Page:TheYoungMansGuide.djvu/87

 properly understood,  than  the  attentive  arid meditative reading  of  the  ' Lives  of  the Saints.' "

HEN astronomers  desire  to  contemplate  the  sidereal  heavens,  they  do not  take  their  telescopes  into  a  room  filled  with smoke, dust,  and  vapor,  but  they  go  out  into  the open air,  at  a  time  when  the  atmosphere  is  perfectly clear.

The reason  is  apparent. They act  thus  in order  that  they  may  see  the  stars  more  clearly and distinctly,  and  keep  the  lens  of  their  instrument free  from  smoke  and  moisture. The same argument applies  to  faith;  it  is  a  telescope  by means  of  which  one  can  see  those  heavenly  and supernatural things  which  the  unaided  eye  of reason  is  not  able  to  perceive. But this  super-, natural telescope  must  be  pure  and  bright,  and not allowed  to  become  dim. How does  it  become dim;  how  does  unbelief  creep  into  the head and  heart? This is  the  question. Now listen to  the  answer.

2. Who  drifts  into  unbelief? Is it  the  men who spent  their  youth  in  prayer  and  study,  and then as  priests  of  God  set  an  example  to  the world of  a  pure  and  blameless  life? Is it  the virgins consecrated  to  God  who  devote  themselves  in  the  solitude  of  the  cloister  to  the  contemplation of  eternal  truths? Is it  the  courageous youths  who  do  their  utmost  to  safeguard me virtue  of  chastity,  and  are  careful  to  cleanse their consciences  by  a  frequent  reception  of  the sacraments? Certainly not! They can  see clearly the lens  of  their  telescope  is  not  dim.