Aquinas Institute - Arete Yearbook (Rochester, NY)

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TThe Trete Jf our gears TALL, erect youth of eighteen steps across the stage. With flushed cheeks and happy face, he stretches forth his hand to receive his diploma. Four short years ago he received another diploma. Even now the memory of that ceremony is viyid in the lad’s mind. Those ceremonies are nearly identical but how different is the boy himself! The child of fourteen entered the great door of the high school. He began his high school career at that moment, and he began with high resolve. An immense gymnasium was round about him. Somehow, he grasped two dumbbells and swung them till his arms tired. Every day he exercised, year after year he performed this duty, until his body was hard and rugged. Again, he found himself in a large classroom. Questions came at him. They taxed his brain, so he had to think. Long procedures were shown him, intricate examples were explained. It never stopped, always was some learned professor propounding new and strange problems. The lad persevered; through four winters and summers he concentrated on his studies. As he neared eighteen, he was truly an intellectual youth. Through all this his young heart was growing deeper. Good example and sweet and bitter experiences were teaching him tenderness and sympathy, courage and resolution. Those God-loving teachers did not forget his soul. They taught him the existence of God, His power, His justice, His Love. Into every question God was brought as the deciding factor. His will was ever obeyed. Catholic teaching sank deep into the nature of the lad; Christian example strengthened him still more, and then the friendship of God brought the youth to a lofty place in the spiritual world. Thus he completed his work a sturdy, educated Catholic, with heart of gold and soul of sanctity. So, as each of our class reaches for his diploma four years work will have closed, four years of life will have ended. But the training and the work will continue; on through life will go each one of us, living and loving God, working for Him. When each of us is ushered unto the throne of God, he will surely say that four years in Aquinas brought him nearer heaven. Gregory V. Drumm.

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liorb of Horbs, I tng of l utgs OW inspiring it is to see a king arrayed in his robes of state! His very attitude and carriage tell of unlimited power; power which guides the destinies of his people, that they may partake of every opportunity within their grasp. Around his honored throne, his court and his subjects bow down in reverence and homage. It is obvious that such a potentate possesses the respect and loyalty of his subjects. Yet how few the subjects, how limited the power! Greater by far than this display of fidelity to a king is the love of man for his God. Man bows down before his invisible King with a more profound reverence than he could show to any earthly monarch, for is not his Lord the Over-lord of all lords and the King of all Kings? Many injudicious persons have queried, “By what authority or right does Christ claim the all-embracing title, King?” Jesus Christ the King is Truth itself; He is the source, the culmination and the essence of all veracity and all good. It is truth and goodness that rule the hearts and souls of all men, so God by His very substance holds the eternal right to govern the minds, the hearts, and the souls of men. By such a sway over all mankind, men unanimously acclaim Christ their King. The early prophets heralded the birth of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, as the advent of a new and great King. These holy men predicted that His kingdom would be from sea to sea; they prophesied that of His kingdom there would be no end. These prophets, the medium through which God spoke to the faithful, described vividly, long before His birth, the glories that were to be His. He would be a true King for He would be born of a royal line; He would be humble, not manifesting the greatness of His royalty; He would lead a pure and simple life untainted by the devastating effects of sin. When Christ embarked on His public campaign of teaching, instructing, and converting the multitudes, He was held in the esteem and admiration proper to a king. Through His Omnipotence, He performed numerous miracles, yet these manifestations of His wondrous power were not to instill fear into the hearts of the observers, but rather to demonstrate to them His great love for men. In those truly marvelous miracles, He fulfilled the predictions of the prophets, “So great shall be His power that He shall heal the sick, make the blind see, and raise the dead to life.” It was through these revelations of His almighty power that the faithful were able to know and adore Him. His triumphant entry into Jerusalem shortly before His passion was greater than any demonstration ever accorded an earthly king. The symbolic palm was everywhere displayed, even strewn upon the road before Him. Surely He was a King! During His passion when the irate council groped blindly for some sin of which to convict Jesus, they questioned Him, “Art Thou a King?’ When He answered “I Am,” Jesus uttered His coronation speech. In mocking derision, the Jews placed on His Sacred Head a crown of thorns, but they placed it by His permission, for that Greatest of Rulers preferred painful thorns to caressing gold. Christ is not King by force or conquest, nor by doubtful inheritance; His very essential Being raises Him and crowns Him King. But such a King was not content; He stretched His racking, human Frame on a cross; he bought the souls of all mankind with the Precious Blood shed thereon. Mankind become willing slaves to this so mighty Monarch, so just, so kind. Never will Jesus the King lay down His crown for it is written, “Of His Kingdom, there shall be no end.” nine Ray White.

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A TThc Tret c Mentor (Class ASHE, THOMAS R. 1024 Monroe Ave. Tom” Blessed Sacrament School Tom is never rushed nor fussed. He is a good student and believes in supporting student activities. His favorite class is Intermediate Algebra. Tom has a supply of dry humor which breaks out at unexpected moments. To Tom, as chairman of the photographic committee of the Arete, credit for the class pictures is due. BECKER, CHARLES M. Chuck” 52 Holmes Street Holy Rosary School “Ten Second” Becker is so called because of his mental, physical and vocal agility. He seems possessed of an uniquity, his thoughts flow swifter than a tempest and he is able to express himself almost as rapidly as he thinks. With his logisticity of speech at the bar, he will never lose a case. BERTSCHE, FRANK T. 381 Glenwood Ave. Frank” Holy Rosary School The editor, incognito, of the much laughed-at weekly, “Roja Pimento.” Frank’s abstruse ability as a humorist remained unappreciated because his writings had never been traced to their original source. His participation in athletics has grown lax. He now occupies his time in a series of debates which he is carrying on with Mr. Ryan. BOEHME, AUSTIN W. Aus” 251 Mulberry St. St. Mary’s School Aus is a taciturn student and seldom speaks except in reply. When he is periodically called on in history, he displays mild indignation over the “Bawston” pronunciation of his name. His protests to Mr. Ryan avail him nothing, but his good nature leaves him unruffled. His own beloved history will soon praise his name.