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“God Makes No Mistakes”
By BARBARA C. JENCKS
THOSE WHO are healthy, the sound of mind and body, those
who possess all their faculties of sight and hearing, who can
walk and jump and skip are apt never to stop and think how
wonderful are these taken for-granted gifts. Not unless they are*
suddenly taken away. I have never personally known a blind
person or a deaf person. I have known many who have been
^ handicapped, crippled and bed patients. Their lives were a
constant source of inspiration to me. Recently one who had been
confined to a wheel chair for fifteen years, stricken in the
midst of an active life, died. Katherine Murray did not waste
much time in self-pity or bemoaning her cross. She kept
busy and lost herself in others. A mutual friend died last year,
one who offered every day of her bedridden twelve years for
someone and something, I wrote a column about Louise Nolan
and the sufferings she offered all these years for God knows
how many souls, far flung across the earth! At that time, Kath
arine Murray said "do not write any sad column about me.
Don't say ‘poor Katharine’ when 1 die.’’ Katharine had the
use of but one arm and both her legs were paralyzed and she
was completely dependent on her saintly nurse- and that
nurse’s story is one to be told someday. Yet, it was a joy
to visit Katharine for she was filled with joy and vitality,
there was nothing morbid, depressing, or saddening about
her. One left not feeling sorry for her at all but wondering
and rejoicing at her spunk and spirit
r
A PRIEST-FRIEND gave a retreat to the blind some time ago
and in the course of his talks he mentioned that his sister, who
is a nun, was deaf and had once asked him what a Christmas
carol sounded like. The priest said that the blind retreatants
actually sighed aloud sympathetically at his sister’s plight.
When he visited his sister he told her about giving a retreat
for the blind, she sighed aloud in sorrow for them. Recently
I read a portion of the autobiography of John Howard Griffin
who was blind for twelve years and of his thoughts as the light
gradually dimmed, shutting the world from him. Griffin said
he could say without mental reservations: “Thank God it
happened to me and not to another. That way there was peace. ;
It was a beginning.’’ What lessons these afflicted give us!
It is hard to conceive of the nobility which instantaneously
springs from those who are afflicted. Tom Dooley said:
“God has given me the most hideous, painful cancer at an
extremely young age. It is a gift. He wants me to use it. . .
* The jagged ugly cancer scar went no deeper than my flesh.
There was no cancer in my spirit.’’
I
IN A HEALTH-CONSCIOUS age, most are horrified at the
prospect of suffering physical infirmities. It is natural that
none of us would willingly choose blindness, deafness, crippling
diseases as our road to sanctity. Yet, many of the saints were
invalids and sickly. These days I often quote Katharine Murray,
the wheel-chair victim of fifteen years, who said: “God Makes
No Mistakes.’’ I think of the good that those who suffer accom
plish spiritually as well as morally for the healthy. They serve
well who suffer well. For those who take their ability to walk
and run--or their sight--for granted, it is something to think
about. Listen to John Griffin before his coming blindness:
“I saw things as few others would be privileged to see him—
with a sense of astonishment. I stored them, engraved them,
not in my mind but in some deeper place of the passions. . .
Faced with nothing, very little became everything. The sight of
a pin, a hair, a leaf, a glass of water--these filled me with
trembling excitement. The plants in the courtyard, the cobble
stones, the lampposts, the faces of strangers--I no longer took
them in and bound them up in me—they retained their values,
V their own identities and essences. Iwentoutto them, immersed
E myself in them and found them more beautiful than I ever
dreamed they could be. They taught, they nourished when one
gave oneself to them.” And perhaps the blind, the lame, the
crippled lead us? “God makes no mistakes.”
Inter-Fraternity Conference
Examine Questions
Of Dignity Of Man
WORCHESTER, Mass. —In
Pittsburgh, the weekend of No
vember 29-December 2 saw
a distinctly American social
principle in action. National
fraternities of diverse mem
berships and purposes met for
the annual National Inter
fraternity Conference.
Catholics, Jews, Protestants,
Negroes and whites, some ex-
slusively grouped, heard three
well-known educators and ad
ministrators examine questions
about the dignity of man—his
personal freedom and his per
sonal social responsibility, es
pecially at the level of volun-
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tary academic association.
Dr. J. C. Warner, President
of Carnegie Institute of Techno
logy, a member of the General
Advisory Committee, U. S. Ato
mic Energy Commission, and a
member of Delta Upsilon Fra
ternity gave the first major
address accenting the theme of
the National Conference.
Dr. Perry E. Gresham,
President of Bethany College,
a non-fraternity man, gave the
summarizing address to the
joint session of graduate and
undergraduate fraternity mem
bers.
Dr. Elvis J. Stahr, Jr., now
President of Indiana University,
formerly Secretary of the Army
under President Eisenhower,
and a member of Sigma Chi
Fraternity addressed the mem
bers and distinguished guests
at the closing banquet.
The school presidents were
speaking principally to under
graduate leaders from colleges
and universities across the
country. These young men re
presented the local association
of fraternities on their campu
ses. The speakers charged the
graduate fraternal leaders and
members with their responsibi
lity to maturing youth on the
campus.
Among the fraternal leaders
were many outstanding educa
tors—presidents of schools,
deans, directors of studies, di
rectors of student personnel,
fraternity scholarship direct
ors and other officers of ad
ministration. National presi
dents and national executive
directors of fraternities repre
sented the graduate members of
their fraternities.
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CONFIRMATION AT ST. CLARE’S—The Most Reverend Thomas J. McDonough poses
with the confirmation class of St. Clare’s, Albany. Confirmation was administered to 10
children and 10 adults on Tuesday afternoon, February 5th. Four of those confirmed
were from St. Martin de Porres mission, Americus.
LAWS WILL-
(Continued From Page 4)
and find better homes.
Law educates, deters and
changes attitudes among those
blocking social progress,
Father Drinan said. He urged
the public to challenge the
"selfish” motives of real es
tate dealers who have supported
campaigns against fair housing.
"No one claims that the en
actment of a law preventing
discrimination is a panacea,”
he said. "Law alone cannot
change opinion or eradicate
deep seated fears. At the same
time the law has been one of
the great educational forces in
the history of American institu
tions. Law sets a standard and
an ideal which within a short
time becomes a reality of the
citizenry.”
Father Drinan said the most
compelling reason for the en
actment of legislation which will
assist Negroes in securing ade
quate housing "is the basic
spiritual principle that each
individual human being has
certain inaleniable rights given
to him by the Creator.”
The Southern Cross, February 16, 1963—PAGE 5
Sister! Don’t Throw
That Book Away!
SAVANNAH—The Salesian Sisters of Madras, South In
dia have issued an appeal for any “books on Cathechism,
on Religion, on good reading and teaching aids” to en
able them to conduct Catechetical training courses for
lay teachers of religion.
Says Sister Helen, of the Madras Mission, "We greatly
desire to intensify our Apostolic work of teaching Cate
chism and for this purpose, we have decided to rally
zealous lay people who will also co-operate with us to
teach Catechism in the villages, and to the children at
tending public schools and colleges.
The “fly in the ointment”? . . . We have neither books,
nor a library, nor teaching aids—neither do we have
means to buy them,” she says.
According to the Salesian Sister, books in almost any
condition will be gratefully recieved—"even old, shop-
soiled, second hand, provided it will help us to stir up
zeal, enthusiasm, give better ideas for teaching Catechsim
and organize Cathechism classes.”
Funds, too, are needed and Sister Helen pledges, “Should
you be inspired to share for us some money to buy the
cupboards (shelves) for the library, please remember that
we will repay this charity, with extra prayers.”
The address of the mission is:
Sr. Helen
c/o Very Rev. Mother Provincial
Salesian Sisters,
77 Broadway
Madras, S. India
AUSTRIAN CARDINAL
Decentralization Within
Church WiU Be One Of
Council’s Major Issues
By Claude de L’Orme
(N.C.W.C. NEWS SERVICE)
VIENNA - Decentralization
within the Church will be a ma
jor issue in the second session
of the Second Vatican Council,
Austria’s Cardinal said here.
Franziskus Cardinal Koenig,
Archbishop of Vienna, said that
although the matter was not di
rectly discussed in the first
session, it “appears likely”
that episcopal conferences and
regional assemblies of bishops
will be accorded "greater scope
and importance in the future.”
The Cardinal served on
the Central Preparatory Com
mission for the council and then
was elected to the council's
Doctrinal Commission for Faith
and Morals, headed by Alfredo
Cardinal Ottaviani. He was
chosen as a member of the
special commission named to
recast the controversial pro
ject on the sources of Reva-
lation.
He shared his impressions
of the council's first session
in a special interview con
ducted in his episcopal resi
dence.
The Cardinal, who described
himself as gratified with re
sults up to now, gave special
importance to the council’s pre
paratory work and said “fruits
will be reaped” from this in
the session beginning in Sep
tember.
Highlights of the Cardinal’s
interview were his beliefs that
some steps will be taken to re
arrange available clergy in the
world, to experiment with mar
ried lay deacons, to discuss
fully the question of freedom
of conscience of individulas and
to delve deeply into the lay
apostolate, a topic he said has
one of the "most comprehen
sive” prepared schemata.
On the possibility cf efforts
to arrange for greater distribu
tion of the available clergy
throughout the world, the Car
dinal believes action may come
on two levels.
He said it could some as a
result of direct contacts be
tween bishops and in the form
of an appeal of the council,
urging cooperation between
bishops with many priests and
those facing a shortage.
“It is, of course,” he said,
“possible that the council may
take even stronger action, but
at this point it seems likely
that the form of a specific ap
peal will be deemed sufficient
to stimulate such necessary
transfer of clergy. In former
years, some work already has
been done in this field.”
The Cardinal pointed to a cir
cular letter sent by Bishop Em
ile De Smet of Bruges, Bel
gium, to his priests. The Bish
op, he related, told of his con
versations with mission bish
ops who need priests and asked
Bruges priests to volunteer for
service in such areas.
On possible use of married
men as deacons in mission
countries and other priest-
short areas, the Cardinal said
this will be dealt with in the
next session.
However, he said, when this
proposal came up during pre
paratory work it met with di
vided opinions.
To his surprise, the Cardin
al related, several bishops from
mission countries were against
the idea, “mostly, they claimed,
for practical and budgetary rea
sons, the matter of paying lay
deacons.”
Mission bishops who opposed
the proposal said such an item
on their already tight budget
was difficult to justify, “all
the more since lay cate
chism teachers already per
formed to general satisfaction
some of the functions envisag
ed for the lay deacons,” he
said.
On the other hand, he added,
there would be "many voices”
in favor of such a project—”
at least on an experimental
basis in special territories.”
Asked if the council will de
fine more accurately and clear
ly the matter of full freedom of
conscience for all individuals,
the Cardinal responded that the
key to discussion of this will
be “national attitudes and the
specific situation prevailing in
the individual countries.”
“It will not be easy to arrive
at uniform formulations in this
matter, he said. "The question
itself, however, cannot be
sidestepped.”
Cardinal Koenig said he felt
the council will have to make
a "major effort” to find “wide
ly acceptable solutions” to this
“crucial matter.”
He expressed the hope that
the council will succeed in com
ing to decisions "which would
do away with all existing mis
conceptions,” but at the same
time will not lead to any com
promise with the bodyofCatho-
olic doctrine.
On stimulation of the lay
apostolate, the Cardinal thought
that although this was touch
ed upon during the first session,
it would be “ an important point' ’
on the agenda of the September
assembly. “One of the most
comprehensive schemata pre
pared is the one dealing with
the question of the lay apos
tolate,” he said.
QUESTION BOX—
(Continued From Page 4)
Gregorian, and to condemn at
tempts to introduce purely
secular muscial forms or
compositions into the sacred
liturgy. One of the Council’s
practical decisions was the es
tablishment of a special com
mission for the reform of the
Sistine Choir in Rome. It was at
this time that the famed Pier
Luigi da Palestrina was ap
pointed choirmaster of the Pon
tifical Choir. Under the influ
ence of Palestrina both ordinary
Gregorian and classical poly
phonic Gregorian attained a
golden age.
THE 1800’s saw the beginning
of a decline in Gregorian. A
reform movement, which soon
took root in Germany (Gaspar
Ett, Franz Witt) and Italy (Don
Lorenzo Perosi), was event
ually consolidated by Pope St.
Pius X. One key phase of the
reform movement was cap
tained by the Benedictines of
the abbey of Solesmes, who,
by referring to extant ancient
manuscripts, were able to re
store Gregorian to its original
purity. Today, of course, Gre
gorian Chant is enjoying another
golden age.
Cardinal Koenig was asked if
he anticipated steps to clarify
the role of secular institutes
within the Church.
He said this question would
come up in the context of dis
cussions of religious orders
and relations between these
orders and the bishops of the
dioceses in which they are lo
cated.
He predicted that the council
is unlikely to set down any def
inite rule for secular institutes,
but might offer such guidelines
which would be subject to the
interpretive work of commis
sions engaged in application of
council decisions. He said he
did not anticipate direct legisla
tive action by the council.
Asked for comment on an
aspect of the council of par
ticular interest to Austria, the
Cardinal stressed that matters
before the council are in
ternational in scope and he does
not like to speak of “specific
ally Austrian” questions.
But, he said the Church in
Austria has drawn satisfaction
from the apparent acceptance
by Council Fathers of some
ideas and suggestions for the
liturgy explored originally by
Father Pius Parsch, O. S. B.,
and his liturgical movement at
Klosterneuburg, near Vienna.
The Klosterneuburg school,
he said, has begun to bear fruit
for the Church throughout the
world.
Name
Parish
Chairmen
AUGUSTA--Mrs. Whilden,
Mrs. D. F. Whaley and Miss
Mary Sullivan were appointed
chairmen for St. Patrick’s par
ticipation in the annual Augusta
Deanery Mardi Gras.
The appointments were made
at the February meeting of St.
Patrick’s Parish Council
presided over by Mrs.
Harry B. Arthur, president.
The Mardi Gras is held each
year to raise funds for St.
Mary’s Home for Girls in
Savannah.
March 7th was selected as
the date for a Day of Recollec
tion to be held at St. Mary’s
on-the-Hill. All were„jirged to
attend.
Mrs. Ray Campbell, Mrs.
William D. Moore and Mrs.
Arthur volunteered to assist
the American Cancer Society.
Members gathered February
13th at the home of Mrs. Polly
Mathewson to make bandages
for Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Cancer Home in Atlanta.
New Members of the council
were honored at a covered dish
supper following the meeting.
St. Michael’s C.Y.O. Breakfast
Upper picture shows Snookie Hosti, Theressa Edgerly,
Ann Davis, Dave McCutchen, Nick Ridemio and Dan De-
JFozier. Below pictured on steps of St. Michael’s Parish
Hall are Larry Price, Eloise Patterson and Theressa Ed
gerly , Seventeen dollars was netted by the group at the
breakfast served on Sunday, February 10th.
Nuclear War Forum
S Y D N E Y, Australia—A
priest will share the rostrum
next month with a Quaker lead
er at a public forum organized
by the Quakers here on “The
Just War in the Nuclear Age.”
He is Father John Farrar, of the
Sydney Archdiocesan Adult
Education Institute.
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