LifeCraft Read-Alouds

This light-hearted essay penned in 1910 offers a perspective on cheese and the whole realm of eating prior to the industrialization of food production.

This is a classic Belloc essay that intertwines the mundane and the transcendent, finding in everyday life echoes of our ultimate human destiny.

A classic account of a man's first love from one of Belloc’s best novels.

This is a meditative and deeply sensitive retelling of one of the Lord’s most moving miracles.

A short excerpt from the classic by Robert Louis Stevenson. Here is a thirteen year old boy at his best, who keeps his word come what may.

A short excerpt from The Betrothed , the classic Italian novel by Alessandro Manzoni. This is a moving account of the encounter of the holy prelate (based on the real nephew of St. Charles) with the notorious Unnamed outlaw—a striking instance of repentance and the heart of a true pastor.

This version of this wonderful short story from France is retold by Ruth Sawyer in The Way of the Storyteller . A story of faith for the whole family.

This is a bracing and beautiful story of faith from the mines of Russia.

This short excerpt from a twentieth century French Dominican gives a profound new perspective on life. Seeing oneself as part of a divinely ordained symphony reveals both the agony and the incomparable glory of human life.

This is one of the most memorable and poignant encounters in this beloved book—the most translated book ever, outside of the Bible. It offers insights into human nature, friendship, and life in the modern world.

This is a striking and moving account of an age-old Magyar wedding tradition. The Singing Tree is the sequel to The Good Master , both classic books about tradition-rich rural life in early twentieth century Hungary.

This beautiful short story from the French countryside is sure to provoke much reflection and conversation. One of the most powerful of Belloc’s stories.

This is the classic account of one of the greatest feats of military bravery in the annals of history. It never fails to amaze.

Written by one of the great American short story authors, this is a classic comedy about a kidnapping that goes awry. Perfect for an all-ages listen.

The Cave is the most memorable and influential image in the history of philosophy. This excerpt from Plato’s Republic is worth returning to again and again to savor the layers of meaning in this image that takes us to the heart of the human drama.

This inspiring chapter from a spiritual classic uses the Old Testament book of Wisdom to highlight the beauty of Eternal Wisdom and point to how He comes to those who fittingly seek Him.

Among the greatest military geniuses in history, Stonewall Jackson was a man whose private life rewards a closer look. This excerpt provides a heartwarming and uplifting window into his firm convictions and steady practices about things that mattered most to him.

In this little gem Thomistic philosopher Josef Pieper sorts out with characteristic clarity the three concepts that express the main contours of truly human life. And in doing so, he offers us a foundation for real self-examination and improvement.

In this classic essay, Josef Pieper offers a powerful warning (already some 70 years ago!) that common practices are subtly but surely threatening our very humanity, by blinding us to the world around us.

One of the most famous speeches in the history of western civilization, this classic is a masterpiece of rhetoric that paints an unforgettable portrait of the ancient city of Athens, and the men who died in her defense.

In this remarkable excerpt, Josef Pieper explains that what Sunday and Easter celebrate not only underlies all other feasts but should permeate every moment of every day.

Music, whether we realize it or not, “plays a role in man’s formation and perfection, as contribution or hindrance.” So argues the great philosopher Josef Pieper in articulating the wisdom of the ages about the power of music for good or ill. This brief, hard-hitting essay will change how you think about music, the mysterious reality entrusted to man by the divine.

A master story-teller offers another delightful sketch of rural western Ireland when life was more simple but human interaction as rich and entertaining as ever.

One of the most revered Confederate cavalrymen, Turner Ashby was Stonewall Jackson’s right hand in the world famous Valley Campaign. This excerpt offers an unforgettable sketch of the Shenandoah Valley and of Ashby’s knight-like service and death.

The most remarkable fictional pirate of all time finds his match in the indomitable Capt Smollett. This short chapter called ‘The Embassy’ is itself a treasure in this legendary yet subtle tale of manly character and coming of age.