As many in the American-born hierarchy of the Church lower themselves into secular politics, today’s Lesson from the second Nocturn of the pre-1955 Divine Office might be enlightening. It is a homily, No. 14 on the Gospels, by Pope St. Gregory the Great. Here is a key excerpt, copied and pasted from the invaluable Divinum Officium website:
“And some there be which love the things of this world better than they love the sheep; and such as they deserve no longer to be called shepherds. These are they of whom it is written: But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth. He is not a shepherd but an hireling which feedeth the Lord’s sheep, not because he loveth their souls, but because he doth gain earthly wealth thereby. He that taketh a shepherd’s place, but seeketh not gain of souls, that same is but an hireling; such an one is ever ready for creature comforts, he loveth his pre-eminence, he groweth sleek upon his income, and he liketh well to see men bow down to him.”
(Emphasis added.)
Surrexit Dominus Vere, Alleluia!
In Ministerium Maiorum 