Photos: Students Contemplate Murder in the Cathedral at All-College Seminar

Last Friday Thomas Aquinas College, California, hosted the first of the semester’s two All-College Seminars, in which students came together to discuss T.S. Eliot’s Murder in the Cathedral. The story adapts real events of its day, leading up to the martyrdom of St. Thomas of Canterbury.

To discuss this work, one or two tutors led each seminar with a group of students from all four classes. These seminars aim to expose students to great works beyond the College’s curriculum, as well as to allow them to learn from peers outside their class. Freshman Marcel Pryor enjoyed the opportunity, saying, “I loved getting to discuss with the upperclassmen. It was impressive how much they knew and the way they shared their thoughts. I’m excited to reach their level.”

Senior Danny Sabados found the work resonated with him. “The speech toward the end about martyrdom was powerful, especially seeing how the chorus was affected,” he reflected. “They start out pretty sinful and indifferent but experience a full conversion by the end.”

Afterward students and tutors enjoyed pizza and refreshments outside St. Joseph Commons. “I love these seminars,” said sophomore Claire Thomas. “It’s so fun to come together with everyone on campus to talk about these great works. We get to have great conversations and grow as a community.”