Faith & Culture:
Early English Literature & Christianity
Banish the winter doldrums with an intellectually invigorating exploration of the interplay between early English literature and Christianity. See the parish website for more details and to sign up Click here There is no cost and RSVP is encouraged but not required. (Registration helps us plan for refreshments and room set-up.) Each event will have suggested readings but you are welcome to attend even if you haven’t (yet) read any of these masterpieces. Be sure to sign up in Flocknote for the Adult Faith Formation sub-group to receive reminders in your inbox.
King Arthur
Saturday, February 19th, 9 – 11am in Father Moorman Hall
Will Lasseter will present the literature & legends surrounding King Arthur
Winston Churchill professed of the Arthurian Cycle that “It is all true, or it ought to be; and more and better besides.” So, what is the Arthurian Cycle? How does one make sense of all these interlaced stories and characters? Who was this indomitable character King Arthur? Who were Lancelot, Guinevere, Perceval, and Gawain? And what was this Holy Grail they were all chasing after anyway? This presentation will give you an introduction and some insight into a series of stories that constitute one of the greatest and noblest cycles of storytelling in Western culture.
“The Canterbury Tales”
Saturday, February 26th, 9 – 11am in HFA library
Dr. Mary Reichardt will present on “The Canterbury Tales” by Geoffrey Chaucer
This classic starts with a general prologue which is then followed by a collection of 24 tales in which Chaucer portrays ordinary 14th-century citizens engaged in a story-telling contest. They regale each other with these stories while on pilgrimage from London to the tomb of the great English martyr Saint Thomas Becket in Canterbury Cathedral. The stories vary from the pious to the bawdy.
Dr. Reichardt’s presentation will provide an overview of the entire work to show its Catholic themes. You may wish to read some or all of the following which will be referenced: General Prologue, Knight's Tale, Miller's Tale, Wife of Bath's Tale, Nun's Priest Tale, Franklin's Tale, Pardoner's Tale, and the Clerk's Tale. A good modern English translation of “The Canterbury Tales” is by David Wright. You may easily find what it sounds like in the original “Middle English” on the internet.