HeightsCast: Forming Men Fully Alive

It turns out that modern psychology, neuroscience research, "habit hacks," and popular self-help literature can all be summed up in one very classical idea: the virtues. So asserts Dr. Andrew Abela, founding dean of the Busch School of Business at The Catholic University of America. This week on HeightsCast, he helps us unpack his new book, Superhabits, in which he rebrands the virtues as "superhabits" to suit the contemporary discourse. Then, with the help of Thomas Aquinas and about a dozen gripping stories, Dr. Abela shows us how these superhabits of virtue are described, developed, and supported by modern research as the way to live a good life. Chapters: 2:20 Virtues: the essential human operating system 5:19 Humans pre-wired for virtue 9:14 Psychology research, self-help books all point back to virtues 17:57 "Anatomy of Virtue" diagram 25:57 The role emotions play 29:12 Virtue gets easier! 33:21 Translating virtue into "superhabits" 37:19 Redirecting anger with gentlefirmness 43:22 Finding restful leisure with eutrapelia 48:41 Where to begin Links: Superhabits: The Universal System for a Successful Life by Andrew Abela Dr. Abela's Substack featuring blog posts and articles "The Anatomy of Virtue" by Andrew Abela, including his diagram of Aquinas's categories of virtue Treatise on the Virtues by Thomas Aquinas Further reading: The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg Atomic Habits by James Clear Tiny Habits by B. J. Fogg The Virtues by John Garvey Learning the Virtues that Lead You to God by Romano Guardini The Heart of Virtue: Lessons from Life and Literature Illustrating the Beauty and Value of Moral Character by Donald DeMarco Featured Opportunities: Fathers Conference at The Heights School (November 2, 2024) The Art of Teaching Conference at The Heights School (November 13-15, 2024) Also on the Forum: Free Hearts and Magnanimity featuring Alexandre Havard From Anxiety to Adventure: On Reframing Challenges featuring Kevin Majeres Emotions Fully Alive: Forming Boys' Affectivity Pt. I featuring Joe Cardenas Emotions Fully Alive: Forming Boys' Affectivity Pt. II featuring Joe Cardenas

The sentimentalism of our greater culture is a formidable—yet surmountable—challenge to young men. Our sons are relentlessly encouraged to follow their affections and feelings wherever they might lead, whatever their commitments. How can we, as parents and teachers, help our boys to become men who love the world without being pulled off course by the sentiments and affections that are a natural aspect of our God-given humanity? As part of our parent lecture series at The Heights School, Headmaster Alvaro de Vicente offers his insights to navigating the cultural challenge of sentimentalism by using the virtue of loyalty as a ballast. For when the feelings fail, loyalty helps us to stay the virtuous course—where our yes is yes and our no is no. Chapters: [00:02:11] The erosion of loyalty, rise of sentimentalism [00:05:14] Loyalty: a virtue that trains other virtues [00:12:36] Sentimentalism: when feelings dominate [00:17:47] How sentimentalism undermines the good [00:30:01] Modern boys and sentimental morals [00:30:48] Training the sentiments [00:32:39] Naming them [00:35:22] Practicing self-discipline exercises [00:38:02] Setting limits on pleasurable activities [00:39:13] Confronting "emotional attacks" [00:42:16] Harnessing the sentiments to promote virtue [00:47:54] Stories of loyalty [00:55:21] Don't commit lightly: let your yes be yes [00:59:20] The grace to succeed as parents Links: The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis Featured Opportunities: Fathers Conference at The Heights School (November 2, 2024) The Art of Teaching Conference at The Heights School (November 13-15, 2024) Also on the Forum: Emotions Fully Alive: Forming Boys' Affectivity Pt. I featuring Joe Cardenas Emotions Fully Alive: Forming Boys' Affectivity Pt. II featuring Joe Cardenas

Last weekend, The Wall Street Journal published a front-page story on American young men and the crisis of masculinity. It featured hard stories of the "aimless and isolated"—but could ultimately offer no solutions. This week on HeightsCast, we're pleased to welcome Bishop Erik Varden of Trondheim, Norway. Bishop Varden has authored several books exploring human personhood, including topics of masculinity and femininity. He helps us get the lay of the land both culturally and spiritually in this so-called moment of crisis. His Excellency then shares the vision of masculinity that he finds in scripture and tradition, so that we may bring these ideas into our homes and to our sons. Chapters: 2:59 Man fully alive: is my life fruitful? 5:09 A crisis of masculinity 11:06 Language for a constructive conversation 14:11 'Man,' 'woman,' 'human person' called into question 17:39 Vision of the human person in Genesis 26:38 Complementarity of the sexes 30:19 Masculinity and femininity as dual poles 38:29 Manliness: to pour oneself out in protection of another 42:08 Accepting our fragility 48:49 Communicating masculinity to modern boys Links: Coram Fratribus, Bishop Erik Varden's blog featuring homilies, articles, and "marginalia" Chastity: Reconciliation of the Senses by Erik Varden Entering the Twofold Mystery: On Christian Conversion by Erik Varden The Shattering of Loneliness: On Christian Remembrance by Erik Varden "America's Young Men Are Falling Even Further Behind" by Rachel Wolfe, WSJ 28 September 2024 Featured Opportunities: Headmaster's Lecture at The Heights School (October 5, 2024) Fathers Conference at The Heights School (November 2, 2024) The Art of Teaching Conference at The Heights School (November 13-15, 2024) Also on the Forum: Stewards of the Universe: Men Fully Alive featuring Alvaro de Vicente The Man Fully Alive: On Our Vision featuring Alvaro de Vicente

It is funny how mortals always picture us as putting things into their minds: in reality our best work is done by keeping things out. So writes the fictional devil Screwtape to his nephew Wormwood in C. S. Lewis's epistolary novel The Screwtape Letters. But where devils may wish to keep the good out, Heights headmaster Alvaro de Vicente highlights the ways we as parents can keep the good in. By aligning our family culture with the good voices we hope our sons will hear—and leaving space to allow the Divine voice and the voice of one's own conscience to be heard—we help our sons form a good vision of themselves and the world. Chapters: 4:55 Why The Screwtape Letters 8:18 A devil's job is keeping the good out 11:09 Three voices: people, the Divine, and the conscience 14:58 Unpacking the term 'voice' Advice for keeping the good in: 18:05 Slow down the noise 23:45 Promote contemplative times 26:20 Reserve time to read 29:41 Cultivate the art of conversation 32:12 Conspire for the good with their teachers 36:40 A slow roll-out for new family initiatives Links: The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis Featured Opportunities: Headmaster's Lecture at The Heights School (October 5, 2024) The Art of Teaching Conference at The Heights School (November 13-15, 2024) Also on the Forum: Who am I?: The Question of Persona featuring Alvaro de Vicente Ways to Foster a Family Culture by Alvaro de Vicente Raising Contemplative Sons featuring Colin Gleason

Part of the Teaching Sovereign Knowers Collection In recent years, a number of HeightsCast guests have touched on the same resounding theme: the modern creep of curiositas and acedia, both considered classical vices. But where there are two vices, Aristotle encourages us to look for a virtue at the Golden Mean. Mr. Michael Moynihan, head of The Heights upper school, finds it in studiousness. Adding to his collection of work on Teaching Sovereign Knowers, this episode unpacks Michael's essay "Intellectual Virtue and Personal Sovereignty," available on the Heights Forum. In it, he speaks to the why and how of pursuing studiousness as an intellectual virtue. For this, as with all virtues, allows us to stand before reality in an intentional way. Chapters: 3:43 Curiosity as an intellectual vice? 7:55 Acedia at the other end of the spectrum 10:15 Golden mean: studiousness 14:36 When is it curiositas, when is it engagement? 16:37 Studiousness as a virtue—of sorts 23:09 Standing before reality in an intentional way 26:23 Seeking the golden mean: sticking to a plan 29:21 Using "Great Books" well 34:46 Orienting students to the golden mean Links: Intellectual Virtue and Personal Sovereignty by Michael Moynihan The Idea of a University by John Henry Cardinal Newman Featured Opportunities: Headmaster's Lecture at The Heights School (October 5, 2024) The Art of Teaching Conference at The Heights School (November 13-15, 2024) Also on the Forum: Teaching Sovereign Knowers Collection by Michael Moynihan On Hope and Despair featuring R. J. Snell Forming Deep Workers featuring Cal Newport

The vision of "man fully alive" involves a man motivated by faith, hope, and love. And the greatest of these, St. Paul tells us, is love. Our guest today, Mr. Tom Steenson, is a long-time teacher of the Heights fifth grade and also the upper school class History of Western Thought. He brings his experience and broad readings to bear on the question: How can we impart lessons of authentic love to rambunctious twenty-first century boys in a way they'll actually internalize? Tom's practical ideas span younger and older students, framing the endeavor as forming the boys for love by love. Chapters: 2:47 Teaching love to younger students 6:11 Teaching love to upper school students 11:26 Turning self-focus into self-knowledge 16:20 Images of love in the curriculum 19:36 Love and masculinity 23:47 Love in imitation of God 26:06 Passionately loving the world 31:00 Faith, hope, love: the greatest is love 34:46 Affirmation of their goodness Links: Augustine's Confessions translated by F. J. Sheed Phaedo by Plato Featured Opportunities: The Art of Teaching Conference at The Heights School (November 13-15, 2024) Also on the Forum: The Man Fully Alive: On Our Vision featuring Alvaro de Vicente

In classrooms where the students can read for themselves, reading aloud often falls off the daily schedule. But it's a ritual well worth keeping—for the sake of literacy, the moral imagination, classroom bonds, and so much more. Long-time Heights teacher Tom Steenson encourages the teachers tending that flame, or wanting to rekindle it, in their own classrooms. Chapters: 2:08 Goals of reading aloud in the classroom 4:44 The artist sees, then helps others to see 11:47 Books that aren't landing 15:10 The read-aloud routine, scene-setting 18:35 Reading in a high school classroom 22:27 Separating instruction from narrative 24:59 The effect on teachers Links: Only the Lover Sings: Art and Contemplation by Josef Pieper The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien Augustine's Confessions translated by F. J. Sheed Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nihm by Robert C. O'Brien The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster Featured Opportunities: The Art of Teaching Conference at The Heights School (November 13-15, 2024) Also on the Forum: Classroom Ambience by Joseph Bissex The Read-Aloud Family featuring Sarah Mackenzie Stop Telling Your Son to Read: How to Inspire a Love of Reading featuring Tom Longao How to Master the Art of Reading Outside by Tom Longano

As we embark on a new school year, we are full of resolutions for the family routine. How will we order our week to support the highest goods? How will we fit it all in? Not to be overlooked while charting the course: our keeping of the Sabbath. Last April, author and teacher Daniel Fitzpatrick released his book Restoring the Lord's Day: How Reclaiming Sunday Can Revive Our Human Nature. Daniel sits down with us at HeightsCast to discuss the book, which examines the cultural drift away from a sense of Sabbath, why we should restore this God-given rhythm to our lives, and the scriptural support for how to do it. Chapters: 4:09 Inattention to the Sabbath: modern or ageless? 7:54 Acedia, primary vice against the Sabbath 12:32 Challenges of the five-day work week 17:24 Festivity and sacrifice 21:56 The draw of sports as they relate to beauty 24:30 The good, UNrestful activities of Sunday 31:09 Practical advice for young families 35:38 Preparing on Saturday 40:44 Concluding the Sabbath 43:22 Reckoning with the necessity of labor Links: Restoring the Lord's Day: How Reclaiming Sunday Can Revive Our Human Nature by Daniel Fitzpatrick Joie de Vivre: A Journal of Art, Culture, and Letters for South Louisiana edited by Daniel Fitzpatrick Grace Fitzpatrick Art, Byzantine iconography by Grace Fitzpatrick Featured Opportunities: The Art of Teaching Conference at The Heights School (November 13-15, 2024) Also on the Forum: Work and Acedia: On Our Original Vocation featuring R. J. Snell Leisure and Acedia: On Contemplative Homes in a Frenetic Age featuring R. J. Snell

"Picture yourself here." "Become all you can be." "This will be the best four years of your life." The college pitch to high school seniors is alluring—though it doesn't sketch a very clear life plan for a young person entering higher education. As Heights Headmaster Alvaro de Vicente points out, a successful time in college can be measured in growth: Are you physically, spiritually, and intellectually stronger by the end of these four years? In order to answer yes, students will need to embark upon college with a plan and a healthy way of measuring those dimensions of growth. This week on HeightsCast, Mr. de Vicente shares incredibly practical advice for spending the college years well, drawing on a letter he sent this summer to the newly graduated Heights class of 2024. Chapters: 1:45 The best four years of your life? 6:44 Old truths remain fresh 9:17 College success measured by growth 12:05 Five battlefronts, five tools for success 12:36 One: Shower and eat breakfast 15:30 Two: Look at your day as a 9-to-5 job 19:26 Mr. de Vicente's study plan 25:32 Three: Find the right peer group 30:04 Four: Chart a path for spiritual growth 32:00 Five: Have a mentor 35:27 A reasonable study load, being effective without overloading 41:26 Laptop distractions in class 44:25 Breaking out of the "self-focused" college attitude 50:40 A truer pursuit of happiness Featured Opportunities: The Art of Teaching Conference at The Heights School (November 13-15, 2024) Also on the Forum: Considerations for College-Bound Students featuring Dr. Peter Kilpatrick of The Catholic University of America The College Experience featuring Dr. Jonathan Sanford of University of Dallas Rethinking College: Why Go? How? When? featuring Arthur Brooks

Charlotte Mason's simple framework for a teacher calls him a "guide, philosopher, and friend." It's a lovely image—but what does that practical application look like? At the Forum Teaching Vocation Conference last winter, Heights teacher Tom Cox unpacked each of these terms citing ancient wisdom and loads of modern classroom experience. Chapters: 6:09 Charlotte Mason and the teacher as guide, philosopher, and friend 7:44 Guide: one who has been there before 10:53 Communicating the "why" 14:18 Philosopher: starting in wonder, ending in wisdom 15:59 A storyteller stirring up wonder 20:01 Friend: beginning with a mutual love of something 22:28 Modeling friendship with fellow faculty 23:57 St. Aelred of Rievaulx's qualities of friendship 24:19 Dilectio, outward benevolent acts 24:54 Affectio, interior feeling 26:29 Securitas, freedom from anxiety 27:42 Iucunditas, pleasantness 30:00 Orient towards hope: begin and begin again Links: Grammaticus.co, Tom Cox's website featuring Latin and history courses, his blog, and podcast The Plutarch Podcast by Tom Cox Spiritual Friendship by Aelred of Rievaulx Featured Opportunities: The Art of Teaching Conference at The Heights School (November 13-15, 2024) Also on the Forum: Living the Teaching Vocation by Michael Moynihan Teaching and the Vocation to Fatherhood featuring Tom Steenson On Preparation for Teaching: Six Attributes of Great Teachers featuring Colin Gleason The Teacher as Liberal Artist featuring Tom Longano