Calendar Class of August 29, 2025

A Carpe Diem Snapshot:

The soft color palette of Northern Michigan was on full display yesterday at the Arcadia Marsh Nature Preserve (see the Natural Cycle lesson below). The combination of colors, sandy shorelines, cooler temperatures, massive bodies of water, and green forests is what makes this corner of the planet so magical. The temperamental, cold morning weather made my hobbit daughters want to nest indoors all day but, knowing they would love the great outdoors once they were forced to go out in it, I just kept repeating "We don't come to this natural paradise to sit indoors." As predicted, once they entered the Marsh they rediscovered their naturalist's attitude and enthusiasm for the unique flora and fauna that abound there. Even comfort-loving Bilbo Baggins let his curiosity and sense of adventure and duty lead him out of his hobbit hole, and never regretted the transformational journey that came from it.

Liturgical: Friday of the 21st Week of Ordinary Time

Readings for the Memorial of the Passion of Saint John the Baptist

This is the will of God, your holiness:

that you refrain from immorality,

that each of you know how to acquire a wife for himself in holiness and honor, not in lustful passion as do the Gentiles who do not know God;

not to take advantage of or exploit a brother or sister in this matter,

for the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you before and solemnly affirmed. For God did not call us to impurity but to holiness.

Therefore, whoever disregards this,

disregards not a human being but God, who also gives his Holy Spirit to you.

1 Thessalonians 4:1-8

The Story of the Martyrdom of Saint John the Baptist

Sanctoral: St. Sabina (d. 126 A.D.) was a wealthy Roman noblewoman, a widow and the daughter of Herod Metallarius. She was converted to Christianity by her virtuous female slave, St. Serapia, a devout Christian from Antioch who entered into voluntary slavery with Sabina after forsaking marriage and consecrating herself to Christ. Following her conversion, St. Sabina's home became a secret meeting place for Christians where the sacraments were celebrated. St. Serapia was discovered to be a Christian and was burned alive and beheaded. St. Sabina recovered Serapia's body and buried it in a tomb. Within the same year St. Sabina was also killed for her faith and buried alongside Serapia. After Christianity was legalized in the 5th century, a basilica was built over St. Sabina's home on Aventine Hill. Originally dedicated to both saints, it is known today as Santa Sabina, one of Rome's most ancient churches.

Human: Birthday of John Locke (philosopher) – 1632, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. (author) – 1809, Ingrid Bergman (actress) – 1915

Death day of Brigham Young (Mormon leader) – 1877, Earl Grey (Canadian Governor General 1904 - 1911) – 1917, William Archibald Spooner (known for verbal inversions called spoonerisms) – 1930, Ingrid Bergman (actress) – 1982

Natural: Hurricane Katrina devastated the coastal regions of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. More than 1,800 lives were lost – 2005. The state of the levees after 20 years: article here.

Arcadia Marsh Nature Preserve, located just south of Arcadia, offers visitors access to a Great Lakes Coastal Marsh, a rare and declining natural community found only in Great Lakes coastal areas. It is estimated that over 80% of all original Great Lakes marshes have been destroyed. These marshes are some of the most productive ecosystems in the world, and Arcadia Marsh is one of only 15 or so remaining coastal marshes along Lake Michigan’s Lower Peninsula shoreline.

Italian: Scervellarsi (to rack one’s brains)

Quote: When high the sun in noonday glory rides, 

Where willows keep the lake's green margin cool, 

The speckled trout amid their shadow hides, 

And dragonflies haunt every shaded pool. 

–Thomas S. Collier (1842–93)