Calendar Class of March 30, 2025

A Carpe Diem Snapshot:

Thanks to the NAC seminarians who have an apostolate with our Rome program, today some of the students and staff were able to participate in a readers' theater performance of "Mother and Sister to Me: A Play about the Passion of Jesus Christ from the Perspective of the Women Who Were There."  I was delighted to discover that my role, "Woman 1," was a character representing Veronica of the Veil, Cordelia's confirmation name and my Lenten saint. The author, Fr. Peter John Cameron, OP, was in the audience and took questions following the performance, which was held in a community room overlooking the Eternal City. I believe it is the highest overlook of Rome on this side of the Tiber, and the views were breathtakingly beautiful today as the cold, drizzly weather of yesterday had been swept away, replaced with resplendent sunshine and the warmest temperatures thus far.

Liturgical: Today is the halfway mark of the Sundays of Lent; Easter is enticingly near. This Sunday is known as Laetare Sunday for the first word of the Introit or Entrance Antiphon, Laetare (rejoice); it is a Sunday of joy, our foretaste of Easter joy. The celebrant has the option to wear rose-colored vestments. This is also the Second Scrutiny in preparation for the baptism of adults at the Easter Vigil.

This Sunday has a place apart amongst the Sundays of Lent. As in Advent we had Gaudete Sunday, so in Lent we have a Sunday commonly called Laetare Sunday. The whole week, with its wealth of liturgical significance, is intensely interesting. This Sunday in vigesimal is in imitation of Byzantine custom, a Sunday in honor of Our Saviour's Cross, for which reason the Station is at Holy-Cross-in-Jerusalem, a great devotional centre in Rome, especially during Passiontide. The great part of the Mass is inspired by this choice. —Fernand Cabrol, OSB, The Year’s Liturgy: Vol I: The Seasons

Bishop Barron's Sunday Sermon: The Heavenly Banquet

Fr Plant's Homily: Lost and Found

Sanctoral: Blessed Amadeus of Savoy (1435-1472)

Duke Amadeus was a lifelong victim of epilepsy. Around 1471, his seizures became so incapacitating, that he entrusted the rule of his Duchy to his wife Yolanda. His subjects became discontented and started a revolution, imprisoning the Duke. Only the intervention of King Louis XI of France, his brother-in-law, secured his release.

Human: 1867 The United States buys Alaska from Russia for $7,200,000 (109 million in 2018 dollars), roughly 2 cents an acre

1870 The 15th Amendment to the US Constitution is adopted, guaranteeing the right to vote regardless of race

1972 Northern Ireland's government and parliament are dissolved by the British government, and direct rule from Westminster is introduced

2023 Key figures in Artificial Intelligence including Elon Musk and Steve Wozniak sign an open letter warning the race to develop AI systems is out of control and asking for a suspension of at least six months.

Natural: Europe leaps ahead today (by an hour); It's Daylight Saving Time.

The European Parliament proposed to abolish time changes back in 2019 but so far no action has been taken. Nations that do not observe the change: Russia, Turkey, Iceland, and Belarus.

Italian: Non stare più nella pelle (to be excited / can’t wait)

Quote: Lines from "Mother and Sister To Me" by Peter John Cameron, O.P.

If this they do

when wood grows green

preventing flame

from full ignition,

what will they then

when wood lies dry

and interim

'tween spark

and blaze

is but instant

to inferno?