Silence of Monks

Silence of Monks

“For it becomes the master to speak and to teach, but it beseems the disciple to be silent and to listen.” The Rule of St. Benedict Fall break. I am spending a week with fourteen college students, plus my son, living the life—as near as we can—of the Benedictine monks...
If It Really Happened

If It Really Happened

“And therefore in the Christian celebration of Easter quite particularly an affirmation of the whole of existence is experienced and celebrated. No more rightful, more comprehensive and fundamental an affirmation can be conceived.” Josef Pieper, In Tune with the...
Zeus’ Plan for February

Zeus’ Plan for February

“Aegis-bearing Zeus has a design for each occasion, and mortals find this hard to comprehend.” Hesiod, Works and Days Hesiod was convinced that Zeus has a plan for every occasion. Even February. Yet we mortals find this hard to comprehend—especially after a long, cold...
The Piety of a Pagan

The Piety of a Pagan

“I am Aeneas, duty-bound, and known Above high air of heaven by my fame, Carrying with me in my ships our gods Of hearth and home, saved from the enemy.” Virgil, The Aeneid, I Pious Aeneas. The phrase appears again and again in The Aeneid. Virgil is intent on...

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