From the Headmaster

Dear Members of the Marist College Ashgrove Family,

Viriliter Age – Act Courageously

In the newsletter dated August 1 2013 I wrote about the College motto that was changed in 1958.  The Reverend William A Cuneo wrote in the 1958 Blue and Gold magazine :

‘The motto of St. Mary’s College was changed providentially and very fittingly from “POSUERUNT ME CUSTODEM’ to ‘VIRILITER AGE’ – thereby having the emphasis shifted from the virtue of vigilance to be displayed by the Teaching Brothers, to the virtue of trust and courage to be acquired by the college boy.  … Courage! Trust! Today more than ever, these two virtues must be inculcated in the young men of our generation – our deeply materialistic generation … Courage and trust!  They will need them desperately!’

And sixty-two years later we feel the need for courage and trust more than ever!

Gordon Livingston, M.D., in his book ‘The Thing You Think You Cannot Do’ writes about honesty being a prerequisite for courage:

‘Most acts we think of as courageous are the product of some reflection.  The passengers on United Airlines Flight 93 on September 11, 2001 had time to contemplate their predicament.  They had news of other airliners being flown into buildings so came to understand their certain fate if they did nothing.  Within minutes they were able to make the decision to fight to gain control of the cockpit and organise themselves to confront the hijackers.  Their telephone conversations with people on the ground reveal both their fear and a determination to try to save themselves.

Few of us are likely to be confronted with such life-threatening decisions. The fears we face are, in general, long term and involve questions related to how to find meaningful work, to take care of each other, to figure out whom to love, to meet our obligations to those who depend on us, to cope with the depredations of age …’

Livingston goes on to point out that we need each other if we are to construct a courageous society.  That aspect of ‘family spirit’ as St Marcellin alluded to points to the fact that together we are not alone and we can accomplish great things.  Livingston concludes by writing:

‘Courage begins with understanding.  If we learned to be more honest with ourselves about our strengths and our failings …   But we need to be as truthful with ourselves as we can be so we can demand honesty and forbearance from those we select to make decisions about the common good.’

Let’s all practice the virtues of Courage, Trust and Honesty.

Yours in Jesus, Mary and St Marcellin.

Peter McLoughlin

Headmaster