Calendar Class of August 4, 2025

A Carpe Diem Snapshot:

Certainly the most remarkable vintage vehicle at this year's car show in Onekama was the "Lord of the Rings" van, hand-carved by Daniel James Nieboer. Here he is pointing to the carving that started it all back in 1980, a wizard holding aloft a staff. When he showed it to his bother, his brother remarked, "That looks exactly like Gandalf!" Daniel replied, "Who's Gandalf?" Dan subsequently read all the books and spent the next decade creating panels illustrating scenes from The Lord of the Rings for this one-of-a-kind Chevy van. You can see the video tour on Instagram. Coincidentally, as many of my readers will already know, J.R.R. Tolkien's masterpiece also began with a single image and a single line..."In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit."

Liturgical: Memorial of Saint John Vianney, Priest

He said to them, "There is no need for them to go away; give them some food yourselves."

Matthew 14:13-21

Bishop Barron's Gospel reflections today.

Sanctoral: Today the Church celebrates the Memorial of St. John Baptist Mary Vianney (1786-1859). He was born in Dardilly and died in Ars, France. Although his talents were limited and his education meager, he was ordained a priest in 1815. After three years at Ecully, he was appointed parish priest of Ars. Here he spent almost forty-two years of his life, devoting himself to prayer, mortification, and pastoral works. His success in directing souls made him known throughout the Christian world. Men of all ranks and conditions of life sought his guidance and advice. He was beatified by Pope St. Pius X, himself once a parish priest, and canonized by Pope Pius XI.

Human: 70 AD – Roman troops led by Titus Flavius occupied and plundered the temple in Jerusalem during the siege of the city. The only remnant of the temple are the remains of the retaining wall, which prevents the walls surrounding it from collapsing – so-called Western Wall, better known as the Wailing Wall. In memory of the trauma associated with the destruction of the temple in 586 BC and 70 AD and the fall of the Bar Kochba’s uprising – Jews celebrate the sad, penitential feast of Tisha B’Av.

You can see the temple's booty being ceremoniously presented in Rome on the inside of the Arch of Titus in the Roman Forum.

Natural: What a Bald-Faced Hornet Taught Me--About Living with Beauty, Boundaries, Stings, and Hard Choices

Italian: Zerbino (doormat)

It comes from the Arabic zirbiy which translates as either rug or cushion.

"Chiedo sempre a tutti di pulire le scarpe sullo zerbino prima di entrare in casa."

Quote: "Saint Augustine too had a restless youth, but he did not settle for less, did not silence the cry of his heart. He sought the truth that does not disappoint, and the beauty that does not fade. How did he find it? How did he find true friendship, and a love that gives rise to hope? By finding the one who was already looking for him: Jesus Christ. How did he build his future? By following the one who had always been his friend."

--Pope Leo XIV at the Jubilee of Youth 2025