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186.1
First point
This
saint's virtuous parents took great care of his education; consequently,
since he was endowed with good dispositions, he soon acquired such piety
that he was esteemed and honored by everyone. It was this, too, that won
for him a high reputation.
What a great blessing it is to be brought up well, since in this
way one acquires many virtues with great ease, because the tendencies of
the young are easily guided, and they accept without great difficulty the
impressions we seek to give them.
Consider, therefore, how important it is for you to apply
yourselves as well as you will be able to educate well those who are under
your guidance, and to procure piety for them. This is the principal object
and the purpose of your work.
Be assured that you will succeed in this only if you make
yourselves pleasing to God, and that he will pour out on you and your work
his abundant blessing only insofar as you make their education your
principal concern.
The trouble you take to do this will in the end make your students
docile and solidly submissive to their parents, and to those to whom their
parents confide them, self-controlled and well-behaved in public, pious in
church, and in all that refers to God, to holy things, and to everything
that relates to religion.
186.2
Second Point
This
saint was so humble, reserved, and serious that the Bishop of Paris at the
time admitted him into the ranks of the clergy on the sole consideration
of the virtues which distinguished him. He was a source of edification and
an example for all the other members of the clergy, even when he was just
beginning his career as an ecclesiastic. As all considered him their
model, his bishop resolved to ordain him a priest, even though Saint
Marcellinus, for his part, expressed a reluctance because he considered
himself unworthy of this honor and the dignity of this sacred office.
You are in a work that by its ministry resembles that of priests
more than it does any other work. As it was the rare and extraordinary
virtue of Saint Marcellinus which led to his being raised to that
ministry, you on entering your state ought to bring and preserve in the
exercise of your ministry a piety that is more than ordinary. It should
distinguish you from other people, otherwise it will be difficult for you
to carry out well your ministry. For,
since your vocation has not been instituted except to procure the spirit
of religion and of Christianity for those whom you instruct, it cannot
achieve its purpose, and enable those who are in this work to achieve
their purpose, unless beforehand they have worked seriously to sanctify
themselves.
186.3
Third Point
When
the Bishop of Paris died, the holy life of Saint Marcellinus caused him to
be chosen to replace him. It was in this exalted responsibility, so
difficult to carry out well, that he showed how great was his zeal for the
salvation of souls. For besides using all the natural and supernatural
talents God had given him to procure their sanctification, he did not
cease to pray and keep watch to help the ones who needed conversion, and
to draw on others the graces needed for them to be strong in the practice
of good and to advance in virtue.
In some sense it can be said that each of you is a bishop, that is,
the vigilant guardian of the flock God has entrusted to you,[i]
and consequently you are obliged to keep watch over all those who belong
to it, because, as Saint Paul says, you have to give an account
to God for their souls.[ii]
Do you sometimes reflect before God how fearful this account is? The soul
of each one of those you guide is infinitely dear to God and if any one of
them is lost through your fault, God has said it and he will do it: he
will require from you soul for soul.[iii]
You have two sorts of children to instruct: some are disorderly and
inclined to evil; the others are good, or at least inclined to good. Pray
continually for both, following the example of Saint Marcellinus,
especially for the conversion of those who have evil inclinations.
And work to preserve and strengthen the good ones in the practice
of good. Still, make your
care and your most fervent prayers directed to win over to God the hearts
of those who are prone to evil.
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Marcellinus
(5th century) was born in Paris and succeeded Prudentius as bishop of that
city. His life was written by Fortunatus, Bishop of Poitiers, and is
evidently the basis for De La Salle's description of him. The part of
Paris where he is buried is still called Saint-Marceau.
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