Loyola College - Review Yearbook (Montreal, Quebec Canada)

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Loyola College Review “Же Jesuit Canadian Martyrs WHY has there been in 1949, so much interest and devotion shown to the Jesuit Canadian Martyrs and why have there been so many activities and celebrations dedicated to their honor, in general by Christians of every nationality, in particular by Canadians, and now by the Loyola College Review? The answer is simple and found without too much reflection. Christians everywhere have taken these men to their hearts because they are Martyrs, and especially venerate them in 1949 for this year commemorates the 300th anniversary of their Martyrdom. It is part of human nature to respect a good soldier and admire a true hero. It is also a human trait to pedestal those who not only defend but actively battle for convic- tions akin to one’s own, and to venerate those who sacrifice their lives in that struggle for faith. Martyrs they call them, and such were Saints Brebeuf, Lalemant, Garnier and Chabanel. Originally they were soldiers — soldiers of Christ, doing battle in a foreign land against pagan savages in order that those barbarians might also enter the kingdom of God. But they were more than soldiers, they were heroes — martyrs,— and as such deserve more than a soldier's praise. For their convictions they were executed. Fathers Brebeuf апа Lalemant, having suffered terrible torture were burned at the stake. Garnier was shot by an Indian who then split his skull with a hatchet to hasten his death. Though the exact manner of Chabanel's death is unknown we can assert with certainty that he met a martyr's end. In the truest, original sense of the word martyr, — one who dies for the love of God — these were four martyrs and since 1949 is the 300th anniversary of their ascension to Heaven, Christians everywhere pay them more than ordinary tribute. Canadians in particular pay them personal homage and esteem for they are Canadian Martyrs, and we recognize that it was through the outstanding efforts of these four that this country was changed from an uncivilized, almost uninhabited, heathen stronghold three hundred years ago, to the great and God-fearing nation that it is today. If Canada is now a leading nation of the world, much credit is due to these Canadian Martyrs who originally planted the seeds of Christendom and civilization on our soil. They planted and nourished these seeds with such a zeal, love and courage while they lived, that the flowering country that is Canada today, was assured. We of Loyola College honor them because they are Jesuit Canadian Martyrs. They are more than Martyrs to us, more even than Canadian martyrs. We view them as Jesuit Canadian Martyrs. We love them and pray to them because they are martyrs and members of the same religious Society to whom we owe our Catholic education, outlook on life, and principles. There is a close relationship and understanding between Jesuits and Loyola men and the Martyrs are Jesuits. Consequently Loyola men, and men educated in any Canadian Jesuit College have a certain justified right before others to call these Martyrs their own, and also have a certain duty to commemorate this great anniversary in a fitting manner.

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Loyola College Review Ou “(rial A SHORT time ago, in the highest court of one of the great Catholic nations of the world, a saddened shell of a man humbly stood in the prisoner's dock, while his assailants venomously hurled accusations at him. They told the world of the unforgivable crime that this man had perpetrated on his own people. But even more significantly, they made it known that not only one man, this man, was on trial, but that the bulwark of Christianity was also being tested for its integrity. They were believed by many. Christianity was really . . . on trial. As a fitting culmination to this mockery of justice, the accused admitted that if he was guilty, he was sorry. That man was a Prince of the Catholic Church. He was a descendant Disciple of the Son of God. Certainly, at a time when the would-be oppressors of all things Christian were gaining momentum, he, a Christian leader of such magnitude, would not be attempting to betray his country, his flock. But apparently he did, or so his confession would seem to imply. He was tried by standards of justice; standards set up by those who are the deadly enemies of justice. He was found guilty of treason, for he denied allegiance to the tenets of Atheistic Communism. This was their justification for sentencing him to life impri- sonment. With the passing of this satanic persecution, a thousand heads nodded with the com- placency of having gained a major victory; a thousand others with the satisfaction founded on the fact that at long last, the strange form of mysticism which had flourished for twenty cen- turies had been adequately exposed. Slowly God's territorial kingdom was perishing at the hands of its own guardians. Thus thought those who willingly blinded themselves; those who would not see; those who could not understand that the accused and sentenced Cardinal was the victim of the most insidious of human tortures. With physical punishment and drugs they severed the ties of this man from his free will; thus rendering him nothing more than a human robot who was ready to do and say the commands of his torturers. But those of faith saw and understood that neither the Cardinal nor the Church was or is on trial; but rather that everything anti-God is on trial. The faithful realized that retaliation must not be had with legions of soldiers or arms that kill; but with prayers; prayers beseeching God to forgive those who are so blind because they will not see; prayers pleading that He send the light so that part of His flock which has wandered astray might again find the path of truth; and above all prayers asking for the strength to endure with Divine-like patience and obe- dience until that moment when the jury in the Court of Heaven renders its verdict . . . for the enemies of all religion are on trial. |

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Loyola College Keview Class of 1949 Proceed with the same pains and toil. CT uis year’s graduating class takes pride in the fact that, in numbers, it is the largest in Loyola’s fifty-four year old history. Perhaps this pride stems from belief in the aphorism that, There is strength in numbers.” Be that as it may, sixty nine men with subtle minds and happy memories will descend upon the world, intent upon serving the greater glory of God. Many will continue their studies, some will enter the business world, others take on the Cloth; but all will always be guided by the unchanging principles now deeply imbedded in their minds and hearts . .. And so the graduates proceed; perhaps recalling a line of Shakespeare written for occasions such as this, Parting brings such sweet sorrow. The sorrow is the thought of no longer hurrying in and out of familiar lecture halls with a class of close friends; of no longer having intellectual appetites satiated by the various phases of Eternal Truths, as spoken by men who have dedicated their lives to the mould- ing of intelligent gentlemen. The sweetness is the satisfaction of having successfully completed a course of Philosophy, the Sciences, Literature, and Languages . . . Now is their hour, the time they have strived for diligently and faithfully for four years. Well equipped with Truth, they anticipate their future with no fear, except a proper fear of God. The steady hand that will direct them through the vicissitudes of life is found in the words of Edmund Campion, Jesuit and Martyr, scholar and educator, “Only preserve, do not degenerate from what you are, nor suffer the keen eye of your mind to grow dark and rusty.” HALDANE, GILBERT; Science PRESIDENT “Those who think must govern those who toil. An eight year man, Gib returned to the college in freshman after a five year term in the R.C.A.F. Since then his activities around the college and his contemplative and mature judgment prompted his classmates to elect him President of the student body. He will begin graduate studies in the field of chemistry. Activities: Class President, '47; C.S.R. President, '49; Sodality, '49.