NSTAURARE
The Christendom College Update Instaurare (vt. to restore, strengthen, renew)
INSIDE THIS ISSUE . . . October 16, 1978 to October 16, 2003 – page 2
December 2003 Volume XI, Number IV
Fools for a Day page 4
Philosophically Speaking page 5
Students Given Silent Treatment page 8
Biotech Threats at Christendom – page 3 5th Annual Sacred Art Exhibit – page 4 Genuis Tickles the Ivories – page 6 Christendom Choir Sings Christmas Favorites – page 7
College Ends Year of the Rosary with Pilgrimage
T
To celebrate the Year of the Rosary, the entire Christendom College community made a pilgrimage to the National Shrine Grotto of Lourdes and the Basilica of the National Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, both in Emmitsburg, MD, on October 2. The more than 350 pilgrims left Front Royal in 5 chartered buses, College vans, and individual vehicles – a holy caravan. Because the pilgrimage was focused on the Rosary, the
pilgrims prayed all four sets of mysteries of the Rosary during the day. The National Shrine Grotto of Lourdes is one of the oldest American replicas of the revered French shrine. It was founded about two decades after the apparitions at Lourdes (1874), on a site that had been a place of prayer and devotion for 70 years. The Grotto was proclaimed a
Public Oratory on December 8, 1965, by His Eminence Lawrence Cardinal Shehan, Archbishop of Baltimore. A place of pastoral beauty and spiritual inspiration, the Grotto draws hundreds of thousands of religious pilgrims and tourists each year. The Christendom pilgrims recited the Luminous mysteries during their visit. The pilgrims then traveled to the Seton Shrine a few miles see PILGRIMAGE, page 3
2004 Summer Institute to Focus on Pontificate of Pope John Paul
C
Christendom College’s 2004 Summer Institute will focus on the twenty-five year pontificate of Pope John Paul II and the writings of one of the most influential popes in the history of the Catholic Church. Pope John Paul II has written more documents than any other pontiff in the two thousand year history of the Church. The purpose of the conference will be to discuss the thoughts and insights of the Pope in relation to the effects these writings have had on helping transform the Culture of Death into the Culture of Life. To be titled Confronting the Culture of Death: John Paul II’s Prophetic Vision for the Renewal of Christian Culture the Institute will be held on Christendom’s Front Royal, VA, campus at a date to be determined later. The invited keynote speaker for the event is Francis
Christendom College 134 Christendom Drive Front Royal, VA 22630
Return Service Requested
Cardinal Arinze. Ordained a priest in 1958 and bishop in 1967, former Secretariat for the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, Cardinal Arinze has served as a member of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples and other pontifical councils and committees. He was made a cardinal by Pope John Paul II on May 25, 1985.
receive an honorary doctorate in humane letters in recognition for his outstanding scholarship in service to Jesus Christ and His Church.
On October 2, 2002, Cardinal Arinze was appointed prefect for the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, succeeding Cardinal Jorge Arturo Medina Estevez. Other speakers will be members of Christendom’s own faculty, including Dr. Timothy O’Donnell. After his keynote address, Cardinal Arinze will also Non Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 6445 Merrifield, VA 22081
2
I
INSTAURARE, December 2003
Reflections on October in Rome
I would like to take a moment to reflect upon a recent trip to Rome which Cathy and I took with a group of Christendom pilgrims. Upon our arrival in Rome we were able to deliver a card with all the prayers and good wishes that Christendom College had offered for our Holy Father during our school’s novena, October 7-15. The purpose of the trip was twofold: to celebrate our Holy Father’s Silver Jubilee; and to participate in the beatification of Mother Teresa, all within the Year of the Rosary.
Transpontina, and, realizing that we would not be able to get back to our group, stopped momentarily. At that precise moment a reporter from the New York Times was walking through the crowd with an Italian translator and came up to us. He was delighted to find that we spoke English and ended up interviewing Cathy who had an opportunity to place in proper perspective the great event which we were about to witness. How interesting Divine Providence is that we would find ourselves separated from our group and then interviewed by the New York Times!
Since Cathy and I had been present in St. Peter’s Square the night of the Pope’s election in 1978, being able to celebrate his 25th anniversary once again in St. Peter’s Square held a special significance and poignancy for us. October 16, 1978, is still indelibly etched in my mind. On that date I stood with Cathy and our young daughter Colleen in the Square when Karol Cardinal Wojtyla was introduced to the world as Pope John Paul II. How incredible to think that 25 years later I would be sitting in the same Timothy T. O’Donnell, STD, KCeHS Square with my oldest son Niall and the rest of our Christendom group to celebrate the Holy Father’s Silver Jubilee.
Recognizing that we were not going to be able to get any closer and would be separated from our group, we found ourselves sitting on the Via della Conciliazione as we waited for the Mass to begin. In my life I have viewed a number of canonizations, beatifications and papal events from remarkable seats. I’ve always viewed those moments as a great blessing. This particular October morning was no different. As I found myself sitting in the gutter of the street a serene peace came over me. My wife Cathy who had been working so hard put her head down on my shoulder and rested. I could not help but reflect that here we were participating in the beatification of one of the greatest women of all time, certainly the greatest woman of the 20th century, who spent her time taking the poor and the wretched off the streets of Calcutta and the cities of the world. How fitting I thought that I could be here for Mother Teresa and for the Holy Father on this day, celebrating the beatification of the “saint of the gutter” by sitting in the gutter. I came to recognize this as a special gift which Mother Teresa bestowed on us at that particular moment.
The night of October 16, 2003, was cool, crisp and beautiful, with the dark blue sky serving as a back drop to the gloriously illuminated facade of St. Peter’s Basilica. Cardinal Ratzinger, speaking in Italian, welcomed the Holy Father with great tenderness and affection on behalf of all present and thanked him for his years of service as Bishop of Rome and Pastor of the Universal Church. How painful it was to watch as our Holy Father was carried up to his chair, and to see him struggle with his broken body during the Mass.
As I looked down the Via della Conciliazione I could see the beautiful facade of St. Peter’s etched against the blue of a Roman sky. A choir was singing hymns and people from every continent were present in the crowd.
As the Holy Father began the Liturgy of the Eucharist, Cardinal Ratzinger stood there at his side like a dutiful son, gently and tenderly helping him through the Eucharistic prayer. As the moment of consecration approached, a hushed silence fell over the vast multitude that had gathered in the arms of Bernini’s colonnade at the heart of Christendom. At the actual moment of consecration, it was deeply moving to see how the Holy Father rallied, and, like a strong, immovable rock, with intense eyes and steady hand raised our Eucharistic Lord for all there present to adore, thus proclaiming once again the miracle of the Mass. At the end of the Mass he pleaded for prayers that he might continue his service to God and to man. This is a request that all of us must take to heart as we continue in loyalty and fidelity to support him with the strength of our prayers. “His body broken for us,” our Holy Father showed us the unconquerable spirit that dwells within him. It was so clear that he is now teaching us a new type of theology of the body. Where before he showed us how the body can be a vehicle of strength and can communicate so much, he now is teaching us through brokenness and frailty the dignity of the human person, pouring himself out for the Church as he continues to perform his duty of strengthening the brethren. Our group was present again in the Square on Sunday, October 19, for the beatification of Mother Teresa. It had rained all night, and predictions for Sunday were that it would be wet and miserable. Thankfully, the predictions were wrong. Instead, as we rose early that morning, it seemed as if the entire world had been washed clean, baptized by the rainfall. The morning air was crisp and everywhere throughout the city was the smell of freshness. We began our trek by bus at 6:30 in the morning, and were dropped off at the end of the Via della Conciliazione. We disembarked under the watchful gaze of St. Michael standing atop the Castle San Angelo. Thousands of the faithful thronged down the street, and a happy yet spiritual mood prevailed. As we made our way to St. Peter’s Square we could see that it was already filled with a vast number of people. Cathy and I stepped back briefly to see if there might be another possible entrance into the Square and unfortunately were separated from our group. We walked back towards the river and the Church of Santa Maria in
Christendom in Ireland July 26 – August 16, 2004 Two 3-credit courses: Irish History and Irish Literature One week of study at Christendom 15 days of travel in Ireland Escorted by Dr. and Mrs. Timothy O’Donnell Daily Mass offered by Fr. John Heisler For more information contact Christina Lundberg at 800-877-5456 ext. 211 or clundberg@christendom.edu
Once the Mass began the Pope uttered with some difficulty the formula for beatification in Latin. At that moment the beautiful tapestry of Mother Teresa was unveiled and flew gently in the morning breeze. The image of Mother Teresa on the tapestry smiling and the glory of Michelangelo’s dome made for an unforgettable experience. As the Pope finished the crowd burst forth in applause and song as she was elevated to the altars. Once again heaven and earth seemed confluent as the Church militant, the Church suffering and the Church triumphant all blended into one profound spiritual experience. The glory of our Catholic Faith manifested here, regardless of wealth, rank or position, was beauty in art, beauty in language, beauty in liturgy, and beauty in sanctity for men and women everywhere to share in and enjoy. At Communion time, it was truly touching to see young and old, men and women alike (including a number of religious women) fall to their knees on the street after receiving our Lord. They knelt and prayed softly and devoutly, recognizing that they held within their bosom the Creator of the Universe who had once again manifested His love and come down to them. Cathy and I also made our reflection in the gutter of the street, kneeling in silent adoration of our blessed Lord . At the end of the lengthy ceremony, our Holy Father, despite his suffering, took time to drive throughout the crowd bestowing his blessing. By that time Cathy and I had worked our way back to our group. As one of the members of our group proudly held aloft a Papal flag, I watched the gold and yellow flash in the sunlight of that morning. As I beheld the symbols of the tiara and the keys which Christ Himself gave to St. Peter floating on a beautiful breeze, I found myself thinking about what a great gift and mystery our Faith is. As the vicar of Christ drove by bestowing his blessing, tears flowed and men and women everywhere felt strengthened and renewed by the his love and example. Indeed, we felt the blessing of Christ Himself who had bestowed upon us as an act of love this His vicar on earth. What a truly great and glorious thing it is to be a Roman Catholic. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your prayers, love and support this past year. I wish you the fullness of God’s blessings during this Christmas season when we all will celebrate once again God’s great gift of Himself, as a little baby born in a stable in Bethlehem. God truly is Emmanuel, God with us. May He bless each and every one of you!
On the Eve of the Feast of the Annunciation, March 24, 2004, please join us in celebrating the Patronal Feast of the Notre Dame Graduate School Keynote address to be given by Carl A. Anderson Supreme Knight Knights of Columbus For invitational information, please contact Meg McNeely at 800-877-5456 ext. 255 or mmcneely@christendom.edu
3
INSTAURARE, December 2003
John Haas Explains Biotech Threats to Humanity
M
“Medical science now treats man as veterinary medicine had dealt with lower animals. Contraceptive and reproductive techniques, some of which have been around for centuries, were never applied to human beings until our own day. Cats would be spayed, dogs neutered. Now we do it to human beings. Artificial insemination has long been standard in the breeding of cattle. We now do it to women. Human life in its coming into being
Haas said he understands that individuals try to accomplish good through use of many of the new procedures in the so-called reproductive technologies. “Great human good can come from contemporary advances in microbiology and biochemistry, but these advances will turn to bitter ash if they are achieved at the expense of the human person,” he cautioned. “This human embryo lying in a petri dish was created a little lower than the angels and is destined to be crowned in glory and honor. To destroy it, to experiment upon it, to use it for the benefit of others is to violate its dignity and the dignity of those who would so use it.”
The Catholic Church teaches in Donum Vitae that the fruit of human generation, from the first moment of its existence, that is to say, from the moment the zygote has formed, demands the unconditional respect that is morally due to the human being in his bodily and Dr. John Haas speaks with Christendom students Colin Mason and Breana Harrington spiritual totality, said Haas. following his talk on Biotech Threats to Humanity on November 10. The human being is to be is no longer considered human life and is subjected to respected and treated as a person from the moment of experimentation and the ignominy of cryopreservaconception; and therefore from that same moment his tion. We no longer treat human beings with the awe rights as a person must be recognized, among which in and reverence due to those endowed with the Divine the first place is the inviolable right of every innocent image. What does this mean for man as the biotech human being to life. century dawns? Myriad new ways have been developed for engendering human life, and many of them result “This new century may be one of new human hope only in man paying the price in damage and injury, even as if we enthusiastically undertake the re-evangelization he tries to draw the maximum profit.” of culture under the teaching and governing authority of the Church, because the transcendent vision of the Thus began Dr. John M. Haas, President of The Nahuman person must be restored if man is to be safe even tional Catholic Bioethics Center in Boston, MA, in his in his natural condition,” concluded Haas. talk entitled “Catholic Morality in a Brave New World: Biotech Threats to the Human Person.” Dr. Haas received his PhD in Moral Theology from The Catholic University of America and his STL in Moral Speaking to the College community as the second of Theology from the University of Fribourg, Switzerland. Christendom’s 2003-04 Major Speakers, Haas discussed He also has a Master of Divinity degree from Nashocurrent issues in bioethics and how the Church responds tah House Episcopal Seminary and has studied at the to them. The Church has here shown remarkable preUniversity of Munich and the University of Chicago science, actually condemning cloning in 1987 (Donum Divinity School. Vitae), ten years prior to the first cloning of a sheep. At the same time, the Church condemned the engendering of human life through parthenogenesis, a technique that has been developed, albeit not yet successfully, in only the last few years. “How was the Church able to anticipate and morally assess a means of engendering life before it had even been tried? How is it equipped to reflect morally on human developments even before they occur?” asked Haas. “Because the Church is ‘the expert in humanity,’ as Pope Paul VI put it. The Church knows the purposes for which man was created and so can unerringly judge whether certain actions will thwart those purposes.”
PILGRIMAGE...
Christendom College is pleased to announce that the following undergraduate students have been awarded the following full or partial scholarships: St. Catherine of Siena Scholarship Marcy Teague Alumni Scholarship Stephen Hambleton, Thomas Hambleton Mary Lademan, Clare O’Reilly Jacinta Scheetz, Alex Scrivener Bryan Scrivener, Tom Williams George and Mary Creed Scholarship Elizabeth Black Kline Endowment Andrew Bodoh David T. Ricks Scholarship Stuart Bellow Padre Pio Memorial Scholarship Joseph Woodard Harvey Noel Scholarship John Archer Sacred Heart Scholarship Elizabeth Ascik Hans and Margaret Wend Scholarship Nicole Suprenant Martin R. Smith Scholarship Draper Warren Harold W. Welch Memorial Scholarship Christina Matatics Valary and Howard Morrison Scholarship Emma Fritcher Marie O’Donohue Memorial Scholarship John English Benjamin F. Homan Memorial Scholarship Angela McNeely Mary F. Doyle Memorial Scholarship Carly Campagna Fr. James Cowan Scholarship Kathleen Gilbert, Sylvia Smith Continued from Front Page away. Built in 1965 in anticipation of her canonization, the Shrine is a beautiful tribute to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. On August 28, 1976, the chapel was solemnly dedicated as the Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Chapel by the Most Reverend William D. Borders, Archbishop of Baltimore. In 1991, Pope John Paul II designated the Shrine Chapel a Minor Basilica. On August 4, 1991, Archbishop Agostino Cacciavilan, Apostolic Pro-Nuncio to the United States, presided at the designation ceremony.
Haas stressed the impossibility of addressing the ethical issues of reproductive technologies or cloning or stemcell research without understanding the cultural context that fundamentally shapes the debate about them and gives meaning to the words being used and that furnishes certain presuppositions governing the debate. “The presuppositions most prominent in our society go by the names of moral relativism, utilitarianism, and human autonomy,” said Haas. “And the one word that has come to embody them all in popular culture is choice. I will choose whether I live or die – if you are sufficiently weak and vulnerable and dependent, I will choose whether you live or die.”
Fall 2003 Scholarships
The Christendom group assisted at an afternoon Mass in the Shrine Chapel, with the College’s choir providing the sacred music for the celebration. Following the Mass, the Sorrowful mysteries were prayed in community. The College-wide pilgrimage is becoming a Christendom tradition. In 2000 the entire community journeyed to the Basilica of the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC, in celebration of the Jubilee Year. Sophomore Sebastien Jansen prays the Rosary with the entire Christendom College community on pilgrimage on October 2.
4
INSTAURARE, December 2003
Scholarly Wanderings of Professor William Fahey Dr. William Fahey, Chairman of the Classical and Early Christian Studies Department, spoke at The Russell Kirk Center for Cultural Renewal in Mecosta, MI, last summer. His audience of Richard M. Weaver Fellows were intrigued by his insight into the localist political vision of man of letters Russell Kirk. The Weaver Fellowship is given to outstanding graduate students in North America and Great Britain who hold promise of becoming scholars defending the Western tradition. There are over half a dozen former Weaver fellows in the Christendom community, the highest concentration in any academic institution in the United States. Later in the summer Fahey was a faculty member at the International Institute for Culture Summer Seminar on Faith and Culture (Eichstätt, Bavaria). Lead by Dr. John Haas, the IIC Summer Seminar has been held in Bavaria for two decades. Scholars and students met for three weeks of lectures, excursions, and community life in the heart of Catholic Bavaria. Fahey lectured on the origins of the liturgical year, the Rule of St. Benedict, and St. Augustine’s City of God. In August, Fahey began his tenure as a member of the faculty of the Intercollegiate Studies Western Civilization Honors Program. The first seminar was held at Oriel College, Oxford University, England. Fahey is the faculty mentor for two American students this year: one from the University of Notre Dame and the other
Dr. William Fahey (right) spent three weeks in Bavaria teaching at the International Institute for Culture Summer Seminar. Also participating in the program were alumni Marc-Pierre Jansen ‘02 (left) and Michael Wallacavage ‘89 (center).
from the University of Arkansas. Finally, Fahey and his wife Amy were special guests of the Intercollegiate Studies Institute at their Gala 50th anniversary dinner held in Washington, DC, on October 23. Among the nearly one thousand dinner guests were many Christendom faculty, staff, and students. The following morning the Faheys were honored to attend a White House breakfast in memory of Dr. Russell Kirk. Both Dr. and Mrs. Fahey were personal assistants to Russell Kirk during the last few years of his life.
Medieval Festivities Make Parents’ Weekend Success Christendom’s Medieval Festival took place on All Saints’ Day and was a great success. Looking around the St. Lawrence Commons, one saw knights, ladies, gypsies, friars, peasants, and many other interesting characters enjoying the festivities. This year, the Lords and Ladies’ contest included six events: bobbing for apples, a catapult shoot, an etiquette challenge, chivalric lore, fighting with Friar Tuck, and fencing. Other events included Saints Bingo, Hit-a-Heretic, a morality play, juggling, crafts for kids, and many food and entertainment booths, all run by students. The festival took place during Parents’ Weekend, as it did last year. Sixty-two students had parents come from all over the country. This year, parents had the opportunity to attend special classes designed for them, including College History 101 with Tom McGraw, Career Development 101 with Tom VanderWoude, and Rome Program 101 with Senior Maria Brake. Other activities included basketball games (Crusaders VS Alumni, and the Lady Crusaders VS Franciscan University), an All Hallow’s Eve celebration with the roasting of the pig (later named Ollie – after the English heretic Oliver Cromwell), and a King’s Banquet.
Sr. Prokes Observes Pontifical Academy of Sciences Sister M. Timothy Prokes, FSE, Professor of Theology at Christendom’s Notre Dame Graduate School, was invited to be an observer at the 400th Anniversary Meeting of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, held November 7-
11 at the newly restored Casina Pius IV, in the Vatican Gardens. Members of the Pontifical Academy are appointed by the Pope, and represent a variety of nations, disciplines, and beliefs. Among the current 80 members, 30 have been awarded the Nobel Prize. Galileo was among the first members of the Academy. The presentations from two working groups at this year’s meeting focused on “Mind, Brain, and Education,” and “Stem Cell Technology,” of particular interest to Sr. Prokes in regard to scientific research and Theology of the Body.
NDGS Professor Sr. M. Timothy Prokes, FSE, met the Holy Father in an audience for members and observers who were invited to attend the 400th Anniversary Meeting of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences.
(Above) Dr. Tony Andres and family dress for the times - Medieval times. (Below) Students Mike McSheffrey, John Burger, and Sebastien Jansen jesting, juggling, and fooling around.
Pope John Paul II received in Audience the Academy members, guest Presidents of Academies of Science from around the world, and observers. There was an opportunity for each in attendance to greet the Holy Father. The conference members had their daily noon meal at Domus Sanctae Marthae, the small “hotel” which Pope John Paul II had built within Vatican City mainly as a residence for the Cardinals meeting in conclave.
Al Regnery Reveals Startling Facts About Reading Habits of Americans As part of the ongoing lecture series sponsored by Christendom’s own Cincinnatus League, Albert Regnery delivered a talk on the publishing profession to interested members of the Christendom community on October 5. Past speakers have included moral theologian Dr. William May, author Tom Bethell (husband of Christendom Board Chairman, Donna Bethell), and former Assistant Secretary of Education Kenneth Whitehead.
publisher of American Spectator.
faith and reason,” he concluded.
In his lecture, Regnery presented interesting and revealing facts about Americans and their reading habits. According to Regnery, 65% of Americans have never purchased a book, and of the 35% of people who actually buy books, only 20% of those actually buy non-fiction.
“That means only 21 million Americans read works of history, philosophy, theology, political Al Regnery is the son of science, economics, and other publisher Henry Regnery non-fiction works. It seems too of Regnery-Gateway, Inc, that of those who read fiction, of Washington, DC. Two they are not reading great clasof his firm’s early successes sic and modern literature, but were God and Man at Yale, they are only reading the likes of the book that launched the Tom Clancy, John Grisham, and career of William F. Buckley, Publisher Al Regnery delivered a lecture at Chris- the endless volumes of Danielle tendom College on October 5. Jr, and Russell Kirk’s The Steele’s romance novels. It is Conservative Mind. Regnery, no wonder that our country’s who assumed his father’s position as president of the educational system, morals, and overall sexually-based publishing house and also served as Deputy Attorney lifestyle is the way it is considering only 7% of people General in the Reagan administration, is currently the read books that contribute to developing society through
Published quarterly by the Christendom College Development Office. Managing Editor, Layout, Design: Tom McFadden Copy Editor: Kathleen Blum Contributors: Tom McFadden, John Ciskanik, William Fahey, Sr. M. Timothy Prokes, Maria Brake, David M.A. Wallace, Leah Marsh, Kurt Poterack. Christendom College 134 Christendom Drive, Front Royal, VA 22630 (800) 877-5456 ~ www.christendom.edu Copyright © 2003. Permission to reprint in whole or in part is hereby granted, provided the following credit line is used: “Reprinted by permission from INSTAURARE, the quarterly newsletter of Christendom College (www.christendom.edu).” SUBSCRIPTION FREE UPON REQUEST.
5
INSTAURARE, December 2003
Fr. Koterski Connects Dante’s Divine Comedy to President O’Donnell to be Theological Judge of Aquinas’ Summa Theologiae On October 6, Fr. Joseph Koterski delivered the examined the idea of determinism and whether the New Virginia Saints first of Christendom College’s 2003-04 stars or any outside sources had any effect on humans’ Major Speakers Program lectures. The free will choices, Fr. Koterski explained. Dante title of his lecture was “Learning from recognized that various forces influence the will Aquinas: Dante on Free Choice of in its choices, but that those same influences do the Will.” not deny human freedom. Reverend Joseph W. Koterski, SJ, “Despite the fact that we are necessaris Chair of the Philosophy ily attracted to what we perceive as Department at Fordham good, we are also free by virtue of University, where he has the superior power of the will to taught since shortly after the attraction of any good his priestly ordination we could meet in this in 1992. He also serves life,” concluded Fr. as the Editor-in-Chief Koterski. of International Philosophical Quarterly and as Chaplain and Tutor in Queen’s Court Residen- Reverend Joseph Koterski, SJ, delivered a lecture entitled “Learning from Aquinas: Dante on Free Choice of the Will” on October 6. tial College for Freshmen on Fordham’s Rose Hill campus. Among his recent publications are The Two Wings of Catholic Thoughts: Essays on Fides et Ratio (Catholic University of America Press, 2003) and Karl Jaspers on Philosophy of History and History of Philosophy (Humanity Press, 2003). In October, Dr. John Cuddeback, Associate Professor of Philosophy, delivered a paper at the annual conferIn his lecture, Fr. Koterski explained that Dante’s ence of the American Maritain Association in Chicago. Divine Comedy is extremely alert to philosophical and The conference, titled “A Culture of Freedom,” featured theological insights from St. Thomas Aquinas, whose several of the most prominent Thomists in America: works Dante studied with the Dominicans of Santa Alasdair MacIntyre, Ralph McInerny, Fr. Romanus CesMaria Novella in Florence. sario, and Russell Hittinger. Cuddeback’s paper, “A Free Culture: Living the Primacy of the For-Itself,” focused Fr. Koterski focused on Cantos 16-19 of the Purgatorio, on an often overlooked way of gauging the freedom of where, according to Koterski, “the character Dante a culture: whether its structures bespeak the primacy of learns first from Marco Lombardo and then from Virgil spiritual over material goods. According to Cuddeback, about the proper philosophical understanding of free the surest road to a truly free culture is to heed Pope choice of the will.” The explanation related by Dante is John Paul II’s call to “adopt a new life-style, consisting thoroughly Thomistic and extremely sensitive to various in making practical choices...on the basis of a correct crucial distinctions that are emphasized by Aquinas in scale of values: the primacy of being over having, of the the Summa Theologiae. person over things.” [Evangelium Vitae, #98] In the Purgatorio, Dante, through the use of poetry,
Dr. Cuddeback Attends Maritain Conference
Fifth Annual Sacred Art Exhibit Held at College The Beato Fra Angelico Fine Arts Program, under the direction of Dr. Kurt Poterack and with the help of alumnus Damian Fedoryka, sponsored Christendom College’s Fifth Annual Sacred Art Exhibit from October 27- November 2 in the Chapel Crypt.
The exhibit featured works created by over fourteen artists from the Washington DC area and beyond, including the iconography of alumnus Bob Wiesner. Many of the beautiful pieces were available for purchase at the conclusion of the exhibit.
Christendom President Timothy T. O’Donnell has been appointed an expert in the Cause of Beatification and Canonization of the Servants of God, Father Juan Bautista de Segura and Companions, the Spanish Jesuit Martyrs of Virginia. At the request of Father Russell E. Smith, Postulator for the Cause, O’Donnell will judge the work of the Historical Commission. Two of the eight Jesuit missionaries killed in 1571 by American Indians were priests - Fathers Juan Bautista de Segura, Jesuit vice provincial of Havana, Cuba, and Luis de Quiros, former head of the Jesuit college among the Moors in Spain. Three were Jesuit brothers and three were novices in the society. The Jesuits arrived in Virginia in September 1570. The missionaries settled near an Indian village near Yorktown at a time when the mid-Atlantic region was enduring a long period of famine. Therefore, the missionaries had to depend greatly on the Indians for their food and sustenance. The Jesuits had an Indian guide, Don Luis, who was originally from the Tidewater area but had been taken to Spain by an earlier expedition. A young Spanish boy, Alonso Olmos, also accompanied the priests to act as altar server at Masses. Don Luis abandoned the Jesuits after a few days. On February 4, 1571, Father Segura sent his fellow priest and two of the novices to plead with their guide to return. Upon arrival at the Indian camp, the three missionaries were slaughtered. Don Luis arrived at St. Mary’s Mission five days later and killed the remaining Jesuits. This is the second cause the diocese has opened for canonization in the past two years. The other was announced in February of 2002 for Frank Parater, a Richmond seminarian at the North American College in Rome, who died in 1920 and enjoyed a “reputation for sanctity and heroic virtues.” O’Donnell is also a theological expert for Parater’s cause.
William May Appointed to Congregation for the Clergy On September 4, Pope John Paul II named Dr. William E. May, professor of Moral Theology at Christendom College’s Notre Dame Graduate School, as one of 21 new consultors for the Vatican’s Congregation for Clergy. Included in this number were two US bishops: Archbishop Daniel Buechlein of Indianapolis, IN, and Bishop Raymond Burke of La Crosse, WI. Also among the new consultors are priests of various orders, including the Priestly Fraternity of the St. Charles Borromeo Missionaries, the Opus Dei Personal Prelature, and the Legionaries of Christ, and instructors and professors at seminaries and pontifical universities. According to the Vatican’s website, the Congregation for Clergy has three distinct duties. First, it suggests and promotes initiatives for the holiness and intellectual and pastoral renewal of the clergy (diocesan priests and deacons), and for their permanent formation. Second, it is responsible for the religious formation of the faithful of all ages (catechesis). And third, it is responsible for the preservation and administration of the Church’s temporal assets, in particular the remuneration and health care of the clergy.
Alumnus Bob Wiesner’s icon (on the right) was one of the numerous pieces of art on display at the College’s Fifth Annual Sacred Art Exhibit. Husband of alumna Mary (Rohan) Wingate, Henry Wingate, also contributed a beautiful painting (above).
His Eminence Dario Cardinal Castrillon-Hoyos serves as Prefect for the Congregation.
6
INSTAURARE, December 2003
Renowned Genuis Gives Concert at Christendom Alumni in FOCUS
I
Internationally recognized classical musician Eric Genuis gave an outstanding performance at Christendom on November 6. The hour-long free concert was held in Christendom’s St. Lawrence Commons. Genuis was accompanied by violinist William Merimee. As a point of interest, the piano on which Genuis played was a gift of the Class of 2003 to the College. Since the age of seven when he played his first tentative notes, music has been more than simple entertainment to Genuis. Years of dedication brought first class performance honors and success in international piano competitions. As the young composer matured, he brought to life in words and music his other great passion, the Catholic Faith. An internationally-recognized classi-
cal musician, composer and performer, Eric achieved first-class honors with a Piano Performance Degree from the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, Canada, in 1988.
Upon graduating from Christendom in 1997, Mary Claire Almeter wanted to do something with her life which would help further the College’s mission “to restore all things in Christ.”
From the serene and reflective moods of albums like No Greater Love and Truth Never Changes to the classically influenced instrumental collection Eternity, this gifted young songsmith has crafted a distinctive sound that ranges from majestic to meditative and can be appreciated by all audiences. As solo piano gives way to lush, sweeping string arrangements, this is contemporary music that is never banal or superficial, but instead communicates an award-winning musician’s genuine passion for the peace and joy to be found in the Catholic Faith.
In 1998, she learned of the newly established Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS) based in Colorado. The intent of this organization is to design a campus-based ministry that fosters among college and university students a deep conversion to Jesus Christ within the framework of the Catholic Church. Their mission is fulfilled through small group Bible studies, personal discipleship, large group leadership training, and Christian fellowship.
The appeal of Eric Genuis and his music have been proven in concert tours around the US and the world. In addition to his solo career, he often performs with RADIX, providing soul-stirring instrumental accompaniment to Doug Barry’s powerful Meditation on the Passion of Christ. In these live performances, audiences experience both the depth of faith communicated through Eric’s melodies and lyrics, and also his own heartfelt explanations of the symbolism and imagery to be found in them. Internationally renowned pianist Eric Genuis was accompanied by violinist William Merimee during a free concert at Christendom College on November 6.
ISI Chooses Christendom as the Right College In the newly-revised 2004 college guide, Choosing the Right College, composed by the Intercollegiate Studies Institute and published by ISI Books, Christendom College is once again listed among the top 125 colleges in the US.
According to William J. Bennett, former Secretary of Education and Chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities under President Reagan, and Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy under President George H. Bush, “ISI’s guide to Choosing the Right College...offers tough-minded analysis of the quality of instruction, the level of academic standards, the campus political atmosphere, and the extent to which the liberal arts tradition is respected and cultivated. It is one of those rare books that cuts through the information glut to the heart of the matter.” Endorsed by everyone from Dr. Laura Schlessinger to Fr. Richard John Neuhaus, Choosing the Right College is a much needed tool for parents and students who wish to avoid colleges that will, according to syndicated col-
umnist Cal Thomas, “support the systematic destruction of the values, faith, and worldview they have spent so many years building up.” In speaking of Christendom’s mission “to restore all things in Christ,” Choosing writes that “this belief in and commitment to truth sets Christendom apart from the great run of colleges and universities today, and has led the school to create a challenging and coherent program that turns out exceptionally well-educated and able graduates.” Christendom has been ranked in each edition of ISI’s college guide, the first being published in 1998, and not surprisingly. According to the guide, Christendom’s 84-hour core curriculum “goes far beyond what even many ‘good’ liberal arts colleges require....With an all-encompassing vision of the liberal arts driving the curriculum, the faculty and administration are at pains to create an educational experience in which each course, major, and rule for community life contributes to an integrated Catholic worldview.”
Christendom’s Faith & Reason Undergoes Renovations Faith & Reason - The Journal of Christendom College is enjoying new life and promise under the editorship of Christendom professor William Fahey. Fahey has changed the appearance and content of the journal. A redesigned cover now bears the College’s seal and marks a return to the
journal’s original simplicity, as do slight changes in the font and layout. Fahey has also introduced a section featuring new translations or rarely-printed works of Catholic writers. The essay section remains largely the same, but the review section has been expanded. What has not changed is the journal’s commitment to articulating the relationship between faith, reason, and culture. Faith & Reason is published quarterly by Christendom College and is available by calling 1-800698-6649 or going to www.christendompress.com. An individual subscription costs $25.
Mary Claire was the first of what is now a group of seven Christendom grads to enter this particular missionary field. The founder of FOCUS, Curtis Martin, believes that the graduates coming out of Christendom are particularly well-suited and prepared to serve as missionaries because of their grounding in Catholic apologetics and moral theology; Church history and philosophy; and because of their love of the Truth. “In FOCUS’ work of evangelization with university students, we have found no better place to recruit new staff than Christendom College,” says Martin. “The graduates have an evangelistic fire and the intellectual formation to proclaim the faith with great effectiveness.” Elisabeth Boever and Sarah Akers graduated from Christendom in 2000. Like Mary Claire, they too had the idea of going out into the world and spreading the Good News. They decided to join FOCUS. Now, Elisabeth, in her second year with FOCUS, serves as Campus Director at the University of Illinois and Sarah is in her third year serving as Campus Director at Benedictine College in Kansas. “As I discovered the ways others had invested in me throughout my life, I came to the realization that I needed to share this opportunity,” says Boever. “There is a tremendous amount of benefit that comes in sharing the knowledge of the faith, and I am continually challenged to learn and grow. As FOCUS staff we strive to be a living witness of Christ in the lives of the students.” Members of Christendom’s Class of 2002 Christine Wright and Katie Almeter also joined FOCUS upon graduation. Christine is now the Campus Director at George Mason University in Virginia and Katie is a missionary at Illinois State University. Ben Akers and Heather Rankin graduated in 1998. After initially thinking about a religious vocation, they both realized that God was calling them to marriage. In 2000, they joined the staff of FOCUS and began dating each other. In August of 2002, Ben and Heather married and continued to work as missionaries at the University of Colorado, where Ben now acts as Campus Director. “Christendom had a profound effect on my life because the Truth was presented in such a beautiful and coherent way,” says Akers. “College students today deeply desire the answers to the really big questions of life. By sharing this same Truth in a way that college students can understand, I’ve seen hearts change and have even witnessed conversions.” Besides entering the work force as lawyers, computer specialists, accountants and such, many Christendom graduates choose to work in the lay apostolate as missionaries and teachers, or to enter the religious life serving the Church as priests, brothers, and sisters, all cooperating to fulfill the College’s mission: “to restore all things in Christ.”
7
INSTAURARE, December 2003
Christendom’s Choir and Schola Gregoriana Release New Christmas Recording
C
Christendom College is known for its culture and traditions. And part of that rich Catholic tradition is music, most especially liturgical music. In fact, traditional liturgical music and chant is a forte of the College’s choir and schola, which sing at each 10am Sunday Mass in the Chapel of Christ the King. Two years ago, the College’s choir recorded its first CD, comprised solely of liturgical music. Now, it announces the release of its first Christmas compact disc recording, For Unto Us A Child Is Born. Dr. Kurt Poterack, Director of the Christendom Choir, gathered together an “all-star” choir, composed of a number of highly talented area alumni along with the
Planned Gifts
Bequests. Typically, a gift to Christendom College in your will (or revocable trust) is easy to arrange, does not affect your assets or cash flow during your lifetime, and is revocable. A bequest can deliver a specific dollar amount or asset to Christendom, or it can give a percentage of the balance remaining in your estate after taxes and specific bequests have been paid. It can be directed to a specific program or purpose of your choosing, or you can tell us to use it for the need that we believe is most pressing. Sample language: Specific Bequest - I bequeath Twenty Thousand ($20,000) Dollars [or: all my General Motors stock] to Christendom College, a Virginia non-profit corporation located in Front Royal, Virginia. Residuary Bequest - I bequeath Ten Percent (10%) of the residue of my estate to Christendom College, a Virginia non-profit corporation located in Front Royal, Virginia. Contingent Bequest – If my nephew does not survive me or is unable to inherit this bequest, I direct that it be paid to Christendom College, a Virginia non-profit corporation located in Front Royal, Virginia. Gifts from Retirement Plans. If the largest asset in your estate is your retirement plan – 401(k), IRA, Keough, or other such account – you may be surprised to learn that the IRS will impose income tax on any balance that you direct to a non-spouse beneficiary. For estates fully subject to the estate tax, as much as 70 percent of the retirement plan will be consumed by a combination of income taxes and estate taxes. A sensible charitable alternative is to name Christendom College as the beneficiary of your retirement plan, then use other assets not subject to income tax to make gifts to your heirs. We won’t pay income tax on our distribution and your heirs will receive their share of your estate without the burden of extra taxes. Gifts of Life Insurance. Our supporters often overlook the benefits of giving a life insurance policy to Christendom College. If you are carrying more insurance coverage than your family obligations now require, you may find a hidden gift asset in a surplus, paid-up policy. Alternatively, you could create a gift for the future by taking out a new policy and naming Christendom as the owner and beneficiary, thus creating an endowment gift from income rather than capital.
best of the current students, and recorded the CD in March of 2003. The result is magnificent and will surely help the listener ponder the true meaning of Christmas. The selections on the CD represent a journey through Advent to Christmas day. Thus there are liturgical antiphons and Marian pieces from the Advent season which, though often unfamiliar, are very beautiful. All of these are sung without instrumental accompaniment – as is the tradition during the Advent season. The climax of the CD is reached when Christmas morning is signaled with a solo organ piece, Bach’s Prelude in G major BWV 541, performed by Christendom junior Jacinta Whittaker. After this, both liturgical and devotional music of the Christmas season proper is performed. Such familiar carols as Joy to the World, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, and O Come All Ye Faithful mingle with movements from a Mass associated with Christmas (Victoria’s Missa O Magnum Mysterium) and traditional Christmas chant pieces such as Puer natus est and Puer natus in Bethlehem. Aside from organ accompaniment, a professional local brass quintet performed some sparkling accompaniments to
the familiar Christmas carols. The cover of the CD is a reproduction of a painting, Madonna of the Quail, by alumnus Patrick Diemer, ‘84 ,who passed away on March 5, 2002. The CD sells for $15.95 and can be purchased by contacting 1-800-698-6649 or visiting Christendom Press online at www.christendompress.com.
Planned Giving Supports a Planned Need Recently Christendom benefactors have become more interested in planned giving to the College, particularly in charitable gift annuities. In the past few years alone, Christendom has written more than $1 million in annuity contracts. This phenomenon is most welcome, as planned gifts are the means by which the College will increase its building endowment. The building endowment becomes more important with each passing year. As the ‘square foot space under roof ’ on campus increases, Director of Operations Mike Foeckler, ‘85, and his dedicated staff have seen a proportionate increase in the manpower and resources needed to maintain, repair, upgrade, and beautify Christendom’s buildings and grounds. In the fall, the St. John the Evangelist library will open
and add 40,000 sq. feet of ‘space under roof ’ to the already complex array of academic, residential, spiritual, administrative, and recreational facilities on the Front Royal campus. In anticipation of this, the College administration is working to increase planned giving to the building endowment. If you are making estate plans and are concerned about the future of Catholic higher education, please visit Christendom’s new planned giving site on www. christendom.edu. The informational box to the left offers a brief description of four different planned gifts you and your tax advisor may review together. Please refer to Christendom’s web site for more details or contact John Ciskanik at 800-877-5456 ext. 250.
Christendom Players Bring Life to Our Town The Christendom College Players performed Thornton Wilder’s Pulitzer Prize winning play, Our Town, in four outstanding shows on November 14-16. The production was directed by student Michael Powell. Our Town is very simple, yet very profound. It follows the lives of two young people, and their relationships with each other, their families, and other townspeople, and is a meditation on life and death.
Charitable Gift Annuities. A CGA is a simple contract providing for our fixed payment to you (and an optional second beneficiary, such as a spouse) of a fixed amount for life in return for your contribution. The minimum gift to establish a charitable gift annuity is low – a contribution of $5,000 or more will enable you to share in the benefits of this program. CGA’s offer three distinct tax benefits: income tax charitable deduction, avoidance of capital gains tax (if your gift is made with appreciated securities) and partial tax-free return of your principal.
Mrs. Gibbs (sophomore Leah Marsh) has a talk with her two delightful children, George (freshman Julian Ahlquist) and Rebecca (freshman Corinne Accettullo), during the Christendom Players fall production of Our Town.
Your gift annuity can start paying you once you make your contribution (immediate-payment annuity) or payments can commence at a later date (deferred-payment annuity) selected by you. Deferral allows Christendom to offer you an even higher rate and gives you an even larger charitable deduction. Many younger donors create a series of deferred gift annuities over multiple years, jointly timed to begin making payments when they retire. To fund their gifts, they use assets they have already designated for retirement savings. Their deferred gift annuities give them an income tax deduction when they most need it, and an additional source of cash during their retirement years.
Mr. Webb (junior Joe Powell) tells his daughter Emily (freshman Monica Briggs) not to be afraid of getting married.
Prof. Willard (sophomore Derek Rogers) explains various statistics about the town to the Stage Manager (senior Mike Powell).
8
INSTAURARE, December 2003
Students Retreat from Campus in Silence
F
Fourteen Christendom students went on a week-long silent retreat during fall break with the Community of St. John in Princeville, IL. The prior of the St. Joseph’s Novitiate in Princeville is alumnus Fr. Joseph Mary Brown ‘85. The retreat was organized so that the students could benefit from the simple and contemplative life of the brothers and sisters of the Community. Fr. Joseph Mary called it a training camp for apostles. “It was an incredible experience and I believe it to be the culmination of my four years here at Christendom,” said Senior Maria Brake. “The monastery was out in the middle of nowhere; there was nothing and no one around to distract you. It was a whole week with you and God and pretty much nothing else. It’s amazing how much easier it is to hear the soft whisper of God
through Scripture and your prayer time with Him when there is little to distract you. I thank God for such a wonderful blessing.” The Community of St. John is a contemplative order founded in 1977 in France by Dominican priest Fr. Dominique Marie Philippe. The Brothers’ apostolate is youth ministry. The Sisters lead a more contemplative life and their apostolate is prayer. The retreat consisted of conferences, private prayer time, daily holy hours, Mass, and the Liturgy of the Hours. The Christendom students also had the opportunity to sit in on some philosophy classes that the Brothers and Sisters taught. However, the days were not entirely contemplative. Time was set aside for helping the Community with their gardening and yard work as well as for sports activities. The students even went for a 15-mile bike ride with Fr. Joseph Mary, up and down hills and through a cornfield!
Mary McFadden ‘98 married Jonathan Brand on October 25.
The retreat in Princeville bore much fruit in the hearts of those fourteen students. They were all smiles upon returning to campus and had nothing but good to say of their week away. Retreaters :(back row l to r) Brandon Vaughan, Andy Bodoh, Nick Oligny, Jimmy Blankenship, Corey Morgan, Dan Delaney, Fr. Joseph Mary, Kathleen Rock, Chrissy Walsh, Jacob Meza, and Clare O’Reilly. (front) Maria Brake, Jessica Morgan, Mary Rose Lombard, and Michele Winslow.
The ever-popular East vs West football game was held on October 12. The East defeated the West by a score of 42-20.
Freshman Michele Fox rushes the football to score a touchdown during the annual girls Powder Puff football game.
Alumna Megan Bukowski married Mike Reese ‘02 on October 25.
The first Friday of each month is eagerly anticipated by the alumni of Christendom College. On that day, the monthly alumni newsletter is uploaded to Christendom’s website (www.christendom.edu). The Grapevine Online, as it is called, is celebrating its second anniversary of providing alumni news and information on a monthly basis.
But for the alumni who live further afield, the monthly newsletter is a treasure.
Arlington Catholic Herald, and The Washington Times. Additionally, announcements about certain College events, such as upcoming speakers, can be found on the news page.
The Grapevine Online Celebrates Second Anniversary; News Stories Abound
Beginning in December of 2001, Christendom’s College Relations Officer, Tom McFadden ‘90, began writing and editing the monthly online publication for his fellow alumni. Prior to that time, the Grapevine was published sporadically in a printed format. “The alumni tend to be very interested in the lives of their fellow alumni,” says McFadden. “Each month, the number of ‘hits’ that The Grapevine Online receives confirms this. The first Friday of each month has become Christendom’s busiest for internet traffic on its website.” The majority of Christendom’s 1300+ alumni now reside in the greater Washington, DC metropolitan area, and thus need not depend as heavily on The Grapevine Online for information about many fellow alumni.
“Sometimes I feel that Christendom is getting so big, what with its 370+ students and 1300+ alumni. I think that when I was there we had about 175 students and many less alumni,” says Michael Blackmer, a 1991 graduate who now lives in Columbus, OH. “But when I read the monthly Grapevine, I feel much closer to my alma mater and realize that although Christendom is growing, it is still the same old Christendom that I know and love.” To submit articles, pictures, or news for The Grapevine Online, please contact Tom McFadden at tmcfadden@ christendom.edu. Sidenote: Christendom’s news page on its website (www.christendom.edu/news/releases.shtml) is updated approximately once a week. In fact, there were 50 news stories uploaded to the site in 2002, and approximately 52 stories in 2003. Many of the stories that can be read on the site are eventually published in this newsletter, Instaurare, while others are published in various newspapers around the country, including The Wanderer, The
If you would like to be placed on an email list to receive the news stories as they are published, please send an email to the College’s webmaster, Tom McFadden, at tmcfadden@christendom.edu. CHRISTENDOM CALENDAR January 20
Semester Begins
22
March for Life (no classes) February
9
Major Speaker: Harry W. Crocker
21
Alumni Network Career Mentoring Reception March
15
Major Speaker: Dr. Regis Martin
20-28 Spring Break 24
NDGS Patronal Feast Celebration