Page 42 - Bishop-Roch-Jubli-Malar

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Having laid deep and broad the foundation sermons. The exercises in essay-writing and pulpit
of his religious life and made his first commitment oratory, periodically prescribed in houses of
by the vows of the scholastics, Brother Roche formation, were, to him, not mere formalities to be
entered that long and grinding process of equipping complied with somehow; to him they were precious

himself for the ministries proper to the Society of
incentives to turn out something worth while as
Jesus. The society being an apostolic Order,
well as excellent tests of his power and ability in
oriented to serve the Church's mission of
public speaking and in contributing to Catholic
continuing Christ's work of salvation, the
publications.
formation of the young Jesuits is directed to
shaping them into useful instruments for that work. Not satisfied with these conventional tasks,
That implies besides keeping in close union with Brother Roche assiduously applied himself to
Christ, the fountain of grace and zeal, acquiring practise his penmanship convinced of the wisdom

also a sufficient ability in using the means or tools of the old proverb: "Fabricando fit faber"; "Practice
necessary for an effective apostolate. makes perfect"). He translated into Tamil the
Manual of Retreat and the Illustrate catechism of La
Like his companions from the West, Bro.
Bonne Presse, both in great demand and very useful
Roche meant to qualify as a missionary. From the
to preachers and catechists. His text-book on "
start he seized, given his talents, what would serve
Good Manners" (å_ØéV¿ÂïD) which went through
him best as a herald of the Gospel, that is a firm
more than a dozen editions, earned him the
grasp of the Church's treasure of truth and skill and
distinction of a popular writer.
facility in communicating it by the spoken and
written word. He had a fair command of English To all appearances, things came natural to

and Tamil; he applied himself to polish and enrich him; but though he lacked neither facility nor
his knowledge especially his Tamil, for which he aptitude, he firmly believed in taking pains and in a
made the "Kural" his favourite vade mecum. In steady plodding application of "Nothing succeeds

Latin and French his companions had the like success".
advantage over him; he strove to acquire a good The long years of classical studies were
working knowledge of these languages, too, coming to an end. Tiburtius Roche was ordained to
somewhat to the surprise of his confreres. the priesthood on Oct. 10, 1910, a day of fulfilment

The libraries abounded in books by the best and intense thanksgiving and the following year the

French writers, specialists in spirituality and finishing touches to his spiritual equipment were
given in the schola affectus " Manresa House,
oratory; he appreciated their clarity and precision
Ranchi. He returned to the Madura Mission, full of
and delighted in picking out and collecting choice
joy and expectation, happy to launch out at long last
expressions to punctuate his conversations and
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