Calendar Class of January 13, 2025

A Carpe Diem Snapshot:

Just after publishing my blog on the origin of the Book of Days on the 11th, I discovered this new-to-me Book of Days in my mail box! This compilation of calendar curiosities by Elizabeth and Gerald Donaldson looks particularly promising for Calendar Class use this year. Another new practice for 2025, in addition to the new Book of Days I'm creating in the leather journal pictured here, is the "Wheel of the Year" template the cat is highlighting. It's a visual reminder of all my New Year's resolutions in the margins, broken down into manageable monthly sections, which I will take on piece by piece as the wheel turns. Most of the content is the same from year to year, as they are all really life-long goals. Each year I do choose a new virtue and word to focus on, however, which are explained below.

My Virtue of the Year is "Caritas" and here's why I chose it: CARITAS IN VERITATE

My Word of the Year is "Posture" and here's why I chose it: How Posture Makes Us Human

Liturgical: Monday of the First Week in Ordinary Time

Brothers and sisters:

In times past, God spoke in partial and various ways to our ancestors through the prophets; in these last days, he spoke to us through the Son, whom he made heir of all things and through whom he created the universe...

Hebrews 1:1-6

Bishop Barron's Gospel reflections today.

Sanctoral: Optional Memorial of St. Hilary of Poitiers (310-367). Hilary was one of the great champions of the Catholic belief in the divinity of Christ. By his preaching, his treatise on the Trinity, his part in the Councils, his daring opposition to the Emperor Constantius, he showed himself a courageous apostle of the truth. He could not tolerate that the specious plea of safeguarding peace and unity should be allowed to dim the light of Gospel teaching. Bl. Pius IX proclaimed him a doctor of the Church.

In Scotland St. Kentigern, monk (518-603), is commemorated as a Memorial. He was a missionary to Scotland and bishop of the Strathclyde Britons. Exiled, he fled to Wales. Kentigern died in 603.

Human: St. Knut's Day

In Sweden, January 13 is the traditional day to discard the Christmas tree and end the season’s festivities.

A children’s party is the favored way to strip the tree of its decorations, after which the children are free to plunder the edible treats and small gifts placed on the tree especially for the occasion.

This Christmas tree plundering is often accompanied by smashing up the gingerbread houses and eating them while discarding of the decorations.

Finally, everyone “dances” the tree out the door. Singing special songs, they pick up the tree and toss it out into the snow.

Natural: Death of Maria Sibylla Merian (naturalist/artist) – 1717: A meeting took place in Washington, D.C., to organize the National Geographic Society – 1888; Existence of monkey clone Tetra announced – 2000

Italian: Baleno (flash)

Quote: "Do not be depressed. Do not let your weakness make you impatient. Instead, let the serenity of your spirit shine through your face. Let the joy of your mind burst forth."

St. Peter Damian