XIII. De sacra educatione et institutione liberorum suorum

XIII. De sacra educatione et institutione liberorum suorum

And because a noble and holy offspring should arise from such a sacred union, and it came forth abundantly through God's grace, it follows that the devout father had a truly Catholic approach in the instruction and governance of his children. He wanted the boys, now of age, to hear not only the Mass and Morning Prayers and the canonical Hours with song every day, but also to be present to hear the evening sermons, to learn their letters, to recite the Hours of the Blessed Virgin, and to always be with him for Compline, which he had solemnly arranged to be said daily in the church after his supper, and at the end to have a special Antiphon of the Blessed Virgin sung high and devoutly. After the Completorium, he would return to his chamber with the boys, and the blessed water sprinkled by the priest around the bed and throughout the room would be present, while the boys would sit around him, to whom he was accustomed to say some edifying words before they left. He did not want the boys to wear hair from roses or any other flowers on their heads during sacred days, in memory of that sacred crown of thorns with which the head of the Savior was bitterly crowned on that day, and with which the King of kings had magnificently adorned his kingdom.