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197.1
First Point
It can be said that children at birth are like a mass of
flesh. Their minds do not emerge from the matter in them except with time,
and become refined only little by little. As an unavoidable consequence,
those who are ordinarily instructed in the schools are not yet able by
themselves to understand easily the Christian truths and maxims. They need
good guides and visible angels to help them learn these things.
Angels have this advantage over us, that they are not bound to
a body and to all the functions of the senses, without which ordinarily
our minds rarely operate. Angels, therefore, have intelligence far
superior to ours, and can contribute much to our understanding, no matter
how very unsullied the level of our minds might be. The angels who guide
us share with us the understanding and the knowledge they have of the true
good. By this sharing of the enlightenment of the Guardian Angels we can
have a more penetrating knowledge of God, of his perfections, of all that
is related to God, and the means of going to him.
If that is true of all of us, it is incomparably more true of
children, whose minds are more dull because they are less free of their
senses and of matter. They need someone to develop the Christian truths
for them in a more concrete fashion and harmonious with the limitations of
their minds, for these truths are hidden from the human mind. If this help
is not given, they often remain all their lives insensitive and opposed to
thoughts of God and incapable of knowing and appreciating them.
For this purpose the goodness of God has provided children
with teachers who will instruct them in all these things. Admire this
goodness of God, providing for all the needs of his creatures, taking the
means to procure for us the knowledge of the true good, that is, the
salvation of our souls. Offer yourselves to him for this purpose, to
assist the children entrusted to you as far as he will require of you.
197.2 Second Point
To be saved it does not suffice to be instructed in the
Christian truths that are purely doctrinal. As we have said already, faith
without works is dead; it is like a body without a soul; consequently it
is not sufficient to help us achieve our salvation.
It is, then, not enough to procure for children the Christian
spirit and teach them the mysteries and doctrines of our religion. You
must also teach them the practical maxims that are found throughout the
holy Gospel. But since their minds are not yet sufficiently able to
understand and practice these maxims by themselves, you must serve as
visible angels for them in two things.
1. You must help them
understand the maxims as they are set forth in the holy Gospel.
2. You must guide their
steps along the way that leads them to put these maxims into practice.
For this they need visible angels who by their instructions
and by their good example will encourage them to appreciate and practice
these maxims. By these two means, then, these holy maxims will make a
strong impression on their minds and hearts.
Such is the function you ought to perform for your disciples.
It is your duty to act toward them as your Guardian Angels act toward you.
You must win them to practice the maxims of the holy Gospel and to this
end you must give them means which are easy and accommodated to their age.
Gradually accustomed to this practice in their childhood, they will be
able when older to have acquired them as a kind of habit and practice them
without great difficulty.
Third Point 197.3
You encounter so many obstacles to salvation in this life that
it is impossible to avoid them if you are left to yourselves and your own
guidance. This is why God has given you Guardian Angels to watch over you,
as the prophet says, to prevent you from falling by tripping against some
stone, that is, some obstacle to your salvation. Your angels inspire you
and help to keep you away from the path where you night encounter any
obstacle.
How much easier it is for children to fall over some
precipice, because they are weak in mind as well as body, and have little
understanding of what is for their own good. Therefore they need the light
of watchful guides to lead them on the path of salvation, guides who have
an adequate understanding of things concerning piety, and knowledge of the
ordinary faults of young people. Thus they will be able to help them to be
aware of pitfalls and keep away from them.
This is what God has provided in giving children teachers whom
e has charged with this care, and to whom he has given the concern .and
the vigilance not only to prevent anything whatsoever harmful to their
salvation from capturing their hearts, but also to guide the children
through all the dangers they meet in the world, so that under the guidance
of these attentive leaders, and under the protection of God, the devil
does not even dare approach them.
Ask God today for the grace of watching so well over the
children confided to you, that you will take every possible precaution to
shield them from serious faults.
Ask him to be such good guides for them through the light
which you will procure for yourselves by recourse to God, and by the
fidelity with which you do your work, that you will see well every
obstacle to the good of their souls, and keep away from the path of their
salvation everything that could harm them.
This is the principal care you must have for the children
entrusted to you, it is the main reason why God has entrusted you with so
holy a ministry, and it is on this that he will call you to give a very
exact account on the day of judgment. |