A Carpe Diem Snapshot:
This morning, we are launching Maya from Michigan to New Hampshire as she begins her second year at Thomas More College. This mosaic on the floor of the Grand Rapids airport depicts the produce grown in Western Michigan and the city's civic infrastructure- many churches, hospitals, and universities. The expansion and shiny new look of the airport reflects the city's success and growing reputation as a desirable destination and residence. I still remember when the airport was a simple, compact place where it was possible to leave your parked car at the front entrance, have a meal at the diner, and walk the passenger straight to the gate. It was from this airport that I was launched out to all the places I've ever traveled, from my first trip to Europe with my parents when I was 11 to countless flights to Scotland during my college years. Now here we are in this sleek new airport that looks like every other airport we pass through in the U.S. and I am grateful to find something a little original on the floor, a little tribute to what makes this particular place unique and inspires a bit of local pride.
Liturgical: Readings for the Memorial of Saint Monica
"May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting encouragement and good hope through his grace, encourage your hearts and strengthen them in every good deed and word."
Bishop Barron's Gospel reflections today.
Sanctoral: Today the Church celebrates the Memorial of St. Monica (333-387) was born in Tagaste, northern Africa and died in Ostia, near Rome. Monica was a Christian, but her husband Patricius was a pagan and a man of loose morals. Monica's virtues and prayers, however, converted him, and he was baptized a year before his death. When her son, Augustine, joined the Manichean sect and went astray in faith and morals, Monica's tears and prayers for her son were incessant. She followed him to Milan, where Augustine went to teach, and there continued to storm heaven with her prayers for her son. Finally, she had the joy of witnessing St. Ambrose baptize Augustine in 387. She died in Ostia, as she and her son gazed at the sea and discoursed about the joys of the blessed.
Once buried in Ostia, her tomb is now in the beautiful church of Sant' Agostino in Rome.
Human: 1928 Kellogg-Briand Pact, 60 nations agree to condemn 'recourse to war for the solution of international controversies'; 1979 Lord Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, cousin of Queen Elizabeth II and last Viceroy of India, is killed along with three companions, two of them children, by the IRA when his boat is blown up near Sligo, Ireland; Death of Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie, executed by a Marxist–Leninist military junta in 1975
This day in Roman history:
Volturnalia was celebrated, a festival to protect the still-ripening fruit from deterioration in the hot south-eastern winds (often occurring at this time of the year). During the festival, Volturnusa, the god of rivers and the south-eastern wind, was worshiped.
410 AD – Alaric’s army left Rome. After that, the Goths set off south, robbing Campania. During the march, in December Alaric died, and Ataulf took his place. Throughout 411 AD Goths stayed in Italy, plundering it completely.
Italian: Bosco (woods)
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