My Prayer Book_LASANCE - the Catholic Kingdom!

36
Be Careful in tkc Choice of Your Books
93.- Be Utrnefal in tbe mofce of @our
B
Books anb 1Daga3inee
VERYTHING we read makes us better or worse, and,
by a necessary consequence, in- or lessens
our happiness. Be scrupulous in the choice of your
books; often ask yourself what influen'ce your reading
exercises upon your conduct. If after having read sucb
and such a work that pleases you - philosophy, history,
fiction - or else such and such a review, or rnagazine,
or newspaper in which you take delight - if you
then find yourself more slothful about diiharging your
duties, more dry and cross toward your equals, harder
toward your inferiors, with mop &relish for your
state of life, more greedy for pleasures, enjoyments,
honors, riches - do not hesitate abowt giving up such
readings: they would poison your life and endanger
your eternal happiness. - Ibid.
On the inestimable value of good literature, Father
Morgan M. Sheedy writes in " Benziger's Magazine":
".4part from the influence of our holy religion them
is no one thing which enters more deeply into the warp
and woof of our character than the books we read. One
of the greatest blessings that can come to any life is the
love of books. The practice of keeping, especially
before the young, growing mind, beautiful and uplifting
images and bnght, cheerful, healthy thoughts from
books, is of inestimable value. Next to the actual
society of a noble, high-minded author is the benefit ts
be gained by reading his books. The mind is brought
into harmony with the hopes, the aspirations, the ideals
of the writer, so that it ~s impossible afterward to be
satisfied with low or ignoble things. The horizon 4
the reader broadens, his point of view changes, his
Private Use Only