Festival as a Way of Life: Father Nathan Carr on Joy, Time, and Christian Formation

What would it mean to practice festival at home, in school, and in church? In this episode of Forged, Brian Williams speaks with Father Nathan Carr about the posture and practice of festival as a way of living with joy, gratitude, and holy attention in the midst of ordinary time. Drawing from his work as priest, headmaster, husband, father, and author of Festive School, Carr reflects on Christian calendars, prayer books, school feasts, household rituals, and the slow formation of children who learn not merely to observe the good, but to receive and name it. This conversation is an invitation to recover joy as discipline, delight as formation, and celebration as a serious part of Christian life. Together, Brian and Father Carr consider how homes, schools, and churches can resist anxiety, urgency, cynicism, and suspicion by learning to inhabit time differently. From Benedictine hours and red-letter feast days to hidden Wise Men during Advent and children serving in the liturgy, this episode explores the small, concrete practices that teach us to see the world as gift. About the Guest Father Nathan Carr serves as Vicar and Priest-in-Charge of St. John’s Episcopal Oklahoma City, Missioner for Strategic Development for the Diocese and Bishop, and Headmaster of The Academy—an 1100-student Christian School of Classics with 3 campuses throughout the OK metro. He and his wife Sarah co-own Commonplace Books OKC, chase six children around day and night (one of whom is now married!), and are now willing to take naps in the middle of the day. Nathan is author of Festive School, watches far too many car repair shows in his spare time, and serves as Chairman of the Ralston College Board of Governors. Guest Links The Academy | https://theacademyok.org Commonplace Books OKC | https://commonplacebooksokc.com/ Festive School | https://classicalacademicpress.com/pr... Student Prayer Book | https://classicalacademicpress.com/pr... Connect with the Humanitas Institute Humanitas Institute | https://humanitasinstitute.org X | https://x.com/HIClassicalEd Instagram |   / humanitas_institute   TikTok |   / humanitas_institute   Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?... YouTube |    / @thehumanitasinstitute