Seattle University - Aegis Yearbook (Seattle, WA)

Page 12 text:

Father President’s Message—Coru’d Human legislators do not proffer helps. Even what they sometimes regard as helps are only hindrances. Education is offered by some as a help; but when it is godless, it is a hindrance. Rigid enforcement might frighten some and make them more cautious; but the history of the race bears ample testimony to the fact that violence has never begotten respect, let alone love. If the foundations of our nation ever subside, it will be the fault of the law-makers as well as of the law-breakers. In the meantime, it is comforting to know that the foundations of genuine Christianity will not subside. Crime waves and waves of opposition may beat against these foundations, but not even the gates of hell will prevail.” Individual lives solidly based on the principles of genuine Christianity are the surest guarantee of the nation’s security. In a perfect state of society there would be no laws, because there should be no unreasonable recalcitrants. We may, and we must, as individuals strive after perfection; and by God’s grace we shall attain it in greater or less degree. This perfection consists in observing God’s law, because it is God’s, the law of love. They who observe this law are contributing their share toward the re-enforcement of our nation’s foundations.

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Father President's Message as a matter of course.” HE dominant issue before the American people today is, some tell us. the increase of lawlessness. It is more than an ephemeral crime wave,” to quote the recently spoken words of President Hoover; it is indicative of a subsidence of our foundations.” To meet this issue a 'rigid criminal-law enforcement” is proposed in order to instill respect and fear into the minds of those who have not the intelligence and the moral instinct to obey the law Does this mean that the need in our country is a multiplication of our penal institutions, bigger and better jails, an increase of our police forces armed with stouter clubs and deadlier machine grins, and a phalanx of judges void of all else but the spirit of vindictive and punitive justice? If such be the meaning, then it may not be presumptuous that we suggest another remedy against the evil that threatens us. Laws, when they are worthy of the name, when they are reasonable ordinances introduced by a sensible majority for the good of the community against an unreasonably recalcitrant minority, ought not only to be respected, but they ought to be loved. God is the wise, the prudent Legislator. Because His law is love, it is lovable. Owe no man anything but to love one another,” says St. Paul under divine inspiration, for he that loveth his neighbor hath fulfilled the law. For, 'thou shalt not commit adultery; thou shalt not kill; thou shalt not steal; thou shalt not bear false witness; thou shalt not covet;’ and if there be any other commandment, it is comprised in this word: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.’ The love of our neighbor worketh no evil. Love therefore is the fulfilling of the law.” (Rom. XIII, 8, 9, 10.) And, apart from its intrinsic lovableness, God’s law actually wins its portion of love when we analyze the fact that, in this world, at least, there is no violent enforcement. The concept of God as a super-policeman, waiting in hiding on high with club in hand, ready to swoop down on evil doers, is not true to the reality. God, who is the Legislator, is our Father, too. Having promulgated the law, He has abundantly provided us with helps for its fulfillment. The divinely instituted Church is one of the helps. Speaking as one having authority,” she tells us what is right and what is wrong both in the intellectual order and in the moral. Her sacraments, either by begetting in us the power to love, or, once begotten, by giving increase to that power, enable us to do what cannot be done by our human nature unaided. SP.VKN

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Photo by J. Arthur Yount; A little knowledge if a dangerous thing, Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian Spring. There shallow draughts intoxicate the brain. And drinking largely sobers us again. —Alexander Pope NINE