Tear off the disguise!

Dear Crusaders,

You are used to seeing the priest preach to the faithful on Sunday.  Can you imagine taking Father’s place at the pulpit?  I will tell you a true story of children who got together to preach.  Every year, during the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day, some children get together in the church of the Ara-Coeli in Rome.  There, a big Nativity set is installed, with the famous statue of the Bambino of the Ara-Coeli.  At a given time, children from 4 to 10 years old go up to the pulpit to recite beautiful lines and to give beautiful sermons in honour of the God-Child.  The priests can take a break for a few days!

Children, could you do this?  Don’t worry; I am not going to ask you.  However, you could preach and even beautiful sermons, but not from the pulpit though.  You could preach to your little friends, and you could also preach at home.  Just think about and follow the little advices from the examples I am giving to you: 

Mary has a box full of holy cards, which John, her younger brother is looking with envy.  John likes the beautiful images, but does not understand the meaning.  What Mary will do?  She takes a picture and shows it to John saying, “See John, this is a picture of the Child Jesus lying in the crib.  He is cold but it does not matter to Him, because He loves you much.  Give Him a kiss!”  That’s it: Mary gave a sermon to John.

Could you preach without opening your mouth? Really? One day, St. Francis of Assisi told Brother Leon: “Come with me, let’s go to town to preach!  As they left the convent, and went all over town, Brother Francis kept silent.  As they were back home, Brother Leon asked: “Brother Francis, why did you stay silent?  You told me that we were going to preach: we went all over the city, and you did not say a word.”  “Yes I know, Brother Leon, we kept silent, but while we were going down the streets, our eyes down and recollected, was it not a preaching that we gave to the bystanders?” Yes, children, when you give good example,  apply yourself to your studies, pray, attend Mass, and receive Holy Communion, you preach indeed, without saying a word!

In the same manner, there are a number of parents who were lukewarm, or who did not have the faith.  They truly converted through the good example of their children.  You too, dear children could become apostles in your family.  How many children are telling us that they gave up their morning prayers?  Why? Because the habit was lost in their family.  There is a very simple way to get it back, just ask your mum to help you to do your morning prayer.  By doing so, you will be an apostle-of-the-morning-prayer, which will come back in your family.

In our days, the devil is using many tricks to lead men to sin.  We’ve got to use all the weapons available to fight him back, and sow the seed of the Good Lord in the hearts of our neighbour.  If you help Jesus, He will reward you.

                       Father Dominique Boulet
                                                                

E-mail address: EucharisticCrusade@sspx.ca

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