A Carpe Diem Snapshot:
In Rome, with gorgeous churches on every block and countless Masses to choose from, it is easy to take it all for granted. Not so in the New World, where one has to make a bit of an effort to make it to Mass or find a beautiful church. One can't just pop into a Baroque basilica for an hour of adoration when running errands in the city. Fortunately, this summer I discovered the Wednesday evening line-up of confession, Mass, and adoration at St. Mary's chapel at Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant. The first time I tried to attend, my friends and I sat in an empty church for quite a while at the time Mass was supposed to begin, feeling as though we had been "left behind." It turns out that the parish priest, along with many parishioners, were at the Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis! Yesterday, we had better luck, with a lovely Mass celebrated by a guest priest who came for a visit from Indianapolis. The young priest spoke of the early martyrs of Rome, as it was the feast day of Pope St. Sixtus II and companions, who died in 258 under Emperor Valerian. Every day, I am reminded of the legacy of Rome in one way or another, which is why I suppose all roads lead there, and why so many Catholics in particular feel that Rome is a second home, the alma mater.
Liturgical: Readings for the Memorial of Saint Dominic, Priest
Yet we do speak a wisdom to those who are mature,
but not a wisdom of this age,
nor of the rulers of this age who are passing away.
Rather, we speak God's wisdom, mysterious, hidden,
which God predetermined before the ages for our glory,
and which none of the rulers of this age knew;
for, if they had known it,
they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
Bishop Barron's Gospel reflections today.
Sanctoral: Today the Church celebrates the Memorial of St. Dominic (1170-1221). At the end of the twelfth century the Church in France was ravaged by the Albigensian heresy, a doctrine which was not only entirely unchristian but which, in addition, constituted a social evil. Effective measures were required to be taken to combat it. Where others had failed, a Spanish canon, St. Dominic Guzman, succeeded. He was notable for his learning and love of poverty. The Order of Preachers (Dominicans), which he founded about the year 1215, was endowed by him with these two characteristics; instead of manual labor, as practiced by the Cistercian monks, he required his friars to work with their minds by preaching and teaching. He died at Bologna on August 6, 1221. His friend, Gregory IX, canonized him three years later.
The Roman Martyrology also commemorates St. Mary MacKillop (1842-1909). She was an Australian religious sister who became the first native born Australian saint, as St. Mary of the Cross. Of Scottish descent, she was born in Melbourne but is best known for her activities in South Australia. She co-founded the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart (Josephites) and established schools and places of refuge for the working class and poor across Australia and New Zealand. She died on August 8, 1909 and was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI on October 17, 2010. The Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments has approved a request from the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference that the liturgical observance of St Mary MacKillop on 8th August be raised to the level of a Solemnity. By having her feast day celebrated as the highest liturgical rank, the Church in Australia acknowledges that the story of and devotion to Mary MacKillop has a prominent place in the Catholic community and beyond.
Human: 449 AD – the Second Council of Ephesus began, called by the Emperor Theodosius II in order to end the dispute over the nature of Jesus (monophysitism). About 150 bishops took part in it. The deliberations were directed by Theodosius II and the Patriarch of Alexandria, Pope Dioscurus, both supporters of monophysitism.
1988 Ceasefire between Iran and Iraq takes effect after 8 years of war
The Writer's Almanac edition for today.
English: fusty
British : impaired by age or dampness : moldy; saturated with dust and stale odors : musty; rigidly old-fashioned or reactionary
Italian: Lingua (tongue / language)
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