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2011 ANNUAL REPORT

The Year in Letters

ORGANIZATION REVIEW



I. Message from the Director

II. Features

III. Progress Reports

IV. Special Excerpt

V. Introductions

Rome Conference 4

Summer Fellows 6

Summer Seminar 7

Salon Dinner 8

Publishing 9

Newsletters 10

Website 10

Annual Report



MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTORJohn Henry Crosby

My friends,

What a pleasure it is for me to be writing to you in this, our eighth year of the Dietrich von

Hildebrand Legacy Project. Looking back, I recall how ambitious this Project seemed when webegan, but your support, the enthusiasm of donors, students, and scholars, has propelled us wellbeyond even our wildest early dreams. I feel that our work here is truly blessed.

What began as a small translating and publishing initiative has gained international recognitionand support, even from Pope Benedict XVI himself. And while our work has blossomed, we havenever left our roots. We originally set out to translate Dietrich von Hildebrand’s major Germanworks, and to republish his English titles which, once classics, have not remained in print. I amhappy to report that we are steadily attaining that goal. In 2009, we published The Nature of

Love, to great international acclaim. The year 2012 shall see the publication of von Hildebrand’santi-Nazi essays and memoirs from his time fighting Nazism in Vienna, collected as The Wartime

Papers and printed by a major publishing house. The first ever translation of von Hildebrand’smagisterial, two-volume Aesthetics shall follow shortly thereafter. It has been a longer road than

expected, but together, we have continued to walk it, and we are now able to see our destinationclearly.

Along the way, we have not only managed to achieve many of our goals, but indeed, to set newones. I think of the two international conferences we have organized, the various symposia,roundtables, and lectures, along with a host of recent “firsts”: our graduate student essay competition, our summer seminar, and our summer fellowship for graduate and undergraduatestudents. When we began our journey, our hope was merely to preserve the Legacy of Dietrich

von Hildebrand; but your support has enabled us to build it. A Legacy, we realized, is notcontained in the letter, but in the spirit. A Legacy must live.

We have lived now on the fruits of von Hildebrand’s wisdom for almost eight years. In all that

time, we have been planting the seeds that will surely grow into mature trees, able to fend forthemselves, to provide strength, and encourage growth.

Some of these seeds are already blossoming; these last years have seen a flurry of life and energyaround our organization; and in these next pages, I shall show you the fruits of our labors.

The journey is not over yet, but the attainment of our goals is quickly materializing beforeour eyes. I thank you for your companionship along the way. None of this would be possiblewithout you.

Yours Faithfully

John Henry Crosby Founder & Directo

Dietrich von Hildebrand Legacy Project • 717 King Street, Suite 340 • Alexandria, VA 22314 Office 703-496-7821 • Fax 703-740-8757 • www.hildebrandlegacy.org • [email protected]

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CONFERENCE IN ROME Love, in the Eternal City On May 27-29, 2010, we held an international, academic conferenceon Dietrich von Hildebrand’s The Nature of Love. It was the largestgathering ever convened in honor of von Hildebrand.

In May of 2010, we organized an international conference to

celebrate the recent publication of Dietrich von Hildebrand’s The

Nature of Love. Undoubtedly, this conference has been the major

public achievement of the Legacy Project. Our goal in hosting public

events has always been to balance our work on translation and

publication with the practice of inviting a broadly representative

array of thoughtful readers—philosophers, theologians, artists,

and so forth—to immerse themselves in von Hildebrand’s ideas.

Our goal was realized splendidly, as the conference ultimately

turned out to be the largest gathering ever convened in honor o

Dietrich von Hildebrand, with nearly 300 people from across th

globe participating over the course of three memorable days at th

Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome. Several hundred

more were able to participate in the conference thanks to ou

decision to stream our plenary sessions live via our website.

The conference featured a total of 53 papers, including presentation

by a group of twelve distinguished plenary speakers, notably Greek

Orthodox Metropolitan John Zizioulas and German philosopheand revered friend of Pope Benedict XVI, Prof. Robert Spaemann.

We were also able to feature essays from our first ever graduate

student essay contest. Our goal was to make possible th

participation of gifted students by awarding all-expenses paid trip

to Rome for five students to present their winning papers; but al

of the submissions we received—over forty!—were of such high

quality that we extended a general invitation to all contestants t

deliver their papers. Almost ten students traveled to Rome at thei

own expense, making for nearly fifteen students, whose presenc

added a note of freshness and exuberance.

FEATURES

IN BRIEF

Retreat for Philanthropists

In conjunction with the conference, we also made the decision to

host our first-ever Retreat for Philanthropists, which was designed

to give this special constituency the chance to attend the most

intellectually engaging plenary sessions while participating in a

variety of sessions tailored to their particular outlook as “charitable

investors.” The retreat featured sessions, such as “What is Christian

Personalism?” and “Do Ideas Really Have Consequences?” Eleven

philanthropists participated, demonstrating an encouraging, high-

level commitment to intellectual and cultural renewal.

1) John Henry Crosby and Alice von Hildebrand , 2) Alice von Hildebrand and Cardinal Raymond Burke, 3) Basilica di Sant’Apollinare, 4) Alicevon Hildebrand , 5) Fr. Charles Morerod, OP , 6) John Henry Crosby with Metropolitan John Zizioulas, 7) Dome of St. Peter’s, 8) Michael Wald-stein, Michael Novak, Josef Seifert, 9) John F. Crosby, Josef Seifert, Rocco Buttiglione, 10) John F. Crosby, 11) John Henry Crosby with Kishore Jayabalan from the Acton Institute, 12) Mary Nolan, Robin Crosby, Anne-Christian Heinen, 13) Kathleen van Schaijik and Roberta Green Ahmanson

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Annual Report Dietrich von Hildebrand Legacy Project • 717 King Street, Suite 340 • Alexandria, VA 2231



The conference was not just important because it created a major

international “Hildebrand event” that was widely publicized

before, during, and after, but because we designed the conference

to maximize international exposure. Hence the selection of Rome

for our destination: no other place offered the rich international

convergence of Rome.

To begin with, Pope Benedict XVI is in Rome; the Holy Father has

consistently expressed his high regard for von Hildebrand, and was

delighted that so many had gathered. Rome is also home to the majordicasteries of the Roman Catholic Church, and so we wanted to

introduce our work at the highest levels of the Church’s leadership.

Rome also features one of the most significant concentrations in

the world of graduate level institutions dedicated to philosophy

and theology (there are twenty pontifical universities in Rome),

not to mention the nearly sixty national seminaries for seminarians

studying in Rome. Beyond this, Rome is also home to a vast and

interesting network of expats from around the globe—most (such

as journalists) working in some relation to Church affairs, but many

involved in business and international high society.

In order to increase our impact, we invested significantly in

building a consortium of cosponsoring institutions, for a total o

eleven cosponsors and five financial sponsors. We made a particula

outreach to the Order of Malta, which has its worldwide headquarter

in Rome and is one of the most significant international networks o

leading Catholics. Our greatest distinction no doubt was the forma

patronage of the Pontifical Council for Culture, the Vatican bod

charged with representing the Church in a wide array of cultura

and intellectual initiatives.

The conference was favorably reported on in a variety of new

outlets, including special coverage by Catholic News Agency, Rom

Reports, and EWTN, which taped all twelve plenary speakers for an

upcoming mini-series. We will also be publishing a selection of th

best papers, ensuring that the insights gained in Rome continue to

bear fruit.

The event was a tremendous success on every front, and we ar

already laying the foundation for our next major conference on von

Hildebrand’s Wartime Papers.

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FEATURES

SUMMER FELLOWS Investing in People

In the summer of 2011, we were able to expand the scope of

the Legacy Project by inaugurating a fellowship program for

undergraduate and graduate students. The fellowship has a

threefold aim: first, to give students the chance to immerse

themselves in von Hildebrand’s thought; second, to allow the Legacy

Project to increase our staff in a sustainable way, thus enabling us

to advance several key initiatives; and third, most importantly, to

form an expanding group of young men and women whose future

endeavors, whether professional, artistic, academic, or political, will

be enriched through their encounter with von Hildebrand. With

the fellowship program, we have moved beyond simply promoting

von Hildebrand by promoting his ideas, to promoting his ideas by

investing in young people.

The fellowship program has been a resounding success. In just a

few short months, our fellows contributed immensely to our work,

bringing with them an attitude of deep reverence for Dietrich von

Hildebrand, and a tangible sense of gratitude for the opportunity

to work directly on one of the greatest Catholic legacies of the

twentieth century. We were so impressed with the quality of the

young men, their work, and their overall impact on the Legacy

Project, that we are working to expand the Fellowship Program to

allow for the presence of students on a year-round basis.

ANDREW SEMLER

Andrew Semler is a native of Indiana, raised i

a tradition rich in liberal arts and Catholicism

He has the heart and skills of a fine artist, withthe mind of a philosopher. Andrew originall

went to school for art, but realizing that th

true meaning of art lay in a deeper reality, h

broadened his studies to include philosophy

eventually obtaining degrees in Philosophy

Fine Arts, and Art History.

His work in the arts has enabled Andrew to maintain an emphasi

on the concrete, lived experience of philosophy, and it was thi

that attracted him to von Hildebrand: “For me,” he says, “von

Hildebrand, “stands out against the horizon of philosophica

history as one of the few for whom philosophy and life were

inseparable: he truly lived what he taught to others.” And Andrew

lives it, too, working with meticulous craftsmanship, love, and

humility in all he does. He left his summer with the Legacy Projec

en route to the Franciscan University of Steubenville to enter th

Masters Program in Philosophy.

Andrew helped immensely in organizing our Summer Semina

archiving and preparing lectures and essays from our Rom

conference, and most notably, managing the production of th

forthcoming publication of the proceedings from our conferences

CHRISTOPHER T. HALEY

Christopher T. Haley, as he says it, “hails from

Texas;” and he brought with him a truly unique

set of skills and experiences. He came, through

the study of philosophy and especially through

his love for beauty, into the Catholic Church in

his early twenties. He continues his studies as a

graduate student in philosophy at the University

of Dallas.

In addition to his academic work in philosophy, Christopher has

wide-ranging interests from poetry to politics to pipe-making. Healso possesses an eager and entrepreneurial spirit; Christopher

came to us having co-founded two companies, and as a direct result

of his work with us this summer, has recently founded a third:

Novae Ars Vitae (New Life Art), a non-profit company dedicated to

promoting beautiful art in public spaces. We think von Hildebrand

would be proud!

Christopher worked this summer on preparing our English

translation of von Hildebrand’s Aesthetics. He copy-edited the first

volume and made revisions for philosophical clarity and style.

He also helped us plan our new website. You’ll find more about

Christopher in a few pages.

JUSTIN KEENA

Justin Keena came to us from many places

geographically, but culturally, he came to u

straight from the heart and mind of the Western

tradition: from Athens and Jerusalem. Hi

heroes are Plato, Blessed John Henry Newman

J.R.R. Tolkien, Pope John Paul II, and Dietrich

von Hildebrand.

He began studying philosophy in high school, and continued hi

studies at the Franciscan University of Steubenville. It was there

that he discovered von Hildebrand, an event which precipitated“nothing less than a second awakening to the dignity o

philosophical knowledge and the privilege we have been granted in

knowing its objects.”

After his summer with the Legacy Project, Justin matriculated to

Oxford to read for a Master of Studies in Ancient Philosophy. He i

a member of Keble college, the alma mater of Blessed John Henry

Newman.

In addition to organizing and archiving photos and audio

recordings, Justin was responsible for editing draft translations o

nearly thirty of von Hildebrand’s anti-Nazi essays.




FEATURES

SUMMER SEMINAR Introducing von Hildebrand

Nearly thirty people from all over the country met in Old Town, Alexandria, from July 25-28, for the free seminar, “An Introductionto the Philosophy of Dietrich von Hildebrand.” The seminar wastaught by von Hildebrand’s former student, and Legacy Project co-founder, Prof. John F. Crosby.

In our ongoing efforts to share the

wealth of Dietrich von Hildebrand’s

wisdom, we hosted our first week-

long summer seminar in Old Town

Alexandria: An Introduction to

the Philosophy of Dietrich von

Hildebrand. We had originally

thought to limit the size of the

seminar to only a few people, but as

the interest grew beyond even our

expectations, we had to expand the

size to accommodate participants

from all over the country!

The broad appeal of von Hildebrand was evident in the class makeup;

in attendance were students, professors, lawyers, businessmen and

women, artists, housewives, journalists, and more—all this in a

group of about thirty participants!

The seminar was taught by Professor John F. Crosby, of the

Franciscan University of Steubenville. Professor Crosby was astudent and close personal friend of Dietrich von Hildebrand, who

has since become a leading scholar of his mentor’s work. We were

fortunate to have a special appearance from another friend and

former student of von Hildebrand in Professor Fritz Wenisch of the

University of Rhode Island. The presence of these two exceptional

teachers made the seminar more than just a class, as they informed

and delighted the audience with anecdotes and lessons from their

time with Dietrich von Hildebrand. The presentations were so

personal and engaging that one of the participants even remarked

that, “it was almost like taking a class with von Hildebrand himself!”

By offering the seminar free of charge, we were able to realize ou

goal of engaging people who might only have been curious abou

von Hildebrand before, and helping them become students an

ambassadors of his work. We even made available to the participant

a number of von Hildebrand’s

writings from our archives,

covering a broad range of topics

to showcase the breadth of

von Hildebrand’s appeal. The

seminar, which met for threehours a day, opened with “von

Hildebrand’s Understanding

of Philosophy”; moved to “von

Hildebrand’s Value Philosophy

and Value Ethics”; followed by

“von Hildebrand’s Philosophy

of Love”; and concluded with “von Hildebrand’s Aesthetics,” i

anticipation of its forthcoming publication in English.

The diverse crowd, range of topics, and lively instruction

precipitated animated discussion during the class and in the halls

sometimes lasting hours after the class officially ended. Friendship

were made. Ideas were debated. Eyes were opened. And for man

people, the world became a little more beautiful.

We are very excited to continue hosting these seminars, makin

them a regular part of the Legacy Project. Based on the success o

the inaugural seminar, we are even looking into hosting them in

multiple cities in the future!

IN BRIEF Symposium on Philanthropy

On December 8, 2009, the Legacy Project hosted a symposium for

over 100 distinguished participants on the theme, “The Call of the

Hour: Supporting Ideas that Can Renew the World: A Leader’

Retreat for Donors, Grant-Makers, and Experts in Philanthropy.”

Cosponsors included the Fellowship of Catholic University

Students (FOCUS), the Institute on Religion and Public Life

(publisher of First Things magazine), the Institute for the Study of

Nature, and the Witherspoon Institute.

John Henry Crosby convened the symposium to address the

challenge of winning donors for initiatives dedicated to the study

and promotion of ideas rather than initiatives aimed at tangible

returns traditionally associated with charitable giving. Explaininghis rationale, Mr. Crosby said, “I wanted to test an unusual forum

that brought together donors and grantees under one roof to discus

how to improve the funding of intellectual and cultural initiatives

I was especially concerned with the view I often encounter, namely

that only ideas linked to specific policy proposals are worthy o

funding.”

The day featured presentations by Dana Gioia, Michael Novak, and

Alice von Hildebrand, as well as one panel discussion by leader

of organizations dedicated to promoting ideals, and another by

prominent philanthropists and grant-makers.

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FEATURES

SALON DINNER A Celebration of Beauty On July 27, 2011, our benefactors, Jeff and Mary Petrino, hosted aSalon Dinner at their lovely home in Old Town, Alexandria. Friendsand family met with scholars and students for an intimate discus-sion on von Hildebrand’s essay, “Beauty in the Light of the Redemp-tion.”

We are working for the revitalization of Western culture, and while

our work is especially focused on academics and the academy, we

firmly believe that we must not conclude there. Many of Dietrich

von Hildebrand’s most influential talks

were given at private parties, to friends

and acquaintances. Those who knew von

Hildebrand, such as then young Fr. Joseph

Ratzinger, vividly recall the impact he had

on people personally. There is simply no

substitute for convivial gatherings!

Following the model of von Hildebrand’s

own life, and putting his personalist

philosophy into practice, our benefactors,

Jeff and Mary Petrino, generously hosted

our first ever Salon Dinner to celebrate

and discuss Dietrich von Hildebrand’s wisdom on the importance

of beauty in our lives.

The gathering was intimate, personal, and focused. At the center

of the evening’s discussion was the essay, “Beauty in the Light of th

Redemption,” in which von Hildebrand explains why beauty is not

luxury, but a necessity, especially in the lives of Christians, for whom

it serves as a unique Sursum Corda, drawing the heart to God. W

provided the essay ahead of time in order to facilitate a rich, informediscussion, and one of our summer fellows prepared a short summar

for the younger participants, so everyone could participate.

We thus came together, friends, donors, families, and were able to

foster meaningful discussion about truth and beauty. The youn

people, middle and highschool aged students, especially were inspire

by von Hildebrand’s conversion, which was precipitated by hi

encounter with the Beauty of Holiness i

the Saints and, ultimately, in Jesus Christ

We were encouraged to see how inspired

they were by his heroic life, just the sort o

model that is so sorely lacking for youth

today. Through von Hildebrand’s vision

they were able quickly and clearly to se

what our world was lacking—and what i

needs.

This Salon Dinner has been among th

sweetest fruits of our work; for we wer

able to witness firsthand the blossomin

of a real culture: artistic, intellectual, familial, and faithful. We look

forward to continuing these salons with regularity, bringing scholar

and families together informally to celebrate the life and thought o

one of the twentieth century’s great luminaries.

IN BRIEF

Legacy Project Hosts Breakfast in Honor of Christoph Cardinal Schönborn

On February 4, 2010, the Legacy Project and the International Theological Institute (ITI) honored Christoph Cardinal Schönborn with

a breakfast held at the Army and Navy Club in Washington, DC. Cardinal Schönborn, who since 2006 has been an Honorary Member of

the Legacy Project, was touring New York City and Washington, DC in his capacity as Grand Chancellor of the ITI, a papal theological

faculty dedicated to the study of theology as a unified whole, with a special focus on the theology of marriage and family. The purpose

of the breakfast was to stimulate a conversation on Catholic education between Cardinal Schönborn and the twenty-four invited guests

Cardinal Schönborn opened the discussion with remarks in which he urged the importance of the exchange of strategic ideas between

Christian thought-leaders on both sides of the Atlantic. The ensuing discussion was animated, drawing comments from the majority of thparticipants.

John Henry Crosby, with benefactor, Mary Petrino




IN BRIEF

Legacy Project Establishes New Headquarters

Beginning in October 2010, the Dietrich von Hildebrand Legacy

Project established a new headquarters in the “Old Town” distric

of Alexandria, Virginia. Friends and benefactors of the Project ar

welcome to visit the new offices, which now serve as home to th

growing collection of rare archival documents and photos relating

to the life and legacy of Dietrich von Hildebrand. To visit, please

call 703-496-7821 or email [email protected] to schedul

an appointment.

PUBLISHING New Volumes of Wisdom We have made significant progress towards our goals of producingfine, accessible, English editions of von Hildebrand’s major works.Three new volumes will soon be in print.

This year has seen tremendous progress on several of our key

initiatives. Many of our plans are quickly being realized, and von

Hildebrand will soon be more accessible in English than he has ever

been before.

WARTIME PAPERS

The first major translation nearing completion, one that has taken

many years, is The Wartime Papers. Though well known in his own

time, few today are aware that Dietrich von Hildebrand was one of

the most ferocious enemies of the Nazis. He fled Germany when

Hitler came to power in 1933, and eventually settled in Vienna.

There, von Hildebrand founded a journal that championed and

galvanized the opposition to Hitler, becoming the “enemy number

one of National Socialism.” Von Hildebrand’s battle with Nazism

was so forceful, that even the FBI was tracking his activities.

Von Hildebrand’s essays and memoirs

from this time ( The Wartime Papers ) have

never before been published in English.

But this momentous event shall soon be

upon us.

Thanks to generous benefactors and our

Summer Fellows program, we were able

to put the final polish on our translation

of The Wartime Papers. To ensure that

this work gets the attention it deserves,

we have signed with one of New York’s

most prestigious literary agents. Dietrich von Hildebrand will now

be in the good company of some of the most popular Catholic

authors of our day.

We anticipate that The Wartime Papers will be published in the Fall

of 2012, and excitement is already building! In October, Alice vonHildebrand gave an interview on EWTN about her husband’s heroic

battle against the Nazis, and the response from viewers everywhere

was extremely positive. Anti-Nazi books always have great appeal,

as they highlight, in our culture of blurred moral boundaries, the

stark contrast between good and evil. Upon the publication of The

Wartime Papers, Dietrich von Hildebrand’s name will become more

broadly spoken than it has ever been in America.

AESTHETICS

Our other major initiative in the area of translation highlights

the breadth of von Hildebrand’s achievements. In addition to The

Wartime Papers, we are also nearing completion of our multi-yea

initiative to translate von Hildebrand’s two-volume Aesthetic

another work that has never been published in English.

This masterwork represents the culmination of a life saturated in

beauty. From the ancient hills of Italy and the charming woods o

Munich, to his father’s sculpture studio and the music of Beethoven

Mozart, Schubert, and Bach, and above all, from the supernatura

radiance of God’s Holiness, von Hildebrand always sought ou

beauty, recognizing it as a uniquelpowerful avenue to profound truth

His conversion to Catholicism, even

was most immediately precipitate

by an experience of the beauty o

holiness.

In his Aesthetics, the book h

was writing when he died, vo

Hildebrand distills a lifetime o

reflection on beauty into tw

eminently readable volumes. Volum

I has been translated, and the final revisions are currently unde

way. The translation of Volume II will quickly follow, thanks to

the diligent and proficient work of our Munich-based translator

Fr. Brian McNeil, who has also translated numerous books by Pop

Benedict XVI and Hans Urs von Balthasar, to name only a few.

This is one of the very few works on Aesthetics that will appea

to both an academic and a popular audience. It is a book capable

both of defending and deepening our appreciation of beauty. W

anticipate the publication of both volumes as early as the Sprin

of 2013.

CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS

In addition to publishing von Hildebrand’s own works, the Legac

Project is preparing to make our own important contribution t

published literature about von Hildebrand.

Our last two conferences, at the Franciscan University o

Steubenville (2007) and in Rome (2010), have produced a wealth o

original scholarship on von Hildebrand, and we are only too happ

to share it. We are working with the Franciscan University to mak

the very best of those available to the public in a special collection

to be published in 2013.

PROGRESS REPORTS

A Page from von Hildebrand’s Anti-Nazi Journal

Fr. Brian McNeil, translator of Aesthetics

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WEBSITE An Interactive Legacy We are at work on building a new, interactive website that wilmake von Hildebrand’s philosophy accessible to the whole world.

When von Hildebrand took his fight to the Nazi propagand

machine, he did it with a deep love for truth, and a printing press

the most accessible media of his day. In our day, that media is th

internet, and we are working to harness its power in our own

struggle for truth and beauty.

We are undertaking the creation of a new multimedia website tha

will serve not only as a repository for information, but as a call t

action. The new site will facilitate the study of von Hildebrand, an

foster projects which continue his legacy.

In addition to all of the current features, the new site will offe

a searchable, interactive archive of works on and about von

Hildebrand. We will have an interactive bibliography, an array o

texts by and about von Hildebrand, with a secure online text reader

audio files of conference presentations and lectures, and we wil

even have streaming video.

The site will be the definitive point of departure for all future stud

on von Hildebrand, while facilitating further study by increasing th

availability of resources. Moreover, the free access to high qualit

material will empower people whose lives have been impacted b

von Hildebrand to become ambassadors of his philosophical vision

sharing information, which was once available in limited scopewith friends, family, and colleagues around the world. We hav

experienced first hand that one of the challenges in increasing the

impact of von Hildebrand on our culture has been the difficulty

of obtaining material; with this site, that difficulty will be foreve

obviated, in an instant!

But more than just a first-rate online library, the site will be

center for producing scholars and building community. We will b

featuring rotating essays and articles on von Hildebrand, complet

with a discussion forum, from new and established scholars

Through the new site, we will be able to foster new interest

promote increased scholarship, and stimulate ongoing engagemen

with the philosophy, life, and love, of Dietrich von Hildebrand—all part of our plan to move beyond promoting von Hildebrand’

books, to truly building his legacy.

PROGRESS REPORTS

NEWSLETTERSUp-to-Date Information With all that’s been going on at the Legacy Project, we’ve decided tocreate a monthly email newsletter to keep everyone informed of ouractivity. Newsletters feature interviews, excerpts from new transla-tions, and the first word on new initiatives.

Organizational increases have afforded us the ability to revive

our monthly email newsletters. Subscribers will now have regular

updates about all the exciting initiatives under way at the Legacy

Project.

Our recent focus with the newsletters has been a personalist one:

introducing our collaborators and supporters. Those who rally

around von Hildebrand are an amazingly interesting group, and

we are delighted to showcase their diverse skills and passions,

building fruitful networks and communities in the process. Recent

newsletters have featured our Summer Graduate Student Fellows;

Fr. Brian McNeil, the translator of von Hildebrand’s Aesthetics; and

a greatly valued collaborator, Daniel P. Schmidt, Vice President for

Program at the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation.

As our subscriber base continues to increase, new supporters will

be greeted not with sterile, officious announcements, but with

interesting, exciting people, with friends they never knew, and

ongoing insight into the life of the Legacy Project.

IN BRIEF Legacy Project Advisor Elevated to the Rank of Cardinal

On November 20, 2010, Pope Benedict

XVI created twenty-four new cardinals

at a long-anticipated Consistory held in

St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Among those

elevated to the College of Cardinals was

the Archbishop Emeritus of St. Louis,

Archbishop Raymond L. Burke, who

presently serves as Prefect of the SupremeTribunal of the Apostolic Signatura.

Cardinal Burke has distinguished himself

as one of the most generous and engaged

members of the Legacy Project’s Advisory Council, which he

joined in April 2007, and on which he continues to serve. As an

expression of friendship and esteem, Legacy Project founder, John

Henry Crosby, traveled to Rome to attend the Consistory. Mr.

Crosby was able to present Cardinal Burke with a gift on behalf

of the trustees, advisers, and benefactors of the Legacy Project: a

splendid handcrafted rosary of amethyst made by benefactor, Mrs.

Mary Petrino.

0 Annual Report Dietrich von Hildebrand Legacy Project • 717 King Street, Suite 340 • Alexandria, VA 2231



SPECIAL EXCERPT

AN ONTOLOGY OF LOVE

By Metropolitan John Zizioulas

An excerpt from Metropolitan John Zizioulas’ paper, which hegave at our conference in Rome, and which will be published in ourforthcoming volume of conference proceedings.

I have read The Nature of Love with great interest, and have

finished reading it with the impression that I have read one of the

most important books I have come across in my life. In addition

to the intellectual depth and analytical vigor of his thought, I

have particularly appreciated what he has to say to us on what I

regard as the central theme in any dialogue between theology and

philosophy, namely the concept of the person. Here are the points I

wish to underline, particularly from the perspective of the Eastern

Orthodox tradition:

• The person is “thematic” to all relations involving values of any

kind. All values are centered on the concrete person and acquire

their meaning for us only via the person. This is a major shift in

the way ethics has been presented since Kant, and constitutes

in my view an important step toward a rapprochement between

Eastern and Western personalist thought.

• Love alone brings the human being into full awareness of his

personal existence. This seems to challenge the traditional,

since Descartes at least, and to a great extent also current viewthat personal fulfillment is to be found in the development of

man’s intellectual capacities, and in this respect constitutes a

major critique of today’s culture.

• Love involves a transcendence of the human being from his

self-centeredness toward the other. This transcendence is not

an achievement of the self that results from an encounter with

the other who provokes the self-transcendence. There is a great

deal of discussion in philosophy in our of the importance of

the other with figures such as Buber, Levinas, and others being

the most prominent ones. I have myself tried to contribute to

this discussion from the Greek Patristic perspective. I believe

what von Hildebrand has to say on love is particularly relevantto this discussion, as he tries to work out a balance between

eudemonism and altruism.

• The importance of beauty for love and personhood. Beauty is a

concept that usually is reserved for the realm of aesthetics rather

than ontology. Von Hildebrand’s appreciation of this concept

in relation to personalism reminds us of Dostoevsky’s famous

declaration: “Beauty shall save the world.” It is an idea which

remains still unexplored by theology, and von Hildebrand’s

association of it with the concept of love is most suggestive.

Something of the significance of this association may emerge,

if it is used in the theology of the icon on which the Orthodox

Church lays special emphasis. This is an area which still await

our investigation.

• Finally, I should like to stress the importance of von Hildebrand’

emphasis on the role of the heart in the experience of love

In the Orthodox tradition, going back to the Desert Fathers

the heart is understood as the center of love because it is in

it that obedience is exercised. But in the Western tradition,

dichotomy has at some point occurred between will and heart

and von Hildebrand’s insistence on the role of the heart caserve as a way of liberating ethics from its bondage to the wil

as sheer praxis deprived of any aspect of affectivity.

These are just a few points which reveal the great potential for bot

theology and philosophy to be found in von Hildebrand’s rich an

profound thought. It is a potential also for the theological dialogu

between the two main traditions of Christian theology, the Easter

and the Western, as they try to understand each other more deepl

and in relation to the existential needs of human beings.

We cannot but be profoundly grateful to the Dietrich von

Hildebrand Legacy Project for bringing this potential to ou

attention.

Thank you for reading these comments on the thought of one of th

great thinkers of the Western Church by one whose life has bee

devoted to the rapprochement between West and East.

John Zizioulas is the Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of Pergamon in Greece. A

distinguished theologian, writer, and teacher, Metropolitan John has been on th

forefront of Greek Orthodox and Roman Catholic ecumenical efforts. Among h

many writings are important studies in the theology and philosophy of the person

notably Being as Communion and Communion and Otherness.

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INTRODUCTIONS

ADDITION TO OUR ADVISORY COUNCIL

MANFRED HONECK

We welcomed this year a new and highly distinguished member to our Advisory Council in the

conductor, Manfred Honeck. Manfred has long been a rising star in classical music, and an extremely

bright one, as he is one of only a few first-class musicians who humbly and courageously celebrates thegreat traditions and culture from which classical music arose.

Since 2008, Manfred has served as Music Director of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, where he

has had a great impact on the artistic culture not only of the orchestra, but of the entire city. When no

in Pittsburgh, Manfred lives with his wife and six children in Austria.

“I am tremendously happy to be able to join the Advisory Council of the Hildebrand Legacy Project.

am well aware of Dietrich von Hildebrand’s contributions in philosophy and especially in his religiou

writings, yet I am above all interested in what he has to say about beauty and art. I hope my association with the Project can help to raise

awareness of this little known aspect of von Hildebrand’s legacy. I have high hopes that von Hildebrand’s thought can play an important

role in renewing the understanding for beauty.”

ADDITIONS TO OUR BOARD OF TRUSTEES

ROBERT L. LUDDY

Robert L. Luddy is President and Founder of Captive-Aire Systems, Inc. based in Raleigh, North Carolina. Captive-Aire

founded in 1976, is the leading producer of Commercial Kitchen Ventilations Systems in North America. He started hi

first company, a fiberglass manufacturing firm, while still in college at LaSalle University in Philadelphia, from which

he received a B.S. in financial management. His past civic and political involvement includes serving as chairman of Gov

Jim Hunt’s N.C. Entrepreneurial Development Board and chairman of the N.C. Child Advocacy Council. He is most proud, however, o

his role in founding and sustaining three thriving schools, St. Thomas More Academy, Thales Academy, and Franklin Academy. Each ha

gained national attention for the high educational accomplishments of its students.

DUNCAN C. SAHNER

Duncan C. Sahner works at Abdiel Capital, a value investment partnership in Manhattan. He graduated from Princeton

University with a degree in History. He served from 2006 to 2008 as the assistant director of the Witherspoon Institute

helping to promote the fundamental moral values necessary for the flourishing of a free society. Before coming to

Abdiel, Duncan was the special assistant to investor and PayPal co-founder, Peter Thiel. Duncan serves several othe

organizations as a trustee in addition to the Legacy Project, among them Tumaini Tanzania, a nonprofit he co-founded to provide

scholarships and educational opportunities to students in East Africa.

ANTHONY GUALANDRI

Anthony Gualandri is the Founder of Music Kids Inc. a for-profit educational venture which provides private and

group music instruction in primary and secondary schools around the country. Prior to founding Music Kids, Anthony

served for six years as Director of Special Projects for the Dietrich von Hildebrand Legacy Project, which he wa

instrumental in establishing. Anthony attended the Franciscan University of Steubenville, where he graduated with a

B.A. in Philosophy and English Literature.




LEADERSHIP Board of Trustees

ADDITION TO OUR STAFF

CHRISTOPHER T. HALEY - Director of Communications

So often in our work at the Legacy Project the fruits of our labor exceed our expectations. That was certai

the case with our Summer Fellows program. One of our Fellows, Christopher T. Haley, was able to bri

his talents and experience to bear in such a useful way that we decided to bring him on staff as our neDirector of Communications.

Christopher’s background in philosophy and rhetoric, his love for art, music, and especially for the Catho

faith, to which he is a convert from atheism, have forged in him a spirit well-suited to share in our wo

here at the Legacy Project.

His contributions have already allowed us to increase our overall productivity and to maintain consiste

up-to-date communication with friends and supporters of the Legacy Project—but his most valuab

contribution may be the eager and exuberant spirit he brings to our work.

Advisory Council

HONORARY MEMBERS

Alice von Hildebrand - Widow of Dietrich von Hildebrand

Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger - Former Honorary Member

Christoph Cardinal Schönborn - Archbishop of Vienna

MEMBERS

Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke

Rocco Buttiglione

Ronda Chervin

Louise Cowan

John F. Crosby

Damian P. Fedoryka

Manfred Honeck

Andreas Laun

Michael Novak

Edmund D. Pellegrino, MDKenneth L. Schmitz

Stephen D. Schwarz

Josef Seifert

Madeleine F. Stebbins

Jules van Schaijik

Michael Waldstein

Fritz Wenisch

STAFF

John Henry Crosby - Founder & Director

Kathleen McCann - Managing Editor & Director of Programs

John F. Crosby - Co-founder & General Editor Christopher T. Haley - Director of Communications

TRUSTEES

Anthony Gualandri

James Hostetler

Stephen Klimczuk

Ryan K. Lovett

Robert L. Luddy

Patricia C. Lynch

Michael J. Miller

Kevin O’Scannlain

Duncan C. SahnerCarrie R. Stibora

Gregory C. Woodward

HONORARY TRUSTEE

Frank J. Hanna III

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THE NEXT CHAPTERLooking to the Future

Inevitably, as we approach the completion of our goals, the questio

of the Legacy Project’s future looms large before us. I have for year

been in conversation with trustees, donors, and many partners o

the Legacy Project to consider the best way to ensure that the work

we have accomplished does not fade. There is, I can confidently

say, a strong sense that the Legacy Project provides a unique and

necessary voice in our time, and that, with a broader platform, w

could do a great deal more good.

As the completion of the translations comes into view, I wish tmake a twofold pledge. First, even as we discern our future, th

Legacy Project will finish what it was created to do, namely, to

make the major works of von Hildebrand available in English, th

international language of our time. To reach this goal by the en

of 2015 will require the continuing generous support of all ou

benefactors; indeed, it will require even more support than in th

past, since this work will require more translators, editors, an

collaborators than in any year to date.

Second, I pledge that our promotion of von Hildebrand shall neve

be abandoned. If we do establish a larger successor institution

then the Legacy Project will become its flagship division. If we d

not ultimately launch a new venture, then the Legacy Project wil

remain. Even as the final translations are published, we will continu

to maintain our website, to keep the works of von Hildebrand in

print, and to support and encourage scholarship on von Hildebrand

We have been, and will continue to be, working diligently for th

renewal of Western Culture. As we have increased the scope of ou

efforts, our work at the Legacy Project has not so much expanded , a

it has deepened . We have been able, through your support, to direc

our efforts to the roots of our culture, and to affect real, lasting

substantive transformation.

I thank you again for you support, and I hope you will join us threst of the way, through 2015—and, God willing, beyond.

John Henry Crosb

Founder & Directo

The work that we have done, and

the support it has engendered has

opened up for us entirely new vistas;

yet we have not lost sight of our

original aims.

We set out to translate and to

publish. And indeed, to date, we have

published the Dietrich von Hildebrand

LifeGuide, the first English language

anthology of his work; we have

republished von Hildebrand’s

penetrating classic, The Heart; and

our most recent publication, The

Nature of Love, is gaining new readers all the time. Moreover, our

conference in Rome celebrating this most recent publication was

the largest gathering ever convened in honor of von Hildebrand.

The Wartime Papers, comprising von Hildebrand’s anti-Nazi essays

and the memoirs in which he documented his battle with Hitler,

will be published in 2012, and we are planning a major conference

to engage the international community. This is sure to be the

most broadly appealing of von Hildebrand’s texts ever published

in English, and we are working with one of New York’s premier

literary agents to ensure that it gets the publicity it deserves.

In 2013, we will be ready to publish von Hildebrand’s magnum

opus, the tremendous, two-volume Aesthetics, a rare and timeless

philosophical work that addresses both academic and popular

audiences. To celebrate its publication, we plan to host smallregional symposia, in New York City, Los Angeles, London, Vienna,

and Rome. Through these gatherings, we hope to set the stage for an

international conference in Vienna or Florence.

Yet even with so much progress, we still have a great ways to go

before we can say, “job well done.” Four major works of von

Hildebrand still remain to be translated, including his great treatise

on social thought, The Metaphysics of Community. To this end, we

have announced a “translator search” to identify as many as four

top translators whom we will commission to translate the four final

works. Our daring goal is to complete the translations by the end

of 2015.

Between now and the completion of the translations, we will

continue to foster von Hildebrand’s Legacy through the new

website, which will be an enduring, international locus of von

Hildebrand studies; we will participate in regular salon dinners

to engage our communities; facilitate at least one yearly summer

seminar, and host a fellowship program that will keep new graduate

students coming in year-round. In sum, we will continue laying the

foundation for a future in which the Legacy Project will cease to be

a project, and von Hildebrand’s Legacy will flourish on its own. To

that end, we are looking to the long-term future, and preparing von

Hildebrand’s manuscripts and memorabilia for conservation and

public accessibility.




Beauty is not only a central source of joy. It also possesses a great significance for the development of the personality, especially in an ethical sense. Platowrites: “At the sight of beauty, the soul grows wings.” Genuine beauty liberatesus in many ways from the force of gravity, drawing us out of the dull captivityof daily life. At the sight of the truly beautiful, we are freed from the tensionthat urges us on towards some immediate practical goal. We become contem-

plative; and this is immensely valuable. We expand, and even our soul itself becomes more beautiful when beauty comes to meet us, takes hold of us, and

fires us with enthusiasm. It lifts us up above all that is base and common. It

opens our eyes to the baseness, impurity, and wickedness of many things. Ernst Hello makes a very profound point when he says: “The mediocre man has onlyone passion, namely hatred of the beautiful.” Beauty is the archenemy of medi-ocrity.

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hildebrand project annual report 2011

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