Plays and Theatrical Amusements may be counted among the most dangerous occasions of sin which young persons have to avoid in the world. They are sometimes a stumbling-block to their piety and good resolutions, because it is now too much the custom to employ advice, solicitations, and even authority, to overcome every reluctance on this head.

The opinion of the most learned and holy Doctors of the Church has, at all times, been in opposition to theatrical amusements. By St. Augustine they are styled "The pest of souls; the ruin of virtue and decorum:" and St. Chrysostom denominates them "the fuel of the "passions, and the pomps of Satan, which Christians "solemnly renounce."-Notwithstanding this, it is a melancholy truth, that there are persons now found, who are so insensible to the real interests of their daughters, sisters, and other female friends, as to authorize, and even procure their presence at such diversions. An eminent Prelate of the present day, whose profound erudition and invaluable writings already rank him among the most zealous and efficient defenders of religion and morality, loudly condemns this practice. He expresses just astonishment at the inconsistency of those parents, who first, by a Christian Education, provide their children with the means of saving their souls, and afterwards expose them to the evident risk of being eternally lost, by permitting them to frequent stage representations. "Those

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"parents," continues he, "deserve no pity, if their chil"dren ultimately disappoint their hopes; because they "have to reproach themselves with industriously eradicating the early lessons of virtue and morality they had received, and implanting those of the world, the flesh, " and the devil, by conducting them to the head school, "where these lessons are taught, viz. the play-house." However, as it is in every one's power, aided by divine grace, to resist solicitations on this head, as well as every other temptation; their success, with respect to many young persons, must be attributed to want of resolution on their part. It is true, that curiosity to witness these exhibitions, as well as the desire and love of amusement, are quite natural to youth; so much so, that the best instructed young persons must rather ambition the merit of

overcoming such inclinations, than the privilege of not feeling them. But, at the same time, they should remember, that this is a victory which the Almighty requires; and consequently, a steady determination never to assist at theatrical amusements, should be one of their most particular resolutions on entering the world. They are not ignorant of the various and solid reasons which exist for making and keeping such a resolution. Among those the two following should be particularly impressed on their minds :

First, the risk they run, by frequenting the theatre, of losing what should be dearer to them than life itself, the grace of God, and the love of virtue; because, as St. Augustine observes, "it is at the theatre that the "flesh and the devil assault the minds and hearts of young people, by every means calculated to instil the "poison of vice; to enervate the soul, and flatter the passions, by a general and simultaneous movement of "all the allurements and charms of the senses."

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Secondly, the bad example which the appearance of a well-instructed Catholic would give in a play-house, as likewise the scandal which it may occasion, by leading others to indulge without scruple in amusements, of which they before hesitated to partake.

It may not be amiss here to caution young persons against the arguments generally made use of in favour of theatrical amusements; that by examining at leisure the emptiness and insufficiency of those arguments, they may not afterwards be influenced by their apparent plausibility. Young persons, for example, must expect to be told, that going to plays is not sinful, because many excellent characters frequent the theatre without scruple.It is unfortunately too true, that this dangerous practice is patronized, though it can never be authorized, by some Catholics, from whom a different line of conduct should be expected; but that circumstance does not in the least diminish its danger or its guilt. If precedent were a sufficient excuse before God for any sin, what crime is there that may not be committed with impunity? Therefore, so far from being decided, in this respect, by the opinion and practice of others, young persons should act consistently with the principles which were early impressed

on their minds; and though the example of all those whom, in other respects, they consider most worthy of their deference and imitation, were alleged as a motive for going to plays, they should always answer, as Bossuet did to Louis XIV. on a similar occasion: "Sire, there are "great examples for going to the theatre, but great reasons "for staying away."

Young persons will be told, in the next place, that they may safely frequent the theatre, because the stage has undergone considerable improvement; that it is no longer what it formerly was-and that good plays cannot injure any one. Allowing that there were such a wonder exhibited as a play perfectly good in itself, it is certain that it would be impossible to find one perfectly safe in all its appendages, such as scenery, dress, action, &c. Those circumstances alone constitute a great portion of the danger of the stage-they communicate a fatal interest to the most insipid plays, and an infallible poison to those which are in themselves less dangerous. On this account alone the theatre should always be dreaded and shunned, particularly by young females, who are much more exposed to be injured by such circumstances, than by the play itself. But, even independent of those circumstances, the fact cannot be concealed, that however purified the plays of the present day may be from the old leaven, yet the far greater number are full of immoral sentiments, and always turn on some passion, from whose contagious influence, it would indeed be difficult to guard the heart of any female who witnesses those representations.

A third argument adduced in favour of plays is, the experience of persons who affirm that they frequent the theatre without being in the least injured by that practice. Those who make that assertion, must get credit, either for great insincerity, or great blindness. A holy father defines the theatre to be "Satan's own field of "battle, whereon those who expose themselves in the "combat, must engage their enemy with every species of "advantage on his side, which his infernal malice can "devise :" and divines expressly declare, that a Christian who frequents the theatre, can only avoid falling into sin, by an escape as wonderful as it is rare;-consequently,

those who produce their own experience, in contradiction to the decision of Divines-in opposition to the opinion of the holy Fathers, and likewise to the testimony of many persons who frequented the theatre, only to regret that practice on their sincere conversion, give great reasons to apprehend that they endeavour to deceive themselves as well as others; or else, that their souls having become already the victims of these dangerous amusements, are dead in sin, and on that account insensible to new wounds.

All that remains to be said on this subject, is, that young persons should earnestly beg of God to enable them to rise superior to all ridicule or solicitation on this head, and to act, on occasions of temptation, with that Christian firmness, which God will reward, and the world itself must admire.

With regard to the various other dangers and temptations, which are almost inseparably attached to the necessity of living and conversing in the world, young persons, who sincerely endeavour to serve God, should consider them rather as motives for unbounded confidence in the protection of the Almighty, than for excessive fear. To abstain from those which it is in their power to avoid, is all that is required from them. Those who fulfil that duty, may in every other circumstance confidently promise themselves the paternal and special protection of Providence; because the Scripture threatens destruction, not to those who are in danger, but to those who love it too well to avail themselves of the opportunities of escape within their reach. Eccles. iii. 27.

Beside avoiding evil, a second condition for salvation, pointed out to young persons by their catechism, is to do good. Every well-instructed Christian is fully aware that to do good is a necessary condition for attaining life everlasting, consequently resolve on complying with the injunction; nevertheless, the determinations of many on this head are but vague resolutions, which eventually produce no solid effects.-There are others also who perform a great many works of supererogation, while in the mean time they neglect the essential duties of a Christian, as well as those attached to their situations in life. It is consequently of extreme importance, that young persons

should not confine themselves to a general resolution of keeping the commandments, but that they moreover determine to discharge their respective duties. A firm conviction, that fidelity to those duties is, in reality, the observance of the commandments, and a short road to all the perfection required from them as Christians, should induce them to form distinct, precise, yet rational ideas concerning their nature and extent. Thereby they will be prevented from doing too little or too much; and also, saved from that constant fluctuation in opinion and prac tice, which is too evident in those who have no fixed principles for their direction, or whose conduct is governed by any other rule, rather than the maxims of Christianity.

To form this distinct idea of her duties, and make her resolutions accordingly, a young person may class them all under three heads—those which relate to God-those which regard her neighbour—and those which she owes to herself.

The duties which relate to the immediate service of the Almighty are, a fervent and punctual discharge of spiritual exercises, such as morning and night prayers-daily examination of conscience-mature consideration on the truths of eternity, which is so necessary for keeping alive their influence in the heart-fervent and regular frequentation of the Sacraments, on which the life of the soul may be said to depend-likewise that regular attendance at sermons, and other offices of the Church, which is requisite for public edification. Any remarks on the necessity of discharging those duties with fidelity and fervour, or any directions as to the method of doing so, would be quite superfluous here. These matters have been frequently touched on throughout this Work, and in some places rather diffusely explained, with a view, not only to inspire young persons with a spirit of fervour and punctuality in the discharge of their daily exercise of devotion, but also to guard them against the false notions of many persons, whose devotion consists in spending the greater part of their time in long prayers, which cannot be done without prejudice to other essential duties, and without causing the service which the Almighty requires in one way, to interfere with that which he equally exacts