Instaurare | Winter 2023-24

winter 2023-24

The MAGA ZINE of CHRISTENDOM COLLEGE

R E S TO R I N G T H E C U LT U R E I N C H R I S T | TO L KI E N’S L E T T E R S F R O M FAT H E R C H R I S TM A S THE TRUTH BEHIND KING ARTHUR | FINDING A SECOND HOME AT CHRISTENDOM

in sid e th is is su e VOLUME 31 | NUMBER 3 | WINTER 2023-24 Published three times yearly by the Christendom College Marketing Office.

Editor & Design Director: Niall O’Donnell Assistant Editor: Zach Smith Design Assistant and Illustrator: Julie Wells Photos: Paul Aguilar, Thomas Cole, Sofia Cummings, Andrew McFadden, Patrick McNamara, Niall O’Donnell, Julie Wells Contributors: Vince Criste, Richard Hanley, Sean Hilbert, Peter O’Hagan, Zach Smith, Thomas Stanford, Kathleen Sullivan Christendom College 134 Christendom Drive, Front Royal, VA 22630 540-636-2900 | www.christendom.edu Copyright © 2023. Permission to reprint in whole or in part is hereby granted, provided the following credit line is used: “Reprinted by permission from INSTAUR ARE , the official magazine of Christendom College (christendom.edu).” SUBSCRIPTION FREE UPON REQUEST.

INSTAUR ARE magazine (pronounced “in-sta-rar-ay”) receives its name from the Latin in the college’s motto “Instaurare Omnia in Christo,” or “To Restore All Things in Christ.”

Christendom College does not discriminate against any applicant or student on the basis of sex, race, color, age, national origin, religion, disability, genetic information, marital status, pregnancy, or veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law.

CHRISTENDOM COLLEGE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

ADVISORS TO THE BOARD

Mr. Guy Amisano Sr. Mr. Gregory Bodoh ’94 Mr. Martin R. Boles Mr. Timothy Halisky ’01 Mr. Julian Heron Mrs. Karla Hester ’99 (Treasurer) Mr. Richard Hough Dr. Timothy T. O’Donnell (ex officio) Mr. Stephen O’Keefe ’93 (Chairman) Mr. Gary Schuberg Mr. Mark Swartzberg Mrs. Michele Velasco ’90 (Vice Chairman) Mr. Thomas C. West Jr. Ms. Luanne D. Zurlo (Secretary)

Mrs. Donna Bethell Mrs. Mary Ellen Bork Mrs. Bernadette Casey-Smith Mr. John Cecconi Mr. Gene D’Agostino Mr. John De Matteo Dr. Robert P. George Mr. Daniel Gorman Mr. Joseph Melancon Rev. Robert Morey Mr. Robert Mylod The Honorable James Nicholson Mrs. Mary Beth Riordan Rev. George W. Rutler Mr. Mark Ryland The Honorable Rick Santorum Rev. William Saunders Mr. Robert Scrivener ’81 Mr. George Weigel Mr. Thomas Young Mr. Eugene Zurlo

ON THE COVER The statue of Christ the King, sculpted

by Edwin Gonzalez of Heritage Liturgical, was installed on the center pillar of the chapel’s piazza on June 29.

Madonna Hall Expansion

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A new era for one of Christendom College’s academic community spaces is officially underway.

Restoring the Culture in Christ

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Alumnus Brad Torline ’16 seeks to bring about a renaissance in beauty as the executive director of The Angelico Project.

The Truth Behind King Arthur

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Cecilia Linton, retired professor of literature at Christendom, has uncovered the real author of Le Morte d’Arthur.

Tolkien’s Letters from Father Christmas

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Christendom professor Thomas Stanford presents the wonder that Tolkien brought to his children at Christmastime.

From Wyoming to Christendom

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Why Kelly and Sylvia Spiering sent seven of their children to Christendom and continue to invest in the college.

Finding a Second Home at Christendom

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Three siblings are all in on Christendom, after discovering a “community in which everyone is striving for virtue.”

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From the President

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News in Brief

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Photo Album

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In the Classroom

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Alumni News

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Omnia in Christo

CAMPUS AT SUNRISE

Photo by Andrew McFadden ’27

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a note f rom the

PRESIDENT DR. TIMOTHY O’DONNELL

“We do not look upon our darkened world with despair. Instead, we wait in joyful anticipation for the great works God will do for those who trust in him.”

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The air was brisk as I walked back to my office

after teaching my course this morning. I watched students hurrying to their next classes, filled with the expectation of the Advent season.

I’ve been preparing my final lecture of the semester on the Incarnation.

As the days grow shorter and colder, I’m excited to delve with my students into that great Christmas mystery when the Eternal God is born into time.

The Solemnity of the Nativity celebrates the culmination of history.

“But when the fullness of time came, God sent his son,” the Apostle Paul writes to the Galatians. Christ embraced death so that we might have abundant life. These words speak to the heart of the mystery of the Incarnation. So, it is fitting that Christ comes to us not in the fullness of spring but “in the bleak midwinter,” when the world seems most dead and locked in darkness.

Today, that bleakness is manifested in a culture of death that celebrates impurity while denying the natural created order . . . and in colleges and schools that often lead students into radical ideologies and confusion. At Christendom, students discover the harmony of faith and reason. Their intellectual endeavors are nourished and completed by living within a joyful Catholic community centered on the sacraments.

All aspects of a Christendom education are brought into harmony through our shared life in Christ. The college can only preserve that faithful focus because the generosity of our Christendom family keeps us free of any dependency on federal funds. Christendom was founded 45 years ago on that one unfathomable historical fact that surpasses all others: Truth exists. The Incarnation happened.

All the grief, confusion, and darkness of human history—piled up across millennia—are transformed with the birth of a Child . . . laid in a manger amidst the animals because not even a local inn in a backwater village of the empire could make room for him.

We do not look upon our darkened world with despair. Instead, we wait in joyful anticipation for the great works God will do for those who trust in him.

“The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light; And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death, a light has arisen” (Matthew 4:16).

That light shines over Christendom’s campus today from the star affixed high upon the crossing tower of the new Christ the King Chapel. It shines through the education students receive here, as they encounter the great works of Western Civilization in philosophy, theology, literature, political science, and history. Christ’s light also shines in students’ endeavors and interactions—from kneeling in prayer after a rugby game, to attending Mass and lunch in unison each day.

You can see evidence of this “more abundant” life in Christ everywhere on our campus. Visitors from other universities, almost without

fail, remark to me how joyful students seem. Joy permeates the conversations they have in class, and you see it in how they aren’t glued to their phones. The unity of faith and reason is at the core of a Christendom education. We find a prototype of it in the Magi following the star to where the Savior was born.

These “wise men from the East” were pursuing natural wisdom, but they were receptive to the divine wisdom revealed to them in the Hebrew prophecies. So also do students at Christendom draw on reason and revelation to go back to that “fullness of time” in which Christ came as the Incarnate Word, as a little child.

As a member of the Christendom family, you give young people an alternative to a higher education system sadly trapped in darkness and a culture given over to death. You enable them instead to receive an education in the light of Christ.

Remember: “Once the flame of faith dies out, all other lights begin to dim.” However, the inverse is also true. When the flame of faith is enkindled and fed, all other lights likewise shine—the light of reason . . . and our moral sense of the true, the good, and the beautiful. Our faith strengthens and gives direction to sound reason.

You and I follow the steps of the three kings who come to see our newborn Savior. The wise men are profoundly changed by their encounter with Christ. We see evidence in how they went back home “by another way.” This new path is illumined by revelation—the Magi are “warned in a dream.” It leads them away from Herod, away from the corrupt earthly power that pays false homage to the Messiah in speech, but seeks in deed to destroy Him. We have entered into a season of giving—our own gifts and the gifts of the Magi may be humble imitations of that great Gift in which Eternity enters into time at Christmas. However, God blesses our generosity and makes all things possible. Your generous support of Christendom College helps young men and women find fullness of life in Christ, even amidst the sorrows of our present age.

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

You bring John’s triumphant gospel proclamation into the lives and educations of real young men and women who are thirsting for the light of Truth. For that, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. And I wish you and all your loved ones an Advent of prayerful anticipation and a Christmas of abundant joy!

Sincerely in the Heart of the Infant King,

Adoration of the Magi, Domingos Sequeira, 1828.

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NEWS

in

BRIEF

THE BEST WEEK EVER Christendom hosted a record attendance for its Best Week Ever high school summer program (BWE), with 323 rising high school seniors participating in one of five week-long sessions this summer. Immersing students in the college’s academics, spiritual life, and Catholic culture, the Best Week Ever transformed so many lives this year, giving high school students the unique experience of learning the Truth, living the Faith, and thriving as young Catholics. The 2023 application is now open at thebestweekever.com.

$25,000+ FOR STUDENT-ATHLETES Over $25,000 was raised for the next generation of Christendom studentathletes at the 14th annual Thomas S. Vander Woude Golf Tournament, with over a hundred golfers and over forty sponsors participating in the event. Approximately 170 golfers, made up of alumni, friends, and benefactors of Christendom, gathered at Shenandoah Valley Golf Club on Monday, October 9, for the tournament. Together, they fundraised and celebrated the accomplishments of Christendom’s athletes, with current and numerous former scholarship recipients attending the event.

GRADUATES AND MASTER CATECHISTS HONORED Christendom celebrated the achievements of eleven Graduate School of Theology students on August 5, awarding Master of Arts in theological studies degrees to this year’s graduating class. Two graduates were also awarded Advanced Apostolic Catechetical Diplomas, and 26 Master Catechists from the college’s home Diocese of Arlington received their advanced-level catechetical certification. Coming from parishes across the college’s home Diocese of Arlington, these 26 students completed a two-year period of advanced-level catechetical formation with an emphasis on the four pillars of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Each received their advanced-level catechetical certification during the commencement ceremonies, with several already planning on continuing their studies with the Graduate School in pursuit of MA degrees.

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NEW ATHLETICS LOGO

TOLKIEN CONFERENCE

Christendom College’s Athletics Department started a new chapter this fall, revealing new primary and secondary logos for the 2023-24 academic year. The new primary athletics logo brings a streamlined look to the department’s existing “C” logo. The new secondary logo replaces the old St. Louis the Crusader athletics logo while continuing the department’s connections to the great saint. The logo features a bold new design, with a traditional helmet of the High Middle Ages in the center, bearing crosses in three locations in honor of the Blessed Trinity. The helmet is centered on a shield that is the exact shape of the shield found in the college’s academic seal, representing the strong connection between academics and athletics at Christendom.

Christendom hosted a Tolkien Conference in commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of J.R.R. Tolkien’s death in September, featuring presentations from Christendom faculty on the life and works of Tolkien. Dr. Adam Schwartz, presented a biographical overview of Tolkien’s life and thought, highlighting his religious biography and historical, literary, and cultural legacy. Professor Michael Strickland surveyed Tolkien’s Middle English scholarship and then further examined how his work on Chaucer potentially influenced Tolkien’s Legendarium as he was writing. Dr. Daniel McInerny closed the conference with a talk on Tolkien’s philosophy of stories, reflecting on the power of stories, and learning to understand our own lives as part of a greater story.

NEW PODCAST EPISODES Christendom professors Dr. Andrew Whitmore, Dr. Kurt Poterack, Dr. Conor Sweeney, and Dr. Chris Lane joined the Christendom Conversations podcast for four new episodes this fall. The Christendom Conversations podcast launched last year with three episodes, including a conversation with College President Dr. Timothy O’Donnell on the founding of Christendom College. To listen to this podcast, visit Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Amazon Music and search for “Christendom Conversations” to tune in.

Subscribe to our weekly email update CHRISTENDOM NOW at christendom.edu/now or scan the code.

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MADONNA HALL

E X PA N S I O N

BY JULIE WELLS

C O N S T R U C T I O N R E A D Y T O B E G I N F O R E X PA N S I O N O F A FA C U LT Y O F F I C E S A N D A C A D E M I C C O M M U N I T Y G AT H E R I N G S PA C E S A new era for one of Christendom

College’s academic community spaces is officially underway.

Over the next year, the college will expand the faculty offices at Madonna Hall with two new buildings and a gathering space to enhance the students’ college experience.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held for phase one of the Madonna Hall enhancement project in November. The new faculty offices are anticipated to open in fall 2024.

“This project reflects our steadfast commitment to meeting the needs of our faculty and students today and of future generations,” said College President Dr. Timothy O’Donnell.

“We have kept our academic community as the focus of this project, seeking a space that celebrates the personal education we offer. The buildings will give much-needed space for our faculty to welcome students and continue their fine work as mentors to the Catholic leaders of tomorrow.”

The first phase of the plan will deliver two new single-story buildings, totaling approximately 6,000 square feet, housing

Architectural concept art.

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fourteen new offices, including three small faculty lounge areas and two small conference rooms with ground-level entry. This will bring the total number of faculty offices at this location to forty-three, ensuring a dignified space for our faculty to work, host office hours, and mentor students outside of class.

The construction plan has been designed with current faculty input to encourage interaction with students and build faculty community. The purpose of this new space is to enable Christendom to invest in academic excellence by increasing full-time faculty by 25% . These two new buildings at the north end will form a “u” shape extending and enclosing the current courtyard formed by the existing Madonna Hall structure.

In addition, a wide gathering area between the two buildings on the western side will provide views of the river. This patio area will be an ideal spot for dances, classes, and group study sessions. A new outdoor amphitheater at the end of this patio area, seating approximately eighty-five people, will overlook the Shenandoah River. The dream of an amphitheater has been one

held by many students, faculty, and staff throughout the years and is finally becoming a reality. Professors also will have the opportunity to hold larger classes here on pleasant weather days.

At the back of Regina Coeli Hall, the administration building, a new stone staircase will provide access to the courtyard below with an accessible ramp directly to the south.

Additional phases two and three of the project will involve the addition of a covered four-column portico extending from Regina Hall as well as exterior embellishments to the existing Madonna Hall building.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held on November 10, 2023.

Above and below: Artistic renderings of the planned expansion. N.B. Renderings depict concept art of the completed three-phase project.

YO U C A N S U P P O R T T H I S E XC I T I N G P R OJ E C T F O R O U R FA C U LT Y A N D S T U D E N T S B Y V I S I T I N G W W W.C H R I S T E N D O M .E D U/M A D O N N A H A L L

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RESTORING the C U LT U R E in CHRIST ALUMNUS SEEKS TO BRING ABOUT RENAISSANCE IN BEAUTY

BY Z AC H S M ITH

PHOTOGRAPHS BY PATRICK MCNAMARA DRAWNTOTHEIMAGE.COM

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“

I REALIZED THAT EVERY PARISH SHOULD BE LIKE CHRISTENDOM. EVERY SCHOOL. EVERY FAMILY AND HOUSEHOLD—IN THE SENSE THAT EVERY PARISH, SCHOOL, AND HOUSEHOLD SHOULD STRIVE TO BE AN IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE IN CATHOLIC CULTURE, IN A LIFE TOTALLY DEVOTED TO CHRIST.”

Top-bottom: Torline addresses attendees at the Annual Greater Cincinnati Catholic Art Exhibition; musicians perform during a reception for the Art Exhibition; Torline speaks at a conference hosted at Humble Monk Brewing.

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How do we evangelize to a culture

closed off to objective truth and morality? This question has been troubling faithful Catholics for decades now. Objective truth and morality, once seen as pillars of the culture, have been cast aside and replaced with secularism and relativism.

And yet, hope is not lost. The answer to how to evangelize to such a culture may, in fact, be a simple one. Alumnus Brad Torline ’16 discovered it during his time at Christendom and has been working to bring that answer to the broader culture ever since. The answer: beauty—and using it to provide people with a powerful and personal experience of Christ.

Torline serves as the executive director of the Angelico Project, a nonprofit organization that brings Catholic cultural events to the greater Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati, Ohio, area. The project’s mission, according to Torline, is to “transform the culture through beauty,” aiming to draw people to Christ through dynamic encounters with truth and goodness.

The seeds for Torline’s desire to transform the culture were planted in his childhood and his initial introduction to Christ.

“I have always been interested in religion and in the Faith,” recalls Torline. “I’m not sure where this came from. My mom prayed with us every night before bed, but, other than that, my parents were not particularly religious. But I was always deeply fascinated by the person of Jesus Christ. Despite this, I also always struggled with doubts. Like most people my age, I had lost my faith by the time I was in middle school. I had been very interested in God and I wanted the Faith to be true. But my experience of religion was just not compelling.

It failed to engage me or satisfy me on the level of the head or the heart. The liturgies were not particularly engaging or inspiring. The music was bad. Though I desperately wanted religion to be true, I just didn’t find it compelling.”

The spark of Torline’s calling began to ignite during this dark time in his life, as he struggled with meaninglessness, anxiety, and depression. Then, something happened, and everything changed. Torline was exposed to the rich intellectual heritage of the Church through a friend, followed quickly by a retreat focused on adoring Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and

encountering Him in confession. In short, he experienced the fullness of the Faith for the first time in his life.

“I experienced just how beautiful and good and true Catholicism could be,” says Torline. “And it set my heart on fire. Jesus gives me hope. Hope that life does not end in nothingness. Hope that life has meaning and purpose. This changed the course of my life.”

Torline’s faith journey next took him to the Shenandoah Valley, where he attended Christendom for four years. During that time, he was immersed in a vibrant Catholic culture that he quickly wanted to take everywhere. From the way people ate together, to how they studied, to how they celebrated at parties, everything was impactful to Torline. It was here, near the Blue Ridge Mountains, that a dream began to formulate for him.

“I always knew God was calling me back home to the Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati area to help build up and strengthen my local Church,” says Torline. “At Christendom, I began to get a notion of how God might be calling me to do that. I realized that every parish should be like Christendom.

Every school. Every family and household—in the sense that every parish, school, and household should strive to be an immersive experience in Catholic culture, in a life totally devoted to Christ.”

His dream was solidified for Torline during his junior semester in Rome with Christendom, followed quickly after with a trip to the Holy Land that was made possible thanks to a scholarship offered to Christendom students. In Rome, Torline became convinced that he was being called to create a Catholic cultural center that would help people encounter God by creating opportunities for them to be immersed in Catholic culture. His time in the Holy Land, meanwhile, confirmed for him that God was calling him to do this in his home of Northern Kentucky and the Cincinnati region.

Following graduation, Torline moved back home, got married, and began working at the Dynamic Catholic Institute for a time, before eventually joining the Young Adult Ministry at the Diocese of Covington, where he used ideas of events at Christendom to help draw people back to the Faith.

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“I used Catholic cultural events, largely inspired by my time at Christendom, to build a thriving young adult ministry,” recalls Torline. “Irish Pub Nights. Swing Dances. Candlelight Masses with Sacred Polyphony. And it worked! Catholic young adults were encouraged in their Faith. Non-Catholics were attending. People returned to the sacraments. Community was built among young people seeking God. Marriages were sparked. Vocations were encouraged.”

During this time, Torline expressed to the Bishop of Covington his dream to start a nonprofit dedicated to strengthening local Catholic culture and drawing people back to the faith through dynamic encounters with truth, goodness, and beauty. The bishop was supportive but suggested that Torline continue working in young adult ministry while he developed his idea further.

He put aside the dreams of the Catholic cultural center— for a few weeks. Then, out of the blue, Maureen Teller, a local Catholic, called Torline after hearing an interview he gave on local Catholic radio. She invited him to join her and a team of fellow Catholics in building a Catholic cultural center. When he asked what her organization was called, he was floored.

“She said, ‘The Angelico Project,’ and I almost fell out of my chair,” says Torline. “That was exactly one of the names I had considered when dreaming of my Catholic cultural center. During my semester in Rome, where the dream of the Catholic cultural center was born, I had thought of the name while standing in front of Fra Angelico’s frescoes in the San Marco Monastery of Florence.”

Torline began helping with the Angelico Project on the side, assisting with events and helping it grow. After a couple of years, however, he realized that God was calling him to go all in. A short time after, Torline was named the Executive Director of the Angelico Project, where he now leads a small but growing organization dedicated to launching a new renaissance of Catholic art, thought, and culture.

Multiple times a month, the Angelico Project hosts events across the Cincinnati region, inspired, once again, by similar events Torline experienced at Christendom. Just this fall, the project hosted a sacred art exhibition, a Catholic theater group, a Dante reading group, sacred architecture tours, and candlelight Masses at parishes across the region. In the past, it

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has hosted film screenings as well, including with filmmaker— and fellow Christendom alumnus—Joe Duca ’14.

Truly, Torline and his team are living out the vision outlined by Pope St. John Paul II in his famous Letter to Artists, penned in 1999. In the letter, St. John Paul II calls on artists to be integral in evangelization—a belief that has echoed throughout Torline’s life.

“Even beyond its typically religious expressions, true art has a close affinity with the world of faith, so that, even in situations where culture and the Church are far apart, art remains a kind of bridge to religious experience,” writes St. John Paul II. “Insofar as it seeks the beautiful … art is by its nature a kind of appeal to the mystery.”

These words are at the core of the Angelico Project’s mission. Torline hopes, in time, that the Angelico Project can spread beyond the Cincinnati area, with similar Catholic cultural centers appearing throughout the United States, truly bringing about a renaissance of beauty in the culture.

When Torline looks back at his time at Christendom and how it led him to where he is today, he sees the college’s vibrant Catholic culture as integral to his formation—but the impact of the college’s faculty and staff even more so. They believed in him and his dream, giving him the confidence to see his Catholic cultural center into fruition. The result? Countless souls encountering Christ through beauty and gaining a foretaste of eternity.

“All of my classes impacted me deeply, immersing me in the Catholic thought that solidified and strengthened my Faith. But to be honest, I have realized that the greatest impact Christendom had on me was through the mentorship of great men like Dr. Brendan McGuire, Dr. John Cuddeback, Dr. Bracy Bersnak, Professor Mike Brown, Fr. Donald Planty, Mr. Tom McFadden, and many more. These men—men whom I admired so much—believed in me. And that has made all the difference in my life. It’s given me the confidence to go out and try to answer the call I feel God has given me. After all—one man can make a difference, can’t he? Even someone as broken and sinful as me.”

To learn more about Torline’s work with the Angelico Project and how to get involved, visit angelicoproject.org.

Clockwise: Event pamphlet; Torline and guests at reception for Annual Catholic Art Exhibition; Sacred Architecture Tour at Mt. St. Mary’s Seminary and School of Theology in Cincinnati; Candlelight Mass; alumnus Joe Duca ’14 joins Torline at a film screening and Q&A event.

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THE

TRUTH

BEHIND

KING ARTHUR PROFESSOR’S MAGNUM OPUS SOLVES THE MYSTERY OF WHO WROTE KING ARTHUR

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BY ZAC H S M I T H

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The legend of King Arthur and his Knights

of the Round Table has been passed down from century to century over nearly a millennium. Even the most casual of readers has heard the tales of Excalibur and of Sir Lancelot, which were famously included in Le Morte d’Arthur, Sir Thomas Malory’s retelling of the entire King Arthur legend in one volume. And yet, a great mystery has been passed down through the centuries alongside the adventures of these knights: who was Sir Thomas Malory? Popular scholarship points to the author of Le Morte d’Arthur being a prisoner and a scoundrel. But Dr. Cecilia Linton, retired professor of English Language and Literature at Christendom, has uncovered the truth.

For Linton, her fascination with Le Morte d’Arthur, and its author, has been woven into most of her life. She first discovered the work while in graduate school at the Catholic University of America, quickly getting hooked on the work in its original Middle English form. This interest stuck with her through 2006, when she joined the faculty of Christendom College, and was introduced to a fellow lover of medieval literature: Dr. Robert C. Rice.

“I said I was going to read what I could find out about who wrote Le Morte d’Arhur, and [Rice] pointed me towards P.J.C. Field’s 1993 book, The Life and Times of Sir Thomas Malory,” recounts Linton from her home in Manassas, Virginia. “I read that book and found no evidence at all that his candidate, a Sir Thomas Malory from Warwickshire, wrote the book. He has been more or less accepted as the author ever since 1993 when Field wrote that book. Almost everybody assumes that he’s the 16

“ I HOPE, THROUGH MY BOOK, THAT THE REAL AUTHOR WILL GET THE CREDIT THAT HE HAS DESERVED FOR OVER 500 YEARS. WHY? BECAUSE THAT’S JUST TELLING THE TRUTH, TRUTH AND THAT’S WHAT WE WANT WHEN WE ARE READING HISTORY. EVEN IF IT’S A HISTORY OF A SINGLE LIFE, WE JUST WANT IT TO BE REAL.”

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author. But when I read that book, I thought, there’s just no evidence here. So, I started researching.”

For Field, the true author of Le Morte was a Sir Thomas Malory of Newbold Revel — a man imprisoned as a thief, bandit, kidnapper, attempted murderer, and rapist. But, for Linton, these qualities just did not add up with the chivalry on display in the tales of King Arthur and his knights. Her research eventually led her to a Sir Thomas Malory of Hutton Conyers — a candidate often dismissed by scholars, including Field, because he was disinherited by his family, and thus could never have been a knight. But Linton, through her exhaustive research, developed a theory that would ultimately solve this mystery.

“When I read Field’s book, something else popped into my mind. I don’t know how, unless it was the Holy Spirit, but I realized that this man who wrote the book, and said he was a knight, must have been a knight of Christ, a Knight Hospitaller,” explains Linton. “He was not a regular secular knight. That was the only thing that explained everything, including the fact that he was disinherited because, of course, his parents would give whatever they were planning to leave him directly to the order when he went into monastery.”

From that moment on, it became Linton’s own Arthurian quest to test that her theory was correct. Her research first took her to her old stomping grounds in Washington, D.C., where she spent hours digging into books at the Library of Congress. She discovered that Sir Thomas Malory of Hutton Conyers’ family was heavily involved in the Knights Hospitaller, providing a key piece of evidence toward her theory. From there, she began researching book after book, between the Library of Congress and her own local library in Manassas, gaining more and more evidence in favor of her theory.

Her journey to solve the mystery behind Le Morte d’Arthur finally, at long last, took her to its place of origin: England.

She visited there with her husband, traveling from Oxford, to Cambridge, to Bamburgh Castle, and elsewhere. She visited the very home of Sir Thomas Malory of Hutton Conyers, along with the monastery where Linton believes he wrote the Le Morte. In the end, she was convinced: This man was the true author of one of the most famous books in history.

“We went to the house that had been the monastery where I contend Sir Thomas Malory wrote the book,” recounts Linton.

“It was no longer a monastery and had not been for a long time.

But the guide to that house showed us that this used to be the

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“ EVERYWHERE I WENT, MY THEORY WAS PROVEN CORRECT.” home of monks, again proving a key point. Everywhere I went, my theory was proven correct. Here was the man that nobody had been looking at, except for one person, William Matthews, in the 1960s. Matthews decided that he had to be the author for many reasons, but he couldn’t argue that he truly was the author because he had not found any evidence that he was a knight. Well, the reason nobody found any evidence that he was a knight was because he was a religious knight. He didn’t have any family, and it was very hard to track him down. But I did it. I found the real Sir Thomas Malory. And this is the truth. This is the real person who wrote this book.”

Seven years of research reached its culmination during those days in England, on the very ground on which Sir Thomas Malory once stood. From there, Linton split her time between Virginia and her native home of Savannah, Georgia, putting pen to paper and bringing her magnum opus into being.

She ultimately found a home for her achievement at the place it truly came into being: Christendom. After presenting the manuscript to College President Dr. Timothy O’Donnell and gaining his enthusiastic seal of approval, Linton’s book was selected for publishing by Christendom College Press. The book’s long journey was finally completed this year, with the book published under the title: The Knight Who Gave Us King Arthur.

“I want to express my gratitude to Christendom College for producing this book, and in particular to Dr. O’Donnell for saying yes to my book and to Niall O’Donnell, who worked so hard on making the book possible,” says Linton. “It really was a thrill, and I’m very grateful for that.”

Malory’s Le Morte d’Arthur has been in existence for nearly 700 years, influencing history, literature, and popular culture ever since. For centuries, it has been debated who truly wrote one of the most important books in the history of the English language. Linton, at long last, has ended the debate, closing the book on one of literature’s great mysteries with a major scholarly achievement.

Above: The Knights of the Round Table experience a vision of the Holy Grail. Below: Linton’s book, available at press.christendom.edu.

The project took years of work. When asked why she undertook such a momentous task, the answer for Linton is simple: truth.

“It’s important to know the truth. What I have done is not going to change Le Morte d’Arthur itself. It is what it is. But on who wrote it, it’s important to tell the truth,” concludes Linton. “You know the stories of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. It’s a wonderful production, and it has had more influence than any other medieval work in English, by far. Everybody knows these stories. Even people who don’t know how to read have heard these stories. It’s just a highly influential book, not only in that way in the culture, but its influence in our literature as well. I hope, through my book, that the real author will get the credit that he has deserved for over 500 years. Why? Because that’s just telling the truth, and that’s what we want when we are reading history. Even if it’s a history of a single life, we just want it to be real.”

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T

of rs t if tte G e e Th n’s L e i m k o l r o f

r e h s t a Fa stm i r Ch BY

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TH

A OM

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N S TA

FO

RD

III,

PH

.D.

The young professor

and father, J.R.R. Tolkien, longed to foster and preserve the wonder of Christmas for his children. So, every Christmas, beginning in 1920 and continuing until 1943, Tolkien would painstakingly create beautifully hand-written letters and artworks for his children.

In these letters, Tolkien posed as Father Christmas in what became an annual Tolkien family tradition, as the children would eventually write to Father Christmas, and he would write back, answering their questions and telling tales about his life at the North Pole.

Artwork from stamp featuring J .R. R. Tolkien printed in Kyrgyzstan.

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“These letters were a lesson in belief, trust, and love, and the love in the letters was what mattered most...”

First letter from Father Christmas, 1920.

The Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford, MS. Tolkien Drawings 37 and 38. © The Tolkien Estate Ltd 1976

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Taken together over time, the letters do not present a meticulously structured narrative; the events related in the letters are more episodic, although there are recurring characters from the North Pole neighborhood, as well as recurring challenges faced by Father Christmas, from supply shortages to attacks by goblins. Inevitably, as well, there is some misadventure involving Karhu, the accident-prone, but sometimes heroic North Polar Bear, or NPB, who lives and works with Father Christmas.

Father Christmas’s ongoing story is truly a story woven out of the threads of fairy land, the threads of the wondrous.

The fairy world of Father Christmas constantly amazes and surprises us, causing us to wonder by loosening up our understanding—our reasoned, logical approach to making sense of things—and by opening up new paths to belief. The letters introduce fabulous adventures involving the Man in the Moon, the Snow Man (who is the gardener for Father Christmas), snow children, helpful and hardworking elves, a gruff Cave Bear, brave red gnomes, younger polar bears (including nephews of Karhu), dancing penguins, and the great enemies of Father Christmas: dragons and goblins!

Consistent with Tolkien’s developing principles of fairy stories, extreme care was taken by Tolkien to present the letters of Father Christmas as “true.” The realism of the letters is an intense realism, an authenticity achieved by attention to minute details and by the whole idea of the letters as being real mail: real envelopes with what seemed to be real stamps and postmarks, coming from a real place, and describing events as though they were real and then, as well, recording the events in color illustrations as though to prove their reality.

In late December 1920, something truly wonderful arrived for three-year-old John Tolkien, a boy who lived with his baby brother, Michael, and their parents, Ronald and Edith Tolkien, in a very modest flat in Oxford: There by the hearth, the lad found a unique envelope with an unusual stamp, and within, a letter and an accompanying watercolor illustration, both created by Father Christmas himself! The envelope was postmarked from the North Pole and the address was written in a beautiful script. The stamp was the price of “two kisses.”

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Occasionally, the letters would just appear in the house, but sometimes the postman himself would bring them with the mail, Tolkien having handed the letter to the mail carrier in advance. According to one of Tolkien’s biographers, Humphrey Carpenter, the children once even found a snowy, wet boot print placed conspicuously on the rug, indicating Father Christmas had definitely been there! Genuineness, truthfulness, and authenticity were the hallmarks of the experience Tolkien intended for his children, for they needed to believe.

And perhaps what they needed to believe was not so much that Father Christmas was real in the way their father was real, but rather that the love shown by Father Christmas made known to them the real love that their father had and always would have for them. These letters were a lesson in belief, trust, and love, and the love in the letters was what mattered most, and what continues to matter, for one can see the love in the details. Examine the first letter and illustration on the previous page, as well as the envelope on the right.

Note the shaky, squiggly handwriting of Father Christmas in his letter: as he’ll mention in later missives, he’s almost 2000 years old, so it’s not bad handwriting for someone that ancient of days!

Beginning with this very humble first letter in 1920, the reader gradually learns more and more about Father Christmas and his world, including his name, Nicholas. In subsequent letters, Father Christmas praised the children for everything from their improving penmanship to their kindness toward one another, and Father Christmas encouraged them in many ways to be virtuous: to share their toys and not to think of only themselves during Christmas, and particularly to think of those less fortunate.

For example, in 1931, as the effects of the Great Depression continued to be felt in England and much of the world, Father Christmas begins his letter, “My dear Children, . . . if you find that not many of the things that you have asked for have come, and not perhaps as many as sometimes, remember that this Christmas all over the world there are a terrible number of poor and starving people. I . . . have had to do some collecting of food and clothes, and toys too, for the children whose fathers and mothers and friends cannot give them anything, sometimes not even dinner. I know yours won’t forget you.”

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Tolkien’s paternal love shows through every single stamp, envelope, letter, and illustration. And, if only for a moment, in reading the letters and enjoying the illustrations, we are all invited to become children again ourselves, enjoying Christmas from a fresh perspective.

In the 1920s, Tolkien could already see the Christmas miracle being diluted by modernism, commercialism, and materialism. Belief itself was at risk, and, sadly, it continues to be at risk. How can one believe in a miracle if one can’t believe in anything except what can be measured and weighed or have some monetary value placed on it?

Indeed, if someone can’t be moved to wonder by what he sees, how can he find room for belief, for assenting to the truth of something unseen? Chesterton wrote, “The world will never starve for want of wonders; but only for want of wonder.” The fairy world of Tolkien’s letters helps foster the wonder that is necessary for belief, including belief in the Christmas miracle.

And, if one sees nothing else in the Letters of Father Christmas, he must see a father’s love that mirrors God’s love, as the Father of us all. And love, that wonder of wonders, maybe that’s the real gift of the Letters of Father Christmas!

Thomas W. Stanford III, Ph.D., is a professor of English language and literature at Christendom College in Front Royal, Virginia. He earned his B.A. and M.A. in English from the University of Dallas, and his Ph.D. from the Catholic University of America. His scholarly work focuses on both American and British authors.

WATCH T H E LE CTURE You can watch a fascinating in-depth lecture on Tolkien’s Father Christmas Letters by Dr. Thomas Stanford by visiting this link (tinyurl.com/mvzncnxw) or scanning the code. This lecture was part of Christendom College’s Principles Live Lectures series. Learn more at getprinciples.com/live-lecture-archive.

“Tolkien’s paternal love shows through every single stamp, envelope, letter, and illustration. And, if only for a moment...we are all invited to become children again ourselves...”

The first envelope from Father Christmas, 1920.

The Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford, MS. Tolkien Drawings 36. © The Tolkien Estate Ltd 1976

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From Wyoming to Christendom NG WITH DAUGHTER

AFTER SENDING SEVEN CHILDREN, FAMILY CONTINUES TO INVEST IN COLLEGE

BY SEAN HILBERT

In today’s world, it is all too common to see families driven apart by the college experiences of their children. These children often come home from college with a new worldview deeply opposed to that of their parents, turning the home into a battleground of ideological conflict.

But Kelly and Sylvia Spiering, who sent seven of their children to Christendom, have never encountered this issue. In fact, the Spierings credit Christendom with helping their children maintain strong relationships with them.

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SPIERI SYLVIA AND KELLY

MARION ’'22

Kelly Spiering is a lifelong resident of Wyoming and a farmer by trade. After attending college for a year and a half, Kelly opted to pursue an agricultural lifestyle.

Kelly met Sylvia through an outing with a friend of his, who invited both Kelly and Sylvia to pick out Christmas trees together. Within a few hours Kelly knew that he had met the woman he hoped would be his future wife. Three months earlier, Kelly had undergone a personal conversion and told God he wanted to change and have a family; 44 years later, both Kelly and Sylvia are grateful for God’s answer to his prayer.

In 1980, the two had a fateful encounter with another couple that shaped their lives for years to come. The couple emphatically and joyfully testified to the value of the truths of Catholicism and the worth of a classical education, and drew their attention to Christendom. Inspired by Christendom’s unapologetically Catholic identity and strong academic program, the Spierings sent seven of their children to the college.

One of their most memorable experiences with Christendom took place during one of their earliest visits.

They were present at that year’s Senior Dance and witnessed the senior slideshow, full of the highlights of the seniors’ Christendom experiences. Cheers erupted from the crowd when images of Pope John Paul II and the college’s Christ the King statue were shown on screen, and Kelly, struck by the joy of the community, told himself that here was a place where Catholicism was truly understood.

“There are a lot of things you can invest in... One of the best investments that we ever made was sending our kids to Christendom.”

Kelly and Sylvia testify to the positive effect Christendom has had on their children’s development.

The seven children who attended were able to form good friendships with good people. Kelly emphasizes that, unlike at many other colleges, a parent who sends their child to Christendom can have confidence that their child will leave as a responsible adult.

Many families who have sent their children to the college have made similar testimonies. They indicate the college community’s commitment to living out its Catholic values and the integration of the truths of faith and reason in the classroom as the determining factors that help their children become joyful, faithful, and mature adults.

After the graduation of his daughter, Marion, Kelly remarked, “There are a lot of things you can invest in... you can invest in bitcoin, you can invest in all the stock markets. One of the best investments that we ever made was sending our kids to Christendom. They come back from Christendom, and they love God, they love us, and you can’t get better return on your investment than that.”

The Spiering children have continued to have strong relationships with their parents after graduation. Kelly and Sylvia are grateful to Christendom for equipping them to have these relationships. Though it is not always easy, the Spierings continue to gladly support Christendom’s mission, grateful to the college for its support of family.

The Spierings contribute to Christendom as part of their regular tithing, and they have courageously continued to do so amidst the financial ups and downs of running the farm.

When questioned about why the Spiering family continues to make financial sacrifices to support Christendom, Kelly answers that investing in Christendom College pays great eternal returns.

ROSEANNE SPIERING AT HER 2015 GRADUATION

SISTER M OLLY BERN ADETTE SP IERING '18 MADE

HER PROFE SSION THI S FALL

CHARLIE SPIERING '05 IS AN AUTHOR AND A POLITICAL JOURNALIST

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1. Sr. Catherine Droste ’87, professor and vice-dean of theology at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum), gave a keynote speech at the Summer Consortium in July.

2. Many priests and religious attended the annual Vita Consecrata Institute, hosted by the college’s graduate school of theology. The two-week retreat pairs academic studies of God and man with a unique opportunity for community and contemplation.

3. Faculty took the Oath of Fidelity to the Magisterium at the opening Mass for the academic year, celebrated by Bishop Michael Burbidge of the Diocese of Arlington.

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4. The Cuddeback Barn was a packed house for the Orientation Weekend barn dance and hayrides.

5. Students, faculty, and staff began the academic year with a rosary procession in honor of the Feast of the Queenship of Mary.

6. World-renowned composer and classical pianist Eric Genuis returned to the college this fall, gracing the students with a powerful concert held in Old Chapel Hall.

7. Lady Crusaders defeated Penn State Beaver 10-0 on September 2.

8. On October 8, the Lady Crusaders won three consecutive sets against Trinity Washington University.

9. Crusader Soccer shut-out Mid-Atlantic Christian University with a 9-0 victory.

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10. Crusader Rugby defeated Washington and Lee with a decisive 72-11 victory.

11. Dr. Robert Rice, Professor Emeritus, led a choir of students in traditional German songs for the annual Oktoberfest.

12. Dr. Dan McInerny, along with his wife, Amy, hosted a book signing in St. Kilian’s Café for his new novel The Good Death of Kate Montclair.

13. Students and college staff volunteered at the annual Red Cross blood drive held in Old Chapel Hall.

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14. College Chaplain Fr. Marcus Pollard joined the Sacred Grounds staff this fall, serving espresso in the student-run coffee shop in the lower level of the library.

15. Following in the footsteps of St. Columcille, Dr. O’Donnell led a pilgrimage to the Catholic sites of Scotland in October this year.

PHOTOS UPDATED WEEKLY ON FLICKR

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@christendomcollege

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Finding a Second Home at Christendom AFTER DISCOVERING CHRISTENDOM COLLEGE, THE CRUZ SIBLINGS ARE ALL IN

BY JULIE WELLS

In our present society, choosing a college

where one can learn the truth, live the faith, and thrive can be daunting. For young Catholics, many modern campuses present challenges and potential threats to keeping the faith and living virtuously. It is no secret that a large percentage of young adults leave their faith when they fly the nest to pursue their college education.

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“I found that Christendom checked all the boxes that were important to me: solidly Catholic, very frequent access to Mass and the sacraments, rigorous academics, the liberal arts but also the opportunity to focus in on one major after obtaining a base in all of them, residence hall policies that were directed toward forming a wholesome and virtuous community, a study-abroad program, and many other wonderful aspects.”

-Therese ’23 Christendom College founder Dr. Warren Carroll perceived these threats and felt called to found a college where young Catholics could learn the truth, in full adherence to the Magisterium of the Catholic Church. Christendom offers a rich sacramental life on campus that supports this vision and permeates every aspect of the college, from life in the dorms, to the classroom atmosphere, to extracurricular activities. Many students and their parents feel drawn to Christendom because it offers a continuation of the life of grace they sought to foster at home from a young age.

This is what drew the Cruz siblings to pick Christendom as their home away from home. Hailing from Southern California, the journey across the states was a tremendous commitment, both geographically and financially, but they felt it was worth it.

Therese, the eldest, graduated in 2023. After being home-schooled through high school, she felt peace visiting

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Christendom in the winter of her junior year. Many aspects of the college piqued her interest.

“My siblings and I were educated at home through Seton Home Study School, which is connected with Christendom,” notes Therese. “I saw advertisements for the school growing up.

However, I did not seriously start thinking about Christendom until I started researching colleges. At that point, I turned to the Newman Guide and found that Christendom checked all the boxes that were important to me: solidly Catholic, very frequent access to Mass and the sacraments, rigorous academics, the liberal arts but also the opportunity to focus in on one major after obtaining a base in all of them, residence hall policies that were directed toward forming a wholesome and virtuous community, a study-abroad program, and many other wonderful aspects. I had no relatives who had come here and knew very few alumni,

Left: The Cruz siblings dress as elves for a 2013 Christmas photo. BelowLeft: Christopher with fellow freshmen during this year’s Welcome Weekend.

Below-Right: Joshua enjoys a swing dance at this year’s Homecoming Dance.

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“The guys that I hang out with in the residence halls are amazing. I’ve had so many incredible conversations just hanging out in the common rooms. The people are most definitely my favorite part. I already feel close to people that I just met a couple of months ago.”

-Christopher ’27 but those few alumni really advocated for my coming here.”

The study-abroad semester was one of the major aspects that won Therese over. She was privileged to spend the spring semester of her junior year abroad in the Eternal City, immersing herself in the culture and soaking up the richness of her Catholic Faith.

“My four years as a student at Christendom were incredible,” she recalls, “In the classes and professors I found a practically never-ending source of knowledge and wisdom to embrace.

Some of my best advice to students is to learn to appreciate every moment in the classroom. The very classes and conversations with professors and fellow students strengthened and deepened my faith. The friendships that I formed at Christendom have brought me to where I am and will continue to be some of the greatest treasures that I will have the joy of cherishing. The opportunities that were possible in the small school setting are invaluable. Christendom formed me, in a very substantial way, into who I am today.”

Joshua, a current junior, learned more about the school through his sister and felt very drawn to the sacramental life on campus, as well as the rich theology classes.

“What most inspired me to attend Christendom was the allure of the deep and devout Catholic identity that permeates and fills every aspect of life here. I want to take my faith seriously and grow more deeply in it, and the community at Christendom allows me to do this in a way not possible at most other schools.

I also appreciate the ability to get a solid education in the liberal arts but still be able to focus on theology, a topic that I love.”

A third Cruz, Christopher, joined his siblings on campus this fall and has already had many positive experiences. When

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asked how he is adjusting to his new home away from home, he emphasizes, “It’s pretty great. The guys that I hang out with in the residence halls are amazing. I’ve had so many incredible conversations just hanging out in the common rooms. The people are most definitely my favorite part. I already feel close to people that I just met a couple of months ago.”

Therese loved her time as a student so much that she felt called to apply for the Residence Director position in the college’s Student Life Office after graduation.

“I loved being a Resident Assistant during the second half of my time at Christendom. I loved being able to serve my fellow students and build community both in the halls and around campus. So, when the opportunity arose to return to Christendom post-graduation and work in Student Life as a Residence Director, I discerned that this is where God was calling me to begin restoring all things in Christ. As a Residence Director, I have the opportunity to serve the students, particularly the women of Christendom, in a very special way.

This is my passion.”

Even though Therese is no longer a student living in the dorms, her office is centrally located on campus and her brothers love that she is so nearby.

“It’s such a blessing to be able to see, talk to, and hang out with my brother and sister,” says Joshua. “It is so much fun to have Christopher on campus and see him establish himself on campus. I am very excited to see how he grows as a man at Christendom. Therese has been a huge help and rock for me throughout the last two plus years I have been at Christendom.

Her advice and support have been invaluable. Since she’s become

RD, it’s been a blessing to work with her on the Residence Life team as an RA. Family time is very important, and it is beautiful that we get as much as we do with all three of us together. It is so much fun to be able to enjoy life at Christendom together.”

The three siblings are also united in their love for the sacraments and are thrilled to have them so readily accessible to the Christendom community.

“I love being able to go to Mass daily,” Christopher shares, “Often when I get stressed, I’ll just go to adoration and let it all out. It’s wonderful to be able to do that.”

“Having the sacraments so readily available is a huge blessing,” Joshua adds, “It has without a doubt helped me to grow in my spiritual life and has aided me in whatever I have needed throughout college. Being able to walk to the chapel and talk to Our Lord in the Tabernacle in such a beautiful place is incredible.”

Committing to a college a whole coast away was a sacrifice, but one the Cruz family was willing to make. They, like many other large families, also took advantage of Christendom’s unique sibling discount, which helps make attending the college possible.

Starting in the fall of 2024, the sibling discount will be given to any student with an older sibling (or siblings) concurrently attending Christendom with them, with the student receiving a discount of $5,000 off tuition per year. This annual sibling discount will automatically be offered for all four years of attendance (totaling $20,000) and will continue after the older sibling graduates or withdraws — making a Christendom education possible for so many families, like the Cruz family.

Although the three siblings are very fond of their beloved West Coast home, they are more than happy to consider Christendom as a second home.

“Christendom is definitely like home to me now,” Joshua admits, “I have come to know so many good people in my time here, and the community is very friendly and supportive.

It helps that we are all striving after the same thing. Home will always be home, but I have become very comfortable living at Christendom and come to deeply love the community, of which I hope I have become a meaningful part.”

“The Shenandoah Valley has become a beloved place to me,” muses Therese. “Christendom is home first and foremost because of the people. There is nothing quite like a community in which everyone is striving for virtue together.”

“Having the sacraments so readily available is a huge blessing. It has without a doubt helped me to grow in my spiritual life and has aided me in whatever I have needed throughout college. Being able to walk to the chapel and talk to Our Lord in the Tabernacle in such a beautiful place is incredible.”

-Joshua ’25

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In the Classroom

HIGHLIGHTING A COURSE FROM OUR RICH CURRICULUM

E N G L 491: C H I L D R E N ’ S L I T E R AT U R E

BY DR. KATHLEEN SULLIVAN

“Dear old world,” says Anne Shirley

in L.M. Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables. “You are very lovely, and I am glad to be alive in you.” Such claims of appreciation for nature’s beauty and expressions of joy often arise in works of literature written during the “Golden Age” of children’s literature.

Beginning with Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, we read a selection of novels—including The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, The Jungle Book, The Secret Garden, and Peter Pan, with excerpts from Treasure Island, Little Women, and Anne of Green Gables, to examine the power of the child’s imagination, awareness of justice, contributions to family and friendships, and most of all, a child’s paradoxical desire both to rest at home and to seek adventure elsewhere. We recognize this tension as characterized by a “home vs. garden” motif in which the “garden”—be it an actual garden, a jungle, an island, or Neverland—metaphorically serves as the place where the child undergoes delightful and often difficult adventures, which may even include facing death, as when Tom Sawyer and Becky Thatcher are lost in the caves. Yet the genre of children’s literature is a hopeful one: The protagonist will return home, uniting the fruits of time spent in the garden with the goods of home life. Even though the Golden Age ended after World War I, we read some works beyond that era (including one of each by C.S. Lewis and by Tolkien) to emphasize that despite the darkness of the modern world, restoration occurs by seeing the old world anew with fresh eyes of wonder and humble gratitude. Overall, in our course, we discuss this literature in light of Christ’s call in the Gospel to “turn and become like children” so as to enter the kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 18:3).

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Dr. Sullivan in the classroom

christendom.edu/pictures

Christendom’s 45th Anniversary year came to a close with Homecoming 2023 held on October 6-8. Reunions were held for the classes of 2013, 2003, 1993, and 1983 with special receptions held in Old Chapel Hall. Alumni enjoyed the holy hour, quod libet, and family fun day along with the general reception where the St. Pius X Award was posthumously bestowed on Mandy Hain ’07, and accepted by her niece, current Christendom sophomore Madeleine Hain.

After the award presentation, Dr. O’Donnell gave his final “State of the College” address to alumni as President. The formal program of the evening closed with a beautiful rendition of the Salve Regina.

See more pics on Flickr.

S ave t h e D a t e HOMECOMING 2024 October 4-6 Celebrating the Classes of 1984, 1994, 2004, and 2014

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SEND YOUR SUBMISSIONS TO CL ASSMATES@CHRISTENDOM.EDU

CLASSMATES YOUR PAPER & INK ALUMNI SOCIAL NETWORK

1980s & 1990s

2000s

2016-19

Helen, on September 5, 2023. She was baptized at Holy Family Parish in Little Falls, NY, on September 23, 2023. 10

Gloria (née Falcão) Dodd ’87 and her husband, Ennis, made a short stop from their road trip on route 70 to see Margaret (née Guettler) Summers ’91. It was great to catch up with each other after many years. 1 Patrick ’93 and Amy (née Guettler) ’94 Zuberbueler have nearly completed their renovation of a 1930s gas station into a breakfast bar & bakery. The Grand Opening will be held in November with the business named after mom & her twin brother, Betty & Bobby’s Cakes, Cookies & Desserts. It will be dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of America and to Saint Honore, patroness of bakers & chefs. 2

Sarah (née Aronhime) Harris ’02 and husband, Russel, announced the adoption of their daughter, Enid Rose Harris. 3

Mary (née McLaughlin) Scanlon ’19 and husband, Sean, welcomed their second daughter, Elaine Catherine, on July 3. Elaine joins her older sister, Saoirse Clare.

Sr. Molly Bernadette Spiering ’18 was blessed to make her first profession of vows in the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth at the Sisters’ Provincialate Chapel in Des Plaines, IL, on the Feast of Our Lady of the Snows, August 5, 2023. The Mass was celebrated by Bishop Grob, one of the auxiliary bishops of the Archdiocese of Chicago. Sr. Molly Bernadette received her first assignment and will be ministering in the Chicago area as a Youth Minister at St. Emily’s Parish in Mount Prospect. 8 Mary (née Schneider) Dudley ’18 and her husband, Nick, welcomed their daughter (and first child) Alice Rose on August 20, 2023. Alice weighed in at 9 lbs. 8 oz. and was 21 inches long. Both mom and baby are doing well. 9 Chloe (née Herrmann) and Garrett Quigley ’18 welcomed their daughter, Mairead

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2010-15 Rebecca (née Willen) Martin ’15 released her debut children’s book in August 2023.

Meet Sister Mary Margaret, published by OSV, introduces kids and families to the beautiful and dynamic vocation of women religious. 4 Kelly (née Lawyer) Cabana ’13 and her husband, Joshua, welcomed their third child, Evelyn Cabana, on September 1, 2023. 5 Rebecca Neltner ’15 married Michael Momper on July 22, 2023, at Mother of God Catholic Church in Covington, KY. 6 Paul ’13 and Erin (née Clark) ’12 Haislmaier welcomed their fourth son, Gabriel Luke, on June 9. Gabe was baptized by Fr. Andrew Clark ’14. 7

Monica (née Guza) Evans ’20 and Ailan Evans were married on July 22, 2023, in Harbor Beach, MI. 11 Laura (née Gelles) Asso-Gonzalez ’20 and her husband, Austin, had their second child, Mia, on October 6. Mariel, 16 months, is going to be an awesome big sister . 12 George ’22 and Jenna (née Williams) ’21 Schuberg joyfully welcomed their first baby, Hazel Elizabeth, on July 1, 2023. 13 Nicholas Foeckler ’22 married Sylvia Messing ’18 in Bad Axe, MI, on August 12, 2023, and they are now living in Front Royal, VA. 14 James Raes ’24 and Catherine Taraba ’24 were joined in the sacrament of marriage on July 8 and are asking for prayers for the little one they’re expecting in May 2024. 15

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Rose Norris ’22 and Daniel Llera ’22 were engaged on August 22, the Feast of the Queenship of Mary. 16 Cora Snyder ’22, after much independent studying over the Spring and Summer, passed her first actuarial exam on September 13.

Noah Wollersheim ’23 entered the Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word. His entrance ceremony for becoming a postulant was held on October 4, the feast of St. Francis.

Jacob Stevens ’23 and Madigan Gannon ’23 were married in the Christ the King Chapel on May 27, 2023. 17 Bernadette Smith ’22 and Johnny Stahl ’23 were married in the new chapel on August 5, 2023. The guests included many Christendom alumni spanning five different decades. 18 Compiled by Richard Hanley, Alumni Relations Coordinator.

The Alumni Association of Christendom College, led by alumna Karla Hester ’99, hosted its second Alumni Grill’n and Chill’n Summer Tour. This year the Grill'n and Chill'n events took place in eight cities with over 530 alumni family participants. These special events brought together the Christendom family including both undergraduate and graduate alumni, current students, parents, and friends of the college. The next summer tour will take place in the summer 2028, when the college celebrates its 50th anniversary year.

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Requiescat in Pace Pat ric k Ba ro n ’06 A nita Cra n e ’93 B o b Ha mb l eto n ’81

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OMNIA

IN

C H R I S TO

The Theologian as the Poor Widow

Taken from the college’s motto, “Instaurare Omnia in Christo,” this section features an essay or excerpt from a recent paper or talk by one of Christendom’s distinguished faculty.

BY DR. PETER O’HAGAN

Peter Lombard

In Book X of P aradiso , in the

sphere of the Sun, Dante encounters Thomas Aquinas, who gives a brief introduction to several other souls. He introduces one soul simply as “that Peter who, like the poor widow, / offered his treasure to the Holy Church.” Although we might not catch the reference, Dante’s readers would have immediately known who this was—Peter Lombard, who taught theology in Paris from c.1140 to 1159 and died in 1160 as bishop of Paris.

Lombard is no household name today, but in the Middle Ages he was a major figure. His claim to fame was his theological textbook, The Sentences.

There have been few texts in the history of theology more influential. Anyone studying theology at a medieval university, including Albert the Great, Bonaventure, and Aquinas himself, was required to study this text alongside the Bible. According to medievalist Philipp Rosemann, the history of later medieval theology could be told simply by reading commentaries on The Sentences.

Why was this text so important? Peter Lombard taught during a period when urban schools were developing into the first universities, and theology was becoming an academic discipline. He was also teaching according to an innovative method, typical of these new in-

40

stitutions. To understand this, we note the title of his work. In medieval theology, a “sentence” (sententia) is an authoritative statement about some theological truth or ecclesiastical practice.

The most authoritative “sentences” are the words of Scripture—the medieval study of theology was essentially the study of Scripture. Since Scripture needs interpretation, the other important sources of “sentences” were the Church Fathers, authoritative interpreters of Scripture who defined and defended the Church’s teachings.

The Sentences is therefore a collection of authoritative statements about the truths of faith taken from Scripture, the Fathers, and Church councils. As Lombard says, he has “put together with much labor and sweat a volume from the witnesses of truth established for all eternity.” It is much more than a reference work of quotations. It is a textbook to be used in the classroom, organized according to a particular pedagogical method, the “scholastic method.”

This method was well described by an earlier theologian, Anselm of Laon. Anselm explained that the “sentences” of Scripture and the Church Fathers were “diverse but not adverse.” If we look at the many ways which Scripture and the Church Fathers explicate the Trinity, the Incarnation, morality, sacraments, etc., we discover they often seem to disagree or contradict each other. Anselm insists that this only seems to be true—what looks like contradiction or disagreement is only a difference, since truth cannot contradict truth. For Anselm, the work of theology is to discover the deeper unity beneath the apparent contradictions between “sentences.” We don’t reject Augustine in favor of Jerome, for example, but try to understand how the disagreement between them is only apparent, for when properly understood, they are both speaking in different ways about the same reality. There is harmony underneath the apparent disharmony.

This is the approach which Lombard offers in The Sentences. He does not simply quote Scripture

and the Fathers, but quotes them to identify apparent contradictions, and then works to resolve these contradictions through a process of analysis.

In this way, apparent contradictions become pedagogical opportunities: Since theology deals with mysteries beyond human comprehension, different ways of expressing these truths help us to understand them more deeply, if we do the hard work of trying to resolve these differences. He also invites his students to participate in this exercise.

Quoting Augustine, he says, “I desire not only a pious reader, but also a free corrector, especially where a deep question of truth is discussed, as to which one would wish as many proposers of solutions as there are objectors!”

In his prologue to The Sentences, Lombard describes himself in this way: “Wishing, with the poor widow, to give something to the Lord’s treasury out of our penury and poverty, we have dared to scale the difficult heights and to undertake a work beyond our strength.” For Lombard, the difficult work he has composed is only a small offering that he hopes will be acceptable to the Lord. Dante’s comparison is thus taken from Lombard himself, and it is a fitting tribute to Lombard’s achievement. We know very little about his life, what he did, what he was like. What we do have, however, is this “something” that he offered to the Lord’s treasury—and this poor offering has been, and is still, rich in fruit.

1. Paradiso X.107-8 (trans. Allen Mandelbaum, New York: Bantam, 1986). Dante’s reference is to Mk 12:41-44; Lk 21:1-4.

2. Peter Lombard, The Sentences: Book 1. The Mystery of the Trinity, trans. Giulio Silano (Toronto: PIMS, 2007).

3. Not to be confused with St. Anselm.

A graduate of the University of Toronto, Peter O’Hagan, Ph.D., is a professor in the department of history at Christendom College.

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