Calendar Class of December 12, 2024

A Carpe Diem Snapshot:

Valentina has been creating Madonna and Child painting gifts lately, with this one going to Jiddoh and Teta in Lebanon. Appropriately, it is named "Our Lady of the Cedars," and the artist declares it her best so far. With so many Marian feasts this month, today included, it is a perennial source of artistic inspiration and an ideal handmade Christmas present, just as Mary's perpetual gift to the world is the Baby Jesus.

Liturgical: Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

"Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”

Bishop Barron's Gospel reflections today.

Sanctoral: In the USA the Church celebrates the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, elsewhere it is an Optional Memorial. Our Lady appeared to an Indian convert named Juan Diego on December 9, 1531. She left a marvelous portrait of herself on the mantle of Juan Diego. This miraculous image has proved to be ageless and is kept in the shrine built in her honor, the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe. In 1910, Our Lady of Guadalupe was declared Patroness of Latin America, and in 1945 Pope Pius XII declared Her to be the Empress of all the Americas.

Mexican hot chocolate recipe for today's feast celebrations.

Human: Birthday of John Jay, 1745

384 AD – the ancient Pope Damasus I died. Several important events took place during his pontificate, including the creation of the Vulgate Bible, the classical translation of the Latin Bible directly from Hebrew, and the proclaiming of Christianity as the state religion of the Roman Empire. His successor was Siricius.

The Writer's Almanac edition today.

Natural: 1901 Guglielmo Marconi sends the first transatlantic radio signal, from Poldhu in Cornwall to Newfoundland, Canada

Italian: Accarezzare (to stroke)

Quote: "Let not your heart be disturbed… Am I not here, who is your Mother? Are you not under my protection? Am I not your health? Are you not happily within my fold? What else do you wish? Do not grieve nor be disturbed by anything.” (Our Lady of Guadalupe to Juan Diego)