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

Page 9 text:

We l , Fl oi - .A- ,,, Q L 153. X i , V , kr, V, hs- , ,..t . 7 f' X '5 Y .Htl the service of God. Bernard's one desire was to live the life of a monk hidden from the world in his monastery and Eugenio, that of a priest serving in a little parish. But because both did not aspire in their humility after earthly honors, God drew them out of their retirement, even against their wish, into the world and its troubled state, that the King- dom of God might be extended on earth. All that was said in praise of St. Bernard applies just as aptly to our Holy Father- peacemaker unrivalled in history, unsurpassed as pastor, preacher, writer, reformer, pacificator, medi- ator, arbiter, diplomatist, and statesman. The out-stretched arms of our Holy Father blesses not only those possessed of the true faith, but all men of every race, color, and creed. The year 1776 saw the birth of a new na- tion conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Seven hundred years before this memorable date saw the birth of a child who would be- come the Light of the l2th Century and the valiant defender of the dignity of all men and of the rights conferred on him by God. Eight hundred years after the birth of St. Bernard, Eugenio Pacelli was born, 1876. ln our Holy-Father, Pope Pius Xll, St. Ber- nard lives again for us in our 20th century, for these two great figures have so much in com- mon as to be almost identical in many ways. Like the signers of our Declaration of Inde- pendence, both of them were not of the peo- ple whose rights and liberties they cham- pioned. Both of their mothers were intensely religious and God early became a reality in the lives of their little sons Although the Lord of Fontaines and Filippo Pacelli were devout Catholics both desired their sons to follow in their profession which promised a very suc cessful career But Bernard and Eugenio after prayerful consideration cast aside all hopes of a brilliant career to give themselves entirely to

Page 8 text:

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.

Page 10 text:

N S 1 sl. Aislk LED I- w K: -Vfi-4f sviuxb 4' Y.--Id 5 'Vr' W aff X A 'x '1 N.. f Q-'C -1 H .. ' b 'N ' -. Q ,Q-5 :.,:..1 a. his tx- so -iight QN '.xf Ei? ,.-4-- - 'J-2 A ' w ' - 15'.'4wv -0-..-...Y-4.,L5' iaavxa -. 'S yn . V M. 'N-.K I JT A . v.L2f?g.LQ ' nk . ivy ' - .t f 'A 1 Qh'i5l..:g . gal A 5' 1 W 1'-Qc, . - , , AA 1 . K , Z. b -v L 2 Ii, ,K M., Ur, , v- . , , V +5 , ff-51 , wg, 'H-0 , v ' F QM f:'wf M '2Z '-Tl A ' ' 17 I IIUIIIXHTNHUII mumnw f W' A ' fe.-if '55 'S '- A, f M A . ,.,. ...,.......-,Y . W' N-mm 1 4' .2 .V-fy , --I . l 9 - ' 1 Q . -........ .. K T-,,.iM Wysrtvfr nw Q , :kid . ' fi 7 -5-f 'gf' :Q -A nr ' - ,- sv-MA Wht f'! 1 'w- - WK.. f -H3 QL, . Mf W'- N Y I 'Q ww- , , ,N 'f ' , . V . '. V ,.,-, -M xv: : . - , - f - L. . f- - f L. , , 1 if f ' is ' ,f f :ff'Y s. E ' 2 2- ' AL,-35,1 . H., ' E ' Q K L H 5 A I EK, ggi 4,5 is ' ' 'Q W f'N'W ' iiillllfimw , ' J 4- - . . .wf M 'ff' fx I A, A. , . ii f,,g5Sgh-- ' 5' WZ ' ....,.. ..A, ,M . . V A-sg, Q1-f'I,1 'S4Pf'1f-w,a1A.-221.-1. K - . ' M 1- ' -x.. , -. .A