Modern Foundation Myths & the Destruction of Church & Civilization

Our twenty-seventh annual Summer Symposium at Gardone Riviera derives its theme from our general frustration — spiritually, intellectually, artistically, politically, and socially — with the mindless, often self-delusional, and frequently overtly manipulative visions of the ideology of modernity.

Despite the fact that we have regularly dealt with the problems posed by modernism in a variety of ways in the past, this will be the first time that we have tackled the actual pillars themselves: nominalism and contempt for philosophical and theological thought; the cult of the autonomous individual and his cultural genius; the contradictory themes of the total depravity of man and nature on the one hand and the glory of natural, pragmatic, scientific progress on the other; social contract theories; the concepts of freedom, equality, and democracy; the biological evolution and magical transformation of beast and man; the American foundation myth, as well as those underlying modern materialist economic visions.

Faculty, Clergy, Musicians

Jonathan Arrington (Denver Catholic Biblical School; St. John Vianney Theological Seminary Lay Division)
Dr. Miguel Ayuso Torres (University of Madrid)
James Bogle, Esq. TD MA Dip Law (barrister and author of A Heart for Europe)
Clemens Cavallin (Religious Studies, Sweden)
Dr. Danilo Castellano (University of Udine, Emeritus)
Fr. Gabriel Díaz Patri (Studia Liturgica, United Kingdom)
Bernard Dumont (editor, Catholica, France)
Christopher A. Ferrara, J.D. (President, ACLA)
David J. Hughes (Director of Musical Program)
Rev. John Hunwicke (Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham)
James Kalb, Esq. (Author of The Tyranny of Liberalism)
Michael J. Matt (Editor, The Remnant)
Sebastian Morello (Centre for Catholic Formation, London)
Rev. Dr. Richard Munkelt (Chaplain of the Roman Forum)
Dr. Thomas Pink (King’s College, London)
Dr. John C. Rao (St. John’s University)
Dr. Joseph Shaw (Senior Research Fellow at St Benet’s Hall, Oxford Univerisity)
Dr. Thomas Stark (Philosophisch-Theologische Hochschule, Austria)
Fr. Edmund Waldstein (Philosophisch-Theologische Hochschule, Austria)

Liturgy and Music

The Summer Symposium’s music program involves daily mass and vespers. It is important to note that the Roman Forum is just as happy to receive applications from those whose interest is primarily in Church Music as it is from those focused in other areas of Catholic concern. Our music director, Mr. David Hughes, is eager to attract participants with vocal abilities who are willing to commit themselves to daily rehearsals to ensure a better rendition of Gregorian Chant and the polyphonic pieces to be sung.

Accommodation, Setting, and Daily Program

Accommodation and lectures are at the Locanda agli Angeli and the Hotel Villa Sofia in Gardone Sopra, on Lake Garda, in the foothills of the Alps in northern Italy. Both hotels, with swimming pools of their own, are only a ten-minute walk from the lakefront, where free, clean beaches with a number of amenities can be found. Meals are taken at the Angeli and at other trattorie several minutes walk away. Mass is in the parish church, also within walking distance. Gardone is within easy traveling distance of the opera season in Verona, Venice, Trent, Brescia, Milan, Ravenna, Pavia, and Padua. The region offers opportunities not only for swimming, but for hiking, biking, boating, and scenic walks as well.

Each day involves two lectures with discussion (morning and pre-dinner), and Sung Mass in the Extraordinary Rite (Tridentine Mass) at noon. Other masses, both Tridentine and the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, are offered throughout the day. There are no lectures on Sundays. Musical and theatrical entertainments take place in the garden of the Angeli and in the Piazza dei Caduti in the evenings after dinner.

Application, Cost, and Payment

First time applicants only must include name, address, telephone number, e-mail, date of birth, occupation, academic degrees attained or pending, and the names and phone numbers of two references. Application should be made as soon as possible as there are only sixty places available.

The full cost of the Gardone program in a double occupancy room is $2,900 (based on an exchange rate no higher than $1.25 to the Euro). This includes tuition, room and board (very ample breakfast and dinner with cocktails, wine, beer, and other beverages at will; all gratuities also), transportation to and from Malpensa Airport in Milan, and a boat excursion on the lake. Single rooms are extra, their price depending upon the room concerned.

A number of full and partial scholarships are available. Preference for scholarships will be given to professors, students, clergy, and seminarians. Nevertheless, anyone who genuinely cannot afford the full tuition and believes himself to be a worthy candidate for assistance may apply. Please consider giving a tax-deductible donation to support the attendance of a speaker, a member of the clergy, a seminarian, or a student. We need $50,000 in total to provide for our sixteen speakers, musical director, and scholarships.

Send all applications, deposits, payments, and donations either through PayPal or directly to:

Or e-mail to drjcrao@aol.com.