St Benedict High School - Benedictum Yearbook (Highland Park, MI)

Page 9 text:

ct ' i i' if i 0 ii RADiTiON AND SPiRiT are precious things, these days, my dear young friends. Hold 'fast to themi These words are significant and to a St. Benedict- graduate they are precious. St. Benedict tradition and spirit are difficuit to define, yet you feet them from your very first days. f s Even with ati our wonderfui progress there are so many things eifxactiy the some as that of yesteryear. Our beautifui St. Benedict Church with its exquisite symbois of christianity, the schooi buiiding, with its oid durabiiity and its years of service yet to be futtiiied - these are but two famiiiar iandmarks in our centre of community iife. Every day the ceiebration of the Mass, that beautifui and inspiring enaction of Caivary has aiways been and ever wiii be in our midst to be our shieid and our stay. Then too, those daiiy prayers recited with those famiiiar Poters and Avesthave ever been the same., Those ciasses, hour after hour, have the tendency to repeat themseives regordiess of their changing methods. The days have come and gone and yet we find those some commonaiities that have made St. Benedict what it is todayl Q Another fact of the tradition and spirit that through the years this schooi has been biessed with has been the guidance of extraordinary ieaders, great priests and wonderfui teachers. These wonderfui teachers have given of their skiii, have opened ' vistas of appreciation, have manifested the giorious inspiration of their nobie tives, have given so generousty of those gifts of the heart, honor and kindness, courage and deiight. These are the precious things that the graduate of yesteryear cherishesi Won't you become aware of the greatness of the Benedictine tradition and spirit so that you wifi incorporate them into your pian of gracious iiiving? Take them out with you when you go from here and give them to the tworid, not piecemeai, but whoie- heartediy, as have those who have gone before you. Then you wiii be one with the countiess Benedictine graduates who have practiced Catholic Action and who are giving of this spirit in a service of iove. Again, you wiii be one with the hundreds of graduates in the various fieids of activity today, who have istinguished themseives because they have been motivated by the tradition and spirit of this schooi. , A Pray that this 'magic wiii touch your heart. When it does, hoid fast to it and tothe 470 r

Page 11 text:

??XS'Qf'QWiS I IIE SSAGTE Y dear Graduates of 1947: Let me call your attention to the virtue of reverence. It is a very valuable and attractive human trait which some people trade away as foolishly as some others buy gold bricks or worthless mining stock. lt slips away from us unless we cherish it, and to treasure a virtue is made harder, especially when the warfare of life tends to roughen us. A boldness of speech and carriage may develop in us: as sometimes, a rash quickness to criticize, or to complain against traditions, or against older people, or against things once held sacred. These are signs, perhaps subtle but sure, of reverence fading. Guard yourselves against the loss. We all like to be liked. Only those who are ruthlessly ambitious could be happy with a worldly success that would make others honor them from a distance. We ordinary human beings would be miserable without friends who really like us for ourselves. If a popularity contest were staged now among ourselves and the vote could be kept secret, who would win? It would be someone kind-hearted and generous with the quality of reverence quite pronounced. A personality, domineer- ing or overbearing, repels us. But one that is unassuming, willing to give credit where it is due, with a humility that shows respect for the rights and feelings of others, who pays honor to the things and beliefs that we honor, attracts us. That same quality in ourselves will appeal to those who know us. Do not trade it off in an attempt to get ahead of others or to be known as a leader or as a superior being. Remain reverent especially of Holy Things, then in their order, of people who are over us or who should be preferred before us, and of older people, particularly our parents. Keep it a supernatural virtue by honoring the things and people whom God wishes us to honor. - Monsignor V. Hankerd law ew w- s