Though their years of academic pursuits may now be complete, Catholic
University’s Class of 2017 received one last piece of wisdom during this year’s
commencement ceremony, which took place, due to inclement weather, inside the
Great Upper Church of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate
Conception in Washington.
That advice came from commencement speaker Peggy Noonan, the
Pulitzer Prize-winning Wall Street Journal columnist,
author and former special assistant and speechwriter for President Ronald
Reagan. “You must not stop reading books,” she said, during her address to
the new graduates of the School of Arts and Sciences. “If you seek a happy and
interesting life, one of meaning and accomplishment, you must not stop reading
books.”
Speaking from the altar before a crowd of thousands of Catholic U.
graduates and their families, Noonan said she has been troubled to learn in her
recent reporting travels, that many journalists and politicians younger than
her have “received most of what they know about history through screens.”
“They have seen the movie and not read the book,” she said.
“They’ve heard the sound bite but not read the speech … Their understanding of
history, even recent history is therefore superficial.”
Noonan, who has written nine books on American politics, history,
and culture, believes that the written word has an advantage in telling history
over movies because “books demand and reward.”
Noonan said that reading books, in addition to helping people
learn about history, can lead to more wisdom and an ability to think deeply and
lead well.“
“It will change how your very mind works. And in some magical way
the deep thoughts of others give a spark to, and almost give permission to,
thoughts of your own that had been lurking about but never had the courage to
present themselves.”
Noonan knows much of this from personal experience. She said
books helped her think about and determine her own political leanings, her
dreams of being a writer and even her religious identity as a Catholic. Without
reading books, she said she could never have succeeded as a presidential
speechwriter or a journalist.
Reading is also how she copes with political and social unease,
she said. Lately, Noonan said she’s been reading the biographies of writers
such as Walter Lippmann and Dorothy Thompson, who lived through difficult
periods in history.
“How did they withstand the pressure of sharing their thoughts in
public, how did they handle being wrong, what part of their brain did they use
to understand or misunderstand Hitler, communism or the beginnings of the Cold
War,” Noonan said. “I reach back to the daily drama of those deeply involved
and trying to lead in this great disputatious nation. Everything I write now
will be helped by those books.”
The university intended to hold the ceremony on the lawn facing
the basilica, as is the tradition, but it decided to move the event inside on
Friday because of predicted rain. Noonan addressed the new graduates of the
School of Arts and Sciences during the ceremony. Graduates of other schools and
their families could watch the event through a broadcast on campus and on the university
website.
Though the reason for the change in plans was unfortunate, Noonan
called the day a “wonderful gift” and said she was pleased to speak in the basilica,
a space with such “spiritual splendor and architectural beauty.”
Catholic U. President John Garvey spoke along similar themes
during his remarks, encouraging new graduates to pursue continually the virtue
of studiousness.
“It’s not just a virtue for students, it will serve you well as
you begin the next chapter of your lives,” he said. “Now you will have new
responsibilities: deadlines for work, phone calls to return, meetings to
attend. These things are important. But they leave little time for reflection,
contemplation or sustained attention to any object or thought.”
Garvey said studiousness can allow new graduates to “know so we
can devote our attention to the right things in the right way” rather than
giving into a constant barrage of information.
“It is easy to forget that there is a difference between
information and knowledge, and that the difference consists in thinking about
the information we have,” he said.
Studiousness can also prepare new graduates for a deeper
spiritual life. By strengthening their abilities to focus and think deeply,
graduates can be better prepared to see God’s presence in their lives.
“Studiousness is the virtue of attention,” Garvey said. “It
disposes us to want the truth, to seek it ardently, but also to wait
attentively on it. When you practice studiousness in your daily life — when you
read a book, look at a painting, talk to a friend — it prepares you to give
your full attention to God.”
The university conferred bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral
degrees during the ceremony. The Columbus School of Law commencement ceremony will take place at the basilica May 26 at 11 a.m.
