Calendar Class of July 20, 2025

A Carpe Diem Snapshot:

Carpe Verba! The girls introduced the "Woman of Words" to Bananagrams recently, and it was an instant hit. It was so nice to see our very active "Martha" acting more like contemplative "Mary" as she puzzled over word formations in silence. This is a favorite pasttime from Villa Magnolia, thanks to our enthusiastic wordsmith R.D., Hannah!

Liturgical: Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Gospel Excerpt, Cycle C, Luke 10:41-42: The Lord said to her in reply, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her."

Pope Leo's Sunday Mass and Homily in Albano today, and his Sunday Angelus from Castel Gandolfo.

The Holy Father's Intentions for the Month of July 2025: For formation in discernment: Let us pray that we might again learn how to discern, to know how to choose paths of life and reject everything that leads us away from Christ and the Gospel.

Bishop Barron's Sunday Sermon: “Are You Anxious and Worried About Many Things?”

And more on these themes: Five Ways Faith Can Free You From Depression and Anxiety

Fr. Plant's Homily-Scripture Lesson: Sitting at the Lord's Feet

Sanctoral: Saint Apollinaris, 1st Century, was the bishop of Ravenna, Italy, appointed by our first pope: Saint Peter himself. In his twenty-six years there, he faced constant attack.

Human: Happy birthday to Gemma Flores! It's also the birthday of Petrarch the poet, in 1304. In the very same year, Edward I of England took the last rebel stronghold in the Wars of Scottish Independence.

Natural: Eleanor Annie Lamson was the first woman astronomer employed at the U.S. Naval Observatory – 1900

Neil Armstrong became the first person to step foot on the Moon. He also placed the U.S. flag there. – 1969

Viking 1, U.S. robot spacecraft, landed on Mars – 1976

Italian: Fare il bastian contrario (to be contrary)

Recipe: Summer Peach and Gorgonzola Pizza

Quote: "Our relationship with God comes first. Although it is true that we must live out our faith through

concrete actions, faithfully carrying out our duties according to our state of life and vocation, it is essential that we do so only after meditating on the Word of God and listening to what the Holy Spirit is saying to our hearts. To this end, we should set aside moments of silence, moments of

prayer, times in which, quieting noise and distractions, we recollect ourselves before God in simplicity of heart. This is a dimension of the Christian life that we particularly need to recover today, both as a value for individuals and communities, and as a prophetic sign for our times. We

must make room for silence, for listening to the Father who speaks and “sees in secret” (Mt 6:6).

Summer can be a providential time to experience the beauty and importance of our relationship with God, and how much it can help us to be more open, more welcoming to others.

During the summer, we have more free time in which to gather our thoughts and reflect, and also to travel and spend time with each other. Let us make good use of this, by leaving behind the whirlwind of commitments and worries in order to savour a few moments of peace, of reflection, taking time as well to visit other places and share in the joy of seeing others — as I am doing here today. Let us make summer an opportunity to care for others, to get to know each other and to

offer advice and a listening ear, for these are expressions of love, and that is something we all need. Let us do so with courage. In this way, through solidarity, in the sharing of faith and life, we will help to promote a culture of peace, helping those around us to overcome divisions and hhostility and to build communion between individuals, peoples and religions.

Pope Francis said that “If we want to savour life with joy, we must associate these two approaches: on the one hand, ‘being at the feet’ of Jesus, in order to listen to him as he reveals to us the secret of everything; on the other, being attentive and ready in hospitality, when he passes

and knocks at our door, with the face of a friend who needs a moment of rest and fraternity” (Angelus, 21 July 2019). "

--From Pope Leo's Angelus address today. Full text here.