A catholic girl speaks

Title

Creator

Gonzalez, Anita

Language

English

Year

1950

Rights

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Fulltext

A Catholic Girl Speaks by ANITA GONZALES The thoughts of the young ore mony ond fleeting. Some are light and frivolous, some are dee0 and serious. In our troubled world todoy, even the young must think seriously Mony things are happening in our country and in the world outside that demand serious thinking. Consider, for instance the observation of one of our writers in the Philippines todoy. He said: "We have recovered more slowly from the moral injuries of the war than from its physical ond material injuries. There is still a semiporalysis of the moral sense and the sense of the civic duty ond responsibility." If this be true, what can Catholic girls do in our country to improve public morals? Catholic girlfe in the Philippines have always been looked upon with high regard because they are models in discipline and proper behavior. A girl educated in a Catholic school develops attitudes that tend to make her kind to her neighbors, charitable to the less fortunate, devoted to her country, loyal to her parents and kins, and above all, faithful to God and her religious duties. A girl with these attitudes can never be an instrument of moral decadence. Those who have never been to a Catholic school or those who merely observe superficially the oppearance of things, say that our Catholic schools teach the students nothing but prayers. THIS IS ABSURD. It is true thot religion is emphasized in religious schools, ond rightly so. The Chamber of Commerce of the State of New York said thot "The United States (and the Philippines for that matter) cannot have or maintain a right system unless it is based on true religious principles," and therefore In spite of the fact that some hesitate to include religion in our educational program, the Catholic schools of the Philippines give religious training first Importance. We Catholics, who ore religiously trained, are brought up In the fear of the Lord. We ore taught to know, love* and serve God, and our devotion for Him compels us to obey His Commandments. Those who obey 43 44 THE CROSS the Commandments of the Lord can never be instruments of moral degradation. Ethics, which deals with our relation towards our fellowmen, is also emphasized in our schools. The beatitudes both in words and actions are imparted to us by our teachers. Yes, these are emphasized, as much os the love ond knowledge of God, but we ore also taught other things. We ore taught the social and physical and natural sciences. They are given secondary importance, but we study them nevertheless. Spiritual things are more important than the material, but we do not close our eyes to reality. We live in a world of realities. So we Catholic Girls can lead in the movement towards the moral rehabilitation of our people. We can recover from our moral injuries of the past war. We have the will for this big task. There are three (things we can do, we who are products of the Catholic Schools. Three things that will help the movement of moral rehabilitation: First, let us show by our example, the advantage of our religious education. By our conduct in the community, let the parents judge and evoluote the curriculum taught in the various schools. This is the best form of advertisement for any institution of learning. Second, let us be active in our participation of civic motters. Let us make our protests against the misdeeds of men who are responsible for the semi-paralysis of the moral sense ond the sense of civic duty ond responsibility. Silence is tolerance. Let us not sit supinely ond say we are not directly concerned. Let us protest and protest vigorously until our voices are heard. There are men of the crusading spirit who ore behind us. Lastly, let us continue to pray. Who . wos it that said: "More things are wrought by prayers thon this world dreams of?" Let others ridicule us for our devotion and our rituals. We shall continue with our ways, happy in the Faith of our Fathers. It is no exaggeration to state that the hope of our nation to rise. from the morass of immorality, graft and corruption of the post-war period lies in the womanhood of the country. The girls of today who will be the mothers of tomorrow will shope the ideals of our future leaders. Picture to yourself the religiously trained girls all over the Philippines preparing for their place in the home. They are God-fearing, respectful, chaste, ond virtuous. If these girls will prove worthy of their Alma Mater, true to themselves and their precepts, there is no doubt but that the children coming from such homes will grow to manhood who will be the knight templars in the crusode against immorality, graft and corruption. Picture to your mind the yotjng men of tomorrow who come from MAY, 1950 45 homes without regard for religion, without discipline, without regard for law and justice. They const tute the materials for lawlessness and disorder. God grant that such men shall never be. I am not a prophet of doom. I am a mere observer anxiously concerned over the welfare of my people and of my young Republic. I enjoin all Catholic girls of the Philippines to join in this movement for the improvement of public morals. LABOR DAY THOUGHTS OF A FARMER The farmer's hands are rough with sacrifice; They till the earth from mom till eventide. Like stones of great cathedrals heav’nward rise. And cup within the song divine that sighed: "Let the earth bring forth the green herb And such at may seed, And the fruit tree yeilding fruit after its kind Which may have seed in itself upon the earth. (Genesis 1,1) For painter’s brush, they clutch a plough, and paint A masterpiece that mirrors God’s own face: Majestic furrows—lines that know no plaint; Green leaves of hope; a golden crop of grace. "Thy face, O Lord, will I still seek. Turn not oway thy face from me; Decline not in thy wrath from thy servant. Be thou my helper, forsake me not. (Psalm 26, 8-9) While foolish mortals dream of wealth and fame, And see bright bubbles bursting in the end— The lowly farmer’s hands to us proclaim, God’s beauty that a new life, new hope blend. "Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They labor not, neither do they spin. But not even Solomon in all his glory. Was arrayed as one of those. (< Matthew 6, 28) By Rev. C. BILLOTE, Jr.

Media