The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1915-09-04
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS - PARISH
SCHOOLS, HIGH-scHooLs,
COLLEGES.
To the Clergy and the Laity of the
Diocese of ST. Paul:

day the Catholics of the Diocese of
st. Paul, far less with the intention
of inviting them to esteem and to
patronize Catholic schools, than with
that of congratulating them on their
present attitude in this regard. The
day was, perhaps, when it was oppor-
tune, if not necessary, to argue in
favor of the Catholic school for the
Catholic child. Not so at the present
time: nought now remains as the duty
of the shepherd of the flock but to
bless and to praise.
Catholics value too highly the treas
ure of their Catholic faith not to be
resolved to transmit it strong and
untainted to their children, not to be
prompt in every sacrifice needed that
those whose salvation is their chief
responsibility be guarded against all
such peril as might lead to the loss
of that one inheritance for which
the gaining of the worlds richest
promise provides no substitution, Of
fers no compensation.
1t is the command of the Saviour
Suffer little children to come unto
me, and forbid them not" Schools in
which access to Christ is denied give
not to the child the food of soul
WiIled by Christ Atmosphere
charged with unbelief in the super
natural and the divine are not the fit
breathings for the little ones, whose
minds and hearts Christ seeks to as
simulate with His own mind and heart.
1t is, also, the saying of the Saviour
He that shall scandalize one of these
little ones that believe in me, it were
better for him that milestone be
hanged about his neck and that he
should be drowned in the depths of
the sea-" To give scandal is to place
a stumbling-block in the way of eter-
nal salvation. A stumbling block ito
the little ones" is the exclusion of the
religion preached by Christ, of the
spiritual life lived by Him, and the
implication, if not the overt sngges-
tion, that instead OF those, ~ ss,..s and
the things of earth be made the all
ruling law, the final purpose of human
existence Parents that are Catholics
will not bring upon themselves the
malediction of the Saviour, by put
ting before their children the scandal,
the stumbling-block, of an unreligious
education, always so perilous, often so
fatal to the preservation of Catholic
faith. All this has been preached
again and again to our Catholic peo-
pie: all this they know and firmly
hold as the rule they should follow in
the education of their children. We
repeat our praise and our congratula-
tion.
The progress in the cause of Catho-
lie education in the Diocese of ST.
Paul within recent years is simply
marvellous. On every side new
school-houses are being built: olden
ones are being refitted and enlarged:
so fast as room is made for pupils
pupils rush thither to fill it. And the
financial means required in this happy
amelioration of conditions are willing
ly and generously put at the disposal
of the parish-treasury. Priests and
people understand, as never before
that the vital work of religion, pre-
ceding in Importance it's other works
is to supply to the children of the
church the education which, fitting
them in every line for the secular
life, safeguards them against peril tC
their Christian faith and morals. To
day we can look forward to time il
the near future when, if at all there i:
the possibility, a Catholic school viii
be the cherished possession of every
Catholic community in the Diocese O.
ST. Paul-and then the diocese will
have reached it's highest glory anC
it's surest claim to be deserving o
Heavens best blessings.
AS the Catholic schools open thei
doors at the beginning of this new
scholastic year, let there be no hest
tation on the part of Catholic fathers
and mothers in sending thither thei
children. The choice of the one
school or of the other is the privileg
of the parent. 1t matters not to re
ligion which be the school, provides
it be a Catholic school,
A special word is needed in regar
to our high-schools and colleges
There is, we fear, still lurking anon
a few Catholics the notion that, tn
course in the grade or gramma
school completed, youths may be Ell
trusted with safety to the non-CathC
lie high school or college. The MOTTO
is most pernicious. The course in tn
grade or grammar school complete,
the age has come to the child whe
the mind and the heart are most r
ceptive of thought and guidance, whe
the utmost care should be used
ward off peril and increase the healtl
making factors in the processes {
education. To those who take obse
vation of passing conditions, the higl
school and the college are subjects {
very special concern We need tf
on and the other. Our Cathol
youth. young men and young wome
should find before them the avenue
to best worldly success: nothing legit
mate is there in this to which they a
not entitled, nothing of which tho
are not capable Parents, whose
in life permits, should by all meal
give to their children fullest oppc
tunities Of education. They will