Thank God for Freshmen

OSV published an article earlier this week about the enthusiasm and brave optimism of incoming freshmen this Fall. There’s plenty of reasons to be worried and surely, many students are. Still, they want to come to college even if they don’t understand what “the college experience” is all about.

We the adults have plenty to worry about this Fall. Yet, I wonder if we ought to look worry in the face here and heed the prayer of St. Francis de Sales who regarded worry as the sinister cousin of sin itself. His prayer is encouraging:

Do not look forward in fear to the changes and chances of this life;
Rather, look to them with full confidence that, as they arise,
God, to whom you belong will in His love enable you to profit by them.
He has guided you thus far in life, and He will lead you safely through all trials;
and when you cannot stand it, God will bury you in His arms.Do not fear what may happen tomorrow;
the same everlasting Father who cares for you today
will take care of you then and every day.
He will either shield you from suffering,
or will give you unfailing strength to bear it.