Fr. Wilder's last class

Meet Fr. Wilder, professor of ethics, logic, theology, philosophy at the Angelicum.

A professor of the old school, he teaches Aristotle and St. Thomas in a clear, methodical fashion, using the same handwritten for decades. And he uses the same examples from year to year, and from class to class. Almost every pontifical university student in Rome knows of Fr. Wilder, and certainly every student from the last several years at the Angelicum. And he is known for his 10-minute exams, where he covers a tremendous amount of information.
But enough with the introduction. Now for the conclusion. Unbeknownst to the good father, many of us former students, and his current boss were invited to sneak in to his lecture on Friday--the last of the year. When Fr. Wilder walked in, he stopped, looked around, and asked if he was in the right room, before he opened with his usual prayer. Then a student came to the front of the room and confessed that the announcement she had asked permission to make was not really for the students, but for him. She asked him to sit down for a bit, as he always stands in class, and asked to examine him in no more than 10 minutes. We laughed. He seemed astounded, and silently sat down. Claire Therese (the student) pulled out a laptop and asked him the first question, "Identify this composer" as she played some beautiful music. (Inside joke--Bach's music often comes up as an example of simple goodness and beauty in his classes.) Next question, "Is it true that this is your last year at the Angelicum?" "Yes." "Is it true that this is your last lecture?" "Yes." "How long have you been teaching at the Angelicum?" "I think it has been 37 years now." "On behalf of all your students and your colleagues, we would like to offer you a standing ovation." And we clapped and clapped. Fr. Wilder got teary-eyed.

Claire Therese went on to apologize for not being able to present him with a trip to his favorite lake, but asked his leave to invite in someone to present that which we could. In walked Sr. Marie Clemence with a name-tag identifying her as Barbara (think logic, and first figure syllogisms) carrying a labeled "big bowl of spaghetti" (which Fr. Wilder uses as an example quite frequently in various subjects he has taught). He started to laugh a bit at that point. We clapped. Then Claire Therese asked him if in any of years of teaching and presenting the example of the unlikelihood of a ravenous gorilla outside the door, if he ever checked. "No, but I only said it was reasonably sure--I never said it was impossible." "I think you should check now." Fr. Wilder got up and opened the door, and jumped back as a gorilla walked in the room, gave him a hug, and posed with him for pictures.

When Elizabeth removed her mask, Fr. Wilder exclaimed, "I was right! This isn't a gorilla!" With that we all posed with Father for a picture.

And then we impostors left, while Fr. Wilder said sadly, "you weren't all here for the lecture, then?"

Happy retirement, Fr. Wilder!