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

Page 12 text:

In Praise of Mary Mary is our symbol of hope and of love. She, as God’s Mother, is mother of us all. As we have searched for truth and beauty these past four years, Mary has been at our side, as a constant guide. She is the aid of all in need, for both material and spiritual goods. As students of St. Bernard’s High School, We have ever needed her assistance. Whether we had knowledge of it or not, she was always with us, In the form of our priests, sisters, and lay faculty. She will always be with us, For, as alumni of St. Bernard’s, The motto for which we stand will always be, “Gratiam per Mariam Quaeramus.” Pamela Fraser O Mother Mary, Queen of all! You guard the earth With such great care; Unlike the turbulent Winds of fall, You guide us to that ‘Peace so rare. As seniors we are On our way, Whether joy or sorrow Should prevail. It is up to us, Your children, to pray, That with your aid We may not fail. Mary Neithercut

Page 11 text:

eases wy i ‘Maven: ne gi IE RAR Ate Mle me. A a lle a ae LIL GLE AA ALE AE LEA RS NB Re ons Oe j bed 4% ¥ , % DONAHUE . REVEREND MARTIN P High School S Headmaster—St. Bernard

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Such words as involvement, dedication, and com- mitment are familiar to us of the 20th century. Eight hundred years ago, Bernard of Clairvaux may not have included such words in his writing and speech, but what is of greater importance, he did live the spirit of these idealistic words. Bernard was never happier than when in his monastery but he felt it his Christian duty to leave that seclusion often and become involved in the troubled world about him. To cite just one example which has its parallel today in our problem of race prejudice and social injustice. During the Crusades, a persecution against the Jews broke out in Germany. Bernard at first wrote to the bishops pleading with them to protect the Jews and put an end to the persecution. But when the trouble still continued, Bernard, barely recovered from a serious illness, undertook that long and unpleasant journey into Germany. He fearlessly went to the very hotbed of trouble, where his life was every minute in danger. But so forceful was he in his preaching that the Christians were made to see that the persecution was a sin against God and man. Bernard also confronted the monk who was the instigator of the trouble and prevailed upon him to return to his monastery. When he did this, the persecu- tion subsided and gradually came to an end. Today in the midst of racial prejudice and social injustices, there is a tendency to not get involved. We may hear it said, “I'd like to do something to help, but I don’t want to get myself involved.” May we turn to St. Bernard in prayer, and ask him to give us of his spirit of true love of God and man, so that the world may be a better world because we have been a part of it! = apeene et oy e a Fg?