Young Directors

Many times it will be a young son or daughter of mine who has to lead the formation classes of St Raphael and other activities. Every day there are more activities, because as I often tell you, this work is a sea without shores. And so it can happen that this person is even younger than those they have to teach and guide (without forcing it on them).

If someone’s lack of understanding were to cause suffering, I would say to that child of mine: praecipe haec et doce: nemo adolescentiam tuam contemnat: sed exemplum esto fidelium in verbo, in conversatione, in caritate, in fide, in castitate. Dum venio, attende lectioni, exhortationi et doctrinae;¹⁹ do not grieve; may no one despise you you for your young age, since you try to be a model in your speech, in your manner, in your charity, in your faith, in your chastity. And, moreover, continue to educate yourself, to apply yourself to reading, to giving good advice and to teaching.