Category: Announcments

He fought for himself.

He fought for his country.

He fought for acceptance.

As the son of an Italian count, Cavalry Colonel Louis Palma di Cesnola had more military experience than most of the leading officers in the Civil War. Objecting to his general’s orders, di Cesnola led his men into battle, earning himself a Medal of Honor.

When di Cesnola was captured and thrown into the notorious Libby Prison, he was forced to examine his life decisions. Upon release, di Cesnola was torn between his desire to return to war or to his wife and daughter—a battle of his heart and his duty.  

Once the war ended, di Cesnola became America’s consul for archaeological excavators, and eventually became the first director of the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art. With every step of success, di Cesnola was forced to prove himself in a country that emphatically disapproved of immigrants. His plight forged a path of national acceptance of Italian-Americans throughout the entire country.

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Entering the world with a burning desire for knowledge, Thomas Aquinas set out on a quest for truth that forced him into captivity. But his thirst for truth never wavered. 

Known today among many as the most brilliant light of the Church, Aquinas was a Catholic priest and a Doctor of the Church. His synthesis of Aristotle’s philosophy with Christianity significantly influenced Western thought and solidified his legacy as one of the greatest philosophers of the Western world.   

Over his lifetime, Aquinas wrote many Eucharistic hymns, some of which are to this day included in the Church’s liturgy.  His theological insight and natural reason make him an ideal model teacher for those pursuing Catholic priesthood. 

Today, Saint Thomas is often depicted with a writing quill or an open book, proving that the search for knowledge and truth forever lives within his name.

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Education: the most valuable gift.

A natural-born Italian, Enrico Fermi is best known for facilitating the creation of the atomic bomb. But that was just a small aspect of Fermi’s talents and accomplishments. Fermi was a teacher to the core—anyone who crossed his path learned something from him.

With his passion for education and his zest for knowledge, the world was Fermi’s classroom. His greatest gifts granted him the highest esteem from his colleagues and deepest love from his family. Fermi’s Gifts spans two countries and transcends generations of lessons that prove invaluable to many. His legacy continues to inspire and motivate—a gift that never stops giving.

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The rule of power in Europe is changing… 

Born in Italy at the tumultuous end of France’s influence in Europe, Giuseppe Verdi went on to become the world’s most recognizable name in opera. 

Set against the rise of the Italian states in the middle of the nineteenth century, The Faithful depicts an artist bedeviled by his role not just as a composer, but as an unassuming icon of the Italian Unification and the birth of modern Italy. 

Through chance encounters in gilded Milanese salons and the hushed politics of the Italian opera, we experience the struggles of a man conflicted by his role as an artist and by his commitment to a country yearning for independence.

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Also from the Mentoris Project

Want to use these books in your classroom? Contact the Mentoris Project!`