Calendar Class of August 9, 2025

A Carpe Diem Snapshot:

Carpe Amor! Congratulations to the newlyweds, Tom and Cece! May your marriage be filled with love, light, and honey; I've got your first month's supply of honey covered!

Liturgical: Saturday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Therefore, you shall love the LORD, your God,

with all your heart,

and with all your soul,

and with all your strength.

Take to heart these words which I enjoin on you today.

Drill them into your children.

Speak of them at home and abroad, whether you are busy or at rest.

Deuteronomy 6:4-13

Sanctoral: The Church celebrates the Optional Memorial of St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (1891-1942), also known as St. Edith Stein. Edith Stein was born of Jewish parents in 1891, becoming an influential philosopher following her extensive studies at major German universities. After her conversion to Catholicism, she became a major force in German intellectual life, entering the Discalced Carmelites in 1933, and taking the name Sister Teresa Benedicta of the Cross. She was arrested by the Nazi regime in 1942, along with all Catholics of Jewish extraction and transported by cattle train to the death camp of Auschwitz. She died in the gas chambers at Auschwitz that same year.

The Roman Martyrology also commemorates St. Romanus (d. 258), a Roman soldier who converted to Christianity by the example of Saint Lawrence of Rome, by whom he was baptized.

Human: 48 BC – Julius Caesar defeated the army of Pompey the Great in the battle of Pharsalus. Caesar, after the battle, allowed the senators to return to Rome, and Pompey’s soldiers were incorporated into their legions. This victory was a breakthrough in the civil war and forced Pompey to flee to Africa. All provinces and Greek states dependent on Rome now turned to the victor following the fleeing Pompey, who wanted to rebuild his army and lead the other legions in allied Egypt. However, the plan could not be realised, as he was murdered at the request of the young pharaoh, Ptolemy XIII, just after he went ashore. (Caesar was disgusted with Ptolemy's attempt to gain his favor by presenting him with Pompey's head and mourned the murder of his political rival, allying with Cleopatra against Ptolemy)

117 AD – Emperor Trajan died suddenly. Before his death, Trajan managed to pass the command of the Eastern army to Publius Aelius Hadrian, son of one of his cousins. After the death of the ruler, he was immediately granted the imperial acclamation in Antioch, and the Senate ratified it. There was no official act of adoption, but Plotina, Trajan’s wife, immediately stated that on his deathbed the emperor formally appointed Hadrian as his successor.

378 AD – The Romans suffered a devastating defeat in the battle with Visigoths at Adrianople, in which Emperor Valens died.

Natural: What is the origin of the word "honeymoon"? While researching for my honey book, I discovered the lovely medieval European tradition of giving a month's supply of valuable honey or mead to the newlyweds to sweeten the start of their marriage. Here's a more extensive explanation.

Italian: How to say A LOT in Italian

Quote: “Let go of your plans. The first hour of your morning belongs to God. Tackle the day’s work that he charges you with, and he will give you the power to accomplish it.”  --Edith Stein, aka St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross

"Steep thyself in a bowl of summertime."

—Virgil, Roman poet (70 B.C.–19 B.C.)