HeightsCast: Forming Men Fully Alive

The Heights School

Welcome to HeightsCast, the podcast of The Heights School. With over 200 episodes, HeightsCast discusses the education of young men fully alive in the liberal arts tradition. The program engages teachers and thought-leaders in the educational/cultural space to support our community of listeners: parents, teachers, and school leaders seeking to educate the young men in their care. Instead of downloads, HeightsCast's most important metric for success is the unknown number of thoughtful discussions it prompts in homes, faculty lunchrooms, and communities around the country and the world. Thank you for listening; thank you for continuing the conversation. read less
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Episodes

Alvaro de Vicente on the Vocation of Fatherhood
Yesterday
Alvaro de Vicente on the Vocation of Fatherhood
The task of fatherhood is critical, dynamic—and daunting. How could one address hope to address it all? During the Fatherhood Conference at The Heights School this month, Headmaster Alvaro de Vicente boiled it down to this: God chose this for you. You are called. Accepting this simple starting point should give fathers the confidence to take on the role, and the humility to seek God’s grace while doing so. Chapters: 3:02 Fatherhood as vocation 9:20 Vocation as your position on the team 12:09 The mission: bring your family to heaven 13:29 Fatherhood is a partnership with God 16:07 A father’s example of piety and virtue 27:06 Offering our children direct guidance 30:37 Offering them our time 34:05 Witnessing to the world 36:54 Being open to God’s grace 40:41 Messy is fine 45:20 You’re the man for the job Links: Men in the Making, Alvaro de Vicente’s substack featuring original articles Pastoral Letter on New Evangelization, 2 October 2011 by Javier Echevarría, former prelate of Opus Dei Christ Is Passing By by Josemaría Escrivá “In Joseph’s Workshop” by Josemaría Escrivá Featured Opportunities: The Art of Teaching Conference at The Heights School (November 13-15, 2024) Also on the Forum: Episode 1: The Homework Problem, newly launched Forum Faculty Podcast hosted by Tom Cox featuring round-table discussions with veteran teachers On Emotional Presence and Imperfect Parenting featuring Alvaro de Vicente Paternal Presence featuring Alvaro de Vicente The Father and His Family featuring Michael Moynihan
Dr. George Harne on Receiving Beauty
Oct 31 2024
Dr. George Harne on Receiving Beauty
What is beauty? Is it definable? What is it for, how are we drawn to it—and why do we sometimes resist it? This week we welcome Dr. George Harne, president of Christendom College and an accomplished medieval and music history scholar. Drawing on his perspective as head of a vibrant Catholic liberal arts college, he speaks to us about the liberal arts as a path of study driven by beauty and contemplation, in pursuit of a true vision of reality. Chapters: 2:02 Liberal arts: what free people study 5:51 Versus “humanities” or “classical education” 7:46 Why study them 9:43 Music as a liberal art, fine art, liturgical art 13:16 Teaching art and contemplation 18:24 Defining contemplation 21:21 Contemplating music 24:45 Music with our family 28:19 Receiving beauty objectively, subjectively 29:42 Beauty under suspicion today 34:24 A Catholic liberal arts education Links: Only the Lover Sings: Art and Contemplation by Josef Pieper The Arts of the Beautiful by Etienne Gilson Featured Opportunities: Fathers Conference at The Heights School (November 2, 2024) The Art of Teaching Conference at The Heights School (November 13-15, 2024) Also on the Forum: Episode 1: The Homework Problem, newly launched Forum Faculty Podcast hosted by Tom Cox featuring round-table discussions with veteran teachers Defining the Liberal Arts featuring Dr. Matthew Mehan Order and Surprise: On Beauty and the Western Tradition featuring Dr. Lionel Yaceczko Why a Liberal Arts Education Today featuring Michael Moynihan The Idea of the Liberal Arts University featuring Dr. Thomas Hibbs
Dr. Jeremy Beer on Charitable Giving and the Quest for Belonging
Oct 24 2024
Dr. Jeremy Beer on Charitable Giving and the Quest for Belonging
Dr. Jeremy Beer’s study of American society over the last 200 years, overlaid with psychology research and statistics about American charitable giving, has brought about his recent book: The Quest for Belonging. The book directly advises nonprofit and fundraising leaders, though it just as much informs the everyday giver. This week on HeightsCast, Beer helps us see that charitable giving at its best is not a distant act of beneficence but an intimate act of community. It allows those who participate to become more rooted in the reality of social belonging, making for a healthier society in more ways than one. Chapters: 3:56 American cultural tradition of “association”7:39 Four pillars of civil society9:04 American society, in particular16:53 Gradual decline of American association, of belonging21:33 Giving and religious affiliation25:04 Giving and localism28:02 Giving as a democratic exercise31:31 Nonprofits have a role in belonging33:50 The goods of associating ourselves34:36 To whom do you owe?41:07 Giving and the Catholic tradition Links: The Quest for Belonging: How the Most Effective Nonprofit Leaders Understand the Psychology of Giving by Jeremy BeerGivers, Doers, and Thinkers, Jeremy Beer’s podcastA Spirituality of Fundraising by Henri J. M. Nouwen Featured Opportunities: Fathers Conference at The Heights School (November 2, 2024)The Art of Teaching Conference at The Heights School (November 13-15, 2024)
Dr. Andrew Abela on Superhabits
Oct 17 2024
Dr. Andrew Abela on Superhabits
It turns out that modern psychology, neuroscience research, “habit hacks,” and popular self-help literature can all be summed up in one very classical idea: the virtues. So asserts Dr. Andrew Abela, founding dean of the Busch School of Business at The Catholic University of America. This week on HeightsCast, he helps us unpack his new book, Superhabits, in which he rebrands the virtues as “superhabits” to suit the contemporary discourse. Then, with the help of Thomas Aquinas and about a dozen gripping stories, Dr. Abela shows us how these superhabits of virtue are described, developed, and supported by modern research as the way to live a good life. Chapters: 2:20 Virtues: the essential human operating system5:19 Humans pre-wired for virtue9:14 Psychology research, self-help books all point back to virtues17:57 “Anatomy of Virtue” diagram25:57 The role emotions play29:12 Virtue gets easier!33:21 Translating virtue into “superhabits”37:19 Redirecting anger with gentlefirmness43:22 Finding restful leisure with eutrapelia48:41 Where to begin Links: Superhabits: The Universal System for a Successful Life by Andrew AbelaDr. Abela’s Substack featuring blog posts and articles“The Anatomy of Virtue” by Andrew Abela, including his diagram of Aquinas’s categories of virtueTreatise on the Virtues by Thomas Aquinas Further reading: The Power of Habit by Charles DuhiggAtomic Habits by James ClearTiny Habits by B. J. FoggThe Virtues by John GarveyLearning the Virtues that Lead You to God by Romano GuardiniThe Heart of Virtue: Lessons from Life and Literature Illustrating the Beauty and Value of Moral Character by Donald DeMarco Featured Opportunities: Fathers Conference at The Heights School (November 2, 2024)The Art of Teaching Conference at The Heights School (November 13-15, 2024) Also on the Forum: Free Hearts and Magnanimity featuring Alexandre Havard From Anxiety to Adventure: On Reframing Challenges featuring Kevin Majeres Emotions Fully Alive: Forming Boys’ Affectivity Pt. I featuring Joe Cardenas Emotions Fully Alive: Forming Boys’ Affectivity Pt. II featuring Joe Cardenas
Alvaro de Vicente on Forming Loyal Men in a Culture of Sentimentalism
Oct 10 2024
Alvaro de Vicente on Forming Loyal Men in a Culture of Sentimentalism
The sentimentalism of our greater culture is a formidable—yet surmountable—challenge to young men. Our sons are relentlessly encouraged to follow their affections and feelings wherever they might lead, whatever their commitments. How can we, as parents and teachers, help our boys to become men who love the world without being pulled off course by the sentiments and affections that are a natural aspect of our God-given humanity? As part of our parent lecture series at The Heights School, Headmaster Alvaro de Vicente offers his insights to navigating the cultural challenge of sentimentalism by using the virtue of loyalty as a ballast. For when the feelings fail, loyalty helps us to stay the virtuous course—where our yes is yes and our no is no. Chapters: [00:02:11] The erosion of loyalty, rise of sentimentalism[00:05:14] Loyalty: a virtue that trains other virtues[00:12:36] Sentimentalism: when feelings dominate[00:17:47] How sentimentalism undermines the good[00:30:01] Modern boys and sentimental morals[00:30:48] Training the sentiments[00:32:39] Naming them[00:35:22] Practicing self-discipline exercises[00:38:02] Setting limits on pleasurable activities[00:39:13] Confronting “emotional attacks”[00:42:16] Harnessing the sentiments to promote virtue[00:47:54] Stories of loyalty[00:55:21] Don't commit lightly: let your yes be yes[00:59:20] The grace to succeed as parents Links: The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis Featured Opportunities: Fathers Conference at The Heights School (November 2, 2024)The Art of Teaching Conference at The Heights School (November 13-15, 2024) Also on the Forum: Emotions Fully Alive: Forming Boys’ Affectivity Pt. I featuring Joe Cardenas Emotions Fully Alive: Forming Boys’ Affectivity Pt. II featuring Joe Cardenas
Bishop Erik Varden on Man and Masculinity
Oct 3 2024
Bishop Erik Varden on Man and Masculinity
Last weekend, The Wall Street Journal published a front-page story on American young men and the crisis of masculinity. It featured hard stories of the “aimless and isolated”—but could ultimately offer no solutions. This week on HeightsCast, we’re pleased to welcome Bishop Erik Varden of Trondheim, Norway. Bishop Varden has authored several books exploring human personhood, including topics of masculinity and femininity. He helps us get the lay of the land both culturally and spiritually in this so-called moment of crisis. His Excellency then shares the vision of masculinity that he finds in scripture and tradition, so that we may bring these ideas into our homes and to our sons. Chapters: 2:59 Man fully alive: is my life fruitful?5:09 A crisis of masculinity11:06 Language for a constructive conversation14:11 ‘Man,’ ‘woman,’ ‘human person’ called into question17:39 Vision of the human person in Genesis26:38 Complementarity of the sexes30:19 Masculinity and femininity as dual poles38:29 Manliness: to pour oneself out in protection of another42:08 Accepting our fragility48:49 Communicating masculinity to modern boys Links: Coram Fratribus, Bishop Erik Varden’s blog featuring homilies, articles, and “marginalia”Chastity: Reconciliation of the Senses by Erik VardenEntering the Twofold Mystery: On Christian Conversion by Erik VardenThe Shattering of Loneliness: On Christian Remembrance by Erik Varden “America’s Young Men Are Falling Even Further Behind” by Rachel Wolfe, WSJ 28 September 2024 Featured Opportunities: Headmaster’s Lecture at The Heights School (October 5, 2024)Fathers Conference at The Heights School (November 2, 2024)The Art of Teaching Conference at The Heights School (November 13-15, 2024) Also on the Forum: Stewards of the Universe: Men Fully Alive featuring Alvaro de VicenteThe Man Fully Alive: On Our Vision featuring Alvaro de Vicente
Keeping the Good In: The Voices Our Sons Hear
Sep 26 2024
Keeping the Good In: The Voices Our Sons Hear
It is funny how mortals always picture us as putting things into their minds: in reality our best work is done by keeping things out. So writes the fictional devil Screwtape to his nephew Wormwood in C. S. Lewis’s epistolary novel The Screwtape Letters. But where devils may wish to keep the good out, Heights headmaster Alvaro de Vicente highlights the ways we as parents can keep the good in. By aligning our family culture with the good voices we hope our sons will hear—and leaving space to allow the Divine voice and the voice of one’s own conscience to be heard—we help our sons form a good vision of themselves and the world. Chapters: 4:55 Why The Screwtape Letters8:18 A devil’s job is keeping the good out11:09 Three voices: people, the Divine, and the conscience14:58 Unpacking the term ‘voice’ Advice for keeping the good in: 18:05 Slow down the noise23:45 Promote contemplative times26:20 Reserve time to read29:41 Cultivate the art of conversation32:12 Conspire for the good with their teachers36:40 A slow roll-out for new family initiatives Links: The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis Featured Opportunities: Headmaster’s Lecture at The Heights School (October 5, 2024)The Art of Teaching Conference at The Heights School (November 13-15, 2024) Also on the Forum: Who am I?: The Question of Persona featuring Alvaro de VicenteWays to Foster a Family Culture by Alvaro de Vicente Raising Contemplative Sons featuring Colin Gleason
The Virtue of Studiousness
Sep 19 2024
The Virtue of Studiousness
Part of the Teaching Sovereign Knowers Collection In recent years, a number of HeightsCast guests have touched on the same resounding theme: the modern creep of curiositas and acedia, both considered classical vices. But where there are two vices, Aristotle encourages us to look for a virtue at the Golden Mean. Mr. Michael Moynihan, head of The Heights upper school, finds it in studiousness. Adding to his collection of work on Teaching Sovereign Knowers, this episode unpacks Michael’s essay “Intellectual Virtue and Personal Sovereignty,” available on the Heights Forum. In it, he speaks to the why and how of pursuing studiousness as an intellectual virtue. For this, as with all virtues, allows us to stand before reality in an intentional way. Chapters: 3:43 Curiosity as an intellectual vice?7:55 Acedia at the other end of the spectrum10:15 Golden mean: studiousness14:36 When is it curiositas, when is it engagement?16:37 Studiousness as a virtue—of sorts23:09 Standing before reality in an intentional way26:23 Seeking the golden mean: sticking to a plan29:21 Using “Great Books” well34:46 Orienting students to the golden mean Links: Intellectual Virtue and Personal Sovereignty by Michael MoynihanThe Idea of a University by John Henry Cardinal Newman Featured Opportunities: Headmaster’s Lecture at The Heights School (October 5, 2024)The Art of Teaching Conference at The Heights School (November 13-15, 2024) Also on the Forum: Teaching Sovereign Knowers Collection by Michael MoynihanOn Hope and Despair featuring R. J. SnellForming Deep Workers featuring Cal Newport
Restoring the Lord's Day
Aug 29 2024
Restoring the Lord's Day
As we embark on a new school year, we are full of resolutions for the family routine. How will we order our week to support the highest goods? How will we fit it all in? Not to be overlooked while charting the course: our keeping of the Sabbath. Last April, author and teacher Daniel Fitzpatrick released his book Restoring the Lord’s Day: How Reclaiming Sunday Can Revive Our Human Nature. Daniel sits down with us at HeightsCast to discuss the book, which examines the cultural drift away from a sense of Sabbath, why we should restore this God-given rhythm to our lives, and the scriptural support for how to do it. Chapters: 4:09 Inattention to the Sabbath: modern or ageless?7:54 Acedia, primary vice against the Sabbath12:32 Challenges of the five-day work week17:24 Festivity and sacrifice21:56 The draw of sports as they relate to beauty24:30 The good, UNrestful activities of Sunday31:09 Practical advice for young families35:38 Preparing on Saturday40:44 Concluding the Sabbath43:22 Reckoning with the necessity of labor Links: Restoring the Lord’s Day: How Reclaiming Sunday Can Revive Our Human Nature by Daniel FitzpatrickJoie de Vivre: A Journal of Art, Culture, and Letters for South Louisiana edited by Daniel FitzpatrickGrace Fitzpatrick Art, Byzantine iconography by Grace Fitzpatrick Featured Opportunities: The Art of Teaching Conference at The Heights School (November 13-15, 2024) Also on the Forum: Work and Acedia: On Our Original Vocation featuring R. J. Snell Leisure and Acedia: On Contemplative Homes in a Frenetic Age featuring R. J. Snell
Advice for the College Launch
Aug 22 2024
Advice for the College Launch
“Picture yourself here.” “Become all you can be.” “This will be the best four years of your life.” The college pitch to high school seniors is alluring—though it doesn’t sketch a very clear life plan for a young person entering higher education. As Heights Headmaster Alvaro de Vicente points out, a successful time in college can be measured in growth: Are you physically, spiritually, and intellectually stronger by the end of these four years? In order to answer yes, students will need to embark upon college with a plan and a healthy way of measuring those dimensions of growth. This week on HeightsCast, Mr. de Vicente shares incredibly practical advice for spending the college years well, drawing on a letter he sent this summer to the newly graduated Heights class of 2024. Chapters: 1:45 The best four years of your life?6:44 Old truths remain fresh9:17 College success measured by growth12:05 Five battlefronts, five tools for success12:36 One: Shower and eat breakfast15:30 Two: Look at your day as a 9-to-5 job19:26 Mr. de Vicente’s study plan25:32 Three: Find the right peer group30:04 Four: Chart a path for spiritual growth32:00 Five: Have a mentor35:27 A reasonable study load, being effective without overloading41:26 Laptop distractions in class44:25 Breaking out of the “self-focused” college attitude50:40 A truer pursuit of happiness Featured Opportunities: The Art of Teaching Conference at The Heights School (November 13-15, 2024) Also on the Forum: Considerations for College-Bound Students featuring Dr. Peter Kilpatrick of The Catholic University of America The College Experience featuring Dr. Jonathan Sanford of University of Dallas Rethinking College: Why Go? How? When? featuring Arthur Brooks
The Formation of a Teacher
Aug 12 2024
The Formation of a Teacher
Charlotte Mason’s simple framework for a teacher calls him a “guide, philosopher, and friend.” It’s a lovely image—but what does that practical application look like? At the Forum Teaching Vocation Conference last winter, Heights teacher Tom Cox unpacked each of these terms citing ancient wisdom and loads of modern classroom experience. Chapters: 6:09 Charlotte Mason and the teacher as guide, philosopher, and friend7:44 Guide: one who has been there before10:53 Communicating the “why”14:18 Philosopher: starting in wonder, ending in wisdom15:59 A storyteller stirring up wonder20:01 Friend: beginning with a mutual love of something22:28 Modeling friendship with fellow faculty23:57 St. Aelred of Rievaulx’s qualities of friendship24:19 Dilectio, outward benevolent acts24:54 Affectio, interior feeling26:29 Securitas, freedom from anxiety27:42 Iucunditas, pleasantness30:00 Orient towards hope: begin and begin again Links: Grammaticus.co, Tom Cox’s website featuring Latin and history courses, his blog, and podcastThe Plutarch Podcast by Tom CoxSpiritual Friendship by Aelred of Rievaulx Featured Opportunities: The Art of Teaching Conference at The Heights School (November 13-15, 2024) Also on the Forum: Living the Teaching Vocation by Michael Moynihan Teaching and the Vocation to Fatherhood featuring Tom Steenson On Preparation for Teaching: Six Attributes of Great Teachers featuring Colin GleasonThe Teacher as Liberal Artist featuring Tom Longano
Anthropological Foundations of Mentoring
Jun 20 2024
Anthropological Foundations of Mentoring
In June, the Forum hosted a Mentoring Workshop for men across the country (and beyond) to consider the whys and hows of mentoring young boys into young men into men fully alive. It’s always best to start by defining terms. And so, the opening lecture for the workshop weekend featured Dr. Joseph Lanzilotti, theology scholar and upper school teacher at The Heights School, explicating the kind of Christian anthropology that precedes a mentoring relationship. In other words, how are we to understand what man is before we try to help him grow? For our benefit, Dr. Lanzilotti maps out this profound philosophical concept using St. Augustine’s simple and most famous line: “Our hearts are restless until they rest in you.” Chapters: 2:07 St. Augustine’s “Our hearts are restless until they rest in you”4:56 What is man? Who is man? What is his telos?7:54 Pope St. John Paul II’s “adequate anthropology”8:38 Finding an adequate anthropology in St. Augustine’s restless heart10:05 Fecisti nos: you made us13:33 Ad te: for yourself17:27 Inquietum cor nostrum: our hearts are restless22:19 Donec requiescat in te: until they rest in you Links: Confessions by St. AugustineI Burned for Your Peace: Augustine’s Confessions Unpacked by Peter Kreeft Gaudium et spes by the Second Vatican Council, promulgated by Pope St. Paul VIThe Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri Address to the Pontifical Council “Cor Unum” from January 2006 by Pope Benedict XVITill We Have Faces by C. S. Lewis Also on the Forum: Starting a Mentoring Program by Joe Cardenas and Nate Gadiano Mentoring without a Program: On Teaching the Whole Person featuring Joe Cardenas
On Home as Social Hub: The Importance of Hosting Our Sons and Their Friends
Jun 13 2024
On Home as Social Hub: The Importance of Hosting Our Sons and Their Friends
Note from producer: This conversation was originally published on March 23, 2021, but has been updated and republished on June 13, 2024. As we look forward to the wide expanse of summer, one thing certainly on our minds is how we can support our sons’ friendships in the absence of school. Turns out, we needn’t look further than our own living rooms. In fact, welcoming our children’s friends into our homes may be the healthiest place for authentic, lifelong friendship to grow. In a timely rebroadcast from 2021, Assistant Headmaster Tom Royals helps parents to see their homes as a venue for hospitality—one that integrates our children’s social lives with the culture of the home. He especially highlights a vision for hosting teens, who often stray away from home-based gatherings just when it’s most beneficial. Chapters 01:45 Begin Interview02:28 Parents building a culture of home gatherings06:50 Hosting high schoolers, knowing your home11:24 Co-ed hosting12:56 Spontaneous hosting15:05 Parents working with parents16:12 Crucial years: establishing this culture before they launch18:14 Hospitality and the temperaments of your children20:24 The example of Fr. Robert Kimball25:28 The role of the father29:01 Parental presence at teen gatherings: freedom and formation33:07 Modeling friendship, hospitality Also on the Forum: Friendship and the 21st-Century Boy featuring Alvaro de VicenteFamily Culture featuring Alvaro de Vicente On Friendship after Senior Year featuring Dave Maxham
Dangerously Good: Forming Great Souls
Jun 7 2024
Dangerously Good: Forming Great Souls
Where to begin with the lofty, almost nebulous virtue of magnanimity—what St. Thomas Aquinas called “stretching forth of the soul to great things”? Of course we want to raise great-souled children, who even outstrip us in their vision of the good and their commitment to serving it. But words alone will fail to impart such a personal and complex mission. At last April’s Fatherhood Conference at The Heights, Headmaster Alvaro de Vicente tackled the challenge of how to teach magnanimity to our children. Following Fr. Carter Griffin’s keynote address, Mr. de Vicente laid out the map: the obstacles we must navigate, the targets of opportunity we must seize, and the tools to pack for the mission. Chapters 4:30 Defining magnanimity: a vision of and commitment to the goodExternal challenges to teaching magnanimity: 6:37 Identity culture7:43 Sexualized culture9:09 The “second-hand smoke” of culture10:20 Materialism and affluence13:18 Entertainment culture16:01 Moral relativism Internal challenges to teaching magnanimity: 19:23 Selfishness, “I deserve”22:33 Anxiety24:26 Personal weakness26:26 Playing the wrong role: acting coach, not director Opportunities for teaching magnanimity: 28:08 Dealing with our own anxiety31:32 Communicating with God and spouse about each child33:42 Emotional presence at home37:50 Expressing affection Ways to discuss magnanimity with your child: 40:00 Positive framework for “the talk”40:52 Examples of virtue44:36 Through sports47:00 Dependable routines47:50 Financial awareness48:59 Forming a boy’s intellect with conversation Your best resources: 51:38 Friendship with like-minded parents52:14 Online resources, podcasts52:52 Spiritual direction53:46 Hope in God’s grace Also on the Forum: Magnanimity and the Great-Souled Man featuring Fr. Carter Griffin Featured Opportunities: Mentoring Workshop at The Heights School (June 13-14, 2024)The Art of Teaching Conference at The Heights School (November 13-15, 2024)Leaders Initiative now accepting applications
Dr. Peter Kilpatrick of CUA: Considerations for College-Bound Students
May 24 2024
Dr. Peter Kilpatrick of CUA: Considerations for College-Bound Students
Today we talk to Dr. Peter Kilpatrick, President of The Catholic University of America, who offers our graduates advice about how to make the most of college. He shares his thoughts on civic discourse, selecting a major, affording college, and more. In addition, he roots the entire college experience in the bigger quest to know one’s self; but is that possible in a dorm? Our guest today answers emphatically “yes” and makes suggestions about how to advance in this life-long quest. Finally, Dr. Kilpatrick emphasizes the importance of mentorship and human relationship in personal growth, urging students to seek out meaningful connections during their precious and limited undergraduate time. Chapters: 5:03 Costs of college6:40 The real purpose of college8:59 Knowing oneself: asking the ultimate questions13:09 Pursuit of the professions as a path to knowing oneself16:04 Financial big picture22:18 Choosing majors and minors28:54 Fruits of the spirit as a means of choosing a path of study33:12 The use of full human reason41:00 Fostering an integrated sense of reality while in college44:10 Mentorship and human relationship in a world of AI and self-teaching49:05 Freedom of speech and earnest inquiry on campus57:20 Assuming leadership positions on campus1:01:42 Making the most of residential life Links: Fruits of the Spirit, Works of the Flesh: homily from May 19, 2024 by Bishop Robert Barron General Audience from June 16, 2010 by Pope Benedict XVI Also on the Forum: The College Experience featuring University of Dallas President Dr. L. SanfordRethinking College: Why go? How? When? featuring Arthur Brooks
Alvaro de Vicente on Freedom and Obedience
May 17 2024
Alvaro de Vicente on Freedom and Obedience
“Porque me da la gana!” In his book Friends of God, St. Josemaría writes, “I opt for God because I want to, freely, without compulsion of any kind.” But how can we teach our children to use their freedom for the good in this whole-hearted way? For that matter, how can we as adults orient our wills toward the same? In this episode of HeightsCast, Headmaster Alvaro de Vicente explores the delicate relationship between obedience and freedom. He provides us with a framework to think about man’s condition of freedom, and how we as parents can transition our children forward from obedience to the rest of the virtues. Chapters: 3:03 The universe as a playground of freedom5:49 Our parenting goal of becoming dispensable7:34 External freedom: liberties granted by external forces19:37 Internal freedom: purposeful self-determination26:00 Obedience as a temporary training ground for internal freedom29:57 Avoiding parent perfectionism32:07 The apostolate of imperfect dinners33:02 Being models for our children34:47 The importance of predictability36:51 “Porque me da la gana”: because I deeply want to42:12 Parenting is an art, not a science Links: Introduction to Christianity by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger (Pope Benedict) Pastoral Letter from February 10, 2024 by Fernando Ocáriz, Prelate of Opus Dei Also on the Forum: Freedom in the Upper School by Rich MossWhy Boys Need to Be Given Freedom by Andrew Reed Moral Imagination, part I with Alvaro de Vicente Moral Imagination, part II with Alvaro de Vicente