Join Collegium Institute and Dappled Things for our online Global Catholic Literature seminar, “Liturgy, Culture, and Consciousness: Willa Cather’s Shadows on the Rock.” 

The Catholic intellectual and artistic tradition emphasizes a sacramental understanding of Creation in which the beauties of the created world and of loving human actions point beyond themselves to the God who made them. At the same time, a Catholic mystical tradition emphasizes consciousness and interiority, turning oneself inward in self-exploration to find God. How are these traditions related in Catholic literature? What is the connection between finding God in the world and finding Him within? And what sort of novel would bring both elements together?   

Willa Cather’s Shadows on the Rock (1931) enables us to explore these questions. Set in 17th Century Quebec, this novel follows the life of a young French girl as she grows into her own in the new world. Working in a Modernist tradition that emphasizes consciousness and de-emphasizes plot, Cather re-creates a culture that is deeply structured around the Church’s liturgy and explores the intersection of liturgy, self-discovery, and moral choice.

Dates: Mondays in October, 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm.

• October 7 (Facilitated by Guy Reynolds, General Editor of Cather Studies)

• October 14 (Facilitated by William Gonch, Ave Maria University)

• October 21 (Facilitated by award-winning novelist Natalie Morrill, Dappled Things)

• October 28 (Conclusion led by Collegium staff)

Registration:

Click the button below to register. Please direct any questions to Quinn Shepherd (qshepherd@collegiuminstitute.org).

• Early Bird Registration: $65 through September 18

• Regular Registration: $75 through October 4

Collegium Institute will provide copies of the book to all participants in the United States. International participants are welcome to join, but please note that we can't guarantee that we will be able to send you a copy of the text if you live outside of the US.