The Academy (permit me to call it that instead of Seat of Wisdom College) is in the midst of an alumni giving back campaign. The long and short of it is that they are looking for alumni, ALL alumni, to pledge monthly donations. Set monthly donations makes life much more palatable for the school. I know with almost complete moral certainty that alumni can easily pledge, if nothing else, $5 to $10 a month. We're so rich. We have no idea. Don't take my word for it. Listen to the wisdom of Weird Al:

Look, maybe things were better in the "old days" at the Academy. I think many of us alumni like to think so. Regardless, we need places like the Academy. Where else in Canada can people go to be immersed in Aquinas, Aristotle, and Magisterial thought? Where else are we going to go to learn how to think clearly? Last week we had teacher meetings all day. I was put in a group with a few others and we were given a problem to solve. I came up with a solution in under 20 seconds. The group wasn't sure about it. They then spent the next 90 minutes discussing in detail each and every aspect of the problem, while I sat there and drooled in boredom. They finally concluded that they should use my original solution. It has nothing to do with high intelligence. It's just that the Academy teaches people (it taught me) how to think clearly.

There is an urgency to this message. The Academy has a matching donor for this week. Give immediately to double your investment.

Alumni, please go to the Academy website HERE.

Sedes Sapientiae

Today is the feast of Our Lady, Seat of Wisdom. This honour to Our Lady has played an important role in my life. From the College of Our Lady Seat of Wisdom website:

The feast of Our Lady Seat of Wisdom, our patronal feast, is observed on June 8^th.  The title of Mary as ‘Seat of Wisdom’ is an ancient one, traced back liturgically to the twelfth century, when we find prayers to the Virgin as the ‘Mother of Wisdom’, the ‘fountain of Wisdom’ and, of course, the ‘Seat of Wisdom’.  She is seen not only as the Mother of Christ, Who is Wisdom Incarnate, but also as the prototypical ‘wise Virgin’ herself, who ‘kept all these words in her heart’, in order to ‘teach, recount, and proclaim them to the world’ (cf.,Sacramentary for Masses of the Blessed Virgin Mary).

Even though it's been ten years since I graduated from OLSWA (the Academy) I still find it very important to read and study the faith. It is still exciting to pull out the Summa Theologica from time to time and soak in the words of St. Thomas Aquinas. I find that studying, when done with the right intent, not only benefits the mind but more importantly reminds us that we are to seek heavenly realities. That we are not to seek after what is worldly (maybe this is why OLSWA was always so poor?). Alas, though, it's nice not to have the pressure of studying for an upcoming test or essay.

I later returned to the Academy as registrar for two years. It was unique seeing how others experienced their studies. Some kids just didn't get it. They were overwhelmed by intense studies and simple drifted away from the benefits that all-in work can merit. Others, thankfully, were deeply moved by what they learned. I remember vividly overhearing one student, a couple months into his school year, on fire for what he was studying. He loudly spoke that he was going to stay at the Academy for the full three years, and that he was going to study this faith with all his heart and mind. It was as though he finally found a calling in life, for the very first time. So off he went, studying. I don't know what happened to him. There were rumblings that he was going to try and be a priest. Whatever he's doing right now I'm sure that he, like me, pauses on this day to remember the importance of Our Lady, Seat of Wisdom.

Domina Nostra Sedes Sapientiae, Ora Pro Nobis