Page:TheYoungMansGuide.djvu/165



DISTINGUISHING characteristic of a  virtuous  young  man,  and  one which makes  him  universally  respected,  is  the honor, love,  and  obedience  he  shows  his  mother. You, however,  have  three  mothers:  your  earthly mother; your  heavenly  mother,  the  Blessed  Virgin Mary;  and  your  spiritual  mother,  the  Holy Catholic Church. And how  good,  how  careful a mother  is  this  last! Reflect upon  this  thought for a  few  moments,  and  lay  it  well  to  heart. Thus will  you  love  and  honor  this  mother  in an  ever-increasing  degree,  and  render  her  a more  exact  and  willing  obedience.

2. If  you  owe  honor,  love,  and  obedience  to your  earthly  mother,  how  much  more  to  your spiritual mother,  the  Holy  Catholic  Church  1 Bear constantly  in  mind  the  words  of  Jesus: "He that  heareth  you,  heareth  me." As a  good Catholic, true  to  your  convictions,  you  will  never speak in  a  disrespectful  manner  of  the  Church, her doctrines,  her  services,  her  ceremonies,  or her  priests. You will  never  listen  complacently when such  conversation  is  carried  on,  but,  on the  contrary,  strive  to  prevent  conversation  of this  nature  as  far  as  you  are  able. Also you will not  take  in  or  read  books  and  newspapers which show  themselves  to  be  either  unsympathetic toward  your  mother,  or  openly  hostile in regard  to  her.

3. You  must  also  love  the  Church,  and  rejoice in  her  prosperity  and  promote  her  interests as far  as  it  lies  in  your  power  to  do  so. You must understand  that  any  one  who  looks  on with  toleration  or  indifference  when  his  mother