Instaurare | Spring 2008

The Christendom College Quarterly Magazine

Vol. XVI, No. I Spring 2008

From the President During this 30th Anniversary year, we all are seeking to live fully the lay apostolate here at Christendom College in an effort to secure our goal of “restoring all things in Christ.” We need now to assess our progress to see if there has been an increase in our zeal and commitment. Each of us has a unique contribution to make to the Christendom apostolate. Some have gifts of intellect; others strength of will. Others possess gifts of artistic creativity. Whatever the talent given us, we must cooperate freely with God’s grace bestowed on us through the Heart of His Son. We need to keep striving to become the people Christ wants us to be.

How important it is for all of us to reach out and support one another in a truly loving and caring way. After all, Our Lord did say “by this will all know that you are My disciples; if you have love for one another.” Let us recall as we pursue wisdom together and seek to build mutual friendships that John Paul II challenged all of us in proclaiming that every Catholic college “must bear witness to an authentic living Christianity.” Lasting friendship, true friendship cannot be based upon pleasure, it cannot be built upon the ephemeral or upon what is fleeting. Here especially at Christendom it must be based upon the solid rock of Christ-centered living. Here we are called to live together, work together, pray together – not just in the Chapel, but in our dormitories, in our classrooms and student center, and in our common pursuit of the True, the Good and the Beautiful.

It is important to remember that here we are called to excellence and heroism. It is not simply a question of just getting by or just getting through the Christendom program. While we are here we need to grow and thrive intellectually, spiritually, and morally – restoring all things in Christ starts with each one of us individually. It is what we are. How important it is that we don’t just talk the talk but walk the walk, as they say. And there is plenty to do right here within our own community in our effort to build a stronger Christendom. Taking time to encourage one another to attend the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and to frequent Confession – those principle channels of grace in our community. Encouraging one another to hit the books and study hard. Let us recall that there is no true spiritual growth if we are not performing our basic duty. Here we have the glorious opportunity to encourage one another to strive for excellence in the pursuit of knowledge and wisdom whether it be in the reading that we do, the papers we write, the discussions and conversations in and outside of the classroom – all of these are important.

This is a good time to ask ourselves – where do we fall in our attitude toward Him? Here in our life at the College have we slipped into a type of indifference or have we grown tepid and lukewarm and moved toward an actual hatred of the good? Or will our response during the remainder of this year be one of true love and adoration? Your presence here today is part of God’s providential design. One of the fruits of this liberal education – the fruit of the union of faith and reason in our academic program – is found in the lay apostolate. Today this requires zeal – especially when so many of our enemies labor with such dia-

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Timothy T. O’Donnell, STD, KGCHS

bolical intensity against all that we hold and cherish. In the Acts of the Apostles, we are told that after the Twelve were brutally scourged by the Sanhedrin and were forbidden to speak of Jesus, that they immediately turned to the Lord in prayer and what did they pray for? After rejoicing that they were found worthy to suffer for sake of the name, they prayed that God would “grant thy servants to speak the word with all boldness.” Imagine the joy of Peter and how his soul must have been stirred when after denying Christ three times, he was now able to stand in front of Annas and Caiaphas and boldly proclaim the name of Jesus.

Despite the darkness, this is a beautiful world which God has given us to live in and we must affirm the good wherever it is found. At the same time, we must be realistic and recognize that so much in our world – in the media, the Internet, and the entertainment industries – threaten the life of virtue, especially chastity and temperance, and push us into intellectual sloth. The siren call of the world to young people today and to all of us is a call to indulgence, lethargy, and unrestrained pleasure.

But you, as committed believing Roman Catholics at Christendom College, are called to heroism of faith. As John Paul II used to say at World Youth Day – you are called to the “high standard of ordinary Christian living.” Let us recall that both Vatican I and Vatican II referred to the Church as a standard raised for the nations. The Second Vatican Council in its document on the Church referred to the Church as “lumen gentium” – the light of the nations. We have been given so much here at Christendom College and therefore there is so much that we should give in return. Our world is full of millions of potential members of the Mystical Body of Christ. People who hunger and thirst for Truth – who would give anything for a chance at this education, but sadly languish or wallow in poverty, ignorance, and error.

We have a unique, God-given role to play in this New Evangelization which the Holy Father has called us to which is an effort to build a new Christendom – that is, a society filled with the Spirit of the Gospel.

This New Evangelization is not just a role for bishops, priests, and religious as essential and as crucial as they are for our welfare and the welfare of the entire Church. Let us recall the teaching of the Council in its decree on the laity that through the grace of our Baptism and Confirmation, the Church in her highest teaching office has summoned us to be lay apostles in the world though not of it. She has called us to help transform the social order. One of the principle reasons this College was founded thirty years ago and its academic program set in place was in order to give students a time and place to prepare intellectually and spiritually for the task of assuming the responsibilities of leadership in the world in an effort to restore all things in Christ.

Carpe diem – seize the day! Now, this semester – do not listen to the voices of cynicism, which mock the good and tear down the effort to grow in virtue. You are called here to a noble and august destiny. As we go through this semester, let us contemplate the Child in the manger and in His innocence in the Temple, but recognize that the time has now come to follow the Man – the Everlasting Man. Let us follow Him together and together we will have a great semester.

Praised be Jesus Christ!

College President Timothy O’Donnell delivered this address to the students, faculty, and staff at the beginning of the Spring 2008 semester.

Cover Story

College Marks 30th Anniversary with Pilgrimage to Rome, Pope’s Blessing

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A group of College board members, faculty, staff, and friends, led by College president Dr. Timothy O’Donnell, recently made a 10-day pilgrimage to Rome as part of the College’s year-long 30th Anniversary celebration.

A Papal audience on March 5 in the Pope Paul VI Hall provided a highlight to the trip. Pope Benedict personally acknowledged Christendom College in his address, which was also attended by the Christendom students currently studying in Rome. The Pope then blessed a marble cornerstone for the planned addition to Christendom’s Christ the King Chapel.

“I extend particular greetings to the visitors from Christendom College,” Pope Benedict XVI said at the close of his address. “May this Lenten season purify your hearts and renew your faith and your hope in the mystery of Christ our Redeemer. God bless you all!”

Following the address, the Holy Father came down to greet the many pilgrims. “Ah, Christendom College!” the Pope said as Christendom College Chairman of the Board Donna Bethell and President Timothy O’Donnell introduced themselves.

O’Donnell then presented an artist’s rendition of the planned chapel renovation. “It’s very beautiful,” the Pope said. He blessed the drawing and then blessed the cornerstone.

reception, which attracted a large number of Catholic luminaries, including Francis Cardinal Arinze, Renato Cardinal Martino, Bernard Cardinal Law, US Ambassador to the Holy See Mary Ann Glendon, Vatican Radio Director Sean Lovett, and Scripture scholar Scott Hahn.

and the Basilica of Santa Croce, where relics of Jesus’ crucifixion are found. They climbed the Holy Stairs on their knees, renewed their consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus at the Gesu, and saw the place of St. Paul’s martyrdom at Tre Fontane.

Although the other days of the pilgrimage were not quite as exciting as that one, they were enjoyed by all, who found themselves inspired, renewed, and awed by their experiences in Rome. O’Donnell led the pilgrims on a tour of the Eternal City, giving in-depth explanations, both theological and historical, of the splendid architectural structures and religious sites.

Additionally, they traveled to Assisi where they were able to tour the Basilica of St. Francis and the Church of St. Clare, as well as visit the Santa Maria de Angeli which is built over the place where St. Francis lived and died.

The group attended Mass at St. Peter’s, in the crypt, directly in front of the tomb of St. Peter and next to the tomb of Pope John Paul II. They walked the streets of Rome touring the Pantheon, observing St. Catherine of Siena’s relics, visiting the church where St. Ignatius of Loyola died, and touring ancient Rome and the prison where Peter and Paul were held.

They visited the Church of Quo Vadis where Our Lord met St. Peter as he was fleeing Rome, and heard Mass in the catacombs of St. Sebastian, directly above that saint’s grave.

They toured the Basilica of St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major, St. Paul outside the walls,

“It was one of the best experiences of my life,” said James Santschi, a 1990 Christendom grad who took the trip as his first-ever outside the US. “I could never imagine going to Rome without Dr. O’Donnell as a tour-guide.

He seems to know just about everything about Rome and makes all of the places come alive!

I heartily recommend it to anyone.”

The College will have its official 30th Anniversary celebration over the weekend of April 18-20. A special academic convocation, with special guests Francis Cardinal Arinze and Dr. Joaquin Navarro-Valls, will be held on Friday, April 18; a festive Gala Dinner Dance on Saturday, April 19, at the WashingtonDulles Hilton; and a Mass of Thanksgiving will be offered by Francis Cardinal Arinze in the College’s chapel on Sunday, April 20.

The College is currently planning on renovating its Chapel of Christ the King in order to accommodate the ever-growing number of students and their families. Plans for this “Christ the King Project” have not been finalized, but when they are, the cornerstone will be placed in the new section of the chapel as a constant reminder of Christendom’s devotion and fidelity to the Holy Father and the Magisterium of the Catholic Church.

The College celebrated its 30th Anniversary with a reception for its many friends in Rome after the Papal audience. The historic Hotel Columbus provided the setting for the

Board members, parents of Rome program students, faculty, staff, and friends took part in a 30th Anniversary pilgrimage to Rome led by Dr. and Mrs. O’Donnell with Fr. John Heisler as chaplain.

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Cardinal Arinze jokes with Christendom student John Mavretich about their height difference.

Fr. John Allen greets US Ambassador to the Holy See Mary Ann Glendon at the 30th Anniversary Roman Reception.

Dr. O’Donnell led the group in prayers for the Holy Father at the confessio in St. Peter’s.

Scripture scholar and writer Dr. Scott Hahn talks with Christendom’s Chaplain Fr. John Heisler.

The pilgrims were given a tour of Vatican Radio by Sean Lovett, Director of English Programming.

Renato Cardinal Martino, President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, speaks with Dr. Timothy O’Donnell and Christendom’s Chairman of the Board of Directors, Mrs. Donna Bethell.

Following Sunday morning Mass, the Pope addressed the crowds in St. Peter’s and led the Angelus.

Daniel Riordan serves at the altar at the tomb of St. Peter while Fr. Heisler celebrates Mass.

Dr. O’Donnell (right) joins with the Semester in Rome students by putting his hand on the newly blessed cornerstone of the Chapel of Christ the King renovation project at the 30th Anniversary Reception on March 5.

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The group visited Assisi and toured the Church of Our Lady Queen of Angels, with the rare sight of snow covered Apeninne Mountains in the distance.

College Gets Conservative Label by Young America’s Foundation

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Christendom College once again bears the distinction as one of America’s Top Ten Conservative Colleges, as ranked by the Young America’s Foundation (YAF). The Herndon, VA-based group announced its list in January 2008, marking the fourth consecutive year that the YAF recognized Christendom for its conservatism.

“A wide variety of rankings exist for the market of American colleges and universities,” YAF’s report states. “Each year, US News & World Report releases its ‘America’s Best Colleges’ edition. The magazine grades each institution based on factors including peer assessment, graduation and retention rates, faculty resources, and student selectivity. Yet, US News does not rank the overall experience that colleges offer.”

The YAF list features institutions that “proclaim, through their mission and programs, a dedication to discovering, maintaining, and

strengthening the conservative values of their students,” the report states.

According to the YAF report, Christendom College offers an alternative to the liberal status quo, because it allows and encourages conservative students to explore conservative ideas and authors. Christendom avoids “trends in academe by continuing to study Western Civilization instead of straying toward the study of Marxism, feminism, sexuality, postmodernism, and other distractions that do not give students a complete understanding of our country, our culture, and its founding principles,” the report states.

“Every year, Christendom gets recognized and ranked by a variety of religious and secular sources,” says Director of Admissions Tom McFadden. “Most recently we were given the honor by the Cardinal Newman Society of being one of the most ‘joyfully Catholic’ colleges in America, and we are always ranked as

one of Peterson’s ‘most competitive’ colleges.

We are encouraged that those in the college ranking business have recognized what we at Christendom have known – for the past 30 years – that Christendom is one of the best Catholic liberal arts colleges in the nation.”

Other schools to make the Top Ten Conservative College list include Hillsdale College in Michigan, Liberty University in Virginia, and Grove City College in Pennsylvania.

Students Can Register to Win One-Week Vacation to Christendom

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The College’s summer program is often prospective students’ first introduction to the campus. Each year, Christendom welcomes over 100 rising high school seniors as they experience what life would be like as a Christendom student.

And every year, students are deeply impressed by what they experience during the program. During their stay, they are given the rare opportunity to experience a truly Catholic culture where the Catholic Faith plays an important role in everything that they do; they enjoy a short time in which Catholicism is the “air that they breathe.”

Think of it as a “Catholic Immersion Program.”

22-29 and costs $425. The two week program will be from July 6 -19 and costs $850. Space is limited and financial assistance is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Current high school sophomores are also welcome to apply but will only be offered admission if space allows.

More information about the program is available on Christendom’s website, includ-

ing detailed daily schedules.

Any current junior who requests information from the College prior to May 1, 2008 (and was not previously signed up with the College), and mentions he/she saw this story in the College’s quarterly magazine, Instaurare, will automatically be entered into a drawing for a complimentary spot in the one-week “Experience Christendom” program.

Picture of counselors

Students spend their mornings taking classes in Theology, Philosophy, Literature, and History (all of which are taught from a Catholic viewpoint by Christendom’s own faculty) in order to gain an appreciation for the liberal arts. After Mass, lunch, Benediction, and the Rosary, students spend their afternoons and evenings enjoying a number of recreational and social events, both in and around the Front Royal area, and in nearby Washington, DC. The one week program will be held June

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Students Begin March for Life with President Bush at White House

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Christendom College students attended a breakfast in honor of the Annual March for Life hosted by President George W. Bush at the White House on January 22. After breakfast, the group of 50 joined the rest of Christendom’s student body and the many thousands of pro-lifers at the March for Life.

Braving the cold weather, students rallied on the Mall facing Capitol Hill.

“It was very invigorating to see so many people stand together—people who fight with all their hearts,” Sophomore Sarah Miranda of Boston, MA, said. “You’re there to make a difference.”

Many of the participants in the March for Life were young. The March appeared to be more like a youth rally “with smiling teenagers in matching scarves or sweat shirts holding school banners high,” the Washington Post reported.

During the rally one of the speakers asked that everyone under the age of 25 raise their

hand. “It seemed as if everyone in the crowd raised their hands,” Miranda said. They were then reminded of the countless people in their generation who are not living because of abortion, and not to stop fighting for their unborn brethren.

“It’s a joy to be a part of the March,” College President Timothy O’Donnell said.

“Christendom was founded four years after the tragic Roe v. Wade decision and the College has made the commitment to take a physical stance every year on behalf of the unborn. The formation that our students receive impels them to be active in the fight against the culture of death. Our motto ‘to restore all things in Christ’ calls us to take the Gospel message into all spheres of life, particularly the political.”

Senior Dan Henson of Wake Forest, NC, attended the breakfast at the White House and shook hands with the President following his address. Henson said that he enjoyed sitting in the “Red Room” on furniture from the 18th century thinking of all the dignitaries that had done the same since the construction of the White House.

“It was amazing to be able to go to the White House and have breakfast with the President,” Henson said. “It was an experience that few will ever be able to have and I am glad that the school had the connections in

order to make it possible.”

“Thirty-five years ago today the United States Supreme Court declared and decided that under the law an unborn child is not considered a person,” President Bush said to the small crowd at the breakfast. “But we know many things about the unborn. Biology confirms that from the start each unborn child is a separate individual with his or her own genetic code. Babies can now survive outside the mother’s womb at younger and younger ages. And the fingers and toes and beating hearts that we can see on an unborn child’s ultrasound come with something that we cannot see: a soul.”

The President’s address was later broadcast at the rally before the March.

Christendom routinely cancels classes on the day of the March, and the Student Activities Council charters as many buses as needed to transport the entire student body, and numerous members of the faculty and staff to the March.

Additionally, throughout the year, members of a student-run pro-life organization, Shield of Roses, encourages their fellow students to travel to Washington, DC, each Saturday morning to peacefully protest the horror of abortion by praying Rosaries and Chaplets of Divine Mercy.

Anyone interested in helping fund the Shield of Roses organization, now in its 30th year, should contact the College for more information.

Christendom students were invited to attend a special breakfast at the White House with President Bush on January 22, prior to the March for Life.

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Bishop Loverde Joins Religious Orders for Discernment Weekend

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Christendom hosted its second annual Discernment Weekend on February 8-10.

Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde launched the weekend with an opening Mass and dinner on Friday evening where he blessed a hand-crafted statue of Pope John Paul II to be placed outside the College’s John Paul the Great Student Center. In his homily, Loverde told students that in Lent and in life we are called to fast, to pray, and to give alms.

“Now I’m sure in a way we’re preaching to the choir, for myself and for yourself,” he said. “You’ve grown up in a certain Catholic culture and tradition so that you know that priesthood, religious life, consecrated life, and marriage are good and worthy callings and I’m sure I would not hear what I hear from some parents: ‘I don’t want my son to be a priest—I don’t want my daughter to be a religious—I want them to be happy.’ Well, if we’re doing God’s will, we will be happy.

There will be sacrifice, but God will give us those seeds of happiness.”

Rev. Sweeney urged students to pray, to do spiritual reading, and to talk about their call with a priest.

to do? What am I supposed to accomplish in my life?’ This weekend is perfect for that.”

Sophomore Therese Fetsko said that she wished that there would be more religious on campus all the time.

“Just seeing them is inspiring,” she said. “The talks were great—especially on the cloistered life. He didn’t try to dress it up. He explained the sacrifices and difficulties as well.”

Director of Career Development Tom McGraw, who organizes the event every year, was shocked to see the large number of students at the Breakout Sessions. “It was like a traffic jam in between the sessions. They really filled the rooms to the brim. During the entire day there was a constant stream of visitors to the various booths—both students and youths from the local community.”

“Speak with a priest,” he said. “Be able to open up McGraw also said that the weekend is not your heart and see if that’s only beneficial for the students but for the where the Holy Spirit is priests and religious who attend. “They love calling you to. Other- the prayer time in our beautiful Chapel. It’s wise, time might fly by like a retreat for them. They gain energy Arlington Bishop Paul Loverde offered the opening Mass of the weekend and you might regret from meeting the students and each other,” and then blessed an image of Pope John Paul II, which was a gift of the never having confronted he said.

Class of 2007. Fr. Richard Mullins assisted the Bishop with the blessing. that issue—never hav“Christ’s words in the Gospel remind us that ing asked God, ‘Is this what I want to do?’ Since its founding 30 years ago, Christenwe must be with Him in joy and on the cross. Whether you really want to or not.” dom has been instrumental in helping many In each of your specific vocations you will students find their vocations. Fifty-three be an instrument of hope—divine hope,” The day continued with Exposition and Ado- priests are alumni of Christendom, and over the bishop said, referring to Pope Benedict ration of the Eucharist with opportunities for 60 other alumni are serving God as reliXVI’s latest encyclical, Spe Salvi. Quoting St. Confession. Lunch followed and students gious brothers or sisters. Additionally, over Josephine Bahkita from the same encyclical had the opportunity to socialize with the 220 alumni-to-alumni marriages have taken the bishop said, “‘I am definitely loved and many priests and religious, many of whom place, all very strong and with many, many whatever happens to me—I am awaited by where Christendom alumni themselves. children. this Love. And so my life is good.’ Through the knowledge of this hope she was ‘re- The afternoon featured a series of Break- Fr. Luke Sweeney’s remarks can be heard at deemed’, no longer a slave, but a child of out Sessions on a variety of vocations top- Christendom on iTunes U. God.” ics including: The Cloistered Life for Men and Women, Being a MisHe told students that, with the help of God’s sionary Priest, Diocesan Priesthood, grace, actively living a life of hope would Consecrated Vocations, and others. help them come to know and embrace their Psychologist Dr. Dana H. Medcalf, particular vocation, which God has willed founder of the Veritas Clinics, delivfor them from all eternity. “After all, in His ered two sessions on Discerning Your will is our peace and our salvation,” he con- Future Spouse. cluded.

“It was awesome,” Junior Kieran DuDirector of Vocations for the Archdiocese of Frain said. “It’s great to just sit down New York Rev. Luke Sweeney gave the open- and talk with religious. Discerning ing remarks on Saturday morning in which our vocation is something we students he addressed some of the challenges to youth need to think about—we need to step Freshman Chris Genn speaks with a priest about religious discerning vocations today. back and say, ‘What am I supposed life during Christendom’s annual Discernment Weekend.

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NDGS Introduces New Programs in Education and Catholic Culture

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Christendom’s Notre Dame Graduate School (NDGS) is initiating two new programs this summer, one in Montessori catechesis and the other a series of humanities courses on Catholic culture. Both initiatives will hopefully develop into new concentrations for the MA degree.

NDGS is working in conjunction with the Montessori Catechetical and Cultural Institute (MCCI) to provide courses and training in Montessori Catechesis. There will be four courses in the series, and NDGS plans to offer one each semester on a two-year cycle.

The first course presents Maria Montessori’s educational and catechetical theory, and includes her research into child development and learning which confirms the Catholic and Thomistic notion of the human person. The other three courses will be training courses in the Montessori Catechesis, one course for each of the three levels.

Professor Maggie Radzik will teach the first course, Montessori Catechesis and Family Spirituality, at the Front Royal campus this summer. Professor Radzik is a graduate of Christendom (‘87), the founder and Directress of Siena Academy (a parochial Montessori school) in Great Falls, VA, and a trainer in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd with the MCCI. Catholic religious education was initially an integral part of Maria Montessori’s educational program, but it was dropped from the curriculum when secular Montessori schools were established, especially in the US. This program is part of a revival of this catechesis, which is growing in popularity, especially as a parish religious education alternative.

In Front Royal, a Montessori Atrium offering the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program is very well attended, with many of its students the children of Christendom College alumni.

“Catholic catechesis in the US is often based on the behaviorism of John Dewey, not on a Catholic notion of the human person,” said NDGS Dean Dr. Kristin Burns. “We may teach that man is an embodied spirit, but the educational method we use is based on a philosophy that denies this integral unity and spirituality of man. With Maria Montessori we have a method that matches the content and the truth about the human person.”

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Dr. Gregory Townsend (l) and Dr. Thomas Stanford speak with students Eve Owen and Jack Donohue.

The other new program at NDGS is a se- might be especially interested in courses that ries of six courses on Catholic culture. Each focus on Christianity’s contributions to litcourse focuses on an historical period and erature, history, science, or philosophy. aims to understand Christianity’s influence on the culture. The first two courses, The Three professors from Christendom’s Front Culture of Classical Antiquity and The Cul- Royal faculty, Doctors Christopher Shannon, ture of the Early Middle Ages, will be offered Thomas Stanford, and Gregory Townsend are this summer at the Alexandria campus. Fu- team-teaching the two courses this summer. ture courses will study the late middle ages, the Renaissance, the revolutionary period, “Between them they have nine post-graduate and modernity. The graduate school plans to degrees in fields as varied as theology, physics, humanities, English literature, and American offer two of these courses every summer. studies,” said Burns. “Where else can you The courses will be interdisciplinary seminars take courses like these with a faculty of this in which students will read and discuss origi- caliber? This new program is a superb oppornal sources across the fields of literature, his- tunity for the grad school to mine the riches of the Front Royal faculty, and for students tory, science, and philosophy. from the metro DC area to benefit from it.”

The undergraduate curriculum at Christendom is noted for its integrated, humanities approach. Professors often have degrees in multiple fields and courses are not taught strictly within one discipline but rather often combine knowledge from other fields. The aim of the Catholic culture series is to bring this same integrated humanities approach to graduate studies. Many people with degrees in narrow technical fields such as business, engineering, computer, or natural sciences are looking for a more comprehensive liberal arts program for their graduate studies. This new program in Catholic culture should be popular with elementary and high school teachers looking for a Catholic foundation for their secular knowledge of history, literature, science, or social studies. Teachers need to take certification courses anyway, and if Former Christendom Admissions Counselor Marthey are teaching in a Catholic school they garet Ginski ‘05 married Scottie Kay in December.

Rome Program Celebrates 5th Anniversary in Heart of the Church

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The idea of studying abroad is one about which many students dream. And it was the same for Christendom College President Dr. Timothy O’Donnell. He wanted Christendom students to be able to experience life living in the Heart of the Church—the Eternal City, Rome— just as he did as a graduate student at the Angelicum in the late 1970s. To

study in Rome, Christendom’s program is unique in several important ways.

First, an intimate group of just 20 to 40 Juniors takes part in the program each semester, thus allowing deeper friendships to occur and more individualized attention to be given by the teachers and Rome Program Directors. Also, all students involved in Christendom’s Rome Program are Christendom College students. They do not join up with another school’s program and Christendom does not allow other schools to utilize its program.

Secondly, no other college can boast such a convenient location in Rome. The students currently live in the Residence Candia, located just outside the northern walls of Vatican City. Students make a ten minute walk, cutting across St. Peter’s Square, to get to their classes each day at the Istituto Maria SS Bambina, a convent replete with classrooms, chapel, and a balcony literally overlooking St. Peter’s Square. In fact, from their balcony, students can easily see and hear the Pope during his weekly Wednesday audiences.

this end, in the Fall of 2002, Christendom launched its Semester in Rome Program for Juniors. Now celebrating its fifth anniversary, the impact that this program has made on the participants is beyond what O’Donnell had ever expected.

“Making eye contact with the Holy Father stills all the frustrated rumblings of one’s heart, and time itself seems to stand still. It was incredible, really. I still can’t exactly believe it,” says Senior Nicole Hill while reflecting on her semester that she spent in Rome during the Fall of 2006.

Before settling in to their apartments in Rome, the students begin their semester in Florence where they spend one week in an intensive Italian program. Following a weekend retreat in Assisi, the students then head to Rome, where they begin their semester in the heart of the church.

The last major difference is that Christendom charges a nominal “Rome Program” fee of approximately $700, not the normal added expenses of $2000 – $4000 charged by other colleges. This policy aims to make the program attainable for all students.

Christendom alumni Ben and Heather Ak“I offer a warm welcome to all the Englishspeaking visitors and pilgrims attending today’s audience, including the groups from England, Denmark, Sweden, Indonesia, Canada and the United States. I extend particular greetings to the visitors from Christendom College, and to the many student groups present. May this Lenten season purify your hearts and renew your faith and your hope in the mystery of Christ our Redeemer. God bless you all!” – Pope Benedict XVI, General Audience, March 5, 2008.

ers currently serve as the Rome Program Directors. They both graduated in 1998 and Ben is now working toward his doctorate at the Angelicum. Along with teaching the students, the Akers act as both mentors and escorts in the exploration of Rome’s intellectual, cultural, and spiritual treasures.

The classes offered in Rome include Modern and Medieval Philosophy, Apologetics, Moral Theology, Art and Architecture, Italian, and Roman Perspectives, a course that spans from Livy to the Church Fathers.

“Mrs. Akers’ Art and Architecture class brings to life the story of Rome,” Hill says.

Although a number of colleges and universities offer their students an opportunity to

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“She skillfully illuminates the major periods of art history and she includes weekly tours where we actually see the wonders we learn of in the classroom. What could be more enjoyable than a stroll through Bernini’s San Andrea al Quirinale after a lecture on the Baroque period? Bernini said this church was his favorite, and was often lost in contemplation there.”

“Even three months in the heart of the Roman Catholic Church can change the students’ lives,” Professor Ben Akers says. “You cannot walk the same streets upon which trod countless saints, upon which millions of pilgrims have traversed, and upon which martyrs have shed their blood, without being challenged to deepen your faith.”

“Seeing the Pope never got old,” Senior Flannery O’Connor recounts. “ I remember one audience in particular, when Christendom was announced and we all jumped up and held the Christendom banner proudly and shouted ‘Amamus te!’ to Pope Benedict. We received a warm look as he raised his hand in recognition of the College. The Holy Father then drove by us as we all stretched with all of our might to touch his hand.”

“We just recently returned from visiting with our students,” says O’Donnell, “and they are so happy to be there. They are taking advantage of being in Rome during Lent, visiting the many station churches throughout the city, and making their own pilgrimages to places such as the Scala Santa, the Sacred Stairs, the staircase which Jesus ascended during His Passion while proceeding to Pi-

late’s praetorium.”

Because of their prime location so proximate to the Vatican, the students are able to easily attend the Sunday Angelus with the Holy Father, attend daily Mass at St. Peter’s, and walk to the many churches and sites of Rome.

For meals, students have kitchens in their apartments and receive a weekly stipend to buy necessary groceries for breakfast and dinner. Lunches are shared in common at a cafeteria near where they take classes.

On weekday evenings, the Akers usually arrange various group activities: Mondays they have pizza together at a local ristorante; Tuesdays they play outdoor soccer together; Wednesdays they volunteer with the Missionaries of Charity and help feed the hungry; and Thursdays they get together and have one of the apartments cook for everyone else.

“Christendom is known by many of the hierarchy in Rome,” says O’Donnell. “A number of the cardinals who head the various pontifical councils and congregations are good friends of the College, for example, Francis Cardinal Arinze, Renato Cardinal Martino, Alfonso Cardinal Lopez-Trujillo, and J. Francis Cardinal Stafford. Additionally, His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI was the Chairman of our 25th Anniversary Honorary Dinner Committee in 2002. We definitely have a special bond with Rome!”

Students study History of Ancient and Medieval Philosophy, Moral Theology/Apologetics, Art and Architecture, Italian, and Roman Perspectives while in Rome.

Since the program’s inception, 318 students have attended the Rome Program and have fond memories of their time spent in the Eternal City.

“To live in Rome, at the heart of the Church, for nearly three months teaches one what it means to be truly Roman Catholic. It has

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The students attend classes in the Istituto Maria SS Bambina, pictured above right. The only thing separating this building and the colonnade surrounding St. Peter’s Basilica is a narrow road.

The students are able to attend Mass in the chapel in their classroom building, but more often than not, they simply attend early morning Mass at St. Peter’s.

“The Rome program was an experience unlike any other. Each one of us was given the opportunity to experience Rome to the fullest. We were able to travel all over the country and continent and to truly experience the Church in Her most Universal sense. The most amazing aspect of our semester abroad was that we were able to witness the inner-workings of the Church first hand. Living at the heart of the Faith for three months instilled in us a new appreciation for it that I hope will remain for the rest of our lives.” Kate Beer, Spencer, Massachusetts

The location of their apartments makes Rome very accessible to the students. They can walk from their apartments to the Colosseum in about 45 minutes, or take the metro or hop on a bus.

“Rome, for me, was truly and absolutely life changing. My Faith was realized in a way that it never has been before. To pray to a saint and to profess obedience to the Pope and then to see the tomb of that saint and to see the Pope; this actualization of the Faith is discovered in Rome. So many aspects of the Faith were tangibly presented to us. I have so much to hold on to now; I have so much experience to tap into and upon which I can meditate. Rome was, and will remain, such a blessing, such a gift.”

Anne Kulick, Wolftown, Virginia

taught us that being Roman Catholic is to be rooted in the very Mystery of the Incarnation,” says Junior Matt Anderson. “Because God became man, earthly things take on a more supernatural meaning. Rome has taught us that Catholicism must infiltrate every aspect of our lives, not just our prayer lives, but also the very material and ordinary aspects of our lives as well.

“From the architecture of churches to the statues of the saints—found on nearly every corner—Rome testifies that God must be the ultimate end for every single one of our actions, and if He is not, then the action is meaningless. Catholicism is not something to be kept in the Churches; no, it is something that should pervade our culture as if it were in the very air we breathe.”

The students are able to ascend to the balcony of the Istituto where they take classes and from there they can look out onto St. Peter’s Square. This is the only balcony in Rome with this view (see below)!

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From the balcony of their apartments, students are able to see the Vatican Walls – they’re that close!

The apartments have kitchens so that students can cook for themselves most nights for dinner.

The students often travel around Rome on their own, finding sites that interest them.

Sometimes you have to have a little camera fun!

Each bedroom is large enough for three students.

Dr. O’Donnell usually visits once a semester and takes the students to some of his favorite sites in Rome.

Fr. Heisler visits with the students as they prepare to tour St. Peter’s with Dr. O’Donnell.

Students are expected to take notes as they tour the various historical and religious sites.

Students take the bus/metro all around the city with one easy pass that they are provided each month.

Four days a week, the students have lunch together in a nearby cafeteria.

Ben and Heather Akers give tours of and explanations about many of the most famous sites in Rome.

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Classical and Early Christian Studies Dept. Breathes Life into Classics

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Studying Latin, Greek, and Hebrew may not be everyone’s idea of a fun pastime, but more and more Christendom students consider the Classics major to be an attractive option.

In 1994, Christendom established the Department of Classical and Early Christian Studies (Classics). The current Chairman of the department, Dr. Edward Strickland, notes that classics at Christendom introduces the student to the literature, language, history, and civilization of Graeco-Roman antiquity, as well as, to how classical civilization was transformed into Christendom.

“While our courses examine authors and subjects that are typical elsewhere, our added focus means that we extend our horizons to late antiquity and the Middle Ages,” says Strickland, who holds a PhD in Greek and Latin from the Catholic University of America. “Our goal is to train Christian scholars who exercise discretion when they treat our secular heritage and reverence for our sacred patrimony, which is the Sacred Scriptures in their original languages, the writings of the Fathers of the Church, and the Magisterium in its definitive form.”

Joining Strickland in the Classics Department this year is Dr. Mark Clark. Clark holds a PhD in Medieval History from Columbia University, as well as a JD from Duke. He brings a new perspective to learning Latin that is attracting the attention of the entire student body. He focuses on not only reading Latin, but speaking and even thinking in Latin.

written. It needs Latinists who can understand the Church’s past and culture and preserve it against any attacks.”

are required for the Classics major, including a Senior Thesis and a minimum of 21 upperdivision hours of Latin and Greek language.

Pope John XXIII’s Apostolic Constitution on the study of Latin, Veterum Sapientia, lamented the crisis in the knowledge of Greek and Latin among the clergy. The document said that Greek and Latin are “handmaidens” to disciplines like theology and philosophy.

“We can’t overestimate the value of a Classics major,” reads The Princeton Review’s website.

“Check this out: according to the Association of American Medical Colleges, students who major or double-major in Classics have a better success rate getting into medical school than do students who concentrate solely in biology, microbiology, and other branches of science. Crazy, huh?

Christendom’s students majoring in Theology, Philosophy, or Classics must take two years of Latin, while those majoring in Political Science, History, or English Language and Literature may choose to study French, Spanish, or Latin.

“What makes ignorance of classical languages so dangerous is that it could make mastery of Theology, for example, superficial because of limited contact with its authentic sources,” Strickland says.

Christendom students performed well on the National Greek Exam last year—a significant number garnering awards for their performance, as has been the case for the last few years.

“What made 2007 significant was that for only the second time, one of our students earned a perfect score,” Strickland said.

Kathleen Gilbert, a Classics major, was one of two students in the entire country to earn a perfect score on the Homeric Greek exam.

Thirty semester hours of advanced courses

“Furthermore, according to Harvard Magazine, Classics majors (and math majors) have the highest success rates of any majors in law school. Believe it or not: political science, economics, and pre-law majors lag fairly far behind. Even furthermore, Classics majors consistently have some of the highest scores on GREs of all undergraduates.”

“It’s a great way to develop the mind,” Senior Classics major Catherine Trojack says. “In general, you have to have sharp mathematical and comprehensive skills. The classes are very challenging, but enjoyable. The professors really know what they’re doing and are very conscientious in helping me as an individual as well as my classmates. They make sure we really understand what’s going on and that we become independent Classical thinkers.”

With such a strong Classics program at Christendom, many students still to come will be able to develop their minds in the classical tradition.

“There is an army of people studying Latin across the country,” says Clark. “But the basis for all this learning is 20th-century Latin books, which fail to instruct people how to speak and understand spoken Latin. The books have little hope of teaching people how to read or write Latin fluently.”

According to Clark, the Church needs people to be able to understand, speak, and read Latin.

“Latin for me has a special appeal because it is the language of the Church,” he says. “It is also the language of the Church’s literature for almost 2,000 years. The Church needs people who understand its language and who can read all the documents that have been

Classics Professors Fred Fraser, Mark Clark, and Department Chairman Edward Strickland.

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Religious Works of Art Grace St. John the Evangelist Library

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In an effort to expose its students to the beauty of art, Christendom’s Beato Fra Angelico Fine Arts Program sponsored the showing of Our Lady of Light, a painting by worldrenowned Russian artist Natalia Tsarkova, from February 20 to March 8.

tues of Faith, Hope, and Charity, Bentley explained. “This painting symbolizes hope and is also the first painting ever done that symbolizes the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary,” he said.

Our Lady of Light captures an image of the Virgin Mary holding the child Jesus, surrounded by angels, which represent the various mysteries of the Rosary.

“I was very surprised at how beautiful it was—the richness of it,” Junior Hilary Schafer said. “Mary’s face in particular struck me—such beauty. I found it comparable to the great works of art that we saw in Rome— very baroque and striking.”

Earnest Bentley, founder of the Primavera Fine Art Foundation gave a presentation on the painting, Our Lady of Light.

The art display, held in the beautiful St. John the Evangelist Library, was co-sponsored by the Primavera Fine Art Foundation. Earnest Bentley, founder of the Foundation, was on hand to speak to students at the unveiling of the painting. Our Lady of Light is the first in a series of paintings of the theological vir-

The artist, Tsarkova, holds the honor of being commissioned to paint the only official portraits of Pope John Paul I, Pope John Paul II, and Pope Benedict XVI. These portraits are on display in the Vatican Museums in Rome.

Also on exhibit in the library during this time was the Vatican International Exhibition entitled The Eucharistic Miracles of the World.

Through the efforts and initiative of Christen-

dom College Alumnus, Adam Wilson (’07), the Cardinal Newman Society and The Real Presence Eucharistic Education and Adoration Association brought this beautiful and inspiring Vatican exhibit to Christendom’s campus from February 18 to March 3.

“At many colleges today, the concept of beauty in art seems to be lost,” says Admissions Director Tom McFadden. “People think that anything can be called art and, therefore, should not be censored in the name of academic freedom. Sadly, some Catholic colleges choose to have immoral plays on campus while others host paintings mocking our Blessed Mother. We at Christendom believe in promoting the True, the Good, and the Beautiful, especially when it comes to artistic expressions such as plays or art displays.”

With a combination of beautiful photographs and lucid and illuminating historical descriptions, the Real Presence exhibit brought to life the great number of Eucharistic Miracles from around the world throughout the ages.

The exhibit has already traveled extensively through Italy and various countries around the world, and Christendom was honored to host it in Front Royal.

Students Enjoy St. Patrick’s Day with Singing, Dancing, and Greenery The Christendom community held its annual St. Patrick’s Day festivities on St. Joseph’s Day, March 15. As usual, the students gave incredible performances in dance and song, and Dr. O’Donnell led the audience in sing-a-longs.

Peter Smith and Greg Monroe were two of the Clansmen who led the singing throughout the night.

Professor Brendan McGuire plays his bagpipes.

Students played the fiddle while Dr. O’Donnell played guitar and Fr. Heisler played tin whistle.

The Podlinsek sisters sang a ballad.

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Katie and Liz Francis stunned the audience with their Irish step dancing.

Three Leprechauns enjoying an Irish dinner.

Endowed Scholarships Have Deep Impact on Financial Aid Outlook

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Endowment funds at larger, more established universities amply support a full complement of needs, with faculty development, building maintenance, and student financial aid among the most common benefiting sectors.

But at Christendom College, funds given to the College’s general endowment have typically gone toward only one of these three needs – student financial assistance programs.

Through the generosity of donors, the College has been able to meet the financial aid needs of a growing population of students, but continues to seek more funds to allow for even better, more adequate financial aid packages.

According to Vice President for Advance-

ment, John Ciskanik, a particular segment of Christendom’s endowment fund has grown remarkably over the past number of years.

magazine, Instaurare, and those families funding the scholarships are happy to learn of the names of those benefiting from their generosity.”

“More and more people are requesting that their funds go toward memorial scholarships, also frequently referred to as named endowed scholarships,” says Ciskanik. “Our students and faculty are pleased to have a way to honor publicly and permanently the memory of our donors’ beloved family and friends through these memorial scholarships.”

Though concerns about a weakening economy remain, scholarships awarded by the College’s conservatively invested endowment funds may yet approach record levels in the Fall – due to the number of memorial endowed scholarships coming “on line” in 2008, painting a bright future for the College and its students.

Since its founding in 1977, twentythree such named endowed scholarships have been established. Valued at an estimated $3,500,000, these scholarship funds represent well over 40% of the College’s general endowment funds. Notably, fourteen of these memorial scholarships are less than six years old.

2008 Honor Roll of Memorial Endowed Scholarships

“Helping people attend Christendom through these memorial scholarships is very fulfilling for some of our donors,” says Ciskanik. “Each year we publish the names of the recipients of these scholarships in our

College Honors St. Joseph with Italian Feast The College celebrated the Solemnity of St. Joseph with a procession and a wonderful Italian feast on March 16. Prepared by a number of students, under the direction of student Josepha Bertolini, the meal featured chicken, pesto pasta, and delicious homemade breads.

Junior Josepha Bertolini (holding her niece) was in charge of preparing the delicious meal.

Fr. Heisler blesses the homemade breads prior to the festive dinner in honor of St. Joseph.

The Senior girls all carried lilies in the procession and laid them at the foot of the St. Joseph statue.

Gold Level ($500,000+) Rev. James Cowan Scholarship Silver Level ($200,000+) Francis A. and Lilian B. Mekus Memorial Scholarship Harold W. and Martha Welch Scholarship Kline Endowment Scholarship Marie O’Donohue Monahan Memorial Scholarship William J. and Sophia Casey Memorial Scholarship Bronze Level ($25,000+) Anonymous Benjamin F. Homan Memorial Scholarship Byron and Mary Doyle Memorial Scholarship Christendom Alumni Scholarship Covadonga Scholarship David T. Ricks Memorial Scholarship Donald J. Kelly Memorial Scholarship Edward T. O’Keefe Memorial Scholarship George B. and Mary C. Creed Memorial Scholarship Harvey and Helen Noel Memorial Scholarship Judy Anne Shannon Memorial Scholarship Sacred Heart Scholarship Senior Gift Endowment T. Fordtran and Louise T. Ellis Library Endowment Theresa and Edward O’Toole Memorial Scholarship Valary and Howard Morrison Memorial Scholarship William and Clara Roedig & Family Scholarship

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Crusader Athletes at the Top of Their Games

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Christendom basketball teams, both men and women, have done very well this year, setting records along the way. The Lady Crusaders earned their first-ever win over a Division III opponent when they beat Wilson College in November 2007. Coach Nancy Bauer’s squad has also racked up other impressive victories against Northern Virginia Community College and Lancaster Bible College, another Division III opponent. The women’s team was led in the Fall semester by Rebecca Harris, who is in Rome this semester but is still ranked an impressive 7th in the country for the USCAA in scoring based on her average of just over 17 points a game.

Junior transfer Abby Hill ranks 16th in the nation for the USCAA in points per game, averaging just over 14.

The Christendom men’s basketball team has also enjoyed impressive success. The Crusaders finished the year on a four-game winning streak, which included a win over Division III St. Joseph’s of Brooklyn and a win over Roanoke Bible College in the championship of the Shenandoah Chesapeake Conference.

Even though the Crusaders have lost two key starters, Marion Miner and Matt Hadro, to the Rome program, many other players have stepped up to make up for their absence –

of special note is Freshman Matthew Rensch who averaged 16 points in each of his last 4 games.

Nationally, Christendom’s men’s team ranks 2nd in field goal percentage, shooting just over 50% from the field as a team. They rank 4th in three point percentage, 6th in free throw percentage, and 7th in points allowed. Individually, the Crusaders are just as accomplished. Senior Greg Monroe ranks 1st in the nation in field-goal percentage, shooting a remarkable 66%. Monroe also ranks in the top 25 in many other categories: scoring average (just over 16 a game); rebounding; double doubles; and free-throw percentage.

Marion Miner, who is now in Rome, also made the national list, ranking 7th in the nation in free-throw percentage (80%) and in the top 15 in three point percentage. Senior guard Pate Quest makes the list, ranking in the top 10 for assists per game, and ranking 6th in the country in steals per game at just about 3 per game.

This remarkable success of the Crusader teams builds upon a successful fall sports season as well. In soccer, freshman Johnny Ciskanik ranked in the top 25 players in the country in points per game and helped the men’s

Crusader Apparel Now Available

Sweatshirts ~ T-Shirts Sweatpants ~ Baseball Caps Long Sleeve T-Shirts christendom.edu/athletics team win the Shenandoah-Chesapeake conference. The Lady Crusaders also had a great soccer season, finishing 7-2-1 with wins over Lancaster Bible College and Wilson College, both of which are Division III teams. Junior Ky Leopold led the women with an average of almost 2 goals per game.

Back (l to r): Coach Chris VanderWoude, TJ Nacey, Matt Rensch, Sam McMahon, Greg Monroe, Joseph Townsend, Chris Genn, Matt Lancaster; (Front) Joby Norton, Bobby Lancaster, Pate Quest, Denton Coyne.

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Carroll Tells Students Stories of Bonnie Prince Charlie and Danton

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Christendom College’s Founding President Dr. Warren H. Carroll delivered a number of public lectures over the course of the spring semester. Dr. Carroll presented the first lecture, “Bonnie Prince Charlie,” to the College community on January 28.

“He was the last Catholic king of the Englishspeaking peoples and the last native king of the British family,” Carroll said at the beginning of his lecture. “The history of the world would have been changed of all present recognition if Charlie had won, as he almost did, and might well have.”

The lecture focused on the “Bonnie Prince” Charles Edward Stuart, son of James II, and his rise and fall as a monarch. “I have called Bonnie Prince Charlie ‘the last knight of Christendom,’” Carroll explained. “In September 1740 he wrote [from Rome] to the clans of Scotland promising soon to deliver them from the yoke of German George, who now ruled Great Britain because of a distant dynastic connection, though he did not speak a word of English.”

Prince Charlie enlisted the aid of France, an old ally of Scotland, and took a French ship loaded with arms back to Scotland. The harsh men of the highlands rallied to the Prince and he marched south. But due to rumors of large English forces gathering, the Prince halted his march, Carroll said.

“On the march south, the army looked like a possible victor, the prince a possible future king,” Carroll said. “On the retreat no such illusions could be entertained.”

“If you ever go to Scotland, try to visit Glenfinnan where the Scots rallied to their true king, the last Catholic king of the Englishspeaking peoples…there you too can commemorate Bonnie Prince Charlie, your last king,” Carroll concluded.

On February 25, Carroll delivered a lecture on “The Conversion of Danton in the French

Revolution.”

Danton agreed to both conditions.”

“The conversion of Georges-Jacques Danton, leader and maker of the French Revolution, is the greatest of all conversion stories,’” Carroll began.

Carroll explained that soon after his conversion, Danton began to work against the bloodshed he had started and was soon arrested by the Revolutionary Tribunal. To his fellow prisoners Danton said, “A year ago I established the Revolutionary Tribunal. I ask pardon of God and men.”

“As the revolution began, Jesus Christ watched from His throne in Heaven, knowing that this man was about to loose the Devil on his city and on his people.

But Christ was to reclaim this sinner and evildoer, and He did,” he said.

The lecture focused on Danton’s role in the beginning of the French Revolution, his hand in the many bloody massacres, and his sudden conversion brought about by his love of Louise Gély, a devout Catholic.

Commenting on the reluctance of Louis XVI to be king at this tumultuous time in history, Carroll said “When you study him in history you constantly want to take him and shake him by the shoulders and say ‘Get with it!

Get real!’ But you can’t do that. He was probably one of the weakest characters in all of history.”

It was Louis XVI who ordered his protectors, the Swiss Guards, to lay down their arms, which resulted in the killing and mutilation of the guards by revolutionaries. “Many French, even many Americans, glorify this revolution. I defy any Christian to read or hear an accurate account of the events of August 10, 1792, and not feel the presence and active malevolence of the Father of Evil and Lies. And the author of it all, as we have seen, was Danton,” Carroll said.

“Danton asked Louise Gély to marry him.”

Carroll continued. “It was a grace-filled moment like few in the world has ever seen. For she said yes, on two firm conditions: Danton must first go to confession and the priest who was to witness the marriage must be one who had not sworn allegiance to the schismatic church the Revolution had established. And

Danton was beheaded at the guillotine.

“Danton was dead—the Revolution and the Terror went on. We have good reason to believe that repentance and expiation had saved his soul. For Jesus Christ will save repentant souls up to the very edge of death. The Cross vanquishes the guillotine,” Carroll concluded. “On April 5, 1794, there was great rejoicing in Heaven, for Georges-Jacques Danton, who had been lost, was found. So pray for your enemies, even the worst of them.”

A convert to Christianity, Carroll was educated at Bates College and received a Doctorate of History from Columbia University. After founding Christendom College, he served as the College’s president until 1985 and then as the chairman of its History Department until his retirement in 2002. He is the author of numerous historical works including The Rise and Fall of the Communist Revolution and his major multi-volume work The History of Christendom.

INSTAURARE

Published quarterly by the Christendom College Admissions & Marketing Office.

Managing Editor, Layout, Design: Tom McFadden Contributing Editor: Niall O’Donnell Photos: Tom McFadden, Niall O’Donnell, Tom O’Connor Copy Editor: Maria O’Brien Christendom College 134 Christendom Drive, Front Royal, VA 22630 800.877.5456 ~ www.christendom.edu Copyright © 2008. 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 magazine of Christendom College (www.christendom.edu).”

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Chester-Belloc Debate Society Addresses Hot-Button Topics

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Students and faculty recently formed the Chester-Belloc Debate Society in an effort to provide a forum for students to voice their opinions about some of today’s most controversial topics.

Recent topics for the debate society have included the following: Can a Catholic adopt and implant an embryo to save the embryo’s life; Under certain circumstances is the use of torture morally permissible; and Is capital punishment justifiable?

right, the truth is not well served. That’s why rhetoric is so important.”

Jenislawski says that on a practical level, the art of rhetoric is an extremely valuable part of a liberal arts education. “Medieval uni-

The Society’s Faculty Moderator, Theology Professor Eric Jenislawski, says that the debates complement what happens in the classroom, though the debates have a very different dynamic and a difDavid Bushey (l) listens as Andrew Stine presents his point ferent goal. at a recent meeting of the Chester-Belloc Debate Society.

“Many of our debates are interdisciplinary, such as the debate about embryo adoption, which involved moral theology, politics, and medical science,” he says. “The resultant discussion was very rich. We like to debate pressing questions for which there is no easy answer. The goal is to explore a topic thoroughly and to persuade others. Believing you’re right is merely the first step. If you can’t convince other people why you’re

versities required it for a reason. Rhetoric is valuable for apologetics. Catholics who cannot think on their feet and defend the Faith fail to evangelize. Furthermore, rhetoric can assist one’s career. Many jobs benefit from good public speaking skills—marketing, management, education, or politics, to name a few,” he says.

Senior Joseph Mazzara, the Chairman of the

Christendom Press Continues to Produce

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Christendom Press continues to prosper, in large part owing to the many books written

by Dr. Warren Carroll.

Carroll’s books continue to sell well and can be found in numerous stores, from small local Catholic bookshops to Vatican bookshops. A Polish publisher, Wektory, has even sought permission to translate Carroll’s The Revolution Against Christendom into Polish. There continues to be large demand for his books, and the Press is committed to keeping all of his many volumes in print.

This spring the Press will reprint Carroll’s

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Our Lady of Guadalupe and the Conquest of Darkness, as well as The Revolution Against Christendom. Christendom Press is also benefiting from the great success and favorable national exposure of Dr. Bradley Birzer’s Sanctifying the World: the Augustinian Life and Mind of Christopher Dawson. The Press is already reprinting Dr. Birzer’s book, which was just published a few months ago.

All Christendom Press books are available through ISI Publications. For more information about the Press and its publications visit www.christendom.edu.

Society, agrees. “The Society helps us to be more in love with what we are studying here.

It engages our critical thinking skills and it gives us students the opportunity to speak publicly.”

Mazzara says that every one who attends the debates or is involved directly with the debate society finds it to be very intellectually stimulating. “That’s the first thing we hear from first-timers. They get very excited by the challenge and come back wanting to participate more. They realize how exciting and stimulating a debate can be,” he says.

The debates are described as very lively. “There have been times when I have been convinced of both positions during the course of the debate,” Mazzara says. “Students get up there and are passionate and give good arguments.

You need to have both those elements—passion and reason—to drive your point home.

The majority of students are good at this and that’s what wins the debate, even if you’re wrong.”

Seniors Jennifer Poston, Paul Provencher, and Mazzara serve on the Executive Council of the Debate Society.

These three decide what the debates will be on and transform the Chester-Belloc room in Regina Coeli Hall to resemble a high-class club.

The debates are held Sunday evenings and students must dress in professional attire to attend. Anywhere from 50-80 people attend each debate, often having more speeches than can be accommodated in a two or three hour debate. The Debate Society’s style is informal parliamentary debate, which is easy to learn and strikes a nice balance between formality and approachability.

Jenislawski says that when debates go well, the ideas flow back into the classroom and enrich the students’ study. “Philosophy was born in the Socratic tradition and perennially renews itself by debating great questions,” he says. “Once you have experienced good debates, bogus arguments don’t persuade you anymore. That’s why both ancient and modern politicians believe that good rhetoric is essential for the maintenance of a free society. Ultimately, the Chester-Belloc Debate Society exists to cultivate a love for the intellectual life.”

Players’ Performance of The Winslow Boy Delights Audience

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The Christendom Players’ performance of The Winslow Boy delighted audiences March 7-9 at the E. Wilson Morrison School auditorium in Front Royal, VA. The Players received standing ovations for their rendition of this compelling and award-winning play

by Terence Rattigan.

Based on a true story, The Winslow Boy is set in 1912 England and deals with the expulsion of a 14 year-old student from a naval prep school for stealing. Convinced of the child’s innocence, the family hired the most famous attorney in England and brought the case to court. Newspapers at the time called it the trial of the century.

College alumnus Mike Powell directed the production, which was produced by English Professor Dr. Patrick Keats. A seasoned cast matched the talent and vision of Powell and Keats.

Senior Sam Phillips dominated the stage with a professional presence, playing the role of the shrewd and famous attorney Sir Robert Morton. Sophomore Bridget Randolph executed the role of Cate Winslow, brilliantly capturing both her femininity and strength.

Senior Peter Smith played the challenging role of Arthur Winslow, convincing all that he truly was an aging man suffering from arthritis.

Mary Harrington and Peter Smith gave outstanding performances.

Hilary Schafer and Cyrus Artz as Mrs. Winslow and Dickie Winslow.

Freshman Mary Harrington skillfully persuaded the audience that she was a small boy caught up in something beyond his understanding as the Winslow boy, Ronnie. The role of Mrs. Winslow was brought to life by Junior Hilary Schafer. Both she and Sophomore Cyrus Artz, as Dickie Winslow, enlivened the stage with dramatic color.

Sophomore Olivia Bushey, Freshman Steven Curtin, and Senior Katie Fitzpatrick gave memorable performances as well.

“These students are incredible,” History Professor Anthony Sheehan said. “They aren’t

Bridget Randolph, Peter Smith, and Sam Phillips are seasoned actors with the Players. just actors – they’re full-time students. It is truly impressive what they have done.”

Every year, The Christendom Players produce two plays: one in the fall – usually a musical – and one in the spring. Because Christendom does not have a drama department, students from across all disciplines are welcome to audition for the performances.

Students and Faculty Display Musical Talents During Schubertiad

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Classics Professor Mark Clark, who has sung opera in a professional capacity all over Europe and at the Met in New York, introduced one of his family traditions to the Christendom community this year: Schubertiad.

The idea of a Schubertiad comes from Franz Schubert, a composer of the German Romantic Era of the early 1800s. Schubert would informally gather with his friends who would sing his melodies or play his instrumental pieces accompanied by Schubert himself at the piano. The Schubertiad has become a unique concert style of its own.

“There is a lot of musical talent here at Christendom and I wanted to provide a casual setting where the music could be performed and heard,” says Clark. “This informal gathering is ideal for people who are busy with other things.”

Dr. Mark Clark directs a chamber choir and small orchestra’s performance of Mozart’s Missa Brevis in B.

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2008 Summer Programs Latin Immersion Program Learn to speak and read Latin at the same speed you speak and read English during Christendom’s Latin Immersion Program. All classes will be conducted wholly in Latin, and students should expect to make substantial progress in active Latin. This program is designed for any high school aged student. Prior knowledge of Latin is preferred, although not required. Students arrive on June 8 and depart on June 14. Cost of the program, including room and board, is $600.00. Space is limited to 15 students. Apply today!

NDGS Summer Program Christendom’s graduate school offers a residential Summer Program for those students who wish to pursue graduate Theological studies. Both the Master of Arts in Theological Studies degree and the Apostolic Catechetical Diploma may be earned at the Summer Program, over the course of at least four summers. This program is popular with teachers, DREs, and others who have summers off.

“Experience Christendom” Program Each year, Christendom welcomes over 100 rising high school seniors to its campus to experience what life would be like as a Christendom student.

And every year, students are deeply impressed by what they experience during the program.

During their stay on campus, they are given the rare opportunity to experience a truly Catholic culture where the Catholic Faith plays an important role in everything that they do; where Catholicism is the “air that they breathe.” Think of it as a “Catholic Immersion Program.”

Students spend their mornings taking classes in Theology, Philosophy, Literature, and History in order to gain an appreciation for the liberal arts.

After Mass, lunch, Benediction, and the Rosary, students spend their afternoons and evenings enjoying a number of recreational and social events, both in and around the Front Royal area, and in nearby Washington, DC.

The Summer session begins June 23 and continues for six weeks ending on August 2. Tuition is $894 per 3-credit course and a special audit rate of $220 per course for seniors (60 & over), catechists, religious, and Catholic school teachers is available. Room and Board is an additional cost.

The one week program will be held June 22-29 and costs $425. The two week program will be from July 6 -19 and costs $850. Space is limited and financial assistance is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Full daily schedules for each of these two sessions may be found on Christendom’s website.

Current high school sophomores are also welcome to apply but will only be offered admission if space allows.

Vita Consecrata Institute

19th Annual Summer Institute

The Vita Consecrata Institute (VCI), co-sponsored by the Institute on Religious Life, is held every summer in conjunction with the NDGS Summer Program. The VCI is an intense summer program of theological studies and spiritual renewal for religious, priests, seminarians, and other consecrated persons. The institute is structured in such a way as to assure religious men and women the full living of their consecrated life in a context of prayer, silence, study, and community.

Two sessions will be held: June 30 - July 11 and July 14 - 25.

This year’s Summer Institute will focus on the role of the laity in the Catholic Church, and will serve as the concluding event of Christendom’s 30th Anniversary celebratory year.

The one-day conference will be held on Saturday, July 12. More information, as well as online registration, will be available as the various invited speakers confirm their attendance at this exciting and faith enriching conference.

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