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203.1 First Point
One
of the characteristics and one of the effects of the zeal persons have for
the well-being and salvation of souls is to reprove and correct those in
their care when they fall into some fault. This is how Jesus Christ often
made his zeal for the Jews manifest in the temple, when he went there
and drove out those who were buying and selling[i]
the things needed for the sacrifices. At the time he made a whip of
cords that he used to chase them.[ii]
Jesus acted similarly toward the Pharisees because he could
not tolerate their hypocrisy, false piety,[iii]
much less their pride which led them to esteem and praise their own
actions[iv]
while belittling and blaming the behavior of others.[v]
He condemned all their conduct because they satisfied themselves with
teaching others but took no pains to practice what they taught.[vi]
In all these encounters Jesus Christ rebuked and blamed them publicly. See
what Jesus Christ did not only to the Pharisees but also to others on
several occasions.
Saint Paul with similar freedom reproved the Corinthians
for tolerating an incestuous person among them, telling them that they
should have handed him over to the devil to be tormented in his body so
that his soul might be saved.[vii]
You too must reprove and correct your disciples when they
commit some fault, the more so because it is typical of children that they
often make mistakes by doing many things without thinking. The reproofs
and corrections made give them time to reflect on what they have to do and
cause them to watch over themselves in order not to be making the same
mistakes.
Be exact, then, not to allow considerable faults in them
without providing this remedy for them.
203.2 Second Point
People are naturally so inclined to sin that they seem to find no other
pleasure than committing it. This is seen especially in children, because
their minds have not developed yet and they are not capable of much
serious reflection. They seem to have no other inclination than to please
their passions and their senses, and to satisfy their nature.
This is why the Holy Spirit says that it is as if folly
is tied to the neck of children, and correction is the only way to cure
them.[viii]
The way to free the souls of children from hell, then, is to make use of
this remedy which will procure wisdom for them. Otherwise, if they are
abandoned to their own will, they will run the risk of ruining themselves
and causing much sorrow to their parents. The reason for this is because
the faults turn into a habit which will be very difficult to correct. The
good and bad habits contracted in childhood and maintained over a period
of time ordinarily become part of nature.
This is why those who guide young children must reprove
them, as Saint Paul says, with all the force of authority to make
them return from their wandering and rescue them from the snares of the
demon who holds them captive to his will.[ix]
In effect, it can be said with reason that a child who has acquired a
habit of sin has in some sense lost his freedom and has made himself a
miserable captive, according to what Jesus Christ says, the one who
commits sin is the slave of sin.[x]
It is for you who are teachers of those you guide to take
all possible care to bring those under your guidance into that liberty
of the children of God which Jesus Christ obtained for us[xi]
by dying for us. To do this you need to have two qualities in your
relationship with them. The first is gentleness and patience.
The second is prudence in your reproofs and corrections.
203.3 Third Point
What
ought to animate you the more to reprove and correct the faults of your
disciples, is the fact that if you fail in this you yourselves will be
reprehensible before God, who will punish you for your weakness and
neglect in this matter.
Since you are substitutes for their fathers and mothers and
their pastors, you are obliged to keep watch over these children as the
one who is accountable for their souls.[xii]
So, if you do not watch over their conduct, you must realize that, since
these children are not able to guide themselves, you will render an
account to God for the faults they commit just as if you yourselves had
committed them.
The high priest Eli is a very clear example, and a
frightening one as well, of this truth. Because he allowed bad behavior in
his children, God announced to him through Samuel that he was
condemning his house for all eternity because of his sin:[xiii]
and because, though knowing that his sons were behaving in an unworthy
manner, he did not correct them. As a result God swore that this fault
could not be expiated by sacrifices or offerings to the Lord, so great was
the sin considered by God.
You, who hold the place of fathers and pastors of souls,
fear that God will act the same way toward you, if you neglect to reprove
and correct your disciples when it is needed, for you would have neglected
the service with which God honored you when he put you in charge of
guiding these children.
He has entrusted you especially with the care of their
souls, which is what God had most at heart when he made you the guides and
guardians of these young children.
Fear that your negligence may not be pardoned any more than
that of the high priest Eli, if you have not been sufficiently faithful to
God in your work of striving to preserve in the grace of God these souls
entrusted to your guidance.
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