Central Catholic High School - Echo Yearbook (Fort Wayne, IN)

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30 THE ECHO Religious in Church Law By Hector Papi, S. hi. 1. In the mind of the faithful a religious vocation is a special call from God to the religious state. It is a call from God. inasmuch as, it implies a manifestation of God's XYill that one should enter the religious state. 2. This divine call, however. is not of the nature of a command: rather it has a character of an invitation. Consequently a refusal to answer this call is not, in itself. a mortal sin. On the other hand, those who do not an- swer it act very imprudently. inasmuch as they swerve from the path which. with a love of preference, God traced for them, and renounced that special crown of glory which would have been in store for them had they heeded the divine call. In fact there are not want- ing writers who hold that those who knowingly decline this invitation en- danger their eternal salvation in a cer- tain way. 3. The most practical question in this matter is: How does God call a soul? How does He manifest to a soul His Holy XYill in this regard? There are, of course, several possible ways in which this may happen. God may manifest His XYill to a soul by a private revelation. This would ltappen if God favored a soul with such a clear illumination of the mind that, without the need of any reasoning or examination, it would be certain that this interior voice was from God. This is not the ordinary way in which God manifests His holy NYill, and no one should expect to be favored by Him in tliis manner. 4. God may, moreover, call a soul by gently drawing its will towards the religious state. This happens when God instills in a soul a strong liking for the religious life, together with a corresponding dislike for a life in the Aworld. This is the way in which God manifests His XYill to many souls. 5. Finally, a manifestation of God's NYill may consist in a series of graces, under the intiuence of which, by prayer and reflection. a Christian comes to the conclusion that it is pleas- ing to God that he should embrace the religious state. This third manner differs from the second chiefly in this: that it leads a Christian by assisting his mental faculties in deliberating what is more pleasing tu God. rather than by acting on his will by means of sensible inclinations. Uften these two ways are employed by liod to- gether, inasmuch as He rouses in a soul a strong liking for the religious life, and favors it with the graces wliich are necessary for making a well reasoned choice. The former way, however, is not absolutely necessary, in the absence of a special impulse of the will one may determine the divinity of a call otherwise. lint then the ques- tion arises: How can one find out God's XYill according to the third way, which has just been mentioned? XYhat are the signs by which, without ex- pecting a revelation and without ex- periencing any special attraction to- wards the religious state, one may Come to know that he is called by God? 6. These signs can be reduced to the two following: The absence of ob- stacles which make it impossible for one to embrace the religious state and fitness for the fulfillment of the duties which this state implies. 7. The chief obstacles arise from those personal circumstances which in law are called impediments, whether such circumstances prevent a person from embracing the religious state by virtue of the natural lawg for instance, the obligation of assisting parents who are in great need, or by virtue of the

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THE ECHO 29 tive or legislative, but only that, the power of the people is superior to both. Thus summarizing the Constitution, we find Congress may not execute, for its busi- ness is the making of the law, the President does all the executing: the supreme court may not execute, may not legislate, for its business is to act as an umpire and declare what laws passed by congress are constitu- tional or whether any deed done by the Presi- dent is in accordance with the law. To Maintain the Government. 'fIn 1861 President Lincoln said: 'That of the three great points in regard to our government the American people had demon- strated but two, one was their ability to establish it, and the other their ability to administer it: the third then to be considered was, whether they could maintain it.' We have maintained our'government through 150 years of storm and stress, we have sailed the good ship of state upon the turbulent waters of dissension and still we retain our Constitution with its old principles of liberty, equality and justice under law to serve as a beacon of light to the rest of the world. The strength, the greatness, and the duration of a nation lie in the strength and unity of its people. A full knowledge and respect for the Constitution guarantees this unity. So let us then honor and respect this charter under which human rights have advanced further in a single century than they did in all the preceeding vastness of time. Let us love and revere this document of the people. by the people and for the people-a repres- entative democracy. Let us remember it does not mean government under the domin- ion of wealth, of the priviledged classes. Nor does it mean government of the ignorant masses, of the ungoverned rabble or the capricious multitude. It does not mean government of anarchy, bolshevism. or so- cialism. But it does mean systematized, or- cialism. But it does mean a systemized, or- ganized government under a written Consti- tution which in America has been and IS the first and greatest friend the people ever had. ..-OHL Voice in phone- Robert won't be in school to-day, he's sick. Ab. Officer- Very well, who's call- ing? Voice- My father. .io-.- lst spectator- VVhat makes those baseball players at bat so cool?i' Znd spectator- Well, you s e e, theyve frequently been fanned. .-..O-.L Bud- Cfee, isn't that pitcher cool? Mac- Wliy not, look at all the fans around the diamond. Debating After lengthy preparation the de- bating coach, Brother Daniel, C. S. C., selected two representative teams composed of the following Seniors: Frank Parrot. Donald INI u l h a u p t, james Roy with Robert Iiggeman as alternate, the juniors pride consisting of jack M. McYey, Giles Pierre, Frank E. Corbett with Bernard E. Broeker as alternate. The two teams engaged in a debating orgy on April 7. the subject in controversy being Resolved that the United States Should Enact Legisla- tion for the Compulsory judicial Set- tlement of all Disputes Arising in the Railway and Coal Mining Industriesf' Books were torn apart. clothing dis- sected, uncomplimentary epithets hurl- ed and when the din and dust of the battle had passed away the brave judges: i. e., Edward Henslee, Edward Myers and Frank Hogan repaired from the scene of the fray and announced that the juniors had won. Un April 13th at the local K. of C. Hall the juniors defeated unanimously the crack team from Indianapolis. The local Seniors journeyed to Indianapolis but were defeated by one point. At the present time arrangements are under way to schedule debates with Cathedral of Indianapolis and other large Catholic high schools in the middle west. The subject of this debate will be Capital Punishment. Francis E. Corbett, '26. lol Blosser- Do you like hot dogs? Martin- I sure do. Blosser-- You'll find two in that newly burnt house over there. ,LOL-1 Lacy- VVhich act did you like best at the vaudeville PM Lassus- The one that made nie laugh mostf,

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THE ECHO 31 14- positive law of the church, for instance. the fact that one has once joined a Protestant sect. VX'hen such impedi- ments exist and they are not among those from which a dispensation can be obtained. there can be no question of a vocation. 8. Besides being free from obsta- cles that cannot be removed. one must be endowed with the qualities which are necessary for pursuing this kind of life in a manner profitable to oneself and not burdensome to others. 9. On the other hand. persons who are free from all obstacles and are tit for the religious state may decide to embrace this state. and may rest as- sured that by doing so they are follow- ing God's holy VX'ill. For. when there is a question of a state which in itself is more perfect than the opposite. and which aiords to its followers most suitable means of perfection. it cannot but be more pleasing to God that one should embrace it. if one has providen- tially been fitted for it under circum- stances which do not interfere with any other obligation. And this all the more. as it was due to God's special grace that the person under considera- tion began to examine the matter of a vocation and earnestly continue his in- quiry up to the point of being able to make a favorable decision. Even in cases in which the impulse to inquire about the matter of a vocation is not perceptible. the first inquiry and the following examination are due to God's grace, which is always necessary when- ever there is a question of acts that are supernatural, as are those related to a religious vocation. 10. Besides the signs already given, authors mention a right intentiong but while it is true that, in making the choice of the religious state, one should be prompted by a right intentiong this will serve as a sign of a true vocation for the superiors who are going to ac- cept a candidate. rather than for the candidate himself. ll. All this is in keeping with the declaration contained in Canon 5482 namely. that every Catholic who is not debarred by any legitimate impedi- ment who is inspired by a right in- tention and who is fit to bear the bur- dens of the religious life. may be ad- mitted into a religious institute. Seemingly this sifts down to one point-willingness on the part of the individual to embrace the life. If a young man is willing to enter the re- ligious state and there give his services to :Xlmighty God thus sanctifying his own soul and helping in saving the souls of others he need have no fears over the question of his vocation. Young men. are you willing to join the army of Christ. the King? ...loil In Memoriam It is our sad duty to chronicle the death of Mr. Jason Elliott. father of Paul and Lowell. Mr. Elliott died at his home at 323 Masterson Ave.. after a long ilness. To Paul and Lowell and the other members of the bereaved family. we extend our heartfelt sym- pathy. ......O-, Freshmen Outing The annual picnic on Ascension Thursday at VX'yss's farm was all ar- ranged by our committee composed of Maurice Arnold, William Lassus, Harrison Miller. Argel Pion and Rob- ert XYalsh. Before going we assisted at Holy Mass and received Communion for the Bishop-elect. Besides our chaperones, Brothers Gilbert and Neil, we had as guests, Rev. Theo. Fettig of the Cathedral parish and Mr. Mar- tin Howley.