November 7

Remember, now, thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not nor the years draw nigh when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them. Ecclesiastes 12:1.

The sweetest time of our life is the time of our childhood and youth. In comparison with youth every other age is made up of evil days and years that have no pleasure in them. Youth is the springtime of life. As spring, with its fragrant flowers and buds and its mild sunshine, is the most pleasant season, so childhood and youth is the most favorable season in life. For youth is the time when the foundation is laid for life. Do not think only of this life, however, and what it may have in store for you. While you are laying the foundation for your later life on this earth, lay also the foundation for the life to come. Begin to lead a Christian life. Already in Holy Baptism, through your sponsors, and on the

day of your confirmation, you vowed that you would remain faithful to your God and Savior. Therefore now, in your youth, lay a firm foundation for a sincere Christian life. Sow your seed in the morning of life. The youthful heart is soft soil. A young tree is easily bent. Let the young tree of your life bring forth good fruit in due season. Lay up a treasure for the evil days and for the years that will offer few pleasures to you. In youth the Christian character must be established; decide now for God and against the world; now enter the road which determines our future destiny.

Many would give their youth to the devil and give to God their feeble and tottering old age. Is that fair? And do you not think that the devil will manage to hold what has been given him in youth? Would you thank any one to offer you the shell without the kernel, or the stalk without the flower, or a purse without the money? And do you think God is pleased with the dregs of the cup, the last declining years of a man's life? There are old people who turned to God in true repentance and were saved; but such are exceptions and not the rule. The rule is: As in youth, so in age, and so in death. It is hard to bend an old tree. Therefore remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth. Build not only for the days of summer, but also for the cold blasts of winter.

Prayer.

O God the Holy Spirit, renew me as to the inner man that I may not take any old sin or impurity over into the future, but begin a new Christian life this day and receive not Thy grace in vain and thus be well prepared for old age. Let me not postpone my repentance until the evil days come and the years draw nigh when I shall say, I have no pleasure in them. Let me not employ my time and talents, my health and my strength, to serve Satan, the world, and the flesh and then ask Thee to gather among the stubble after the enemy has taken away the harvest. Let me remember Thee in the days of my youth. Amen.

Lord, to Thee, to Thee, I come In life's tender early bloom; Breathe on me Thy grace divine, Touch my heart and make it Thine!