Page:Anecdotescatechi00spiruoft.djvu/11

Rh religion into  contempt. Therefore, examples  ought to  be  true  or  at  least  highly  probable.

“2. The  anecdotes  narrated  should  be  free  from superfluous  or  irrelevant  matter. It has  a ridiculous effect  if  the  account  of  some  trivial  and  insignificant occurrence  begins  with  a formal  statement  of  the place,  the  year,  the  day  of  the  month  when  it  took place,  or  by  the  (sometimes  grandiose)  baptismal and  family  names  of  the  individuals  concerned,  the date  and  place  of  their  birth,  etc. In some  instances the  minutest  details  are  entered  into. When, on  the other  hand,  really  important  historical  events  are related,  it  is  well  to  mention  date  and  place.

“3. Furthermore,  the  examples  should  be  interesting, and  of  an edifying  and  elevating  character. If this  is  not  so,  it  is  tantamount  to  giving  the  children stones  instead  of  bread. Noble deeds,  worthy  of imitation,  should  be  proposed  to  them  as  examples.

“Some persons  will  perhaps  say: ‘When  the  examples have  been  once narrated,  they  are  of  no  further use.’  That  is  a mistaken  idea. Are Our  Lord’s parables,  I ask,  to  be  set  on  one  side  because  they have  been  already  related,  or  read  aloud  in  public? Assuredly not;  the  Church  recalls  them  to  our  remembrance year  by  year  in  her  services. The priest is,  of  course,  expected  not  to  content  himself  with the  simple  repetition  of  the  parables;  he  must expound them,  choosing  at  one  time  this,  at  another that,  special  point  to  be  brought  into  prominence and  proposed  for  the  consideration  of  his  hearers, and  drawing  practical  lessons  from  it. In this  way he will,  as  Our  Lord  says,  be  ‘like  to  a man  that  is