4. [part]
[...] Grace that God made with you in your Holy Baptism, the Holy Spirit will dwell in your hearts and remind you of everything that you must do and avoid, even in regard to you bodies. To this you must well pay attention and be obedient. You know the little verse: “The Holy Angels are ministering spirits sent out to serve those who are to inherit blessedness.” And what the Lord our Savior says: “The angels of the children always see the face of the Father in Heaven.” So pray to God that He might preserve and protect you, even in the body, through His Holy Angels. In this way many misfortunes will be turned away from you, without your even knowing about it.
5.
In the care of the body much depends on keeping it clean. Dear Children, when you were small, your mothers and caretakers kept you clean. Now you are bigger and it is reasonable that you are now expected as soon as possible to learn to keep your body and members clean. You wash in the morning and then as often as necessary you wash not only your hands but your face as well, in cold water. And be sure to get the impurities that gather there out of your eyes. It is also very good when you wash daily with water that part of your head that is behind the ears. Likewise take cold water in your mouth and gargle so that your gums become clean. Commonly a slime builds up on the teeth and you can rub this away with your fingers each day when you have water in your mouth.
You also have to keep your ears clean. When you find it necessary to make water or to go to the toilet, do not delay, for this will harm you. One will not neglect admonishing you to cleanliness. The feet must also be washed from time to time.
Something
of Bodily Care for Children
Translated by Pastor Roy Ledbetter
Individual page translations appear in
black text, formatted into original book
chapters. All or part of any chapter that
spans two or more original book pages
repeats in gray.
View Entire Translation >>