A Carpe Diem Snapshot:
These seven books somehow found their way back with me from the trip to New Hampshire yesterday... It's the one on the top that doesn't have a visible title that I want to tell you more about. The tiny book caught my eye in the Detroit airport bookstore because it had a little seashell charm on a silk ribbon hanging from it and I thought it would be a good gift for Cordelia (whose name means "Jewel of the Sea" in Welsh). Upon inspection, I discovered that it was a little book of wisdom quotes from Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh. You already know that I have a soft spot for wisdom quote books considering I have compiled seven of them myself, but I did acquire the full version of this particular book at a Little Free Library earlier this summer, so it took a while to convince myself to buy this smaller version of it. The $5 price tag helped, and 60 seconds later it was in my bag. This morning, with an odious amount of accumulated housework looming before me, I prioritized sitting down outside with Cordelia to read her book-gift to her and discovered that it was actually more of a gift to myself. Although 7-year-old Cordelia patiently listened and enjoyed looking at the pictures of the shells, Lindbergh was directly addressing me, and I discovered yet another kindred spirit through her reflections on the life lessons drawn from living by the sea. It reminded me of another book I intend to read soon, Blue Mind by Wallace J. Nichols. Guess it's time to take another trip, and discover a few more new books in my carry-on luggage...
It is due to him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, as well as righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, so that, as it is written, Whoever boasts, should boast in the Lord.
Bishop Barron's Gospel reflections today.
Sanctoral: The Roman Martyrology commemorates Saints Joseph Arimathea and Nicodemus, who lived in first-century in Jerusalem at the time of Christ, and are mentioned in the Gospels. They received the dead body of Jesus deposited from the cross, wrapped it in linen and placed it in a tomb owned by Joseph. Joseph, was a "noble counselor" and disciple of the Lord, awaiting for the kingdom of God. Nicodemus, was a Pharisee and member of the Sanhedrin, who were the ruler of the Jews. He came to Jesus at night asking questions about his mission. In the presence of the Sanhedrin who wanted to seize Jesus, Nicodemus defended his cause.
St. Raymond Nonnatus (1204-1240) is also commemorated today. Raymond devoted his life to the ransoming of Christians held prisoner by the Mohammedans. He was one of the first members of the Order of Our Lady of Ransom (or Mercedarians) founded by St. Peter Nolasco and St. Raymond of Penafort. Having been sent to Africa he obtained the freedom of many captives; he offered his own person as a pledge for ransom that was not forthcoming in order to preserve from apostasy those whose faith was wavering. When he was set free he was made a Cardinal by Gregory IX and died on his return to Rome in 1240.
Human: It's the birthday of Maria Montessori, born on this day in Chiaravalle, Italy (1870). She was a bright student, studied engineering when she was 13, and — against her father's wishes — she entered a technical school, where all her classmates were boys. After a few years, she decided to pursue medicine, and she became the first woman in Italy to earn a medical degree. It was so unheard of for a woman to go to medical school that she had to get the approval of the pope in order to study there.
As a doctor, she worked with children with special needs, and through her work with them she became increasingly interested in education. She believed that children were not blank slates, but that they each had inherent, individual gifts. It was a teacher's job to help children find these gifts, rather than dictating what a child should know. She emphasized independence, self-directed learning, and learning from peers. Children were encouraged to make decisions. She was the first educator to use child-sized tables and chairs in the classroom.
During World War II, Montessori was exiled from Italy because she was opposed to Mussolini's fascism and his desire to make her a figurehead for the Italian government. She lived and worked in India for many years, and then in Holland. She died in 1952 at the age of 81.
She wrote many books about her philosophy of education, including The Montessori Method (1912), and is considered a major innovator in education theory and practice.
The Writer's Almanac edition today.
Natural: Hurricane Emily lashed the Outer Banks of North Carolina– 1993; Comet Howard-Koomur-Michels collided with the Sun– 1979
--Maria Montessori
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