Calendar Class of April 23, 2025

A Carpe Diem Snapshot:

This may seem like a very modest Carpe Diem moment following on recent dramatic days in Rome, but it was a more "seized" moment, as it happened during an escape to nature for some respite from the busyness of these days. And it was certainly spontaneous. As I was exiting Villa Pamphili this morning, I literally stopped to smell the flowers I had discovered on the ground. Then I noticed this intrepid little inch worm moving along at a surprisingly quick rate. I pulled out my phone and recorded his journey to the edge of the stump, only to witness his tragic fall. I picked him up and put him back by the flowers, but there was no movement. After I caught up on some emails on my phone, I glanced back up and was surprised to see that my little green friend had disappeared. Fortunately, I located him after a quick search of the ground, and he was moving again! It seems that he wanted to keep his tiny resurrection moment hidden from my inquisitive gaze. Even inchworms value their mystery.

Liturgical: Wednesday of the Octave of Easter

“Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight.

Luke 24:13-35

Sanctoral: George (c. 280 – April 23, 303)

Human nature seems to crave more than cold historical data. Americans have Washington and Lincoln, but we somehow need Paul Bunyan too. The life of Saint Francis of Assisi is inspiring enough, but for centuries the Italians have found his spirit in the legends of the Fioretti too. Santa Claus is the popular extension of the spirit of Saint Nicholas. The legends about Saint George are part of this yearning. Both fact and legend are human ways of illumining the mysterious truth about the One who alone is holy.

Saint George is the Patron Saint of Boy Scouts, England, Germany, Portugal, Soldiers

Human: Presumed birth AND death of William Shakespeare (such a drama king!) AND the death day of Miguel Cervantes. Here's an article on what they had in common.

Roman history on this day:

• Vinalia was celebrated – festival of wine and gardens that took place in honor of Jupiter and Venus. That day, the so-called the first Vinalia (Vinalia prima, also called Vinalia urbana) took place, which had thanksgiving character for the good harvests last year and praying for abundant harvest this year.

• 43 BC – as a result of wounds sustained in the battle of Forum Gallorum against Mark Antony, consul Gaius Vibius Pansa Caetronianus died. Although Pansa supported Julius Caesar, after his death he was for maintaining the Republic. In his last hours, Pansa advised young Gaius Octavian not to believe in Cicero and the Senate, who would turn against him when there was an oppurtunity. Panda had a magnificent funeral.

Natural: Fiddlehead Fern—An Architectural Marvel

Easter Sunday Edition--What Do Ferns, the Great Pyramid of Giza, and Fibonacci Numbers Have in Common?

Italian: Siccome (because / given that / since)

Quote: "Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none." - Shakespeare, All's Well That Ends Well, 1:2