The annual Fall Ducharme Lecture, held on September 25, drew more than 250 faculty and students to listen to Abram C. Van Engen, Ph.D., professor in the humanities, chair of the English department, and professor of religion and politics at Washington University in St. Louis. Van Engen’s talk, titled Word Made Flesh, made the case for active reading of poetry and literature as a method of uplifting one’s faith.
Van Engen spoke with confidence in lecturing that poetry achieves and assists in enriching people’s lives. He called for engagement with poetry and literature consistently to help develop growth in Christian faith. Sharing the fruits of his studies, he showed the relation of poetry and parables. He also highlighted the interplay between literature and theology— how they perfect and intersect each other.
Academicians often lament that many modern people have lost their ability to rest, to see God and His creation for what it is. Van Engen recognizes this and calls for a return to grace and spiritual plenteousness through poetry. He feels it could be of use to the Church where tradition is often confused with being stuck in the past, though giving life anew every moment.
Van Engen teaches courses such as Markets and Morality and Early American Literature, and has authored two books, City on a Hill: A History of American Exceptionalism and Word Made Flesh: An Invitation to Poetry for the Church. His lecture at the Mount was modeled after the latter.
The biannual Ducharme Lecture Series, named for Mount Professor Emeritus of English Robert Ducharme, fosters discussions in fields related to the humanities and liberal arts. The series was founded and is funded by Raphael Della Ratta, C’92.