History

Sunday School w/Padre: Victory & Defeat

October 29, 2017 by Father Sorin

“Defeat may serve as well as victory to shake the soul and let the glory out.” So said Edwin Markham, the poet. And as the Irish defeat yet another ranked opponent by more than 20 points, climbing yet higher in the rankings themselves, perhaps it’s appropriate to ask whether a one-point loss to Georgia was better than a two-point victory that night. For truly, it served to shake the team, and their triumphs since then have indeed been glorious; but would they be in the same place today had they ...

Holy Saturdays w/Padre: Ara – A reflection of Grace

August 5, 2017 by Father Sorin

In Greek Epic, the great are given the epithet “Leader of Men.” Few in the now 175-year history of Notre Dame deserve to be called a Leader of Men more than Ara Parseghian. Surely his fame on the field is, and shall always remain, golden. But he served under an implacable superior in Theodore Hesburgh, CSC, who demanded that Ara never tarnish the name of Our Lady or the University dedicated to Her honor. And Ara never did. As a Leader of Men, Ara demanded much from his athletes: first, that ...

Good Fridays w/Padre: Unexpectations

December 30, 2016 by Father Sorin

What an unexpected year! No one should have been surprised that 2016 followed 2015; but the manner in which it followed was surprising: Not so much as night follows day, but more as a troop of rabid baboons follows the tourist who went to relieve himself behind the bushes and missed the bus back to the safari lodge, all while having his pockets stuffed full of beef jerky and hard candies. The Fighting Irish 4-8: We began the 2016 season ranked tenth and widely expected to vie for a place in ...

Good Fridays w/Padre: On Trial

October 7, 2016 by Father Sorin

For the 175th anniversary, they’re “retracing” my route from Vincennes to Notre Dame. I’m flattered…I guess. They’re doing it in late August – Indiana in late August. You know, dangerous heat, violent monsoons, and tornado season. I wouldn’t have undertaken the journey in August! Are they going to cart in mosquitoes carrying Yellow Fever to complete the effect? And by the way, the hellacious trek from New York to Vincennes was much more harrowing that the last 270 miles through pancake-flat ...

Credit: Sports Illustrated

New on YouTube: A Muddy Tie, Griese Goes Down & Father Lumpkin

September 23, 2016 by andrewwinn

Her Loyal Sons recently brought you a playlist of every Notre Dame game on YouTube. In the past 24 hours, users have uploaded footage from the Irish's 1928 loss to Georgia Tech, its 1941 tie against Army and its 1966 defeat of Bob Griese and Rose Bowl-bound Purdue. 1941 Notre Dame 0, Army 0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6axcXV-klG4 From The Notre Dame Scholastic Football Issue (November 1941): With student spirit on the upsurge as a result of the Illinois rout, the Fighting Irish ...

Good Fridays w/Padre: Lost in Translation

September 16, 2016 by Father Sorin

The Agricultural College of the State of Michigan is coming to town for a football game. Well, that was their first name; but they soon changed it to State Agricultural College. Realizing that this was dangerously vague – how would the students know which state’s agricultural college they were attending – the name was tightened up to Michigan Agricultural College. But there’s so much more to Michigan than growing cherries and Christmas trees; so the name was elaborated to Michigan State College ...

Good Fridays w/Padre: Good Hunting

September 9, 2016 by Father Sorin

This is not a campfire story meant to scare children. It is true: By the year 1450, France had been devastated by the Hundred Years’ War. The English had laid waste to the country side, leaving the people hungry and seeking safety. Many fled to the great city of Paris. But Paris was not great anymore. The loss of able men to the war effort meant Paris was without adequate defenders. Worse, the cost of the war had diverted funds away from vital building, leaving the once-formidable ...

Good Fridays w/Padre: Sunday Services

September 2, 2016 by Father Sorin

I haven’t had to perform too many theological gymnastics in order to accept that we start this year’s Football March to Victory on a Sunday. Yes, it is The Lord’s Day. But you can go to Mass on Saturday evening and it still counts. The Lord is just happy to see you, and He appreciates that you stopped in for a visit. Besides, we don’t take the Bible literally. If we did, there would be a lot of eyes plucked out for looking at filthy images (like USC and Alabama playing with each other), and a ...

Good Fridays w/Padre: Bring It! (or not)

July 29, 2016 by Father Sorin

An errant flyer was slipped under my door recently. It was a series of lists from the Office of Housing, instructing incoming freshmen in “What to Bring to Campus.” I found this amusing, because the Office of Housing used to be Brother Paul the Hermit; and “What to Bring to Campus” was “Whatever You Can Fit into Four Saddle Bags or One Steamer Trunk.” So I found these lists…quaint: Personal Supplies - Shower Caddy: This better not mean a fellow who carries your soap into the scrub room ...

Good Fridays w/Padre: Cross Your Heart

April 22, 2016 by Father Sorin

If you attended last weekend’s Blue-Gold Game, you experienced what we on campus experience on a daily basis: The Project. Most work stopped so fans could enter the Stadium. Otherwise, the sounds, the juddering, the shouts – it’s like living next to a tramp steamer that just hit the rocks…and then backed up and hit the rocks again, and again, and again. Anyone walking around the Stadium, or sitting therein, will have realized that The Project is well on its way to completion. Anyone who ...