Calendar Class of February 6, 2025

A Carpe Diem Snapshot:

Just up the street from Cordelia's school is the Romanesque church of San Lorenzo in Piscibus, the home of the Vatican Youth Center. Ministering to all the pilgrims passing by, Adoration is available every weekday afternoon. I stopped in for a few minutes the other day and soaked up the simplicity and splendor, a stark contrast to the hubbub without.

Liturgical: Readings for the Memorial of Saint Paul Miki, Priest and Martyr, and his Companions, Martyrs

He called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. He ordered them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts; but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics.

Mark 6:7-13

Bishop Barron's Gospel reflections today.

Sanctoral: Today is the Memorial of St. Paul Miki, a Japanese Jesuit, and his twenty-five companions (d. 1597), who were martyred in Nagasaki, Japan. They were the first martyrs of East Asia to be canonized. They were killed simultaneously by being raised on crosses and then stabbed with spears. Their executioners were astounded upon seeing their joy at being associated to the Passion of Christ.

The Roman Martyrology also commemorates St. Dorothy, Virgin Martyr (d. 300) and St. Theophilus, Lawyer and Martyr (d. 300), martyrs in Caesarea in Cappadocia. Although their story cannot be historically substantiated, these are an example of saints whose feasts were removed from the Universal Calendar but still commemorated as saints within the Roman Martyrology.

Human: Elizabeth II ascended to British throne – 1952

Natural: It's the birthday of journalist Michael Pollan, born on Long Island, New York (1955). He's the author of best-selling books about food: The Botany of Desire (2001), The Omnivore's Dilemma (2006), In Defense of Food (2008), and Food Rules (2010). His nutrition philosophy is: "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants."

Italian: Occhiali (glasses)

Quote: "A Light Exists in Spring" by Emily Dickinson

A Light exists in Spring

Not present on the Year

At any other period –When March is scarcely here

A Color stands abroad

On Solitary Fields

That Science cannot overtake

But Human Nature feels.

It waits upon the Lawn,

It shows the furthest Tree

Upon the furthest Slope you know

It almost speaks to you.

Then as Horizons step

Or Noons report away

Without the Formula of sound

It passes and we stay –

A quality of loss

Affecting our Content

As Trade had suddenly encroached

Upon a Sacrament.