The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-03-24


 attended church services and Communion Breakfast to commem- crate the 400th anniversary of the founding of the Society of Jesus yesterday morning.
 The Rev. Richard J. Bowling, S. J., Dean of Education at Holy Cross College, Worcester, Mass, celebrat- ed the 800 o'clock Mass at the Immaculate Conception Church, at- tended by the group, and was the principal speaker at the breakfast which followed in the Hotel Elton. A stirring tribute to the founders and pioneers of the Order was paid by Father Bowling, as well as 8 strong challenge to Catholic man. hood to accept the responsibilities that this materialistic age has plac- ed upon religion to be the bulwark against materialistic philosophies.
 On behalf of the several Jesuit colleges represented, the toastmas- ter, Dr. Edward J. Godfrey, called on several speakers. Rev. Eugene P Cryne gave an interesting talk on Boston College, describing its growth in the last half century.
 Glories of Holy Cross
 Attorney Walter E. Monagan spoke of the glories that are Holy Cross and of its approaching cen- tennial observance in 1943. Attor- ney Finton Phelan, oldest of the Jesuit alumni present, described early days at Fordham before 1t had become the great modern uni- versity 1t is today.
 Attorney John H, Cassidy spoke for Georgetown, oldest Catholic University in the country, and for cibly told why he had selected 8 Jesuit institution as the place in which to have his own children educated.
 Fathey Bowling was introduced by Mayor Vincent Scully, an alumnus of Holy Cross.
 Attorney Maurice P. Wrenn, state chairman for the Jesuit celebration program, outlined briefly the var ious observances that were being held and expressed thanks for the cooperation of the several college alumni groups.
 Father Dowling's talk in part was:
 For you are gathered on a momentous occasion when in spon- taneous and filial gratitude you assemble to commemorate the 400th anniversary of an event crucial in the history of civilization, the founding of the Society of Jesus, Sept. 27, 1540, by the lame Basque soldier, Don Ignacio de Loyola.
 But I like to feel that this gath- ering is more than g. commemora- ton. It is a portent, a conservation to devote our lives to the preserva- ton of the ideals which made pos sible the foundation of this great democracy we call the U. s. A.
 A panoramic view of the world of four hundred years ago presented a strange parallel with the world of today. Luther with his eloquence had deluded the peasants and drawn them away from the fount of truth and led them in rebellion against their God
 Calvin and his pessimism had won away the middle-class intel lectuals to a false Puritanisrn.
 Henry VIII in his desire for dy- nastic perpetuation had loosed a flood of sensualism on a Christian world.
 Rebellion of Man
 All three were united in this that they would destroy the bark of Peter, the Holy See. The Vicar of Christ was the direct object of their attack. The underlying reason was, of course, the rebellion of man a. gainst God. Man in his pride would again destroy God.
 But God who said: Behold l am with you all days, even unto the consummation of the world" did not forget his harassed Church. The instruments he raised up to save and restore his Church were the Jesuits
 They were compania, a military organization, founded by Ignatius, a Spanish soldier. Their members were to have the heart of a Saint. the zeal of an Apostle, the courage of a Soldier.
 The Jesuit spirit is a consecra- ton to a cause, the cause of Christ, for that reason, that his followers might be inspired to living imita- tion Ignatius chose to name his new order the Company oi Jesus. Mod ern usage has given his society the name Jesuit which Is latin for like to Jesus" ..
 To the Jesuit the voice of Christ Is the voice of His Vicar, the reign ing Pope. They VOW themselves as the marine corpS of His service