St Vincent Seminary - Symposium Yearbook (Latrobe, PA)

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,f-'N 2 E N- ' IIIIIIIIIIUC s:m:i A 9- Sllli E 5 3 : X lllgll V X? llllllllllll' , . . . . . . . . D. I I I l 0 O O L I . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . I s I I I l I O I 'll Illlllllllf jlll: fllllllg glll V problem IS the measurement of these potentialltles in the human soul' One might proceed with this elusive measurement by setting some criterion or standard of goodness, but this would be too philosophical and theological a procedure Besides this IS unnecessary in a seminary where one finds so many beautiful and inspiring illustrations of goodness daily manifested ln the life of the semlnarian The following is an example of goodness as it develops in the life of the seminarian under the guidance of asceticism and self-discipline. It is here reproduced as cited by a fe1low-semin- arianz One evening about eight-twenty, in need of in- formation, I ventured to a seminarian's room, knocked lightly, and quietly opened the door. I stepped back quickly--there he knelt with his head buried deeply in his hands-a small crucifix before him-wrapt in meditation. I tried to escape but could not. He told me later of the pleasure he ex- perienced in kneeling before the crucifix. This is but a single instance of the childlike love and the ardent devotion which is so commonly found in the life of the seminarian. Perhaps the words of the following poem, In a Seminary Garden, by Grace H. Sherwood, illustrate this better than the recounting of numerous examples: I knew that in a corner lay Some graves, but did not know the way And asked a student that I met. And what he said I quite forgot A path-a turn-it matters not His eyes I never shall forget If eyes are easements, as they say,f The youthful seminarian there Forgot to pull the blinds today And I surprised a Saint at prayer M en go to famous shrines to pray Because a saint knelt there one day But I I found one in my town For seeking a forgotten name I stumbled on the deathless flame God lights in hearts He makes His own slllg Ellllllg sllls 'I MII I . x . . 1 . O ,v , . n 1 E . Z-X . umumum: an ' ' . . : : ............: . . I, ,,,,,,,, kl l33l

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:-.-- .. . . HIIIIIIIIIIIIH anuumuuu . . . : . :llli V . . . I v ' rv . . . . . . . . . . l . . . . . . . l l . . 7 q . . . . . . . . . . . annum - . ls-Q Slim? T . : 2 E Wllllllllllll I' ,fx 45Q:::Jf plishments To succeed best these desires must be marshalled under some kind of unity perhaps best expressed as a plan of life. The lack of such a plan plays havoc with man's future years. To carry out this plan, psychology and asceticism enter and admit that man is a creature of manifold desires-life is too short to realize all of them, therefore, simplify these desires Psychology and asceticism both warn men to discard desires culminating in pleasure only, and to choose those which point to accomplishment. Sensory satisfaction is transitory, intellectual attainment, lasting. Again, it is necessary to establish a hier- archy of desires in which there shall be one supreme end of life to which everything else must conform. The seminarian has such a hierarchy of desires in his holy vocation to the priesthood. But this plan must be elastic, able to suit itself to the environment of the moment. Finally, this plan, according to the dictates of psychology and asceticism, must involve self-denial, in order that our end may be obtained and that our efficiency may be at its best. Some repression and inhibition are absolutely necessaryg this every thinking man must admit. But the necessity for these inhibitions can be lessen- ed if man balances his impulses by a rational plan of life, giving to his higher impulses the energy needed for the lower. That self-denial aids efficiency was a platitude long before St. Paul spoke of the rigorous training necessary for the athlete. This is just as true today and must almost be considered a conditio sine qua non for success in any branch of life. ' Man, as architect of his own future, must map out his pro- gram for progress in the light of the above laws. Habit is either our weakness or our strength, depending upon its nature. Its demands are implacable, its aid immeasurable, its implications simply bewildering. Now is the time for forming habits for life. Begin today make a target, form a resolution, carry it out. Remember each little act counts, and as james remarks, down among our nerve cells and fibres, the molecules are counting it and registering and storing it up, to be used against man, or for him, at the next wave of temptation. This then IS a brief consideration of man's ability to develop his power for goodness through the homely spirit of self-discip- l1ne exemplified and perfected in the formation of good habits under guidance of a rational plan of life. The following is a still briefer consideration of his potentiality for goodness from the viewpoint of the soul And remember if it is difficult to measure potentiallties and actualitities of the nervous system, what a , ll37ll 9 : 'sft 4.1: km ua l.ll Q , ' it. L 'U Y swag 13555

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'lllllllllllllf' :llllllllllll ' Ellli JIIIIIIUIIIIJ X X 5 5 H 5 5 augur ', ! ' H . ! 2 ! What am I? 7 . . Y . . I . ' . I . 1 0 I C 7 1 3 I ! , . . . ,, 'MJ I fl? J L ff? Q2 Here are but a few glimpses of the charming beauty which is hidden under each cassocked breast-little miniatures of God's beauty There seems to be goodness everywhere one looks. The human soul scarcely knows the depth of its own beauty, Re cognition of this will spur man on to greater efforts. Where lies its cause? That question has been often pondered. The only answerseems to be that each soul contains, hidden from the eyes of man the image of its Creator, of its God. If it be not this then we must Join our voices with Saint Bonaventure and Saint Alphonsus who cried O Good jesus, what hast Thou seen in me which hath made Thee love me so much--why, Lord, why? But this must suffice The Church is moving: she is a living organism constantly manifesting this by assimilating truth and rejecting error throughout the ages' Today, she cries for leaders, and perhaps the call was never more urgent. She must continue her work of saving souls, and she- must do this in a swiftly changing society Methods are being altered in educational, scientific and medical lines The Church must meet these ad vances step by step not by modifying her doctrines or her liturgy but by br1ng1ng the beauties of her religion before the eyes of the public in order to win the hearts and minds of men Hence she' calls for men who are developing their potential- ity for good who see souls ln their beauty, and love them for God who measure all good in the light and spirit of faith Courageous in their duties, missionaries to the souls of all-she calls you She calls for men of sterling character, she calls you She begs for men of God-she points to you-for the power of the Church rests in her priesthood. Only a priesthood that has the spirit of zeal intelligence, and sacrifice, and neg lects no opportunities and shrinks from no effort to equip itself fully will enable the Church to speak to the world as her mission demands. O' 'si 1.2 ll39lI 'IllIll- UI llllllllllli -Zlllg gllllllg -,-I- :n mmmm