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
