Monday, July 7, 2008

Request for updates on the Call to Chivalry camp; news from previous camps below ... more updates coming soon...

From the email:

Please post more pictures of the boys. We are very interested in knowing what they are doing and most of all what they think of the camp. Maybe post some of their comments and what they think of the camp and if they would recommend it to other boys.  God bless you all & keep up the Great Work!
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Call to Chivalry Camp: Where Boys Become Catholic Gentlemen

Mr. Roark Mitzell gave a live sword and European martial arts demonstration.

In Kenelm Henry Digby’s book, The Broad-Stone of Honour, the following definition of chivalry is offered: “Chivalry is only a name for that general spirit or state of mind which disposes men to heroic actions, and keeps them conversant with all that is beautiful and sublime in the intellectual and moral world.” But chivalry is also a code to live by, a discipline, and by presenting traditional masculine Catholic virtues as living principles, the Call to Chivalry camp, held in rural Pennsylvania at the Saint Louis de Montfort Academy between August 9-19, formed a group of young men into the mold of crusader knights; they were challenged to action and taught by the example of past saint crusaders.

Mornings start early at the tolling of a large, authoritative bell. Beds are made to exact standards. Teeth are brushed. Faces are washed. And at the ringing of the next bell all of the participants, aged 13-18, are standing at attention outside their rooms. Mr. Cesar Franco, the camp coordinator for the TFP, paces the halls and asks, “Has anyone not brushed their teeth?” A few hands rise as an example of honesty to the others. “Ten push-ups!” The push-ups are dutifully done and the room inspections completed. Rooms not up to par are corrected according to the specific standards learned quickly on the first morning of camp. From here, at the ringing of the next bell, the boys—young gentlemen-in-training—line up smartly dressed in formation for the raising of the TFP’s red banner and chant the Nicene Creed in the Gregorian fashion. Breakfast is then served by camp participants at a properly set table where good table manners are used. The Rosary is said immediately following breakfast.

A boy walking a 35 foot high cable

One of the outings was to a 35-foot high rock-wall climb.

The theme of this year’s Call to Chivalry camp was “Don Pelayo and the Reconquest of Spain.” Stories of battles and saints were recounted as models for heroic defense of the faith accompanied by visual presentations highlighting these events as depicted in art, architecture and photography. The program creates an environment where boys learn how to be Catholic gentlemen. As one participant noted, “There is no doubt what kind of environment this is…It’s Catholic.” An activity is stopped for the Angelus at its appointed hour, for example.

There was a healthy mixture of sport and leisure. Participants went to nearby Roundtop Mountain for low and high ropes courses consisting of challenging tasks and problems that helped groups to focus on communication, trust, and cooperation. Teams were built and leaders emerged. There was a rock climbing wall, wire rope bridges, and other obstacles navigable only with the help of licensed instructors and other team members who controlled the safety ropes. Such activities were a tremendous confidence booster.

The Spanish paella dinner

The Spanish Reconquista dinner consisted of a 40-inch wide Spanish paella.

Games of medieval origin were played like French football and shield ball. Classes in medieval swordsmanship and armor were taught by fencing instructor Mr. Roark Mitzell. Paintball, although less medieval, fostered competition and near-battlefield heroism. All of these activities prepared the participants to take their faith into the world, and confidently battle the forces of evil in their daily lives.

The feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary occurred at the midpoint of the camp. This was no ordinary day. There was great celebration in the air with a grand dinner. The extraordinariness of the day was marked not only with holy Mass, but also with a great culinary feast. A traditional Spanish dish called paella, normally served on Sundays and great feast days, was cooked in a 40-inch paella pan over an outdoor fire and served to much fanfare. This first-class feast of the liturgical year became a social reality and a great convivium ensued.

The certainty of the program each day, where the hours passed with the tolling of a bell calling young men to action, structured their environment like a medieval cathedral school. This educational process, the product of organically developed Catholic culture, oriented the bodies, intellects, and souls toward Christ and service to Our Lady.

Outdoor games

As always, outdoor games were a big part of the Call to Chivalry camp.

Traditions forgotten by the post-modern world—traditions foundational to our culture—were all harnessed to create an experience where young men were free to express their faith without pressures emanating from the prevailing television culture that surrounds us daily. Absent was the mundane; ever present was the divine. Catholic order was established and each boy quickly was able to find himself within this context.

For more information on future Call to Chivalry camps, contact us here.

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A Call to Chivalry – it seems such an unlikely appeal in a world where knightly pursuits in defense of the Church are discouraged.

Indeed, parents face formidable obstacles when instilling gentlemanly manners, manly piety or lively Faith in their boys. Modern American culture beckons in another direction focusing on self-centeredness and the pleasures of life. Peer pressure is immense and can be devastating to the practice of Catholic morals.

And yet perhaps the most amazing thing about the TFP’s Call to Chivalry Summer Camps is the participants’ enthusiastic response to an event which issues such a frontal challenge to today’s popular culture.

Held at the Feliciana Retreat Center in Norwood, La. from June 27 - July 7, this year’s Southern camp was co-sponsored by the American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property (TFP) and St. Louis de Montfort Academy. Fathers were encouraged to attend with their sons.

Abnormal Times
In normal times, an enthusiastic response to a call to chivalry would not be exceptional. What boy would not like hardy games, exciting adventures and camaraderie? What better way to unite such pursuits to a sublime ideal!

However, these are not normal times. This year’s camp theme was centered on the story of the Knights Hospitaller of St. John of Jerusalem, today known as the Knights of Malta who for many centuries defended Christendom. The program stressed the parallels between times past and today where the Church and Christian civilization are under attack by society’s culture and how, like the knights of old, youth has an important role to play.

Catholic boys, ages 12-18, traveled from across the South to attend the program. The camp offered concrete examples of how young people can defend the Faith. Participants were particularly impressed by TFP Student Action’s activities on the nation’s campuses in defense of traditional marriage and against abortion. They were also treated to talks on Islam, the Crusades, a history of the Knights of Malta and topics based on the book, Revolution and Counter-revolution by Prof. Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira. Theatrical presentations helped illustrate the points and the boys were encouraged to discuss and debate the lessons they learned.

“This year’s meetings were fantastic!” said one camp attendee. “There were so many things that I learned about history and defending the Faith.”

The "medieval games" were officiated by two "Knights of Malta" on horseback.

Soul and Body
However, talks alone are not enough. A strong spiritual focus is necessary. A program of manly piety started with the singing-proclamation of the Creed and ended with a nightly torch-lit rosary procession outdoors. Prayer, the rosary and Holy Communion made up the “spiritual arms” of these modern day knights.

In keeping with the theme of the Knights Hospitaller, the Summer Camp started with a "knight hospitaller" First Aid Course for all the young men.

The active yet fun-filled schedule began with morning reveille and room inspection. The boys engaged in camp activities which included rock climbing,

canoeing, archery, self-defense and paintballing. The physical feats culminated with a final afternoon of grueling “medieval games” officiated by “Knights of Malta” on horseback.

As the days passed, a spirit of camaraderie grew that extended not only to the young participants but included the camp staff and fathers. Friendships developed around a common ideal.

“I learned many things here that I am going to use to teach my son to confront life’s difficulties,” said one father who attended the camp.

A roasted pig, deep-fried turkey and smoked brisket helped make the medieval banquet unforgetable.

The Greatest Adventure
The camp was a result of the united efforts of friends, families and supporters in Louisiana who brought together all the elements for the course. The high points of the summer course were the closing medieval games and banquet.

A letter from HIRH Prince Bertrand of Orleans-Braganza to the participants of the TFP Summer Camp was read before the closing Rosary procession: "I pray, therefore, to the Most Holy Virgin that she not only bless these days in which you gather around the ideals of Catholic Chivalry in the twenty-first century, but above all, she make you authentic soldiers of Christ as were St. Louis, King of France, St. Ferdinand of Castile, Godfrey of Bouillon and so many other heroic defenders of the Faith."

From richly sewn banners to delicious Cajun cooking, the atmosphere at the final medieval banquet in the camp’s decorated outdoor pavilion was unforgettable.

Parents joined their sons who displayed their knightly manners at the dinner presided over by Msgr. Robert Berggreen of St. Agnes Parish in Baton Rouge. All heard a short discourse by Mr. Bret Clesi, an actual Knight of Malta, who spoke on the present day mission of his order.

“We tried to instill in the boys the idea that heroism is not a thing of the past,” said Thomas Drake, head of the TFP’s Louisiana office and coordinator of the event. “I could not be happier at their response to this challenge.”

The motto of one of the military religious orders at the time of the Crusades was: “The most beautiful adventure in the world is ours.”

As the final evening finished, that motto appeared to express the sentiments of the participants as they left ready to defend the Faith amid today's hostile culture.

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