Saint Benedicts Academy - Benedicta Yearbook (Pittsburgh, PA)

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1, ' -fH'mars.wt .f-fqi U NW Alsgifgfi il A 'Ll , ,fs ' ' Line of First Defense Qfln Ajzpreciation to Our Parentsj Graduation opens to us Seniors the door to a new world. lt is at all times a hard world to conquer but at the present time it is doubly difficult for today it is a stage upon which is being enacted one of the most bloody struggles of history. The old order of things is crumbling and so it will be our task to build a new and better world from the shambles of the old. We can succeed in this task only because you, dear Father and Mother, have helped us to build a lofty set of standards and a true sense of values. You have made countless sacrihces so that we might have the benefits of a thorough Catholic education, for you realized of what inestimable value it would be to us in our future lives. We know only too well our inability of ever repaying you in full measure for all you have done for usp but we also realize how much even our smallest gesture of gratitude will mean to you. Perhaps the best way to repay you is to be true to ourselves and to the principles which you have helped us to build up. We shall put forth every effort to succeed in this and thus find content in the knowledge that we have not failed you, dear Parents. We know that this payment cannot cancel our debt to you, but it is our first dividend from the principle which you have helped us to accumulate. Dear Parents, yours has been a steadfast and true friendship, an unselfish and loving devotion through our school years. Now we promise to be loyal, devoted daughters. VVe promise to be as steadfast friends to you as you have been to us. We, the Seniors of '42, hope this pledge will in some small measure express the love and the gratitude we feel for all that you have done for us. May God bless you! May He reward you as we cannot! Mary Elizabeth Patterson Associate Editor Home To me a home is made of gold That in reality ne'er grows old: It holds its memories, joyous and sad, And shares its treasures boundless and glad. To me a home is made of gold Where dreams are dreamed by young and oldg Dreams here dreamed of future life Are usually accomplished not without strife. To me a home is made of gold My fondest memories it does enfoldg Memories of childhood days gone by X'Vl1iCl1 will always inspire me with ideals high. MARY HEYL our-e+.0.p.0.0.g-0.0.4 -0-0-:soo-asa-0-0.4-.0-.4

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- B ENEDIC TA A::::::::v :::: In considering the forces that have influenced democracy, religion is most im- portant. Great leaders everywhere and in all ages have recognized the need of religion in society. President Washington, in his Farewell Address spoke these oft- quoted words, Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political pros- perity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. President Coolidge was not merely uttering a pious bromide when he said, The greatest need of America is religion, the religion that centers in the home. Christian religion teaches a real reverence for personality. It gets one into the habit of regarding the rights of others. It makes people more considerate. Its outstanding qualities are kind- ness, obedience and respect for law and authority, and honesty in social relations. Thus, it differentiates itself from all other religions. Religion stabilizes the family because it teaches the finest kind of teamwork and develops christian character in the process. Religion has exalted the individual and fostered the rise of democ- ra-cy. Consider the difference between the people of this country and those in the countries run by dictators. , . Religion teaches the moral necessity for cooperation and the home is the basic laboratory-where this teamwork is first learned. Without it, society cannot save itself from being controlled by other nations. If democracy is to survive, its salvation is not to be found in its universities nor in the halls of Congress, but in principles learned and developed in a suc- cessfully wholesome and truly Catholic home. MARY F OERSTER, Editor Our Democracy American Democracy, you are graciously kind For helping me to be what I wish to be, For permitting me to say what I Want to say, And for allowing me to pray when I want to pray. Without thee, I would probably be a slave Under some tyrant, falsely brave, You keep dictators across the sea Who rob free people of their liberty.A - RITA HAFFNER, '42,

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4-4-.0-ooo-0-0-oo-oo 451' If If NED' C TA ,x,:,:,,,:,xx,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,:,,, ..,.......,..... I 9 4 2 ::::::::::: - -::::::::::::::::::::::::: Equal Opportunity To All fAn Appreciation to Our Teachersj In a Democracy, education is an essential for every citizen. If people are ignor- ant and illiterate it is impossible for them to vote intelligently and they can easily be swayed by a leader who is intelligent enough to destroy facts by mere opinions. It is education that makes citizens know and appreciate their obligations and their privileges. Therefore, every boy and girl, to advance both financially and socially in community life, must have an education. We have seen briefly the necessity of an education socially, financially. and politically, and now we shall say a word about the ways in which we can acquire an education in our democratic country. Elementary and high school education can be received in public, parochial, and private schools. For higher education there have been established business schools, colleges and universities, both public and private. Libraries, museums, lectures, and newspapers are only a few of the many agencies that aid in diffusing knowledge in a free country. The Catholic Church has been a leader in spreading culture and learning from the time she was commissioned to go and teach all nations. She has achieved the most success in establishing the parochial school system. Today, there are very few American towns where a parochial school can not be found. Practically every Catholic child can receive his elementary education under the supervision and guidance of religious teachers. But itis unfortunate that many Catholic youths of high school age are unable to receive a Catholic high school training. It is in these years of high school age that growing boys and girls need careful direction and supervision. Therefore. we graduates of St. Benedict Academy are indeed fortunate to have had the oppor- tunity of receiving our high school training in a Catholic institution. Dailv, we had set before us by our teachers ideals of sacrifice and service which will influ- ence us for the rest of our lives. ' In our four years at S. B. A. we received an education which has prepared us to enter confidentlyinto the business world or into a higher institute of learning. But, more than that, there has been instilled into us a greater knowledge of the truths of our religion and of our duties to our parents, to our country and to our God. Since we have been nurtured in a truly genuine source of knowledge. we are confident that we have received the most complete training of mind and body which it was possible for us to acquire. We thank our teachers who, by their untiring efforts, have laid the founda- tions of our future careers as good Catholic girls, wives, and mothers. Ruth Mueller Associate Editor