Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/253

 as you  become  older; for  Jesus, as  the  Gospel  says, increased in  grace  and  wisdom  with  God  and  man. (Luke ii.  52.)  Learn  from  this,  that  as  every  day, every hour,  the  Almighty  adds  to  your  life,  every grace, every  instruction  you  receive,  should  advance you in  the  road  of  solid  virtue. In particular,  every time you  have  the  happiness  of  communicating,  you should grow,  like  Jesus,  in  grace  and  wisdom  before God and  man; that  is,  God  should  discern  in  your heart, and  those  with  whom  you  associate  should witness in  your  conduct,  an  increase  of  the  fear  and love of  God. Those faults  and  failings  which  were excusable some  years  ago,  before  you  were  admitted to the  holy  Communion,  become  serious  at  present. Examine whether  you  may  not  unfortunately  have lost much  of  the  fervour  with  which  you  first approached the  adorable  Eucharist,  and  never  forget that not  to  go  forward  in  virtue,  is  to  go  back.

Jesus Christ,  while  yet  a child,  is  found  among the Doctors  in  the  Temple,  asking  them  questions, and listening  to  the  word  of  God  with  profound veneration. Did the  eternal  Son  of  God,  the  Fountain of  all  knowledge,  require  instruction? Was there anything  for  him  to  learn,  or  any  person  on earth  who  could  teach  him? Certainly not; but  on this  occasion  he  would  teach  you  with  what  ardour you should  seek  after  instruction — how  thankfully and respectfully  you  should  receive  it — how  highly you should  value  an  opportunity  of  hearing  the  Word of God. He would  also  impress  on  your  mind  an essential  duty  of  youth,  which  is,  to  venerate  age, and love  the  society  of  the  virtuous. But the  chief virtue which  characterized  the  youth  of  Jesus  Christ was obedience;  so  strongly  would  he  recommend this to  you,  that  he  has  scarce  permitted  any  other