Chapter VIII
The Sacred Heart and Reading in Catholic Homes
As mentioned before, devotion to the Sacred Heart should color the whole life of the Catholic home. It is indeed the love of Christ, meeting its response in the love and loyalty of our own heart. As Christ’s love is a matter of our whole life and of every detail of our home, so our answering love should color intimately all the details of household life and of family intercourse.
Thus this devotion ought constantly to be kept in mind in everything which concerns the Catholic household. Particularly, it ought to show itself in the books and other publications which are allowed to come into the home and which become, as it were, a part of the home atmosphere, familiars of the family circle. The careful father and the prudent mother scrutinize diligently the companions whom their children bring home with them and the friends who enter into the family life. If some one presents himself who is obviously not a gentleman, his visits are discouraged; if he is besides a loose character, all the more reason for showing him the door. If in addition, his talk is insidiously wicked, if he deliberately corrupts the minds of the young, no decent parent would allow him entrance.
Yet, strangely enough, many a person looks with tolerance on the admission into the home of books which are as bad and dangerous in their influence as a human companion, who is ungentlemanly and evil, could possibly be.
“Dreams, books, are each a world, and books, we know,
Are a substantial world, both pure and good,”
sings the poet Wordsworth. Unfortunately, there is also a world of books that are impure and evil. To introduce the good ones into the Catholic home and to exclude the others with all rightful diligence is surely an acceptable service to the Sacred Heart.
Where the family dwelling place is simple and even poor, the presence of well-chosen and delectable books makes it seem homelike and furnished. After all, simple furniture is a sign, perhaps, of modest preferences and is in better taste than sumptuous decorations. But the absence of good books from the household bespeaks a poverty of mind and spirit more lamentable than a poverty of outward conveniences. Yet books cost much less than food or clothing and, unlike these, they are not so soon consumed by use, but continue throughout the years to offer their constant service.
Good books are good thoughts in concrete form, ready at any moment to offer us the fragrance of their beauty, the balm of their consolation. Holy books are holy thoughts put into words written for permanent memory. Good and holy volumes are like vases of alabaster, full of precious ointment, ready to pour forth the sweetness of their contents whenever we will.
If, therefore, there is an abundance of good and holy books in the home, there is material for many good and holy thoughts. The habit of good reading makes a full mind, a refined character, gives tastes that are elevated, encourages a right use of leisure, develops the intelligence, stores the memory, and trains and strengthens the will.
Who can doubt, considering these things, that an abundant supply of the best Catholic books in the home makes it a fitter shrine for devotion to the Sacred Heart? When a family is consecrated to the Sacred Heart, when the image of that loving Heart is set up and honored, then those who are charged with the care of the home and its interests, should begin to consider whether or not there are in that home plenty of good Catholic books. If not, they should lose no time in securing a goodly number of those which they think will most appeal to their household. The presence of such books does constant honor to the Sacred Heart and promotes the interests of Christ. Their absence is a sign that something is wanting in the fervor and intelligence of that Catholic household.
