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

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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

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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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DN A THRESHOLD In the middle of our senior year, we all find ourselves on the threshold of life. Ahead of us stretches life, to .be used wisely or unwisely. In the middle is the road to a re- ligious life, on the left, the road to nursing, teaching, and the home. On the right spreads the road to the life of a doctor, lawyer, or the serving of ones country. Way off in the corners We can see dusty, bumpy roads, filled with roughness typical of life. It is up to us .to avoid these bad roads or take what bumps we must as well as we can. Some roads may seem easier and beckon to softer liv- ing, but in the long run, by avoiding such, we are building up within us a stronger character. On this threshold we not only look ahead at life, but we can take a backward glance at what we have already accomplished in life or what we could have accomplished in life. This gives us a good chance to examine our personalities and try to correct any flaws in them in order to make us more able to cope with life in the future. Our last seventeen or eighteen years have been the years that have molded our characters, and thus have been very important. If we had these 'years to live over again, we might do some things differently. Yet realizing this we realize there is time to change, even now. This looking back and forward from the threshold is like reviewing a new moving picture which can easily be corrected before it is too late. From this vantage point in life, as we carefully examine the ways that lie ahead of us, and what lies behind in our past, we have unusual opportunity to make practical resolutions toward future success. RICHARD ROWLAND. 61MB WGDRLNYS CRIRIIESACJEEXI SllpllEollEoGH Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address was a veritable jewel in its beauty, the Pope,s last speech was a magnificent piece of literature which, in a few words, expressed many virtuous .ideas but the greatest of all speeches, the speech which held the most meaning and significance was The Sermon on the Mount, spoken by Jesus Christ. This sublime piece of oratory was given in the open air on Mt. Beatitude near the Sea of Galilee. The Orator, the Saviour of the world, was a tall, rustic and handsome lVIan whose face glowed with a certain holiness. Little did the motley crowd realize that on that day the greatest speech ever to be conceived in any mind was to be delivered. It was springtime. The green valleys dotted with numerous hues of every shade could be seen at every angle from the hillside. The budding flowers and the blooming trees stood out like majestic guards protecting the country-side. The ever singing birds zoomed here and there without any definite course in their flight. A beautiful scene, a gorg- eous setting, the loveliest picture that nature could paint e and why not? Was not a momentous event to take place that day? Our Lord began to speak. The eager crowd gazed at Him with an air of love and all of the people strained their ears to hear His soft, mellow voice pour forth to them. His speech was not of a victorious nature, nor that of a conceited one, but rather one that portrayed unmistakable love; The people were astonished when He had finished. What He had said was so very true, but Who did what He taught? His teachings were definite. In fact, His whole speech could have been summed up in just one word - llLove or in a more definite phrase a uDo unto others as you would have them do unto youll. Also, that speech, that gem to the world, unlike other great oratorical mas- terpieces has lasted down through the centuries and can still be fitted into the present. In conclusion I can only say that since so perfect a speech is within our grasp and since so per- fect a lVIan delivered it, heed it! Do not let it go unused! Abide by the teachings set down in this masterpiece and life everlasting is at your disposal! ' JOSEPH GRASSO.