It is necessary to implant in the hearts of the young the love of Jesus Christ, the love of the Church, love of labour, of virtue, and of true personal dignity. Lacordaire

 

This month, dedicated by the piety of the faithful to the sacred infancy of our Lord, brings many serious thoughts to our minds.

The Old Law was a law of fear, given to a stiff necked people, living under all the consequences of the sin of Adam. It was promulgated midst thunder and lightning from the top of Sinai. The New Law was to be a law of love; and the Almighty chose the most lovable form to prepare men for its announcement. What a refinement of love! The little Infant in the crib is the omnipotent God, loving poor man with an immeasurable love. He is our King, our Redeemer, our Lord, our best Friend. The Divine Child was to be a model to all young and old, rulers and ruled, learned and ignorant.

His infancy was a most natural one exteriorly. Strange vicissitudes, however, followed one another closely, to teach us to bear the ups and downs of life with humility and fortitude. One day He is honoured by the shepherds, and the next humiliated by the Circumcision. The Kings from the East prostrate before Him and offer their presents to-day; and shortly after, His mother and foster-father fly with Him from the sword of the persecutor.

His six or seven years in Egypt were free from personal danger, and he led an ordinary domestic life there the word * domestic implying all that is usually included in the life of a poor boy.

How many lessons we learn from Him! He teaches us not to judge by appearances; to love the poor; to bear humiliations, injustice, and inconveniences with patience; to be resigned to the will of God; to be obedient to authority; to practise domestic virtues.

Parents ought frequently to tell their children the different incidents recorded of the Divine Infant, with suitable reflections, so that they may be induced from their earliest years to keep Him as a model before their eyes. This is especially necessary at the present day, when the craving for pleasure is so apt to be increased by the many opportunities offered in every state of life.

 O Divinest Childhood of my Saviour dear;

How in very weakness does His strength appear!

How Thy beauty, Jesu, ravishes my heart!

How the more abased, the greater still Thou art!

Near our little Jesus, docile grows my mind,

Nor can aught perplexing in His Gospel find.

Come, presumptuous reason, fix thy gaze on this,

And for ever after all thy pride dismiss.

 

Example – Alban Butler’s Mother

 

The famous author of the Lives of the Saints lost his father and mother when young. The latter wrote the following letter to him and his two brothers just before she died:

My Dear Children,

Since it pleases Almighty God to take me out of this world, as no doubt wisely foreseeing I am no longer a useful parent to you (for no person ought to be thought necessary in this world when God thinks proper to take him out), so I hope you will offer the loss of me with a resignation suitable to the religion you are of, and offer yourselves. He who makes you orphans so young, without a parent to take care of you, will take you into His protection and fatherly care if you do love and serve Him, Who is the Author of all goodness. Above all things, prepare your selves, while you are young, to suffer patiently what afflictions He shall think proper to lay upon you, for it is by this He trieth His best servants. In the first place, give Him thanks for your education in the true faith (which many thousands want), and then, I beg of you earnestly to petition His direction, what state of life you shall under take, whether it be for religion, or to get your livings in the world. No doubt but you may be saved either way if you do your duty to God, your neighbour, and yourselves. And I beg of you to make constant resolutions, rather to die a thousand times, if possible, than quit your faith; and always have in your thoughts what you would think of, were you as nigh death as I now think myself. There is no preparation for a good death but a good life. Do not omit your prayers, and to make an act of contrition and examen of conscience every night, and frequent the Blessed Sacraments of the Church. I am so weak, I can say no more to you, but I pray God to bless and direct you, and your friends to take care of you. Lastly, I beg of you never to forget to pray for your poor father and mother when they are not capable of helping themselves; so I take leave of you, hoping to meet you in heaven, to be happy for all eternity.

 

Your affectionate mother,

 Ann Butler