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Calendar Class of May 13, 2025

  • Writer: Andrea Kirk Assaf
    Andrea Kirk Assaf
  • May 13
  • 3 min read

A Carpe Diem Snapshot:

There was a sudden thunderstorm this afternoon, which means, as far as Cordelia is concerned, that it was a perfect occasion for a tea party. We took today's feast, our Lady of Fatima, as our theme, and tied it together with Mother's Day to celebrate Mary, the mother of us all, and the Mater Ecclesia. Did you notice the destination of our new Pope two days after his election? He followed in the footsteps of a few previous popes (including Leo XIII), as well as several saints, and headed for the hills to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Good Counsel in Genazanno, which has been entrusted to the Augustinian order since 1356. Our Lady of Good Counsel is of particular importance to this Augustinian Pontiff, as she is the patroness of the Midwestern Augustinians of Chicago. A replica of this image hangs in the chapel where Pope Leo XIV first went to pray after his election. We too once visited this sanctuary, many years ago, and what I most recall is the surreal experience of circling around the hill in a giant tour bus (full of Lebanese Maronites from our Roman parish). At one point, we were forced to stop and wait for the crossing of lovely free-range cows, sporting bells. It felt like we had stepped outside time into another realm for an instant. I can see why Pope Leo made a speedy retreat there soon after accepting the weight of the office of the chair of St. Peter.
There was a sudden thunderstorm this afternoon, which means, as far as Cordelia is concerned, that it was a perfect occasion for a tea party. We took today's feast, our Lady of Fatima, as our theme, and tied it together with Mother's Day to celebrate Mary, the mother of us all, and the Mater Ecclesia. Did you notice the destination of our new Pope two days after his election? He followed in the footsteps of a few previous popes (including Leo XIII), as well as several saints, and headed for the hills to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Good Counsel in Genazanno, which has been entrusted to the Augustinian order since 1356. Our Lady of Good Counsel is of particular importance to this Augustinian Pontiff, as she is the patroness of the Midwestern Augustinians of Chicago. A replica of this image hangs in the chapel where Pope Leo XIV first went to pray after his election. We too once visited this sanctuary, many years ago, and what I most recall is the surreal experience of circling around the hill in a giant tour bus (full of Lebanese Maronites from our Roman parish). At one point, we were forced to stop and wait for the crossing of lovely free-range cows, sporting bells. It felt like we had stepped outside time into another realm for an instant. I can see why Pope Leo made a speedy retreat there soon after accepting the weight of the office of the chair of St. Peter.

Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that took place over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, and they spoke the word to no one except Jews. But among them were some men of Cyprus and Cyrene who, on coming to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists also, proclaiming the Lord Jesus. The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number became believers and turned to the Lord.

Acts 11:19-26


The message of Fatima is simple: Pray. Unfortunately, some people—not Sister Lucia—have distorted these revelations, making them into an apocalyptic event for which they are now the only reliable interpreters. They have, for example, claimed that Mary’s request that the world be consecrated to her has been ignored. Sister Lucia agreed that Pope John Paul II’s public consecration in St. Peter’s Square on March 25, 1984, fulfilled Mary’s request. The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith prepared a June 26, 2000, document explaining the “third secret.” Mary is perfectly honored when people generously imitate her response “Let it be done to me as you say” (Luke 1:38). Mary can never be seen as a rival to Jesus or to the Church’s teaching authority, as exercised by the college of bishops united with the bishop of Rome.


Human: 1787 First Fleet headed by Arthur Phillip sets sails with 11 ships of convicts for Botany Bay, Australia


1981 Pope John Paul II is shot and critically wounded by Turkish gunman Mehmet Ali Ağca in St Peter's Square, Vatican City. Not so long ago, we located the marble plaque commemorating the spot where the popemobile paused when the bullet hit him in the piazza.


1989 Approximately 2,000 students begin a hunger strike in Tiananmen Square, China to force a dialogue with the government ahead of a visit by Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev.


Natural: How to strengthen fragile skin with vitamins going into the sunny season (or anytime)


Italian: Stonato (out of tune / tone-deaf)


 
 
 

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