Портрет художника в юності

           Eveninthelastfewyearswhatchangescanmostofyounotremember?Manyoftheboyswhosatinthosefrontbenchesafewyearsagoareperhapsnowindistantlands,intheburningtropics,orimmersedinprofessionaldutiesorinseminaries,orvoyagingoverthevastexpanseofthedeepor,itmaybe,alreadycalledbythegreatGodtoanotherlifeandtotherenderingupoftheirstewardship.Andstillastheyearsrollby,bringingwiththemchangesforgoodandbad,thememoryofthegreatsaintishonouredbytheboysofthiscollegewhomakeeveryyeartheirannualretreatonthedaysprecedingthefeastdaysetapartbyourHolyMothertheChurchtotransmittoalltheagesthenameandfameofoneofthegreatestsonsofcatholicSpain.

           —NowwhatisthemeaningofthiswordRETREATandwhyisitallowedonallhandstobeamostsalutarypracticeforallwhodesiretoleadbeforeGodandintheeyesofmenatrulychristianlife?Aretreat,mydearboys,signifiesawithdrawalforawhilefromthecaresofourlife,thecaresofthisworkadayworld,inordertoexaminethestateofourconscience,toreflectonthemysteriesofholyreligionandtounderstandbetterwhywearehereinthisworld.DuringthesefewdaysIintendtoputbeforeyousomethoughtsconcerningthefourlastthings.Theyare,asyouknowfromyourcatechism,death,judgement,hell,andheaven.Weshalltrytounderstandthemfullyduringthesefewdayssothatwemayderivefromtheunderstandingofthemalastingbenefittooursouls.