Brothers Benedict and Basil traveled to Saint Louis Abbey this past week. The trip offered the opportunity for fellowship with our monastic brethren there, as well as affording participation in the “Tolle Lege Retreat” for men (November 6-7).

The retreat was an offering of the Portsmouth Institute, which has shared sponsorship between the abbeys of Saint Louis and Portsmouth. The Institute’s website offers the following description of the event: “The November Tolle Lege Retreat is an intellectual and contemplative monastic retreat for men. The aim of the retreat is to grow spiritually and intellectually through participation in the monastic life including Mass, prayers, study, meals, recreation and seminar discussions. The retreat will feature seminar discussions on De Incarnatione of St Athanasius led by Professor Michael Pakaluk of Catholic University of America.”
 

Retreatants (Br. Benedict at left; Jordan Saiz fifth from left; Br. Basil fifth from right; Chris Fisher at right; Abbot Thomas Frerking seated in front)

The Busch School of Business of C.U.A. notes that Prof. Pakaluk received his Ph.D. in philosophy at Harvard University, where his dissertation, “Aristotle’s Theory of Friendship,” was directed by John Rawls. The range of his expertise is broad, extending from Aristotle to Aquinas, to the Scottish Enlightenment, to John Henry Newman, and more. His writing has appeared in First Things, Crisis, and the Boston Pilot, and he is author of the best-selling book, The Appalling Strangeness of the Mercy of God, published by Ignatius Press. The retreat highlighted reflection through seminars, punctuated by the Divine Office, extending from Saturday Lauds in the morning to The Grand Silence at night, resuming with Vigils on Sunday, up until a midday concluding lunch.