Sophomores Celebrate the Paideian Way!

On Friday, April 24, the Sophomores participated in their exhilarating Paideian Feast, based on Purgatorio by Dante Alegheri. The students were faced with challenges similar to what Dante imagines the souls experience as they are purified of the seven deadly sins on Mt. Purgatory. Each suffering orders their will to the love of God. Their hope is the guarantee that once they pass through their final purification they will be perfected and join the Saints in Paradise. On Friday, the students passed blindfolded through obstacles, to be purified of avarice. Next, they ran circles around the basketball court activating diligence to be purified of sloth. Then they carried heavy boulders (or 25 lb bags of rice) activating humility to be purified of pride. At the end of the day, many courageous students immersed themselves in an ice bath, similar to the wall of fire at the top of Mt. Purgatory which Dante passes through to be perfected and freed from the sin of lust. In the end, the purpose of this Paideian Feast serves to give the students an experience of the suffering that God allows us to endure to grant us the surpassing gift of true freedom and joy in this life, which is a taste of what we are made for in paradise. Although we experience suffering in this life, Dante teaches us that God is allowing suffering so that he can bring about a greater good, our holiness. As St. Paul writes in Romans 8:28, “We know that all things work for good for those who love God.” Congratulations to the champions who exemplified virtues of charity, diligence, humility, and chastity. Thanks be to God, who has awarded you graces to grow in virtue and holiness. May he complete the good work he has begun in you.

Article Written By: Br. Simon Faber, SCJ