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PAGE 4 GEORGIA BULLETIN THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 1964
Archdiocese of Atlanta
the
GEORGIA
i
SCtVINO GCORGIA'S 71 NOtTMMN COUNTIfS
Official Organ of the Archdiocese of Atlanta
Published Every Week at the Decatur' DeKalb News
PUBLISHER - Archbishop Paul J. Hallinan
MANAGING EDITOR Gerard E. Sherry CONSULTING EDITOR Rev. R. Donald Kiernan
2699 Peachtree N.E,
P.O. Box 11667
Northside Station
Atlanta 5, Ga.
Member of the Catholic Press Association
and Subscriber to N.C.W.C. News Service
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Religious Vocations
‘DON’T CONFUSE ME WITH THE FACTS’
GEORGIA PINES
Athens Mecca
Twice a year, usually in March
and October, we have what we
term “Vocation Months”. It is
labled in such a way that we
sometimes get the dangerous idea
that there is only one vocation
in life. The truth is, of course,
that God calls some people to
married life--gives them the vo
cation of marriage -- just as
unmistakably as he calls others
to a religious life or to a single
life in the lay world.
These months, therefore,
should more properly be des
ignated “Religious Vocation
Months.” The search for voca
tions to the religious life is a
year-round propostion, but this
month we make most emphasis.
One of the difficulties we have
in discovering our vocation is
that of deciding just what God’s
voice sounds like. Many of us
seem to expect inaudible words
to explode in our minds, saying
with the thunder of authority:
“I want you to be a priest,”
or “I’ve planned for you to get
married,” or “You’re to be a
Sister.”
But God doesn’t usually des
cend to give only words of ad
vice. He speaks in a much more
authoritative, effective, and con
vincing way. He uses objective
realities as words. If he wants
a man to be a musician, he
doesn’t say, “practice music four
hours every morning”. Instead
he gives actual musical talent,
and he inspires the musician
with a delight in harmony, coun
ter - point, and other musical
skills.
So when God wants to give a re
ligious vocation-- to “invite” one
of His children to the special
service of mankind that is given
by His priests, His religious
and His brothers -- He speaks
through the realities of that per
son’s life. He gives a mind that
can handle the studies and learn
ing it involves. He gives health
and stamina sufficient for the
particular group to which He is
calling the boy or girl (work on
the foreign missions, demanding
diffierent qualities than work on
the home front). Most important,
He gives a heart that really wants
to serve mankind, and that is at
tached to the life of a priest or
religious.
Vocation directors say that God
does not usually “call” by the
AHt'HAJ
“There he goes—getting all excited again!”
gift of meek and mild piety. Sel
dom does He indicate His choice
of a boy or girl for the religious
life by leaving them wrapped in
prayer, detached from things of
the world, not attracted to dates,
dancing, and parties. Instead,
He speaks --calls--by making the
future Sister, Brother, or priest
a full human being, then adding to
that fullness a persistent thought:
“Really, I ought to think serious
ly about a religious vocation.”
The thought is like a yo-yo. You
throw it away, then with the least
little jerk, back it comes at once.
But this is only half of the story.
This is what G od’s call sounds
like--God’s “words” as objec
tive realities of head, health and
heart. But how does he convey
these words to the person he is
calling?
This question is uppermost now
in the minds both of laymen who
write editorials like this and of
the laymen who read them--both
hoping that somehow God will give
a religious vocation to their
children.
Spiritual advisors tell us that
God speaks to our children
through us. That He issues His
realistic call to religious life
through our actions. Just as the
mind does not usually speak di
rectly, to mind, but uses funny
looking things like tongue and
vocal cords to express its mean
ing; so God does not usually speak
directly molding in the child these
key qualities of head, health and
heart. Instead, He does so through
such improbably instruments as
parents.
Without a mother’s hour-by
hour patience and protection no
baby could ever hope to have a
body strong and healthy enough
for the religious life. Without
the year-by-year guidance of mo
ther and father together, no
baby could even develop a mind
sufficiently to enter school and
to persevere in it till accepted
by the seminary or novitiate. Fin
ally, without quite special exam
ple and prayer on the part of
parents, no child is likely to ac
quire that deep desire--that irre
placeable quality of heart--which
draws him to the service of God
in religion.
The words of God to the grow
ing child are his parents example
of responsibility to duty, their
example of esteem for the priest
ly and religious life, their recog
nition of the primacy of prayer
and the Sacraments in the life of
a Christian.
In short the vocation--the call-
ing-is God’s: “You have not cho
sen me, but I have chosen you.”
And the words in which He calls
are the objective realities that
constitute the character of the
person being called--these plus
the unmeasurable impulse of
grace. But the larynx, tongue and
vocal cords that formulate these
words--the instruments through
which God chooses to talk--are
all human agents. And the most
important of these agents--the
one without which God’s vocation
could hardly become actual--is
the mother and father.
GERARD E. SHERRY
BY REV. R. DONALD KIERNAN
“My wife has never quite forgiven me because
I went away on an Easter Sunday”, were the words
used jokingly by Dr. Morris YV.H. Collins Jr. as
he opened the ninth training session for police
personnel in Athens last week.
What Doctor Collins was referring to was the
occasion which brought him to Battle Creek,
Michigan some ten years ago to appeal to the
Kellogg Foundation for three and a half millions
of dollars for the Continuing Education Center
now in Athens.
THE DYNAMIC, youthful educator is the Direc
tor of the Institute of Law and Government for the
School of Law at the University
of Georgia. He has presided
over hundreds of workshops,
seminars and institutes since
the Center was opened nearly
ten years ago. Consultor to
Governors, Doctor Collins in an
unprecedented move by the
Georgia Association of County
Commissioners was singled out
last year for his contribution to
better government.
Almost continuously the Continuing Education
Center is the scene of conferences for every type
of public servant. For example, every year the
newly elected legislators have an opportunity to
study government so that their first days on
Capitol Hill not be spent in confusion. Justices
of the Peace, Civil Defense, Coroners, County
Clerks, City and County Commissioners, Fire
men, Policemen, Book Keepers-—all ape made
to feel at home in the building of which Doctor
Collins repeatedly says, “this is your building.”
AN ARCHITECTURAL gem set in attractive
landscaping, the Center is located on what is
known as ”Ag Hill” on Lumpkin Street. Its beauty
has been enhanced recently by the construction
of the newColliseum which has attracted national
attention.
Constructed of red brick, the building is of
modern design. On first entering the building
BY REV. LEONARD F. X. MnYHEW
One of the side-effects of the Constitution on Lit
urgy is that it has engendered a number of uncer
tainties. The average Catholic, interested in the
new liturgical changes yet accustomed to the old
forms, may find himself somewhat confused as he
attempts to imagine the Sunday Mass of the future.
Mass in English, perhaps on an altar facing the
congregation, with more Bible reading, responses,
hymns and common prayer ... all these seem a
drastic departure from a state of things that ap
peared permanent. Leaving aside those who object
automatically to any and all
change, there is still an under
standable degree of confusion.
Apart from the few who may
legitimately be classified as ex
perts, the only means d clarifi
cation is study of the Constitu
tion itself and some acquain
tance with the speculation and
study that preceded the Coun
cil.
The animating spirit of the liturgical reforms
is evident from even a cursory reading of the
one would get the impression of a big hotel with
its modern dining room, snack bar, lounge etc.
In a building attached to the oblong “hotel sect
ion” is a rotunda of lecture rooms. One does
not, because of the accomodations, have to leave
the building at all during the conference days.
DOCTOR COLLINS is assisted by Mr, Norman
Crandell who handles the administrative work
connected with the workshops. Congenial and
affable, Mr. Crandell displays a remarkable me
mory which allows him to greet the “alumni”
in a manner which immediately makes everyone
feel at home.
I don’t know the precentage of college grads
who attend these workshops, but grads or work
ing people all have something in common,.....they
have come to Athens to learn something new about
their job. Experts in different fields are brought
in as lecturers and the whole program is equipped
to give the “student” the latest techniques in
his particular field.
THE CENTER is not restricted to the field
of law and government by any means. The other
evening while having dinner at the Center I met
an elderly couple from New Haven, Connecticut.
They had travelled all the way to Georgia to
attend lectures on Garden Clubs. (While paying
my bill 1 was introduced to two men who attended
conferences on Insurance Laws.)
Incidentally, the gentleman from New Haven
commented that he had never experienced such
hospitality in his life. The dining room is staffed
by students who are working their way through
college. My waitress was an exchange student from
Kimberly, South Africa. A tall balding and smiling
individual, Ted Hammock, is responsible for the
air of hospitalityandfriendlinesswhichpetmeates
the whole building. Mr. Hammock really personi
fies the “southern hospitality” commented on by
my Yankee friend.
YES, DOCTOR Collins, I’m happy you took
that Easter trip many years ago. It is because
of vision and planning coupled with personal
sacrifices which have given our state a facility
for which we can be most proud.
Constitution. It is, in a single word, truth. Every
action and gesture of the “new” liturgy is to be
true, in the sense that it is to have a clear and
evident meaning. Relative to the ends of the Mass
as well as to the role of each member of the
“people of God” who offer it, each liturgical
action is to reflect simply and obviously what it
means and what it is intended to accomplish. There
is to be no more room for obscure or meaningless
symbols nor for crowding ritual actions one upon
the other. Simplicity and clarity, as well as rev
erence, are to be the watchwords.
Equally obvious from the Constitution is the in
tention of the liturgical reforms to “force” upon
us an awareness that the Mass and Sacraments
are activities, something.that we “do” in com
munity with each other and with Christ our Head.
The “spectacle mentality” that the Mass is
something to be paid attention to, to be watched
and followed, has been with us a long time. It
will be with us no longer. The adjustment will
certainly require time, effort and explanation, as
is usually the case, we shall probably learn more
by doing than by theory. With the substitution of
the vernacular for La tin, the door will be open for a
CONTINUED ON PAGE 5
NO ECUMENISM
Federal Aid
To Schools
BY GERARD E. SHERRY
The spread of the ecumenical spirit tends to
inhibit comment on prejudice and interfaith
difficulties. However, we must exert ourselves
to speak our mind when we feel it necessary.
This is our outlook as the question of Federal
Aid to Education is being debated, and the arti
ficial crisis generated over aid to parochial
schools comes to a head.
What is most important is that many Protest
ant groups, and some Jewish groups, have come
round to the view that
there is justice on
the side of church
related schools.
Simply put, it means
that many more of
our Protestant and
Jewish brethren are
sympathetic to our
demands that if Fed
eral aid to education
is considered necessary, all children in public
(and private) schools should reap the benefits
of this aid. In this regard, it must be remember
ed that Catholics were not the ones who initiated
the idea of Federal aid to education. The Federal
Government did this. We merely said that if
there was aid we wanted our rightful share.
ALL THE OPINION polls and samplings among
Protestant groups point to a general acceptance
of the average citizen of some sort of aid to
church-related schools. This change of heart has
come about because men of good will have come
to realize the vast contribution that parochial
schools make in behalf of the national effort.
Of course, the Absolutists continue to bring
in the bogey of the mystical wall of the separa
tion of Church and State. They quote from street
samplings by newspapers in order to justify their
opposition to aid to private schools. The man in
the street whose opinion is thus sampled has as
many views as he has addresses. In Atlanta,
Georgia, you could ask six people the question,
“Should the Government give financial aid to
church affiliated schools?”, and get almost 100%
no. If you asked the same question in Boston,
Massachusetts, Hartford, Connecticut, or Chic
ago, Illinois, you would probably get an almost
100% yes. Any poll on a question of national
significance must be national in coverage to be
valid.
THERE IS hypocrisy by some in the “Wall of
Separation” issue. They often criticize Catholic
pressures against, say, birth control in places
like New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts^,
yet seldom if ever, speak up against religious
pressures in the South where the majority reli
gion also pressures for its standard of morality.
Just as Catholics believe artificial birth control
is evil, so the religious majority in the South
believes alcoholic beverages to be an evil. This
latter viewpoint is impressed upon state legis
latures and local communities with much success.
Alas, many who disagree with the view of the
religious majority are deprived of the liberty
to purchase such beverages in some communities.
“Dry Counties” in the South are so because
the religious majority in those areas disapprove
of alcoholic beverages. The point I make is that
if it is wrong for the religious majority in one
section of the country to attempt to impose its
standards on the whole community then it is
wrong everywhere and for every religion.
It is for this reason that I was impressed by
the more positive approach taken by the National
Council of Churches at their recent study con
ference on Church and State in Columbus, Ohio.
Press reports disclosed that Protestant groups
are taking a fresh and less negative look at
Federal aid to private schools. Speakers at this
Protestant gathering emphasized that there could
never be an absolute wall of separation between
church and state,
THIS, OF COURSE, has 'disturbed the Pro
testants and other Americans United for the
Separation of Church and State (POAU) and their
Secularist allies. They have long battled against
any type of Federal aid to private schools—and
basically because they do not like the thought of
the Catholic Church benefitting in any way. The
anti-Catholic record of the POAU has, fortunately,
at last been recognized by most responsible Pro
testant leaders. Indeed, it is safe to presume
that the prejudices of the POAU affect only the
fringes of Protestantism.
The recent Columbus conference denotes that
those who represent the heart of the National
Council of Churches want no part of sterile anti-
Catholic propaganda, even when it is presented
under the respectable guise of defense of the
concept of separation of Church and State.
Also interesting is the discovery that not all
Jewish groups agree with Mr. Leo Pieffer, coun
sel of the American Jewish Congress. Pieffer
has long opposed Federal aid to private and paro
chial schools on alleged constitutional grounds.
Many authorities on constitutional law disagree
with him, even though his judgements are ac
cepted as gospel by many secularists. Pieffer
and the POAU would do well to re-examine
their positions in the light of the country's needs.
WE HAVE SAID over and over again that the
Catholic position on federal aid to education is
quite flexible. Indeed, there is no official policy.
Each Catholic is asked to study the situation and
then make up his mind. The consensus of parents
of Catholic students is that if there is to be
federal aid to education there should be no
discrimination on religious ground?. The Con
stitution of this nation does say that there is no
union between Church and State. However, this
does not mean that religion has no rights. Pieffer
and the POAU, even if unwittingly, are advocating
just that—as well as the establishment of a new
religion of Secular Humanism which will
seemingly be the State religion.
LITURGICAL CHANGE
4. ■ ■■■ Ml.. ■■ ■■■ I "
Understandable Confusion
REAPINGS
AT
RANDOM