listened to us with all readiness, becomes exhausted either by
294 ON CATECITTSIXG. [CITAP. XIII.
declaration of his judgment, ought to be dispelled by the force of kindly exhortation ; and by bringing before him the consideration of our brotherly afhnity, we should temper his reverence for us ; and by questioning him, ^ve should ascertain whether he understands what is addressed to him and we should impart to him a sense of confidence, so that he may give free expression to any objection which suggests itself to him. We should at the same time ask him whether he has already listened to such themes on some previous occasion, and whether perchance they fail to move him now in consequence of their being to him like things well known and commonplace. And we ought to shape our course in accordance with his answer, so as either to speak in a simpler style and with greater detail of explanation, or to refute some antagonistic opinion, or, instead of attempting any more diffuse exposition of the subjects which are known to him, to give a brief summary of these, and to select some of those matters which are handled in a mystical manner in the holy books, and especially in the historical narrative, the unfolding and setting forth of which may make our addresses more attractive. But if the man is of a very sluggish disposition, and if he is senseless, and without any tiling in common with all such sources of pleasure, then we must simply bear with him in a compassionate spirit ; and, after briefly going over other points, we ought to impress upon him, in a manner calculated to inspire him with awe, the truths which are most indispensable on the subject of the unity of the Catholic Church,^ on that of temptation, on that of a Christian conversation in view of the future judgment ; and we ought rather to address ourselves to God fur him than address much to him concerning God.
19. It is likewise a frequent occuiTcnce that one who atfii-st listened to us with all readiness, becomes exhausted either by the effort of hearing or by standing, and now no longer commends what is said, but gapes and yawns, and even unwillingly exhibits a disposition to depart. AVhen we observe that, it becomes our duty to refresh his mind by saying something seasoned with an honest cheerfulness and adapted to the matter
' The toxt gives simply Ca.thoUcct. One ms. lias CathoUca fidti = the
Catholic faith. But it is most natural to supply Eccksia.
CHAP. XIII.] THE PROVIDING OF SEATS. 295 wliicli is being discussed, or something of a very wonderful and amazing order, or even, it may be, something of a painful and mournful nature. Whatever we thus say may be all the better if it affects himself more immediately, so that the quick sense of self-concern may keep his attention on the alert. At the same time, however, it should not be of the kind to offend his spirit of reverence by any harshness attaching to it ; but it should be of a nature fitted rather to conciliate him by the friendliness which it breathes. Or else, • we should relieve him by accommodating him with a seat, although unquestionably matters will be better ordered if from the outset, whenever that can be done with propriety, he sits and listens. And indeed in certain of the churches beyond the sea, with a far more considerate regard to the fitness of things, not only do the prelates sit when they address the people, but they also themselves put down seats for the people, lest any person of enfeebled strength should become exhausted by standing, and thus have his mind diverted from the most wholesome pui^- port (of the discourse), or even be under the necessity of departing. And yet it is one thing if it be simply some one out of a great multitude who withdraws in order to recruit his strength, he being also already under the obligations which result from participation in the sacraments ; and it is quite another thing if the person withdrawing is one (inasmuch as it is usually the case in these circumstances that the man is unavoidably urged to that course by the fear that he should even fall, overcome by internal weakness) w^ho has to be initiated in the first sacraments ; for a person in this position is at once restrained by the sense of shame from stating the reason of his going, and not permitted to stand through the force of his weakness. This I speak from experience. For this was the case with a certain individual, a man from the country, when I was instructing him catechetically : and from his instance I have learned that this kind of thing is carefully to be guarded against. For who can endure our arrogance when Ave fail to make men who are our brethren,^ or even those who are not yet in that relation to us (for our solicitude then sliould be all
Instead oi viros fratreSy some mss. read verosfraires = o\\t ^Qnwnia brethren.
20 G ox CATECHISING. [CIIAP. XIII.
the greater to get them to become our brethren), to be seated in our presence, seeing that even a woman sat as she listened to our Lord Himself, in whose service the angels stand alert ?^
Of course if the address is to be but short, or if the place is not well adapted for sitting, they should listen standing. But that should be the case only when there are many hearers, and when they are not to be formally admitted ^ at the time. For when the audience consists only of one or two, or a few, who have come with the express purpose of being made Christians, there is a risk in speaking to them standing. Nevertheless, supposing that we have once begun in that manner, we ought at least, whenever we observe signs of weariness on the part of the hearer, to offer him the liberty of being seated ; nay more, we should urge him by all means to sit down, and we ought to drop some remark calculated at once to refresh him and to banish from his mind any anxiety which may have chanced to break in upon him and draw off his attention. For inasmuch as the reasons why he remains silent and declines to listen cannot be certainly known to us, now that he is seated we may speak to some extent against the incidence of thoughts about worldly affairs, delivering ourselves either in the cheerful spirit to which I have already adverted, or in a serious vein ; so that, if these are the particular anxieties which have occupied his mind, they may be made to give way as if indicted by name : while, on the other hand, supposing them not to be the special causes (of the loss of interest), and supposing liim to be simply worn out with listening, his attention will be relieved of the pressure of weariness when we address to hira some unexpected and extraordinary strain of remark on these subjects, in the mode of which I have spoken, as if they were the particular anxieties,—for indeed we are simply ignorant (of the true causes). But let the remark thus made be short, especially considering that it is thrown in out of order, lest the very medicine even increase the malady of weariness which we desire to relieve ; and, at the same time, we should go on rapidly with what remains, and promise and present the prospect of a conclusion nearer than was looked for.
' Luke X. Zd. ' /ni/iantZi = initiated.