St Mary of the Assumption High School - Assumpta Yearbook (Brookline, MA)

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ambition and the advantage of attaining the highest ranks of distinction, authority, and social usefulness. In treating this subject, however, we cannot possibly confine ourselves to the belief that Catholic Education stresses only the intellect. More concretely, train- ing for democracy means character train- ing, consideration of others, respect for authority, forming the habits of self-de- nial. Wherever we go today, we find that man has a false idea of freedom. He would allow himself to do as he wished, regard- less of anyone or anything else. Ah, but how sadly mistaken he is, for this is not the true conception of liberty, this is a license which no man among men should have the right to exercise. According to the Catholic system of Ed- ucation, and according to the laws set down by God, true freedom is obtained only when man recognizes and adheres to truth and justice. His free will, which gives him the ability to choose a suitable course in life, is so developed in our paro- chial schools as to help him recognize this inheritance. This teaching may be well epitomized in the Catholic teachings: the object of the will is good, the object of the intellect is truth. Even our cherished gift of liberty is derived from the Savior, and consequently, the one, true use of the great gift is to please Him by doing His will through which we may merit salvation. For this reason, anything that helps us approach this end is not an infringement of our democratic rights, but rather a perfec- tion of them. Upon this same basis, also, is placed our training in habits of self-denial and coop- eration. In the past there has probably been too much emphasis on the idea of privileges and too little on the idea of duty. As a result, man has sometimes failed 83 Xvrwif l to develop the sense of responsibility. But now, into this unfavorable condition, where obedience and order were nonex- istent, the Catholic Church has quietly entered. Its training in responsibility, has been carried throughout the land. Yes, in this democracy, where citizens enjoy a maximum of personal liberty, it is essential for orderly, Christian living, this is why rules and regulations are necessary, not to impede us, but rather to help us control our evil inclinations and form a more perfect democracy. Indeed, our civic and religious liberties, which have been purchased for us at a very tremendous cost, can be easily lost again. In order to prevent just this, the Catholic system of Education, such as we of the Class of 1941 have received at St. Mary's, has trained the youth of America in the true meaning and functions of our democracy. It has taught us to hold aloft the torch of truth and justice. What lessons it gives to this war-torn world! What inspirations, to those who seek the key for maintaining a true democracy! Ah yes, my friends, were the standards of this excellent education heeded by all men, this world would not be desolate, today, but as things now are, violence and disorder have been made the supreme law, and the result is fruitless. We, the younger generation of today, have learned the true standards of living. Let us in turn teach our fellow man. Let us put this standard, as it were, on a pedestal, for all the war-torn world to contemplate, and to ponder. Only then can our work of pre- serving a Democracy become life's greatest contribution to mankind. Only then will it remain to win for us that sublime gift of God, that fruit of all our good works, that desire of all well-disposed souls, that Eternal Democram in Heaven. SSUTTI I

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Salutator This evening, as we close one of the most important and most enjoyable chapters of our life, we open a more serious and more complicated one, that of facing a world re- plete with false doctrines, a world bur- dened by a conflict that has swept thous- ands of homes and individuals into the common sea of ruin and misery. Indeed, if we trace back to the time of Noah and the flood the long and sorrowful sequence of misfortunes that mark the stages of man's earthly pilgrimage, it would be quite hard to find material distress so deep and so uni- versal as that which we are now experienc- ing. Even the greatest scourges that left indelible traces on the lives and memories of mankind struck only one nation at a time, but, now, on the contrary, the whole world is bound by the calamity. Commun- ism, Fascism, and Democracy are all struggling to gain control of this earth, and each one is against the other two. Yes, on this commencement evening, our Alma Mater sends us forth into the center of this battle, for we are one of the prizes sought. We are the ones, whom the leader of each political group will want on his side. The final choice, whether it be the godless governments or Christian Democ- racy, lies with us. As American youth, we accept this challenge and fearlessly re- spond to preserve democracy. For the past one hundred and fifty years it has been pro- tected by our forefathers from all kinds of danger. At this present time, these very same blessings of liberty and conscience are striving for an existence in the war-torn old world. The responsibility of its preser- vation now rests with us, the youth of America. And lest we forget, America will remain free only as long as we, and we alone, have what it takes to keep it free. minutes that we may consider Our Training or Demacmq with which we are so well Thus, it is well to pause here for a few f . l32l equipped to keep aflame the torch of liberty. On all sides we hear the voice of our fellow man calling out: What is freedom? What is this democracy which we are de- fending? Ah yes, my friends, the striking feature of the entire chaotic situation in the World is this: no one seems to realize how much bearing the Catholic Church has on the maintenance of this democracy. Look around the world today and study the different functions of the various gov- ernments. Study Communism, Fascism, Nazism, all are possessed with the same underlying principles. Like a star in the heavens, the United States stands out in the midst of all these godless governments, it stands out as the one and only ideal form of government in this pagan world, for it is established on that sacred dogma of the Fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man. Today, more than ever, a democratic form of government, such as ours, de- mands a special training of its citizens in civic affairs. Moreover, if human rights and duties are to be regarded, and if the State is to respect the moral rights of the people, it must fall back upon the spiritual nature of man and the sanctions of Al- mighty God. Thus, in Democracy, Catho- lic Action must be given a prominent posi- tion in order that the youth of today can become acquainted with the rules of Divine Law and with the understanding of civic virtues. Towards this end, the Catholic Church has labored intensely with her zeal and facility for training in leadership. Catho- licism not only provides us with an educa- tion in the elements of right-thinking, Christian Doctrine, and good example, but it also pays particular attention to those who have extraordinary talent, and in- spires them to continue the development under Catholic Culture. It gives them the

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Valedictory PILLARS OF FREEDOM What was the appeal made to Pope Pius XII after his Coronation? It was an appeal for spiritual leadership made by non- Catholics and Catholics alike. This must have come as a particularly encouraging evidence of good will to this holy man. There is urgent need for the closer spiritual brotherhood of all persons Who believe in democratic and Christian processes, whose motto, like that of the great Saint Augus- tine is In essentials unity, in non-essen- tials liberty, in all things, Charity. It is upon principles of good government and the development of moral considerations and ethical values in politics that Catholic action must direct its attention. Our polit- ical life and legal professions require men of the highest calibre, unselfish men, men of good principles and vision. They need also a citizenry willing to place the com- mon good before private gain, intent upon justice in social and civic life, interested in political issues, and vigilant of the men confided with positions of trust. Our na- tion mufr rest on the pillars of freedom. The pillars of freedom are religion, morality, unity, liberty and charity. The first of these, religion, has been ignored in many nations and a so-called cult of race and nation has superseded it. Within this cult we find a tendency toward individual expression or corporate and group life, in- dependent of State organisms. The balance between freedom and au- thority, rights and duties, justice and suf- ferance, realization and patience, lies in the hands of the people only so long as they show themselves capable of assuming re- sponsibility and acting with harmony and tolerance This calls not only for good Will, but also for democratic attitudes,education and deeply rooted habits which we call civil virtue 84 Repeated warning and agitation against Fascism and Communism are not enough to maintain the pillars of freedom and Dem- ocracy. Nor shall we maintain our institu- tions by making war upon alleged totali- tarian regimes abroad or blindly accepting the term Democracy wherever it is offered. Our task is rather that of rooting ourselves in fundamentals, and, upon this basis, of contributing actively and vigor- ously to the coordination of all classes of society in the band of Christian Brother- hood. The process of Americanization in con- formity with Christian principle should not mean the loss or abandonment of the human ties and cultural backgrounds of the Old World. Nor need it signify a brusque flattening of all social factors or a headlong letting-down of all barriers between the races. As a matter of fact, there is not much danger of this in any event. But it should mean a realization that Democracy is not promoted by sustaining the antag- onism of social, national, racial group dif- ferences or by regarding these groups as the foundation of American social life and political structure and constantly referring to them as minorities. It is true that Church and State are in two different spheres, so far as their origin, objectives and to a large extent their methods are concerned. Nevertheless, the Church as providing the body of religious belief, keeping alive in men's hearts and minds the conviction of God's existence and knowledge of the moral law, preach- ing the spiritual equality of men, and pro- viding the moral foundations of human rights and duties, is definitely the Pillar of Democracy. Wherever its freedom of ac- tivity has been curtailed, wherever it has been persecuted and placed under civil dis- abilities, the result has been a loss for civic society.