George Weigel explores ‘vocation’ by elegizing historic figures

George Weigel. Credit: Bohumil Petrik/CNA

CNA Staff, Feb 18, 2021 / 03:19 pm (CNA).- George Weigel this month released a book collecting remembrances of a range of historical figures, with the goal of exploring “what it means to live a worthy life.”

Not Forgotten: Elegies For, and Reminiscences Of, a Diverse Cast of Characters, Most of Them Admirable is a compilation of nearly seventy elegies for diverse individuals, some of whom Weigel knew personally, and some whom he “admired from a distance.”

These include such figures as St. John Paul II, Jackie Robinson, and Charles Krauthammer.

“The book is really an exploration of the many meanings of ‘vocation’ and the many forms of excellence,” Weigel told CNA.

The book features religious figures, athletes, politicians, and media personalities, among others. Not all lived imitable lives, but nevertheless ought not be forgotten, Weigel said.

“For all their differences, the men and women in my album of elegies and reminiscences all teach important lessons about what it means to live a worthy life. Some, admittedly, teach it along the old via negativa, the road we ought not travel.”

Weigel, Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, is the author of, among others, Witness to Hope: The Biography of Pope John Paul II.


If you value the news and views Catholic World Report provides, please consider donating to support our efforts. Your contribution will help us continue to make CWR available to all readers worldwide for free, without a subscription. Thank you for your generosity!

Click here for more information on donating to CWR. Click here to sign up for our newsletter.


Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

All comments posted at Catholic World Report are moderated. While vigorous debate is welcome and encouraged, please note that in the interest of maintaining a civilized and helpful level of discussion, comments containing obscene language or personal attacks—or those that are deemed by the editors to be needlessly combative or inflammatory—will not be published. Thank you.


*