Calendar Class of October 25, 2025

A Carpe Diem Snapshot:

Carpe Horti Ninfae! To celebrate a very special milestone today, my half century on earth (Deo gratias!), we traveled to the magical world of Ninfa. An abandoned medieval town transformed into a botanical garden by the last of the line of the noble family Caetani, Ninfa first came to my attention through my Dad's own memories of the place as recounted in his autobiography. "Ninfa seemed outside time," Dad wrote (in the third person narrative). "There entered Kirk's head the first three lines of Eliot's 'Burnt Norton': Time present and time past Are both perhaps present in time future, And time future contained in time past." A paradisal garden outside time seems just the right place to commemorate the passage of time on a birthday as significant as this.

Liturgical: Saturday of the 29th Week of Ordinary Time

Psalm 24:1-6

The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it;

for he has founded it on the seas, and established it on the rivers. Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? Those who have clean hands and pure hearts, who do not lift up their souls to what is false, and do not swear deceitfully. They will receive blessing from the Lord, and vindication from the God of their salvation. Such is the company of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Selah

Sanctoral: St. Tabitha, 1st c.

Tabitha was one of the few women in Acts named as a “disciple.” After falling ill and dying, to the great grief of her community, Peter was sent for and raised her back to life. This great miracle caused much joy as well as much talk as news of the miracle spread from this great port city throughout the region.

Human: Birthday of Andrea Seton Teresa Kirk Assaf (1975) in Big Rapids, Michigan, and many other interesting people besides, too numerous to name. See a list here. Some of my favorite birthday twins include Georges Bizet, Michael, King of Romania, and Isabella Farnese, Queen of Spain.

A few notable individuals happened to have passed into eternal life on my birthday, including Jacques Barzun.

Natural: The gardens of Ninfa!

Centuries-old trees, colourful flowers, ancient ruins, crystal clear water feature, the Garden of Ninfa is a true work of art to be experienced with the five senses.

Italian: 13 Ways to say “Go away! / Get lost!” in Italian

Quote: "Gardens of Ninfa, with its fabulous ruins of a city half-submerged in the marsh, buried under dense ivy, boasting walls, towers, churches, convents, and dwellings. Indeed, this location is more charming than Pompeii itself, whose houses rise stiff like mummies unearthed from volcanic ashes."

--Ferdinand Gregorovius, Roman Walks