St Agnes High School - Agnita Yearbook (West Chester, PA)

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THE AGNITA This was the beautiful traditional belief told by St. Juvenal to the Emperor and held by all Christians during the early days of the Church. Thus, this beloved truth, although not mentioned in Scripture, comes down to us by Tradition. We all know, however, the weakness and inconsistency of human nature. Can we be sure that this lovely tradition has not been greatly exaggerated? Can we be sure that this sacred belief has not been distorted through the centuries? Of this we need have no fear because Pope Pius XII has, during this Jubilee Year, clearly defined and firmly declared the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary to be a dogma. For all time the question is settled. God always keeps the Pope from erring in matters of faith and morals. God protects the Pope from preserving the false or disregarding the truth. Thus, the Pope must be, and is, the guiding force in these matters. His words must form these traditions into doctrines of our faith be- cause everything contained in our religion could not possibly be written in Sacred Scripture. St. John substantiates this fact in the concluding words of his Gospel by saying: There are, however, many other things that Jesus did; but if every one of these should be written, not even the world itself, I think, could hold the books that would have to be written. (XXI, 25). The New Testament tells us very little about our Blessed Mother; but very important is that “little.” For further knowledge of her we must depend on tradition and on what is logically con- nected with this knowledge. Death could not triumph over the body of Jesus Christ. It is most fitting, therefore, that death should have no victory over the body which brought Christ into the world. Thus we believe that, in imitation of His own Ressurection, Christ lifted from its tomb the fair body of Mary. Her eyes, into which the Baby God had gazed; her lips, which had kissed His Infant lips and taught Him wisdom; her hands, which had held His little hand as He took His first step; her body, against which the Infant had rested when He felt tired, are forever joined to her Immaculate Soul in Heaven. This added emphasis, placed during the present Jubilee Year upon the glory and power of His Mother, cannot fail to move deeply the Heart of Jesus. May He preserve us from the corruption of our souls. 9

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THE AGNITA A NEW DOGMA By Ellen T. Pennell The story I am about to relate may seem remote from our day and age, but it links with the incident which is foremost in Catholic minds today: The Proclamation of the Dogma of the Assumption. The setting of the story is the Council of Chalcedon, in Asia Minor; the time, 451 A.D. Into the midst of the deliberating Fathers walked the Roman Emperor Marcian. With eager eyes he searched the faces of the clergymen and then made a startling request. “Find for me,” he pleaded, “the body of God’s Mother. It is my imperial desire and determination to build for it a beautiful shrine. Surely, the immaculate body is the world’s most precious relic and deserves for its monument a mighty basilica. If you will find me the immaculate body of Mary, I will have it sealed in the sacred security of a golden casket and placed under an altar of marble and precious stones. Find for me, I beg of you, reverend Fathers, the body which was once the shrine of the Incarnate Word of God.” (Our Lady's Assumption, Father Daniel A. Lord, S.J.) After a moment of hesitation, St. Juvenal, Bishop of Jerusalem» began to give the Emperor a brief account of the Assumption as it had been passed down to the Christians of Jerusalem by their ancestors. According to this reverently cherished account, Mary died quietly and painlessly. She closed her eyes as if in sleep and went to be reunited with her Divine Son. The Apostles, who had as- sembled to be with their Queen for the last time on this earth, mingled tears with prayers at this temporal farewell and, in the cool of the evening, carried her body to the tomb and gently placed it in its grave. Thomas, however, was absent, as he had been once before- With a deep feeling of remorse that he had not seen Mother Mary before her leaving, he asked the other Apostles to accompany him to the tomb, so that he might again look upon that sweet face. Having arrived at the place of burial, they rolled back the stone, entered the doorway, and then stood motionless. The tomb was empty. Where the body had lain bloomed full-blown flowers. The air carried no scent of corruption, but perfume of an unearthly quality. Mary’s body was gone. The Apostles needed no explanation of this mystery. They went out from the tomb rejoicing in the honor that had been be- stowed upon their beloved Queen. They believed that, at the command of her Divine Son, Mary’s soul had reunited itself to her body, and that she who styled herself the “handmaid of the Lord” had been ushered into the presence of her Son in Heaven. 8

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THE AGNITA WHY NOW? By Elizabeth A. Souders In 1950, was declared a dogma of faith by Pope Pius XII. For years, Catholics all over the world have persistently implored that this honor be bestowed on our Blessed Lady. Never was time more ripe for such an occasion. Now, as never since the early persecutions, the Church is suffering dreadful opposition. Of course, the Church is indestructible; the “gates of hell” cannot prevail against it. We have God’s word for this. The individual member of the Church, however, is not so certain of retaining his faith until the end. Therefore, each one of us must earnestly and perseveringly use the sacraments and prayer to keep ourselves safe. Of these means, prayer is the most common—we can pray at any time, day or night, but we cannot receive the sacra- ments at any time. Now, at this very moment, millions of people are praying for world peace. Constantly, all over the world, this prayer of petition is rising to Heaven. I low helpful it would be if the Mother of Christ would carry these prayers to her Son! What son can deny his mother anything? Not one! Indeed, the Perfect Son would not refuse to listen to the pleadings of His Mother. Besides, He gave miraculous proof of His respect for the wishes of His Mother. At the marriage feast of Cana her implied request, in the words: “They have no wine,” was heeded, although the time for Christ’s miracles had not yet come. History is rich in recordings of favors that have been granted and prayers that have been answered through Mary’s intercession. Was it not at the decisive battle of Lepanto, after long continued and most fervent prayers to Our Mother, under the title, “Our Lady Help of Christians,” that her intercession was most clearly shown? Did not St. Charles Borromeo, during his fight against heresy say, “I rely almost entirely upon the Rosary for the conver- sion and sanctification of my people”? Our Lady aided him in his struggle. Often during our own life, we desire things which we think might be impossible to receive, yet, having devotion to Our Blessed Mother, we pray to her, and many times our prayers are answered. That we may grow strong in devotion to Mary, let us recall that it was Christ Himself who encouraged us to seek her aid. On that most dreadful day of recorded time, when offering Himself on the Cross for the sins of man, He did more—out of the generosity of His Divine Heart, He gave us His own Mother. From that mo- ment, Mary has been our Mother, our Mediatrix, our Source of strength, courage, and confidence. So remarkable are the favors that nave been granted through Mary’s intercession and so evident have been the peace and happiness brought about through her help that Christians long since have hailed her as “Cause of Our Joy.” 10