The Greater Victory

When Frederick the Great of Brandenburg, was a young prince, he spent two years in Leyden, Holland, with Leuchtmar, his instructor. One day the Prince received a letter from Berlin, inviting him to make an official visit to The Hague, a place in the capital of the country.

Leuchtmar had always hesitated to take young Frederick to this great city because it had long been known as a city without morals – a city of sin! Being a great city, there was much to learn there, but there was also much to lose – as it was a great danger to virtue.

In the end, Leuchtmar decided to take the prince to The Hague. Soon after his arrival there, the prince found himself surrounded by a crowd of young noblemen – sons of princes and counts.

One evening Prince Frederick was invited to a great banquet which lasted far into the night. The wine flowed freely and before long many of the nobles had had too much to drink. Then to make it even worse, certain persons joined the party who did not belong in the company of decent young men.

At once the prince got up and left, in spite of his companions, begging him to stay. Very firmly he answered their complaints: "I know what is owing to my parents, my country, and myself!"

Early the next morning, Prince Frederick and Leuchtmar mounted their horses and rode to help Prince Henry of Orange, the prince of that country, who was attacking the city of Breda. Leuchtmar told the Prince of Orange why Prince Frederick had left The Hague and taken to the field where his life was in danger every minute. Prince Henry was very impressed by the virtue of Prince Frederick and said, "My Prince, your flight from the banquet shows that you have more courage, and is a greater victory than the capturing of this city. He, who knows how to conquer himself so early in life, will certainly succeed in great things later on."

So you see; it is very important to keep in the state of grace and not commit any sin. It works like this; if you are faithful in trying not to commit willful venial sins, then you will not commit mortal sins.

But if you don't care about virtue and continue to commit willful venial sins, then gradually you will fall into mortal sin, and it will be more and more difficult to stop committing mortal sins.

Home | Contents

Accueil