The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1919-10-04
THE CULTURE OF THE HEART.

The cultivation of tenderness of
heart, which is pre-eminently a
womanly virtue, is greatly neglected
in our day, although it is as impor-
tant as, and should go hand in hand
with, purely mental culture. A woman
who possesses merely mental culture
has left the better side of her nature
undeveloped.
Can you conceive a womanly ideal
in which the innate disposition to
make others happy is lacking? Has
not the Creator implanted in woman,
as one of His noblest gifts, this desire
to do good and dispense charity
What does it mean to make others
happy, to do good, and dispense char
| ity? Generally this question asso-
ciates itself more or less with dis
tribution of money. Many estimable
people, however, are deprived on their
earthly pilgrimage of the excess
baggage of worldly wealth; are they,
therefore, unable to minister to their
fellowmen?
The Lord has perhaps, for prudent
reasons, denied you temporal goods,
but has given you freely treasures of
heart and mind. Why not share these
with your rich, but in this respect
poor, brother? Sacrifice an occa-
sional evening, though it mean quit
ting the coy family circle. Visit the
young woman, whose whole treasure
in ho, hoe i,,cf
buried. Let her know how intensely
you share her sorrow and that you
understand it's magnitude. If you sue
coed in awakening in her the thought
of resignation, you will have accom-
plished more than if you had relieved
the material needs of a poor person.
God has given you a joyous, cheer
full disposition. Let it radiate joy to
your ill friend, who, removed from
the pleasures of life, is confined to
her sickbed. Are you less rewarded
by the smile which lights up the suf-
ferer's face than by the thanks of
hungry ones whom you have given to
eat? In your neighborhood lives an
old friend of your mothers. She is
mourning the alterations of a be-
loved son. Give her an hour and COM
fort her, persuading her that the
prodigal son will return penitent and
reformed. You may then liken your
self to the good Samaritan who has
poured oil and wine on her wounds.
The daughter of friend of yours
who died an early death is in board
ing school or orphanage. The father
is so engrossed in business or has
such long hours in the workshop that
child. He has placed her in safe
hands. But what do the dropping lips
of the child tell you? What do you
read in those wistful eyes? Go and
satisfy the childs yearning for moth
erly sympathy. Talk to her of her
departed mother, you knew her.
Among your acquaintance is an
elderly unmarried lady, whom some
call cross old maid. She is gener-
ally Stunned. Of her it is said: "She
has had many misfortunes and her
embitterment can be easily accounted
for-but why should we give her an
opportunity to use her sharp tongue
on us?' Owing to such treatment she
naturally becomes more embttered
Why not try to stimulate the more
amiable side of her nature by doing
her favor or showing her some at
tention? To place jingling coins in
the hand of a needy one is privilege
denied you, but you might give this
spiritually Impoverished person the
gold of a noble heart. If you restore
her confidence in mankind, you have
given her a rich gift, indeed.
You know a widow who has seen
better days. Death of her husband
and breadwinner has brought the
family deprivations. Perhaps you
alone perceive the poverty which they
are concealing from the world. Go to
one of your well-to-do friends and
plead their cause and be the medium
for dispensing charity in tactful
manner Is this work of charity less
deserving than if you had given from
your own well-flled purse?
Is it not false position to take tc
complain that you are not able to be
charitable because you have not the
material means?
The tenderness of heart from which
such spiritual charity springs should
bt cultivated. 1t should be developed
eaily in life, in your children, par
ucus.iil! il tie girls.
Rep. Timdnn Pesch.