Title of Our Lord occurring in Matthew 9:12-13; Mark 2:17; Luke 5:31-32. He eats and consorts with sinners because God the Father moved by compassion for fallen mankind sent Him as the Divine Physician to invite and lead sinners to repentance, thereby giving Him an opportunity of bringing their souls back to life, healing their wounds, and building up their spiritual strength. Had the Pharisees but meditated on the words of God delivered by the prophet Osee "I will have mercy and not sacrifice" they would have understood Jesus's methods and would not have fallen into the error of trying to please God by mere external observances, lifeless because not animated by charity and crushing because prompted by pride, untempered with recognition for the weakness of men. Like Jesus, all Christians but especially priests, His ministers, should, without condoning sin, extend a loving patience and boundless mercy to the sinner.
This dictionary contains not only definitions and explanations of every subject in Religion, Scripture, tradition, doctrine, morals, sacraments, rites, customs, devotions and symbolism, but also accounts of the Church in every continent, country, diocese; missions, notable Catholic centers, cities, and places with religious names; religious orders, church societies, sects and false religions. It has brief articles also on historical events and personages, on the Old Testament and New, and on popes, prelates, priests, men and women of distinction, showing what the Church has done for civilization and correcting many errors which have hitherto passed for history.Wikipedia
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