The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1916-06-24
SUMMARY OF HIS ADDRESS AT
THE COMMENCEMENT ExER-
ClsEs OF ST. CLARA COLLEGE.

ulSuL OI tHG NOlISS6 anu ACduSluy Vi
St. Clara, Sinsinawa, Wisconsin, was
held on Thursday of last week
Bishop Lawler of Lead conferred the
degrees and delivered the address.
Some fundamental principles which
make for success, happiness and per-
feettDn formed the subject of his dis
CoU rse: He said in part:
A great truth of which young people
particularly frequently lose sight is
the Importance of every day tasks and
labors and duties. The little things of
life which ordinary individuals have
as their constant companions actually
count fer more than the big things
which rarely cross their pathways. If
ordinary actions constitute by far the
greater part of the average life, eX-
Cellence, natural or supernatural, de-
pends on the manner in which they
are performed. The best way to rea-
lize the ideal life is to idealize your
real life. If you would acquit your
selves nobly on extraordinary Occa-
sions you must serve your apprentice
ship by acting your parts well on every
small occasion that presents itself.
The best preparation for efficiency in
the conduct of great undertakings is
the faithful discharge of the common
place tasks of your daily existence.
The routine of your every day life is
dress rehearsal.
There are those who are unmindful
of this vital principle. They indulge
in imagining how grandly they would
act in an important crisis which may
never happen for them. While they
neglect to take advantage of the OPP
portunities for self-improvement which
are always at their doors. They
dream of how patient and kind and
courageous, and unselfish and Chari
table and jealous they would be in
trying circumstances, but they fail to
exercise these virtues in their daily
surroundings. They refuse 10 do
things which are within their reach.
because they cannot occupy them
selves with things which are beyond
their capacity. What's the matter
with their lives? My answer is:
They do not attach sufficient impor-
tance to the seemingly insignificant
events of which life is made up. They
who learned to appreciate the value
of common deeds are on the sure way
to success, happiness and perfection.
There are women, young and old,
who complain of lack of opportuni-
ties unless they can occupy a promi-
nSsC.
they can have a brass band accom-
paniment. To all such, to all those
who are inclined to court popularity
and to be spectacular my advice is:
If you are really in earnest, if you
sincerely desire to labor for the inter
ests of God and the service of fellow
man you can find ample scope for the
exercise of all your sterling qualities
in the affairs of your daily lives and
particularly within the sacred pre-
cincts of the home which is woman's
sphere pre-eminently. The home is a
grand sphere in which to exhibit all
that is admirable in Christian conduct
Understand me rightly, Though you
should be angels of the home you
should not confine your power fol
good exclusively to it. 1t is not your
only charge. You should not be
drones in the social world. | would
have you be foremost in all the depart
ments of social service as Catholic
womanhood has always been first ir
all the Christian virtues. There is
not a more sorry spectacle in all this
broad land than that of women who
busy themselves with variety o.
schemes for the betterment of society
while they do nothing for the attrac
tiveness and improvement and bless
edness of their own homes. Let then
not dream of far-reaching reforms out
side until they have first made things
better in their own hearts and homes
and immediate surroundings.
Speaking of ideals the Bishop said
As ideals more than ideas shape on
lives, | would have you choose th'
best models in every trade and pre-
fession and occupation and endeavo
to live up to them as best you can,
not perfectly at least from afar a
closely as your limitations permi
You may not be able to attain to th
fulness of their excellence but the fac
that perfect imitation of them is bt
yond your reach is not a reason VIII
you should fold your arms and give u
the struggle altogether You will nj
realize your ideals completely but 20
will be able to aim at them constant
and by so doing you will surely reac
higher plane of thought and actio
than if you were without them.
His tribute to the Dominican Ordt
was as follows: The inspiring pan
rama of the great religious ord'
whose ideals have helped to fashio
your lives and which celebrates tn
year the seventh centenary of its exis
ence, rises before us out of glorioI
past Its triumphs in spreading IL
truth, in producing giants of intelle
as we'll as heroes and heroines of san
tity, in training youth, in teaching mi
the way to heaven are legion. !, |
fruitful record of seven hundred yea
makes the heart of every thought
Catholic thrill with pride. Great al
numerous as are the glories OF Z