To say—­I am a person; and that I may be a right kind of person, I must know and believe certain things concerning God Himself, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.  I am a person; and that I may be a right kind of person, I must keep certain commandments and do certain duties toward God, and my parents, and my Queen, and my country, and my neighbour, and all toward whom I am responsible for right behaviour.

And then, and only then, after it has made the child say all this for itself and about itself, the Catechism does begin to teach; and in a few very short words, tell the child about that which is not itself—­

“My good child, know this, that thou art not able to do these things of thyself, nor to walk in the Commandments of God, and to serve Him, without His special grace; which thou must learn at all times to call for by diligent prayer.”

Now consider these words.  There is comfort and strength in them; comfort for the child; comfort for you, and me, and every human being who has awakened to the sense of his own personal responsibility, and finds it too often a burden heavier than he—­and, alas, often, she—­can bear.

The Catechism tells the child that it must not merely know doctrines about God, or do duties to God; but more:  that it is alone with God Himself, face to face with God Himself day and night.  But that therefore it is to dread God, and look up to God as a taskmaster and tyrant, and try to hide from God’s awful eye, and forget God, and forget itself—­if it can?—­God forbid; God forbid.  The Catechism leaves such teaching for those Pharisees who tell little children that unless they are converted, and become as them, they shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven.  The Catechism says, My good child—­not, My bad child—­know this.  Know that thou art weak:  but know that God is strong; and look up to Him as the Father of all fathers, the Teacher of all teachers, the Helper of all helpers, the Friend of all friends, who has I called thee unto His kingdom of grace, that He might shew thee graciousness; and make thee gracious and graceful in all thy thoughts, and works, and ways:  and, therefore, far from trying to hide from Him, call on Him with diligent prayer.  For the Father of all fathers is the Father of thy soul, the Son of all sons died for thee upon the Cross, the Holy Spirit of all holy spirits will make thee a holy spirit and person, even as He is a Holy Spirit and Person Himself.

Believing those words, no one will dare to forget to say his prayers.  For when he prays, he is indeed a person.  He is himself; and not ashamed, however sinful, to be himself; and to tell God about himself.  Oh, think of that.  You, each of you, have a right, as God’s children, to speak to the God who made the universe.  Therefore be sure, that when you dislike to say your prayers, it is because you do not like to be what you are, a person; and prefer—­ah foolish soul—­to be a thing, and an animal.