THE WILL TO SUCCEED.

New Zealand Tablet, 10 July 1919, Page 23

THE WILL TO SUCCEED.

The world recognises Marshal Foch as a truly great man not only for the magnificent exploits that he accomplished as the leader of the Allied Forces in the great war now happily closed, but because of the undaunted courage that he possesses (says the Boston Pilot). Perhaps never in history has there been a man who has held more rigidly to the homely philosophy of life than Foch. He has always had an abiding confidence in human nature and an enduring trust in the “will” of a man or combination of men to achieve success. Marshal Foch has taught both in the classroom and on the field that an army’s greatest strength lies in its determination to win and a will to hold out against even terrific odds. The admission of defeat has lost victories. The philosophy of Foch has been that “victories are won by science, that.is true, but also by faith. When one has faith, one does not retire one stops the enemy where he finds him.” The world will read into these noble words faith in the achievement of material success. But have they not a deeper meaning The whole world knows of the Generalissimo of the Allied armies. Books, magazines, and pamphlets of all kinds have been published recording the magnificent faith of Foch. All agree that he was supremely a man of God. , They tell us of the frequent visits that he made to the Blessed Sacrament at times when defeat seemed inevitable, when cannon were roaring and men were falling martyrs to their country. They tell us of the hours that he spent pleading with God for victory over the forces of oppression. History fairly glows with the kindly letters that this great soldier sent to the children of the various countries asking them to pray every day for him and for his success. His abounding confidence and faith in God have been a bright light amid the darkness that has overcast the world for the past four years. He energised his men with the same spirit that inspired his great soul. They saw the visible manifestations of faith in his every act. They witnessed in his every, order a forward step toward victory, and knew that Foch’s faith in God and in ultimate triumph through the aid of heaven would bring success to their cause. How beautifully this eminent soldier describes his success; “The battle won is the battle in which one refuses to admit himself beaten, because the army is to the chief what the sword is to the soldier. Its, value lies in the hand that wields it.” How true these words not only in the affairs of men but in the spiritual, life. And we may be assured that when General Foch uttered them he was painting a word picture of his own spiritual life. It will be recalled that when he was chosen from among the world’s illustrious soldiers .as the one who would lead the nations to victory he made an open confession of - his faith in:God. He openly stated that he

was-the r brother of a Jesuit, which all £ felt ; would disqualify him in the .. minds .of the French radicals. He gave frank, expression to his religious convictions even though, he believed that in so vdoing- he would lose > the greatest honor that could come to any man of his time. This was an act of; fidelity and loyalty to God that certainly was rewarded by a most .crushing; defeat of the invading armies and the greatest success for justice and right that have ever been recorded; in history. And yet it was but the simple faith of. a.Christian heart! ~; ,To-day the world needs such men and such open confessions of faith. • If the most eminent soldier in this world was eager to.confess- God before men, even at the price of losing,'jthe, greatest of human honors, how utterly selfish • and unworthy are they who > seek success but at the cost of their dearest possession, their faith! There is a lesson in the life of General Foch that every Catholic should take to" heart.