by Brother Roberto, C.S.C.
In the Footsteps of the Saints series, Level 2
I intended to assign this book for our history lessons, as we are in volume 3 of Connecting with History. This particular book is recommended for the grammar level, which is roughly fourth, fifth, and sixth grades. I thought my third grader, who is nine, would be able to read it and planned to assign it for independent reading and narrating. The reading level, Level 2, is probably a second or third grade reading level. Second Son, who is seven and in first grade, could probably read it as well, stumbling only over the proper nouns of a book set in France.
We've read a number of book from the In the Footsteps of the Saints series and I have generally been pleased with them. I decided to read the book before she started it. I'm glad I did, because I've decided we will not be reading this book.
About halfway through the book, Bernard is a young man enjoying a privileged life with his friends, unsure what his vocation might be. It describes a night he spent in a castle when they were too far to reach home during which a woman entered his chamber three times during the night to "steal my treasure of chastity." Our kids have a general idea that only people who are married sleep together during the night, so I wasn't too concerned at that point. But the story continues.
Other temptations against purity soon followed for the handsome young man. Each time he was able to flee from them to escape or inflict pain on himself when everything else failed.
Once he plunged into an icy pool of water to cool the flames of lust burning within him. And it was there that he decided he would either have to marry and devote himself to family life in the world or enter a monastery to consecrate his body and soul to God.The phrase "flames of lust burning within him" disturbed me so much I actually showed it to Kansas Dad, asking, "Can I have [Second Daughter] read this?" He thought not. While I could explain "lust," I'd rather not, and I don't think she needs that word in her vocabulary. This language is too mature for the reading level of the book.
Even including those paragraphs I might have assigned the book to one of my older students, but there's a focus in the book on Bernard's recruitment of men for the monastic life. He encourages his uncle, brothers, cousins, and neighbors, to abandon their worldly lives and join the Cistercians, even those who are married! Now, of course, a monastery today would not a man with a wife and dependent children, but I think the idea that the monastic life is so preferred to a vocation to marriage that Bernard's brother, Guy, should leave his wife and two young daughters alone in the world is not one I want to encourage in my children. Guy's wife, Elizabeth, initially is not supportive of his decision to enter the monastery despite Bernard's arguments. So then (according to the book), Bernard prays and Elizabeth becomes deathly sick until she agrees to let her husband abandon her.
Because of the references to Bernard's physical temptations, I would definitely not share this book with a beginner level student, though a late elementary student would be better. Of course, at that level, this book would usually be an exceptionally easy read. With the additional attitude toward marriage and family life, though, I'm inclined to just skip this book for all my students. There is another book from the same series in the unit, The Boy from Cheapside: The Story of St. Thomas of Canterbury. I think we'll use that one if I need a grammar level saint book the next time we go through this volume.
The RC History links in this post are affiliate links. I purchased this book new and this review is my honest opinion.
