The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-03-29
K. OF PRESENT
FLAG TO NUNS
Presentation Ceremonies
Held at Sisters College,
Washington, D. c.

Washington, D. c., iGarcl1 % -
The Catholic Sisters College, an in
tegral part of the Catholic Univer-
Sity Of America, has been presented
with a large silk American flag by
the Fourth Degree Knight; of Col
umbuS, which each year selects some
outstanding Catholic institution for
this honor. In accepting the flag on
behalf of the Catholic Sisters Col
lege, the Rt. Rev. MSgr. Edward r.
Jordan, former dean of the College
and now vice rector of Catholic
University, pointed out that Cath
olicS have no difficulty in under
standing the significance of the
American flag, which he said was
"a symbol, visible object of ma
terial things which bring to our
minds an inner meaning"
"Our whole sacramental system,
''Monsignor- Jordan said, sis based
on this use of common things to
signify uncommon effects. The
water Of baptism and the oil Of con-
firmation are sacramento signs,
symbols of divine operations in our
souls. The same is true Of our sac
ramentals; and we are familiar with
such symbols as the cross, the keys
of st. Peter, the sword of St. Paul,
the gridiron Of st. Laurence, the
palm If the martyr, the lily Of the
Virgin, to mention only of few of
those IN common USE OF course, we
never mistake the symbol for the
thing symbolized; and hence we find
it hard to see why anyone should
fail to grasp the real meaning Of the
flag. For the flag is a symbol.
Through the ages flags have been
employed by nations and by groups
of onS kind and another to remind
men cf heroes, of deeds of valor, of
high resolves and purposes; and
when men have died, as they often
have, to save flag, it was not the
banner for which they sacrificed
their lives, but the things for which
the banner stood"
The religious character of present
day flags of several nations was re-
ferred to by Monsignor Jordan.
"On an occasion like this when
the national banner is unfurled in
the halls of Catholic institution,
it Is well to be reminded of the fact
that flags were originally almost
purely religious in character and
that their religious oIigin is still
clearly evident in the flags of many
lands. The venerable Bede tells us
that when Augustine came to meet
King Aethelberht, the Saints follow
ers carried banners on which silver
crosses were emblazoned. The kings
of England fought under the BAN
ners of st. Edward, the Confessor,
and st. Edmund. The flag OF Will
liam, the c onqueror, was sent to him
by the reigning Pope and many
other heroes of history went into
battle under the banner of a Bishop
or an Abbot. The ancient flag OF
England was the Red Cross Of st.
George and the Union Jack is
combination of the three flags Of st.
George, st. Andrew and st. Patrick.
The flag of Denmark-"The Dam
nebrog the strength of Denmark"
the Oldest flag in existence, bears
white cross on a red ground. The
flags of Sweden and Norway are
notifications of this design.
while our own national flag does
not owe its origin to religion direct
", it shares like other emblems OF
western peoples this heritage OF
Christian tradition. 1t is a symbol
which in the minds Of Christian
peoples ranks second o.. to the
glorious symbol of our salvation. AS
the cross brings to our minds the
price that we paid for our redemp-
ton, so the flag should serve to re-
mind us of the sacrifices that our
American forbears have made to
guarantee the perpetuity Of the in
GAitutions for which this symbol
stands