The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1872-02-18

He that ,oveth danger shal peri.b in i."-Eoclus.
fContinued.I
Most pernicious is the reading of ro-
bances; because it perverts the Judgment,
orrupts good inclinations, and causes the
bin of innumerable souls. A few illus
Fations on this subject will make US un-
erstand we'll the great danger of such
ooks.
St. Teresa, who by reading the lives of
De Safnts and Martyrs, had so much i'm
bed in her soul the spirit of God, that,
hen yet a child, she left her fathers
puse, in order to find n place where she
build gain the crown of martyrdom Tere-
who,, though yet so young, already q
|artyr by desire, but unsuccessful in her
Foject Of dying for Jesus Christ, continued
be an angel of piety, until she began to
pad romances, is a powerful example of
be evil effect caused by the perusal of
hch books. The reading of these books
began" says she, 'to cool my good de-
res, and was the cause of my falling in
fher things. fancied, however, there
as no harm, though spent many hours,
pth Of the day and of the night, in so vain
p exercise, unknown to my father. But
4as so addicted to this habit, that, if
Ruld not obtain some new book, it seemed
me could not be happy" HAD she not
Pen withdrawn from such danger by a
Recial grace of God, she should have
erished,. as you may be convinced of it,
b reading her life written by herself.
Z Another illustration, no less. important. |
that Of st. Augustine, one of the great
n Doctors of the Church, if not the
featest of all. In his youth, ere being a |
|lristian, carried away by the desire of |
Rowing every thing, he reads indiscrimi-
Ately every book. Terence's Comedies are |
r him full of charms; but the more he reads
Eem, the more the poison is infused in his
ind and in bis heart; the fire of impure
ssions is kindled in his soul, and he finds
nself plunged in the abyss of the most
Pmeful depravity. Read the book of his
nfessions, and you will see how much he
M to fight to get out of that abyss of cor
Ption, Nay, he will tell you, that there
2s no hope OF salvation for him, had not
"a, by a miracle of His grace, broken
|Rnder his chains.
Hear also the lamentation of another,
70, deceived by The desire of a vain
Putation, had written romances, and
pred them to the public. Touched by
grace of God, and converted, he per-
yes the evils produced by his writings
desires, but in vain, to put an end to
scandal, and repair the past. "Who
assure me-" says he, that my grief
touched the heart of God, whilst my
lungs continue to cause destruction. /
|pnsh retractions, but will they take the
pble of reading them !; and will those 4
shall fead them receive any advant- I
~ What shall become of SO many souls l
~ What terrible q state to see oneself {
ty, and unable to repair the evil !"
Will yet expose to your sight new
pure, which shall make deeper impress I
on your minds; represent new to {
elf youth of this college, who at first /
aded the mere thought of crime, as the {
hts Of the most dangerous disease
countenance was shining with the {
lt of piety; he was often seen in the /
rch receiving the sacraments with fer a
he fonnd his delight in reading good G
KS and fulfilling with exactitude all his /
es, both as Christian and q student. I
crown of victory had often eucircled
brow he was the glory of his teachers,
not seldom had he been proposed as a
Pei to his companions; in fine, in virtue f
science he was the ost aecomplisbed d
IN of the college. Such a herinnipp +
us the greatest hope of happy 7
re but vain expectation A contn. q
+ breath rises and surrounds that r
Pc plant; it decays and fades away. /
|4mprudcuce has become to that uufur- o
te youth stumbling block against q
IN Ia vanishing away all the feFyor of il