Menti Nostrae

Yes, watch, beloved sons, because priestly chastity is exposed to so many dangers, whether by reason of laxity in public morals, or because of the allurements of vice which you find so easily seductive in these days, or, finally, because of that excessive liberty in relations between the sexes which at times dares to insinuate itself even into the exercise of the sacred ministry. “Watch and pray”,^{33Marc., XIV, 38.} mindful that your hands touch those things which are most holy, that you have been consecrated to God and are to serve Him alone. The very habit which you wear, reminds you that you should live not to the world, but to God. Therefore, trusting in the protection of the Virgin Mother of God, generously make every effort to preserve yourselves “clean, unstained, pure and chaste, as becomes the ministers of Christ and the dispensers of the mysteries of God.”^{34Pontificale Rom., In ordin. Diacon.}