Calendar Class of September 18, 2025

A Carpe Diem Snapshot:

'Tis the season of all things pumpkin! This year we found a new use for the decorative miniature pumpkins during the Autumn Feast, when we wrote the name of someone deceased on one side and the name of an intercessory saint on the other, and thereby created a lovely, seasonal visual reminder to pray for the souls of the dead. My Dad, who name is written on the first pumpkin in the picture, some years would wear his saffron colored graduation gown from the University of St. Andrews for Halloween, calling himself "The Great Pumpkin." This was particularly amusing as he had a wide middle girth, much like our favorite Fall fruit. Yes, I said fruit. Read all about the scientific classification of the pumpkin as a fruit here!

Liturgical: Thursday of the 24th Week of Ordinary Time

1 Timothy 4:12-16

Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Until I arrive, give attention to the public reading of scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you through prophecy with the laying on of hands by the council of elders.Put these things into practice, devote yourself to them, so that all may see your progress.Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; continue in these things, for in doing this you will save both yourself and your hearers.

From Bishop Barron's Gospel reflections today: It is decidedly not the case, Jesus implies, that love precedes divine forgiveness as a sort of prerequisite; on the contrary, forgiveness precedes love as the condition for its possibility. It is not the case that one’s moral life must be upright in order to win divine favor; rather, the sheer gift of God’s favor tends to produce an upright moral life, a life of love.

Sanctoral: St. Joseph of Cupertino (1603-1663) was the son of a poor Italian carpenter. His father died before he was born, leaving his mother destitute. As a result Joseph was underfed and often sick. He was an intellectually dull child who constantly found himself the worse off in every situation. He was awkward, absent-minded, unintelligent, and difficult to be around. Many people thought he was good for nothing–including his own mother, who treated him harshly and considered him a burden. Added to the scorn he received from everyone, at the age of eight he began receiving ecstatic visions for which he was also ridiculed. At the age of seventeen Joseph found work with the Capuchin Franciscan friars, eventually joining their order once they recognized his holiness beneath his irritating demeanor. His ecstasies became more pronounced, and he would often levitate or float as they happened. These ecstasies could be triggered easily through the mention of anything heavenly, or by any mortification. These occurrences became a spectacle and disturbance to others and caused Joseph much suffering; they were a cross he would bear his whole life. For example, as a priest he could not celebrate Mass publicly due to his distracting ecstasies. He was even reported to the Inquisition for fear he was involved in witchcraft. Yet St. Joseph lived a life of deep prayer and severe penance through continual fasting, subjecting himself every year to seven Lents of forty days each. Sometimes called “The Flying Saint,” St. Joseph of Cupertino is also the patron of air crews and aviators.

Human:

• Christopher Columbus landed in what is now Costa Rica – 1502

• New Hampshire territory separated from Massachusetts – 1679

• The cornerstone for the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., was laid – 1793

• The first edition of “The New York Daily Times” went on sale. The paper later dropped “Daily” from its title – 1851

• Shirley Temple made her film debut, at the age of 3, in War Babies – 1932

• First nighttime skywriting in the U.S. – 1937

• Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) founded – 1947

Roman history today:

• 14 AD – Tiberius became a Roman emperor. As the ruler, he continued the policy of Augustus. The last period of Tiberius’ life filled the trials, death sentences, deportations and imprisonment of political opponents.

• 53 AD – Emperor Trajan was born. A great commander and administrator, coming from Italica, who came to the throne as a result of Nerva’s adoption. During his reign, the Roman empire had the largest territorial range, Trajan extended them to Arabia, Dacia, Armenia, areas on the Euphrates and Tigris (provinces of Mesopotamia and Assyria 116). In the captured lands, he built forts and strengthened the border fortifications. He rarely stayed in Rome, exercising direct command over military expeditions. Trajan carried out internal reforms and commissioned the construction of public buildings.

• 96 AD – Domitian was stabbed in the palace in Rome, as a result of the praetorians’ conspiracy. Apparently the emperor was very suspicious. He was always accompanied by a guard. He placed many mirrors in his palace so that he could see what was happening behind his back. The plot that led to the murder probably involved Nerva. After the death of Domitian, he was recognized as the successor by the Senate; at the praetorians insistance. The death of Domitian meant the end of the Flavian dynasty.

• 324 AD – Emperor Constantine the Great defeated Licinius at the battle of Chrysopolis.

• 335 AD – Dalmatian became Roman emperor.

Natural: 30 Warm and Cozy Fall Dinner Recipes

Our favorite culinary season of the year is here! I will try the pumpkin bisque or chili tonight.

Italian: Cera (wax / polish)

Today we’re going to be looking at the word cera, which means wax or polish. It comes from the Latin cera of the same meaning and spelling.

Quote: Our knowledge is a little island in a great ocean of non-knowledge. 

- Isaac Bashevis Singer, American writer (1904-1991)