Портрет художника в юності

           But,aboveandbeyondall,letthisretreatbeonetowhichyoucanlookbackinafteryearswhenmaybeyouarefarfromthiscollegeandamongverydifferentsurroundings,towhichyoucanlookbackwithjoyandthankfulnessandgivethankstoGodforhavinggrantedyouthisoccasionoflayingthefirstfoundationofapioushonourablezealouschristianlife.Andif,asmaysohappen,therebeatthismomentinthesebenchesanypoorsoulwhohashadtheunutterablemisfortunetoloseGod’sholygraceandtofallintogrievoussin,Iferventlytrustandpraythatthisretreatmaybetheturningpointinthelifeofthatsoul.IpraytoGodthroughthemeritsofHiszealousservantFrancisXavier,thatsuchasoulmaybeledtosincererepentanceandthattheholycommuniononsaintFrancis’sdayofthisyearmaybealastingcovenantbetweenGodandthatsoul.Forjustandunjust,forsaintandsinneralike,maythisretreatbeamemorableone.

           —Helpme,mydearlittlebrothersinChrist.Helpmebyyourpiousattention,byyourowndevotion,byyouroutwarddemeanour.Banishfromyourmindsallworldlythoughtsandthinkonlyofthelastthings,death,judgement,hell,andheaven.Hewhoremembersthesethings,saysEcclesiastes,shallnotsinforever.Hewhoremembersthelastthingswillactandthinkwiththemalwaysbeforehiseyes.