Calendar Class of February 18, 2025

Andrea Kirk Assaf
Feb 18
2 min read

A Carpe Diem Snapshot:

At the conclusion of a whirlwind walk from the Janiculum hill to the Capitoline hill this morning, my Art and Architecture class leisurely explored the ancient Basilica of Santa Maria Aracoeli, a church steeped in history dating back to the city's very origins. Today I paid my respects to the Empress St. Helena, whose relics can be found here. This woman is the subject of some research I am doing for a potential future book, and an often-overlooked pivotal protagonist in the story of Rome. More to come...

Liturgical: Tuesday of the 6th week of Ordinary Time

“Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes, and fail to see? Do you have ears, and fail to hear? And do you not remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you collect?” They said to him, “Twelve.” “And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you collect?” And they said to him, “Seven.” Then he said to them, “Do you not yet understand?”

Mark 8:14-21

Bishop Barron's Gospel Reflections today.

Sanctoral: The Roman Martyrology commemorates Saint Tarasius (750-806), Patriarch of Constantinople, born c. 750, who was known for his erudition and piety. He fought against the iconoclast heresy, helped open the Second Council of Nicaea in 787, which honored holy pictures and images. He died of natural causes on February 25, 806, which is his feast day in the Byzantine Rite.

It is also the commemoration of Blessed John of Fiesole, usually referred to as "Fra Angelico" (1387-1455), beatified October 3, 1982 by Pope St. John Paul II. He joined the Dominicans in Fiesole, Italy in 1407, taking the name Fra Giovanna. He was taught to illuminate missals and manuscripts, and immediately exhibited a natural talent as an artist. Today his works can be seen in the Italian cities Cortona, Fiesole, Florence, and in the Vatican. His dedication to religious art earned him the title "Angelico."

An Audio.

Human: Yesterday was Fornacalia, a Roman festival celebrated on February 17 in honour of Fornax, who was the Roman goddess of the bread oven (fornax) or patron of the bread baking process. It was a kind of personification of the oven, and the goddess was making sure that bread will not burn. Incidentally, the Villa Magnolia is located on via dell Fornaci, the way of the bakers. In this case, the ovens were not producing bread but rather bricks, in order to construct the Basilica of St. Peter!