As a way to help give the soul a kind of ‘spiritual vacation’, sometimes Catholic parishes would host what was called a ‘mission’. This was when different priests would come for the express purpose of giving a retreat - with preaching, prayers, confession and so on.

On one such of these missions at a certain parish, a lady attending went to see one of the priests. But before she had even expressed the purpose for her visit, the woman greeted the priest in a manner that was quite shallow and superficial, making use of silly and exaggerated words. The good man paused a moment. Why did this woman talk like this?

"I see that you read novels, madam!" began the priest. Based on how she spoke, he had guessed as to where she had picked up this habit. It was quite natural - she spoke this way because she read this way. Undoubtedly she had the habit of reading contemporary novels and other books of that kind.

"I do, Father," admitted the lady, smiling. "But then, they do me no harm at all. I merely read them for recreation."

"In that case, madam, it would be good for you, before reading one of these books, to kneel down and say to God, ‘My God, I am going to read this romance to please Thee. I know that there are bad doctrines in it, bad examples, and bad advice. No matter, I am going to read it to fulfill my baptismal vows, and to promote Thy glory and the salvation of my soul.’ "

"But, Father," the lady said with surprise and some embarrassment, "I could never say such a prayer as that - it would be mocking God."

"No, madam," replied the priest, "if the book is good, you can and should say such a prayer."

"But - but, Father - " the woman stammered.

"Ah! There it is - " he said, raising an accusing finger, "you begin to feel that these books are not so harmless as you thought at first. Tell me, were you more pious before than you are now?"

The lady reflected a moment. She did not lie to herself, for her grieved conscience too was reproaching her. "Yes, Father."

"And did you read novels then?" the priest asked.

"Oh! No, Father, not at all."

"Did you once prefer important studies and useful work - while being less addicted to luxury and foolish expense?" continued the priest. The lady was beginning to understand.

"Yes, Father!" came the honest, fervent reply.

"And did you read novels back then?"

She firmly shook her head. "No, Father!"

"You formerly frequented the Sacraments with more desire and with more regularity?"

"Alas! Yes, Father, I did!" cried the woman.

"And did you read novels?"

"No, Father!"

"Well!" the priest replied, "Madam, I have nothing more to say to you. You see yourself the danger of reading such silly and harmful publications."

The priest had shown her the truth of the situation. What she had dismissed as "harmless" and "merely for recreation" was in fact quite damaging to her. Our Lord warns us to judge a tree by its fruit; and the fruit of the lady’s indiscriminate and imprudent reading was not only destructive to her soul, but even to her mind.

In keeping up with the popular books and being ‘modern’, this lady had become increasingly irreligious - without really even realizing it. At that time, it was only books - novels of indecency and godlessness, hidden in a ‘frivolous’ style - which caused such deterioration and destruction to people’s minds, hearts, and souls.

That was then.

What would that poor priest say about the way people spend their recreation now?

In our day, youth are surrounded by so much more than bad books - movies, television, Internet - and all of these are overflowing with material that is openly far more evil and much more damaging than the worst of novels from the past.

We might be tempted to say, like that lady, "it does me no harm." But there is no such thing as "ignoring the bad parts." What we choose to expose ourselves to - especially in our recreation - has an effect on us, for good or for evil. It affects how we think, how we speak, how we dress, how we behave, etc.

Are we aware of these dangers? And if we are, do we strive to always remember them? Perhaps our best safeguard would be to follow the priest’s advice. Let us remember that God not only sees us always, but He is with us always. And so before we begin any activity - be it recreation or work - let us ask ourselves "When God comes to join me, will He be pleased with what I am doing and why I am doing it?" This way, we can be aware that He is with us - and knowing that He is, we will make sure that the answer is "Yes!" And then when God joins us, He will be happy to do it with us.