Calendar Class of July 30, 2025

A Carpe Diem Snapshot:

"I need to find Papua New Guinea," my Mom said as she searched the giant globe last night. She found much else besides, including tiny Caroline Island in Polynesia, which pleased our friend Caroline who was also here last night. We concluded it would not be wise for her to go in search of it, as it's a tiny speck on the other side of the globe somewhere in Polynesia, but this morning I have another opinion on the potential journey to Caroline after a quick bit of research online. Caroline is more important that we first imagined. Listen to this: "Caroline Island, also known as Millennium Island, is the easternmost of the Line Islands in Kiribati. This uninhabited coral atoll comprises approximately 39 islets surrounding a shallow lagoon. Historically, it has been a site for guano mining and copra harvesting, but these activities have ceased, allowing the island's ecosystems to recover. The atoll is a vital breeding ground for seabirds, notably the sooty tern, and hosts one of the world's largest populations of the coconut crab. Its pristine environment has led to proposals for its designation as a World Heritage Site and a Biosphere Reserve."

Wow! Before this research, I had never heard of Kiribati, guano, copra, the sooty tern, or the coconut crab (but it all sounds like a delightful setting for a shipwreck novel). It's also encouraging to learn about a successful example of an ecosystem regaining its health to the extent that it has been nominated as a World Heritage Site and a Biosphere Reserve!

This new connection to Caroline Island (now called, less poetically, Millennium Island) reminds me of the similar way that Mom, the kids, and I developed a desire to learn about Papua New Guinea-- through a friend who lived there. This is the lesson in today's Book of the Day selection as well-- we were inspired to learn about the history of gene research and the development of the scientific method though a historical friend, Gregor Mendel. For humans, it's always the human connection that is the friendly gateway to knowledge.

Liturgical: Wednesday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time

 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field."

Matthew 13:44-46

Sanctoral: Today the Church celebrates the Optional Memorial of St. Peter Chrysologus (406-450) ("the man of golden speech"). St. Peter earned the title of Doctor of the Church for his eloquent sermons, of which some two hundred remain. He was consecrated as Archbishop of Ravenna in 433. He rooted out all remaining traces of paganism, as well as a number of abuses among the Christians. In his sermons he strongly urged frequent Communion. He is supposed to have given us the saying: "He who wants to laugh with the devil cannot rejoice with Christ." St. Peter died about the year 450 in his native city of Imola.

In the US is the commemoration of Blessed Solanus Casey (1870-1957), an American Roman Catholic priest and a professed member of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin, who was beatified on November 18, 2017, in Detroit, Michigan.

Here is an audio bio.

Human: Birthday of Giorgio Vasari (artist) – 1511, Emily Brontë (novelist) – 1818, Henry Ford (industrialist) – 1863

Jake, a 65-pound golden retriever, was the only non-human in the 10th annual 1.25-mile swim from Alcatraz island to the San Francisco shore. The 4-year-old dog swam across the water in just under 42 minutes, finishing 72nd out of the more than 500 swimmers. Organizers say it was the first known crossing by a dog – 2005

Natural: National Cheesecake Day 2025: History, Recipes & Baking Tips

(Local readers may remember the dessert menu at Conner's Supper Club; sadly, the iconic establishment burned down not long ago. I loved their cheesecake so much as a child that I overdosed and developed an aversion to it for decades. Fortunately for today's holiday, I have now been cured.)

Italian: Perdente (loser / losing)

Book of the Day: Gregor Mendel: The Friar Who Grew Peas

I read this to the girls last night after discovering Mendel through Calendar Class and then finding this book about him online. To my surprise, they listened in rapt silence to the end, even the complicated science bits. I've found that picture biographies are one of the most engaging ways to introduce a new topic to children (or adults, for that matter). This link has a variety of suggestions.

Quote: From today's Gospel reflections by Bishop Barron:

"There’s a saying: “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.” Sometimes in the course of our everyday lives, something happens that vividly and surprisingly summons us to union with God. We realize, in a flash, what it’s all about. We weren’t particularly looking for it, but it found us.

That’s what Jesus is getting at today. As you walk through the fields of life, be open to the inrushing of grace when you least expect it. And when it comes, give up anything that holds it back."