The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1872-02-11

son, had, no doubt, perfect knowledge of
the human heart and it's fragility. The
truth of his words is but too often verified
By the repeated falls OF those, who, conf
dent IN their own strength, throw them
selves in the midst of dangers, wherein
they receive, almost ever, deadly wounds.
Flight from the danger Of sin, is the only
means Of salvation. Cowardice which. in
other circumstances. is considered as a
weakness Of the soul, becomes, on this oc-
casion, an essential virtue. We ought to
fee, and to flee speedily from the danger
Of sin.
Now, among the many dangers surround
ing youth, there is perhaps none more to
be dreaded, than the reading Of romapces
Though they were not forbidden to our Gu
frosty by religion, natural law and tue in
tsrest OF our salvation. would most strictly
prohibit them
First, because the perusal of these books
are dangerous.
Secondly, because very often it produces
tie most frightful effects.
This is the division Of this discourse, and
the object of your attention.
Nothing can better make US understand
the imminent danger of reading romances.
then the evil impressions they generally
leave Ill the heart of youth, and even Of
old people. Romances give only relish for
frivolous things, weaken and disable the
soul for serious occupations and the fulfil
hlment of its duties they enfeeble and
enervate 1t. taking away that rigidity of
preserve US in the path of virtue they ex-
cite a certain vague sensibility and desire
for objects they had before uespised and
rejected they inspire sentiments falsely
heroic; they have passages most critical to
virtue; descriptions or expressions, which,
though chaste in appearance, convey un-
chaste ideas lively and striking images
apt to disturb and disorder the imagination
and reason, not even 30 much by what is de-
scribed, than by what is left under certain
veil to pique ones curiosity; simple and
natural description bringing slowly vice
into the soul, and fire into the veins. 1t
would be preposterous to flatter and deceive
Of such books; no matter by whom writ
ten. by men OF talent or not, they most Of
ten, not to say always, cause secret distur-
Dances in the mind, secret emotions, which
are ordinarily the prelude to shameful falls
What else shall r say 2 They depict vice
with agreeable colors, which disguise its
horror; they efface by the brilliant color
ting Of false virtues the beauty of real ones;
they praise chimerical honor in the place
OF the true one, which they turn into con-
tempt. Tie more they endeavor to show
delicacy in passions, the more they de-
ceivc. What else shall 1 add They de-
scribe in glowing language the refinement
Va Shotc ss1U "OAloiS ptCdBuTc5 III
apparel of luxury, of shameful tableaux, of
manners yet more unbecoming; in fine,
they proclaim the epicurean doctrine.
These are the lessons they inculcate. o
how easily seduced and deceived is q soul
all fresh, and without experience I! And if
sometimes the reading of such books does
not Immediately produce such pernicious
effects, at least it prepares the way if it
is not presently followed by defeats and
falls, it conveys into the heart secret dis
position, which sooner or later shall cause
it's ruin.
Young man, who findest so much attrac-
ton in the reading of romances, answer
me: Dost thou discover in them Christian
Is it in the school of the world
and of the passions, thou expectest 80
acquire the knowledge of virtue or rather
at the foot of the cross, in the Gospel of
Jesus Christ crucifed for all men What
relations, or rather what contrast between
romances aud the morality of our sacred
writings! There is not greater differ
ence between light and darkness than that
existing between the spirit of romances
aud the spirit which ought to ami mate the
disciples of Christ. To cruelty your flesh
with our vices and concupiscences,is accord
ing to the spirit of the Christian religion
to Dourish in our souls an attachment to
the world and its disorders is, if not the |
object, at least the fruit of the reading of
such books.
Now, what can be more dangerous to our
immortal souls : Bad discourses corrupt
good morals /; such is the doctrine of the
Apostle of nations. Immoral conversation
Is strictly forbidden, no one will dare to
1eny it, And maintain that the reading
Of roman ces is more dangerous than i'm
moral conversation, because it makes
ieeper impressions ON the mind. Evil i'm
,ressions produced by conversation do not
asst SO long, on account of the change of
subject, which brings the thought to other
objects. But the reading of immoral books
lraws the whole attention, penetrates the
mind and the heart, fills the whole soul
With immodest imaginations. Romances
re read to satisfy curiosity and other pas
ions difficult to lie controlled they are
'erused, for hours, with pleasure and
'ften, when the heart is open to subjects
rery dangerous; when the soul is unguard
ID and susceptible of whatever may aatter
is propensity. Then impressions become
more lively, more agreeable, deeper and
more ineffaceable. Besides, in converse
ion you often see a person blush when I'M
haste expressions are uttered the pres
nee of others inspires us with some re-
pect and restraint. But no one taking