Caleb Vaughan
Editor-in-Chief
Les Miserables, Victor Hugo
If you wish to understand Christ’s agony at Gethsemene, read only Monsieur Madeleine’s sleepless torment over Jean Valjean’s guilt. If you wish to know why Christ accepted crucifixion and descended into Hell, read only Fantine’s darkest hour of sacrifice for her daughter. “He who knows that sees all darkness. He is alone. His name is God.” I would not, though, fault any reader who picks up the abridged version. Hugo’s descriptions of the Battle of Waterloo, the Parisian sewers, and his diatribe against European monastic life are only a few among a number of skippable passages.
Jack Krieger
Executive Editor
Murder in the Cathedral, T.S. Eliot
My favorite read this summer was T.S. Eliot’s Murder in the Cathedral. I read it on a train, just days after visiting Canterbury Cathedral in England as part of a summer research trip. Eliot’s play made St. Thomas Becket’s martyrdom come alive, and helped me to realize how significant Becket was in the history of England. It is a powerful, short play, which makes the reader question what he’d die for. My favorite line is Becket’s comfort to the priests as knights siege the cathedral: “I am not in danger: only near to death.”
Gabe Hockstra
Managing Editor
The Path Between the Seas, David McCullough
David McCullough weaves together the political disputes, financial struggles, personal trials, and heroism that made the building of the Panama Canal, a seemingly impossible task, into a reality. His narrative raises questions about a nation’s willingness to stake its resources and reputation on the promises of one charismatic leader. I recommend this book to anyone interested in American history and enterprise.
Lucy Trotter
Opinion Editor
The Godfather Part II (1974)
A star-studded classic, this Best Picture movie is well worth a watch for mature audiences (although only if you’ve seen The Godfather). The film follows the youngest Cordileone son, Michael, down his tragic path of moral decline as the head of a powerful mafia family. Tensions between Italian Catholicism, American political corruption, and familial loyalties are brilliantly portrayed in this heartwrenching work that defies the usual curse of mediocrity faced by a sequel.
Henry Omanga
Campus Editor
Father Elijah, Michael O’Brien
Though on its face an apocalyptic novel that follows the titular character as he leaves the monastery to call to repentance the most powerful man in the world, I found it to be a thought provoking reflection on spiritual warfare through the lens of the end times. Few other books I’ve read have both gripped me and required me to acquire a sort of divine perspective to grapple with such significant content.
Clare DiFranco
Campus Editor
Persuasion, Jane Austen
This novel persuaded me from regarding Pride and Prejudice as my favorite work by Jane Austen. Persuasion follows the story of a thoughtful and discerning Anne Elliot, whose highly-regarded trait ultimately results in her indecision and subsequent rejection of Captain Wentworth. For years following the rejection, she battles a line of potential suitors, unsought input from opinionated family members, and lingering feelings for the captain. I would recommend this novel to anyone looking for a period drama about a slow-burn romance. Plus, it’s Jane Austen, need I say more?
Ray Webber
Politics Editor
Metropolitan (1990)
This film is a whimsical account of young New York aristocrats who are fearing their impending downward social mobility. They evade the consequences of the collapse of the aristocracy by attempting to uphold the polite society of old by attending balls, debating politics, and obsessing over personal titles. The film is a critical look at the consequences of democratic egalitarianism and America’s growing resentment of elitism and inherited authority.
Clare Hettich
Religion Editor
Music by Brother Isaiah, CFR
This summer, I discovered music by Brother Isaiah, CFR. I found his songs to be a humbling reminder of Christ’s love, in an upbeat style that adapts itself even to everyday moments like working out or taking a shower. He employs different musical genres, but the songs are usually acoustic guitar-based. A great bonus is that a lot of his music is on Hallow, so, for ND students, ad-free!
Andrew Blake
Culture Editor
Missa Brevis in F, Mozart
I have loved listening to orchestral Mass settings since I first discovered them. Although they are seldom used today, I was fortunate enough to hear this setting used in a Mass this summer. While certainly not feasible for all parishes, I believe sacred music like this can help remind us of the grandeur of the Mass in a way that ordinary hymn tunes do not.
Eddie Giuntini
Publisher
Good Morning, Vietnam (1987)
This film stars Robin Williams as Adrian Cronauer, a military radio DJ in Vietnam who uses comedy, rock music, and satire to entertain American troops during the Vietnam War. Along with hilarious performances from Robin Williams and a fantastic setlist from the era, the movie offers a vivid depiction of the realities of war and the impact it has on people’s lives.
Joseph Ferguson
Humor Editor
The Siege of Jadotville (2016)
Richie Smyth’s 2016 movie recounts the untold story of Pat Quinlan, an Irish commander (and practicing Catholic) with his battalion of 150 soldiers, sent by the UN to a small town of Jadotville in Congo on a peacekeeping mission in 1961 during the Congo Crisis. While political tensions rise between European powers and different factions within the Congo, Quinlan and his men are faced with defending the town against 3,000 Katangese secessionists troops led by French and Belgian mercenaries. My Irish-Catholic blood appreciated this accurate retelling of a fascinating conflict in a little-known corner of history.
Sofia Fair
Events Director & Social Media Coordinator
Sense and Sensibility (2008, BBC)
Sense and Sensibility is the perfect mini-series to spend a rainy weekend watching. The films bring to light the deception that one can fall into under the guise of love. Following two sisters under the social and romantic pressure of their time, the retelling of Jane Austen’s story highlights the hope and perseverance needed to find true companionship. If you end this show by rewatching its final scene a few times–you’re not alone! I recommend this to a helpless romantic looking for an unexpected ending.
Harrison Barkley
Webmaster
Young Washington (2026)
Young Washington tells an often-overlooked story of George Washington’s relentless advance towards the Ohio frontier for the English crown. Washington’s failures prove that any successful leader must learn from failures to forge the resilience necessary to make big decisions in a split second–he inspires viewers with his leadership from the front in the Battle of the Monongahela when he acts with violence and intensity after his commander goes down, taking the fight into his own hands. The echo of the war cry “To Virginia!” at the end of the movie was especially meaningful to myself and anyone so lucky to be from the great Commonwealth.
Matthew McBride
Webmaster
Dodgeball (2004)
Dodgeball is a classic underdog sports comedy about a ragtag team, led by Vince Vaughn, competing for a cash prize in a dodgeball tournament in order to save their local gym. However, the competition heats up when Ben Stiller, the CEO of rival fitness chain Globo Gym and Vaughn’s childhood enemy, enters the tournament to defeat him. The movie’s corporate satire feels more relevant now than in 2004, and its dialogue and humor have become a quotable time capsule decades later.