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s i I > “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- J&ourke Savannah’s Finest Traditional Shop for Men and Young Men 10 W. State St., Savannah, Ga. MASON INC. AD 2-4192 18-20 W. BRYAN ST. Printing •Office Supplies •Office Furniture •Ditto Duplicating Machines -and Supplies We specialize in SALES - SERVICE - REPAIRS OF GE APPLIANCES Also rtpoir •moll appliances TV Sats an<l Stereo Coll—AD 6-8241 CROSSROADS APPLIANCE CENTER Cressr»43 Shopptn* C.m.r Tony Alifft, Owner 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. Savannah’s Four-MOST Restaurants Herb & Jim's •Pirates’ House • Harvest House • Our House • Triple XXX 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. When You Think of Building, Think Of cnNsnuicnoN company 140 Abarcem (MM SAVANNAH. 0*0*01 A MUCE J. UMIH Im. Phan* 234-3123 PtmMmH *•« Mion. EL 3-1224 Are )fou Enjoying SSA-FRFSH Seafood ? Serve pRESIlLock BREADED SHRIMP * Fresh-Lock Seafoods, produced by a new process exclusive with Gorton’s, retain natural juices and nutritive elements of fresh caught fish to bring you truly fresh flavor and goodness. CHRYSLER PLYMOUTH De Renne Chrysler-Plymouth, Inc. "A Name You Know And Trust” 25 E. DE RENNE AVE. 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