St Bernards High School - Bernardian Yearbook (Fitchburg, MA)

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f' RIGHT REVEREND MONSIGNOR JOHN A. MARTIN Chairman of the Board of Directors St. Bernard's Central High School JHNJSI? rf , Momsnomoiz JOHN J. o'BR1EN M . k .WW if js U, . ,, A' .4 Superintendent of Schools-Diocese of Worcester Headmaster of St. Bernard's High School 1945-1951 -,, i .V'2'P f warm--V' ,,,fz1ei'i'f4'i4 file.,- .f .sf v 'gen -..' . gag 1 2 1.11. .Qs wa, Q51 - it v.1.,f.f 'YQTVN 1111 l ,azg-4?'XJ,g J fr wf,1:,11,f'i1r! 1 J iw: s' . REVEREND BERNARD J CONLIN Pastor ot St. Edward the Confessor Church, Westminster Headmaster of St. Bernard's High School, Westminster l95l-l957

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0 177164 'ze , Thomas Jefferson, in 1776, asserting in the Declaration of Independence that all men are created equal,- uttered an eternal principle which God, in the ,very act of creation, imprinted in the conscience of man and later confirmed in the Ten Commandments. Jesus built His Divine Law upon this natural law of love of God and of neighbor: a law which was to know no distinction of race or color, as all men are God's children and heirs to His heavenly kingdom. St. Bernard strongly adhered to this concept of a universal natural law of love, with God as its basis. To St. Bernard, all men are created equal, and all have a right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. St. Bernard not only be- lieved in this equality of man before God, but put his belief into practice. When he heard of the sad plight of a people denied these God-given rights, he did something more than deplore and think about it. Therefore, when at the beginning of the Second Crusade, a persecution of the Jews began in the towns bordering on the Rhine, St. Bernard speedily became their champion. He immediately wrote letters to Germany so that the Jews soon found protectors on all sides, especially among the bishops. Crusaders, unworthy of the name they bore, persecuted the Jews because they resented the fact that this people were remaining at home in prosperity while they were to be far away from home and suffering many inconveniences. To such, St. Bernard addressed these words: March towards Zion, defend the tomb of our Christ! But touch ye not the Jews, for they are of the flesh and bones of the Messiah! . . . What do the Scriptures say? 'Slay them not.' ' But when, in spite of his prayers and pleadings, the persecution still contined, St. Bernard determined to go himself into Germany, even though his frail body was already overtaxed and exhausted from his many duties. After preaching peace in town after town, he reached Mentz, the hotbed of trouble and the scene of violent persecution. Even though his own life was constantly in danger, due to the hostility of the people against the Jews, he fearlessly defended the per- secuted. Finally he accomplished by 'peaceful means what' bishops and public officials had vainly tried to do by force and severity. Thanks to the heroic and unsparing efforts of St. Bernard, the persecution of the Jews gradually ceased. Today, in our own country, when race preiudice has reached such a high pitch, we should pray in the spirit of our patron St. Bernard, that light may shine in dark areas of white men's minds, that the race heresy may be put down. A true Bernardian should show the common signs of good will and courtesy to all men and not reserve these tokens of friendship for those like him in race, nationality, color, or religion.