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HE more  deeply  your  heart,  dear reader, is  imbued  with  a  true  fear  of God,  so  much  the  more  will  this  fear  rule  and guide you  in  every  circumstance  of  life,  and  so much  the  less  will  you  know  any  other  fear, and so  much  the  more  courageously  will  you at all  times  and  in  all  places  range  yourself  on the  side  of  God  before  the  eyes  of  the  world. And in  our  own  day  it  is  more  than  ever  necessary to  stand  up  courageously  for  the  cause  of Christ. All Christians,  but  in  the  first  place  all men, both  old  and  young,  must  show  themselves to be  the  courageous  apostles  of  Christ,  must fearlessly espouse  His  cause  before  all  the  world, and in  every  position  of  life. That is  a  high, a glorious  vocation,  calculated  to  fire  every youthful heart  with  enthusiasm.

2. Christ  has  said:  "Every  one  that  shall confess  me  before  men,  I  will  also  confess  him before  My  Father  who  is  in  heaven"  (Matt.  5 32). This open  confession  of  faith  in  Jesus Christ and  the  truths  He  has  revealed,  this  fearless espousal  of  His  cause,  is  demanded  especially in  our  times. Modern society  is  to  a  great extent anti-Christian  or  inimical  to  Christ,  pervaded by  hatred  to  Christianity  in  general,  and to the  Catholic  Church  in  particular.

This was  very  plainly  shown  some  years  ago, when the  question  of  Christian  education  was debated in  the  German  parliament. On that occasion Count  Caprivi,  the  imperial  chancellor, publicly asserted  that  the  whole  question  centered on this,  Christ  or  Anti-Christ. After this  courageous declaration,  a  tremendous  hubbub  arose, in which  all  present  joined,  with  the  exception