Calendar Class of September 22, 2025

A Carpe Diem Snapshot:

Happy Autumnal Equinox! Although for the purposes of our curriculum we follow the meteorological way of calculating seasons, we still celebrate the astronomical beginning of the new season today as well. In case you are interested in knowing the difference between the two, here's an article. In the old days, we used to try to throw a big party on the farm at each equinox and solstice, to study and celebrate the new season, but these days we are having smaller feasts each Sunday instead. At the very least, I insist on taking a walk outside to notice the seasonal changes on these four auspicious days of the year. Today, there were two walks-- one with the girls in the morning, and one alone at sunset. In the morning, the highlight was stopping by a neighbor's house for some fresh apples and a chat. In the evening, the highlight was filming these busy and infinitely entertaining squirrels, who deigned to give me some attention for a few minutes before scurrying into their tree drey (the name for the particular kind of nest that squirrels build). The beach and woods at School Section Lake provided several signs of Autumn on this Equinox evening-- squawking Canadian geese, squirrels chasing one another, maple trees aflame in color, a rapidly sinking sun, and a shower of tree nuts (some of which were purposely launched by the mischievous squirrels, I think). It is a glorious season of change and premonition of dark and cold days ahead, so Carpe Diem and take a nature hike today!

Liturgical: Monday of the 25th Week of Ordinary Time

Luke 8:16-18

“No one after lighting a lamp hides it under a jar, or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a lampstand, so that those who enter may see the light. For nothing is hidden that will not be disclosed, nor is anything secret that will not become known and come to light. Then pay attention to how you listen; for to those who have, more will be given; and from those who do not have, even what they seem to have will be taken away.”

From Bishop Barron's Gospel reflections: Light obviously isn’t for itself; rather, we see things by it. It illuminates things upon which it shines. 

We are light by which people around us come to see what is worth seeing. By the very quality and integrity of our lives, we shed light, illumining what is beautiful and revealing what is ugly. The clear implication is that without vibrant Christians the world is a much worse place.

Sanctoral: Saint Thomas of Villanova, Spain +1555

The absent-minded professor is a stock comic figure. Saint Thomas of Villanova earned even more derisive laughs with his determined shabbiness and his willingness to let the poor who flocked to his door take advantage of him. He embarrassed his peers, but Jesus was enormously pleased with him. We are often tempted to tend our image in others’ eyes without paying sufficient attention to how we look to Christ. Thomas still urges us to rethink our priorities.

Human: Rosh Hashanah 2025: Rosh Hashanah, literally “Head of the Year” in Hebrew, is the beginning of the Jewish new year. It is the first of the High Holidays or “Days of Awe,” ending ten days later with Yom Kippur.

This 2-day festival marks the anniversary of human creation—and the special relationship between humans and God, the creator.

1692 The last eight people - Martha Corey, Margaret Scott, Mary Easty, Alice Parker, Ann Pudeator, Wilmott Redd, Samuel Wardwell, and Mary Parker - are hanged for allegedly practicing witchcraft as a result of the Salem witch trials in Massachusetts Bay Colony; 19 are hanged overall, with six other deaths caused by the hysteria

1792 French First Republic is formed by the National Convention, stripping the French king of his powers

1862 US President Abraham Lincoln issues the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, threatening to free all enslaved people in the rebel Southern states if those states fail to rejoin the Union by January 1, 1863

1965 Ceasefire between India and Pakistan goes into effect, ending the Indo-Pakistani War

1980 Iraq invades Iran in an attempt to control the Shatt al-Arab waterway

Natural: Autumnal Equinox 2025!

For those in the Northern Hemisphere, when the Sun crosses the equator going from north to south, this marks the autumnal equinox; when it crosses from south to north, this marks the vernal equinox. In the Southern Hemisphere, it’s the reverse.

After the autumnal equinox, days become shorter than nights as the Sun continues to rise later and nightfall arrives earlier. This ends with the winter solstice, after which days start to grow longer once again. 

The word “equinox” comes from the Latin aequus, meaning “equal,” and nox, “night.” On the equinox, day and night are roughly equal in length.

The Misunderstood Equinox: Separating Fact from Fiction

Italian: Pollice (thumb / inch)

The thumb is the outermost digit, accompanied by l’indice (index finger), il medio (middle finger), l’anulare (ring finger) and il mignolo (pinky finger).

Quote: Fall, leaves, fall; die, flowers, away; 

Lengthen night and shorten day; 

Every leaf speaks bliss to me, 

Fluttering from the autumn tree.

— Emily Brontë (1818–48)