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PAGE 4—THE BULLETIN, December f3, 1958 JOSEPH BREIG Tale Of Two Lire Jottings Marianna, the mother of An gelo Joseph Roncalli, thought to herself that her boy ought not to go off to the seminary with out something — at least a modest something — to give to the rector to- ward his schooling. She put on her shawl and went out of house in the little village of S o 11 o II Monte— “Un- . j der the Mountain” — Italy. She trudged along the cobblestone streets that ran up and down the hillside above the Po Val ley. Marianna was a humble per son. She was so humble that if she felt any embarrassment, she suppressed it as she entered the home of neighbor after neighbor, and told her story. IT WAS A SIMPLE STORY that hurts the heart even in the telling many years later. She and her husband had very little money; their ll-year-o!d boy was going away to become a priest; would her friends, con tribute to a little collection to ward his education? We can understand Marian na’s feeling. A mother does not mind so much being shamed herself; but she does not like to think of poverty shaming her son, making him feel like a kind of nuisance and burden. That is why Marianna went around to the houses of her neighbors, asking for donations. When she returned to her own house an hour or two later, she placed on the table two lire — a couple of cents — and burst into tears. She had failed her son; or so she thought. ONLY GOD KNEW THEN that the boy was destined to be come Pope John XXIII. God does such things. He does them through mothers like Mari anna Roncalli, and through fa thers like John Baptist Roncalli, who had counted on his eldest son helping him on the farm, but consented cheerfully when the lad told him he wanted to be a priest. Young Angelo was a book worm; and because of that I \ feel very close to him. I was a • bookworm, too; and like Angelo > I was subjected to the annoy- i ances afflicted upon bookish ' boys by well-meaning, out-going, : deep-breathing, outdoorsy folks. ! IT IS RECORDED that a 1 hearty parish priest told An- : gelo’s mother that she ought to * chase him away from his books because what he needed was open air and exercise — “he’ll have plenty of time for books i later.” I have my doubts that the priest lived to be 77 and was hale enough still to shoulder } the burdens of being a pope. Angelo’s brothers, we are told, > were irritated with him because f when they went out to gather ; firewood, he carried a book j with him. I am reminded of my , sisters who were annoyed with i me because I was usually to be j found sprawled on the floor on ; my stomach, my nearsighted I eyes close to the printed page. An old schoolmate in Sotto H ; Monte recalls that because Ah- | gelo was very good in his j studies, he was sometimes held I up as an example by the teacher/ , This pedagogical folly, naturally t enough, infuriated the other boys, and occasionally they ; threw stones at Angelo as he j walked home. "BUT HE ONLY LAUGHED at us,” his schoolmate relates. There is deep significance in that fact for anybody who wishes to understand the tem perament of the new Pope. It is an extraordinary boy who can see the humor in the smallness of those who bully him. Eventually, one of the larger boys rebelled against the bully ing, and appointed himself An gelo’s protector. In my own case, it was not a larger boy but a smaller boy who came to my rescue; but how he could fight! As to the moral of all this, I suppose it goes back to one of my favorite topics — that people really ought to let God have something to do with rearing their children. Some modicum of social custom is all very well, but God-giving individuality is a thing precious beyond words. The word “bookworm” is a loaded term. It is brainless; it is a mere opithet. It is on more sensible than calling a boy who loves sports a muscle-fiend. But of course we all admire athletes and despise scholars — until they' becorne great scientists or philosophers... or popes. Barbara C. Jencks Children Pray (Continued from Page 3) County morgue to administer the. last rites to victims of the holocaust. All victims were also anointed at the scene by two firemen’s chaplains, Msgr. Wil liam Gorman and Father Pat rick Barnes. At Archbishop Meyer’s re quest the facilities of archdio cesan Catholic Charities were offered to the families of all victims, either for burial or medical care. Police and fire department of ficials immediately began an in vestigation to determine the cause of the blaze, which was said to have originated in the northeast corner of the build ing’s basement, near a stairwell. Fire Commissioner Robert J. Quinn said the speed with which the blaze spread suggest ed that it could have been the work of an arsonist. Black smudges were found on the stairwell wall, as if some oily substance had burned there. However, preliminary investi gators found nothing else to in dicate arson, an official of the police arson squad said. Investigators were also study ing the possibility that the fire began in a refuse container near the stairwell, ignited by a dis carded cigarette. They question ed pupils who had carried waste-paper to the container shortly before the fire broke out. There were early reports that the fire had begun with an ex plosion in the school’s boilers. However, investigatons later showed that it originated else where. Damage to the building was estimated at $50,000. The disaster was the United States’ third worst school fire in the last 100 years. The worst occurred on March 18, 1937, when 294 persons died in an ex plosion and fire in New London, Tex. On March 4, 1908, 176 pu pils and teachers died in a school fire in Cleveland. Luther T. Holloway Services In Atlanta ATLANTA — Funeral serv ices for Luther Thomas Hollo way were held November 29th at St. Anthony’s Church. Survivors are his wife, and a son, Joseph A. Holloway, Atlan ta. Hullrtitt 416 8TH ST., AUGUSTA, GA. Published fortnightly by the Catholic Laymen’s Association of Georgia, Inc., with the “At'probgtiqrf bf the Jfcost Reverend Arch bishop-Bishop of Savannah, The Most Reverend Bishop of Atlanta and the Right Reverend Abbot Ordinary of Belmont. Subscription price $3.00 per year. Second class mail privileges authorized at Monroe, Georgia. Send notice of change of address to P. O. Box-320, Monroe, Georgia. - V ■ -- REV. FRANCIS J. DONOHUE REV. R. DONALD KIERNAN Editor Savannah Edition Editor Atlanta Edition JOHN MARKWALTER Managing Editor Vol. 39 Saturday, December 13, 1958 No. 14 ASSOCIATION OFFICERS FOR 1958-1959 GEORGE GINGELL, Columbus President MRS. DAN HARRIS, Macon Vice-President TOM GRIFFIN, Atlanta Vice-President NICK CAMERIO, Macon Secretary JOHN T. BUCKLEY, Augusta Treasurer ALVIN M. McAULIFFE, Augusta Auditor JOHN MARKWALTER, Augusta Executive Secretary MISS CECILE FERRY, Augusta Financial Secretary • AN ODD ASSORTMENT of writers came alive this . morn ing in my class where an at tempt is made to inspire with beauty and direct with tech nique the embryo writers which come to me. St. Jerome and St. Francis de Sales could have heard themselves being quoted along with Thomas Wolfe, Er nest Hemingway and Charles Peguy. There is a common de nominator to those five distinct individuals for they are all great writers. It is my task three mornings a week to awaken stu dent writers to the challenge that is theirs. A reprint in the October “Catholic Journalist” from the Katherine Bregy bi ography of St. Francis de Sales recently reviewed on these pag es, held the very heart of the matter in regard to my purpose in this writing class. St. Francis de Sales is fervently invoked before each session for he is the patron of Catholic writers. Here in the biography we find in a nutshell our credo: . . . “Cath olic writers today are so vitally needed if our groping modern world is to be brought back to the truth and beauty of Catholic ideals . . . The technique, the knowledge and the force of the Catholic writers must equal that of the 'children of this world’ who all too often are wittier as well as wiser in their appeal that the ‘children of light!” • THE REPRINT article cites the lamentable weakness of to day’s important field of the play and novel. It sees the situation most regrettable in that the problem of Catholic psychology, for example, in the modern world could fill the lifetime of a hundred novelists and play wrights.” The cry is for spiritual values combined with honesty and good judgement . . . writers as well as priests are “Fishers of men” we are reminded. And so we read from the towering writers, and we remind that the Holy Ghost cannot be surpassed as perfect writing examples. Never a day goes by that I do not delight in the Gospels, Epis tles and prayers of the Mass, not only for their spiritual content but their style and clarity of expression as well. “Editor and Publisher” once wrote of the Bible as “the Newsman’s Text book.” It also said that it should be read by all budding writers for its simple direct style and cited the “Story of Creation” es pecially for its brevity of ex pression. Take a big jump from the Bible and the doctors of the Church to magazines of current issue. I assigned my class to read Mrs. M. M. Ross’s answer, “Death of a Man” in the current “Jubilee.” Its purpose, its con tent and finally its style makes it one of the finest things yet to appear in this superior pub lication. In the current “Satur day Evening Post,” I called their attention to Greek and Roman scholar, Edith Hamilton’s “The Lessons of the Pas t,” which throws old lights clearly on new problems. It is excellent read ing. Strange that the changeable tone of “Saturday Evening Post” should find itself quoted in a lecture along with the never- changing Scripture. • CONVERT DALE FRAN CIS writes a column weekly in “Our Sunday Visitor” not un like my own, maybe a little less formal and chatty. I rarely miss him. He writes in a recent col umn that there were only four novels of the current years that he wishes he might have writ ten: “The Old Man and the Sea,” “The Plague,” “The Cypresses Believe in God” and “Death in 9 Family.” 1 appreciate Mr. Fran cis’ tastes especially in “The Old Man and the Sea,” which is on the class reading list but I still want to write my own novel, with my own particular message which wells up in me with in sistence for expression as it did with Thomas Wolfe to give us “You Can’t Go Home Again.” Later on in his column, Mr. Francis writes, “When I read Peguy, there are always two ef fects. He makes me love God more and want to write.” I would say “Amen” to that and if you are not acquainted with Peguy’s “God Speaks” may I have the pleasure of introducing you especially to the poem: “Nothing is so beautiful as a child going to sleep while he is saying his prayers,” says God. By Brian Cronin they 2. ‘31 L To whom was Christ referring when he said shall be called the children of God”: (a) The meek? (b) The humble? (c) The peacemakers (d) The Jews? The number of Cardinals is limited to: (a) 30? (b) 75? (c) 60? (d) 12? Who is commonly called “The Black Pope”?: (a) Martin Luther? (b) The head of the Jesuits? (c) The Italian Com munist Leader? (d) The Primate of the Eastern Church? 4. What is the usual minimum age required before a man may be ordained a priest: (a) 21? (bj 24? (c) 25? 5. On what day does the Church pray publicly for those outside the fold?: (a) Good Friday? (b) New Year’s Day? (c) Christmas Day? (d) Ash Wednesday? St. Peter was martyred in AD 67 by: (a) Pontius Pilate? (b) Julius Caesar? (c) King Herod? (d) Nero? The Sacred Roman Rota is the Vatican tribunal that deals mainly with: (a) Censorship? (b) Validity of Marriages? (c) Canonization? (d) Miracles? The patron saint of lovers is: (a) St. Valentine? (b) Rita? (c) St. Zita? (d) St. Raphael? 6. 7. 8. St. Give yourself 10 marks for each correct answer below. Rating: 80-Excellent; 70-Very Good; 60-Good; 50-Fair. ANSWERS: I (c); 2 (b); 3 (b); 4 (b); 5 (a); 6 (dj; 7 (b); 8 (d) Urban Citizens Lose Out In Legislatures T H E SB A C K D R O P SHARING OUR TREASURE Critic Of Church Becomes Defender By REV. JOHN A. O'BRIEN, Ph. D. (University el Notre Dams) —--—-- “Many non-Catholics regard Catholic worship as only a hol low shell of ceremonies and Catholic prayer as merely a mechanical rapid-fire repetition of the Our Father and the Hail Mary. What they need is a close-up of Catholic daily living to see the deep devo tion of a Cath olic and the beauty*, sym- holism and meaning of the Church’s liturgy. It was such a close-up that dis pelled my erroneous notions and brought me into the Church.” “Thus spoke Harry L. Randall, 1043 18th Ave., S. E., Minne apolis. “I had been brought up,” said Mr. Randall, “with the usual Protestant misconceptions and prejudices and the idea of becoming a Catholic had never entered my head. The few times I had attended Catholic services had left me bewildered by all the ceremonial, and somewhat startled at the repetition of the same few prayers recited in the Rosary. It seemed so mechanical and lacking in genuine devotion. Then I started going with a devout Catholic girl, from whom I got a better idea of the Catholic religion. I could see how much help she got from the practice of the Faith. When we became engaged, I went to the Cathedral in Duluth, which she attended, to arrange for the marriage. This was in 1912. “The priest said he didn’t ap prove of mixed marriages and made it a rule never to officiate at them. I was surprised that he could formulate a policy of his own, different from the Church’s and was allowed to follow it. I told him I’d rather be married by a priest, but that we definitely were going to be married. “He called in another priest, a Father Ryan. He was much more pleasant and gracious, and after some instructions he mar ried us. My wife never pressured me to convert, but she did what was much more effective: she set an example which preached to me every day. I got a close- up of the Catholic religion as it is lived by a devout member. “Prayer was to my wife like air to her lungs; it sustained and strengthened her in all the vicissitudes of life. It was the source of her serenity and cheer fulness. She prayed not merely with her lips but with her whole heart. Her great faith inspired her love for God and neighbor, and made her an inspiration to everyone. “She was praying for me too, and it was her prayers that won for me the grace of faith. I read The Faith of Our Fathers and received instructions from Fa ther Hovarick at the Church of the Incarnation in Minneapolis. I was received into the Church at Easter in 1915, and that was the finest step I have ever taken. “From a critic of the Church I became a defender. When a fellow worker made a crack about the priest at the altar going through some meaningless motions, I told him I had once entertained the same notion. But when I studied the Mass, I found it replete with meaning: the most perfect act of sacrifice offered on this planet. “Then I explained that the Mass is a re-enactment in an un bloody manner of the Sacrifice of Calvary, and was instituted by Christ Himself. That opened his eyes. Consistency in all things is a man’s most precious asset. The populations of American cities are grossly under repre sented in state legislatures and — in many states — in the U. S. Congress. It is theoretically possible in 30 states, for example, for fewer than one-t h i r d of the voters to elect a major ity in at least one house of the state legis lature. In no state is a majority of the voters needed to elect a majority of both houses. Congressional districts also are so maiapportioned that in all but a few states, the cities have fewer representatives in the House of Representatives than their populations entitle them to. As a result, the sparsely- settled rural counties through out the nation have a dominant voice in the writing of the na tion’s laws. In fact, if Congress were to adopt a legislative redistricting law that would permit not more than a 20 percent variation in the populations of Congressional districts, the present apportion ment of Congressional districts would have to be ruled out in 32 states. CATHOLIC CONCERN This malapportionment i n state legislatures and in Con gress is an evil that should con cern Catholics, for it has a bear ing upon the right of the nation’s 30 or more million Catholics to have a voice in the legislative process. Discrimination against cities in the matter of repre sentation is, in a sence, discrimi nation against Catholics, for a majority of the Catholic popula tion is in urban areas. In deciding all questions bear- BEST WISHES ALBANY SAVINGS BANK 225 Broad Avenue Albany, Georgia Best Wishes ChurchweH's PHONE HE. 2-6281 ALBANY, GA. By JOHN C. O’BRIEN ing on the relation between cnurch and state, Cathoies are not fairly represented because 01 malapportionment. Where bills come before legislatures affecting tax exemption for Catnonc schools, transportation lor pupils of parochial scnools and otner benefits provided by general taxation, the urban Catholic populations are at a disadvantage 1 n comparison with the mainly non-Catholic rural areas because the rural areas have a disproportionate representation in tne state legis latures. The extent of the discrimina tion against the cities in the matter of apportionment is not generally realized. In Maryland, for example, be cause of malapportionment, only 28 percent of the population is represented by a majority of the seats in the lower house of tne state legislature, only 16 percent in the upper house. Two counties with more than half the population have less than 20 percent of the representation in tne upper house and about 33 percent of tne representation in tne lower house. Even in Massachuetts, where the apportionment between ur ban and rural areas is more equitable than in most states, 42 percent of the population is represented by a majority in the lower house, 49 percent in the upper house. MAYOR'S MEETING The apportionment in effect in many states dates back to a time when cities were small and the disparity between urban and rural populations was less mark ed than it is today. Although most states have constitutional provisions or laws calling for periodic reapportionment, the rurally - controlled legislatures have been reluctant to give up their power by carrying out constitutional or legislative maii- uates. Tne unfairness of present ap portionments nas peen descried oy puoiic ofiicials, particularly by mayors 01 cities. At a recent meeting, tne nation's mayors auopteu a resolution staling mat “me uroan citizen is oy stale Statutory or constitutional pro visions m most instances tore- ciosea irom equal representation in state legislatures.” ben. Jonn F. Kennedy, of Massachusetts, in an address at tnat cornerence torn me mayors, “oar uroan citizens are grossly short-changed in tneir repre sentation in tne mouse of Repre sentatives." me said it was “tirrie for an uroan Magna Carta — a statement of our principles in this battle for equality 01 repre sentation ana treatment”. it nas omen been remarked that catholics are not repre sented in Congress in anything lute the ratio of Catholics to tne total population m many of tne states, c/ne of tne reasons for this, of course, is that most of tne large cities, where Catholics form a large proportion of tne population, ao not nave as many congressional districts as their population entities them to. Many a man who knows but little tells way too much. McCARTY & COMPANY P. O. BOX 340 A1LAJN 1 A, GA. BOOKKEEPING SERVICE ACCOUNTING SYSTEMS AUDITS TAX REPORTS Phone Office PO. 6-7953 Residence DR. 8-3288 BEST WISHES From WARREN & BRIMBERRY INCORPORATED INSURANCE • RENTS # REALTORS II. B. Bimberry, Clem B. Rakel, Charles C. Foster R. H. Warren, 3rd, R. E. Coleman, L. M. Reeves 120 N. JACKSON ST. PHONE HE. 2-2357 ALBANY, GEORGIA Best Wishes RHODES, Inc. FURNITURE JACKSON STREET AT PINE ALBANY, GEORGIA