"And hence there comes to them likewise a certain desire, which is somewhat vain, and at times very vain, to speak of spiritual things in the presence of others, and sometimes even to teach such things rather than to learn them."
Dark Night of the Soul, chapter II, St. John of the Cross
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Teach catechism to eight graders. The suggestion comes up, and I am loaded down with books, a course on the creed, a course on the commandments, instructors' copies, quiz games. I flip through chapter-end assessments and glossaries, I draw blanks, think: but you will learn it, think: but you needn't learn it all now: you are not ready: but you will never be ready:
and so forth. I wait to know more. Whether the parish fathers will approve. If it seems I ought to ask my spiritual director his opinion--even this I don't know--
most questions (you notice?) you might take to an adviser are not about the question but about the anxiety of the questioner, which will only resurface elsewhere. Anxiety is astonishingly charismatic. I'm resolved not to waste his time on a mirage.
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