Moderators: David Albertson & Mary Ortiz

For our final seminar this year, we turn to T.S. Eliot’s beautiful and profound poem, Four Quartets, in dialogue with an essay by philosopher Simone Weil. How can poetry respond to the “wasteland” of our fragmented and alienated culture? What virtues of attention and memory do we need to rediscover? How do Christian prayer—and university studies—both require the virtue of attention? Join us for our final conversation!

Topics & Readings:

Session I: Eliot on music

Reading: Eliot, Four Quartets

Session II: Eliot on memory

Reading: Eliot, Four Quartets; Josef Pieper, “Leisure”

Reading Weil, “Reflections on the Right Use of School Studies with a View to the Love of God.”

Seminar Schedule:

9:00-9:30 Mass in Church of Our Savior (optional)
9:30-10:00 Coffee & donuts on the patio
10:00-11:30 Session 1 in Newman Hall
11:30-12:30 Buffet Lunch outside on the patio
12:30-1:30 Session 2 in Newman Hall

This series is made possible by the support of the Grant “In Lumine: Supporting the Catholic Intellectual Tradition on Campuses Nationwide” from the John Templeton Foundation, Grant #62372.