Encouraging Summer Reading That Speaks to Teens' Souls

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Our 14-year-old son returned from a vacation with the youth group of Communion and Liberation this week, eager to buy a copy of the latest translation of Giacomo Leopardi's "Canti" as well as a good translation of Fyodor Doystoevsky's "Crime and Punishment." His emerging interest in fine literature is yet another reason my husband and I are so grateful for CL, a lay ecclesiastical movement within the Catholic Church. Our son is learning that faith is a living entity and that the beauty expressed by poets, and musicians is one way we can gaze upon the Infinite. My conversation with him also is a reminder we parents have an obligation to continue to nurture our children's souls as they navigate adolescence.

Here is what Leopardi, a poet, essayist and philosopher of the early 19th century, has to say about the Infinite:

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Comments

  1. Anonymous3:15 pm, July 07, 2011

    What a fabulously inspiring post! Thanks Allison..what great children!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Allison4:16 pm, July 07, 2011

    Oh...thank you but truly these boys are gifts. My husband and I do the best we can...

    ReplyDelete
  3. Manny9:24 pm, July 07, 2011

    I read Leopardi's Canti last year. Those are very impressive reads for a 14 year old. Outstanding young man!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Allison12:03 am, July 08, 2011

    This is all sparked by the youth group arm of Communion and Liberation. All the teens are reading him!

    ReplyDelete

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