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Show ATHLETICS IN THE VATICAN. I i The athletic contests held in the Vatican j grounds last month have occasioned a great deal of I comment, all of which has been of a most favorable ! character. It will be remembered that hundreds .of young athletes from all parts of Italy assembled in the Vatican grounds and engaged in bicycle races, running, jumping, walking and other matches. match-es. His Holiness was an interested observer of many of the contests and later received a deputa-' deputa-' tiou of the young men in audience. Upon being asked to say a few words, he responded: "I am glad to find myself among you, for I consider con-sider myself as a companion and friend with you. I bless your games and your athletic exercises while, they make your bodies healthy and strong, they are certain also to have a beneficent and powerful pow-erful influence on your 'minds. Physical exercise, occupying your bodies and minds, will keep your from idleness, which is the father of all the vices. Recalling the words of the youngest of the apostles, so dear to Jesus Christ, I exhort you to be strong in keeping. and defending your faith, strong in combating com-bating temptations, strong in overcoming the obstacles ob-stacles that lie in your path. "Do not be afraid that in asking you to be good and religious I would deprive you of your pastimes or require of you great sacrifices beyond your years; on the contrary, I wish' you to have recreation of body and of mind, which is necessary for you, so that in the autumn of your life you may be able to reap the fruit of a healthy springtime." The soundness of this doctrine -is too obvious for comment.lt is followed in every Catholic school of prominence in Christendom. At all of thorn abundant opportunity is afforded for recreation, for healthful, innocent amusement. The Catholic church wants -its. young men and young women, it3 boys and 'iijAiHvft'.'strjang, healthy bodies, realizing that if'hVy have them they will be better able to meet arid overcome the temptations thai, must inevitably enter .their lives. . .. Too much emphasis cannot be placed upon this i training, or upon the endorsement His Holiness has' grrciVto.it. While we appreciate that there is danger of overdoing athletic training and exercises, just as there is danger of overdoing anything that is useful, per se, we believe those in charge, of our educational institutions can be trusted not to go too far. Strong-minds' are often found in weak bodies and weak minds in strong. bodies, but the rule that the mind should not be developed at the cost of the body is one that is well worth following. . |