Through Dr. Herbert's slide presentation, we will examine and discuss such monuments as the Capitoline Temple of Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva; the Curia or Senate House where Cicero, considered the most eloquent of Roman orators, and others debated the turbulent political issues of the day; the Rostra or Speakers' Platform from which the Senators addressed the people; the Basilica Julia, a type of building form later converted by the Christians for use in church design; the Temple of the Deified Julius, erected in honor of the assassinated Caesar; the Temple of Vesta, where the Eternal Flame was kept; and the Arch of Titus, erected to commemorate the capture of Jerusalem in AD 70.

Kevin Herbert holds a Ph.D. in Classical Philology (Latin and Greek) from Harvard University (1954) and was Professor of Classics at Washington University from 1962 until retirement in 1992, serving also as Chairman of the Department from 1982 to 1992.  He continues to teach in the Evening Division and Summer School and is now in his 51st year as a Professor of Classics.  He is also a decorated combat veteran of World War II, holding the Distinguished Flying Cross and 11 Air Medals.
 

In a highly intellectual and sophisticated presentation liberally sprinkled with biblical references, Fr. Viviano began by locating the source of hope which is felt in the concept of the Millennium in the text of Revelation (Apocalypse 20: 1–10) which represents the message of Jesus concerning the soon-to-come-to-earth kingdom of God.  The speaker traced the history of these hopes to three sources of Jewish and Christian apocalyptic thought:  the spiritual-mystical interpretations (Platonic and Neo-Platonic); the political interpretations (the identification of the kingdom of God on earth with the Christian empires of Constantine and Charlemagne); and Saint Augustine’s interpretation, based on the identification of the kingdom of God with the Church.  The relevance of these themes is to offer a basis for hope in the future and a rudimentary theology or philosophy of the meaning of history.

The speaker also explained the origin of the figure one thousand years out of the transformation of the seven days of creation (Genesis 1) through the idea that one day with the Lord is like a thousand years (Psalm 90: 4, 15 and 2 Peter 3:8) into a world week of 7000 years divided into seven periods or eons of salvation history. 

For Christians, the seventh period or the Messianic period is the millennium of the world of justice in which God has promised his intervention with the ultimate goal of saving His people.

The speaker then turned to the role of the Italians in the millennium, beginning with the Calabrian abbot, Joachim of Fiore (c. 1135-1202), mentioned in Dante's Paradiso, canto 12, lines 140-141  "Il Calavrese abate Giovacchino/di spirito profetico dotato".  Joachim developed a Trinitarian view that divided history  into three periods or ages, the Age of the Law (Old Testament) centered around God the Father; the Age of the Gospel (New Testament) centered around God the Son; and the Age of the Spirit (the future) centered around the Holy Spirit. 

For Joachim, the Age of the Spirit is an age of contemplatives (monks or visi spirituales) without clergy except for an angelic pope:  it is the Sabbath of humanity.  Joachim's message was spread in a radicalized form by another Italian, a Franciscan named Gerard of Borgo San Donnino (later renamed Fidenza).  In the years around 1260 (cf. Rev 11:3), this message provoked hysteria and risked causing a major schism.  The danger was countered by Saints Bonaventure and Thomas Aquinas (also Italians), each in his own way.  But Joachim's vision of the future has continued to inspire people down to our own day.  Explorers like Columbus, missionaries like Viera, utopian thinkers like Campanella, philosophers like Vico, Herder, Hegel, Schelling and Soloview, scientists like Newton, Priestly, and Teilhard de Chardin were all inspired by Joachim's message of hope in the future. 

During the question and answer period, the following questions were asked:  “How does this concept or message of the Millennium really affect us today?"  Father Viviano's replied that the message of the millennium is very relevant.  It provides a divine promise of hope and change for this world and attaches spirituality to our day-to-day activities.  He further noted that there are many special events planned for the year 2000, particularly in Italy, Turkey and the Holy Land.  In addition, the Catholic Church has planned a four-year program for spiritual deepening to be initiated during the Millennium year.

The second question was "Would one religion eliminate wars?"  The reply was “Probably not - since history tells us otherwise.”
 

The tour included the kitchen gardens of the Director’s residence with their collection of types of plants, herbs, and vegetables grown in Missouri in the late 19th century.  In addition, these essentially private gardens contain some interesting fountains, a croquet lawn, and what are probably the best cared-for and happiest chickens in the State of Missouri. 

The tour then covered the major public features of the Park and ended with a tour of John’s 1868 Victorian residence, reputedly designed by George Barnett and beautifully furnished with authentic period furniture. 

Many thanks to Marie and George Brand and Carolyn Stelzer and Judy Ronzio for their help with the wonderful refreshments.  A special note of thanks also to Mr. Frank Fanara, President of the Friends of Tower Grove Park, for taking time out to stop by.  As a token of our appreciation to Mr. Karel for his hospitality, the Italian Club will make a contribution of $100 to the Friends of Tower Grove Park to assist in the preservation of this beautiful and historic location.
 

Uno dei problemi è che D’Alema non ha la base di conoscenze economiche che poteva e può vantare Romano Prodi.  Inoltre egli è un politico di professione, cioè non ha mai avuto altra professione al di fuori della politica.  Fin da giovane ha fatto parte dell’apparato PCI, condividendone tutte le idee, partecipando a tutti i riti, sposandone tutte le cause. 

Con il suo passato da riscattare, egli è uno di quelli che non può mai dire di no.  Nel campo internazionale, un Andreotti o un Craxi potevano far valere le proprie opinioni, ma D’Alema no, perché se lo facesse sarebbe troppo facile rinfacciargli che lo fa perché è rimasto, in cuor suo, comunista.

Giuliano Zoso

Giuliano Zoso is a retired professor of “lettere” in Italy.  He has served as Undersecretary of Scientific Reasearch with the Italian Governement under previous administrations.
 

12.  La vita di Vittoria Colonna, (Roma 1490 - 1547), fu segnata dalla morte del marito, Ferrante Francesco d’Avalos, marchese di Pescara, morto per le ferite riportate nella battaglia di Pavia (1525), e dall’accettazione dei principi riformistico-religiosi di Juan de Valdés, teologo e letterato spagnolo.  Entrambi i motivi sono presenti in questo sonetto, di cui le due quartine sono un’invocazione alla morte perché la liberi dal tormento provocato dalla disgrazia occorsale, mentre l’ultima terzina si chiude con il desiderio di sublimare il dolore dedicando la propria vita a “miglior opre”, le opere di carità proposte dal Valdés.
 
 

A che sempre chiamar la sorda morte,

e far pietoso il ciel col pianger mio,

se troncar l’ali io stessa al gran desio

posso, e sgombrare il duol dal petto forte¹?

Meglio assai fôra² che alle chiuse porte³

chieder mercede, aprirne una all’oblio,

chiuder l’altra al pensier:  così poss’io

vincer me insieme e la nimica sorte.

Gli schermi⁴ tutti e quante vie discopre

l’anima, per uscir dal carcer cieco

di sì grave dolor, tentato ho invano.

Riman solo a provar, se vive meco

tanta ragion, ch’io volga questo insano

desir fuor di speranza a miglior opre.

¹ “forte” si riferisce a “duol”, dolore.  ² sarebbe.  ³ porte del cuore, visto anche come “carcer” al v. 10.  ⁴ Gli strattagemmi.