St Josephs Preparatory Seminary - Yearbook (Holy Trinity, AL)

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his was the year of Father Judge. Of course it cannot be compared to that year when, God willing, Father will be officially elevated to the legion of salnthood. But, since, in the eyes of his communities, he Isalready a saint although without recognition, thispast year ranks next to Father himself among the outstanding blessings to these com- munities. For, Father's spiritual children have so cast themselves in his mold and so followed his mandates and admonitions that Holy Mother Church has seen fit to bestow upon these children the Decretum Laudis. Yes, Father lives on in his communities, all the while reminding them that ifthe work is of God it will continue. And, If the lives involved in this work faithfully emulate their founder, the work cannot help but go on for It will be of a saint of God. And the flame of Father's spirit wlll not be quenched as long as he remains in the actions of his children. It is with this in mind that the Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity established the training curriculum for aspirants to their company. The living spirit of Father permeates every facet of the seminarian's activity. The seminarian must study to become 'a safe torchbearer of the Gospel of Chrlst'. He must work seeking the reward of 'God's pleasure and promises'. He must recreate in such a way that he unites 'the joyful and the useful'. And, Above all, he must pray. For, 'it Is only a spiritual person who can lead an apostolic life, and... one cannot be spiritual without prayer.' This is the outline, engraved in the writings and written on the soul of Father. Even more than that, it is Father. And it must be the immediate goal of every seminarian to Live Father. For, that is the aspiration of his commu- nities and should, consequently, bethe aspiration of their prospective members. And so the seminarian is bid to follow this outline as truly as possible. How, the predominant note in Father's life, that spirit which en- compassed all his deeds, that unyielding cornerstone upon which he built his communities is the spirit of prayer. It overshadowed and guided the thought, speech, and actions of this holy man of God. He did nothing without prayer. So, in the life of the seminarian, nothing must be done without prayer. Thus, Holy Trinity is keyed to foster this spirit of prayer in all its various applications. The seminarian is first given an appreciation of the necessity and efficacy of prayer in his daily life. Then, atthe same time, he is subjected to a routine impregnated with scheduled community prayer. Finally he is given abun- dant spiritual direction, both personally through his spiritual di- rector and generally through numerous conferences and sermons. But, far more important than these, he is glven many,many spirituallypreg-- nant sources of grace: daily Mass, daily Benediction, daily Communion, Defpefuelly available confession, monthly retreats and his daily com- mon llfe. The most significant of these is his common life. All the others aresources of that grace which will enable him to profit spiri- tually from his day to day life. They are to help him make one long continuous prayer out of his common actions throughout every day of the year. His ideal should be to achieve unceasing union with God. And DYBYGF i9 N0fhih9'more or less than that: union with God. Union with 904. SMVIUQIHIS JOYS, throbbing with the beat of His Heart,bursting with His divine blood - what sublime bliss! Father Judge evldentally reached such a height. But, where is the seminarian who is striving to

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