Tradition
Plurimae (traditiones) hae sunt, quas ne describere quidem possumus, ne conscii quidem sunt.
“The most powerful (traditions) are those we can't even describe, aren't even aware of.” - Ellen Goodman.
In this newsletter:
Praxis Work
Praxis Reading
Traditional Latin Mass
Art of the Week
What’s in the Works?
Praxis Work
This week I started on the rough draft of my capstone project. It's crazy to me that it's the last four weeks of Praxis already! It feels like it was just a week ago that I had four months left, and now we're almost done. I wasn’t expecting my experience in Praxis to be what it was. Thinking back on it, I had very few expectations of what was going to be like, and yet it blows me out of the water thinking of everything I’ve done, and the tools I’ve been given because of Praxis.
Even though Praxis isn’t a traditional school, I think it has a lot of value in the fact that it’s more personalized than a traditional school. It’s there to help the individual become the best version of themselves, not just the best “Marketing major”.
Praxis Reading
We started reading How Will You Measure Your Life this week by (). In the first couple of chapters, he talks about many of the people he graduated college with. They were all bright, self-led individuals who had great careers and personal prospects ahead.
Then things started to go wrong. Classmates were getting divorced right and left. Some were involved in scandals. Some were jailed.
None of them wanted to go that way, but they hadn’t planned how they would prevent it. Somehow, the tradition seems to be that once you obtain power, you lose the moral standing you once had.
I’m looking forward to reading the ideas that this book will present.
Traditional Latin Mass
On Tuesday I went to a Traditional Latin Mass, which I was excited about due to my year-long immersion in Latin studies. Though I come from a Reformed perspective, my fascination with the Roman Catholic Church's historical, scientific, and cultural impacts impelled me to explore this sacred ritual. As I settled into the church, enveloped in the aroma of incense, I observed the solemnity and reverence that pervaded the sanctuary. The liturgy, steeped in tradition, unfolded before me, with the congregation's devout participation reflecting a deep connection to centuries of spiritual practice.
The Mass was quiet, with moments of collective prayer interspersed with the priest's guidance. Veiled women, symbolizing sanctity, and the palpable sense of reverence underscored the experience. As the service progressed, the recitation of the Nicene Creed served as a unifying declaration of faith, echoing across denominational boundaries. Throughout the Offertory and Canon, the priest's meticulous actions and solemn prayers imbued the ritual with profound significance. My participation in the spiritual communion underscored the universality of faith, transcending individual differences to commune with the divine. While my reflections on the Mass remain incomplete, I am humbled by the sacredness and timelessness of this venerable tradition, a testament to the enduring power of communal worship and spiritual devotion. Read the full post here.
Art of the Week
This week I did two paintings~
If you want to see more artwork from me, including more progress photos of the art above, check out my Instagram page, Lucid Ace Art.
What’s in the Works?
Quite a few of my friends and two of my siblings are going to prom tomorrow. I’m helping my sister get ready, and hopefully, the night will go well for all of them! In the 1950s prom became prominent in the American High school experience as a way to show off the prom goers fanciest clothes and to socialize. It’s so interesting how little traditions like that carry on!
That’s all for this week. Thanks for reading!