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TWENTY TWO
THE BULLETIN OF THE CATHOLIC LAYMEN’S ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA
MARCH 31, 1945
A Trappist Tells His Story
Father James Fox, O. C. S. O., Superior of
the Monastery of Our Lady of the Holy
Ghost, Near Conyers, Georgia, Explains
in a Moving Letter to Harvard Classmates
How He Came to Follow Christ “100
Per Cent”
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(By N. C. W- C. News Service) | papers the world over? The date.
NEW YORK—This is the story all this year, in 1943. Where did
of a man who was graduated with
high academic honors from Har
vard University, who served as an
officer in the American Navy dur
ing the last war. and who finally
resolved “to follow Christ one-
hundred per cent."
Now, in a Trappist monastery hi
the Stone Mountain region of
Georgia, he “lives each day in an
atmosphere of sweet silence and
solitude, of deep peace, joy. cheer
fulness and love, praying for a
prodigal world that does not pray,
doing penance for a world that
will not do penance.”
How the story <jf this man, the
Rev. M. James Fox, O. C. S. O.,
Superior of the new Trappist
foundation about 50 miles from
Atlanta, became known is revealed
by Richard Reid, Managing Editor
of The Catholic News in his col
umn “By the Way.” Mr. Reid
who had recently paid a visit to
the new Trappist monastery, knew
that Father Fox, or Father James
as he is known in religion, was a
Harvard alumnus. He described
his visit to another Harvard alum
nus, in New York, C. G. Paulding
of the staff of The Commonweal,
who was, it developed, a classmate
of Father James.
HOW THE STORY BECAME
KNOWN
Mr. Paulding, in turn, recalled,
that Father James had contributed
a letter to the year book published
at the silver pubilec of his Harvard
>afass in 1943 and had given in this
letter a moving explanation of the
steps that gradually led him to
embrace religious life. With the
permission of the secretary of the
class, this letter from the copy
righted jubilee volume was re
printed in The Catholic News and
thus this moving story of a man
who has found true peace and hap
piness in the austerities of mona
tic life becomes known to thou
sands.
Father James was born in Ded
ham, Mass., on December 10, 1896.
He entered Harvard College in
1914 and at the end of three years
he was graduated with Phi Beta
Kappa honors. After finishing col
lege, Father James ^elates in the
letter to his classmates, “I entered
the Harvard Graduate School of
Business Administration, in Sep
tember, 1917. Shortly after be
coming 21 years of age 1 joined the
United States Navy, in February,
1918. In April I received a com
mission as ensign attached to the
First Naval District. In June, 1919,
I resigned from the Navy and re
ceived an appointment from the
United States Treasury Depart
ment as a revenue agent, Income
Tax Division, checking up tax re
turns of corporations, simple and
consolidated. This gave me a
vivid opportunity to study men in
the grand pursuit of .making
money and of scaling the heights
to fame and fortune
WHAT IS THIS LIFE FOR?
“But, instead of becoming hyp
notized also and drawn into the
grand whirlpool, I reacted diame
trically opposite. 1 found myself
asking myself, is this what life is
for, to burn it up in sweating,
scheming, and toiling in a race for
power, prestige, passion, pleasure,
and piles of stocks and bonds,
from every one of which I am go
ing to be separated some day? I
began to reflect on myself. Here
I am with life, power of intellect,
power of love, personality. Where
did I come from, with all these
gifts? Certainly I did not make
myself because I did not exist be
fore I existed. Whatever is the
source of my coming into exist
ence, it must be a 'source which
also has life, intellect, heart, and
rmt*t also be a person. I cannot
be the result of mere blind forces,
cosmic energy rushing through the
universe—not the result of mere
chance. No, as truly as I exist,
there exists the cause of my exist
ence—a living, knowing, loving
Person—God.
"Thus I came to realize the first
fundamental fact about myself and
about all other men. I am made
by God. Then, the question, but
Why did God make me? Only
God knows, therefore only God
tell ipe. Has God ever re
vealed to man true destiny and
how to win it? Yes. But how did
lie reveal it. and when, and where?
THE REALITY OF CHRIST
“What is the date on this morn
ing's newspaper and on all official
you get 1943? It is 1943 years
after the life, work, and teaching
of a Man Who so transcends the
life and work of all other men that
all human history the world over
bears witness to the reality of His
life and teachings and turns on
His life and existence as on a
hinge. Nineteen hundred and for
ty-three means 1,943 years after
the life and work of a Man called
Jesus Christ. So much for the
absolute certainty of the fact of
the reality of Christ.
“This Man proved lie was more
than man, that He was divine, the
God-Man. He. God. in human lan
guage has told us the true good of
all living and how t* win it. He
has told us that our true goal is
eternal life, in the lite beyond the
grave, and the way to win it is Io
follow His teachings. I am made
by God: 1 am made for God, Only
in following in the footsteps of
Christ is true happiness to be
found.
“Some follow Christ 20 per cent,
some 40 per cent, some 60 per
cent, some 80 per cent. I resolved
to follow Christ 100 per cent. Why
not? ‘Where eternity is at stake,
no cost is too great.' 1 could not
give my life to the pursuit of
things which will pass*away. 1
could and would devote my life
only to the eternal. 1 looked
around for an opportunity where
I could give my life for Christ and
God 100 per cent and I found it in
the Abbey of Gcthscmani which is
a community of the Trappist Or
der of the Roman Catholic Church.
Here some 145 men live a life of
prayer and sacrifice to bring God
to men “and men to God. Their
day's work begin at 2 a. m. when
they rise to sing the Divine Office
in.choir. About eight hours are
devoted to choir service, four
hours to study and prayer, five
hours to manual labor in field,
farm and forest, closing the day
at 7 p. m. They deny themselves
the eating ol meat, eggs, and fish,
are content with vegetables, bread,
and fruit, and live each day in an
atmosphere of sweet silence and
solitude, of deep peace, joy, cheer
fulness, and love, praying for a
prodigal world that does not pray,
doing penance for a world that
will not do penance.
After I wo years of philosophy
and four years of theology, I was
ordained priest in 1930. I am offer
ing my life as victim, in union
with the Divine Victim of Calvary,
to save human souls and bring
peace back to us all. Every day,
my dear classmates of 1918, I pray
at Divine Office and the Holy Sac
rifice of the Mass for you and for
your dear families, that you will
all win the real goal of life, in
that true life beyond the grave—
God, and eternal happiness,”
Father James entered the Passi-
onist Order in Pittsburgh in 1921
and continued his studies for the
priesthood with the Passionists
until 1927 when he transferred to
the Cistercian, or Trappist. Order
in Gethsemani, Ky. There he was
ordained in April. 1930, and re
mained until March when he went
with the pioneer band to establish
the new monastery in Georgia.
N Father James has one brother
and three sisters in religion: the
Rev. Joseph P. Fox. S. ,1.. of ICey-
ser Island, Conn., and Sister Cath
erine Dorolhea, president of Trin
ity College. Washington, Sister
Margaret Mary, also of Trinity
College and Sister Bernard Marie
of Notre Dame Academy, Villa-
nova. Pa. Another brother, Ber-
nard P. Fox. a lieutenant in the
Army, is on service somewhere in
France.
CATHOLIC BOY SCOUTS IN BRUNSWICK, GEORGIA—Pictured, left to right, on the steps of St.
Joseph's School, Brunswick, Ga„ are the following Bay* Scouts and Cubs Scouts who celebrated Boy
Seoul Week: Back row. Ed Cooey, Mitchell Mavromat. Ed Mock, Tom St. John: Third Row, John Sylvia,
George Vieira, Gerald Langlelier, Ed Abel, William Silva: Second row, Pat Lufburrow, Max Knight.
James Hearn, Jerry Matthieson. Ben Grogan; Front row, Jerry Lazaro, John O'Brien, Terry Horton./Pat
Grogan, Paul Moeiera, Howard Allard and Wendell Madray.
MARRIAGES
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KENNEDY-SOUBEYROUX
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CHARLESTON, S. C. — Miss
Bernadette Rita Soubeyroux,
daughter of Mr. and Mis. Frank
Honore Soubeyroux, and Lieuten
ant Austin John Kennedy, Jr.,
U.S.N.R., of Mare Island. Calif-,
and Charleston, were married on
March 14 in the Citadel chapel,
the Rev. Henry F. Wolfe officiat
ing. and the Right Rev. Msgr.
James .1. May, V. G., assisting.
Mrs. Kennedy is a graduate of
I he School of Nursing of St.
Francis Xavier Infirmary. Lieu
tenant Kennedy, son of Mr. and
Mrs. Austin John Kennedy, of
Charleston, attended the Citadel
and graduated from the U. S. Na
val Academy at Annapolis in
1942.
LAMBERT-KE LLEH Ell
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| RADAWICZ-BRIDGES |
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ALBANY, Ga. — Miss LaVerne
Bridges and Tech. Sgt. Martin
Charles Radawicz were married
on March 3 in St. Theresa’s
Church, the Very Rev- Msgr. Jos
eph G. Cassidy officiating.
Mrs. Bridges is the daughter of
Mrs. Lydis Bridges, of Albany.
Sergeant Bridges is the son of
Mr. and Mrs. John Radawicz, of
New Haven, Conn. He returned
from the European theatre of war
last fall and has been stationed at
Turner Field. He wears the Air
Medal with four Oak Leaf Clus
ters and a Presidential Unit Cita
tion.
AUGUSTA OFFICER
HOME ON LEAVE
AUGUSTA, Ga. — Captain Ber
nard W. Franklin, husband of
Mrs. Josephine Maguire Franklin,
of Augusa, has arrived home on
leave after more than two years’
service in the Mediterranean
area.
Captain Franklin sefved under
General Mark Clark’s Filth
Army. He wetfrs campaign rib
bons for service in Tunisia and
Italy.
The son of Mr. and Mrs. George
A, Franklin, Captain Franklin
practiced law in Augusta and
Chicago before entering the ser
vice. He is a member of St.
Mary’s-on-Thc-Hill parish.
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MIODLETON-ROGERS |
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MULLINS, S. C.—-Miss Marjorie
Elizabeth Rogers, daughter of
Mi's. LcRoy Mitchell Rogers and
the late Mr. Rogers, and Capt.
Ernest F. Middleton, Jr.. U. S.
Army, were married on Feburay
18. at the home of the bride, the
Rev. John J. McCarthy, pastor of
(lie Blessed Sacrament Church, of
ficiating. Captain Middleton is
the son ol Mr. and Mrs. Ernest
Felder Middleton of Charleston.
He recently returned to the Unit
ed States from the Mediterranean
theatre, where as a P-38 pilot he
ilew 55 missions and was awarded
the Distinguished Flying Cross
and the Air Medal with several
Oak Leaf Clusters.
ATLANTA, Ga. — Lieutenant
(j. g.) Mary Katherine Kclleher,
U. S. Naval Reserve, daughter of
Dr. and Mrs. John S. Kclleher, of
Crestwood, N. Y-, and Major John
Joseph Lambert, Engineer Corps,
U. S. Army, son of Mr. and Mrs.
Michael T. Lambert, of Atlanta,
were married on March 17 at the
Church of the Annunciation,
Crestwood. N. Y., the Rev. Timo
thy Dugan officiating and offer
ing the Nuptial Mass.
RANDOM-OETTINGER
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CHARLESTON, S. C. — Lieu
tenant Gloria Marie Oettinger,
Army Nurses Corps, daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. Carl Oettinger, of
Dumont, N. J., and Lieutenant
Lewis J. Randon, of Wilkes-
Barre, Pa., were mai’ried on
March 5, in the base chapel of the
Charleston Army Air Field, Ma
jor A. L- Vifquian. chaplain at
the air base, officiating.
STEPIIENSON-HEFFRON
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CHARLESTON, S. C. — Miss
Francis Elizabeth Heffron, daugh
ter of Charles Heffron, of Charles
ton, and Lt. Henry Stephenson,
Jr., U. S. Army Air Forces, in Tay-
lorville, III., were' married recent
ly in the rectory of St. Joseph’s
Church, the Rev. William Gold
smith officiating.
1IERTZIG-PITMAN
CATHOLIC CUB PACK
FORMED IN BRUNSWICK
BRUNSWICK. Ga.—The first
meeting of the newly organized
Cub Pack, sponsored by The Par
ent-Teacher Association of St.
Joseph's School, was held on Feb
ruary 27, with the Rev. John H.
Hillman, S. M., Cubmaster, presid
ing. Dr. J. T. Gailmard. chairman
of the Pack 9 committee, was the
guest of honor and thirteen Cubs
and their parents attended, as did
the Boy Scouts of Troop 9.
Scout Bill Goodyear opened the
meeting by reading the Pledge of
Allegiance to the Flag of the
United States, and after all had
joined in singing “America,” the
Cubs and Scouts were released for
a game period while Father Hill
man spoke to their parents on the
necessity of parental co-opera
tion in the Scout program.
The project for the coming
month, “Weather”, was announced
and explained. Reports were made
by the Den Mothers, Mrs. M. Luf
burrow, Den 1; Mrs. P. J. Grogan,
Den 2, Mis. Terry Horton, Den 3,
and Mrs. E. Abel, Den 4.
Upon the return of the Cubs to
the hall, Pack 9 badges and in
signia were presented- by Dr.
Gailmard. The following Cub
Scouts also received Bobcat
badges: Pat Lufburrow, Jerry La
zaro. John O’Brien, Pat Grogan,
Paul Moeira. James Hearn, Wil
liam Silva, Terry Horton, Max
Knight and Ed Abel.
At the meeting of Pack 9, held
on March 21, the Pack received its
official charter from Harry Vick
ers, Cubbing chairman for the
Coastal District of the Boy Scouts
of America, and postmaster in
Brunswick.
TAYLOR-DI CRISTINA
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Miss
MIAMI BEACH, Fla.
Mary Cobbie Di Cristina, daugh
ter of Mr. and Mrs. Harry E- Cris
tina. of Haines City, Fla., and
Lieut. Robert Emerson Taylor,
U. S. Navy, of Boise City, Okla.,
were married on March 17 at St.
Patrick’s Church, the Rev. Cyril
Burke, chaplain at Barry College,
officiating.
The bride’s mother is the for
mer Miss Cobbie Vaughan, daugh
ter of Mi's. Clifford J. Vaughan,
of Atlanta. Her father is the son
of Mrs- R. Di Cristina, also of
Atlanta.
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WEISZ-SHERMAN
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ATLANTA, Ga.—Miss Marian
Sherman, daughter of Mrs. J. G.
Sherman, of Hollywood, Cal., and
Lt. George V. Weisz, formerly of
Atlanta, were married at the
Church of the Immaculate Heart
of Mary in Hollywood, the Rev.
Joseph F. Alker officiating.
DUNN, N. C.—Miss Ida Warren
Pitman, daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
Henry Marvin Pitman, of Dunn,
and Ensign Richard Nolan Heit-
zig, of San Andreas, Calif-, were
married on February 24. at SI.
Andrews Church in San Andreas,
the Rev. John F. McGuire officiat
ing.
RECORDED PROGRAM
SENDS DOG FOR HIS
MASTER'S SLIPPERS
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PAONE-SHEEIIAN
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SAVANNAH. Ga. — Miss Mar
garet Elaine Sheehan, daughter
of Mr .and Mrs. John T. Sheehan,
of Savanah Beach, and Mr. Pa-
quale V-. Paone, son of Mr. and
Mrs. Anthony Paone. of Phila
delphia, were married recently at
Mater Dolorosa Church in Phila
delphia, the Rev- Edward Craney,
D. D., officiating.
PACE-QUINN
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CHARLESTON, S. C. — Mrs.
John M. Quinn has announced
the marriage of her daughter.
Miss Eulalia Agnes Quinn, and
Pfc. Homer McGee Pace, Jr., U.
S. Army, son of Mr. and Mrs.
Homer McGee Pace, at the home
of the bride’s mother, on March
9, the Rev- St. John Patat. assist
ant pastor of St. Ptarick’s Church,
officiating.
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credille-slider
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ATLANTA. Ga.—Miss Patricia
Ann Slider, daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. Thomas Presley Slider, and
Mr. Ewell Lawrence Crcdille. Jr.,
son of Mr. and Mrs. Ewell Law
rence Credillc, were married on
February 2, at the Sacred Heart
Church, the Rev. William A. Ma
guire, S. M., officiating.
MACON, Ga.—When the USO-
NCCS Club in Macon made such
a realistic recording for a soldier
that his dog back home went to
look for the absent master’s slip
pers in response to a recorded
command, William H. Mitchell, di
rector of the club, felt that his
staff was doing a pretty good job.
The scldier was Pvt. Leon Swan
son, of Camp Wheeler and Phila
delphia, and his dog- Rover, was
a special pot, trained to do any
number of tricks. So when the
record, made at the club here, was
mailed to the soldier’s home and
played by members of his family,
in Philadelphia, Leon’s command
to his dog brought prompt obed
ience.
Private Swanson is one of the
more than 4,000 service men who
mud-: use of the club’s facilities to
“talk a message to the folks back
home.”
Since the club was opened in
February, 1941, by the Jesuit Fath
ers at St. Joseph’s Church and
members of their parish, its ser
vice has broadened to include
everything from play-pens and a
refrigerator for baby’s bo'tle to
ironing boards, a kitchen and sew
ing machines for Army wives;
darkroom equipment, checking
service, mending service, constant
entertainment for the soldiers and
a housing service for married
couples stationed here. Average
attendance is 18,000 monthly, and
the club activity is well directed
by Mr. Mitchell and his assistant
directors, Mrs. Edna Sheridan and
Mrs. Louise C. Cutler, and Mrs.
Herman Huhn, club hostess.