Calendar Class of July 9, 2025

A Carpe Diem Snapshot:

This cozy gathering concluded two days of small seminars at the Kirk Center, which I found profoundly influential. First, Dr. Jeff Polet spoke on "Conserving in a Disposable World: What Shall We Save?" In about twenty minutes, he succinctly described the "conservative disposition", addressing today's challenges and obstacles that were all too familiar. Next, Michael Lucchese presented "Conservatism as a Literary Tradition," that inspired us to embrace and promote both the "Good Books", as well as the "Great Books" as a means of preserving the Great Tradition. The afternoon session was on "The Electoral College and How Other Republics Elect Heads of Government" with Michael Maiback. Michael Lucchese stayed on for an in-house round table conversation this morning on Historical Consciousness, with reference to the work of John Lukacs. My reading list has significantly increased...

Liturgical: Wednesday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Psalm 33:2-3, 10-11, 18-19

Praise the Lord with the lyre;    

make melody to him with the harp of ten strings.

Sing to him a new song;    

play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.

The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing;    

he frustrates the plans of the peoples.

The counsel of the Lord stands forever,    

the thoughts of his heart to all generations.

Truly the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him,    

on those who hope in his steadfast love,

to deliver their soul from death,    

and to keep them alive in famine.

Sanctoral: Saint Augustine Zhao Rong and Companions (d. 1648 – 1930)

Christianity arrived in China by way of Syria in the 600s. Depending on China’s relations with the outside world, Christianity over the centuries was free to grow or was forced to operate secretly.

The 120 martyrs in this group died between 1648 and 1930. Eighty-seven of them were born in China, and were children, parents, catechists, or laborers, ranging in age from nine years to 72. This group includes four Chinese diocesan priests. The 33 foreign-born martyrs were mostly priests or women religious, especially from the Order of Preachers, the Paris Foreign Mission Society, the Friars Minor, Society of Jesus, Society of St. Francis de Sales (Salesians), and Franciscan Missionaries of Mary.

Augustine Zhao Rong was a Chinese soldier who accompanied Bishop John Gabriel Taurin Dufresse of the Paris Foreign Mission Society to his martyrdom in Beijing. Not long after his baptism, Augustine was ordained as a diocesan priest. He was martyred in 1815.

Human: Henry VIII of England annulled his marriage to his fourth wife, Anne of Cleves – 1540 (she got to keep her head!)

Argentina declared independence from Spain – 1816

The U.S. Congress ratified the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution, granting citizenship to all those born or naturalized in the United States, including former slaves – 1868

Natural: Every summer party needs a watermelon! Here's how to tell if it's ripe and here's what to do with the rinds (pickle them!)

Italian: Ghianda (acorn)

Quote: "Today, so often, we lose the ability to listen, to really listen. We listen to music, we have our ears flooded constantly with all kinds of digital input, but sometimes we forget to listen to our own hearts and it's in our hearts that God speaks to us, that God calls us and invites us to know him better and to live in his love."

--Pope Leo XIV, in his address to pilgrims on July 5, 2025