By Dr. Robert Hickson

Theme: Concerning Heroes and Heroines

Title: Respect for Roots, Vanishing Intimacies, and the Heroism of Accepted Loneliness: Hilaire Belloc’s The Four Men (1912) and His Friendship with Father McNabb

Dr. Hickson never fails to uncover the deeper lessons found in a seemingly simple Gospel account, such as relating Our Lord’s words to Nathanael to His particular providence as the omniscient God: “Before Philip called thee, I saw you under the fig tree.” The heart of Dr. Hickson’s talk was Hilaire Belloc’s friendship and admiration for the Dominican preacher and writer, Father Vincent McNabb. Belloc’s eulogy of the holy friar was most evocative. Hence he cites them both, priest and layman, as genuine heroes of the Faith. Hickson’s talk was especially delightful when he vested himself in the character portrayals of Belloc’s hilarious farago (medley) The Four Men.

From 2012 SBC Conference

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