The Final Exam

.
Sorry to keep you hanging like that. Commencement was a beautiful event. As I was sitting Friday night, in the room with hundreds of other parents and grandparents and big and little siblings, I was so proud to be a Catholic parent. When Doug and I chose a high school for our sons (it's an all boys school) it was primarily a decision based on history -- Doug is an alumnus of the school. We also knew that this school was head-and-shoulders above the other schools in our diocese, academically. What we hoped was that this school would help us prepare our sons to become men of God.

Friday night I saw that all that we have hoped came to fruition. While one commencement ceremony is not proof alone that a school has been successful in educating a child, just attending this commencement ceremony would tell you that there was something different about this school. While I've heard stories of high school graduations getting wild with yelling and hooting, there was nothing but the most decorous behavior by this graduating class.

The highlights:

Commencement began with Mass. Although this might sound obvious for a Catholic high school, I happen to know that another neighboring Catholic high school is having their commencement today, in the stadium, sans Mass.

There were seven priests concelebrating -- a beautiful tribute by the clergy and a show of their support for the school.

The principal moved the tassel of each graduate. It was very touching to watch each young man bend his head down so the principal could reach up and grasp his tassel.

Many handshakes among the graduates as they passed their friends on the way back to their seats. Not a word was spoken though -- you could hear a pin drop in the room.

The principal's final words, which I don't have precisely, but basically this: "You have passed your final exams, and you are headed for great successes. However, remember that the real final exam, and we never know when it will come, is with God and the questions are:

When I was hungry, did you feed Me?
When I was thirsty, did you give Me drink?
When I was naked, did you clothe Me?
When I was homeless, did you shelter Me?
When I was sick, did you visit Me?
When I was in prison, did you visit Me?"

.