THE LETTER

Newsletter Vol. III No. 2 ~ Verum Bonum Pulchrum ~ Winter 2006

Surge Qui Dormis! and even parents claim that they want

A Message from the Headmaster, Mark Langley students to “think for themselves” or to ARTICLES Greetings from all of us at The Lyceum! engage in “critical thinking.” We hear it said The ancient philosopher Heraclitus remarked that students should decide for themselves Page One: that most men live as if asleep. To a teacher where to learn, what to think, and what to Surge Qui Dormis— Headmaster’s Letter who is continually faced with young people, believe. Is this really the goal of , or whose growing bodies seem to require no should we all rather be concerned with Page Three: end of sleep, Heraclitus is merely stating the coming to know the truth which is finally Guest Artists: obvious. Heraclitus, however, is pointing to Jesus Christ? Notre Dame Chorale the sort of slumber from which, Our primary goal should be to know the Page Four: unfortunately, it seems many never wake up. truth and gain wisdom. Coming to know the Seneca Trio It is an intellectual sleep, bred of a truth might involve thinking like others for a Works of Mercy: complacent long time; Pro-Life Group satisfaction with thinking like Page Five: an implicit Euclid or Feeding the Poor skepticism. This or Alta House state stops any Aquinas. Sports intellectual Basketball Team Blessed John Volleyball Team movement and Henry Cardinal leads ultimately to Newman says Page Six: that complete provocatively in State of the : paralysis which Academic Progress his Idea of a Pope Benedict :

Page Seven: aptly calls “the “While we are Exam Week tyranny of men, we cannot relativism.” Page Eight: help, to a great Lyceum Fine Arts: In a recent extent, being Praxis of the Arts interview with Aristotelians, Advent Lessons The original congregation of the Chiesa Giovanni , St. John’s Beckwith in Ignatius Press, 1906. The building became the first home of The Lyceum in 2003. for the great & Carols noted priest and Master does but Page Nine: author James V. Schall, S.J. made the analyze the thoughts, feelings, views,

Recorder following comment about the human mind: and opinions of human kind. He has for good or ill “…we have a mind that is not of our own told us the meaning of our own words The Fall Plays: Everyman making. This mind is not given to us to and ideas, before we were born. In Shepherd’s Play think whatever we wish, but to think many subject-matters, to think whatever is true.” correctly, is to think like Aristotle; and

Page Ten: we are his disciples whether we will or Children’s Choir Intellectual license ought to be distinguished from intellectual freedom. no, though we may not know it.”

Page Eleven: Thinking whatever we want, for good or for Newman seems to be suggesting that men Upcoming Events ill, amounts to nothing more than some sort are naturally Aristotelians, and the purpose of Thesis Night - March 24 of intellectual license. True freedom, school would therefore be to become better Spring Auction however, consists in having the “tools of Aristotelians. This would seem to be of - April 28 thinking,” and actually thinking the truth. universal importance, for as Father Schall Christ reminds his disciples that “the truth points out “…John Paul II, following will make you free.” Aristotle really, remarked that every person is

In our day, it is common to hear educators something of a philosopher.”

The real challenge for us all is to there is no truth. The effect is the something outside themselves. engage in what Socrates calls the same. That is, each such person is Relativism is a poison that lulls its “examined life” which consists in really a slave to that tyranny of subjects into a sort of dreamy reflecting on and discussing our relativism of which Pope Benedict ignorance of reality, of being, of ideas with others speaks. truth itself. Like the fabled “lotus” to discover if we Allan Bloom in his Closing of encountered by Odysseus and his actually have the the American Mind, says: men, the sweet lotus, once eaten, truth or not. “There is one thing a professor can be lulls its victims into a dreamy

What is the absolutely certain of; almost every forgetfulness about all that is most alternative to student entering the university dear. The lotus nearly destroyed thinking like believes, or says he believes, that truth the men of Odysseus, making Aristotle or is relative. If this belief is put to the them forget their duty and instead,

Aquinas? Well, test, one can count on the students' “they wished to stay, to we can try to Observant Touriste and Political reaction: they will be remain among the Lotus- think for Philosopher Alexis De Tocqueville uncomprehending. That anyone Eaters, feeding on the plant, ourselves, but how do we know should regard the proposition as not self- eager to forget about their we are not really subtly influenced evident astonishes them, as though he homeward voyage.”

by the thoughts of some other were calling into question 2 + 2 = 4. This is indeed a tyranny. But in thinker and are unwittingly These are things you don't think about.” this case it is a deceptively intellectual disciples of benign tyranny that lulls someone else? Alexis De men to sleep. To be Tocqueville suggests this very unaware of the things that thing in his masterpiece every human mind was Democracy In America, he says: created to know is to be “America is therefore one asleep. To be unaware of of the countries where the the great questions, the precepts of Descartes are great ideas which are part least studied and best of the “great applied.” conversation” that has How disappointing to wake taken place among such up one day having proudly brilliant thinkers as Homer considered oneself to be a and Heraclitus, Plato and “critical thinker” only to Aristotle, Augustine and discover that one has been an Those ruled by the tyranny of Aquinas, is to be asleep. To be unwitting disciple of a dead 17th relativism do not seem to realize unaware of or unresponsive to century philosopher! If we cannot their own predicament. Relativism Beauty - to beautiful music and help thinking and makes its adherents art, to beautiful and wholesome living our lives comfortable with their own literature, to beautiful drama, to according to some ideas. Besides being a denial beauty of the soul - is to be asleep. , doesn’t of objective truth, relativism To be a moral relativist - tolerant it make sense to claims a sort of false of every action, unable to be “wake up” early and tolerance that makes room outraged at what is truly evil and find out what the for everyone except for that unenthusiastically responsive to truth is? This is one who holds that truth is right and just action, to be supposed to be the one and the same for all. Rene Descartes unresponsive to the good - is to aim of education. —Father of Doubt, I think... A relativist certainly does be asleep. To be unaware of the

Or should we rather agree with not consider this life to be a Catholic Church and her present those who maintain that each journey towards our final home battle for minds and hearts, her person should have the license to where we will see Truth itself. battle on behalf of the unborn and think what he pleases, and that Such a life is painful, as truth is the defenseless, her battle for each should determine for himself found only by those who are souls and for the salvation of all his own truth, or better yet, that willing to submit themselves to mankind, is to be asleep.

2 What can one do with those “…one day, midway through the places. As Father Schall says,

who have been lulled into this semester, you will look at the “…changes in human affairs slumber of relativism? Odysseus class. Suddenly a young man or begin in individual souls, no doubt took action: woman in the back row, who under grace, in out of the way

“I forced them, eyes full of seemed at first clueless, is sitting places like Bethlehem or in the tears, into our hollow ships, there with eyes wide open. You small German town in which dragged them underneath the know that suddenly the student Benedict XVI was born.” has woken up in that sense for 2 rowing benches, and tied them We hope that each Lyceum which the classical university was up. Then I issued orders for student is in the process of an supposed to exist for its pupils, to my other trusty comrades to intellectual awakening. We hope let them know that there was light. embark and sail away with that God’s grace has ample They were supposed to, made to, speed in our fast ships, in case freedom to work in our little out see it.” another man might eat a lotus of the way school. We desire and lose all thoughts about his We at The Lyceum hold that nothing more for our students journey back.” intellectual freedom is not the than “the light” which St. Paul

Such drastic measures might be license to think whatever one speaks of in his letter to the wishes but rather the freedom to Ephesians: necessary, but alas, they are unavailable to a teacher with his think the truth. We hold that “Awake, thou that sleepest,, and arise students. Father Schall proposes education is about giving students from the dead, and Christ shall give thee the opportunity to encounter truth light.” slightly less coercive measures for waking students from their itself, that truth which is one and We hope each of our students relativistic slumber. the same and unchanging for all, would respond heartily, “Fiat Lux!”

that truth which is ultimately Our “…there definitely are writers Lord Jesus Christ. We will Notre Dame Chorale who have made me wake up…If a continue to work with each Imagine our excitement when a student will patiently read and student, one by one, to bring large touring bus rolled up Murray reread with me great books and about an awakening and full Hill Road and parked on the street books that tell the truth, in their conversion to this truth. We directly outside The Lyceum. On own way, his soul will be gripped, believe that great works may come Monday January 9th, famed fascinated. He will begin to of our slow and steady efforts in University of Notre Dame Chorale wonder about the truth of our small school in Little Italy, Director Dr. Alexander Blachly led things…” And this leads to one of encouraged by the fruition of University of Notre Dame students the most glorious visions that a other like efforts in other small into the Giovanni Hall to deliver a teacher can have: short, private performance for Lyceum students and faculty. Dr. Blachly is the founder and director of the New York - based early music

The Lyceum students, front, with the Notre Dame Chorale, back, and Director Alexander Blachly, Middle during their surprise visit. 3 ensemble Pomerium which has been Seneca Trio ... a pleasure to work with students heralded as perhaps the finest early Gave a lovely Benefit concert here at The Lyceum, who delight in serving those in music ensemble in the country and January 6th , 2006. The audience was delighted need; to work with students who even the world. with a fresh and surprising, melodic group of are indeed “prepared for every selections that traversed genres and centuries. The I am not certain that Lyceum Trio’s flawless performance of these lively pieces good work” without counting the students were aware of Dr. enchanted even the little children, who watched and cost. Here are just some of the Blachly’s fame in the music world listened intently from high up in the choir loft, most recent works of mercy that nor what an honor it was that he sometimes even bowing along in the air. It is indeed Lyceum students have undertaken: a rare gift to have a concert where families can enjoy warmed up The Lyceum Chorale to such lovely music played by such accomplished The Culture of Life. It is sing a few pieces in return, but Dr. musicians in such an intimate setting. The members especially encouraging to see young Blachly showed great pleasure of Seneca Trio generously donated the proceeds of this people reaching out to those who when our choir sang several pieces concert to The Lyceum Scholarship fund. Our are suffering or in need. This year, a capella. Lyceum students heard thanks go to the players, one of whom, Elizabeth on their own initiative, Lyceum De Mio, is not only a master’s piano instructor at the chorale sing Beethoven’s the Cleveland Institute of the Arts, but also the students formed a new pro-life Hallelujah (from Christ on the Mount mother of one of our new students!. Thank you, group on campus which has of Olives) and some stirring choral ladies, for a truly beautiful evening of music. already completed two projects to pieces from Franz benefit local Schubert. Lyceum organizations that gentlemen were support expectant and especially impressed by new mothers. The the virile sound of the first activity strong bass and tenor sponsored by the sections in The Notre group was a diaper Dame Chorale. collection drive for Alternaterm, a

Cleveland organization that Seneca Trio helps mothers to care

Marcia Ferritto, violin for their babies. Elizabeth DeMio, piano Students and Lyceum Diane Mather, cello families collected Program nearly 1,000 diapers. Think of all Sonata in G minor George Friedrich Handel Lyceum Students – prepared those happy babies! (Op. 2, No.8) (1685-1750) for every good work Recently we received a note of Andante Although The Lyceum is thanks from another excellent Allegro chiefly concerned with the organization, Womankind, Largo Allegro intellectual formation of its thanking our students for a students, it is nonetheless donation of money they collected Trio in Eb major Johann Nepomuk Hummel gratifying, and perhaps a (Op. 12) (1778-1837) by just contributing to and filling a testimony to the baby bottle with spare change. Allegro agitato complementarity of the Although the amount was relatively Andante contemplative and active life Finale: Presto modest, I believe that the $35.00 that the students have engaged collected truly did represent the Four Miniatures Frank Bridge in so many spiritual and sacrifice of the “widow’s mite” (1879-1941) Romance corporal works of mercy this that Our Lord praised. Saltarello year. While not formally On February 3, 16 Lyceum Valse Russo structured into the curriculum, students accompanied Miss Mary Hornpipe our students have availed Bouchey and several Lyceum Café Music Paul Schoenfield themselves of an exceptional parents to help feed a hot meal to (1947-) number of opportunities to over 130 people at St. Procops Allegro Andante Moderato respond to the teaching of the Parish, which sponsors this Presto Gospel with their actions. It is program to help the needy. This

4 was a wonderful experience of The Angelus at lunch time for the The Lyceum Basketball Team teamwork in service to others who intentions of all expectant mothers We are proud of the boys who are less privileged and noticeably and for the health of their babies. comprise the newly formed suffering. What a blessing to sense As a school that espouses the Lyceum basketball team. The boys God’s love in such a place and joy “culture of life” that Pope John are lucky indeed to have as their in an event such as this! Even Paul II frequently spoke about, coach Mr. Tallib Ilaahee, a veteran before the evening was over, Lyceum students’ efforts to put basketball coach in Cleveland. cheerful, smiling students were these words into action is certainly Each Monday and Friday, the asking when we might do this a significant development for the team meets with “Coach T” at again! school. The Alta House. Coach Ilaahee On Manday, February 6, believes that playing Lyceum students and Students don hairnets to serve the poor at St Procops. basketball well faculty gathered to sing at a requires not only Memorial Mass for Bobby physical skill and Tripodi, the son of dear talent, but even friends of The Lyceum, more importantly, Mark and Christine personal virtue, Tripodi, at St. Michael’s both physical and Church in Independence. moral. Whether As our choir focuses respecting their primarily on sacred own bodies through liturgical music, we were proper diet and honored to be able to sing regular exercise or for such a noble purpose respecting one and contribute to the another and the beauty of the Mass. Among team by playing other selections, students with true sang a three part Mass sportsmanship and setting by Claudio athletic virtue, Coach T treats Casciolini, the classic Marian hymn Giving Back at The Alta House basketball as an analogy of The O Sanctissima, and an English motet Lyceum students answered the Christian Life. From all reports, Lord For Thy Tender Mercie’s Sake. call of our good friends at The each practice is very strenuous, On Sunday, February 19, Alta House, (the community and it is clear that Coach T has students again helped to collect center here in Little Italy that earned the respect and affection of funds for Womankind by provides The Lyceum with our every one of the players. Though participating in a Taize Invitational sports program) to place their the focus in this beginning year benefit concert held at St. Felicitas youthful energies at the service of has been on building the team as parish in Euclid, Ohio. local senior citizens. Various opposed to competing with other Directed by Dr. William teams of Lyceum students helped school teams, we can look forward Schoeffler, the prayerful concert to set up, clear tables and serve to a few scrimmages with other was a triumph of coordination over 150 people gathered for the teams in the next several weeks. between several different adult annual Valentine’s Day luncheon. choirs, including an eight member How fitting it is for young Next Season: Girls’ Volleyball! hand bell choir, two parish choirs, people to serve and render some The Lyceum Chorale, a string trio Stay tuned for news of The thanks for the older members of Lyceum’s newly formed Girls’ and piano. As Dr. Schoeffler said, the community in which they live. the beauty of the whole was truly Volleyball Team, to be coached by We, in turn, are thankful to The Mr. Sean Sweeney of The Alta greater than the sum of its parts. Alta House for the charitable and We hope to join in this effort again House. The result of student – generous work they do to enhance led initiative, we look forward to next year. our community, and for giving our seeing the girls’ team compete in Lyceum students have also students the opportunity to join in instituted a weekly recitation of games this spring. this work.

5 The State of The School: who some claim was the very History and the ideas that make ~ Academic Progress Report “Father of the West”- Virgil, and America great than to read the

Learning is always a joy, but his immortal work The Aeneid! words of those who shaped the the second semester at The This year Lyceum students in even course of that history. Shouldn’t Lyceum is even more enjoyable greater numbers will be every American spend some time for teachers and students than the participating in the prestigious and reading the actual words of first semester. This worthwhile National Columbus, John Dickenson, is because it is in Exam in levels 1, 2 and 3! Patrick Henry, Thomas Paine, the second All students continue Jefferson, Franklin, Adams, semester that their study of Greek from Hamilton, Madison, Washington? students and the marvelous introduction Following the advice of the late teachers are able to to Greek Athenaze. Though John Senior who famously said discuss new Greek meets only once a that before reading the Great material with a week, the rewards of Books of The Western World, substantial base of sticking with the course can students should first be academic progress be seen especially with third thoroughly immersed in and made in the first year students who will soon acquainted with the “1,000 Good semester. To wit… be ready for some readings Books,” 7th and 8th grade

Students in Euclid have just from The New Testament. This students therefore participate in will indeed be a dream come true. “The Lyceum Good Books finished Book IV of his monumental work The Elements. It Each Friday, every student at Program.” This year they have really takes about three books of The Lyceum recites a poem from read Kipling's Just So Stories, The Euclid to initiate each student fully memory in a class called the Jungle Books, Irving's Rip Van into the wonders of logical Practicum. The favorite Winkle and of course A.A. demonstration. They now realize choices are from the Sonnets of Milne’s favorite, The Wind in The what a proof is and that every Shakespeare, but students also Willows by Kenneth Grahame. successive proposition in The gravitate toward Hopkins One does not argue about The Elements is yet another stone in the Tennyson and Longfellow, Wind in the Willows. great cathedral of knowledge that Dickinson and Frost, Keats and We can’t help but cite Milne’s they are building within their own Shelly, the Rossettis and the famous encomium about this minds. Second semester Euclid Brownings, while the gentlemen in remarkable work, noting that students now understand how 7th grade have taken a particular what he says about it might just Millay could have said, “Euclid liking to Hillaire Belloc’s Bad as well be said about The Great alone hath looked upon beauty Child’s Book of Beasts. What a gift it Books as a whole. Milne cautions bare…” They understand why is to fill up the storehouse of the reader: “The young man gives it Einstein held out no hope for memory with good things at such to the girl with whom he is in love, and, those who could not become a young age! if she does not like it, asks her to excited about the study of Euclid What better way to study return his letters. The older man tries it when he allegedly said, “If Euclid history than to read the works of on his nephew, and alters his will fails to kindle your youthful those historians known as the accordingly. The book is a test of enthusiasm, you were not born to fathers of History itself! Classical character. We can't criticize it, because be a scientific thinker.” History students have finished it is criticizing us. But I must give you The study of Latin is alive and Herodotus’ Histories of the Persian one word of warning. When you sit well at The Lyceum. Students in Wars and some of Plutarch’s Lives. down to it, don't be so ridiculous as to Latin I, II, III and IV are variously They are now well into suppose that you are sitting in judgment translating texts from the Thucydides’ great work The on my taste, or on the art of Kenneth delightful pages of Lingua Latina Peloponnesian Wars. Grahame. You are merely sitting in to the rather collegiate yet American History students judgment on yourself. You may be respectable Sententiae from have read over forty documents worthy: I don't know, but it is you who Frederick M. Wheelock’s revered from Mortimer Adler’s Annals of are on trial." tome to, of course, that ancient America. We don’t know of a Students of Rhetoric, in addition masterpiece written by the man better way of teaching American to their weekly recitations, have

6 been working on telling a good with Euclidean reasoning on the students that Exam Week is a story. This is a task that is harder premises derived from years of good thing for three reasons: than it seems. The 7th and 8th careful observation and Studying for exams allows each grade students must relate a good experimentation. Harvey student to see the subject as a tale, in order from beginning to demonstrates not only that his unified whole, rather than as a daily end, without skipping parts. They discovery is true, but how to discover concentration on the specific details must be sure to describe vividly and prove that a thing is true. of each course. We are apt to “lose the setting, build suspense steadily, To read the entire Odyssey aloud sight of the forest for the trees,” and draw the audience into sympathy with fellow admirers of that man thus it is necessary to take time once “skilled in all ways of contending, in a while to reflect on the whole. with the characters, and of course, end with a good resolution. They master mariner and soldier” Further, for many students Exam write a good deal, as always, but Odysseus, is a thing of beauty and a Week provides an incentive finally the exercise of telling a good story joy forever. Classical literature to apply themselves to learning is invaluable in that it trains the students, having also read Pindar’s things that they have been intending mind to think in order, and Odes and Aeschylus’ Orestia, now to learn but haven’t gotten around express thoughts with lively words. read Hesiod’s Theogony. to. There is a wholesome pressure to Is the Lord’s Prayer a proper We feel truly blessed to have read study with extra intensity and finally these great works with the students! object of study for learn all that vocabulary, or review students? St. Thomas Aquinas some of those basic calculation would certainly say so, as it is skills, or perhaps even to reread his commentary on the Pater some important texts. In the parable of the vineyard, we see laborers Noster that Lyceum students coming to work and applying have spent an entire semester themselves well after the usual hour discussing. Most recently they and they are rewarded with equal have been discussing the last pay. Something like that sometimes petition “sed libera nos a happens with students who apply malo” (but deliver us from themselves well during exam week! evil). They have been exploring Finally, Exam Week is perhaps particularly the connection the single most concrete way to between each of the petitions make clear to a student that the in the Lord’s prayer with the Exam Week and Judgment most effective way to learn Beatitudes and the Gifts of The Although end of semester exams anything is to apply oneself every Holy Spirit. day, to take careful notes and to The younger students have been are well over, the spectre of exams past and future looms as an ever participate in class discussions. reading the Old Testament, and They find out that “cramming” is having wandered about in the present reality for the conscientious student. We think it rarely an effective way to prepare desert for a good part of the for an exam. Good students are, semester, are just about to enter is appropriate to reflect from time to time on the meaning of exams. by definition, students who are the Promised Land. always ready for an exam because In Biology, students have had the Lyceum Faculty enjoy Exam Week at the Lyceum more than they have been applying pleasure of reading William themselves with genuine interest in Harvey’s De Motu Cordis, his any other time because students seem to be working at “full each subject from day one. We tell compelling first-hand account of the students that ultimately life his discovery of the circulation of capacity.” There is a peculiar, almost palpable intellectual itself is in fact a preparation for the blood. Harvey embodies the one large final exam. Each day is in scientist who, moved by wonder, intensity that arises when every student uses his mental abilities to fact a preparation for a test that we enters the great conversation must not fail. We will all be judged begun a thousand years before. He full advantage. We tell the students that they do not study so that they and given a pass or a fail. We say addresses the work of his with Socrates, “let us live each day predecessors, deferring to the will get a good grade, but rather as if it were our last” that we may discoveries of some and they study so that they might gain be always awake and ready for the dismantling the theories of others wisdom. Despite the anxiety that final test! students feel about exams, we tell 7 Fine Arts: The Praxis of Beauty eloquently, so some care ought to Advent Lessons & Carols

Beyond discussing what beauty is be paid to the written word, not The sweet voices of The Lyceum and what its principles are, Lyceum just in substance, but even in Children’s Choir blended with students are regularly exposed to appearance. The “word” is those of The Lyceum Chorale to the actual “praxis of beauty.” something sacred to man and fill the gorgeous expanses of the ought to be treated with respect. Classical education does not Shrine of St. Stanislaus for a When American History students only signify academic development Celebration of Marian and Advent see facsimiles of The Declaration and the “cultivation of the mind,” Music on December 9, 2005. of Independence or even The but we should also understand it to Punctuated by readings from Constitution of the United States, include the regular practice of scripture and congregational they understand that, for those those arts which refine the singing, the students sang chant who love freedom, the ability to sensibilities and passions that are and polyphony chosen to evoke a write substantive things beautifully appropriate to a rightly disposed longing for Christ’s threefold is of no small importance. We gentleman or lady. The arts that coming - at Christmas, into each hope to give them the tools not address this aspect of a person are heart, and at the end of time. only to write well, but beautifully. called “the Fine Arts.” An

education that does not include a The Lyceum Chorale and Children's Schola Present a Celebration of formation in the Fine Arts must Marian and Advent Music with Scriptural Readings December 9, 2005

always be deemed incomplete. O Come O Come Emmanuel (sung by chorus & congregation) v. 1 & 2 In his immortal Funeral Oration, First Reading: Luke 1:26-38 Pericles boasts of the Ave Maria Gregorian Chant comparative superiority of the Ave Maria Jacob Arcadelt (1505-1568) Athenians. He does not fail to Ave Maria Austrian Salve Mater Misericordiae Ancient Carmelite mention the part that an education in the beautiful plays in O Come O Come Emmanuel (sung by chorus & congregation) v. 3 & 4 contributing to this superiority. Second Reading: Isaiah 45:5-8

“And we have not forgotten to Kyrie Byrd (1543-1623) Rorate Coeli Gregorian Chant provide for our weary spirits Ye Clouds of Heaven Schmitt after Matthies many relaxations from toil... our Angelus Ad Virginem Medieval homes are beautiful and elegant; Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming Michael Praetorius

and the delight which we daily O Come O Come Emmanuel (sung by chorus & congregation) v. 5 & 6 feel in all these things helps to Third Reading: Isaiah 52:1-10 banish sorrow...for we are lovers Up Awake from Highest Steeple arr. J.S. Bach of the beautiful.” Ave Regina Coelorum Gregorian Chant Adoro Te M. Haydn (1737-1806) Aside from the continual Resonet in Laudibus Traditional practice of singing beautiful Puer Natus in Bethlehem Gregor Werner (1693-1766) music, memorizing the words of O Come O Come Emmanuel (sung by chorus & congregation) v. 7 the greatest poets, and acting in Fourth Reading: John 1:1-14 the dramatic works of the Wait for the Lord Taize brilliant playwrights of the past, Creator Alme Siderum Gregorian Chant students of The Lyceum have Of the Father's Love Begotten Aurclius Prudentius also persisted in a second year of Gaudete! Traditional Long is Our Winter German Round Calligraphy instruction and this Vcrbum Caro Factum Est English Carol year, 7th and 8th grade students have taken up the recorder. O Come O Come Emmanuel (sung by chorus & congregation)

v.1 in English, then v.1 in Latin The study of Calligraphy (the word itself means “beautiful We are grateful for your participation in this evening's celebration writing”) enables students to and we wish to thank St. Stanislaus parish for hosting us. focus on the fundamental fact Director-Mr. Mark Langley Organist-Mr. Fred Lautzenheiser that just as a man ought to speak Violinist-Miss Margaret Langley articulately and, if possible, even

8 Introducing The Recorder– “The Summoning of Mercy, only our good deeds, done The Von Trapp Method! for love of God and neighbor, will Everyman Called It Is … ” The recorder, ancient instrument by Miss Jana Draeger be of any help to us in that hour. A Morality play on this theme, that it is, deceives many in its Each autumn at The Lyceum, such as is Everyman, then, seems simplicity. Like every instrument, it every student acts in a play taken didactically redundant, a bleak can be wielded for good or ill. In from the origins of western drama, practical lesson, thinly disguised in the hands of either a Greek tragedy, or a the bright spectacle of a drama. A the untutored, Medieval Mystery or Morality sort of pious propaganda. A bad it is a plastic play. In late November, the child’s primer on the Last Things. tube of terror, Lyceum Players staged both a But if this is the purpose of such shrieking and Mystery play and a Morality play, plays, they fail miserably, as no one, shrill, capable which featured music from the by watching them, learns anything at of unnerving 13th and 14th centuries. all. Everyone knows the lesson even the most The 7th and 8th graders staged before the music even starts. steady soul; in The Shepherd’s Play from Oberufer, in Somehow, the combination of music the hands of which the Mystery of Christ’s and metered couplets, spoken well the skilled, it Incarnation is revealed with quiet by young students who relish the is a graceful awe on a human scale to some words, and that paradoxical instrument, reminiscent of wrangling, hungry, but kind-hearted Medieval light-hearted gravity and woodland nymphs. The recorder is shepherds in the joyful, adorable celestial earthiness leave us laughing not only accessible to the young juxtaposition of sacred and profane at Death, at its paltry powers and its musician, but can also be worthy typical of the early Middle Ages. terrible sway. If a Morality play of a life avocation. The older students staged the cannot even teach us to fear death, classic Morality play Everyman, We are blessed to have as our why stage such a tale? starring Everyman, who, midway teacher this year Mrs. Stephanie When The Lyceum Players put on through life’s journey, finds himself Langley, who brings with her a a play, we like to choose something summoned all unready by Death to long record of experience worthy of our efforts and your his judgment. He searches for a introducing recorder to young attention. It should be noble, time- companion to go with him, but in students. In just four short weeks, honored; a foundational work of vain. He is rejected by all, save Good The Lyceum’s 7th and 8th graders western drama. It must of course Deeds, who happens to be too weak have made significant progress have parts enough for 30 or so to go with him. Everyman must do with this remarkable little actors. Ideally, it will also be penance and give up his old sins in instrument. Aside from the actual somewhat accessible to us, and order to strengthen his Good Deeds technique of recorder playing, suitable for polite company. It might for the journey to his judgment. Lyceum students are making even edify. But none of these is This, at first blush, seems a rather steady progress in their ability to worth a straw unless it is a read music. horrid way to spend an evening, good story! The characters and rather too grave matter for a The Trapp Family Singers were and the conflict must group of students in the largely responsible for the revival compel the audience to at springtime of youth. of the recorder in the United States once sympathize with our We are, all of us, going to in the 1950s. Mrs. Langley, an avid hero; place itself in his skin, die. We know that we, each reader of Maria Von Trapp’s feel what he feels. of us, are but a few fragile books, is particularly delighted to Everyone already knows breaths from death, carry on this beloved Trapp Family death is inevitable. We judgment, and either tradition. know it in our soon-to-be Heaven or Hell. We all bare and whitened bones. We are thankful to Mrs. Langley know this, and certainly Some might even for the gift of her time and talent. our Medieval forbearers practice this dying by the We are hopeful that the tradition did too. We know we study of philosophy, as of beautiful Renaissance recorder will be judged and that Socrates would advise. playing will flourish at The except for God’s But thinking on the Lyceum. great Grace and

9 end of life is not the same as think. (If we wanted to think living in the bright shadow of this dying. A pianist who wants to about death, we would host a terrible and triumphant end, who play a piece well in concert does seminar.) We put on a drama practiced death not only by not simply study to understand because we want to pondering the Last the song’s structure, he plays it a enjoy the beautiful Things, but by living out hundred times. Just so, a person language and the those Last Things, who wants to die well must die costumes, and to vicariously dying with the often - a problem even for the delight in the rascals and with the saints; poets, who tell us that death, students’ imitations these strange Pilgrims once dead, there’s no more dying of real human who lived so earthy on then. We must find some way to actions, be they well this earth, yet only and die, then, without dying. or badly done. always on the way to

We extricate ourselves from Such beauty, or death, judgment, and the hope of Heaven. this seeming impasse by dying even its shadow, Teresa Shumay as Knowledge through someone else. This does, however, have vicarious death, as experienced in one final end. It should and does The Lyceum Children’s Choir literature and Each Wednesday Drama, with all its afternoon from 3:15 to attendant emotions, 4:15 home-schooled is a sure way to children and students practice death. Our from all around minds know already Cleveland descend upon what is true, but our The Lyceum for their emotions cannot weekly practice in The know. These wily Lyceum Children’s powers cannot Choir. In this its second learn, they can only year, the children’s choir be exercised into boasts a membership of order. We know we almost 30, and they are should fear, but we a source of inspiration cannot feel fear of our inevitable pull from the audience a fear of for those of us who are fortunate death unless we die a thousand the truly scary –i.e. sin, and a pity to hear them singing. deaths in the skins of others. for the truly pitiful, - i.e. the Unless we do this, we are very poor sinner, a hope for salvation, The purpose of the Children’s bad at dying indeed. and a joy for the saved one, a Choir is to foster a love for the And so we do not stage terror of dying badly and an treasury of Sacred Liturgical Morality plays to teach morals. aspiration to die well. We do not music and Gregorian chant. We do not even want to teach the audience Among the music the children are stage them about death, we want the currently learning is the beautiful to get audience to die; Gregorian Mass VIII (Missa De people to vicariously, of course, Angelis), the Eucharistic hymn of but to die all the same. St. Thomas Aquinas Adoro Te When we do this, Devote, as well as two part settings we watch with the of such classics as Mozart’s Ave same eyes as our Verum and Marcello’s Give Ear paradoxical Medieval Unto Me. Giving children an brethren; those wise acquaintance with beautiful children who loved liturgical music is a reward in itself to die, but who and certainly in keeping with the Megan Dougherty, Chelaine Lawson, Elizabeth McFadden found the joy of wishes of our Holy Father. as Angel, Beauty and Discretion in Everyman 10

Mark Your Calendars!

The Lyceum Spring Auction

Friday, April 28, 7 PM

We are very pleased to announce The Second Annual Lyceum Spring Auction, to be held on Friday, April 28 at 7 PM at Holy Spirit Hall. Those of you who were able to join us at last year’s dinner fundraiser will certainly agree that the event was a great success, not only because of the $18,000.00 that the event raised for The Lyceum, but also because of the joy of so many good people coming together to promote Catholic classical education.

We invite you to support Dennis and Mary Rowinski, who have again graciously offered to co-chair this year’s Spring Auction. Your involvement in making the event both a joyous and successful crown to our third academic year is crucial.

The Lyceum’s Third Annual Thesis Night and Potluck Dinner Friday March 24, 6 PM

Each year at The Lyceum, each of the Juniors and Seniors chooses a thesis topic of a philosophical nature and then works closely with a tutor to prepare a thesis that follows the classical scholastic form perfected by St. Thomas Aquinas.

After weeks of preparation, each student then presents his thesis before the gathered Lyceum faculty, family and friends, and defends it against the slings and arrows of vigorous questions by the audience.

This exercise represents the culmination of a student’s education at The Lyceum, the goal of which is the formation of a Catholic, liberally educated lady or gentleman.

We hope you will be able to attend this event, and that you will invite friends who might enjoy such an evening of thoughtful, stimulating discussion.

11 THE LYCEUM 2062 MURRAY HILL ROAD CLEVELAND, OH 44106 Phone 216.707.1121 Web: thelyceum.org

Sophia Ciaravino and Sarah Langley announce the glad tidings to the sleeping Shepherds in the14th Cent. Mystery Play, Shepherd’s Play of Oberufer.

Sophia Ciaravino, Meghan VonHassel and Sarah Langley as Angel, Mary, and St. Gabriel

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