Catholic Central High School - Spires Yearbook (Grand Rapids, MI)

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0ur Lady, Queen of the Holy Rosary fFeast 0ctol1er 71 Historians tell us that since the days of Ninive, people have used mechanical def vices for counting prayers. The Egyptians had prayerfboards to tell off orisons to their gods. In the fifth century, St. Brigid of Ireland used variformed pebbles for counting her Pater Nostersf' as did the Hindus 2,000 years before her. The Mohammedans fingered their beadfstring of thirtyfthree to Allah. However, it was not until the middle of the twelfth century that the L'Hail Mary came into common use as a formula of devotion, and the old custom of using strings of beads to count prayers was discontinued. The world owes thanks to the Queen of Heaven and to St. Dominic for the glorious birth of the Rosary. To each and every Catholic, the feast of the Holy Rosary bears a special significance, for it marks the regeneration of the world by God through the medium of His Immaculate Mother by means of her Rosary, About the thirteenth century, the Christians were threatened to be wiped off the face of Europe by a powerful and irreligious race of people called the Albigenses. This race pillaged the Church, devastated the monasteries, murdered the religious, and desecrated the sanctuaries of God. In about 1208, when the very last traces of Christianity seemed obliterated in the East and the Far West, the Mother of God appeared to Dominic in the chapel of Notre Dame, at Prouille, France and presented to him her gift. Holding a Rosary in her outstretched hands, she appeared in heavenf ly beauty to her pleading intercessor addressing him thus: Be of good courage, Dom' inic, the fruits of your labor shall be abundant. The remedy for the evil you lament will be meditation on the life, death, and glory of my Song uniting these with the recitation of the 'Angelic Salutation' by which the mystery of the Redemption was announced to the world. At the command of the Blessed Lady, St. Dominic spread this new devotion to the people. Instructed by Dominic, their leader, the Christian army and its followers recited the Rosary for many days before the crucial battle of Muret in 1213. As a result of the constant repetition of this beautiful devotion, the Albegensian heresy shrivf elled in the presence of the people's proclamation. That incident marked the first universal victory over the enemies of Christianity. The second mighty Rosary victory came in 1771 at the Battle of Lepanto when the Spanish fleet drove the Mohammedans from Europe. Again, the people, under the leadership of Pope St. Pius V, gathered to recite the Rosary to bring success to the Christian forces. Don John of Austria was commander of the Christian fleet fur' nished by Venice, Genoa and Spain. After receiving Holy Communion and Aposf tolic Benediction, Don John's sixtyffive thousand men unceasingly recited the Rosary for three hours. The attack was made, and the Christians won. They attributed this great naval triumph to the recitation of the Rosary. Another miraculous event associated with the Rosary occurred in Lourdes, France, in 1858 when the Blessed Virgin appeared to a little peasant girl, Bernadette Soubif roux, and told her to spread the practice of saying the Rosary. Our Blessed Mother, Queen of the Holy Rosary, appeared in 1884 to Fortuna Agf relli, a sick girl in Pompeii, Italy and told her that she was pleased to be called Queen of the Holy Rosary, and that if she desired a favor from her, she should make three novenas of the prayers of the Rosary in petition, and thrice in thanksgiving. Fortuna did as commanded and was cured of her fatal malady. During World War I, Our Lady appeared to three shepherd children near Fatima, Portugal with a Rosary of pearls in her hands. She commanded them to say it in her honor for world peace. These instances of the endless power of the Rosary are outstanding, but there are other countless miracles known only to the individuals who experience them at her famous Rosary sanctuaries in Lourdes, France, Fatima, Spain, Guadalupe, Mexico, and, in fact, in our private homes. If you desire peace in your hearts, your homes, and your country, assemble every evening to recite the Rosary. fPius XD -Helen Schotten, '45

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Election Amid band-music, cheers, and claims of rival speeches, the senior elecf tionfcampaign officially got under way October 5. The drag was decorated with posters, signs and stickers. Parades were staged, and friendly rivalry was apparent between the pof litical parties. A majority of the stu' dentfbody joined in the fun and frolic. After four days of furious and anxious speeches and promises, Wil- liam Feutz was chosen presidentg Mary Margaret Platte, vicefpresidentg Gra' ham McDonnell, treasurer, and Flor' ence Soltys, secretary. The enthusiastic voters were well pleased with the executive council to lead the class of '45 on to bigger and better thuigs for the duration of the school year. Blue and White You are my voiceg few would be the children of the common father who would learn my wishes without the aid of the Catholic Press. Pope Pius XI. It has been the policy of the Blue and White to maintain a high standard of writing by publishing in its columns excellently written editorials. The en' couraging criticisms received from the Catholic School Press association verify the fact by submitting to the adviser of the Blue and White the following com' mendation: The Blue and White editorial lead' ership indicates that the staff realizes its duty as the mouthpiece of Catholic ac' tion. The editorials are excellently written and should be commended for their fine Catholic tone . . . Keep em' phasizing the things of real valueg that is the principal job of the Blue and White, and its editors are performing it admirably. Spires The Royalty Contest sponsored each year for the sale of the Spires netted glory for Gertrude Clszewski, the queen, and Frank Duffy, king of the Spires. Gertrude won the contest with a total of 196 soldg Frank won his po' sition with a sale of 189. The following seniors deserve hon' orable mention for their loyal support and hard work during the Royalty cam' paign: Margaret Bek, Marjorie Will- acker, Dan Meade, and .lack Moriarif ty. Over a thousand copies of the Spires were circulated. Seated, left to right, are the mem' bers of the Spires staff rounding up their plans for this publication. Flor' ence Baura, business managerg Polly Ann Noble and Thomas Erhardt, co' editors. -Florence Baura, '45 Blue and White Staff Upper row, left to right: Eugene LeMay, Roman Boruta, Thomas Erhardt Middle row, left to right: Richard Guidotti, Dorothy Zielbeck, Florence Baura Norma Schippers, Gerarda Smigiel, Lorraine Bantis, Mary Ellen Schaeffer Patricia Stawaz. Lower row, left to right: Thomas Farrell, William Carey James Murphy, Patricia Bechtold, Polly Noble, Roebrt Stratford. Insert: Donald Weiland, Dorothy Zaskaski, Rita Rocchi, Donald Walenga. Spires Staff Fa . , f- s