Our Lady of Angels High School - Amaranth Yearbook (Cincinnati, OH)

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7a lfze Q : HE OPEN DOOR has long been a symbol of gracious welcome, freedom and oppor- tunity. In a sense, the open door is an invitation to life and hap- piness. We can readily understand, therefore, the reasons why you graduates have chosen doors as the theme for the Amaranth which you will treasure through the years. On the contrary, the closed and bolted door is an apt symbol of exclusion, of irrevocable decision, and of opportunities which are no more. Consequently, it may be a symbol of things either dread- ful or cheerful, depending on what that closed door shields from view. The closed and bolted door of heaven for example, signifies dreadful sorrow to those who are locked out, but it means unspeak- able joy for those who are fortunate enough to be locked within! Quite understandably, school doors look best to the average graduate when they close for the last time, because it means the end of a long and strenuous job, but to anyone who has not ap- preciated the opportunities symbolized by those doors when they were open, then those closed doors are a sad reminder of wasted years behind, and the probable prospect of some sad and wasteful years ahead. One of the most poignant passages of sacred scripture is con- tained in the parable of the ten virgins. Five of these young jewish bridesmaids were wise and provident, and five of them were not. The wise, of course, were permitted to enjoy the delights of the tardy wedding feast with the bride and groom. Then, as the scrip- ture says with telling and divine simplicity: and the door was shut! In the meantime the Hve foolish virgins were trying to remedy their mistake, little realizing that the time for correcting mistakes was over. What a woeful sound there is in these words which describe their plight as they pound upon the door: But at last came also the other virgins, saying: 'Lord, Lord open to us.' But he answering said: 'Amen I say to you, I know you notl' The tragedy of the bride deserted at the church door is frequent enough in the annals of human history, but here in this parable Christ

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REVEREND EDWIN SCHICK, O.F.M Chaplain

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would also warn us that it is no less a tragedy to be a deserted bridesmaid',-particularly, when He himself is the Groom! All Catholic education is based on the truth that the imparting of knowledge and the moulding of character are a most sacred trust and responsibility. Education fails of its object unless it fashions the personality of the pupil upon the divine model of Jesus Christ. We, your parents and teachers, have been mindful of our duty and have fulfilled it to the best of our ability. That is why it behooves us now to speak solemnly to you graduates, and to remind you that the closing of school doors is indeed a symbolic act of the highest significance to you. We express our hope and we pray that none of you will be classified among the foolish vir- gins of the parable. We express this hope and this prayer precisely because while you were safe behind school doors there was really no test given to you to compare with the hard and difficult one which you now face. It is simply the test called Life , or what we more appro- priately call the fight against the world, the flesh, and the devil. It is needless to repeat that this crucial proof of your education is becoming more difficult as the years march on. We would like to think, therefore, that you go forth to meet it with that opti- mistic and Christian assurance which is contained in these words of Christ to St. Peter: and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Finally, there is another idea which we draw from this theme of gates and doors. It would be unpardonable if we did not re- assure you once more that there is the ever blessed Lady whom we invoke as the Gate of Heaven! Surely, that mystical title is full of meaning, for, if you expect to pass the test of life and come safely through the portals of eternity, you must not forget Mary the Mother of God, and the delicate part she plays in the divine scheme of things. All, hinges on the Gate of Heaven! May she grant to each of you to pass safely through life. May each of you, likewise, be found among the elect who stand before heaven's door and chant the joyous entrance psalm of David: Lift up your gates, O ye princes, And be ye lifted up, O eternal gates, And the King of Glory shall enter in. Who is this King of Glory? The Lord 0 hosts He X ATHER DWIN CHICK 671 F E s OFM 45 ii u J J f f i - u o I o Z Is the King of Glory! Chaplain X Q Page el L'