Calendar Class of October 17, 2025

A Carpe Diem Snapshot:

Carpe Joseph! I caught this hilarious photo at grill night at Villa Magnolia yesterday, on the eve of Joseph's birthday. It's just asking for a funny caption. "Niente paparazzi, per favore, e tenete le fan dietro la barriera." Happy 18th birthday, Joe!

Liturgical: Friday of the 28th Week of Ordinary Time

Luke 12:1-7

Meanwhile, when the crowd had gathered by the thousands, so that they trampled on one another, he began to speak first to his disciples: “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees, that is, their hypocrisy. Nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known. Therefore whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be proclaimed from the housetops.

Sanctoral: St. Ignatius of Antioch (d. c. 98-117) was a Syrian who became a disciple of St. John the Apostle. Tradition holds that he was the infant whom Jesus took in his arms, saying, "Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me" as recounted in Mark's Gospel. St. Ignatius was a pagan convert to Christianity and succeeded St. Peter the Apostle as the third bishop of Antioch, being ordained by St. Peter himself. He was an important Church Father of the Apostolic age, an ideal pastor, and a fearless soldier of Christ. He was tireless in supporting his flock against dangerous heresies and the terrors of the persecutions of the Roman Emperors. When Ignatius violated the imperial edict to worship false gods, he was arrested and led before Emperor Trajan. After boldly proclaiming the truth of Jesus Christ, he was condemned to be devoured by wild beasts for public sport in the Roman Colosseum. On his journey from Syria to Rome he wrote many letters to his fellow Christians, encouraging them with his apostolic zeal and exhorting them to obey their bishops. He also pleaded that none try to obtain his release, as he was eager to lay down his life for Jesus, saying, “The only thing I ask of you is to allow me to offer the libation of my blood to God. I am the wheat of the Lord; may I be ground by the teeth of the beasts to become the immaculate bread of Christ.” He was devoured by lions in Rome in the early second century. St. Ignatius of Antioch is the first to have used the term "Catholic" Church, meaning "Universal."

More info:

The year of St. Ignatius' death is unknown; perhaps it occurred during the victory festivities in which the Emperor Trajan sacrificed the lives of 10,000 gladiators and 11,000 wild beasts for the amusement of the bloodthirsty populace. The scene of his glorious triumph and martyrdom was most likely the Colosseum; that mammoth structure, glittering with gold and marble, had then been just completed.

"From Syria to Rome I must do battle with beasts on land and sea. For day and night I am chained to ten leopards, that is, the soldiers who guard me and grow more ferocious the better they are treated. Their mistreatment is good instruction for me, yet am I still far from justified. Oh, that I may meet the wild beasts now kept in readiness for me. I shall implore them to give me death promptly and to hasten my departure. I shall invite them to devour me so that they will not leave my body unharmed as already has happened to other witnesses. If they refuse to pounce upon me, I shall impel them to eat me. My little children, forgive me these words. Surely I know what is good for me. From things visible I no longer desire anything; I want to find Jesus. Fire and cross, wild beasts, broken bones, lacerated members, a body wholly crushed, and Satan's every torment, let them all overwhelm me, if only I reach Christ."

The saint, now condemned to fight the wild beasts, burned with desire for martyrdom. On hearing the roar of the lions he cried out: "I am a kernel of wheat for Christ. I must be ground by the teeth of beasts to be found bread (of Christ) wholly pure" .—Excerpted from The Church's Year of Grace, Pius Parsch

Patronage: Church in eastern Mediterranean; Church in North Africa; throat diseases

Symbols and Representation: Chains; lions; bishop surrounded by lions; heart with IHC; crucifix; heart

Human: 2007- birth of Joseph Kalim Francis Assaf in Nashua, NH.

Tanti Auguri, figlio mio!

Physicist Albert Einstein arrived in the U.S. as a refugee from Nazi Germany – 1933

Mother Teresa of India was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize for her work on behalf of the destitute in Calcutta. – 1979

Natural: What Is Gleaning? From Gardens to Life Lessons

The most important rule for a gleaned life: Put yourself in the path of a wide diversity of planters/reapers who produce their crops in fertile soil. Then pay close attention to what they either fail to harvest or don’t have any use for. Reach out and grab the fragments with which you connect.

Italian: Tortuoso (windy / winding)

Note: Although it looks a lot like the English word torturous, it has nothing to do with the act of inflicting pain!

Quote: “It is not that I want merely to be called a Christian, but to actually be one. Yes, if I prove to be one, then I can have the name.”-St. Ignatius of Antioch