The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-02-16
1aornlne Star and Catholic Messenger.
nav oRLEANs, SUNDAY. FEBRUARY 10. 1879
EDUCATION.

FEW ORLEANS, SUNDAY. FEBRUARY ~. 100
EDUCATION. .#-
PASTORAL LETTER OF THE RIGHT REV.
JAMES GIBBONS.
The education of youth is the epgrossing
ionic of our times. The Supreme heaa OF
the Catholic Church has sounded the key
note. He points out the necessity OF daiiy
Christian instruction as the only effecsuai
safeguard foc preserving the rising genera
ton from the dangers which !mperii their
faith and morals.
The Bishops and clergy Of Christcndom
rs.echo the voice of the Holy Father: 1t
may be safely asserted, that the future
status Of Catholicity in the United States 10
TO be determined by the success or failure
Of our day. schools and that the ratio OF
our Catholic population, IN lne Gom,ns
portion to the number and patronage OF
our parochial institutions Of learning.
The vital question of tho day is not,
"How shall We preserve the sheep OF tne
fold" but, chow shall We shelter the
lambs Z" Shall they be poisoned by the M
healthy pastures which are 90 temptingiy
placed before them or shall their tender
souls be nourished by those who are their
Divinely constituted pastoral
We are persuaded that the popular errors
now existing ia reference to educaf'ons
arise from an incorrect notion OF that term.
To educate means, to bring out, TO deveioP
ties of the soul. An education, therefore,
which improves only the mind, 20 the ne
elect of moral and religious training, -, at
best. but an imperfect and mutilatet sys-
tenn. Even according to Webstsr's dehnI.
tien, to educate ais to instill into the mind
and behavior" "To educate" be says,
sin the arts, 10 important; In religion, in
God forbid that we should uSdervalue
tho Importance and advaptageBOf secular
education, OF which the Catholic Church
has always been the fostering mother and
muniacent patronesS; she ionn NJ 60 . ana
Cambridge, Paris, Padua, and Bologna,
and nearly all the other great Universities
of Europe. From the sixth to the elk
teenth century, she labored with untiring
zeal in establishing throughout Europe,
free schools for the education of the masses.
city In the world better supplied with edu,
cational establ ishmsnts than the capital of
Christendom./ Rome, with population Of
only I5S, OOO, souls, has 372 public primary
schools, attended by over IA 900 children.
Ignorance" says Pope Benedict XIV, sis
the source Of all evil, above all, among the
working classes"
Parents in having the minds of their
children we'll stored with useful knowl-
edge, bequeath to them . legacy far more
precious than gold or silver.
Young men who fall heirs to rich estates,
bat whose education was neglected, sell
dom reflect credit on their families or
county. Their riches are too frequently .
stumbling block in their way, an excuse
for idleness, and an endless source of temp
tation.
Endeavor, parents, as far as circumstan-
ces will allow, to secure for your children q
solid and practical course Of instruction.
Develop their minds and hearts. Make
them especially familiar with those bran
ches OF knowledge which they are after
wards likely to pursue. Then they can 60
forth into the world, gifted with we'll
furnished mind, and great confidence In
God. They are armed with lever BY
which they can elevate themselves In the
social circle, and become valuable members
Of society.
And who are they that are succeeding
best by fair means In our own country,
where every honest work 10 honorable
Your own observation will enable you to
zee, that they are men who enter the world,
placing their confidence not in wealth al
npon God, aud proflting by the judicions
use of the education impaired to them in
their youth.
But it is not enough for your children to
have secular education they must also
acquire a religious training. Indeed, reli-
gious knowledge is as far above human
sciences ais the soul Is above the body
rs heaven is above the earth, and eternity
is above time. The little child that is fam.
iliar with his Catechism, lie really more en-
lighened than the most profound philoso
piers of Pagan antiquity, or even than
many so-called philosophers of our times.
He has mastered the great problem of lite.
He knows his origin, his sublime destiny,
and the means Of attaining it-a knowledge
which NO human science can impart without
the light of revelation. s.s.-.
God has given us heart to be formed to
virtue, rs we'll as q head to be enlightened.
BY secular education, we improve the
mind; by religious training, We direct the
heart.
1t is not sufficient, therefore, to know
how to read and write; or to understand
the rudiments Of grammar and arithmetic.
1t does not suffice to know that two and
two make four; we must also practically
learn the great difference between time and
eternity. The knowledge of book keep
ing is not sufficient, unless We are also
taught how to balance our accounts daily
between our conscience and our God. It
will profit US little to understand all about
the diurnal aud annual motions of the
InAa l.