November 27: Clovis I

Tomb of Clovis I at St. Denis, Paris (taken 2008 by Christe Ann McMenomy)

This is rather long, but bear with me. For the past month, I’ve been exploring topics inspired by the lists  of events, births, or saints for the day in Wikipedia and the Britannica, trying to see whether one or another of these might help illuminate the goals, methods, or outcome of a classical Christian education.… Continue reading November 27: Clovis I

November 26: Hermits and Contemplation

Icon of Alypius the Stylite now in the Hellenic Insititute of Byzantine and Post Byzantine Studies in Venice

In the Roman Catholic and Orthodox traditions, today is the feast day of several saints who were hermits: St. Stylianos of Paphlagonia (fifth century), and Alypius the Stylite and Basolus of Verzy (both seventh century). Regardless of your views on saints, it is worth considering what the practices of these men can tell us about… Continue reading November 26: Hermits and Contemplation

November 25: Isaac Watts

Portrait of Isaac Watts by an unknown painter. Painting is now in the National Portrait Gallery, London.

Today is the commemoration, in the Lutheran and Anglican traditions, of the death of Isaac Watts in 1748. Regardless of your religious persuasion, if you have been in the United States or Canada or Great Britain at Christmas, you’ve run into at least one of his many hymns, “Joy to the World”, in some form… Continue reading November 25: Isaac Watts