Newspapers / Crossroads (Belmont, N.C.) / Dec. 1, 1975, edition 1 / Page 2
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Page 2 - CROSSROADS - December, 1975 i\i I MC. luncheon in Maurus Dining Hail, Dr. Gilbert Farley, standing, planner of Fr. Cuthbert Day, pays tribute to Fr. Cuthbert along wl^ many others. Seated left to right are Father Cuthbert, Father John P. Bradley, President of the College, and Basil Whitener, Chairman of the Board of Advisors. Father Cuthbert Honored— Father Cuthbert Allen, O.S.B., friends and well- wishers seem to be enjoying the reception held in his honor in the Abbot Vincent Taylor Library. (From Page 1) himself taken great care for these and been in strumental in writing them or having them written. I supposed that the most laudatory phrases to be culled from these citations might be equally as applicable to Father Cuthbert as to the distinguished persons of whom they were first written. I believe that you will agree with the aptness of a sampling of these expressions. “A man whose abilities have been intelligently employed in acquiring wisdom and moral in tegrity and tbe social graces necessary to give charm and meaning to life.” ‘‘An idealist who knows how to negotiate the rough terrain between idealistic intentions and practical achievement.” ‘‘An educator whose philosophy of education sees man as a child of God.” ‘‘An enemy to that which divides men; a leader, ahead of his time, of those human possibilities which are the hope of all of us.” ‘‘A man endowed with the virtues of com passion, wisdom, and courage, possessing true love for all Christ’s brethren and the selfless desire to serve them humbly.” ‘‘A man whose interest in people is not viewed by him as an abstract ideal but as a Christian duty to be daily translated into concrete action.” ‘‘A man noted for fatherliness to whom everyone instinctively turns to seek advice and counsel, knowing that there will always be a fatherly response.” These quotations come rather close to the mark, do they not? But as I thought more about this homily, I judged that I could not be excused from some attempt at originality. What do I see, what do we all see, in this worthy man of God? He has been a dedicated minister of the Lord’s word and Sacrament, he has been an eloquent preacher, an admired teacher, he has been an esteemed member of higher education circles in our State and in the south, an exponent of human rights long before this became fashionable, a man of impeccable taste and keen sense of propriety, a confidant of the young and old alike; supporting all these ac complishments has been an uncommonly lively and stable faith in God. Through times good, bad, and otherwise he has always lived in calm harmony with all about him and recognized God’s hand active in all that touched him. His life has been a bold con tradiction to those in- differentists and skeptics of our time who deny God’s role in our world or who, at most, shrug their shoulders and say, ‘‘Maybe God exists and is active, but I just don’t know.” Father Cuthbert Allen has known with conviction and affirmed by a lifetime of evidence - - God is with us, God loves and cares for us, in His presence we con stantly live. Who of us, then, will not declare that Father Cuth bert Allen has blended in his life holiness and humanity in a marvelous manner? If applied to most of us this litany would con- s t i t u t e g r b's, s exaggeration. But of the man we honor today we know, most of us per sonally, that it is all too true. Yet, there is one other facet of this man’s character which to me best reflects his integrity as a man. This is not as well known and celebrated as the others, but it is, I believe, the one which most perfectly portrays the whole man. It has to do with his untiring compassion for those who are troubled. How many thousands of hours he has spent in the quiet of nights and the privacy of closed rooms, comforting the distressed, calming the angry,. sharing with the sorrowing, counselling the unsure, encouraging the faint-hearted, redirecting the wayward - how many hours upon hours only God knows. And only God need know, for, finally, it is He who measures and rewards the whole wonder and greatness of this man. While we — we continue to grope for the right word, the turn of phrase, that will even come close, and we fall hopelessly short. Perhaps in this life it is the truly simple and uncomplicated who see most clearly witK the divine vision. Such a one was St. Francis of Assisi who penetrated the mind of God so remarkably. In attempting to honor Father Cuthbert today we might well have foregone all the -preceding. and simply have said that he has in an enviable manner achieved in his life what Francis of Assisi prayed for: ‘‘Lord, make me an in strument of thy peace — ...where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love; for it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are bom to eternal life.” My friends, I give you an uncommon man, a faithful servant of God and God’s people, a man who has enriched all our lives — Father Cuthbert Allen. Another Chance Coming Up In April October Blood Drive Falls Short “People aren’t con cerned enough with others. They think it will kill them to give a pint of blood, even when it could help others. People just don’t realize this,” dejectedly stated Fred Moench, the APO Service chairman. Alpha Phi Omega, the c am pus service fraternity, recently sponsored its first of two blood drives of the year. In the overall collection of blood, there were 117 productive donors, while 25 prospective donors were rejected. Of the total 142, 35 were first time.donors. “Our goal was 150 pints,” said Fred, ‘‘but we fell far short. It is necessary to praise the 35 first-timers who had enough courage to come and donate. Without their help, we would have been even shorter.” In examining the lack of response, Fred points out that there was a lack of PR for which he takes the blame. “But also,” he interjects, “there is a seeming apathy among students, faculty, and members of the monastic community concerning this project.” Mrs. Lola Lowe, the director of volunteer coordinators of the Bloodmobile expressed thanks for the blood, but also felt that greater participation by the faculty and monastics could have increased the amount collected. Bob “Spacely” Houde, the A. Phi. O. prexy, wasn’t too happy with the response, either. “We only had five faculty, out of over fifty. donate. Maybe they don’t have time, but I’d like to see more of a response.” The students, faculty, and monks will have another chance to “roll up their sleeves” in six months when the Bloodmobile returns to the Abbey on April 1. Between now and then, APO will be having other service projects. The fraternity will hold a Thanksgiving Clothing Drive for the Bishop’s Overseas Relief Fund. Any student having items of clothing no longer useful to him or her should contact an APO brother or deposit the article in the boxes which will be put out. The drive will last through the month of November and end on the first weekend of December.
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