Calendar Class of December 8, 2025

A Carpe Diem Snapshot:

Carpe Immaculatam Mariam! This morning I completely forgot to take photos at the North American College where we attended a very beautiful liturgy followed by a very delicious lunch. Perhaps I was so in the moment that I forgot to capture the moment. Fortunately, I happened upon this statue yesterday and did take a photo simply because it was so lovely. It turns out to be a fitting subject for today's Snapshot, as it features Mary and the Infant Jesus with the woman who carried the Immaculata in her womb, St. Anne. As my mother's name is Annette ("little Anne" in French), I tend to take photos of her image in Rome to send to her. The statue can be found in the Church of Holy Mary in Monserrat of the Spaniards, across from the Venerable English College. One of the best characteristics of Rome, in my opinion, is the presence of so many national and regional churches, religious orders, embassies, and organizations. Just on our walk back to the car yesterday from the English College we passed by the Spanish church, the Armenian church, the Neapolitan church, and finally an Indian service at what was originally the Florentine church in Rome. At this Spanish church, which I had never had the opportunity to enter until yesterday, there is a devotion to Our Lady of Montserrat in Barcelona. Strangely enough, I was just telling our friend and colleague the day before yesterday that, despite having visited Barcelona several times, I never made it up the mountain above the city to see the shrine of Montserrat. Yesterday, after discovering this church and seeing paintings depicting Montserrat and Barcelona, I am taking this as a sign that I will go there soon!