A special episode of The Axehead Circular featuring a reading of “Matins and Vespers in the Life of the Church,” by the Rev. Charles L. McClean, pastor of Our Saviour Lutheran Church in Baltimore. A link to a PDF of this article can be found in the show notes.

“Let all the faithful, whether men or women, when early in the morning they rise from their sleep and before they undertake any tasks, wash their hands and pray to God; and so they may go to their duties. But if any instruction in God’s word is held that day, everyone ought to attend it … Continue reading "The Axehead Circular, Episode 8 – Daily Office"

Today we learn what happens when the opening monologue doesn’t end, Trent doesn’t really have a topic, and the entire episode is a tangent. Not entirely, but close enough. Today we’re talking about the village again, but in a roundabout way. It’s called “the conversation and consolation of brethren,” and boy do we all need … Continue reading "The Axehead Circular, Episode 7 – The Consolation of Brethren"

In this episode Trent introduces William Holmes McGuffey and his famous readers. He talks about why the idea of the tabula rasa is false and pernicious, the biological reality of the American people, and some lessons about national identity from Ancient Israel. The discussion moves to the topic of the great shift in language instruction … Continue reading "The Axehead Circular, Episode 6 – McGuffey, Part 1"

In this episode Trent begins a survey of the weekly schedule used by St. Boniface. He discusses the significance of the week as a divine period of time, makes a digression on the worthlessness of modern American conservatism, and thinks out loud regarding the benefits of differentiated attendance and the variable shortening of the school … Continue reading "The Axehead Circular, Episode 5 – Schedule, Part 1"

In this episode Trent does a survey of the academic calendar used by St. Boniface Lutheran School and the St. Sarah Cottage School. He discusses the convention followed by the school for naming its academic terms, makes a digression on the propriety and rectitude of Thanksgiving as a civil Christian holiday, and gives the rationale … Continue reading "The Axehead Circular, Episode 4 – Calendar"

In this episode we answer the question “Are you a classical school?” In the show opener Trent maintains that it does, in fact, take a village to raise a child. The episode moves from there to a description of what the term “classical education” meant prior to the turn of the century and a discussion … Continue reading "The Axehead Circular, Episode 3 – Classical?"

In this episode we consider the idea of architectonics, specifically how theology, not politics, is the true architectonic science. Trent discusses the meaning of “Evangelical Christianity” and comments on how Lutheranism is situated within this stream, and how a basic Evangelical confession is essential to the institutional character of St. Boniface. The show ends with … Continue reading "The Axehead Circular, Episode 2 – Architectonics"

In this episode Trent Demarest introduces himself, The Boniface Group, St. Boniface Lutheran School of Western Idaho, and the St. Sarah Cottage School. He also gives a brief summary of the rationale behind the names for these organizations, discussing St. Boniface of Mainz, the so-called “Apostle to the Germans,” as well as St. Sarah, the … Continue reading "The Axehead Circular, Episode 1 – Introduction"