A Carpe Diem Snapshot:
There are few things more exciting for an author than to randomly discover one's very own book on the shelf of a major bookstore, especially in such good company. I found mine yesterday amidst a large collection of the works of C.S. Lewis when Maya and I were hunting down the store's single copy of St. Augustine's Confessions (on his feast day, I must add!). This particular book was co-authored with my dear friend Kelly Leahy, who just visited us in Michigan, and was commissioned by another dear friend, Caitlin Doyle, who also just visited us in Michigan, when Kelly was there. All of this was completely unplanned, which means it was all meant to be, in keeping with a Carpe Diem kind of life.
Liturgical: Readings for the Memorial of the Passion of Saint John the Baptist
"'I want you to give me at once on a platter the head of John the Baptist.' The king was deeply distressed, but because of his oaths and the guests he did not wish to break his word to her. So he promptly dispatched an executioner with orders to bring back his head. He went off and beheaded him in the prison. He brought in the head on a platter and gave it to the girl. The girl in turn gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb."
Bishop Barron's Gospel reflections today.
Oscar Wilde's play, Salome.
Sanctoral: Today is the Memorial of the Passion of St. John the Baptist. The Church, having celebrated the earthly birthday of St. John the Baptist on June 24, today honors the anniversary of his martyrdom. Besides our Lord and our Lady, St. John the Baptist is the only one whose birth and death are thus celebrated. Today's Gospel relates the circumstances of his execution. He had the courage to blame Herod to his face for the scandal of his illegal union with his sister-in-law Herodias, whose husband was still alive. Herodias contrived to make Herod imprison him and took advantage of an unexpected opportunity to obtain through her daughter Salome the beheading of the saint.
The Roman Martyrology also commemorates St. Sabina (d. 126), a wealthy widow martyr of Rome, Italy. The titular church of St. Sabina of the Aventine named for her is a gem of Christian architecture. It owes its origin to the generosity of a Roman lady of the name of Sabina who gave to the Christian community the house that she possessed in this aristocratic quarter of Rome. The martyrologies also commemorate another St. Sabina who died in Umbria. The identity of name has caused confusion between the two women.
Human: Birthday of John Locke (philosopher) – 1632, Ingrid Bergman (actress) – 1915 (AND death day, 1982)
The Writer's Almanac edition today.
Natural: A cold wave brought 2.5 inches of snow to the top of New Hampshire’s Mount Washington for an August record– 1965; Hurricane Katrina devastated the coastal regions of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. More than 1,800 lives were lost– 2005
Italian: Spiritoso (witty / funny / smart-alecky)
Quote: “The mystery of love is greater than the mystery of death.”
― Oscar Wilde, Salomé
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