St Peters Academy - Veritas Yearbook (Saratoga Springs, NY)

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Jerry rushed to separate the two men, but there was no need for separation. Guy,s irascible op- ponent was running-but not away. He ran right toward the planks. 'IStan, ya fool! screeched Jerry, uWhat are ya doing? His reply came quickly. Stan was unsealing their tomb. I It was a neat job. An opening, although small, had been made. As Guy was squeezing through it, his foot came down upon something soft. It was Stan. Ex- amining the body closer, Guy saw the splinter from one of the larger planks which had pierced Stan's heart. Soon ,his ear was next to the chest of the man he had just been arguing with; however, not a single beat could he heard. Stan was dead! It wasnIt long before the three men were up on. No one could speak or move when they first heard the news. Approximately fifty people stood in silence, ashamed of themselves, but proud of Stan the ground giving an account of Stan's heroism. As the crowd began to break up Father Paul went over to Guy in hopes of more information. Guy told the whole incident over again just to please the priest. He ended it by saying, uFather Paul, that is the price of coal. One man today, another one or two tomorrow. The young priest thanked him for retelling the story, and then, was on his way to the rectory. Before he arrived at his destination, he stopped in at the church to say a prayer for Stan. It' went as follows: uDear God, all merciful and just, do not condemn Stan. You saw what he did today. You, Yourself, laid down Your life for Your friends. I have no knowledge of his many offenses against You. I do not know in what way You are punishing him for his sins. But I do know that You, in Your mercy will reward him somehow, for what he did today. When he reached the rectory, he immediately went to see the pastor, Father Corey. Are you busy, Father? he asked. uNo, not at all. Sit down Father Paul , was his reply. Then, the assistant went into a lengthy description of the accident. Father Corey smiled when he had finished, saying, Paul, when you are as old as I, you won't worry as much, at least I hope you won't. Stan lost his life, that's true, but what is even truer, he saved his soul. I'm pastor of a small church. I know each member of my congregation personally. I recognize them at diEerent devo- tions, some at Mass, some at the stations and others at novena. It so happens that I said the six o'clock Ma5s this morning, and it so happens that Stan was there and received Communion. Here, he paused to enahle Father Paul to get over the shock. Then he resumed his discussion, saying: Unknown to you, Father, Stan came to request this morningIs Mass for his wife. She has been dead seven years now Without one Mass being said for her. Grace must have been pulling strings in heaven; for Stan came here three nights ago to have a Mass said for her. He knew the town wouldn't be interested in him or his wife, so he asked me not to announce it. I couldn't stand in the way of Gods providence, so I agreed to keep it a secret. VVhat Guy said is true. -Stan did pay the price of coal, but he payed an even greater price, the price of love. THE END.

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Guy, Jerry and the others took the hint, and gathered up their helmets, lunch pails and lights. While they were parading toward the shaft, Stan joined them. Beneath two miles of earth four men, including Stan, were digging coal, not far from the shaft. Occasionally, one of them would start a conversation, but it would end abruptly. Once they began to kid Stan about his nice, clean overhauls but Stan just said, 'lSo what if they are clean? lym the one who washed Him! That was the end of their joking. It got awfully quiet, so Guy mentioned a few minutes rest. All agreed, even Stan. As they made their way to a spot near the shaft, one of the planks on the roof of the mine sud- denly became loosened. Immediately, Jerry, who was the nearest to it, tried to halt its descent. The plank, however, was determined. It fell to the ground. Just as it did, the other planks came down, too. NIasses of coal, slate and rocks came following them! The four miners were entombed! One of the fellows, Harry Wilson, who had been shoveling coal in a nearby spot, heard the noise and came running. However, by the time he was a few yards away from Stan and the others, the planks had formed an impenetrable door. Realizing that the men were trapped, he hurried to report the accident to the foreman, Mike. Klike gave out all the instructons he could think of. Everything and everyone would be used in an attempt to save the four miners. As Harry was dashing away, Mike yelled, HAnd get Father Paul as soon as possible. Right , yelled back Harry. When the debris had ceased to fall, the four miners stood still in terrified silence. They were entrapped, and only God or some miracle from the Almighty could save them! Was the dust which filled' their tomb, the incense of their last benediction. Was the air of their death chamber aire-or methane, that deadly gas which creates explosions? Or was it pure air, but the last they were ever to breathe? No one knew'olr dared to guess the answers, but questions such as these were running through the minds of each coal digger. Five minutes passed, tthey seemed like yearsl. Then Stan cautiously approached the inclosing door. He hesitated, slowly raising his right hand up to one of the planks. A few pieces of coal fell down upon his helmet. Stan wasn,t aware of the falling debris, however; for he had discovered that this spot was vulnerable. By this time, a gang of miners was working on the other side of the fallen planks. The families of the entrapped men had been notified of the accident, and they and their friends were flocking around the entrance of the mine. Father Paul, the new assistant of St. Johns Church, had arrived in the meantime. At this time, he was nervously pacing up and down, sending his petitions up to God for consideration. Although he had been in Lesterville only two months, he knew about the public enemy number one-Stan. Father Paul wanted, desperately, to go down there and give Stan the spiritual help he needed most. Stan had not been to Mass in seven years, although he was a Catholic. A man who hasn,t set foot in a church within such a span of time must have help-the kind of help that would straighten him out with God. oThe other three men mattered all right, but Stan mattered even more. In the trap, Stan was thinkingethinking deeply. If something or even some one could be forced against the planks, an opening might be made, thought Stan, an opening which would lead to the shaft-and safety. The other miners were staring at him, wondering if he were losing his mind or even despairing. As Stan backed up, Guy grabbed ahold of his shirt and shook him. HHey Stan! What the devils the matter with ya? Quit aetiny so queer, boy, or welll all be goin, nuts. uLet go of my shirt, Guy, if ya know whats good fer ya! So I,m queer, ITm nuts, heh? Yalll see who's the crazy one. Ya'll see! came back Stan.

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Tllt f0lltlllllillg rrprvanl tl I'm'iely of opinions us I'Jprt'ssul in writing by 1111' members of the grlltluuliug class EEMMENEEMENTNIW$ GllfllRlllllEa MEANING Commencement is, oHicially, the dividing line severing childhood from the adult future of our lives. . What we make of ourselves, as we step into our new environment, depends solely upon the use we make of the gifts and powers bestowed on us by our beloved Creator, upon the worthiness of our aims and purposes in life and upon our firm love, belief and practice of the truth. Since the future of the world depends on us, we must accept our prospective positions in society and utilize our God-given talents to a constructive advantage. The world is patiently awaiting our presence. It has intense need of each and everyone of us and all our gifts, culture and power. Commencement shall offer to each of us a specific place in this world although we may never be known to fame or find our names inhabiting an historic page. Not one of us may ever achieve What men call greatness but in the sight of God, of angels, and of all good men there is a greatness which each of us may surely attain. This greatness, we call success, can only he attained by living a good and true life, a life that the poorest and humblest may live. In time, we shall receive suHicient re- ward for the daily obligations faithfully performed. e PATRICIA TOTTEN. GlllelB 8ERMDN lDlNl 6lllfllHlillEB MlDlUNQIF The Sermon on the Mount had for background one of the most beautiful spots in the world. It was in Palestine where the wild flowers ran like rivers over the rich brown earth and where the blueest of skies reached down to kiss the shores of the Sea of Galilee. The people who listened were the followers of' Christ, who when they heard Him speak became so enraptured that they were un- conscious of even the magnificent world about them. Can you blame them? For they were list- . ening to the most Majestic, the most Noble, the most Superhuman of Speakers - they were list- ening to Jesus Christ. their God and Saviour. What did this Man Christ speak about that so interested the people? Did he promise them a rich and happv life on earth? No, on the contrary all through the sermon He insists on poverty of spirit. He certainly didnt emphasize happiness on earth, for He said HBLESSED ARE THEY WHO AIOURN; FOR THEY SHALL BE COlVIFORTED,y Christs sermon was given to show His children a way of life that would lead to life everlasting Like any father, ChriSt our Heavenly Father, urged us to do the things that, though we may not understand it, would gain for us1 complete happiness He realized how hard it would be to do the right thing and He warned us that the road of true life was narrow with manv ol stacles along the way. But He promised us all the help we needed when He said llASK AND YOU SHALL RECEIVE ii Christ insisted on char- ity throughout the whole sermon For He tells us that if we have two garments we must give one away , if our friends hurt us we should not seek revenge. and if our brother wants to borrow never send him away empty-handed. Christians then, as now haye accepted uThe Sermon On The Mount as an outline for righteous living. They regard it as the most beautiful piece of literature and its Author, the most perfect of Models. From this sermon teachers derive a way of teaching for this was a lesson taught by the greatest of Teachers. It was and is a manual to. Ch1istians; foi Christ in this brief sermon, shows all the way to true suceess. MARGAR ET MAHAR