We are so excited for the upcoming year of AMAZING books and discussion! In honor of our second year, it is our delight to present Tyler’s first video! He discusses his favorite poem—Wordsworth’s “The Happy Warrior—analyzed in light of Patrick O’Brian’s Master and Commander, our August 2026 Book of the Month. Tyler explores how both these works are full of rich themes on attitude, leadership, self-mastery, and fatherhood, seen through the Catholic lens. These are beautiful works, and we can’t wait to read them with you. We hope you love this video and all the inspiring, beautiful art we get to enjoy in 2026!
In Patrick O'Brian's Master and Commander, Captain Jack Aubrey constantly references Admiral Nelson—a man who embodied duty, joy, and self-mastery even in the face of death. After Nelson died at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, William Wordsworth wrote "The Happy Warrior" to capture what made him great.
This 200 year old poem about naval warfare has everything to do with being a husband and a father today!
In this video, I explore three key themes:
• How I had to learn to lead my own family (with the right attitude)
• What Christ teaches us about self-mastery
• How to set the tone as the captain of your home
Christ is the ultimate Happy Warrior, and Ephesians 5 calls us to imitate His self-gift. This isn't about perfection—it's about grace, duty, and becoming the captain your family needs.
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📖 READ THE FULL POEM:
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/45512/character-of-the-happy-warrior
📚 BOOKS MENTIONED:
• Master and Commander by Patrick O'Brian
• The Holy Bible (Ephesians 5:25, Matthew 14:13-14, Matthew 8, Luke 23)
📖 RESOURCES:
Full text of Wordsworth's "The Happy Warrior": [link above]
Historical context on Admiral Nelson: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Horatio-Nelson
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