Page:TheYoungMansGuide.djvu/122

 But as Thyself hast loved me,

O ever-loving Lord.

E’en so I love Thee, and will love,

And in Thy praise will sing;

Solely because Thou art my God

And my eternal King.

ove is a necessity to every human heart. Man is swayed by love either for good or for evil. Hence it is of the highest importance for every man, and especially for the young man, that an active, practical, abiding, unswerving love of God should dwell within his heart — of the highest importance for the young man, since it is in youth that the war against the threefold enemy — the devil, the world, and the concupiscence of the flesh—is the fiercest and most decisive.

If you, my dear young man, while you are rejoicing in the golden days of youth, fail to gain a mastery over the devil, the world, and the concupiscence of the flesh, the victory will at a later period become very difficult, perhaps even impossible, and in this case you will never win the heavenly crown which is the reward of him who conquers.

But how, and by what means shall you