Cathedral College of the Immaculate Conception - Annual Yearbook (Brooklyn, NY)

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OOCATHEDRAL COLLEGE The Catholic Literary Revival in Modern Literature URING the past year newspapers, periodicals with a literary flair, and magazines devoted to book reviews have noted with growing interest the increasing Catholic tone of the newer books. Among the latest publica- tions are several volumes dealing with the Catholic Literary Revival. The authors surveying Catholic literature in general, all countries, all languages, have commented upon the causes, the history, the characteristics and the probable future of this Revival. This article will merely attempt to outline the Literary Renaissance in England and the United States. With the end of the Victorian era, Catholic literature began to enter new fields. There was the Celtic Revival in lreland, and the ancient faith of the Irish appeared in poems, essays and critical articles, written under the influ- ence of this movement. ln England, Mrs. Alice Meynell was launching the Catholic Literary Movement, and offering to the world the poetical genius of Francis Thompson. The first reason for the great interest in Catholic Literature is that the Church offers a solution of our economic and political problems, Economists, political analysts, sociologists and even statesmen are coming to the conclu- sion that the modern world will have to choose between Catholicism and Communism, between Christ and anti-Christ. All intelligent Christians realize that to choose Communism was to invite world chaos. On this account many non-Catholic writers are publishing works that show the influence of the Church on the solution of modern problems. Millions of non-Catholics aligned themselves behind the standard of the Church in an effort to combat Com- munism. All this has led to a renewed interest in Catholic books. A second reason for the increased popularity of Catholic Literature is that by far the greatest number of writers of real worth are Catholics. ln every field of literary endeavor Catholics have forged to the front. Belloc, Chesterton, Arnold Lunn, Fr. Knox, Christopher Dawson, all are supreme in their field. These men of a cultured Catholic background have shown what the Church could produce in the literary field if given the chance. These men are artistsg they have broken down the idea that one cannot be intelligent and a Catholic at the same time. Having seen some of the reasons for the prominence of Catholic Liter- ature at the present time, let us turn now to a short discussion of the history of the revival. The Catholic movement in literature can be easily divided into three periods. The first is the Victorian era. Of course, the chief defender of the Catholic position in that era was the Great Newman. He finds his place in literature because he was a master of style. Luminous is the word to describe it. His subjects glow as he writes of them. Simplicity, dignity and ease of diction reveal a personality of grace and dignity. After Newman the Catholic movement died away for many years. lt was not until the turn of the century that the Catholic spirit in literature was again felt. That it reappeared at all at this time was due mainly to the influ- 68

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A N N U A L 1 9 3 E5 0 0 Third Year - Section Une OH two years a collection of very conventional words and phrases has emanated from the group of individuals that represent the present third year at Cathedral. About this same time every year we inform you that studies have been conquered by perseverance and hard work, we exaggerate the antics of a few cut-ups, we glory in our athletic achievements and so on and so forth . . . But this year we have resolved to be differentl l l We will refrain from mentioning such trivialities as Dermody's flair for red ties. Thereis a rumor afoot that our Vice-President, Basil Rathbone has dictatorial ambitions that threaten the administration of President Ioe ludge and Secretary McNulty. No notes are complete without a casual review of our notables. Fuchs, the trick who terrifies the natives ot Patchogue with tales of penances and jug, and Gorry, the water boy on the swimming team, whose experience makes him a potential batboy, at least. A two-point defeat at the hands of an inspired second year team provided a sorry climax to a fine season. There you have the story of our class basket- ball team. Martusciello, Quinn, l-laggarty, Byrne, and Cogan scored a thrill- ing victory over 3B-2. Third Year - Section Two lS name is l'lgnoto, the name the ltalians have for the Unknown. Every class has its lgnotos whose successes class notes fail to mention, but silence seems to whisper the fame they never knew. lt is to these lgnotos the following lines are dedicated. Among the luminaries of the class there is Mickey McGuire, who after three years' campaigning for the Prep has yet to show a sign of the gruelling battle. Mickey is a class officer and a real scholar, too. lack Bopp is willing to bet on anything with anybody, and at any timel What has become of foe Coughlin's famous sweater? Whenever he-man CPD loe wore this sweater during a Greek test he would be sure to pass. Ed, l-ledgecock, president, has again made the Prep baseball team. Ed. is so good that he was consid- ering Hholding out, but Bertie persuaded him to sign. Bertie, by the way, comes from one of the Gowanus Canals first families. Our class basketball team won three out of five games-'snuff said. The class, however, has great hopes in the baseball team. Have you seen Sharpie McCaffrey's latest in what the well-dressed man should wear? Matthew O'Reilly is so expert in his mastery of Greek that our Greek teacher has promoted him to the rank of Captain in 3B-2's army. Shanahan is clamoring for Mat's impeachment. l would say something in the manner of a farewell, in Latin or Greek, but as l don't kno-, -er, l mean, as you wouldn't understand, I will just say Good-by until next year. 67 '

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A N N U A L l 9 3 6 0 ' ence of Mrs. Alice Meynell. At the home of this authoress met all the literary lights of England. Here they discussed the million and one things that occupy the mind of budding poets and playwrights. lt was she who officially started the Catholic movement in literature as a movement. She made all the Cath- olics who frequented her house agree always to write with the definite pur- pose in view of advancing Catholic principles by their writings. Finally it was she who discovered the genius of Francis Thompson, the greatest Catholic lyric poet in the English language. He has been ranked by some critics sec- ond only to Keats and Shelley, and all agree that he is the greatest English poet produced since their time. The World War marks the beginning of the third and greatest period in Catholic literature. We have already declared that the war marked a turn from the principles of the post-Victorian era to the principles of either Cathol- icism or Communism. lt is because of this turn to Catholicism in search for peace and security that the interest in Catholic literature has greatly in- creased. The greatest figure in this third phase of the Catholic literary revival is the journalist, G. K. Chesterton. This man, journalist, pamphleteer, an author, a poet, has been outspoken against the principles of the post-Victorian era that lead us to the war. He shouts, he rants, he raves, he pleads cajolingly, he philosophizes in paradoxes, on all fronts, in every manner he leads the Catholic attack against the twin evils of the day-Atheism and Communism. Close behind Chesterton comes his friend and adviser, Hilaire Belloc. As Chesterton leads the attack, so Belloc directs it. l-le and his associates are bit by bit destroying the prejudice against Catholicism. He has shown the people of the present day their heritage from their Catholic past and urges them to embrace it. The Catholic spirit pervades all forms of literature. ln poetry the music of Alfred Noyes charms us by its simplicity, and the delightful scenes he pic- tures are seen on the streets of London. He and his friends are taking up the work of Francis Thompson. More and more the worthwhile novels are acquiring a Catholic tone. In the field of biography, the greatest demand at the present time is for lives of the saints. Catholic scientists, for the most part priests in universities, are coming to the fore. Finally, in the always turbulent fie'ld of Apologetics, there has been amazing activity. The bookshelves are being filled and emptied of recent volumes replying to the attacks of some bigoted non-believer or ignorant atheist. As to the effects of this Catholic revival we can say very little. We are yet in the midst of it. Undoubtedly one of the first results has been to encour- age more Catholics to write. lt has given Catholics courage to state their views in print . It has led non-Catholics to inquire about the Church and has been responsible for many conversions. lt has dispelled the idea that all Catholics are ignorant and uneducated. These are all outward evidences of the revival. But who will enumerate the hidden results? Who will count the number of men and women who have drawn strength, comfort and joy in an hour of trial or moment of misery from some Catholic book that offered enlight- enment, understanding and truth? SYLVESTER G. BENACK, '35 69