Student sayings...

Here are just a couple examples of the great books and lofty ideas that students have considered this past semester...

Mary, on St. Anselm's "Proslogium" (or "The Ontological Argument of God's Existence"):

One of the main points of Anselm's ontological argument is that Being sustains existence and that human thought is ordered to understanding what Being has created.  In Chapter V, he writes "God is whatever is better to be than not to be; and he, as the only self-existent being, creates all things from nothing" (70).  This is an important concept because, without this, Anselm's argument falls apart.  Existence comes before thought; one cannot think if he does not exist.  Anselm goes on to say, "Therefore, if that, than which nothing greater can be conceived, exists in the understanding alone, the very being, than which nothing greater can be conveived, is one, than which a greater can be conceived.  But obviously this is impossible."  From there, we can conclude that the fact that humans cannot conceive of a greater being than God proves that God must be the Supreme Being or Existence itself.  God sustains all things and has given man the ability to rationalize His universe.  It make sense that we could not think of anything greater than God because our existence is contingent on His.  Anselm's focus on God as Existence itself intrigued me.  The idea that we are sustained by God yet He is not sustained by anything because He is Existence itself fascinates me.

Ignacio, on Boethius' "The Consolation of Philosophy":

Throughout the second chapter of "The Consolation of Philosophy," the theme of fortune is studied, discussed and presented in expert detail.  As Boethius is conversing with Lady Philosophy, she attempts and ultimately succeeds in transforming his current perspective on life.  Lady Philosophy does so through a series of insightful and deeply revealing ideas about fortune, chance and the true Good - and how they plan an important role in our lives.
[...]
Lady Philosophy begins with an attack, a harsh criticism of Fortune and her nature by saying: "I know the many disguises of that monster and her endearing friendliness to those she tries to deceive - a kindness - until she leaves them without warning and overwhelms them with unbearable pain" (Boethius, 31).  With this clear and bold statement, Lady Philosophy strips the deceitful and false facade of Fortune - revealing the true nature of her fraud and treachery.  Already this sets the tone, and as one reflects on her smooth and noble language, Boethius begins to reconsider his perspective on life.  If Fortune includes a false and negative connotation, then she stops looking like something attractive and desirable. 
[...]
Lady Philosophy continues to educate and soothe Boethius with her wise remarks.  From the topic of Fortune she advances to discuss the role of material or worldly possessions, and links this with Fortune in a brilliant and logical manner.  Lady Philosophy basically comes to state that worldly possessions are temporal, therefore they can never truly be owned in the true and complete sense.  In fact, the owner of these things (wealth, honor and recognition), is Fortune herself, so, as she is in charge, she can choose to stop sending us or granting us gifts at anytime, leaving us with feelings of depletion and hopelessness as we desire those riches.  Boethius writes: "Now it pleases me to pull back my hand," perfectly describing the domination Fortune has upon human victims who grow attached to worldly possessions.

student sayings... [installment #1]

So far, our students have read and discussed the following works:

• Fifty Questions on the Natural Law, by Prof. Charles Rice (a selection on human nature and "personhood")
• Apostolic Fathers (selections such as St. Ignatius of Antioch)
• The Didache
• The Rule of St. Benedict
• The Confessions of St. Augustine
• St. Anselm's "Proslogion" or The Ontological Proofs of God's Existence
• "How the Monks Saved Civilization", by Thomas Woods (from How the Catholic Church Built Western Civilization)
• "Address to Ministers of Culture", Pope Benedict XVI (on why the men and women went to the monasteries)
• The Compact History of the Catholic Church, by Prof. Alan Schreck (to give contextual background to the readings)

Below are some excerpts from the students' weekly papers; I believe they are a testament to the value of engaging such rich texts.

Reflecting on the importance and emphasis of the abbot by St. Benedict in the "Regula", Zach writes:

"The abbot is important; there is no doubt about it.  Without him, the monasteries would have never been successes, and thus would never have saved civilization and nothing would exist today as it does."

In our discussions, we noted that St. Benedict's Rule seemed almost "obvious" or common sense.  We wondered why the book had such an impact on the development of western culture.  Marianna reflects:

"[The Rule of St. Benedict] is about things that we already know.  But then I started thinking that in the past, these rules might not have been obvious as they are to us today." 

She also writes,

"...St. Benedict's fourth step of humility: 'He only that persevereth to the end shall be saved, let thy heart be comforted and expect the Lord.'  The phrase connected with me.  [...] It reminds us readers that we need to trust in the Lord no matter what."

We encouraged our students to attend the All Souls' Day Mass at the Church of Saint Agnes, in which is played Mozart's famous "Requiem" liturgy accompanied by full choir and string quartet; on this, Rose wrote:

"... I noticed right away the black vestments the priests were wearing; I liked the color black for it reminded me of the judgment all souls must endure.  Finally, the music registered in my head, and I was blown away.  [...] What truly moved me was the Dies Irae.  The English translation itself is something to marvel at, yet when Latin and the music are added, it is simply stunning.  [...]  The verses that really stood out to me were the ones that read, "The evil-doers have been silenced / Doomed to the bitter flames / Call me with the Blessed".  That struck me as something powerful, and it was even more so when the choir belted out "Confutatis Maledictis" over and over again."

Finally, reflecting upon St. Augustine's Confessions where in Books X-XII the great Doctor of the Church muses upon time, eternity, memory and the Triune God, Rebekah wrote on the mystery of God's being:

"God alone is eternal.  So where then did God begin?  He did not, because nothing was before Him.  [...]  Time is the means by which humans live their day to day lives.  So then is it a safe assumption to say that God, our Eternal Creator, runs by the same concept of time as humans do?  [...]  One cannot understand the fullness of God's eternal being.  It is impossible, and it is almost equally impossible to think of how time does not exist with God.  [...]  But this unsolvable mystery is a stepping stone to finding a relationship with the Lord."

These are mere snapshots of what our students are reading, writing and thinking about.  It is rewarding to see you, dear students, developing your own Catholic mind.