College of the Holy Cross - Purple Patcher Yearbook (Worcester, MA)

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yy, N .2 ' s ,2- sa-gi f ,W , 'al We ' Z az 5 ? ' 2 Z ,W I -P Y 2 'fi 1446, Q. X f , .V We VA' Q ,E X permeates all the many aspects of living here. Obviously there is no way to esti- mate a virtue quotient at Holy Cross. Where there are temples there will be Pharisees. But to some extent we can measure the opportunities to mature in a directly religious way. In addition to the four year theology cur- riculum, which undeniably includes much of the philosophy courses, these opportunities are many and fruitful. The principal organizations devoted to the students' spiritual de- velopment are the Sodality of Our Lady, the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, and the Knights of Colum- bus. However, these groups are select and total membership is relatively small. The general opportunities af- forded the entire student body are the daily services in the student chapel including the Mass, Confession, and Benediction. Also the very presence of so many religious on the faculty here provides especial advantages for personal friendships, frequent consul- tations, and casual discussions. These are all ways to grow interi- orly by acting outwardly, by realizing our relation to Cod not only intellec- tually but also willfully. Indeed, these features which characterize Holy Cross as a liberal arts college in the Catholic tradition, and which distinguish it from the secular tradition, are pre- cisely those which arise from and cor- respond to a very basic reality within ourselves, the reality of matter and spirit, body and soul-blessed by Cod. -RICHARD MATHIAS

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Father Miller and probationers In his initial addresses to the stu- dents as President of Holy Cross Father Swords continually empha- sized the work of the lay apostolate. He was concerned not only with the post-graduate activities of the stu- dents but also with the needs and op- portunities for the lay apostolate here on the campus. In the diverse con- cerns of the Sodality, the Confrater- nity of Christian Doctrine, the Sanctu- ary Society, the Choir, and the Knights of Columbus, the student finds ample outlets for his apostolic energies. By combining the active apostolate of good works with individual develop- ment, members of the five groups strive for personal sanctification and the sanctification of others. For this activity the Sodality of Our Lady offers perhaps an ideal frame- work, it is an action-orientated organ- ization with roots in the contemplative life. By their Common Rules, the Sodalists are committed to perfecting themselves so that they may sanctify 7 come mere habit, the Sodalist tries to give them deeper meaning through daily meditation. As further aids to this end, spiritual reading and counsel are recommended, retreats and days of recollection are sponsored. That spiritual progress must culmi- nate in apostolic activity has always been recognized as an ascetical axiom. Effecting the ideal has proved more difficult. An important suggestion was made by the vigorous English Jesuit, Bev. Bernard Bassett, SJ., who recom- mended a reorganization of the large unwieldly Sodality into small cell groups. These autonomous units would have responsibility to seek and carry out projects. In practice, the Holy Cross cells would discuss ab- stract projects-but they rarely found time or opportunity to effect them. This year's prefect, john Lent, ob- jected that this procedure neglected the primary end of the cells-action. He insisted that each group choose some concrete and practical activity, Cell life-the heart of the 'Sodality others and defend the Church. Thus, the essence of the Sodality is not in its organization but in its way of life. This makes personal santification, or at least a striving in this direction, the primary point of Sodality literature and lectures. A rule is prescribed, its chief aspects are daily Mass and Com- munion, the Rosary and vocal prayer. Aware that these devotions can be- 14 such as working with the delinquent or retarded children, this would be the subject of their discussion. Aware that this expansion of activi- ties off-campus would present a spe- cial hardship on carless Pakachoag, john decided a Sodality-owned Volks- wagon would be the answer. After ex- citing the enthusiastic support of the moderator, Bev. joseph LaBran, SJ.,