Hooray for Cardinal Francis Arinze (“Cardinal Arinze's ‘Un-Christian’ Speech,” Inbrief, June 1-7). If what you quoted were his exact words, I say: “Well done, Cardinal!”

How can the truth be un-Christian? I might ask that English teacher who apologized for the cardinal's remarks. As for the theology professor who walked offstage in protest, he needs to learn to respect the opinions of people with whom he might disagree. For myself, I would give the cardinal a great, big, gold star for excellence in good thought and courageous speaking.

JEAN FOORD

Sunnyvale, California

Eucharistic at Boston College

I am most grateful to you for running the story on the all-night Eucharistic vigil at Boston College (“Eucharistic Adoration Is Enduring Boston College Tradition,” June 8-14). God bless your paper and the writer of the article, Wally Carew.

There is just one item that is incorrect in this article. These Eucharistic vigils are held monthly on the first Friday of each month from 9 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Saturday. These vigils started June 9-10, 1972, and have been held on the first Friday of every month ever since.

These vigils are for reparation and atonement to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The vigils open and close with Mass. I am most grateful that this apostolate has survived for 31 years, and that I have the privilege of coordinating these vigils.

Next month we will have the vigil at Holy Rosary Church in Winthrop, Mass., on First Friday, July 4, beginning at 9 p.m. with a Mass of the Sacred Heart. This vigil will end with Mass of the Immaculate Heart at 5 a.m.

Once again, thank you and it is my prayer that Eucharistic adoration will continue throughout the United States.

BARBARA KEVILLE

Lowell, Massachusetts

Modesty in Motion

Modesty must be in the eye of the beholder. A couple of the poses struck by the , tween models in the “Pure Fashion” show (“Modesty en Vogue,” June 8-14) might have been provocative if the models were old enough to have curves.

Maybe a better way to encourage modesty is to let young girls in on a little secret: You don't have to dress like a tramp to attract boys — just be healthy.

Vices hurt your looks. Makeup clogs your pores. But eating a healthy diet, drinking water and working up a good sweat with regular exercise will leave you with a clear complexion and a healthy body. You'll be, as Genesis 29:17 puts it, “well formed and beautiful.”

DON SCHENK

Allentown, Pennsylvania

Up With Mothers

Thank you for the wonderfully inspiring interview with Marie Bellet (“Playing Life by Ear Takes Faith,” Inperson, June 1-7).

How true it is that “the message of sacrificial love as a mother and a wife … has been obscured in American culture.” Mothers who, like Marie Bellet, live this message of love — and stay home in spite of our culture — not only support other mothers and pass on the message of love to their children, but they also find joy and fulfillment in marriage and family life.

In a society that promotes self-indulgence, it is not surprising that even Catholic mothers can be heard saying things like, “I need to work because I'd go crazy at home,” “these kids drive me nuts,” “I can't believe she's wasting her degree and staying home” and “I deserve a break.” Whether they seek refuge at the office, on weekend getaways or at the beauty parlor, fast-paced mothers of today avoid lifestyle choices that might “tie them down.” Yet freedom of movement fails to give these mothers the fulfillment, peace of mind or true freedom they are looking for. Too often they end up frazzled and unhappy.

Fortunately, the Catholic Church has answers for mothers. The Church teaches that it is by losing your life that you find it. This involves a free, voluntary gift of self. Before becoming pope, [then Cardinal] Karol Wojtyla in Person and Act argued that self-mastery, not self-assertion, is the index of a truly human freedom. It is this freedom through which the person-I-am grows closer to the person-I-ought-to-be.

To a non-Christian, changing diapers, feeding and comforting small children may seem like insignificant, menial tasks that easily could be done by a babysitter or day care provider. From a secular point of view, getting someone else to care for the children frees up the mother for more materially lucrative work and social contributions. In this arrangement, the children learn that a mother's role in the home is expendable. They come to understand that they are essentially a burden until they can be “useful.”

In sharp contrast to this, the Catholic mother responds to the needs of her children herself, out of love. She believes children are a gift from God. She considers the tasks of motherhood to be her unique responsibility and sees small chores — though often unappreciated, even unnoticed — as opportunities for personal sanctity.

Please continue to recognize and hold up experienced stay-at-home moms as mentors for those of us just beginning families. This is tremendously encouraging for mothers who can feel alone and overwhelmed in this anti-child culture. The Pope goes so far as to say, “the advancement of women requires that a clear recognition be given to the value of their maternal and family role, by comparison with all other public roles and professions.” How important it is, then, to help mothers emulate Our Blessed Mother, who, after saying “Be it done unto me according to thy word,” gave up everything for the sake of marriage and family!

CLARE MCCORMACK

Villa Park, Illinois

Inspiring Singer

I really enjoy reading the thoughtful articles and editorials in the wonderful National Catholic Register each week. A favorite feature is Inperson. The recent interview with Marie Bellet was very insightful in showing how this singer-songwriter practices her art while raising eight children. So inspiring! Her work is a good example of “good news” in a largely bad-news world.

MARY JANETATOS

Falls Church, Virginia