Graduating Class of 2009

Good afternoon, Sister Marie Therese, Sister Maria Philomena, Mr. McManus, Mama, Papa, Brothers, Sisters, family, friends, and fellow IHM students.

Every graduation speaker wants his speech to be unique and personal in one way or another. I decided that the best way to make mine unique would be not to buy it online for $24.99, but to just write it myself.

I have attended Immaculate Heart of Mary School for the last eleven years. Eleven not twelve, because one year I went through two grades. The years which I remember most clearly were the last few, when I finally saw the end as something reachable, and not just something in the distance which would come along eventually. However thanks to the foundation laid by my earlier education, these last years I have been able to start appreciating what I had experienced. Realizing that it was meant to help me in high school and the rest of my personal life. Most likely I won’t ever have to use the periodic table, but the exercise of memorizing it had a much bigger purpose. That of helping to develop my brain and form my whole character by discipline. Thereby perfecting the nature that grace builds upon.

Third Grade

If we take a closer look at what character is, we find that it is the strengths and weaknesses of an individual; his moral qualities. Now education in the broad sense is just our development and experiences over time. This type of education never ends. But if we use the word education as the formation of a person, then we are talking about the early years of life when this person is still in school, and his character and intellect are being formed. A major reason for having twelve years of school is so that the student has those crucial years to learn and absorb things as he will never be able to at any other time in his life.

At a smaller school, like IHM, I believe that it is easier to absorb and learn things because the teachers can spend more time with the individual student. With this scenario, the teacher can better know and understand each student, which then leads to caring more for the student and who he becomes.

Sister Marie Therese presents the diploma.

The little experience I have had with a large class was during Driver’s Ed. My time there seemed to reinforce the idea that when there are more students the teacher is less personal and the subject is more difficult to learn. I am grateful that I was not placed in such an environment for my academic education.

Here at IHM I have never had more that three teachers in a given year, and when I did the third teacher only came in on Fridays. So the education I have received here was very much directed towards me. This attention, which is paid to each student can be very annoying at times because it means that it is harder for things to slip by, but the education is all the more effective, and that of course, is the end goal.

What a student!

But education is more than just learning the material and then being graded on it. What really can shape a person, for good or ill, are his influences. These influences can take many forms. For instance, his teachers, family members, classmates, friends, and also the characters in the books he reads. It is one of the jobs of a good teacher to be a role model for his students, and I definitely feel that the teachers at IHM have been very helpful role models for me.

At the Museum of Science

Self-sacrifice is something I have seen in all my teachers, I would like to particularly mention one. This teacher went beyond what was necessary and gave up other opportunities to teach here. Without this teachers help, my last five years would have been very different. I have spent a fair amount of time outside of school with this pedagogue and this has only helped to increase my respect and appreciation, hoping that one day I may be able to inspire others as he has inspired me. Thank you Professor.

Field Day Captain

Because of the strong character of my teachers here, I have been given the tools now with which to overcome any obstacles. Particularly winning the main fight I will have in this life, that of saving my soul. As Catholics we know the true means of achieving salvation. But with a good education, that of a firm foundation upon which all else can build, salvation can be an easier task.

Michael makes his promises as a Tertiary

I am going to continue my education at Thomas More College of Liberal Arts. I hope to become more equipped not only for my personal future but also for the salvation of my soul. I have had many conversations with a number of respected individuals and this seems to be the best thing I can do at this time in my life.

Vaya con Dios!

As opposed to thanking everyone of everything they have ever done for me, let me say that yes, I am grateful, but more than that; I hope that with my life I may be able to help others as I have been helped. Thank you very much.

Blueberry Jammers at Young Tradition Showcase

IHM’s Blueberry Jammers are moving up in the world! In an attempt to branch out, meet more people, and see new faces the Blueberry Jammers accepted an invitation to compete during the Young Tradition Weekend at the Showcase on May 16 in Burlington, VT.  The Young Tradition Showcase consisted of young singers, dancers, and musicians (the Jammers include all three), all carrying on various musical folk traditions from around the world.

Dancing, too!

Out of thirty-two competitors, our local Blueberry Jammers tied for seventh place in the audience-judged contest. What made the audience love the Jammers? Come and see their amazing performance yourself at their very own seventh annual Richmond Blueberry Fiddle Festival 2009, Cheshire Fairgrounds, Swanzey, August 7 & 8. To see videos and pictures, click on the following links:
YouTube Video Part One (2:04)

YouTube Video Part Two (7:50)

For David Yandell’s pictures, click this link.

Mr. John F. McManus

By John F. McManus

[Mr. McManus has an amazing background in the Marines, engineering, and public relations. He has been the president of the John Birch Society since 1991 -- as well as a friend of the Center and Third Order member of the Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary since the 1970's. ]

Thank you, Sister, for the invitation.  Thank you, Brother Francis, Brother Andre Marie and all of you for keeping this place going, this oasis in the vast desert that surrounds us.

(Here he told a joke about the burglars who were interrupted in their thievery by a parrot.)

Burglars are stealing our country. Some are trying to steal our Church. We must not let either happen.

I’m delighted be here at this graduation. Right here we have a rather amazing young man in Michael Bryan. He has led his class in everything. Of all the graduates assembled here today, he is tops in science, in math, in literature, and in religious studies. There is no prize for the class of 2009 that he hasn’t won. Good for you, Michael!

What can I say to someone who is graduating from High School? Especially what can I say to a young person who is entering adulthood at a time when our nation is in deep trouble and in being controlled by men and women who, I believe, intend to make things worse? What to say to this young man who knows that the Church he loves is beset with enemies – even enemies from within?

What needs to be said is that God exists, and He wants everyone of us to save his soul and to be happy with Him forever in heaven. And to help us attain that end, God infused our souls at Baptism with the three theological virtues of Faith, Hope and Charity.

Much is said about Faith. In the Act of Faith, we express our belief in God, in the Trinity, in the saving act of Christ’s life and death, and in all the truths which the Holy Catholic Church teaches. In other words, if the Church speaks authoritatively, that’s it. And this is well understood. This is our Faith.

Regarding the virtue of Charity, we express our love of God and our neighbor, forgive those who have injured us, and ask pardon of anyone we have injured. This, too, is well understood.

But what about the third of the three virtues we receive at Baptism? What about Hope? It is almost the forgotten virtue. But it should never be forgotten. The prayer known as the Act of Hope points the “hope” we should all have that through God’s mercy, promises, and graces, we can get to heaven.

I have always found it somewhat surprising that in the beginning prayers at Mass (Psalm 42), the prayers said at the foot of the altar, it is the altar server who tells the priest “Spera in Deo,” which of course means “Hope in God.” I guess the church knew that every priest needed to be reminded even by the boy serving his Mass that he should never cease hoping

St. Paul tells us in his Epistle to the Romans (8:24), “For we are saved by hope.” He immediately adds, “But hope that is seen is not hope. For what a man seeth, why doth he hope for?” In other words, if you have already seen and gained that which you hoped to gain, there is no more need for hope. This, of course, is a false view of hope. We can only hope for what we don’t yet have.

Consider this truth when you are accosted by someone who proudly but incorrectly claims that he has already been saved. He sees no reason for hope; he ignores what St. Paul has told us. He needs your help to know the Catholic attitude about hope, the true attitude.

I have frequently been accosted by someone claiming proudly to be a Christian. I am asked if I have been saved. My answer has always been, “I don’t know yet.” The questioner is usually somewhat stunned but then immediately concludes that I’m a Catholic. If he or she is willing to listen, I will say, “And you really don’t know whether or not you’ve been saved – yet.” Someone who believes that he has already been saved essentially denies free will and has no need of hope. But we all know that while we can be in the state of grace, we still have the capability of “blowing it,” of sinning and losing the state of grace. Let us all hope that we never do so.

It is perfectly proper – and well advised – to confidently expect that, with God’s help, we can reach heaven.  In fact, the object of hope is precisely that – achieving heaven. And it is also true that hope is necessary to achieve salvation. For without this theological virtue, we end up presuming on God.  I believe that to be sinful and dangerous.

One of my favorite passages in Scripture is the story of the wedding feast at Cana. It was Christ’s first public miracle. I’m sure everyone here knows what happened. But the lesson that I find in the recounting if this miracle isn’t usually stressed. Recall that the Blessed Mother went to Jesus and told Him that the host at the wedding celebration had run out of wine. She immediately told the attendants to do whatever Christ asked of them.

He pointed to several large urns and He told the men to fill them with water. They did so immediately. Then, he changed the water to wine. Also, he told the men to bring a sample to their superior.

What’s the lesson? It seems to me that Christ could have immediately filled the urns with wine. But he wanted the men to do everything they could do up to the point they could do no more. Then, he changed the water to wine.

This is what God wants of us – to do all we can up to the point we can’t do more – and then ask His help.

We must not presume on God. Presumption is a direct opposite of hope. And hope requires that we first believe that graces flood the earth, accept the graces, and then act as we should in any circumstance by doing our part to do good, avoid evil, and save our soul.

What about hoping for a secondary good, something other than attainment of heaven? Can we properly hope for things in the temporal order? The answer, according to the theologians, is yes indeed. But only if the things we hope for are means to reach the supreme end of human life - salvation. We can hope for a decent job, hope for peace in the world, hope for safety when in a dangerous situation, etc. We can even hope that the graduation speaker will soon finish his time at the podium!

If we hope for a decent job that will enable us to raise a family, we must take the steps to be prepared to be hired, or to start our own business. We can’t logically or legitimately presume on an employer, or on the public. We certainly should never presume of God.

It is true that Faith without works is dead. It is also true that hope with preparation is absurd.

Like faith and charity, hope is necessary for salvation. An infant receives the virtue (the technical term is that the virtue is infused) at Baptism. But hope can be lost through despair and, as already mentioned, through presumption. We who have the good fortune to have accepted the Catholic faith don’t give up; and we don’t presume. We don’t lose hope.

Can you imagine anyone saying, “Dear Lord, the world is a mess, even getting worse almost daily?  I beg of you, change things.” How absurd! How sinful!

Maybe you’ve heard about the man who prayed daily that he might win the lottery. Day after day, he stormed heaven, “Lord help me win the lottery. I’ll do good deeds with the money if you’ll help me win.” Finally one day, there was a clap of thunder and a voice from heaven said, “First, you have to buy a ticket.”

We hope that the crime of abortion will be terminated. But do we do everything possible to bring this about? Do we elect to right officials who will choose the right justices? Do we inform our congressmen that they have the power to remove the matter from the jurisdiction of the courts? Or do we leave the matter to God alone?

We hope that the Pope will direct the bishops of the world to join with him on a selected day to jointly consecrate Russia to the immaculate heart of Mary. But do we pray our rosaries for this intention? Do we write to the Pope and to the bishops about this request of Our Lady? Or do we leave the matter to God alone?

We hope that our nation will pull out of the current economic slowdown so that jobs will be available and our nation can remain independent. But do we do what can be done by us to get our leaders to reverse course and cease spending our nation into destruction? Or do we again rely on God alone?

Faith can be lost. Charity can be lost. So, too, can hope be lost. Don’t let it happen.   Always remember that the final object of hope is seeing God for all eternity. He will continue to send the graces we need so that, some day, we might meet Him face-to-face, a happy event that we can indeed hope to achieve.

So I say to you, Michael Bryan, congratulations and God speed. Maybe you will take with you a favorite phrase I use.  In Latin, it is: “Dum spiro, spero.” It means simply, “While I breathe, I hope.” Don’t ever give up hope.

Let me close with the very short Act of Hope that I suspect many here know very well. Anyone who wishes to do so, please join with me.

“O my God, relying on Thy almighty power and infinite mercy and promises, I hope to attain pardon of my sins, the help of Thy grace, and life everlasting, through the merits of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Redeemer.  Amen.”

Thank you for the honor of having me here. I wish I could come more often.

May God be with you, Michael. Congratulations and God speed in all your endeavors.  Let us hope that we will meet soon again, and then some day in heaven.

Table of contents for Mother Love

1. The Christian Training of Children - Early Cares
2. The Christian Training of Children - New and more Difficult Cares
3. The Christian Training of Children - Admonition to Mother
4. The Christian Training of Children - Combating Concupiscence of the Flesh
5. The Christian Training of Children - Combating Concupiscence of the Eyes
6. The Christian Training of Children - Combating Pride
7. The Christian Training of Children - Rewards and Punishments
8. The Christian Training of Children - The Father’s Role
9. The Christian Training of Children - Prayers
10. The Christian Training of Children - Co-operation with Pastor and Teacher

Little Book of Instructions for Christian Mothers [continued]
(from Mother Love - A Manual for Christian Mothers - by Rev. Pius Franciscus, O.M.Cap., 1926)

On the Christian Training of Children

A well-earned treat after climbing the 294 stairs of the Bunker Hill Monument

Chapter XI. – A Christian Mother’s Co-operation with Pastor and Teacher

The first aids of a mother in her arduous task of properly rearing her children are derived from the sacramental grace of matrimony. They come to her in the form of supernatural inspirations, interior counsels, admonitions and encouragements. Besides these there are also external aids, among which the father of her little ones holds the first place; then we may add older brothers and sisters and servants of the household. All of these, if good and virtuous, will at least exert a morally educative influence by their good example and by occasional admonitions. In a wider sense the whole environment of the child, made up of playmates, relatives, friends and school companions, collaborate with the mother in the moral and intellectual development of the child. Indeed, even such who speak unfavorably of the qualities of her boy or girl, may be considered as a help in this task, because through their seemingly unkind criticism the mother frequently becomes aware of some fault or faults in the children, which might never be detected by her. But by far the most powerful external aid she derives from the pastor of the parish and from the child’s teacher at school

Happy to be Our Lady's flower girls

Church and school are, indeed, powerful aids; but they cannot do the whole work, they can merely help. The principal work must be done at home, as well in the matter of instruction as particularly in the matter of discipline.

The education of the child should begin in mother’s arms. Mother should even at this early stage direct the child’s attention to the external objects, which may be perceived with the eyes, the ears or the touch, and thus inaugurate the development of the external senses. As the child grows older, she should assist it in expanding its circle of observation, with patient interest listen to its questioning, and be willing to satisfy its awakening curiosity by answering according to the truth and according to the child’s mental capacity. The words the child tries to enunciate, she should strive to have it pronounce as exactly and distinctly as possible, especially such as make up forms of prayer, even though the child does not understand them. The good God understands His little child of grace and the Holy Ghost gives it a modicum of perception, through which the child learns to love the holy words it speaks. Gradually the child will acquire through its associations and environment a knowledge of many visible things and conditions, and also a greater knowledge of God, of Christ, of the Blessed Virgin, of the saints, and of may truths of our Holy Faith. In this way the foundation is laid upon which the school will erect a still greater edifice of learning and knowledge. In this way the child’s interest has been roused and, when the schooldays arrive, the child listens eagerly, attentively and intelligently to the teachings of priest and teacher, and to the joy of its parents, it makes rapid progress in all its schoolwork.

Graduating Class of 2009 (in third grade)

During its years at school the child should be allowed sufficient time to study its lessons and perform its homework. The parents should carefully supervise these home-lessons, and urge the child to apply itself to all its studies. The parents should also examine the child in its memory-work and from time to time inquire from its teacher regarding its attention and deportment in school. According to these reports the parents should either praise or reprimand and even punish the child if milder means produce no improvement. The child should as far as possible never miss school. Indeed, parents should strive to teach the child to love attending the school by encouraging words and occasional rewards for faithful attendance. After the day’s work is done the child should be allowed to enjoy itself in innocent games and recreations. And just as the love for school must be instilled into the child so also the love of church attendance should be encouraged by every possible means; and it should be urged to attend [M]ass not only on school-days but also on free days, but especially on Sundays and feastdays of obligation.

The discipline which is demanded from the child at school, must be an object of attention at home also, and a mother should assist the pastor and teacher in upholding that discipline. Neither pastor nor teacher will accomplish very much, if children have not been taught a high regard for their authority. Hence a mother should inculcate a deep reverence for the priest and teacher in the hearts of her little ones. She should make it plain to them, that just as the parents represent the authority of God and in the name of God must exact reverence, love and obedience, so also the priest and the teacher, being in school and church the substitutes of the parents, are entitled to the same reverence, love and obedience. She should also in her own words and deeds manifest the esteem which she teaches them to have for priest and teacher; she should never tolerate from her children nor in their presence from any one else any kind of slurring remarks or reproaches against the priest or teacher. Just as there must be no discord between father and mother, so also there must be no apparent differences between the parents and the proper authorities in school and church.

Consultation . . .

Whenever differences do occur, they should be amicably settled and should never be argued in the presence of the children. Only by such mutual helpfulness, harmony and cooperation, will the best interests of the child be served and its temporal and eternal welfare by safeguarded.

Parents and children should pray for each other and for the priest and the teacher, just as priest and teacher will pray for them. Indeed, through earnest prayer for relief in each other’s needs mutual affection will be upheld, peace will be maintained and harmony will be promoted. Through prayer for each other we bring upon our efforts the blessings of God, the grace to conquer temptation and the fortitude to combat all obstacles. Briefly we may affirm that united prayers are the source of every spiritual success as well as the condition of the means to obtain the desired results according to the words of our Divine Teacher Himself who said: wherever two or three are united in prayer, they will obtain all they ask for.

A Christian mother must never send her children to a school where the belief in God and His commandments are not taught, where the doctrines of Christ are not accepted, nor Christ Himself is recognized as the Son of God, where Christian principles are made subservient to the principles of the world.

Graduate of 2007 with her grandparents

When you send your children to such a school, you are endangering the salvation of their souls, even though such a school may have otherwise the reputation of solid learning. The worldly advantages of such a neutral school may, indeed, be of great benefit to the future temporal well-being of your children, but the danger threatening their spiritual welfare should be the determining factor, and no truly Christian parents will let merely worldly consideration influence the choice of a school for their children. In the choice of a school mother and father should be determined by the words of Christ: “What doth it profit a man if he gain the whole world, but suffer the loss of his own soul?”

Still circumstances may exist which practically force parents to send their children to a non-religious and neutral school. In this case the parents should investigate the spirit of that school. If it is not antagonistic to positive religion, if there need be no fear for faith or morality, and if the bishop or the pastor also approves the school under the existing conditions, parents may decide to send their children there; but they should also provide in some way for adequate instructions in religion, when they must send their boys and girls to such a school. If the school is downright irreligious or heretical, they should never send the children to it. If parents are at liberty to choose from different good schools, we would earnestly advise them to choose the school where religion and Christian disciple pervades the whole atmosphere, even though the children may not learn so much there as in another.

To be continued . . .

Table of contents for Mother Love

1. The Christian Training of Children - Early Cares
2. The Christian Training of Children - New and more Difficult Cares
3. The Christian Training of Children - Admonition to Mother
4. The Christian Training of Children - Combating Concupiscence of the Flesh
5. The Christian Training of Children - Combating Concupiscence of the Eyes
6. The Christian Training of Children - Combating Pride
7. The Christian Training of Children - Rewards and Punishments
8. The Christian Training of Children - The Father’s Role
9. The Christian Training of Children - Prayers
10. The Christian Training of Children - Co-operation with Pastor and Teacher

Little Book of Instructions for Christian Mothers [continued]
(from Mother Love - A Manual for Christian Mothers - by Rev. Pius Franciscus, O.M.Cap., 1926)

On the Christian Training of Children

Chapter IX. – Prayers a Christian Mother May Teach Her Child.

[As I explained to the mothers at our last Mothers' Tea, the important thing to be drawn from this chapter are the sentiments that they should be instilling in their children, whether or not they have them memorize these verses. As a child, my mother read to us regularly from Monsignor Hugh Benson's A Child's Rule of Life (which is in rhyme). To this day, some of my prayers are more easily expressed by those simple phrases. Sr. M. Ph.]

Dear God, make me good, that I may get to heaven!

Dearest Jesus, Thou art mine;
Let me be forever Thine.
I am young, and pure my heart,
O dwell therein, and ne’er depart!
Heavenly Mother, stand by me,
That I thy little child may be!
Guardian angel watch o’er me,
That my heart from sin e’er free,
May to God most pleasing be!

A present for thee! What shall it be?
Thou best and dearest Child!
The earthly treasures are naught to Thee;
Thou lovest more the pure and mild.
So, take our hearts, we give them Thee,
We give them cheerfully,
O hide them in Thy own dear Heart,
And to them love and grace impart.

O my God, I believe in Thee, for Thou art the Eternal Truth!
O my God, I hope in Thee, for Thou art goodness and mercy!
O my God, I love Thee, for Thou art the best, the most beautiful, the Supreme Good!
O my God, I grieve that I have offended Thee!

I believe, O God, I hope in Thee,
And with all my heart I love!
O who shall dare to wrest from me
Those gifts from heaven above?
I’ll guard them with my blood and life,
And dying I’ll exclaim:
“I believe, I hope, I love my God,
Forever more the same!”

All that I have, I have from Thee!
All that I need, Thou giv’st me!
Thou art so good, Thou lov’st me so
That other love I will not know.
I love Thee, Lord, I love Thee, God
O teach me to love Thee evermore!
Thy child, Thy own child let me be,
Grant that all sin I ever flee!

Lord Jesus Christ, I thank Thee
For having died for me!
Let not Thy Blood and Passion
Be shed in vain for me.

O Mary, dearest Mother,
O help me every day,
That through God’s loving mercy
Thy child may never stray.

My parents I commend to Thee,
Preserve them, dearest Lord to me!
The good they do me, reward,
And many gracious gifts accord.

MORNING PRAYERS FOR CHILDREN

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

With God another day begins:
Direct it in Thy way,
And, Jesus, keep me from all sins
At home, at work, at play.

While Dressing.

As now I clothe myself, O Lord,
To Thee I humbly pray:
O let me ever heed Thy word,
And always with Thee stay.

While Washing.

The water flowing from Thy side
Is, dearest Lord, a saving Tide;
O let it cleanse me my salvation win.

Now kneel, fold the hands, and say:

O God, my Father, Thy sweet care
Has o’er me watched the livelong night!
For all the blessings that I share,
I praise Thee in the morning light.
Protect me also through the day
From sin, from evil, from distress;
Whate’er I do, or think, or say,
O best of Fathers, do Thou bless!
My Guardian Angel, thee I pray,
Stand at my side by night and say.
O Mary, pray before God’s throne
For me to Jesus Christ, Thy Son,
Whom we all love, whom we adore,
Whom we praise forevermore.     Amen.

To purify the intention for the day, say:

All praise and honor be to Thee,
Thrice Blessed, Holy Trinity;
Whatever I may do or say,
For Thee it be, my God, today.
Forsake me not when dangers loom,
And save me from eternal doom.

When the child cannot be present at Holy Mass, let it say:

Hark! I hear the little bell
Calling to Holy Mass.
Dearest Lord, Thou knowest full well
It calls in vain for me.
Dear angel, do thou take my place
And when ‘tis over bring to me
Rich blessings full of grace.

NIGHT PRAYERS FOR CHILDREN.

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

Before I lay me down to rest,
I raise my heart, O God, to Thee.
For gifts with which I have been blest,
I give Thee thanks repeatedly.
If Thee I have displeased to-day,
Forgive me, Father, ere I sleep!

Let the children make a short examination of conscience, and the say:

I love The, my Lord, I love Thee, my God,
O would that I loved Thee more!
I am so sorry now for all my sins,
O grant me Thy pardon and grace!

Whilst Undressing.

Lord, take from me whatever might
Thy gracious eyes displease!

One Our Father and Hail Mary for the poor souls in Purgatory. Then say:

Lord, grant the departed eternal rest
In light perpetual ever blest.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

BEFORE MEALS.

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

Come Jesus, Lord, and be our guest,
And let these gifts for us be blest.
Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory be to the Father.

AFTER MEALS.

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

For all these favors now, O Lord,
Our thanks we gladly give;
O grant when this our life is spent,
We may with Thee then live.
Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory be to the Father.

Prayers for Parents.

Infinitely good God, Thou who hast imparted to me through my father and mother, my maintenance, a Christian education, and so many other benefits, I thank thee for Thy bounty. Grant me the grace ever to show them the obedience that I owe them, sincere love, and great reverence. Never permit that they should suffer chagrin and trouble through my fault; but keep and guide me in the way of Thy fear and Commandments, as I have been taught. Reward them richly for all the good they have done me. Be their protector in danger, their consoler in every care and anxiety. Grant them long life, good health, and a blessed eternity. Amen.

Table of contents for Mother Love

1. The Christian Training of Children - Early Cares
2. The Christian Training of Children - New and more Difficult Cares
3. The Christian Training of Children - Admonition to Mother
4. The Christian Training of Children - Combating Concupiscence of the Flesh
5. The Christian Training of Children - Combating Concupiscence of the Eyes
6. The Christian Training of Children - Combating Pride
7. The Christian Training of Children - Rewards and Punishments
8. The Christian Training of Children - The Father’s Role
9. The Christian Training of Children - Prayers
10. The Christian Training of Children - Co-operation with Pastor and Teacher

Little Book of Instructions for Christian Mothers [continued]
(from Mother Love - A Manual for Christian Mothers - by Rev. Pius Franciscus, O.M.Cap., 1926)

On the Christian Training of Children

Chapter VII. - How a Mother Should Instil [sic] into the Hearts of Her Children a Sincere Love and Respect of Their Father, and how She Should Co-operate with Him in Their Education.

During the first months of its early life the child is entirely dependent upon the care of its mother. After a year or so this dependence is not so absolute, yet the child could not thrive without mother’s tender love and care. In these early years the father would be a practical stranger to the child, unless mother roused in its little heart sentiments of love and affection for him, and this should be done from its earliest life and continued through the succeeding years, because this is of the utmost importance to the child. Neither father nor mother individually is sufficient to do justice to all the various demands of a child’s education and training, and they need each other’s cooperation in this difficult task. Mother should consider it a special favor to God to be aided in this task by the clearer judgment and the sterner determination of her husband and the father of her children, since these are a necessary supplement to her own womanly tenderness, sentiment, and affection.

A happy father shows off his newly baptized son.

Hitherto we have directed these instructions and admonitions to the mother only, but in doing so we did not intend to convey the impression as if the father were not concerned in the rearing and the training of the children; on the contrary what we have pointed out as the duties and the obligations of the mother, applies just as well to the father. It is quite true that the father’s work and business do not permit as close an association with the children in their daily life, yet he must be interested in the success of mother’s efforts and second them with the weight of his authority. In particular, the father must give his children a good example by the probity of his daily life, by regular attendance at divine services and frequent reception of the sacraments.

Harmony between father and mother is an absolute necessity in the proper rearing of the children. Father and mother must agree in the methods as well as in the means employed, so that the children may be sure that the will of the father is also the will of the mother, and the commands of the mother are also the commands of the father. The children should never be permitted to discover any difference of opinion or any discord between father and mother regarding the management of them. When a child has failed to show mother that consideration and obedience which is her due, the father should at once sharply rebuke its remissness; and if, on the other hand, it has shown any disrespect to father, the mother should at once severely reprimand it. It may happen that one of the parents has made a mistake; in this case the other one must nevertheless safeguard the authority of the mistaking one in every possible way without, however, approving the mistake. In short, the parents must appear to the child as one person, as having the same rights and authority over it, to whom it owes love, reverence and obedience in the same degree.

In training a child to proper respect and obedience the mother’s example is very important. Her vocation as a wife imposes upon her the duty of respect towards her husband, because according to the doctrine of the Church the husband is the head of the family. She must render to him submission and obedience, be cause he is the master of the house. Mothers sometimes complain that their children’s conduct is frequently the source of much worry and anxiety. This worry and anxiety may easily have arisen from the fact that things are topsy-turvy at home. The wife has arrogated the rights of her husband, and he, smarting under the humiliation, resents her assumption by a morose silence or, chafing under the indignity, frequently rebels against it with violent outbursts of anger. That such a condition must militate against the proper education of the children is evident. The man, indeed, may have such glaring faults, as to make it rather hard to respect him, yet at the same time he has redeeming qualities. The latter good qualities and the Will of God which commands the wife to reverence her husband, should be sufficient motive to esteem him and to be obedient to him. A little good will, a generous forbearance and a spirit of self-denial upon the wife’s part, united with earnest prayer for the help of God, will make it easy for her to submit to this fundamental principle of family government.

The father also has his obligations toward the mother of his children. He must love, honor and respect her. He must protect her, provide for her as well as for the family, and appreciate the happiness of possessing a Christian wife who not only knows but also fulfills her duties towards him and his children and the whole household. These are the wife’s inalienable rights. Sometimes it does happen that a husband neglects these duties entirely, or is, at least, very careless about their fulfillment; sometimes he is quarrelsome, rough and uncouth, a slave of some degrading vices and habits. In God’s name, dear woman, be a heroine and stand firm in the fear and love of God; conquer him with the weapons of meekness and patience, persevere with Christ on the way of the Cross and trust to God’s mercy. A final victory may be long delayed; but there can be no doubt that at last it will be forthcoming, if mother will only persevere in the use of the means which other holy women employed for the conversion of their husbands and for their own salvation, namely, constant prayer, constant patience and humility, coupled with the tears of a loving heart. Where the husband is lacking in fidelity to duty and is negligent in his religion, the responsibility of the mother for her children become doubly urgent and she should by closer watchfulness over them and by more earnest devotion to her own daily duties strive to counteract and offset the father’s bad example.

Just as the father should appreciate a faithful wife and dutiful mother as a priceless jewel, so also should the mother thank God if her husband is a prudent, alert and industrious father, and, besides, is a truly religious man, who is faithful to his daily prayers, goes to church regularly, and receives the holy sacraments at least once a month. The fulfillment of these duties eminently fit the husband and father to be an efficient aid to a truly Christian mother in the difficult task of educating and training children for God and heaven. Therefore, Christian mother and Christian father, bear each other’s little faults and do not let the little differences of daily life disturb the sacred peace of your home.

To be continued . . .

Table of contents for Mother Love

1. The Christian Training of Children - Early Cares
2. The Christian Training of Children - New and more Difficult Cares
3. The Christian Training of Children - Admonition to Mother
4. The Christian Training of Children - Combating Concupiscence of the Flesh
5. The Christian Training of Children - Combating Concupiscence of the Eyes
6. The Christian Training of Children - Combating Pride
7. The Christian Training of Children - Rewards and Punishments
8. The Christian Training of Children - The Father’s Role
9. The Christian Training of Children - Prayers
10. The Christian Training of Children - Co-operation with Pastor and Teacher

Little Book of Instructions for Christian Mothers [continued]
(from Mother Love - A Manual for Christian Mothers - by Rev. Pius Franciscus, O.M.Cap., 1926)

On the Christian Training of Children

Temper tantrums in adults (or students acting adult parts) are not pretty.

Chapter VII. - Of Rewards and Punishments.

A stubborn evil spirit that resists the ordinary means of control, is driven out according to the words of our Lord by prayer and fasting. This is also the means by which deeply-rooted defects and faults in children must be driven out. Prayer and fasting will win. Still as long as a child is young enough to be coerced, it should be compelled to pray and fast in its own behalf, though it may be good and advisable that a mother pray for such a child and offer for it many personal acts of self-denial. Prayer humbles the spirit, while fasting chastens the flesh and is the sovereign remedy against sensuality.

This two-fold means is indicated in all cases which do not yield to admonitions and remonstrances, nor to kind words or threats. The mother should consider the source of the fault–pride or sensuality–and choose the remedy accordingly. But she should remember that prayer alone, though very efficacious, will not in itself subdue a proud spirit. It is also necessary to make the child feel humiliation. This may be done by showing preference to its brothers and sisters, by being brief and curt, by disregarding its advances, by isolating it from the others, and by other such minor humiliations.

Humiliations come in many forms.

Repeated faults of sensuality are most easily conquered by denying a child a dessert or some delicacies and knick-knacks for which it may have a special predilection; in extreme cases sine favorite dish of necessary food may also be denied. In serious breaches of sensuality the child should be compelled to sleep on a hard, springless bed, or some other physical chastisement be administered with the palm of the hand or with the rattan or rod. Hardness of heart against the poor should be conquered by distributing alms to the needy through the hand of the child, avarice and greed may be corrected by depriving the child of things to which it may be much attached and by insisting upon its sharing liberally with its brothers and sisters whatever it possesses. The same means, namely distributing alms through the hands of the child and denial of the comforts and luxuries of life, may be used when the child is inclined to extravagance.

The choice of the particular punishment to be administered in the individual case must be a subject of intelligent study. A mother’s intention must never be merely the infliction of pain, but rather the amendment of the child. Severe punishments should only be resorted to, when light punishments produce no results. The punishment also which was fixed upon, should never be applied more severely than necessary, and it should always be administered with due regard for the child’s physical condition. Frequent mistakes are made in the choice and infliction of chastisement.

Drama queens require special treatment.

They are mostly administered without reflection, on the spur of the moment and thoughtlessly. On one occasion parents will punish excessively, and on another not enough, or not at all. Would to God that every mother and every father understood the value of conscientious punishment! The punishment of children has for its object the correction and amendment of faults, and if it is to produce these results, parents must consider it one of their most important obligations, the faithful fulfillment of which becomes a source of untold benefit to their boys and girls and also the occasion of infinite merits to themselves.

However, it is not sufficient to inculcate merely a fear of sin in the hearts of children by the infliction of some punishment; parents must also instil [sic] in them a love of virtue for its own sake and for the sake of the joys and rewards attached to the practice of virtue. This may be done by portraying to them the inner peace which is consequent upon the doing of good works in the service of God and of our neighbor, and by describing in some appropriate story the unrest and remorse of conscience which the sinner experiences after his misdeeds.

Sticky Fingers claims her own reward (and then loses it).

Parents should not be chary of words of commendation and encouragement when a child perseveringly strives to get rid of some fault, or when it had performed some act of self-denial, of patience, of kindness, of obedience, or of forgiveness, which perhaps required no little moral courage. Indeed, mother and father should show sincere pleasure in any act of virtue that the child might perform, and at times, even reward it with some material recompense. Still, in doing so, they should remind the child of the greater pleasure which God has in its well-doing, and how He will reward it with the eternal happiness of His own heavenly home, if it will only persevere in its efforts till the end of its days.

Valuable presents and extraordinary pleasures should rarely be given as a reward. Trifling gifts and minor enjoyments may be granted, but not too frequently, otherwise the child may learn to despise them. The child should never join in the amusements proper to adults only, neither should it be drawn into their cares and worries. The longer we can preserve in the children the simplicity and the innocence of childhood, the more shall we be able also to preserve in them the spirit of docility and obedience and their love for the simple pleasures of home-life.

To be continued . . .

Sursum Corda Society in the Rosary Chapel in Saint Philomena's Convent

On Palm Sunday, Sister Marie Therese presided over a lovely little ceremony in the chapel of our new convent. Over a year ago, the Sisters started a prayer society for the young ladies in our community: the Sursum Corda Society. After a winnowing process, two young ladies renewed their promises, two more were re-instated, and a fifth was received for the first time. The purpose of the Society is simple: to bring about the Triumph of the Immaculate Heart, in the hearts of the girls themselves and those of their families, in the hearts of the religious, and then in the hearts of the laity at Saint Benedict Center. The girls, after making their Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary, promise to say the Rosary (with meditations) and other prayers daily, make daily sacrifices, wear the Brown Scapular and Miraculous Medal, read certain books, and attend monthly meetings.

Each girl answered Sister's interrogation . . .

. . . Made a promise to Our Lady . . .

As members of the Society, they are given a large Miraculous Medal on a blue cord (which they are even allowed to wear with their school uniform!). We have seen so many blessings attend our community as a result of the prayers and faithfulness of these young ladies. Sursum corda! Habemus ad Dominum!

. . . Signed that promise . . . Received her medal . . .

After the ceremony, the girls were given the updated handbook.

With joy and laughter!

Brides of Christ

The Sisters in their new black veils after Holy Communion

Please rejoice with us over the first vows of two of our Sisters: Sister Maria Rosaria and Sister Marie Gabrielle. They made their professions on March 25 (Feast of the Annunciation), taking vows for three years as Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Semper Deo gratias et Mariae!

(A special thank you to Carolyn Kamuda for her lovely photography. She took many more pictures than these two. A link to the other images has been sent to our Friends and Benefactors. If you are not on our Friends & Benefactors email list and would like to be, please send me an email through the Contact Us link at right.)