Let Us Try to Cling to Christ
From The Writings of Saint Joseph Calasanz, priest (1557 – 1648)
Let us try to cling to Christ and please him alone
Narrated by Frank Dugan, Huntington Beach, California
Everyone knows the great merit and dignity attached to that holy ministry in which young boys, especially the poor, receive instruction for the purpose of attaining eternal life. This ministry is directed to the well-being of body and soul; at the same time that it shapes behavior it also fosters devotion and Christian doctrine. In doing this it performs for the young boys the very same service as their guardian angels.
Moreover the strongest support is provided not only to protect the young from evil, but also to rouse them and attract them more easily and gently to the performance of good works. Whatever the type of condition, it is well known that when the young are given this help the change for the better is so great that it becomes impossible to distinguish those who are educated from those who are not. Like the twigs of plants the young are easily influenced, as long as someone works to change their souls. But if they are allowed to grow hard, we know well that the possibility of one day bending them diminishes a great deal and is sometimes utterly lost.
All who belong to the society of men, and especially all Christians, praise those who increase the human dignity of young boys, especially poor boys by giving them a proper education Above all, parents are happy that their children are led through straight paths. civil leaders rejoice to gain upright subjects and good citizens. The Church is especially joyful that others who love Christ and proclaim the Gospel are added to its following.
All who undertake to teach must be endowed with deep love, the greatest patience, and, most of all, profound humility. They must perform their work with earnest zeal. Then, through their humble prayers, the Lord will find them worthy to become fellow workers with him in the cause of truth. He will console them in the fulfillment of this most noble duty, and, finally, will enrich them with the gift of heaven.
As Scripture says: Those who instruct many in justice will shine as stars for all eternity. They will attain this more easily if they make a covenant of perpetual obedience and strive to cling to Christ and please him alone, because, in his words: What you did to one of the least of my brethren, you did for me.
Source: The Liturgy of the Hours – Office of Readings
Saint Joseph Calasanz (1557 – 1648) was born at Aragon, Spain in 1557, in his father’s castle. He was well educated receiving degrees in both cannon law and theology at the University of Lereda and at Alcala de Henares in Spain. At 25, he perceived a call to the religious life and was ordained a priest in 1583 and assigned duties of parish priest at Albarracin. He soon became secretary and confessor to his bishop who assigned episcopal duties as synodal examiner and procurator for the diocese. After the death of his bishop, he gave away much of his inheritance and renounced the rest and traveled to Rome. There, he worked in the household of Cardinal Ascanio Colonna as his theological advisor.
Joseph had a deep interest in providing education for the poor and formed a community of teaching priests (the “Piarists”) to operate free schools for poor children, many who were orphans and homeless. The ruling class opposed the program fearing social unrest if the poor were educated. But the group had papal support and continued to do good work. Joseph continued is order’s efforts but endured many trials especially the calumnies of those who were jealous of his success. He died of natural causes at the age of 91 in Rome on August 25, 1648. He is buried at Saint Panteleone and was canonized by Pope Clement XIII in 1767.