I dedicated much thought to the subject of this little talk, and I would like to speak about the present importance of Pius XI's encyclical on education: Divini Illius Magistri.¹ We are not going to look at all the aspects of this magisterial encyclical, which essentially gives the outlines and directives of what a Catholic school should be. We will emphasize certain points which with time have become even more and more important.

This encyclical gives first the definition of education, which, of course, gives the understanding, the reason, and the meaning of the Catholic school. The Pope says that it is necessary to have a clear and definite idea of Christian education, its essential aspects. So what is education?

As in the holy Shroud we can contemplate the face of Our Lord, so in the image of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, copy of the painting by St. Luke, can we discover the true face of Mary. The image [see magazine cover] is a painting on wood approximately 20”x l6”. On a rather brilliant gold background several personages appear. The Virgin Mary, carrying on her left arm the Child Jesus, holds the central place. The gold, still brilliant, symbolizes the uncreated light, heaven. Mary, who occupies the most important place against this heavenly backdrop, reminds us that she is the gate of heaven, Janua Coeli.

It seems that Confederate President, Jefferson Davis would have converted to the Catholic Faith except for the lamentable example of Catholic priests he witnessed during a visit to Spanish Cuba. Despite his reservations, he wore faithfully a St. Benedict Medal and a Miraculous Medal (Catherine Labours was still living). Laces over his shoulders held on his chest and back the cloth panels of a French scapular. Someone had also given him the brown scapular of the Discalced Carmelites. All of these he wore in prison and preserved to the end of his life.

Meditation on the Crucifixion was a major focus of Jefferson Davis. He carried a worn and coverless 1861 edition of The Imitation of Christ, 360 pages, an 18th-century translation from the Latin by Richard Challoner, the English Roman Catholic Bishop. Mrs. Eliza Violett, to whom he gave his copy in 1879, wrote in it: “Mr. Davis told me he had used this book continually during his imprisonment in Fortress Monroe.”

By Rev. Fr. Peter R. Scott