Calendar Class of August 1, 2025
- Andrea Kirk Assaf
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
A Carpe Diem Snapshot:
One of Onekama's best assets is the orientation of its lake, Portage, that runs in an East-West direction, providing glorious sunrises and stunning sunsets. We arrived to this view last night and caught up with old friends at this exact moment when the sun was at its loveliest. Viewing it, we all commented on how impossible it was to capture the quality of the colors in a photo, regardless of the quality of the camera (this was taken with my brand new phone, I was hoping for a better picture to post than this, but at least I caught the scene at the right moment!). This particular lake has a really colorful history to it, that changed the location of the town and the lives of all its inhabitants. You can read about that in the historical fiction novel The Cut. We are here for the annual festival, Onekama Days, and tomorrow I get to meet the author of this book!
Liturgical: Friday of the 17th Week in Ordinary Time
Where then did this man get all this?” And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “Prophets are not without honor except in their own country and in their own house.” And he did not do many deeds of power there, because of their unbelief.
Matthew 13:54-58
Sanctoral: Alphonsus Liguori (September 27, 1696 – August 1, 1787)
At 71, Alphonsus was afflicted with rheumatic pains which left incurable bending of his neck. Until it was straightened a little, the pressure of his chin caused a raw wound on his chest. He suffered a final 18 months of “dark night” scruples, fears, temptations against every article of faith and every virtue, interspersed with intervals of light and relief, when ecstasies were frequent.
Alphonsus is best known for his moral theology, but he also wrote well in the field of spiritual and dogmatic theology. His Glories of Mary is one of the great works on that subject, and his book Visits to the Blessed Sacrament went through 40 editions in his lifetime, greatly influencing the practice of this devotion in the Church.
Saint Alphonsus Liguori is the Patron Saint of Theologians and Vocations. He composed many beautiful poems and lilting, Neapolitan style hymns during his lifetime, including the most popular Christmas carol in Italy, "Tu Scendi dalle Stelle." Here's an article on the musical saints.
August was named after a major figure of the ancient Roman World, Augustus Caesar (63 B.C.–A.D. 14). He was the first Roman emperor (though he never claimed the title) and the grandnephew of the previous ruler, Julius Caesar (who named July after himself).
August is the 8th month of the year in today’s Gregorian calendar, but it was the sixth month (Sextilus) of the year in Roman times. Augustus had the month of Sextilius renamed after himself in 8 B.C. This was the month of some of his greatest military victories.
This marks the day in 1834 when the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833 came into effect, abolishing slavery in the British Empire. It has been celebrated by various Canadian communities, especially in the province of Ontario, as well as by several other former Commonwealth countries, for years. The Canadian government first officially recognized this as a national observance in 2021, although it is not on the statutory list of holidays (not a public holiday).
Natural: Lammas Day
This observance, traditionally observed on August 1, marked the beginning of the harvest, and especially celebrated the first wheat crop, or that of corn. It derives from the ancient English festival the Gule of August, a pagan dedication of the first fruits that the early English church later converted to Christian usage. On Lammas Day, loaves of bread were baked from the first-ripened grain and brought to the churches to be consecrated. The word “lammas” comes from the Old English hlaf, loaf,” and maesse, “mass” or “feast.” Through the centuries, “loaf-mass” became corrupted in spelling and pronunciation to Lammas. To the Celts, this was Lughnasaid, the feast of the wedding of the Sun god and the Earth goddess, and also a harvest festival. In Ireland, baskets of blueberries are still offered to a sweetheart in commemoration of the original fertility festival. In Scotland, the Lammastide fairs became famous for trial marriages that could be ended without question after a year. Much lore is associated with this day, including this proverb: After Lammas Day, corn ripens as much by night as by day.”
Italian: Pendolare (commuter / to commute)
Quote: "Acquire the habit of speaking to God as if you were alone with Him, familiarly and with confidence and love, as to the dearest and most loving of friends. Speak to Him often of your business, your plans, your troubles, your fears — of everything that concerns you. Converse with Him confidently and frankly; for God is not wont to speak to a soul that does not speak to Him."
--St. Alphonsus Liguori
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