The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1914-03-07
NECESSITY OF RELIGIOUS IN
STRUCTION.
st. Cloud, Mimi,
10 February, 1914.
Rev. Father and Dear Brethren:

Rev. Father and Dear Brethren:
Lent, time of penance, mortifica-
tion and self-denial time of serious
reflection on those eternal truths
which should regulate the life of man
and lead him to his eternal destiny;
time of cleansing, purifying and
sanctifying of the immortal soul; a
: time of extraordinary training for the
battle against sin and vice, false prin-
ciples and errors of the modern
world, is again before us. How i'm
portant is this season of penance for
the sincere, earnest Christian; how
, rich in merits, graces and blessings,
if he employs it according to the
spirit of the Church. How necessary
that the man, rushing after the goods
and pleasures of the world, should
pause little and reflect that there
are greater goods and higher pleas
ures than the visible world can give;
: to examine the condition of his i'm
mortal soul and ascertain whether he
is on the narrow path that leads to
heaven, or is perhaps moving with the
great thoughtless crowd on the broad
road that leads to perdition. Multi
tudes are nowadays rushing into in
fidelity and utter indifference about
spiritual matters which are of the
highest importance. Besides the
numberless allurements of the world
and bad examples, ignorance of eter-
nal truths is the principal cause of
: apostasy from God. Many of our
people are in great danger and, alas,
some already initiate the vices of
modern paganism Instruction, thor
ough instruction in religious matters,
is necessary for children and adults
We wish and insist that the Rev. Pas
tors should use every opportunity to
instruct the people in the eternal
truths of our holy religion. They
should preach chiefly catechetical SER
mons, not only in Lent, but also at
other times, except on great feasts
and other important occasions. Such
sermons can be made very attractive
!, and instructive by suitable illustra-
tions, examples, and anecdotes. Our
blessed Lord Himself explained His
: heavenly doctrines by beautiful para
bles, comparisons and figures, taken
from everyday life, ineligible to all
: without exception. The Rev. Pastors
should advise and admonish their
people to procure good Catholic books
in which the saving truths Of religion
: are explained in a popular manner,
J easily understood by all. In every
| oh hn OF 1no OF
one good Catholic paper, such as The
Catholic Bulletin, of St. Paul, which
} not only contains general Church
f news, showing what Catholics are do
: ing in other places, but also treats, as
far as necessary, on the leading pub
lie topics of the day and answers
+, questions, proposed by those who
: wish to be informed on various sub
: jects, concerning faith and morals
: Most useful is the custom, already in
troduced in some places, to have in
the rear of the Church a book-rack
/ stored with good books, magazines,
: pamphlets and papers that treat on
: the leading questions Of the day, such
Y as Socialism, answer false accusations
3 against the Church and its Institu-
tions, and generally instruct the
: people in what they should know as
!. worthy citizens and exemplary Chris
f tians.
Christian Education for Children.
2 But, if instruction is necessary for
Y the adults, how much more for the
q -; f11%,
. their right education. He that has
: the children, has the future. The
enemies of religion know this full
t we'll; therefore they try Tin many
] countries) everything in their power
3 to render the Christian education Of
/ children impossible. The fruits Of
; education in early youth ripen in the
Y subsequent years of manhood. Chris
9 tian parents, remember and under
stand how important it is to give your
' children an early Christian education,
! which alone will produce most blessed
results for time and eternity. The
: true education consists in the train
} ing of the mind and heart. Man be-
longs to God, his Creator, with both
soul and body, he must love Him,
t adore Him and keep His command
: ments. This is his highest and in
dispensable duty. There must be a
supreme Law-unchangeable and in
7 fallible, law which guides the con-
, duct of man and his moral actions
with absolute certainty and precision.
This necessary supreme Law is
taught by the Christian religion,
therefore religion cannot be excluded
from true education. In education,
religion should therefore not be
looked upon as matter of small i'm
portance, as a kind of side-issue, but
as subject of the highest vital neces-
sity and hence should occupy the first
place. Seek first the Kingdom of
God and His justice" says our Blessed
Lord. Religious instruction should go
hand in hand with the teaching Of
: secular branches and direct every
thing to God, the supreme source Of
all things.
Education In the Home.
The true education of a child must
begin in the earliest youth, in the
;. arms of good Christian mother who
is its first teacher. AS soon as child
can lisp word, it should be taught
to pronounce holy names: then II