Портрет художника в юності

           Andremember,mydearboys,thatwehavebeensentintothisworldforonethingandforonethingalone:todoGod’sholywillandtosaveourimmortalsouls.Allelseisworthless.Onethingaloneisneedful,thesalvationofone’ssoul.Whatdothitprofitamantogainthewholeworldifhesufferthelossofhisimmortalsoul?Ah,mydearboys,believemethereisnothinginthiswretchedworldthatcanmakeupforsuchaloss.

           —Iwillaskyou,therefore,mydearboys,toputawayfromyourmindsduringthesefewdaysallworldlythoughts,whetherofstudyorpleasureorambition,andtogiveallyourattentiontothestateofyoursouls.Ineedhardlyremindyouthatduringthedaysoftheretreatallboysareexpectedtopreserveaquietandpiousdemeanourandtoshunallloudunseemlypleasure.Theelderboys,ofcourse,willseethatthiscustomisnotinfringedandIlookespeciallytotheprefectsandofficersofthesodalityofOurBlessedLadyandofthesodalityoftheholyangelstosetagoodexampletotheirfellow-students.

           —Letustry,therefore,tomakethisretreatinhonourofsaintFranciswithourwholeheartandourwholemind.God’sblessingwillthenbeuponallyouryear’sstudies.