A Carpe Diem Snapshot:
Early today I opened the doors and walked out into the Emerald Isle. Mist rising, rain pouring, loons crying, and a cool temperature of 57 degrees, one could mistake School Section Lake for one of the many lovely lakes of Ireland this morning. While summer is for swimming and sunshine, as far as the girls are concerned, a rainy day every now and then is the perfect excuse for hot tea and reading The Hobbit. This month, I am writing a long overdue article on "Tolkien in Rome", so this rainy day came at the right time to take up that task again. Right now, I am reading all about Stratford Caldecott's beautiful contribution to the Tolkien legacy.
Liturgical: Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord
Beloved:
We did not follow cleverly devised myths
when we made known to you
the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ,
but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty.
For he received honor and glory from God the Father
when that unique declaration came to him from the majestic glory,
“This is my Son, my beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”
We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven
while we were with him on the holy mountain.
Moreover, we possess the prophetic message that is altogether reliable.
You will do well to be attentive to it,
as to a lamp shining in a dark place,
until day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
Bishop Barron's Gospel reflections today.
Sanctoral: The Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord became widespread in the West in the 11th century and was introduced into the Roman calendar in 1457 to commemorate the victory over Islam in Belgrade. Before that, the Transfiguration of the Lord was celebrated in the Syrian, Byzantine, and Coptic rites. The Transfiguration foretells the glory of the Lord as God, and His Ascension into heaven. It anticipates the glory of heaven, where we shall see God face to face. Through grace, we already share in the divine promise of eternal life.
Human: It's the birthday of Alfred, Lord Tennyson born in Lincolnshire, England (1809). Tennyson gave us some of the most familiar lines in English poetry, including "'Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all" and "Theirs not to reason why, theirs but to do and die."
The Writer's Almanac edition today.
1661 Treaty of The Hague is signed, whereby the Dutch Republic sells New Holland (Brazil) to Portugal for 63 tonnes of gold
1991 Tim Berners-Lee releases files describing his idea for the World Wide Web and debuts WWW as a publicly available service on the Internet
1948 Dutch super athlete Fanny Blankers-Koen wins London Olympics 200m in 24.4s to become the first woman to claim three individual track and field gold medals at a Games, having already won the 100m and 80m hurdles
1965 US President Lyndon B. Johnson signs the Voting Rights Act, prohibiting voting discrimination against minorities
Natural: The first atomic bomb, named Little Boy, was dropped out of an American B-29 bomber over the center of the city Hiroshima, Japan, during World War II.– 1945
Prometheus, the world's oldest tree aged at least 4,862 years old, is accidentally cut down in Nevada, USA-- 1964
Italian: Palestra (gym / gymnasium)
English: Bilge
The protuberant part of a cask, which is usually in the middle. Also the part of a ship’s hull or bottom which is broadest and most nearly flat.
Quote: Wonder is the beginning of wisdom.
Comments