Calendar Class of July 10, 2025

A Carpe Diem Snapshot:

Tony Assaf won the Carpe Diem spotlight today when he succeeded in making a surprise visit home for our anniversary with the collaboration of his usual partner-in-crime, my brother-in-law Marcos Flores! Although I instantly suspected what was up based on years of experience, Tony has done a great job in training everyone to convincingly lie to me over the years, and no one gave him away until I discovered him sitting on the porch at home, over a month early!

Liturgical: Thursday of the Fourteenth Week of Ordinary Time

If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 

Matthew 10:7-15

Sanctoral: Veronica Giuliani (December 27, 1660 – July 9, 1727)

Why did God grant the stigmata to Francis of Assisi and to Veronica Giuliani? God alone knows the deepest reasons, but as Celano points out, the external sign of the cross is a confirmation of these saints’ commitment to the cross in their lives. The stigmata that appeared in Veronica’s flesh had taken root in her heart many years before. It was a fitting conclusion for her love of God and her charity toward her sisters.

Other Commemorations: St. Canute, Martyr (RM); Sts. Rufina & Secunda, Virgins and Martyrs, Religious (RM); St Amalberge of Mauberge (RM)

Human: Birthday of Marcel Proust (novelist) – 1871 (lessons from his novel In Search of Lost Time), Carl Orff (composer) – 1895 (a recording of Carmina Burana. Chills every time!)

Roman history today:

48 BC – in the battle of Dyrrachium, Pompey was close to the final destruction of Gaius Julius Caesar. In the spring of 48 BC, Caesar’s army was close to suffer hunger. This situation was not changed by Antony’s reinforcements, increasing the number of Caesar’s army to 25-35 thousand soldiers. Unable to wait, Caesar decided to fight and destroy Pompey’s army. Eventually, Caesar’s army escaped in panic, which Pompey considered a ruse and stopped the chase.

138 AD – Emperor Hadrian, who was severely ill, died, and his place was taken by Antoninus Pius. It is believed that the cause of death was heart trouble. At the end of his life, Hadrian began to make controversial decisions that mainly undermined the aristocracy. Hadrian was deified as Divus Hadrianus, and in his honor a temple was built on the Field of Mars. All this, however, was done by Antoninus with the resistance of the Senate, who resented the recent decisions of Hadrian.

Natural: Full Buck Moon

“Traditionally, we have called July’s full Moon the “Full Buck Moon.” This name comes from our Native American and Colonial past when the Moon was used to track the seasons. Bucks are growing new antlers at this time.

July’s Full Moon was also known as the Thunder Moon, because thunderstorms are so frequent during this month.”

Italian: Acciuga (anchovy)

Quote: “The time which we have at our disposal every day is elastic; the passions that we feel expand it, those that we inspire contract it; and habit fills up what remains.”

―Marcel Proust, In the Shadow of Young Girls in Flower