|
Why go to Rome?
By Bill Jenkins For the first time in five years, students and parents from CHA will next week be headed to the Eternal City-Rome. Last week, Tracey shared what students will be seeing and doing. This week, I would like to share why. Of course, on one hand, this isn’t a trip you pass up if you have the opportunity. But this did not just come along. This opportunity had to be made. So why? I came across this quotation last week and thought it appropriate for this post. Place people in sight of the pyramids of Egypt, and they will tell you, “Here has passed a grand and barbarous civilisation.” Place them in sight of the Grecian statues and temples, and they will tell you, “Here has passed a graceful, ephemeral, and brilliant civilisation.” Place them in sight of a Roman monument, and they will tell you, “Here has passed a great people.” Place them in sight of a cathedral, and on beholding such majesty united to such beauty, such grandeur to such taste, such grace to such delicacy, such severe unity to such rich variety, such measure to such boldness, such heaviness in the stones, with such suavity in their outlines, and such wonderful harmony between silence and light, shade and colour, they will tell you, "Here has passed the greatest people of history, and the most astounding of human civilisations: that people must have taken grandeur from the Egyptian, brilliancy from the Greek, strength from the Roman, and, beyond the strength, the brilliancy, and grandeur, something more valuable than grandeur, strength, and brilliancy—immortality and perfection." Rome and Athens are the two places where the Classical and Christian worlds meet. Put another way, they are the home of Western Civilization. What I hope that students see and breathe when they are in Rome is a world worth fighting to preserve. I hope for them to be overcome with awe at the sheer beauty. I hope for them to see that the best of the Classical world yearned for what Christianity gave and that Christianity took the best of ancient civilizations' art, architecture, literature, geometry, philosophy, among other things, and breathed "immortality and perfection" into them. If a classical education is supposed to form us in loving what should be loved and in despising what should be despised, I can think of no better way than to saturate the senses with the lovable and laudable. We will be in a place where, at every turn, there is the best of ancient society, absorbed and transformed by followers of Christ to exalt him and his Kingdom. It is not an exaggeration then to speak of this trip as a means to turn our souls more and more toward God and his most beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. This is part of the Board Bits: Tips, Tricks, and Hacks series. Is there a question about CHA or homeschool that you would like answered? Submit inquiries to Tracey at [email protected]
0 Comments
Twenty-five high school students and parents are gearing up for Christiana’s second trip to Rome, Italy! This exciting adventure begins after the CHA school day on Wednesday, March 20th. Mr. Jenkins and the Love family are the veteran travelers who will be leading the happy homeschoolers through the boarding gates at Dulles International Airport. After a brief layover in Portugal, the passengers, along with twenty other hybrid homeschoolers from Claritas Classical Academy in PA, will finally arrive in the Leonardo da Vinci International Airport in Rome, Italy! On Friday, March 22nd the group will experience a delightful tour of the Vatican City, which will include the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica. On Saturday, March 23rd they’ll experience Farmer’s Market shopping in the Campo de Fiori, plus a hands-on full-course cooking class with homemade lunch, and then a transfer to Gladiator School where they will learn the ins and outs of gladiator training. On Sunday, March 24th our travelers will have their choice of churches for a Palm Sunday service, followed by a tour of the Catacombs de Domitilla, the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, and San Giovanni in Laterano. On Monday, March 25th the super sightseers will experience the classic city of Rome, including the Piazza Navona, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Pantheon, and many more famous Roman sites and monuments. That evening will conclude with a guided tour of the Colosseum and Roman Forum. The tourists will wrap up their trip with a free day in Rome on Tuesday, March 26th. Grateful for the recommendations made by the well-traveled Love family, everyone will depart with bellies full of gelato and macchiato on Wednesday, March 27th. We can’t wait to share the pictures with you in the slideshow at the CHA end-of-year program! Keep the group in your prayers for safe travels and an amazing experience! This is part of the Board Bits: Tips, Tricks, and Hacks series. Is there a question about CHA or homeschool that you would like answered? Submit inquiries to Tracey at [email protected] |
Blog ContributorsCHA will be presenting various blogs from tutors, parents and guests. Archives
April 2025
Categories
All
|
RSS Feed
