Letter from the Headmaster

As they have for six decades, our students end each school day with this short prayer of gratitude. One of this year’s valedictorians concluded his address with these very words as a way to capture the deep sense of appreciation his class enjoys. The feature article on Cistercian’s Class of 2024 (written by the seniors themselves) expounds upon other distinguishing characters and characteristics of this class.

Gratitude is a theme that emerges in our second feature article as well. The piece explores all that goes into Cistercian being Cistercian as the only monastic school in North Texas. The Abbey has always had and continues to have profound effects on the unique character of the School and its distinctive approach to the formation, education, and care of students, inculcating such characteristic monastic virtues as community, humility, poverty, diligence, self-sacrifice, and stability/continuity. The result is often an admirable gutsy/ feisty brotherhood among students and alumni with a “can do” attitude and confidence for doing remarkable things.

Be sure to check out News & Notes and Class Notes, and enjoy the wit of alumnus and current teacher Patrick Spence ’08 who reflects humorously on gardening and other life lessons picked up one day on a walk from the School to the Abbey Church.

Finally, on our back cover, Fr. Thomas explains how he employs the Cistercian motto of Ardere et Lucere (honoring our founding Hungarians) and the principle of humanitas (“hospitality”) in his senior theology class as monastic pearls to illustrate the innate harmony between our endeavors at both the School and the Abbey.

Indeed, there are so many blessings for which to end each and every day with thanks!