Calendar Class of November 9, 2025

A Carpe Diem Snapshot:

"We too, as living stones, form a spiritual temple." Pope Leo spoke these words just now in his homily at the Basilica of St. John Lateran, which one of my Art and Architecture students captured in this image yesterday during the Seven Church Pilgrimage. This church in particular has a long and complicated history, much like the story of the Church itself. It is a story worth knowing, and one I am privileged to share on site later this week. More info to come!

Liturgical: Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome

Today's readings here.

Brothers and sisters:

You are God's building.

According to the grace of God given to me,

like a wise master builder I laid a foundation,

and another is building upon it.

But each one must be careful how he builds upon it,

for no one can lay a foundation other than the one that is there,

namely, Jesus Christ.

Do you not know that you are the temple of God,

and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

If anyone destroys God's temple,

God will destroy that person;

for the temple of God, which you are, is holy.

1 Corinthians 3:9c-11, 16-17

Pope Leo's Dedication Mass at the Lateran and Sunday Angelus address.

Bishop Barron's Sunday Sermon: The Place of Right Praise

Fr. Plant's Scripture-Homily Lesson: You Are God's Building

Sanctoral: Today the Church celebrates the Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome, the oldest and highest ranking of the four major basilicas in Rome. The Basilica's official title is "Basilica of the Most Holy Savior and of Saints John the Baptist and John the Evangelist in the Lateran" but most often called the Basilica of St. John Lateran. It is the cathedral of the diocese of Rome, the official ecclesiastical seat of the Holy Father, the Bishop of Rome, not the Basilica of St. Peter as so many mistakenly believe. The Basilica is also called the Church of Holy Savior or the Church of St. John Baptist. In ancient Rome this was the church where everyone was baptized. It the oldest church in the West, built in the time of Constantine and was consecrated by Pope Sylvester in 324. This feast became a universal celebration in honor of the archbasilica, the ecclesiastical mother church, called "the mother and mistress of all churches of Rome and the world" (omnium urbis et orbis ecclesiarum mater et caput), as a sign of love for and union with the See of Peter.

St. John Lateran is unique because it is both a cathedral and a basilica. The Church celebrates the anniversary of the dedication as a cathedral since it is regarded as the Mother Church of the entire Catholic Faith. Because the Church/Cathedral bears the title of "Christ our Savior Cathedral," today's feast is considered a Feast of the Lord which takes precedence over the Sunday liturgy. See Feastday Highlights: Dedication of St. John Lateran by Jennifer Gregory Miller.

Human: 1799 Napoleon Bonaparte pulls off a coup and becomes the dictator of France under the title of First Consul

1980 Iraqi President Saddam Hussein declares a holy war against Iran

1989 East Berlin opens its borders at the Bornholmer Strasse crossing when thousands arrive after East German government official Günter Schabowski mistakenly announces that restrictions on travel to the West will be lifted "immediately, without delay"

Natural: The Science of Addiction: How Brains Get Hooked

Italian: The Meaning of “In bocca al lupo!” – How to Say “Good luck!” in Italian

In bocca al lupo, which literally translates to into the wolf’s mouth, is a very common greeting in Italian addressed to those in need of buona fortuna (good luck) such as, for example, someone about to embark on a risky endeavour or a student about to take an important exam.

Quote: "The fear of the future and of the commitments of adult life that we observe among the young makes them particularly vulnerable. Often they are not encouraged to strive for a righteous and beautiful life; they have the tendency to withdraw into themselves. State institutions, voluntary associations, the Church and society are called upon to perceive among these young people a cry for help and a deep thirst for life, to offer an attentive and supportive presence that invites them to make an intellectual and moral effort, and helps them to forge their will.

It is a matter of committing ourselves more and more, and in a concerted manner, to prevention work that translates into action by the community as a whole. As part of a policy to prevent distress in youth, it is important to boost the self-esteem of the younger generation in order to combat the sense of insecurity and emotional instability fostered both by social pressures and by the very nature of adolescence. Job opportunities, education, sport, healthy living, the spiritual dimension of existence: this is the path to preventing addiction."

--Excerpt from the text of the video message of the Holy Father for the 7th National Conference on Addictions, November 7-8, 2025

Extra: Pope Leo's video address: New Internet addictions are a symptom of social decay