Final Review, Part II: Pax tibi

CARPACCIO, Vittore. The Lion of St Mark. (detail)
1516. Tempera on canvas. Palazzo Ducale, Venice

Let's use our time wisely. It's review time. Finals are upon us. Let us redeem the time, and yet be not anxious. For St. Mark sends to you peace.

Agenda for Monday, May 12-21, 2014:

1. Pray
2. Latin Proverb: Finis coronat opvs.
1.  "The end crowns the work," meaning, finish well!
3. Read and discuss Shakespeare's Richard II & Henry V:
1. Take notes
4. Midsummer Exam
5. Midsummer Final
6. Review HW:
1. Midsummer Exam (5/13). This is an In-class Essay. Study Midsummer and notes. 
2. Midsummer Memorization Project (5/20). This project is your FINAL!
3. Be perfect.

On Martydom in the arena: Uri, vinciri, verberari, ferroque necari: On martyrdom and the arena.

Gerome, Jean-Leon. Pollice Verso. 1872. Oil on canvas. Phoenix.

That is the oath of the gladiator, the sacramentum gladiatorium. All gladiators were to pledge a chilling promise: "I will endure to be burned, to be bound, to be beaten, and to be killed by the sword." This oath, however, is ultimately selfish, only for one's own glory.
Consider the "arena" as a metaphor. The truth is that we all are in our own arena. The Christian especially is a kind of gladiator. Paul alludes to this. And it is true that many Christians have already endured being beaten, burned, or killed with the sword; we call them martyrs. In fact, some of them were in the same arenas as the gladiators. But the difference is that the Christian did not seek his own glory but rather the glory of the Father. Here is the wonderful irony. Remember what Christ said about losing your life for his sake? That "whosoever shall lose his life...shall preserve it." And what has happened? We remember the fame of the martyr more than that of the gladiator. Who is remembered more? The martyr has found life in our continued memory of their sacrifice. 


Agenda for Monday, May 5-9, 2014:

1. Pray
2. Latin Proverb: Finis coronat opvs.
1.  "The end crowns the work," meaning, finish well!
3. Read and discuss Shakespeare's Henry V:
1. Take notes
4. Work on Midsummer Projects 
5. Review HW:
1. Midsummer Exam (5/9). This is an In-class Essay. Study Midsummer and notes. 
2. Midsummer Memorization Project (5/20). This project is your FINAL!
3. Be perfect.

Easter is not over.

CARPACCIO, Vittore. The Meditation on the Passion.
1510. Oil and tempera on wood.
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

Some of you might be asking, "Why are we still talking about Easter. Like, it's so over already--pshaw!" But it's actually not over. We are still in Eastertide, still contemplating the significance of Christ's passion, death, and resurrection. Consider Cappricio's argument here. It is right that we continue to think on the world-history-soul-altering reality of Easter Sunday. It is the most important event in history, remember the sine qua non of Christianity. 

Agenda for Easter Monday, April 28:

1. Pray
2. Latin Proverb: Qui habet Filium habet vitam; qui non habet Filium Dei vitam non habet. 
1. "He that hath the Son, hath life. He that hath not the Son, hath not life." - 1 John 5:12
3. Continue reading and studying Midsummer:
1. Review Act V questions together.
4. Review HW:
1. Midsummer Memorization Project (5/12) 
2. Midsummer Essay on Friday (5/2)
3. Be perfect.

Agenda for Easter Tuesday, April 29:

1. Pray
2. Grammar: Bedford 25
1. Review and disucss
3. Work on Midsummer Memorization Projects
4. Review HW:
1. Midsummer Memorization Project (5/12) 
2. Midsummer Essay on Friday (5/2)
3. Be perfect.

Agenda for Wednesday, April 30:

1. Pray
2. Read and take notes on Chesterton's Intro to Midsummer
3. Review HW:
1. Midsummer Memorization Project (5/12) 
2. Midsummer Essay on Friday (5/2)
3. Be perfect.

Agenda for Thursday, May 1:

1. Pray
2. Read and discuss G. K. Chesterton's Intro on Midsummer
1. Take notes
3. Review HW:
1. Midsummer Memorization Project (5/12) 
2. Midsummer Essay on Friday (5/2)
3. Be perfect.

Agenda for Friday, May 2:

1. Pray
2. Read and discuss G. K. Chesterton's Intro on Midsummer
1. Take notes
3. Review HW:
1. Midsummer Memorization Project (5/12) 
2. Midsummer Essay on Friday (5/2)
3. Be perfect.

Christus resurrexit!

BELLINI, Giovanni. Resurrection of Christ.
1475-79. Oil on panel transferred to canvas.
Staatliche Museen, Berlin.

He has risen! The resurrection of Christ is the sine qua non of Christianity. Understand this sentence, and you will know the secret of the universe.


Agenda for Easter Monday, April 21:

1. Pray
2. Latin Proverb: Quid quaeritis viventem cum mortuis? Non est hic sed surrexit. 
1. "Why seekest thou the dead among the living? He is not here but has risen." - Luke 24:5-6
3. ITBS TESTING
4. Review HW:
1. Acts IV-V Quiz on Wednesday (4/23)
2. Midsummer Memorization Project (4/30) 
3. Midsummer Essay on Friday (5/2)
4. Study Grammar on Cases of Pronouns and Nouns. Quiz tomorrow on Bedford 25. 
5. Be perfect.

Agenda for Easter Tuesday, April 22:

1. Pray
2. ITBS TESTING
3. Review HW:
1. Acts IV-V Quiz on Wednesday (4/23)
2. Midsummer Memorization Project (4/30) 
3. Midsummer Essay on Friday (5/2)
4. Study Grammar on Cases of Pronouns and Nouns. Quiz tomorrow on Bedford 25. 
5. Be perfect.

Agenda for Wednesday, April 23:

1. Pray
2. Reading Check Quiz: Acts IV-V  
3. Finish studying Midsummer:
1. Lecture and discuss
4. Review HW:
1. Midsummer Memorization Project (4/30) 
2. Midsummer Essay on Friday (5/2)
3. Study Grammar on Cases of Pronouns and Nouns. Quiz tomorrow on Bedford 25. 
4. Be perfect.

Agenda for Thursday, April 24:

1. Pray
2. Continue reading and studying Midsummer:
1. Read Act V together.
3. Review HW:
1. Midsummer Memorization Project (4/30) 
2. Midsummer Essay on Friday (5/2)
3. Study Grammar on Cases of Pronouns and Nouns. Quiz tomorrow on Bedford 25. 
4. Be perfect.

Agenda for Friday, April 25:

1. Pray
2. Continue reading and studying Midsummer:
1. Read Act V together.
3. Review HW:
1. Midsummer Memorization Project (4/30) 
2. Midsummer Essay on Friday (5/2)
3. Study Grammar on Cases of Pronouns and Nouns. Quiz tomorrow on Bedford 25. 
4. Be perfect.

Palm Sunday, Triumphal Entry in Jerusalem & Holy Week

GIOTTO di Bondone. Entry into Jerusalem. 1304-06.
Fresco. Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua

Yesterday was Palm Sunday, which marks the beginning of Holy Week and is the day on which the Church celebrates and remembers Jesus entering into Jerusalem, the "City of Peace." While the crowd lifts up shouts of "Hosanna to the Son of David!", they spread their coats on the ground, and wave palm branches, to announce the entrance of the King. There is of course tremendous irony in this scene and in the following drama that unfolds. Peter Leithart notes that the "'Your King comes" is the story of the Bible, your life story is God teaching you to rejoice at His coming, whatever it brings. You are enrolled in God’s lifelong singing school to learn the hymn of Palm Sunday: Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the Name of Lord! Hosanna in the highest!"
Typologically, this scene is the reversal of David's flight from his vain and usurping son Absalom. Jesus is the good Son, who returns to the throne of his father the same way David fled the city. This day also marks the beginning of Holy Week, which follows the initiation and fulfillment of Christ's Passion.

Agenda for Holy Monday, April 14:

1. Pray
2. Latin Proverb: osanna Filio David benedictus qui venturus est in nomine Domini osanna in altissimis. Here it is in English: "Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.." - Matthew. 21:9
3. Correct and review Grammar Quiz on Bedford 25
4. Continue reading and studying Midsummer:
1. Check and review Act II reading questions
5. Review HW:
1. Read Act V by Thursday (4/17) 
2. Acts I-III Quiz on Thursday (4/17)
3. Be perfect.

Agenda for Holy Tuesday, April 15:

1. Pray
2. Continue reading and studying Midsummer:
1. Check and review Act III reading questions
3. Review HW:
1. Read Act V by Thursday (4/17) 
2. Acts I-III Quiz on Thursday (4/17)
3. Midsummer Memorization Project (4/30) 
4. Be perfect.

Agenda for Spy Wednesday, April 16:

1. Pray
2. Midsummer Memorization Project 
1.  Due (5/12) 
3. Continue reading and studying Midsummer:
1. Read Act V together.
4. Review HW:
1. Acts I-III Quiz on Thursday (4/17)
2. Acts IV-V Quiz Friday (4/25)
3. Midsummer Memorization Project (5/12) 
4. Be perfect.

Agenda for Maundy Thursday, April 17:

1. Pray
2. Acts I-III Quiz
3. Midsummer Memorization Project: 
1. Make your choices by the next week
2. Meet with me regarding your selections
4. Continue reading and studying Midsummer:
1. Do Act IV & V reading questions
5. Review HW:
1. Acts IV-V Quiz Friday (4/25)
2. Midsummer Memorization Project (5/12)
3. Be perfect.

Agenda for Good Friday, April 18:

1. Pray

Ave Maria and the Faery Tale

ANGELICO, Fra. Annunciation (Cell 3).
1442. Fresco. Convento di San Marco, Florence

As we consider the Annunciation, let us think of it in light of what we are studying in Humanities 8: Faery Stories. The elements of a faery tale require journey, enchantment, encounter, moral judgment, and the happy ending. Angelico Fra depicts for us the first of these two elements in this scene, for the Annunciation to Mary is only the beginning of the story of Christ's birth, of God becoming man, of heaven kissing earth. The rest of story will play out over the next nine months until the fullness of time with Christmas. But even then the story is not over. We find in Scripture that evil Herod is eventually judged and that, in the end, Christ and the Holy Family can return from exile in Egypt to achieve the happy ending of this sub-story. 
The Annunciation, however, should give us pause, however, to consider what is happening in our own day. Allegorically, it seems that Herod has not only sent his soldiers to slay the children once again but also that the holiness of the family is driven into exile by the state's attack on marriage. Let us not overlook these things; let us not forget the fact that our Savior stands in the center of a family, an institution that has long threatened the raging heathen nations. No wonder our churches are week and barren, for we have not the imagination to conceive of "Mother Kirk" because we do not culturally acknowledge conception  as a blessing or motherhood as honorable.   

Agenda for Monday, March 31:

1. Pray
2. Latin Proverb: Ecce concipies in utero et paries filium et vocabis nomen eius Iesum. Here it is in English: "Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name Jesus." - Lucas. 1:31
3. Continue reading and studying Midsummer
1. Read Act I 
2. Finish Act I Questions .  
4. Review HW:
1. Canterbury Tales Memorization. Wednesday (4/2)
2. Study Grammar on Cases of Pronouns and Nouns. Quiz tomorrow (4/1). 
3. Be perfect.

Agenda for Tuesday, April 1:

1. Pray
2. Grammar Notes: Pronoun and Noun Case Bedford 25
1. Take notes
3. Continue reading and studying Midsummer
1. Read Act I and finish your questions.  
4. Review HW:
1. Canterbury Tales Memorization. Wednesday (4/2)
2. Study Grammar on Cases of Pronouns and Nouns. Quiz tomorrow (4/1). 
3. Be perfect.

Agenda for Wednesday, April 2:

1. Pray
2. Canterbury Tales Presentations!
3. Continue reading and studying Midsummer
4. Review HW:
1. Study Grammar on Cases of Pronouns and Nouns. Quiz Friday (4/4). 
2. Be perfect.

Agenda for Thursday, April 3:

1. Pray
2. Grammar Notes on Bedford 25
3. Continue reading and studying Midsummer
1. Take notes on History and Structure of 5-Act Play
2. Read Act II together
4. Review HW:
1. Finish Act II of Midsummer
2. Study Grammar on Cases of Pronouns and Nouns. Quiz tomorrow (4/4). 
3. Be perfect.

Agenda for Friday, April 4:

1. Pray
2. Grammar Quiz: Bedford 25
3. Continue reading and studying Midsummer:
1.  Finish Act II reading questions
2.  Begin reading Act III together.
4. Review HW:
1. Finish reading Acts III & IV over the break. 
2. Finish Act II & III Questions (4/14)
3. Study Grammar on Cases of Pronouns and Nouns. Quiz next week. 
4. Be perfect.

Vocabit nomen eius Emanuel.

ANGELICO, Fra. Annunciation. 1451-52
Tempera on wood. Museo di San Marco, Florence.

Why the Annunciation, you ask? March 25th happens to be the Feast of the Annunciation.What does this mean? Two things: (1) that life begins at conception, and without Mary's "ecce ancilla Domini fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum," we'd still be sacrificing inadequate bulls and goats, we'd still be in our sins, we'd still live in darkness, et cetera res; (2) that if we consult the astronomical record--which we can scientifically prove--we find, as Shakespeare says, "the heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes." The stars in their arrangements tell a story, and it is the fulfillment of millennia of prophecy. This week is the beginning of that story.

Agenda for Monday, March 24:

1. Pray
2. Latin Proverb: ecce ancilla Domini fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum. Here it is in English: "Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to thy word.." - Matt. 1:38
3. Read "The Magic Thread"
4. Reading Journal: Fairy Tales
5. Lecture on Faery Tales, Part I: The Shape of Faery
1. Students take notes by answering the following questions:
1. Explain the narrative structure and character types in faery tales?
2. What are some of the moral lessons taught through faery tales?
3. Why is the happy ending so important?
4. How and why are faery tales more "Christian" than tragedy?
6. Review HW:
1. Fairy Tale Quiz (3/28)
2. Study Grammar on Cases of Pronouns and Nouns. Quiz Wednesday (3/26). 
3. Canterbury Tales Memorization (4/2)
4. Be perfect.

Agenda for Tuesday, March 25:

1. Pray
2. Grammar Notes: Pronoun and Noun Case Bedford 24
1. Take notes
3. Lecture on Faery Tales, Part II: The Shape of Faery
1. Elements of Faery: 
1. Journey
2. Enchantment
3. Encounter
4. Evil Judged (Witch Dies)
5. Happy Ending
4. Review HW:
1. Fairy Tale Quiz (3/28)
2. Study Grammar on Cases of Pronouns and Nouns. Quiz Wednesday (3/26). 
3. Canterbury Tales Memorization (4/2)
4. Be perfect.

Agenda for Wednesday, March 26:

1. Pray
2. Grammar Quiz: Pronoun Case (Bedford 24)
3. Begin reading and studying A Midsummer Night's Dream
4. Review HW:
1. Fairy Tale Quiz (3/28)
2. Study Grammar on Cases of Pronouns and Nouns. Quiz next week. 
3. Canterbury Tales Memorization (4/2)
4. Be perfect.

Agenda for Thursday, March 27:

1. Pray
2. Continue reading and studying Midsummer
3. Review HW:
1. Fairy Tale Quiz (3/28)
2. Study Grammar on Cases of Pronouns and Nouns. Quiz next week. 
3. Canterbury Tales Memorization (4/2)
4. Be perfect.

Agenda for Friday, March 28:

1. Pray
2. Fairy Tales Quiz
3. Continue reading and studying Midsummer
4. Review HW:
1. Finish Act II (4/2)
2. Study Grammar on Cases of Pronouns and Nouns. Quiz next week. 
3. Be perfect.