Weekly insights from Chuck Colson and great saints of the past and present

Christianity has been at the forefront on shaping young people for full and abundant life.

“Christian influence led to the establishment of the first universities, not just trade schools as had been the case in China, but communities of scholars where knowledge could be pursued because it was good for human beings to learn…Christians also developed public education, fueled by the faith’s embrace of equality, as all were created in God’s image.”
-Chuck Colson, The Faith

“Thus Columban collected such treasures of holy wisdom in his breast that he could, even as a youth, expound the Psalter in fitting language and could make many other extracts worthy to be sung, and instructive to read.”
-The Monk Jonas, Life of St. Columban

“But our scholars do not wish or are not able to observe a suitable method of learning, and for that reason we find many students, but few learned men. It seems to me, indeed, that not less care should be taken lest the student expend his labour on unprofitable studies, than lest he should remain lukewarm in a good and useful plan. It is bad to carry out a good plan negligently, it is worse to expend much labour in vain.”
-Hugh of St. Victor, On Study and Teaching

“Even though you be a Socrates, if you have rude manners, you are a ditch-digger. Avoid these seven rusticities which are signaled by Thales, the sage. Light-minded talk is unseemly at table; so is presumption and constant contention. It is rude to be ungrateful or cruel towards the poor. It is reprehensible to be haughty towards your dear friends; if you reject good advice, you are a fool; and you lack the light of reason if you fly in the face of God. These good precepts are not hidden away but are written in the public theatre. Avoid these things lest you be consigned behind the gates of hell…
-John of Garland, How the Student Should Behave

I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one…I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.
-1 John 2:13, 14

For more insight to this subject, get the book, Ask Me Anything: Provocative Questions for College Students, by J. Budziszewski, from our online store.

Or read the article, “Why Students Walk Away from Christ and What Can Be Done About It,” by Chuck Edwards.

Chuck Colson's The Faith is available in our online store.