Knight's Blog
Stop Striving After Wind …
This is a carryover from our words on “awareness” last time. The topic is so important that we wanted to encourage you to think about it in yet another way. Leo Tolstoy, author of “War and Peace”, is to this day considered one of the greatest writers and thinkers of...
In the Image and Likeness of God …
Aristotle observed that, "The ultimate value of life depends on awareness and the power of contemplation rather than upon mere survival." In other words, our value as human beings is not found in our instinctive nature, it is found in our sentient nature. Some say...
Examine Yourselves . . .
Earlier this week we talked about the age old wisdom passed down by the Seven Sages of ancient Greece, “Know Thyself”. This simple maxim became foundational to Western civilization. “Know Thyself” seems simple enough. Who better to know me, than me? I mean, come on,...
Scio Te (Know Thyself) . . .
The words “Scio Te” are Latin for the eminent maxim, “Know Thyself” inscribed in the Temple of Apollo at Delphi. Earlier this year we talked about that famous inscription made at the direction of the Seven Sages of ancient Greece, early-6th-century BC philosophers,...
Look at It From Behind …
Yesterday we talked about the importance of “self-awareness” for our students as the leaders we are training them to be here at St. Francis. In short, self-awareness allows them to look at the true motives of their heart and to confront them head on which, in turn,...
The Most Enviable Title of All
One of the many formative leadership lessons we teach our students here at St. Francis is the importance of “self-awareness”. But, what does it mean to be “self-aware”? The meaning is fairly simple, self-awareness is a conscious knowledge of one's own character,...
Take Courage . . .
Earlier this week we ended our dialogue with words from Peter, but today we begin with words from the venerable saint: “And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm,...
For This You Were Called …
St. Ambrose of Milan once remarked, “No one heals himself by wounding another.” This is a very simple statement, based upon a very profound truth. Imagine a lion or bear with a deep flesh wound. The instinctive response – the base animal response – is to roar with...
One of a Large Company …
Well-known Christian apologist and writer, Josh McDowell, once said: When it comes to my salvation, all I need is Jesus; after my salvation, everything is Jesus plus the church... When people preach that all you need is Jesus, they cut you and I off from one of the...
Taking Refuge …
Today more than ever before, one of the things we must deal with in education at St. Francis is the real life situations many of our students face outside the classroom that complicate their desire and ability to learn. Our world fills their minds with ideas about...
Be Transformed to Transform …
After taking a break for a week to celebrate Easter and all that it means, we here at St. Francis are reminded that a true understanding and embracement of Easter brings transformation. This is a transformation of the individual and the world. St. Paul explains how...
Be Thankful and be Happy …
Most of the time we hear about being happy for our health. But, what if we looked at being healthy because we are happy? Remember A.A. Milne’s beloved characters, “Winnie the Pooh” and his donkey friend, “Eeyore”? A typical exchange between the two goes something like...
Having the Highest Form of Thought . . .
You will see that here at St. Francis we often quote our favorite authors, clergy, and statesman. Among those there are several who standout as some of the most brilliant minds in history, and among that group is G.K. Chesterton. In fact, George Bernard Shaw, who was...
Emulating Saint Francis …
As we end our emphasis on stewardship of the earth over the past few weeks, it is important to look at the depth of the duty of stewardship in our theology and at the reason for this depth. In J.R.R. Tolkien’s masterpiece, “The Lord of the Rings”, there is an...
Accepting the Challenge …
In this final week on stewardship of earth, please take a moment to read this quote: “It is not reasonable that art should win the place of honor over our great and powerful mother Nature. We have so overloaded the beauty and richness of her works by our inventions...
Because We Can See God …
Renowned oceanographer, Jacques Cousteau, was a French naval officer, scientist, author, explorer, and innovator who researched and studied the sea and all forms of life in water for nearly fifty years. His work was so distinguished that he was given numerous awards...
When the Well is Dry …
In our continued attention to the issue of consumption it is important to take a look at water. Something we hear a lot about, especially here in California. This begs the question, how important is water really? Well, let’s take a look at a few facts: Two-thirds of...
Be Anxious About What You Are …
This week we are looking at human consumption and the impact it has on the environment. As with much of what we discuss here at St. Francis, God intends a balanced approach to the matter. On one end of the spectrum you have human avarice or extreme greed, and...
Need or Greed …
With Pope Francis dedicating his last encyclical, Laudato Si’, to ecology there has been increased attention on the environment these past few months. In thinking through these issues recently I was reminded of the 1999 hit movie, The Matrix, when antagonist Agent...
Care for Your Body as if You Will Live Forever …
Since the early years of Christian education we have recognized seven vices or “cardinal sins” including: pride, greed, lust, envy, wrath, slothfulness, and gluttony. Often we hear homilies concerning pride or lust, but we do not really hear too much on “gluttony”....
Receive the World as God’s Gift …
Under Napoleon’s reign in 1804 the pedestrian bridge known as the “Pont des Arts” was completed across the River Seine. The bridge of nine arches was the first metallic bridge in Paris. The bridge engineers conceived that the bridge would resemble a suspended garden,...
Great Leaders Recognize Talent …
In 2005, award-winning author Doris Kearns Goodwin published the book, “Team of Rivals.” Her subtitle for the book was “The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln.” This is a book that St. Francis students will be familiar with by the time they leave our hallowed halls....
Jesus in Disguise …
Taken on its own, 1 Corinthians 12:15, seems like an odd verse: “If the foot should say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,’ that would not make it any less a part of the body.” But taken in context with earlier and later versus in the chapter this...
Take out the Log …
As we continue to explore the qualities of good leadership this week, we are looking at the ability to balance the love of people with the hatred of evil. Trying to balance these two often becomes a discussion of “tolerance” vs. “intolerance” of others and this is the...
Understanding the Balance Between Love and Hatred …
Some believe that a phrase akin to: "love the sinner but hate the sin" is to be found somewhere in the Bible. It is not. It was Gandhi who wrote, "hate the sin and not the sinner" in his 1929 autobiography. However, the original context for this phrase was penned by...
Leaders Understand Themselves …
Leaders Understand Themselves The famous words, “Know Thyself” were inscribed in the Temple of Apollo at Delphi. According to legend the seven sages of ancient Greece, who laid the foundation for western culture, ordered this. This ancient proverb became a standard...
Having the Character to Understand …
A couple of weeks ago we talked about how St. Francis College Prep teaches its students that true leaders listen to understand before they speak. We ended that discussion with a verse summarizing this fact: “A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in...
Listening to the Inner Voice …
As we continue to share, there is a strong focus on leadership here at St. Francis. Ultimately, we are turning learners into leaders for the next generation. In that exploration of leadership we help our students understand the good in investing time to listen to...
Leaders Listen to Learn …
As we said earlier this week, one of the most important leadership skills we teach at St. Francis is the skill of “listening.” We know that true “listening” means that we seeking to understand versus waiting to speak; and we are “others-centered” versus...
Leaders Listen to Understand …
One of the most important leadership skills we teach at St. Francis is the skill of “listening.” But, what does that really mean? Heralded 7 Habits author and consultant, Dr. Stephen Covey, says this, “Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they...
Leaders Speak Wisely …
Leaders Speak Wisely . . . When hearing “social media” most think of things such as e-mail, texts, blogs, Facebook, Twitter, You Tube and Podcasts. But a recent on-line article by “60 Second Marketer” listed the top 52 social media venues for marketing. What, 52? I...
Leadership is Communication…
Leadership is Communication . . . Author and presidential speechwriter, James Humes, said, “The art of communication is the language of leadership.” And, renowned leadership consultant, John Maxwell, has defined leadership in one word: “influence.” In brief, in...
Having Real Vision…
Having Real Vision . . . As we close out 2015 and look forward to 2016 we are reminded that this is the time for our New Year resolutions. Among the top 10 resolutions each January we find: lose weight, get organized, spend less, focus more on family, quit unhealthy...
The Real Reason…
The Real Reason . . . Over the past few months we have shared several reasons why St. Francis College Preparatory High School is opening in August 2016 and why we believe it is important for parents to consider St. Francis as the choice in education for their...
Choosing the Right Mission…
Choosing the Right Mission . . . Earlier this week we posted an article from the Cardinal Newman Society regarding Common Core education. If you have not had the chance to read it yet we would strongly encourage you to do so. We think you will find it very...
The Greatest Investment…
The Greatest Investment . . . On average, each year Americans spend over $5,000 on interest for non-mortgage debt, $2,500 on entertainment; $1,900 on coffee and soda; $1,700 for tobacco, alcohol, and gambling; and $500 on thrown away food. The common denominator among...
St. Francis Land is Blessed!
St. Francis Land is Blessed! Father Michael Coutts, S.J., Director of the Retreat House for the Maresa Jesuit Spiritual Renewal Centre in Toronto, was recently visiting a life-long friend here in the area. When Fr. Coutts heard about our work to open St. Francis...
This is Why…
This is Why . . . Christian author, Henry Van Til wrote, “Culture derives its meaning from man's faith in God; it is never an end in itself, but always a means of expressing one's religious faith.” Simply put, culture is religion externalized. What does this mean? It...
Seeking Perfection…
Seeking Perfection . . . A few weeks ago we talked out the importance of community service for St. Francis College Prep students. Community service will not be a theoretical discussion, an occasional thought or a seasonal gesture. Acts of service will be part and...
Partnering with Parents…
Partnering With Parents . . . Now and then you will see or hear St. Francis College Prep use the phrase “partnering with parents”. We wanted you to know what we mean by this and why it is important. Let me begin with short personal story. In the early 90’s I was...
Teaching “All the Law”…
Teaching “All the Law” . . . Last week we talked about the crucial nature of the St. Francis College Prep “STREAM” model – a STEM education (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) based in the Christian faith (Religion) and taught through the humanities (the...
To Know the Truth…
To Know the Truth . . . As we have mentioned before, St. Francis College Prep has an educational program that is founded in what we refer to as the “STREAM” model – a STEM education (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) based in the Christian faith (Religion)...
Are We Asking the Right Question…
Asking the Right Question . . . In our last post we mentioned that there are two questions people often ask regarding the “faith-based formative education” of St. Francis College Prep. The first is, “What does that mean?” and the second is “Why is that important?” As...
Providing True Education…
Providing True Education . . . We have continued to emphasize that St. Francis College Prep will provide students with a faith-based formative education. As a result we’re often asked two questions, “What does that mean?” and “Why is that important?” These are good...
Connecting the Dots…
This week we held our first Parent Information Night for St. Francis College Preparatory High School. In a word, it was “fantastic”! We are very blessed by the outpouring of support we have from community! As we continue to share our vision and plans for St. Francis...
St. Francis is Ideal for Your Student’s Future…
St. Francis is Ideal for Your Student’s Future . . . Recently we shared our mission for St. Francis College Preparatory High School, which is to, “inspire students to leadership through a 21st Century education that is founded upon the Catholic faith and tradition.”...
St. Francis Respects the Art of Teaching…
St. Francis Respects the Art of Teaching . . . My daughter felt called to work on the mission field in Africa instead of attending college her first year. So, as most fathers were dropping their beloved freshman girls off at a dorm only hours away, I was dropping mine...
A Worthy Mission for St. Francis College Prep…
A Worthy Mission for St. Francis College Prep . . . Earlier this week we explained that the vision for St. Francis College Prep is, “A tradition of faith, learning and leadership for the benefit of mankind.” This vision is like the North Star, always on the horizon....
A Vision for Something Far Better…
St. Francis College Prep . . . A Vision for Something Far Better . . . The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision. Helen Keller If anyone could tell us what is worse than being blind, it would be well-known author and activist, Helen...
St. Francis Will Produce Servants
The great orator and statesman, William Jennings Bryan said “Service is the measure of greatness . . . The human measure of a human life is its income; the divine measure of a life is its outgo, its overflow--its contribution to the welfare of all.” It is for this...