Evening star., 1938-10-13

Following is the text of the message
from Pope Plus XII on the occasion Of
the golden jubilee celebration at Cath
clic University here:
The golden jubilee which the Cath
olic University of America is pre-
pairing to celebrate with fitting cere-
mony is an event Of such outstanding
Importance in the life of the church
In the United States that 1t has seemed
good to us. our beloved sons and yen-
cradle brethren, to address you again
for the purpose of expressing our joy
at the completion of a half century
Of fruitful labor and of giving further
utterance to the hopes which we cher
ssh for the future of this great insti-
tuition of learning.
During the almost so years Of its
existence, the Catholic University has
done well. Despite the difficulties
which attend beginnings and in the
face of material limitations which
might have discouraged men laboring
IN a less worthy cause, the superiors
and teaching staff. by their intelli-
SVifNC anu oSNSelOAi, AIhfC WOil 1Ol CllC
university leading place in the great
Catholic educational system of Amer
:ca and among the other similar
schools of the land We know that the
names Of these noble pioneers, many
OF whom have passed to their eternal
reward, are held in benediction by
those who have taken their places,
and that with seemly gratitude. they
will be recalled in prayer and eulogy
during the days of the jubilee.
Greater Responsibilities Ahead.
However, the celebration of this
Jubilee will be not alone one Of retro
spect and Of commemoration, but also
and principally one of prospective and
of dedication. Indeed the chief reason
which has moved us to signalize the
observance by this further evidence of
our profound interest is the conviction
that in the years which lie ahead the
Catholic University is called to assume
still greater and more momentous re-
sponsibilities than in the past. The
world has entered upon one of those
periods of unrest. of questioning, oil
disorientation and of conflict which
have been we'll described as turning
points of history. Christian doctrine
and Christian morality are under
attack from several quarters; danger
Gus theories which a few years age
were but whispered in the secret con-
venticles of discomfort are today
preached from the housetops and are
even finding their way into action;
private immortality and public SUBJ
version have in many places raised the
banner Of revolt against the cross OF
Christ.
1t Is source Of deep consolation to
lis, A 1t must be to you. our beloved
sons and venerable brethren, that the
church In America Is so well prepared
to meet the challenge of these critical
times. and that in the Catholic Uni
versity we possess such an admirable
instrument for the exposing of error
and for the dissemination of Christian
truth. Through the university it will
be possible to bring to bear upon the
most pressing problems of the day the
full force OF those principles of justice
and charity in which alone they will
find their solution. In the course OF
our pontificate. We have had occasion
to treat these problems more than once
in our encyclical letters: here we wish
only to point out the solid basis upon
which our teaching rests.
Since the sciences of civics sociology
and economics deal with individual
collective human welfare, they cannot
escape from the philosophical and re.
lieious Implications of mans origin
nature and destiny. If they ignore
God, they can never hope to under.
stand adequately the creature which
He formed in His own image and like.
ness, and whom He sent His own Di.
vine Son to redeem. Christian teach.
ing alone, in its ma ajestic integrity, car