Saint Francis Academy - La Alverna Yearbook (Nevada, MO)

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CWUGYW Our hearts are filled with love as we, the Seniors, dedicate this tenth gming-gg,-y edition of the 'Alverno' in the spirit of gratitude to all, who have assisted in giving us the opportunity to have an education in a Catholic H131 School . First -- to the Giver of all good gifts, Our Creator and Preserver, then, to His Faithful who fulfilled His desires in our regard: namely: His His The Holiness Pius XII, who insists on a thorough education of the student: lxcellency ldvin V. 0'Hara, D.D. Bishop of our Diocese, Iansas City, Mc. Most Rev. Joseph Marling, the Auxiliary Bishop: Rev. F. J. Inoebber, Our Chaplain and Counselor: Our beloved Parents, brothers, and sisters: Our Civic Officials and our Advertisers: ' Our Benefactors, friends and sponsors, and fellow students: The Sisters of St. Francis, with a special word of gratitude in memory of the beloved Rev. Mother Mary Isabel, who went to her reward on January eigxtesnth of this year. le, also, wish to express a welcome, as well as a note of appreciation to Rev. Mother Mary Hyaclntha, who is successor to Mother Mary Isabel. Mother M. Hyacintha was Mother Superior when the High School was opened in September, 191-KT. y WLQMSMM , Angeline lngeman Jeanette Putthoff Blanche Tenholder llizabeth Iantner Marilyn Koch Josephine Gavin Isabel Fitzgerald Lucille Gieselman amd af 5 ' 1950-1951 7mMf Rev. I. J. Inoebber. , . .Chaplain, Counselor Mother M. Hyacintha. . . . . . . . . . . . . .President . . . . . . . . .Vice-President Sister M. Alphonsa. Sister M. llizabeth .... Business Supervisor Sister M. Carmellta ....... .. Sisters M. Rita and Superintendent Joan.Prefects of Girls Sedan! 7eac4ew 30011 I. . . . . .Sisters M. Madonna and Celine Room II.. .. ............S1ster Mary Regina Kindergarten, Grade I, . . .Sister Mary Anne Social lthics II,III,IV.B.ev. Inoebher Social lthics I ...... Sister Mary Joan Social Science, Chorus..Sr. Mary Rose Home lc,Chemi.stry,Gym..Sr.M. Allphonsa I-atLn,lng11sh,U.gebra. Sr.M. Carmslita Commerce, GGODOW-'Y...Sister Mary Rita Span.-Lsh,.,,,, ..... ...Sr. M. Seraphlne IOOOOOO l OOIICI lOllsrl MO Interpretative Dancing. .Misses Sands, DeCamp, and Luce On leave of absence: Srs. M. Lloysla Bildegarde, and Thomas-Jeanne ,.-:--' x 111' Z Il! ' I' 'ff Z Qilf- 2 xx

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X Tranciscan Studies ST FKANC 5 XX -of? xyl yy DEU5 MEUS 91' OMNXM I xxlfc - :Qi Z4 F553-Q ' 1 a 1- 1 , -. no ,lt :ll I 5 M 7 . , ,, ' I 95 1 'The lightingale' displays the Franciscan shield on the editorial page. Likewise the class rings of the students at lt. Francis Acadesq carry this symbolic emblem. Patricia CPatsyD Allen '5l,9outh Gate, California has Q lithographed the replica of the ring. Due to the many requests for the explanation of the symbolism expressed on the ring, the following informa- tion was obtained from The Francis- can Institute, St. Bonaventure, New York. Bn escutcheon or shield, bear- ing the family coat of arms, means very little to twentieth century Americans, according to FBIPCVI- B'ILLC,Detroit, Michigan. It ccnnotes a mere atmosphere of the age of chi- valry and hiyathood. , Still it ls noteworthy that in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries lt was the ambition of every youth to become a knight, carry a coat of arms, and his life was the price he was will- ing to pay to defend that coat of arms. Strangely enougi the faithful hidxts of Christ, Saint Francis and his thirteenth century follow- ers, had no such escutcheon or shield. It was only in the course of centuries that there evolved a characteristic coat of arms full of meaning and romance. From the very first, the frlars were called Cordigsri Word Bear- ersl and little wonder, for the knotted cord or rope was the dis- tinguishing mark of a frlar. The habit could be longor short, thread bare and of various hues, but there was the ever present tell-tale sign to point out the Franciscan knidat -the heavy rope girdle. laturally then, the knotted cord came to be Certainly no more fitting symbol the symbol of all three orders of could be found to portray the spirit St. Francis during the fourteenth century. During the seventeenth centu.ry the rope symbol was exchanged for the symbol of the crossed arms. However the crossed-arms 'symbol was not a product of that century. This very sigxificant coat of arms goes 'back to a much earlier date. It ap- peared for the first time on the wall near the saoristy of the Church of Ban Francesco al Deserto in Ve- nice under the date of 114-99. It was chisled in stone and bears the in- scription 'de 8. Francesco. The hands of the original escutcheon bear no trace of the stlgata, but it is quite possible that this may have worn off. It is questionable whether the two arms on the orignal escutcheon were to represent one of Christ, and one of Francis, or not. More probably the designer had meant to portray both arms of Francis, since according to the testimony of Ce- lano and St. Bonaventure, the Sera- phic Francis was accustomed to bless his friars with crossed arms. But irrespective of whom the ar- tist wished to portray and whether the hands on the original were stig- matlsed or not, the present portrayal with the stigmatlsation is very sign- ficant, for it lmmortallzes the con- ace! formity of the Seraphic Francis with the crucified Christ Furthsmcre, from the fact that the dssigier of the escutcheonipl the cross ln the very center of the shield, there can be no doubt that conformity with the Crucifled Christ was the dominant note- of his work. But for the early fr1ars,the escutcheon had still another and a deeper meaning, one of great conse- quence, but one which has lost some of its force during the centuries. These early friars were very cons- cious that the stigata of their Father Francis, besides marking the consummation of a complete confor- mity to Christ was likewise a stamp of divine approval upon a new mode of life. Up to the time of Francie, such a personal sign of divine ap- proval was unheard of. fodsy the stigata is accepted with a certain matter of factness, which destroys the possibility of a genuine, spiritual appreciation of the Franciscan coat of arms. To fully grasp its meaning one must of necessity assume the frame of mind of the early friars. I-ilnewise it is of prime' importance to realise that the escutcheon is buts sumbol,a sen- sible representation of a spiritual reality-the complete stripping of the human will of all that is not Christ- like and on the other hand, the complete acceptance of the cross with all that is implies. of Saint Francis. It contains the very core of Franciscan spirituality and embodies the Franciscan Motto, 'My God and My All. ew .Xdatlf MX This altar was built during the summer of the Holy Year 1950, in the Woodcraft shop at St. Francis Convent by our Chaplain, the Reverend Father John Knoebber. For the inspiration of its symbolism all the credit goes to St. Joseph. The richly decorated gold Tahlf- bronze tabernacle safe is the I highly prized gift of bene- lac 3 factors who wish to remain anonymous. But the good , hose dwelling place it is, is aware of the love that prompted the giving, and will know how to bestow the oroper reward. Master W As the cross stood on Mount Cal- vary, so also this one is not suspended, but stands on an elevated arch between the gradines that lead up to it. It is noteworthy that the cor- . . pus, a priceless antique, was cl'lllIIflX hand carved over 250 years ago, and during that time was in the ancestral family of Mother lsabel, Superior at St. Francis. This crucifix had served as a family way-side shrine, and was brought from Europe to this country about 40 years ago. The original cross is preserved and imbedded within the present walnut and prima vera overlay.