La Salle Academy - La Sallite Yearbook (New York, NY)

Page 143 text:

A little Community entertainment is in order on special occasions. St. Patrick's feast brought all the sons of Erin to the fore. Novices take community recreation after meals and several times during the week they get an opportunity to take more vigorous exercise on the basketball court or the ball field. Q P' X! 'X 1 'W' f, f X - 1, if , ' ' ' ':,,9ff.17'Hm fff-'f ' ,I if 4 ,,, f -- ' , fn., ,, f I , A, ,lt K V H 4. . gijityfy, f, .W I I, IW, X VV ,aff 'ff,f.,,,,-e4,,aff1' ' ,, W. ' s- Aga ',ff.',,b?Ziw,', Wffvff, 1 1-ff , t 'f ' , 1 ,,,t,w, ya ,f,,fQ9Pa.,, r , 'ltrvw f' 4 H 'W 1, ,H H 'f ',,y,'ft,- , we r 'f if ' Guidance in spiritual matters is of supreme impor- tance. Once a week the Brother Director of Novices has a chat with the young Novice, so as to encourage him in his vocation and provide him with sound advice and direction in his spiritual formation. X .,., . ' L - , . ' Late afternoon calls for some time devoted to spiritual reading and a visit to the Most Blessed Sacrament. In September, after a two months postulancy, young men seeking admittance to the Institute of the Chris- tian Brothers are clothed in the religious Habit and given a new name. With this religious ceremony, the Novitiate year begins.

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Approximately half of each Novitiate group comes from outside high schools and colleges. The boys from the funiorate make up the other half. Here the Director of Novices receive a young postulant at the Novitiate. Novitiate Part of each day is spent in re- ligious studies. The Novitiate catechist is specially trained in philosophy and theology in order to initiate the Novices in the catechetical method of the Brothers. The Novitiate Year is the basic cornerstone in the formative period of the young Religious. Here he is introduced to all of the essentials and basic notions of a life which demands from its aspirant a total and complete dedication. He studies thoroughly the nature and the purpose of the vows and Rules which bind him by explicit contract with his Society. He is carefully taught the elements and practice of mental prayer which are requisite for his spiritual union with God. Through guidance, practice, prayer and study, he strives to make his own the same spirit of faith and zeal that have animated the Christian Brothers for close to three centuries. To further motivate him in his high ambition, he follows advanced theological courses which present to him the ideals to be found in the life of Christ, the Liturgy of the Church, the treasures of Divine Revelation contained in the Sacred Scriptures and the traditional teachings of the Church Fathers. Socially he learns to live, work, pray and play with others as unified cells in the dynamic organism of the Mystical Body. Here the solid rock foundation is laid upon which others can then build the intellectual and professional super-structure during the later years of scholasticate and professional training. The Novitiate schedule is a vig- orous one. The bell ringer, sum- mons the commnuity to the chapel at 5:00 o'clocla each morning for the morning religious exercises that include vocal and mental prayer and Holy Mass. Special devotion to the Most Blessed Mother is a precious her- itage of religious houses. Here the Novices make an early morning visit. The community dining hall re- veals a gay spirit during a Benedicamus. Usually, the Novices eat in silence while a confrere reads to them from some spiritual book. Zi ,J .024 . g 'IE Q The day begins with morning prayer. T -s 1. 2 -

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The first year of the Scholasticate is spent in Troy, New York, at Hillside Hall, a college affiliated with Catholic University. Brother Director is ivin a few new scholastics a run-down on E 8 the program followed at Hillside. T-iw-Ef75.g'il7 Essen:- ai.. 4. r 15' -fl . 140 Qfiz' , s- ,fu Scholasticate The daily schedule of the Scholasticate moves along at high speed throughout the entire day. The Scholastics live the Common life in all details. In De La Salle College several scholastics share the same room. Y9'if s ,F f , ff . The following three years of Scholasticate are spent at De La Salle College in Washing- ton, D. C. De La Salle is one of the many religious houses at Catholic University. Sopho- more courses are taken at the College. The last two years of the Scholasticate are spent on the C. U. campus itself. Here are a group of Brothers waiting to return to De La Salle Col- lege after attending classes at the University. In the back- ground is the scajoldin for the National Shrine o the Immaculate Conception.