The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1922-09-02
Lives of Sacrifice.

bo1 AoA LuS pldCIlCdl StduudIuS liza
will help one face fearlessly an exact
ing world there is nothing finer thai
the example the nuns set. Their live
are constant reminder of the peac'
that is. born of sacrifice. Their sur
roundings show, the beauty of simplici
ty, and because their unselfish devo
tion to duty makes the routine of thei
lives not only bearable but pleasant
it soon proves that what we want tt
do is not as important as what VIZ
have to do, lesson that, we'll learn
ed, saves one many unhappy hours
Then to do with little is not a hard
ship for nuns but a happy possibility
something which we ourselves can ex
perience.
Excel as Teachers.
So much for the nuns themselves
There are some people who will rec
ognize the charm, the good influence
of the nuns and yet cannot consider
them successful educators. So often
| hear the criticism that. shut away
from the world, they cannot keep UP
with the trend Of things sufficiently
to successfully teach the higher
grades. Personally. / believe that col
lege or. a finishing school after con.
vent training is good for a girl, but
feel confident that she loses little of
what is timely or necessary for her to
know while she is under the nuns
Convent schools are careful that their
teachers have had thorough training,
they keep up with the times, though
not with the scandals of the grim old
world, and see to it that the best ed
ucational methods are tested and
used. One of the most broad-minded
and up-to-date women l ever met was
our teacher in the higher grades. She
had travelled, she studied wide scope
of subjects before she made her vows,
and she has kept up her keen-minded
interest in all vital matters ever
since. She is a great educator with
a personality that holds her pupils
even after graduation. Of course. not
all convent teachers can equal her,
but secular teachers, too, vary in abil-
ity.
One important point is this-the
nuns spend their entire time on re-
ligious and class duties. No other
aims, ambitions or interests come to
detract from the time and energy put
on these. The result is concentra.
ton and effort such as no other teach
ers interested in their own affairs
could possibly give. No hurry, no
envy, no rivalry, no home cares, no
financial worries, no social duties can
sap their mental forces and their
strength. The day holds no other OBJ
legation beyond that first great duty
of prayer to and veneration of the
Lord for love of Whom they renounced
the world. Their teaching is done
with thoroughness and concentra-
tion which cannot be excelled
But l want to say a word about that
more vital thing-the ideals and ideas
that give the convent school unique
place among institutions of learning.
In school where the teachers are liv-
ing examples of genuine faith, where
statues, small affairs and holy pic
lures are constantly in sight, one must
remember that there is God, a
promise Of eternal life and nobler
things than the world can Offer
Religion Not Imposed.
Il was not present during the reli-
gious instruction hour, but / heard the
noon prayers, the grace at meals, the
prayers with which all entertain
ments, all special occasions, were be-
gun. did not say the prayers, but
The fact that others were praying
made me think of the Divine Hand,
the Eternal God who leads us through
life. That had it's effect. Ten years
OF it made it a habit to ask for and
thank for blessings daily received.
Environment has it's effect upon the
subconscious mind, and environment
therefore does much to mould us.
There were five in our class. three
On-Catholics, two Catholics. One of
the latter is now a nun of the order
under which we studied, but the rest
of us still hold reunions, and our hap
piest days are those when we can 60
back to our Alma Mater,
We go to that peaceful, calm home
because it shuts out the rushing world
and brings us again in touch with the
firm, unfailing peace of which the an
gels sang and yet let's in that human
touch of understanding.
Undisturbed by the tearing, trying,
narrowing throes of unsatisfied ambi.
tions, the striving, firing forces OF
work and living, the happy, contented
community of nuns always bids us well
come. Here strife is unknown. dis
content not allowed to grow, and In
it's atmosphere of Faith and Hope and
Charity one can rise again in thought
and feeling above the tumult of q
twentieth-century existence.