The Order of Preachers enjoys an old-established reputation for learning. There is nothing to show that this was the cause of Cyril Jarrett’s first attraction to Dominican life; but once he realised that the Dominican ideal invites every Friar Preacher to be a saint, and all who can to be scholars, he made saintly scholarship the object of his very ardent ambition.

His record at school and his experience of himself as a student more than justified such an aspiration. He was docile to the teaching of masters and books. All the masters under whom he ever sat have testified with one voice that he was one of the most industrious and intelligent pupils that passed through their hands.

The course of study he had to follow at Woodchester and Hawkesyard was strictly ordered as a preparation for the ecclesiastical and religious state. It included logic, scholastic philosophy and speculative theology. He applied himself diligently to these subjects, passed his examination in them with conspicuous success, and was able to turn them all to good account in later life. To the discipline of logic especially he yielded himself with unquestioning faith and a rare obedience. It strengthened his methodical habits of clear, accurate thinking, speech and writing. About the time he made his solemn vows, and for some years afterwards—years during which he was very consciously forming his character in force and freedom— he indulged in much speculative enquiry into the psychology of the human will. His researches into this problem took him beyond his text-books; and he supplemented his reading by his own written reflections. This was in accordance with his habit of making and keeping notes of whatever in his reading impressed him deeply.