Having returned home for only a day from my most recent sojourn in New Hampshire, at which I taught at Thomas More College and Mount Royal Academy, I now find myself in Fort Collins, Colorado, for a speaking engagement at Colorado State University. Upon arrival in New Hampshire, I spoke to a gathering of homeschooling parents and teenage homeschoolers on fantasy literature in general and the work of Tolkien and Lewis in particular. It was a convivial evening, enlivened by a vigorous debate on the merits or otherwise of the Harry Potter books. On the following evening, I led a discussion with students, teachers and parents at Mount Royal Academy in Sunapee on Chesterton’s Father Brown and Tolkien’s Leaf by Niggle. Next morning, I taught juniors and seniors at Mount Royal Academy in classes on Homer’s Odyssey and Chaucer’s Nun’s Priest’s Tale and in the afternoon taught classes on Catholic political philosophy in the light of the teachings of Pope Benedict.

After the cancellation of classes last Tuesday upon the blustery arrival of Sandy, I resumed my teaching at Thomas More College on Wednesday, focusing on the role of St. Louis of France during the Crusades. On Friday I was part of a lively reenactment of the famous debate between the Jesuit philosopher F.C. Copleston and his atheist interlocutor, Bertrand Russell. I played the eminent Jesuit whilst my courageous Faculty colleague, Ryan Topping, played the role of the disbelieving Russell. Great fun was had by all, including the entire student body which served as the audience, especially when Jesuit and atheist deviated from the script and ad libbed. A vigorous debate involving students and faculty followed.

Today I arrived in Colorado and I’m writing this in the hotel after an enjoyable dinner with the students at the Catholic parish on the campus of CSU. Tomorrow I have several meetings, culminating in a talk on “the unmasking of Oscar Wilde” in the evening. 

Over the past week I have engaged with young, committed Catholics at a small Catholic high school and a small Catholic liberal arts college, and with equally committed Catholics at a large state university. The experience has been edifying in the extreme and has convinced me once again that the future of the Church in the United States is in safe and secure hands. Deo gratias!