Stand Fast to Right Ideals

Originally published in The Way on August 16, 1941.

In these days when faith has either grown cold or been lost altogether in so many instances, there are persons, and among their number many of our youth, who, when they are exhorted to base their lives upon ideals above those of this materialistic world — laugh. They do not recognize God, their Creator, they will not serve Him.

Such an attitude upon the part of our young people, fills us with horror and compassion. Today so many, many people have recognized God and returned to religion and many in our ranks are still blind to the fact that the religious ideal is the surest foundation on which to build youth's idealism and on which to base life's best efforts.

Young people seek perfection but they are impatient, yet they will follow leadership very readily. Sponsors and leaders of youth should take their responsibilities seriously and act accordingly. They must impress their followers that the ideals of youth must be durable and practical and based upon the values that have their source in religious truth. By nature most young people admire and desire the good, the great and the holy, but because of past leadership there lurks an idea in the back of their heads that in some way or other growing up involves certain compromises in these spiritual ideals. This idea must be uprooted by the present leaders just as it was planted by some of the past.

Ideals should be noble and high, nevertheless they may be no more useful than idle day dreams if an effort is not made to realize them. They must be energized by a determined vigorous will.

Such a will has been manifest within the ranks of the Ukrainian Catholic Youth League.