The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-04-12
THE CHRISTIAN MOTHER AND
THE WORLD.

1t is all-important that the mother
should from the very outset of her
children's education be guided by a
correct knowledge of the world. The
idea that a young child understands
nothing is as hurtful as the assertion
that the world has no dangers for
him.
A mother ought to be ever on the
watch as to what the child reads,
sees, or hears at home, and she will
act in a similar manner in regard to
the children with whom he associates,
and the influence to which he is ex-
posed from without. The strictest
guardianship and screening from dan
ger does good merely for time. The
only thing to be done is to train up
children that they shall be able to
withstand the seductions Of the world
which must inevitably be met with
when they go out into it. In pro-
portion as they acquire their liberty,
the parental supervision is withdrawn,
until at length they find themselves
standing alone in the world, with no
stay or support but the training they
have received. During the period of
childhood, while the mother holds un-
disputed mastery over the hearts of
her children, she must accustom them
to simplicity and the practice of self
control, to regard forbidden pleasures
with horror, and be moderate in the
enjoyment of those that are lawful.
She must furthermore assiduously Gull
tivate in them faith and goodness, so
that these virtues may grow and
flourish, and become stronger year by
year, until, when the moment of con-
f1ict comes, they may prove stronger
than the world.
Undoubtedly, nothing is more diff
cut then to prevent the world from
gaining an influence over one in mat
tiers wherein it is permissible and
| indeed necessary to make concessions
up to a certain point. Love of fashion
and love of pleasure are the strongest
and most efficacious snares wherein
the world seeks to entrap it's victims.
One must dress suitably to ones
station, but the art of education ought
to consist in granting what is right
and proper, and excluding all that
savors of ostentatious display or fos-
tiers vanity. In the same way, amuse-
ments and diversions are not to be
forbidden altogether; the wise parent
will endeavor merely to impose re-
strictions and limitations as to their
nature and measure, to prohibit what
may prove harmful, or curtail their
number. Unless the mother has her
self correct ideas on this point she
If she dresses up her little girl, and
4 looks at her with delighted alteration,
she is teaching her to be a coquette
! If she expresses her admiration for
her sons talents, and gratifies his
every within, one may be certain that
ere long he will be her master. The
mother who acts thus possesses the
spirit of the world, and in the course
of nature the same spirit will mani
fest itself in her children and bea1
baneful fruit. The Christian mother
and the world contend for the soul o.
child. The advantage is on the
mothers side. She can exert her in
fiuence over the child for years before
the world can assert its claims. L
she is herself animated by the RICH
spirit, she can, with the assistance o
divine grace, insure victory before
From The CsthOfc Mother.
bp Right Req DR.. Augustine E90er
II