St Josephs Academy - Academia Yearbook (Portland, ME)

Page 8 text:

y The Marian Year The dogma of the Immaculate Conception was solemnly defined on the eighth of December, 1854, by Pope Pius IX. In commemoration of this proclamation, Pope Pius XII wrote an Encyclical entitled Fulgens Corona Qkadiant Crownj, in which he proclaimed the year 1954 as a Marian Year. The Annus Marianus began on December 8, 1953, the feast of the Immaculate Conception, and will end on the same date of the year 1954. This Holy Year is being marked by special ser- mons, devotions and pilgrimages to many shrines and churches dedicated to Mary. Our Lady appeared to a fourteen-year old girl, Bernadette Soubirous, at Lourdes, France, on February ll, 1858. After this first apparition, the Blessed Mother appeared to Saint Bernadette seventeen more times. During one of her apparitions, she said to the girl, I am the Immaculate Conception. At the An- nunciation the Angel Gabriel addressed Mary as full of grace. Our Lady's Im- maculate Conception, her freedom from the stain of original sin, was an extra- ordinary and special grace never granted to any other human being. Our Lady was also free from all actual sin. Christ loved His mother so much that He made her holy and pure that she might be an ideal for all His children. Through our Catholic education at Saint Joseph's Academy, we have learned to live in imitation of Mary. We can benefit by this Marian Year by not only conforming to a more perfect pattern of life this year, but also by resolving to follow this pattern throughout our lives. In imita- tion of our heavenly Mother during the Marian Year, we shall strive to remain free from- sin, filling our own souls with grace. We shall pray more frequently and fer- vently, performing the daily spiritual exercises of the Sodality morenfaithfully. May we always live up to the high standards of Saint Joseph's Academy by remain- ing close to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, setting an example for our associates in the world as women strong in the Catholic faith. ELAINE BonnuAs, '54

Page 7 text:

MosT REVEREND DANIEL -IOSEPH FEENEY, D. D Coadjutor Bishop of Portland

Page 9 text:

REVEREND PETER J. FLANAGAN We consider ourselves very fortunate to have had Father Flanagan as chaplain during our four years. The door of his study is always open, and a knock at the door is answered by a cheery Come in. There is no problem that he cannot solve and, at the time, he seems to have nothing to do but attend to that problem. However, we have some idea of the many things he has to do, and, all the more, therefore, we appreciate his kind counsel and guidance. Father always attends our parties and contributes greatly to the fun on these occasions, which would not be complete without him. We are most grateful, too, for remembrance in his prayers.