A Carpe Diem Snapshot:
February came from the Latin word februa, “to cleanse.” The month was named after the Roman Februalia, which was a month-long festival of purification and atonement. Find fun facts all about the month of February!
Liturgical: Saturday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time
Brothers and sisters:
Faith is the realization of what is hoped for
and evidence of things not seen.
Because of it the ancients were well attested.
Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-19
Bishop Barron's Gospel reflections today.
Sanctoral: St. Brigid of Ireland (453-523) is commemorated in the Roman Martyrology. She is celebrated as a Feast in Ireland and as an Optional Memorial in New Zealand. Surnamed "the Mary of the Gael," St. Brigid was born at Faughart, near Dundalk. She took the veil in her youth and eventually founded the nunnery of Kildare, the first to be erected on Irish soil, thus becoming the spiritual mother of all Irish nuns. Around her name there have been formed hundreds of legends, which could be fittingly described as "the Little Flowers of St. Brigid," the keynote being mercy and pity for the poor.
Human: It was on this day in 1884 that the first part of the first edition of The Oxford English Dictionary was published. In those days, it had a much wordier name: A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles; Founded Mainly on the Materials Collected by The Philological Society. Eventually,the title was simplified to The Oxford English Dictionary.
The dictionary had been conceived decades earlier by a group of London scholars who belonged to the Philological Society, an organization that studied language. They were disappointed in the quality of available dictionaries. They formed an "Unregistered Words Committee" to find words that were missing from dictionaries, and intended to create a dictionary of those words.
The Writer's Almanac edition today.
Natural: February flowers-- the violet signifies watchfulness, loyalty, and faithfulness. Give a violet to someone to let them know that you’ll always be there for them. The primrose lets someone know that you can’t live without them.
February birthstone-- Like the violet, February’s birthstone is a purple color. It’s the beautiful amethyst. This gem is a form of quartz; it can range from a pale lilac color to a deep, rich purple. The name is based on a Greek myth that speaks of a nymph named Amethyst who was inadvertently turned into white stone; in remorse, the Greek god Bacchus poured wine over her to turn her a beautiful purple. The amethyst was thought to prevent intoxication and keep its wearer thinking sharply. It was worn by English royalty in the Middle Ages.
Italian: 10 Ways to Say “Hurry Up” in Italian
Quote: Prayer to Saint Brigid of Ireland
You were a woman of peace.
You brought harmony where there was conflict.
You brought light to the darkness.
You brought hope to the downcast.
May the mantle of your peace
cover those who are troubled and anxious,
and may peace be firmly rooted in our hearts and in our world.
Inspire us to act justly and to reverence all God has made.
Brigid you were a voice for the wounded and the weary.
Strengthen what is weak within us.
Calm us into a quietness that heals and listens.
May we grow each day into greater
wholeness in mind, body and spirit.
Amen.
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