Produced by Michael Gray [Illustration: Christ and the rich young man] If thou wilt be perfect go sell what thou hast and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in Heaven and come follow Me. --Matt. xix: 21. WHAT SHALL I BE? A CHAT WITH YOUNG PEOPLE BY THE REVEREND FRANCIS CASSILLY, S.J. "And every one that hath left house, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands for My name, shall receive a hundredfold, and shall possess life everlasting." (Matt. xix: 29) NEW YORK THE AMERICA PRESS 1914 IMPRIMI POTEST A. J. BURROWES, S.J. _Provincial Missouri Province_ NIHIL OBSTAT REMEGIUS LAFORT _Censor_ IMPRIMATUR JOHN CARDINAL FARLEY _Archbishop of New York_ COPYRIGHT 1914 BY THE AMERICA PRESS LETTER TO THE AUTHOR FROM REVEREND A. VERMEERSCH, S.J. Louvain, le 23 fevrier, 1914. Mon Reverend Pere: P. C. Votre petit livre me plait extremement. Il expose une doctrine tres solide avec une merveilleuse clarte. D' une lecture agreable, il interessera la jeunesse des ecoles, et l'encouragera a faire un choix genereux d' etat de vie. J' estime que, traduit en flamand et en francais, il ferait egalement du bien a nos collegiens de Belgique. Votre devoue en N. S. et M. I. A. Vermeersch. TRANSLATION My Reverend Father: Your little book pleases me exceedingly. Its doctrine is very sound and set forth with wonderful clearness. It makes pleasant reading, and will interest the young of school age, and encourage them to make a generous choice of a state of life. In my opinion, a Flemish and French translation would also be profitable to our college students in Belgium. Devotedly yours in Our Lord and Mary Immaculate, A. Vermeersch. TO THE THOUSANDS OF TRUE-HEARTED BOYS AND GIRLS HE HAS BEEN BLESSED TO KNOW OF WHOM SOME ARE GONE TO HEAVEN AND MANY ARE BATTLING FOR THE RIGHT IN THE SANCTUARY THE CLOISTER OR THE WORLD AND WITH ALL OF WHOM HE HOPES ONE DAY TO BE REUNITED FOREVERMORE IN GOD'S OWN COURTS THIS LITTLE BOOK IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED BY THE AUTHOR PREFACE In this little book the writer has aimed to present, in brief and simple form, sound principles which may assist the young in deciding their future course of life. The subject of vocation, as it is called, has suffered much, during the last two or three centuries, at the hands of rigorist authors, who so hedged the approach to religious life with difficulties and restrictions, as to frighten or repel many aspiring hearts from it.