Who is Fleckinstein?

"Fleckinstein" is often a Jewish name which pleases this philo-semetic, gentile Catholic blog.

More to the point: the Fleckinstein Philosophy Reading room in Maryknoll College Seminary, Glen Ellyn Illinois, was named to honor Fr. Norbert Fleckinstein, esteemed Maryknoller, professor of philosophy and dean, who died at an early age in a drowning accident, apparently trying to rescue his brother, also a priest, in 1962. It was a spacious, sunny, bright area with walls lined with dusty philosophy journals. In 1965-9 no one ever entered the place...no one...except for me. It was like I was Robinson Crusoe on his island or a hermit alone and hidden up on the holy mountain. I spent countless euphoric hours there, safely sequestered in semi-monastic bliss from the sex-drugs-rock-and-roll mania of the 60s. In comforting solitude, infatuated with ideas, I read philosophy, culture, theology, psychology and literature. For example, in my junior year I studied medieval culture and 19th century philosophy; under the influence of Gilson, Maritain and others I came to see the infinite superiority of Thomas and the 13th century synthesis over the disoriented moderns like Hegel, Marx, Nietzche, and Schiermacher. Happiness is...the Fleckinstein Reading Room! By senior year my nickname was Fleckinstein. I have always liked it. So when I started a blog, that name was an obvious choice.

Fleckinstein is a passionate exercise in the Truth: shameslessly binary; good/bad, true/false, beautiful/good. It is serious: this is not whiffle ball, it is hardball. This is not inclusive, accompanying, accomadating, sentimenal, lukewarm, bourgeois, Rahnerian Catholic Lite. Fleckinstein is not personal, pastoral, empathetic, kind or sensitive to feelings. It is just about the Truth. This is high octane, red meat, Uber-Catholicism. It is a masculine, paternal voice. It is confident, clear and authoritative because it stands upon a firm, foundational Tradition...the take-no-prisioners Tradition of St. Paul, Athanasius against the Arians, Dominic against the Albigensians, Ignatius against the Protestants. It is not for those with sensitive feelings. That you are reading this now, dear reader, makes you part of a very small elite (maybe 6 to 10).

Fleckinstein is the alter-ego of a double life. He is best understood in the tradition of Zorro, Batman or Spiderman: by day a genial, easy-going, mild mannered boarding home director who enjoys his walks, pious devotions and large family and friends. At night, at the keyboard, he transforms in a Culture Warrior: fierce, merciless, determined, zealous! Exultant in the True, the Good, the Beautiful! Contemptuous of the false/bad/ugly!

Fleckinstein is not for everyone...that is for sure. But Fleckinstein is grateful to you, dear Reader, for the precious and rare gift of your attention!