Siena College - Saga Yearbook (Loudonville, NY)

Page 15 text:

To the faculty of Siena College much is owed by us. We, the class of 1952, wish to take this opportunity to express our gratitude to them for all they mean to us. It is to them that we owe the color, the tone, and the import, which we might have missed otherwise. We hope that the future will show in us their joh well done. To that job, then, and to the men who did it, a toast.

Page 14 text:

VERY REV. THOMAS PLASSMAN, OFM, Provincial, New York City, Chairman REV. EDMUND MURPHY, OFM, Custos, New York City REV. GERARD MCGLYNN, OFM, Dejgnitor, New York City REV. BENEDICT BALLOU, OFM, Dehzz'tor, Washington, D. C . REV. VALENTINE LONG, OFM, DeJQm'tor, Loudonw'lle, N . Y. REV. CALLISTUS SMITH, OFM, Definitor, St. Bonavmture, N. Y. VERY REV. MARK KENNEDY, OFM, President, Siam: College, Ex-Ojjzicio, Loudonville, N . Y. VERY HEVEHEND THOMAS PLASSMAN, l1F.M. Provincial, Chairman i101

Page 16 text:

i121 VERY REV. MARK KENNEDY, OFM May 15, 1952 '1 My dear Graduatex, As Catholic educators, we are vitally interested in the education of our students, so that they may be able to take their place as well educated men and women in our democratic society, and at the same time endow them with the philosophy of life that will prepare them for the enjoyment of the Beatific Vision in Heaven, when they will have completed their earthly career and served their country well. We know full well the meaning of Our Lordls saying, llWhat doth it proiit a man if he gain the whole world and suffer the loss of his soulTl tMatt. 16:26l. The family is the fundamental unit, instituted by God Himself in the Garden of Eden. Parents, therefore, are the first educators of children, and the Church has always insisted on the right of parents to bring up their children. Education, however, belongs prereminently to the Church by reason of a double title in the supernatural order conferred exclusively upon Her by God Himself. Her mission is to teach all nations according; to the command given her by Her Divine Founder tMatt. 28:18r20l. Indeed, the Church, klwas set by Her Divine Author as the pillar and ground of truth, in order to teach the divine faith to men, and keep whole and inviolate the deposit confided to her; to direct and fashion men in all their actions, individually and socially, t0 purity of morals and integrity of life, in accordance with revealed doctrine tPius IX, July 14, 1864, and Pius XI, Encyclical on Christian Education, December 31, 19291 The Church's second title to teach is Her supernatural motherhood, in virtue of which the Church, spotless spouse of Christ, generates, nurtures and educates souls in the divine life of grace with Her sacraments and Her doctrine. With good reason, then, does Saint Augustine maintain, slHe has not God.f0r Father who refuses to have the Church as Mother. LIn faith and morals, God Himself has made the Church sharer in the Divine Magisterium, and by a divine privilege, granted Her immunity from error; hence, She is the mistress of many, supreme and absolutely sure, and She has inherent in Herself an inviolable right to freedom in teaching? By necessary consequence, the Church is independent of any sort of earthly power, both in Her title to educate and in regard to the means necessary and suitable to Her proper end and object. Hence, the Church has an independent right to make use of every kind of human learning and instruction which is the common patrimony of individuals and society. She has the right, then, to decide what may help or harm Christian education, for every form of instruction, no less than every human action, has a necessary connection with manls last end, his destiny for eternal life, and, therefore, no form of instruction can be withdrawn from the dictates of the Divine Law, of which the Church is guardian, interpreter, and infallible mistress. . This truth is clearly set forth by Pius X, of saintly memory: llWhatever a Christian does, even in the order of things of earth, he may not overlook the super! natural; indeed, he must, according to the teaching of Christian wisdom, direct all things towards the supreme good as to his last end; all his actions besides, insofar as they are good or evil in the order of morality, that is, in keeping or not With natural and divine law, fall under the judgment and jurisdiction of the Church? Therefore, with full right, the Church promotes letters, science, art insofar as . necessary or helpful to Christian education, in addition to Her work for the salvation of souls; founding and maintaining schools and institutions adapted to every branch of learning and degree of culture. Indeed, it is Her inalienable right to.watch over the entire education of Her children, not merely in regard to religious instruction, but in regard to every other branch of learning and every regulation, insofar as religion . and morality are concerned. This watchfulness of the Church keeps away from youth the moral poison which, at that inexperienced and changeable age, more easily pener trates the mind and more rapidly spreads its painful effects. Leo XIII already wisely pointed out that without proper religious and moral instruction, llEvery form of intellectual culture will be injurious; for young people not accustomed to respect God, will be unable to bear the restraint of a virtuous life, and never having learned to deny themselves anything, they will easily be incited to disturb the public order. The Churchls mission embraces all nations and in the first place, it extends over all the faithful. Throughout the centuries, Holy Mother the Church has created and conducted immense numbers of schools and institutions in every branch of learning. In the far'oif Middle Ages, there was attached to each monastary, convent, church,