December 7: Cicero

Bust of Cicero from the Palazzo Nuovo, Capitoline Museum, Rome

On December 7, 43 B. C., Marcus Tullius Ciero died at Formia, Italy. He lived in the chaotic period that included the end of the Roman Republic and the beginning of the Roman Empire, and it is impossible to assess how thoroughly the observations and descriptions in his speeches, dialogues, treatises, and letters shaped western… Continue reading December 7: Cicero

December 5: Clement of Alexandria

Clement of Alexandria from Les vrais pourtraits et vies des hommes illustres grecz, latins et payens, 1584

December 5 is the commemoration in some traditions of Clement of Alexandria (ca. A. D. 150-215). Clement is the earliest proponent of classsical Christian education that we know much about. The son of apparently well-to-do pagan parents and born in Athens or possibly Alexandria, he was educated in Greek philosophy and literature as a youth… Continue reading December 5: Clement of Alexandria

Finding Time

Many years ago, my mom gave me a key chain with a tab that says “A day that begins and ends in prayer is less likely to become unraveled.” It’s a sentiment which both as a practicing Christian and a liturgy geek, I enthusiastically support…in theory.  I love the idea of a quiet time to… Continue reading Finding Time