SALESIAN SPIRIT – ST. CAFASSO’S CONFERENCES – 11
Fr. Pathiaraj Rayappan SDB

.... CERTAINTY OF SUCCESS

The priest, with his zealous
commitment to preventing offences
against the Lord, plays a unique and
vital role. His efforts are not in vain, for
he can be certain that he will prevent
more sins than he allows to occur.

People strive after something only
with the hope of success. But they often
fail. Hence, one lives in uncertainty.
E.g. The merchant is uncertain about his
business, the farmer is uncertain about
his harvest, and the soldier is uncertain
of victory. One aspires to get a job but
does not know if he can get one! … So,
almost everyone and almost everything,
what one lives and toils after is nothing
more than hoping.

On the other hand, the priest is called
to the sublime work to which he is called
when he intends it, and he is confident
of achieving it! How nice to work when
one is sure of success! This is the priest's
happiness: he is on the earth to prevent
and spare offences to the Lord, and he
can be sure of achieving it when he
really sets out to do it. .....