A Carpe Diem Snapshot:
As you presumably already know, I'm rather fond of collecting wisdom quotes and proverbs, as was Benjamin Franklin (see the link to Poor Richard's Almanack below). But even I, who have compiled six wisdom quote books (and counting), have discovered that it is only possible to digest so much wisdom in one sitting. For the past few weeks I have been drowning in stoic wisdom as I struggle to meet a tight deadline for the next quote book. The words of Seneca, Aurelius, and Epictetus echo in my ears with their constant reminder to "memento mori". Isn't this supposed to be the season of Easter joy and resurrection? Yet everywhere I turn is the not-so-subtle reminder of the brevity of life, including the Catholicculture.org meditation for today: "Yet a little while," for you are only pilgrims and strangers on earth. The liturgy wishes to center our attention and our efforts on what is right and enduring, and on those things in which we can find true peace. That alone has permanent value.
Seneca couldn't have said it better. Well, actually he probably could. The rest of the meditation is certainly worth reading if you have the chance.
When I allowed myself to take a "baci break" today, it provided me with yet another opportunity to collect a wisdom quote. This one was from the great Leo Tolstoy himself, who wrote "The secret of happiness lies not in doing what one likes, but in liking what one does." The sage of Mother Russia seems to be echoing the collective wisdom of the stoics, who continually caution us to do whatever is our duty in the present moment and to do it well, for that is all that truly exists and all that we can control. So I eat my chocolate, am grateful for it, and get back to work. Carpe Chocolate, Carpe Diem!
Liturgical: Wednesday of the Third Week of Easter Saul, meanwhile, was trying to destroy the Church; entering house after house and dragging out men and women, he handed them over for imprisonment.
Sanctoral: Robert Molesme (1027-1110), traditionally considered to be the founder of the Cistercians, the reform that developed at Citeaux, France.
Human: Death of Benjamin Franklin (U.S. statesman ) – 1790
2024- The "Natale di Roma" celebrations have begun in the Circus Maximus!!!! Actual birthday is on the 21st.
Natural: What do we actually know about Benjamin Franklin's kite experiment with electricity?
Quote: "An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest." - Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard's Almanack
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