Calendar Class of March 28, 2025

A Carpe Diem Snapshot:

Just a few hours after our underground visit at the Basilica of San Clemente, we had the incredible fortune of going on another underground tour, this time of the scavi of St. Peter's Basilica, led by the expert guide and author, Taras B. Dzyubanskyy. Taras drew upon over a decade of experience to create a compact and accessible guide to Rome and the Vatican for the Jubilee Year, which Roots in Rome was happy to co-sponsor. The book is available in the shop in St. Peter's Basilica near the entrance to the cupola, and will be available on-line this June.

Liturgical: Friday of the Third Week of Lent Mass readings and Bishop Barron's Gospel reflections

“Which commandment is the first of all?” Jesus answered, “The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’  The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

Sanctoral: The Roman Martyrology today honors St. Gontran (d. 592), also known as Contran or Guntramnus. He was the son of King Clotaire and the grandson of Clovis I. He was raised pagan and became King of Orleans in 561.

St. Stephen Harding (1060-1134) is also commemorated today. He became a monk at Molesme Abbey and with St. Robert of Molesme began the Cistercian reform by helping found Citeaux Abbey in 1098. He joyfully accepted St. Bernard and his companions when they joined the Cistercians.

Human: Roman Emperor Switch-Ups Today

37 AD – Emperor Caligula entered Rome. The beginning of his rule was very promising. He allowed the expatriates to come back to Rome, canceled various trials, published the state budget, finished the construction of the Temple of Augustus, and organized popular games. He reigned until 41 AD.

193 AD – after less than three months of rule, the praetorians (probably in agreement with the Senate) murdered Pertinax and organized a tender for the emperor. The title was given to Didius Julianus who paid 25 000 sesterces to the members of the guard.

364 AD – Valens became a Roman emperor. His brother Valentinian I gave him the power over the eastern part of the Empire.

Natural: One really fertile houseplant-- the "Mother of Thousands" as well as a "Mother of Millions" and a "Widow's Thrill"

Italian: Amato (beloved / loved)

Quote: We do not remember days, we remember moments. The richness of life lies in memories we have forgotten.

—Cesare Pavese, Italian writer (1908 - 1950)