to understand: once you put to teach what they learned with the study but not with the practice , with their costumes and fight what they preach with their words. So what is it that a shepherd his flock walking down steep terrain that follows falls into the abyss. Therefore the Lord by the prophet complains against the despicable science of pastors, saying: While you bevevate clear water, muddy one with your feet and my sheep to eat only what you had walked with your feet and drank the water that your feet were muddy (Ezekiel 34: 18-19 ). Pastors drink clear water when draw on running waters of truth with a straight intelligence, but it is as the same muddy water with their feet on the work of a corrupt holy meditation with misconduct life. Sheep are also drinking water muddied by the feet of those, subjects that do not follow the words they hear, but only imitate what they see , that the examples of a life depraved.
fact, they thirst for what they are told with words, but then perverted by the works and then drank their glasses as if in mud because the springs are polluted. Therefore, it is also written by the prophet: The priests are bad snare of ruin for my people (cf. Hos. 5.1, 9.8). And always the priests says the Lord: They became the house of Israel stumbling block for the iniquity (Ezekiel 44, 12). In truth no more harm in the Church of those who bring a title or a sacred order leading a corrupt life, because no one dares to refute such a sinful and guilt extends irresistibly with the force of example, when, because of the reverence due to holy orders, the sinner is honored. But even though unworthy, to escape responsibility for a crime so serious if attentive ear to evaluate the ruling of the Truth of the heart that says: Who shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me is better for him that a millstone hanged donkey's neck and throw it in the deep sea (Mt 18, 6). Where the millstone that means hard back on themselves in the life of the century, and the deep sea indicates the eternal condemnation. Therefore, those who ruin the sanctity of appearance clothe others with the word and example, would certainly have been better for him that he had been dragged to death his actions when he was in the lay state land, rather than its religious functions they had notified the other - in his guilt - as an example . For if he had fallen at least by only a custodial sentence would have tormented hell, however, more tolerable.
( Gregory the Great, Pastoral Rule , 2)
