Calendar Class of September 2, 2025

A Carpe Diem Snapshot:

What an exceptional day! Today we were able to introduce Fr. Hudson of Clearcreek Abbey to Fr. Nursey of St. Joseph parish here in Onekama, and attend a Mass at which they concelebrated this evening. As usual, the intrepid Annette was on the scene, and much conversation was enjoyed by all. The guests and I went on a whirlwind tour of the area, including the Arcadia marsh, where even my mother stopped to admire the flowers.

Liturgical: Tuesday of the 22nd Week in Ordinary Time

1 Thessalonians 5:1-6, 9-11

Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers and sisters, you do not need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. When they say, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them, as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and there will be no escape! But you, beloved, are not in darkness, for that day to surprise you like a thief; for you are all children of light and children of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness. So then let us not fall asleep as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober; For God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing.

The Church dedicates the month of September to Our Lady of Sorrows, also known as Mater Dolorosa (Mother of Sorrows). This devotion recalls the Blessed Virgin Mary’s spiritual martyrdom in virtue of her perfect union with the Passion of Christ. This was her role in salvation history, and what merited her place as the spiritual Mother of all Christians. This is symbolized by a single sword, or seven swords, piercing Mary's suffering heart, as foretold in Simeon's prophecy. Traditionally the Church meditates on the "Seven Sorrows" of our Blessed Mother: the prophecy of Simeon; the Holy Family's flight into Egypt; the loss of the Child Jesus for three days; the meeting of Mary and Jesus as he carried his cross; Jesus' crucifixion and death; Jesus' sacred body taken down from the cross; and Jesus' burial. The feast of Our Lady of Sorrows (Mater Dolorosa) is September 15th.

Sanctoral: John Francis Burté and Companions (d. September 2, 1792 and January 21, 1794)

These priests were victims of the French Revolution. Though their martyrdom spans a period of several years, they stand together in the Church’s memory because they all gave their lives for the same principle. In 1791, the Civil Constitution of the Clergy required all priests to take an oath which amounted to a denial of the faith. Each of these men refused and was executed.

St. Brocard (d. 1231 A.D.) was a Frenchman who traveled to the Holy Land to enter into religious life there. He was among the first group of hermits to establish a community of monks on Mount Carmel. Details of his life are scarce, but it is believed that St. Brocard was the prior of the community after the death of St. Berthold, who is considered to be the founder of the Carmelites. Brocard, as the new leader of the community, desired to formalize the monks' way of life on Mt. Carmel. He requested that St. Albert, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, write and establish a rule of life for the community, which he then imposed on the group as their discipline. The Rule of St. Albert established the Carmelites as a new religious order. St. Brocard was considered an expert on Islam and Eastern affairs and was to accompany St. Albert to the Fourth Lateran Council, were it not for St. Albert's murder before the Council convened. The Council suppressed the creation of new religious orders, which put the Carmelites in a tenuous position as they were not approved by the Holy See prior to this new decree. St. Brocard led the community through an uncertain period until they achieved special approval from the Holy Father.

The Roman Martyrology commemorates St. Agricola (also known as Agricolus) (625-700), son of St. Magnus and bishop of Avignon, France. He built a church in Avignon to be served by the monks of Lerins and also a convent for Benedictine nuns. By his blessing, he put an end to an invasion of storks.

Human: 44 BC – In the Senate, Cicero gave the first philippica against Mark Antony.

31 BC – Octavian’s navy defeated the combined forces of Mark Antony and Cleopatra in the battle of Actium, in the Ambracian Gulf. After the defeat, the Queen and Antony fled to Egypt, and their land forces surrendered to Octavian’s forces. Then, Octavian, almost without any resistance, entered Alexandria. In the face of the inevitable defeat Antony and Cleopatra committed suicide. This meant the end of civil war, and Octavian began to rule the whole country.

421 AD – Emperor Constantius III died, probably due to pneumonia. He was one of the most talented, truly Roman leaders and politicians in this period.

Death of J. R. R. Tolkien (author) – 1973, Great Fire of London began – 1666, Congress established the United States Department of the Treasury – 1789, Vice President Theodore Roosevelt uttered the famous phrase, Speak softly and carry a big stick at the Minnesota State Fair – 1901, Japan surrendered formally at ceremonies held aboard the battleship Missouri, to end World War II – 1945

Diana Nyad completed a two-day, two-night swim from Cuba to Florida and became the first person to accomplish the feat unaided by a shark cage – 2013

Natural: Fog and Mist-- How Science and Story Help Us See When Seeing Is Hard

Italian: Limpido (clear / limpid)

Quote: “All that is gold does not glitter,

Not all those who wander are lost;

The old that is strong does not wither,

Deep roots are not reached by the frost.

From the ashes a fire shall be woken,

A light from the shadows shall spring;

Renewed shall be blade that was broken,

The crownless again shall be king.”

― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring