Mount St Joseph Academy - Yearbook (Brighton, MA)

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0 T I ..- .--i .....- ,Ediftlf-HEI.lTN.K Ckowuay we can look into our skies of blue, and, if we see clouds, know that they are not war clouds, but rain clouds. And when the rain begins to fall, and we hear the sounds of patter on the leaves, we can talk with Kilmer of trees which inti- mately live with rain , we can talk of trees which look at God all day and lift their leafy arms to pray. Dear God, my heart flows over with gratitude for our Catholic poets who can state our faith so beautifully. Now, we too can look into the rose and see Christ's blood, we can see His words in rocks. Catholic literature from its very incep- tion has been the herald of truth and beauty. In early Christian times, it saw fit to cull from pagan literature its fairest blossoms. Legend has it that St. Paul himself regretted that Vergil, the noblest of pagan poets, could not have been born in the Christian era, for he was acclaimed by the universal testimony of early Christian authors as an anima naturaliter Christiana. The literary treasures of the past have been preserved through the ages by the forerunners of the Catholic Press, the monks of the middle ages. The Catholic Press can claim as its founder Almighty God Himself. Through the mouths and pens of His prophets and X t8o1 L Apostles, He gave us the hrst book, the Book of Books, the best best-seller, the Bible. In it we find the truths of God presented in various literary forms. where can we find a more perfect short story than the Prodigal Son? Wliere shall we find a nobler record of family life than the story of the Flight into Egypt? There is no mockery of truth, no breach of moral codes, no lapse of etiquette in true Catholic literature. There is no overshadowing by the dis- regard of ethics and convention, such as we find in the modern novel. The product of the Catholic Press is the only beacon light in a world dark with de- pravity. Though it has drawn from the rich stores of the past, Catholic litera- ture itself is not of the past. Books, magazines, periodicals, all types and form of literary expression, are as modern as the times and places which produce them, for they are witnesses to the truth, and the truth is ever old yet ever new, eternal, unchangeable, universal. They are protagonists in the only just war ever waged, between truth and error. Mfhen secular magazines and newspapers have men on fire with hatred and malice to- ward their fellow man, when greed has grasped the brothers of Christ and made of them brute beasts subservient to the god of war, the Catholic Press has pre- sented unflinchingly the picture of man's true dignity as sons of God, co-heirs with Christ. The written word is such a vital force that many accept anything as truth as long as it is in black and white. What is a stronger force than the Catholic written word! It combats materialism by foster- ing a reverent fear and love of God: it combats communism by presenting prin- ciples for guidance in the social and economic order. It has fixed deep in their hearts a love of neighbor and deep in their minds a sense of truth and justice, these qualities cannot but show themselves in the daily lives of true Catholics, reaping a closer bond of good fellowship and Christian brotherhood among the children of God. VVhen they serve in the civic duty either of electing a man or being elected themselves into public offices, they will have before them the staunch counsel of the Ten Com- The Mount

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However, all renowned sodality leaders did not live in the past, nor did they abide in foreign countries alone. For, here in the United States, we are privileged to have as our Director, a dis- tinguished tlesuit, Reverend Daniel A. Lord. Under his proficient guidance, the Sodality has risen to new heights. Due to his untiring efforts the numbers of the Queens attendants are continually on the increase and pure souls stand ever ready to fulhll the royal tasks expected of loyal sodalists. The sodalists of Mount Saint Joseph Academy, a minute but energetic por- tion of the Queen's most gracious ladies, are doing their part by prayer and active co-operation not only to sanctify them- selves but to lead all to Christ through Mary and thus daily extend the confines of the Lord's kingdom. During our High School days here at The Mount, we have learned that the true manner of rendering service to Mary lies chiefly in the imitation of her virtues. Imitation is the sincerest form of praise. In staunch opposition to the falsities of the present era which is too apt to measure greatness according to the standards which a highly commercialiled press sets forth, we are convinced that nothing extraordinary, nothing melo- dramatic is required of us. With Mary, the Virgo Fidelis, ever enshrined in our hearts, we may restore to a drab world the glamour of elusive yet imperishable beauty. As we fulhll life's duties, we sodalists will never falter, never stray apart, never become entangled in evasive deceptions if we earnestly practice the precepts and examples offered us by our Alma Mater. Wfhile striving for personal perfection, we may pause at intervals and lend as- sistance to a troubled fellow traveler to whom the voice of God is faint, and eternal ' peace a shadowy phantasy. The sodalist who will bring this soul back into the fold is the one who will dare to be different from the so called modern girl -dare to be pure, modest, and holy-dare to imitate the Queen of Queens. YVhen her time is accom- plished, the veil of clouds will be lifted and she will see the Queen Mother face '- I to face and personally serve her for all eternity. Thus, fellow sodalists, it is to you that Christ turns to set the example for less privileged individuals. lt is in you that Mary hopes to see her reflection, for you have been especially trained in the es- sential principles: Be perfect unto Mary Love Cod and help thy neighbor. Ladies in Wfaiting-I salute you! S'l'liI.I.A Rtiimcx, Elo. H- -Mightier Than the Sword DEAR Goin: Hearken to this my prayer: God bless our press. Bless it in the springtime of hope and in the winter of despair. Now the year is at its morn, buds are opening, birds are singing, the whole earth is awakening, and the hearts and minds are turned to godly things. But there will come winter when icy currents will steal through and pierce men's minds and hearts, chilling them to the graces and blessings of Almighty God. Then, O dear God, our press will need your help. It has done so much already to further your holy cause and to instill the love of God and of neighbor in the hearts that You have created. The records of history give testimony to the achievements of the Catholic Press. ln our own United States, we Hnd a truly Catholic spirit pervading the fundamental law of the land, for, dear God, to me, Catholic means universal, all embracing, and what has been more concerned about the welfare of all than our own Constitution? Guaranteeing the God-given rights of man, it gives evidence of the truly Catholic spirit of the men who framediit. Mfas not the Emancipation Proclamation also in its very essence Catholic? Though the authors of these documents were not Catholic in their religious affiliation. they were Catholic in spirit, and therefore deserving of the title, members of the Catholic Press. Our press has offset the subtle weapon of propaganda, and due to the concerted efforts of its members, i f 9l ff gl i l 1940 I Qfefn Ty fill

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mandments. They will know that although some creeds, some doctrines, some customs change, human nature is fundamentally the same, cherishing rights and privileges as old as the human race. Thus they can act in accordance with their just rights and corresponding duties. Another great function of our Catholic Press is to break down the prejudice and bigotry of those not of the Faith, by making them more fully appreciate the depth, beauty, and wisdom of God's holy Church. It has won from them recogni- tion of the scholarship of Catholic stu- dents in all fields. Thus, in making in- roads into the minds and hearts of these outsiders, the Catholic Press engages in the apostolic work and conversions. Until all the sheep are gathered into one fold under the leadership of the Pastor of Souls, until all become members of the body of Christ, the Catholic Press will continue its noble work. Its task is tremendous, its scope is limited only by the horizons of place and time. It has succeeded in the past, it is flourishing in the present, it will be vigorous in the future with your help-and so-God bless our Press! HELENA Ckowu-iv, '4o. Lead Kindly Light Q6 F WE could agree to be atheists, we could all live peaceably together as Christians. Peace at the price of truth, peace, and still seeing a fellow-being ignorant of the existence of the Son of Man, peace, while depriving a non- believer of the gift of faith, peace, and more mortals rebelling against, arguing against, even denying that there is such a person as the God-Man, peace, and His command being unfulnlled. All who still retain a sense of attainment realize more and more that our spiritual life cannot be built on the quicksand of contradictory human opinion but must stand firm on the marble of stable dog- 81 mas. Any spiritual structure has a pre- destined downfall if it lacks the rock foundation of basic truth. Only one Religion, one church, one spiritual body can offer sound doctrines, doctrines that have and will withstand the tests of all centuries, persecutions and even govern- mental extinction, but still the rock of Peter stands and will continue to stand, a staunch defender of all that is good and just, striving for an everlasting peace, founded on the Brotherhood of Man, on the principles of Social justice, and in the teachings of the Eternal Founder. Among the body of the Church Mili- tant are numbered souls that late in life have found the true faith, souls that were born into the faith, but later in life were numbered with the outstanding de- fenders, clergy, martyrs and saints of their Religion. The term f'convert is generally ap- plied to those who later in life have changed their religion, but in a sense, all Catholics are converts, for no one is born a Catholic although he may be born of Catholic parents with a Catholic heri- tage and environment, he is born on the threshold of the Church but he himself must foster his faith, live up to his baptismal vows, and guard the precious heritage. A conversion is more than an intel- lectual sequence, it is primarily and fundamentally the work of the grace of God, which no mortal can fathom, much less describe. In a conversion, there are entailed great personal sacrifices, prolonged mental sufferings, social ostracism, and sometimes the actual loss of livelihood. These obstacles are a stumbling block to a prospective convert. Another great hindrance is the bad example of luke- warm and renegade Catholics. The effect of these Catholics is startling lim t 1 ff I 1940 ,. fm m-a