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4.5
The author tells us at the start that he knows how bad things are in the Church and in the world, and that he has decided to write a book about some of the things that have gone or are going right—some small victories of the Christian and Catholic Faith understood, loved, and lived out in the USA. Traditionalists who have been around for a while may remember the short-lived but well-appreciated magazine Sursum Corda, which later became an insert in The Latin Mass magazine, and which had a similar purpose: “whatsoever things are true, modest, just, holy, lovely, of good fame, if there be any virtue, if any praise of discipline, think on these things” (cf. Phil. 4:8). Hartch delivers on his promise with seven very different stories that have as their common denominator people who take seriously discipleship to Christ, the towering worth of the Western tradition, and selfless service of neighbors, for the sake of the common good.The objects of his attention are (1) the works and legacy of sculptor Frederick Hart, (2) the Sisters of Life, (3) the Pearson Integrated Humanities Program and its fruits, (4) the Dominicans of the Province of St. Joseph, (5) the Franciscan University of Steubenville, (6) the Notre Dame School of Architecture, founded by the late Thomas Gordon Smith, (7) Joe Riley and the revival of Charleston.Readers will find that some chapters resonate more strongly than others, but all were interesting and enjoyable and, yes, uplifting. I found the chapter on the IHP particularly interesting, given the influence of John Senior’s vision on the founding of Wyoming Catholic College (mentioned by Hartch) and, of course, on so many individuals and institutions, as well as on the traditionalist movement. The author writes from a decidedly conservative perspective (think First Things and John Paul II) in which Vatican II presents no problems but only its implementation or lack thereof, yet this does not mar his gift for storytelling or the real positives he focuses on. More than Hartch seems to realize, the overall “philosophy” behind his book is not only compatible with but sustained by traditional(ist) principles. For me the most inspiring chapter was the sixth, on the Notre Dame School of Architecture.The Introduction and Conclusion to the book are substantial essays in their own right, the former summarizing the challenges presented by modernity to Christian orthodoxy, and the latter pointing to the “vitality of tradition” and the “priority of beauty” that Hartch puts on display in his seven chapters.
