The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1953-05-22

ing quietly and silently through
the halls of the retreat house the
young men could have been other
Trappist monks,-if only they had
on somber grey habits.
Exercises OF the following day
left no time to spare. Rising was
at $50, and everyone was there
for the opening prayer. Mass fol
lowed at o'clock.
Breakfast was at 7:45. There
was a new experience here. The
boys ate in silence while thought
provoking book, "The Man Who
Got Even With God" was read to
the tune of quietly clinking table
silverware. The breakfast over,
some of the boys gave the Sisters
a hand by gathering up the dishes
remaining on the tables and took
them to the kitchen--in silence.
Father Diehl was ready with a
Conference in Chapel at 8 o'clock.
Again at ten the bell rang, this
time to summon the young men to
the Rosary procession, which form
ed in front of the Retreat House,
Walking slowly the boys recited
five mysteries of Our Lady's chap
let. concluding at the beautiful out
side Grotto back of the Shrine
Chapel.
Another Conference at l0:3O,
and private meditation at l1:45
concluded the mornings program.
Dinner at II was followed by a
period for rest or for a walk about
the spacious grounds of the Shrine.
The afternoon exercises began
with Stations of the Cross at 2:3O.
A Conference at $3.50, and others at
d and 5 o'clock provided plenty of
real meditative work before the
supper bell rang at 8.
The day closed with exposition
of the Blessed Sacrament at z
o'clock, and periods of private adj
grafton for which each boy had
signed a bulletin board schedule.
No one missed. One extra period
was quickly taken by someone an
xious to have two.
Benediction, night prayers and a
Conference closed the day. Comics.
sions were heard each evening, al
though Father Diehl was available
at all times.
The climax of the retreat came
with the cIosina Holy Hour and
PapaI Blessing. There was quite a
difference between This and the
opening. The congregational sing
! inq on the first evening was rather
simid; for the closing II was full
OF vieor and confidence. There was
enthusiasm-snd victorYl
Our Lord in the Blessed Saera-
ment was raised in Benediction
over bowed and grateful young
men. Father Diehl, crucifix in
hand, impaired the Papal Blessing.
'sHoly God" filled the Chapel and
thirty-eight strong young throats
sang for all they were worth.
The retreat was overt No more
silence. And there wasn't any.
Father Healey was back to pre-
side at the last dinner. With him
again were Mr.. Tracy. Mr.. Kramer
and Mr.. Charles. The same pro
cedure with the regular retreats
for men was followed with one ex-
ception--the boys were given mem
bership cards with the compliments
of the Retreat League.
Graduation Present
Each of the young men was ask
ed to give some indication of his
reaction to the retreat. Responses
were all excitedly enthusiastic.
at was the best graduation pres.
ent we could have" said one. Il
came expecting something differ
ent. but was happily surprised"
said another.
A few days later the president
of the Holy Name Society of Holy
Rosary Parish received this let
ter:
Dear Gentlemen: We, the sen.
ior boys of Rosary High School,