A Carpe Diem Snapshot: Carpe Joseph! I caught this hilarious photo at grill night at Villa Magnolia yesterday, on the eve of Joseph's birthday. It's just asking for a funny caption. " Niente paparazzi, per favore, e tenete le fan dietro la barriera ." Happy 18th birthday, Joe! Liturgical: Friday of the 28th Week of Ordinary Time Luke 12:1-7 Meanwhile, when the crowd had gathered by the thousands, so that they trampled on one another, he began to speak first to his disciples:

A Carpe Diem Snapshot : Today we had a stunning Carpe Diem surprise during our Art and Architecture class on the Aventine hill when we were given a spontaneous tour of the Knights of Malta property, the Villa del Priorato di Malta, by our friend, Michael Grace , a member of the Sovereign Council of the Order here in Rome. We not only saw the famous view of the dome of St. Peter's Basilica that is sought out by tourists through the keyhole, but we were also able to explor

A Carpe Diem Snapshot: Carpe Roma Aeterna! The ladies of the Fall 2025 Art and Architecture class began at the top of the Caput Mundi yesterday, the Capitoline hill. The incredible sweep of history this view provides is worth the trip to Rome alone. Now we will spend the next few months deciphering its significance. Liturgical: Memorial of St. Teresa of Jesus , Virgin and Doctor of the Church Do you imagine, whoever you are, that when you judge those who do such things and ye

A Carpe Diem Snapshot: Carpe Solis! Witnessing a sunrise over Rome is always a Carpe Diem moment and sets the whole day off on a brighter note, thanks to the euphoric effect of fresh morning air, empty streets, and the excitement of catching the sixty seconds of the sun's emergence over the cityscape. This morning the sun didn't reveal itself until 7:21, very late indeed, as we are still in "summer time" until October 26, when we will "fall back" an hour thanks to the end of

A Carpe Diem Snapshot: Carpe Octobris! October is in full swing here in Rome, with harvest festivals happening all throughout the surrounding region. This week I decided to try something new and provide a preview of the week ahead on Sunday, highlighting any connections to Rome. As we well know that all roads lead to Rome, that wasn't a difficult task. Buona settimana! Liturgical: Monday of the 28th Week in Ordinary Time "...Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have receive

A Carpe Diem Snapshot : Curious children have the capacity to notice all the interesting details that most of us might briefly observe...

A Carpe Diem Snapshot: There is nothing like hearing and watching the ebb and flow of the ocean tide to soothe the mind, body, and soul....

A Carpe Diem Snapshot : Just as every stone holds a story in Rome, even more so does every great villa, as well as the ghosts of...

A Carpe Diem Snapshot : Carpere ambulationem! Seize the stroll! This school year we've begun a new weekly tradition of a Nature Study...

A Carpe Diem Snapshot: In Rome, our feet trod over a million stories each day. On the first day of Art and Architecture class this...

A Carpe Diem Snapshot : Happy Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary! In Rome there is a special Marian image venerated at the Domus Australia,...

A Carpe Diem Snapshot: Carpe canem! Why do kids and puppies always grow up faster than we adults can wrap our minds around the changes?...

A Carpe Diem Snapshot: “Great love can change small things into great ones, and it is only love which lends value to our actions.” Carpe...

A Carpe Diem Snapshot: Splendorem Missae capere! Seize the splendor of the Mass! We were privileged to attend the Mass of Ordination of...

A Carpe Diem Snapshot : Carpe Roma! We officially began the semester this morning on the Janiculum hill that overlooks the Caput...

A Carpe Diem Snapshot : It's a full house at Villa Magnolia this semester with 42 students from Ave Maria University! We hit the ground...

A Carpe Diem Snapshot : Carpe cappuccino! Yes, indeed, we have arrived and consumed our obligatory cappuccino and cornetto straight...

A Carpe Diem Snapshot : Can you guess by this snapshot taken today that we are Romeward bound? This industrious sister was working away...

A Carpe Diem Snapshot : Happy Michaelmas Day! Traditionally this was a type of thanksgiving holiday during the end of the harvest and...

A Carpe Diem Snapshot: Carpe Lacus! We seized the moment of warmer than usual temperatures and went out on the water yesterday evening....