Immaculata Academy - Lilium Convallium Yearbook (Portland, OR)

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26 'LILIUM CONVALLIUM Blessed Imelda An angelic child was born at Bologna, Italy, in 1322, to the wealthy Lambertini family. She looked so delicate and seemed so much more fit for heaven than earth, that her parents feared she would not live long. However this sweet daughter, whom they named Imelda, was spared to them for a decade of years, and was seldom ill. As soon as she could lisp the prayers her mother taught her, she would forsake her playmates in order to find a spot where she could pray alone. The names of Jesus and Mary never failed to bring a smile to her face, although tears might have been in her eyes before they were uttered. She was not satisfied with worldly or vain instructions and always longed for religious teaching. Her governess was unable to answer the questions she asked concerning the Holy Scriptures. The mother then requested the Dominican Sisters to give Imelda special religious instructions. The little girl listened eagerly to the Sisters' words, and found it very difficult to leave the convent where she felt nearer to her beloved Jesus. At the age of ten she begged permission to enter the convent. It was reluctantly granted, because her parents felt that they could not live without her, their dearest child. When she received the habit, she became still sweeter. She now felt that she was nearer to Jesus, but she could not yet receive Him in Holy Communion. At that time first communicants had to be fourteen years old and she was only eleven. She was a zealous, faithful religious, delighting especially in her work in the sanctuary, where she was allowed to help the sacristan. She always thought her work imperfect. If she left a speck of dust on the altar, she was dis-

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LILIUM CONVALLIUM Triolets I April When rainy April comes around And Nature starts to clothe the earth, She paints with green the naked ground Wlien rainy April comes around, The streams that once in silence wound Now tumble on in noisy mirth, Wlmexi rainy April comes around And Nature starts to clothe the earth. -EL1zAm2TH JANISCH, 'z8. A Song A birdie with a yellow bill Came gaily flitting byg He hopped upon my window sill, This birdie with a yellow bill, And from his heart a song did trill, Wliich made my sorrows fly. Yes! A birdie with a yellow bill Came gaily flirting by. -AGNES MCBRIDE, 'z8. Sand Golden sands forever shifting, On the sea's great shore e'er drifting, Wliirling fast when gales do moan. Like the sands forever shifting, Are lifels moments ever drifting Toward our true eternal home. Golden sands forever shifting, On the sea,s great shore e'er drifting. -WILMA BECHTOLD, 'z 6. The Wind The wind is howling through the trees The clouds are gathering fastg The air is keen, about to freeze. The wind is howling through the trees 5 Bending them with greatest ease. The thunder roars a terrible blast. The wind is howling through the trees, The clouds are gathering fast. -CATHEMNE STRAUB, 'z8. 9

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LILIUM CONVALLIUM 27 satisfied until it was removed. She arranged the flowers in artistic bouquets. Their beauty and sweet symbolism charmed her and she longed like them to remain quite near her Beloved Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. Every day Imelda's desire for Holy Communion became more intense. On the eve of the Ascension in 1333, she was consumed with an overpowering longing for her God. Alone in the choir, she tried to subdue her ardent de- sire by thinking of her unworthiness. She gazed at the tabernacleg suddenly a ray of light came towards her, in it a Sacred Host hovered. She held out her arms entreatingly and parted her lips, but our Lord did not come to her. She dropped her hands and closed her lipsg the thought of her own nothingness dismayed her. Once more she looked at her Spouse lovingly and hope again awakened within her. The sacristan, seeing the heavenly light, called the Chaplain and the other Sisters. The priest came and seeing God's manifest desire, gave the Sacred I-lost to the child, who received It with unspeakable joy. Later when one of the Sisters returned, at the request of the Prioress to call her, she found Imelda in an attitude of profound prayer. Nothing could disturb her ecstasy of love and gratitude. At length it became clear that angels had borne her innocent soul to complete her thanksgiving in heaven. The Sisters then remembered her frequent question, How can anyone receive Jesus and not die of joy? for which she had never received an answer that satisfied her. -ADELINE VANDERBECK, 'z6. Imelda is Soul A lily, pure as those, the most select, Witli which she loved the altar to adorn, She wished to beg all sin she ever scorned. She strove her love for Jesus to perfect, XVhilst she must wait for Him, the Guest elect. XVith longing for her God her soul was torn, Wlmile she her tender years did sadly mourn, And angels did her lily-soul protect. Can we then wonder that our Lord Divine Should wish to come to this sweet holy one? Since she could not approach the Feast sublime, Our Savior found her worthy that He come To her Himself. Then joy her heart so stressed, Her soul took flight to its eternal rest. -ADELINE VANDERBECK, 'z6.