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2 THE BULLETIN OF THE CATHOLIC LAYMEN'S ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA PASTORAL LETTER OF THE BISHOP OF SAVANNAH ON HOME AND THE CHILD By RT. REV. BENJAMIN JOSEPH KEILEY, D. D. To the Mothers and Fathers of the Diocese: It will be, I suspect, an occasion of some surprise that at this time of the year I am writing a Pastoral Letter. The usual time for such letters is Lent or Advent. And why should I single out the Fathers and Mothers, as the ones to whom I write? There must have been a good reason. Yes, I consider that there is a very good reason, and I shall tell you what that reason is. In a very short time the schools will close and the vacations will begin. The children will be at home all the day. I am confident you realize your respon sibilities to God for their training, but I wonder if you will appreciate the wonderful and lasting effect of home influence on them now and for the future. It is just because I earnestly desire to call your attention to this Home influence, and wish to beg you to see to it that the proper home influence be found in your family life, that I write this letter which I commend to the Foster Father of our Blessed Lord, the Divinely appointed Head of that perfect home at Nazareth, where Jesus spent eighteen hap py years. Home! What music there is in the very sound of the word. How it thrills us as it awakens within us the sweetest and tenderest memories of the past. I make no pretense to such knowledge as could jus tify me in making a positive statement, but I am under the impression that no modern language pos sesses an exact equivalent for our English word, Home. In other tongues men say that they are in their own house or with themselves but we simply say: I am Home. It is now well nigh fifty years ago that I attended the May Music Festival at the Academy of Music in Philadelphia. I remember that the house was crowded as their Festivals were the greatest event of the year for music lovers. The Festival had scarcely begun when one of the prominent singers fainted on the stage. Of course much excitement was caused by this, and the curtain was promptly rung down. In a moment the curtain was parted and the Director stepped on the stage, accompanied by a woman, and told us that the sickness of the singer was not at all serious; that he could resume his part, and that while the necessary medical atten tion was being rendered him, the singer with him had kindly consented to sing. As he finished, the audience applauded again and again, for the. wom an’s name and fame were known in every capital of Europe; in North and South America, and in every land where music lovers were found. “Home, Sweet Home.’’ She stood smiling and slightly bending her head to the rapturous greeting, and when all was quiet, in a low and sweet voice she began that simple but soul-stirring ballad “Home, Sweet Home.” Her voice easily filled the great Academy, and as its wonder fully vibrant tones rang out: “Home, Home, Sweet, Sweet Home,” I cannot describe the effect produced on the immense audience. We all sat there spell bound as she sang the last note. There was no applause from any one, unless one called sobs and tears applause, for though there was a mist over my own eyes, I think all were in tears. There was no clapping of hands, for hands were pressing hand kerchiefs to eyes brimming with tears. I do not think she had been fifteen minutes on the stage, but the pathos and beauty of her voice had so bewitched us that we were all of us back to childhood’s happy days, and with the dear ones at home, or eagerly seeking its warm welcome and safe haven. As she came to the end of the ballad, I thought she paused for a moment, and then her rich and beautiful voice filled the vast Academy as she feelingly sang “Home, Home, Sweet, Sweet Home.” She stood there no longer smiling, and there was absolute silence in the audience, for it seemed to me that it would almost have been a sacrilege to ap plaud. I heard from many something like a gasp or start, as though they suddenly became aware that the dream was over, and the present had come back. She was still standing There, and now she was smil ing, and then the whole audience seemed to have thrown off the magic influence of her voice, and in a moment they rose to their feet and such thunder of applause I never heard. What is this thing Home, which so stirs our hearts as it is mentioned? A thousand answers come in reply from a thousand lips, and yet the question remains unanswered. After all, the heart knows what it is, and what it means, but somehow the heart-feeling can find no words to explain its sentiments. Heaven Our Home. Daily on our bended knees, we bless God and beg of Him those things we need the most, and guided by the words of our Blessed Lord, we address God, as “Our Father, Who art in Heaven.” Our Holy Mother, the Church, tells us that an omnipotent and merciful God has prepared for those who love and serve Him, when life’s fitful fever has passed, a place of infinite happiness which we call Heaven. We speak of Heaven often. But if asked the question what is Heaven, I know that no one has ever given satisfac tory answer and that no man will ever give such answer, for the Apostle inspired of God assures us that the eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor hath it entered into the mind of man to conceive what Heaven is. Though it has been told by the Beloved Disciple that in Heaven “God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and death shall be no more, nor mourning, nor sorrow shall be any more; nor shall hunger or thirst be found there.” And yet, when we are asked what is Heaven we search our hearts for an answer, and simply say: Heaven is our Home. Nor does this difficulty mean that we do not know what Home is to us, but we can find no adequate words to express what we feel. And our very silence is more eloquent than speech. Home plays a wonderful part in acquainting us with our duties. We owe God love, reverence, obedi- (Continued on Page 14) /, CAPT. RICE DECORATED WITH ORDER OF ST. GREGORY THE GREAT An Associated Press, dispatch from Rome an nounces that Capt. P. H. Rice, of Augusta, President of the Catholic Laymen’s Association of Georgia, has been decorated by the Holy Father with the Order of St. Gregory the Great. Details, other than the mere announce ment, are lacking. The Bulletin extends its sincerest congratu lations to Capt. Rice. He is eminently deserv ing of the high honor awarded him. ' - v —