From the Director

True knowledge is being struck by the arrow of Beauty that wounds man, moved by reality, ‘how it is Christ himself who is present and in an ineffable way disposes and forms the souls of men’. Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict) ["The Feeling of Things, The Contemplation of Beauty"]

This month’s issue of Beyond the Test dwells on the importance of Beauty in education. Our feature articles look at beauty as found in education generally and in religion in particular. Our Featured Resource is the Magnificat magazine, offering schools the beauty of the Liturgy of the Hours and special reflections on religious works of art. We are also pleased to present an interview with school librarian, Marcia Murphy, who talks about how her efforts enhance the educational experience of students at St. Theodore Guerin High School.

Two pieces of news will delight friends of the Institute. President Michael Van Hecke and I kicked off Catholic Schools Week on EWTN Radio’s The Good Fight with Barbara McGuigan. Barbara was a great hostess and provided us with an excellent opportunity to get out the Good News about Catholic education. You can download the entire two-hour show here.

The Institute is also pleased to announce that its 2010 Academic Retreat for Teachers will be held at Holy Cross College in Notre Dame, Indiana. The Retreat is a tremendous opportunity for Catholic educators to experience Truth and Joy in a Catholic learning community as they come to understand how a Catholic world view can pervade the entire curriculum and school. Registration is open now, with Early-Bird and Multiple Registration discounts.

In Christ,

Andrew Seeley, Ph.D.
Director, The Institute for Catholic Liberal Education