Crafting and perfecting an academic curriculum can be an enormous task. It takes so much work and meticulous thought to carefully select the countless lessons, topics, objectives, subjects, texts, lectures, assignments, etc. that will make up the whole of a course and then align them to work seamlessly together. I did my best for this school year with what I was given from previous years, and while there are lots of things missing and gaps in my planning it’s turned out pretty well. Not perfect, but I’m satisfied. All the hiccups have me reconsidering and reforming the curriculum for next year, though. I have lots of ideas, but I’m having a hard time finding the time to think it through and make plans for these changes.
Anyway, the complexity of developing a curriculum has me thinking (with sheer astonishment) at the harmonious intricacies of the Church’s liturgical life — lectionaries; rubrics; calendars full of overlapping commemorations; a vast, diverse corpus of hymns and spiritual songs; chanting tones; paraliturgical devotions and celebrations; and more! Centuries of development from innumerable individuals to craft and harmonize it all with stunning exactitude for the spiritual benefit of Christians everywhere. Incredible!
One of my favorite parts of the Church’s liturgical life has to be the Marian feasts and devotions. My devotion to the Holy Mother is a deep, rich, and core part of my spiritual life, and I love all that the Church does to love and honor her. In particular, I love singing all things Marian. If you followed me around everyday you’d know just how much I do so. I’m usually singing a Marian antiphon. As of now, anyone within earshot will hear me singing Ave Regina Caelorum (Latin for Hail, Queen of the Heavens). Its beautiful, healthful melody will carry me steadily through the darkness of Lent to the bright, joyful morning of Pascha.
From the Church Calendar
Thursday after Ash Wednesday St. Benedict, Abbot 2024 A.D.
Like I mentioned in a previous Writer’s Diary, Orthodox are a whole five weeks behind Catholics and Protestants this year when it comes to Easter meaning that Lent also starts a whole five weeks later for us. While many of you are about to enter into Holy Week on Sunday, we Orthodox have just started Lent!
On another note, I posted a very brief reflection on St. Joseph earlier this week for his feast day. You can follow the link below to check it out if you haven’t already.
From My Reading
I’ve been far too tired to read much of anything lately, but I offer you the simple wisdom of St. Moses the Black (aka the Strong, or the Ethiopian), one of the many, grand, holy Desert Fathers of the early Church.
A brother came to Scetis to visit Abba Moses and asked him for a word. The old man said to him, ‘Go, sit in your cell, and your cell will teach you everything.’
Some Thoughts & Stories
I gave a presentation yesterday on how to make a good presentation (i.e. presentation slides), and it required the use of my projector in order to ‘show’ them the concepts and not just ‘tell’ them.
One of my students, seeing the projector on as he walked into class blurted out, “Whoa! This is the first time you’ve used that projector all year.”
Another student quickly added, “The second time, actually. He used it last semester to show us that [Latin Mass] church service to introduce the book we read, [Death Comes for the Archbishop].”
Those comments are like badges of honor. I’m proud that they know me as the no-projector guy (with the exception of a Latin Mass).
Writing Updates
I lost my notebook a couple weeks back. It was a new one, so there was hardly any writing in it (thankfully!), but it’s made it difficult for me to write. I’m a man of daily habits and carefully crafted systems, and having my routines in place enable me to accomplish the tasks I need to and other things I want to. My notebook was so central to my writing habits (and other daily habits), so losing my notebook has made it near-impossible for me to write consistently. It makes me a bit sad.
I haven’t purchased a new one because I’ve been insistent on finding it. I don’t lose things (anymore), and I take it personally when I misplace something. I’m determined to figure out where it is. There’s not even that many places it could be, and I’ve already looked in all the right places. I think I’m close to giving up on my search, and I’ll probably end up buying a new one this weekend. *Sigh*
Closing Out
O GOD of peace, who hast taught us that in returning and rest we shall be saved, in quietness and in confidence shall be our strength; By the might of thy Spirit lift us, we pray thee, to thy presence, where we may be still and know that thou art God; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.1
On today’s commemoration of St. Benedict I’m reminded of all the good in my life that I owe to his life and teaching. My spiritual life is grounded upon his life and teachings; when I’m floundering and overwhelmed, I look to him to rediscover the way of salvation: stillness, quiet, rest.
There’s hardly a more special way for me to start Lent than by remembering, honoring, and listening anew to the wisdom of my beloved father.
Listen carefully, my son, to the master’s instructions, and attend to them with the ear of your heart. This is advice from a father who loves you; welcome it, and faithfully put it into practice. The labor of obedience will bring you back to him from whom you had drifted through the sloth of disobedience. This message of mine is for you, then, if you are ready to give up your own will, once and for all, and armed with the strong and noble weapons of obedience to do battle for the true king, Christ the Lord.2
From dust we’ve come and to dust we shall return. May Almighty God have mercy on us all
One of my favorite Collects, read for the first time years ago in the Anglican BCP
St. Benedict of Nursia. Rule of St. Benedict, ed. Timothy Fry, OSB (Collegeville: Liturgical Press, 1981). Prologue.