A Carpe Diem Snapshot:
I snapped this Carpe Diem photo this morning to remind myself that, despite the state of the house behind the couch I am seated upon, we are still accomplishing one of the main goals of this rare trip home at Christmas-- to read as many books from our collection as possible before we have to leave them behind for another semester. Yesterday I added to that collection from the second hand store in Remus (where I've discovered a number of book treasures in the past), making it all the more challenging to get through our entire collection. But I suppose the fun is in the process and, if we ever get to an end, then it's just time to add to the collection. The two new-to-me stories that enriched our lives this morning were The Old Woman Who Named Things by Cynthia Ryland and The Story of the Year by Hans Christian Anderson.
Liturgical: Wednesday after Epiphany
Beloved, if God so loved us, we also must love one another. No one has ever seen God. Yet, if we love one another, God remains in us, and his love is brought to perfection in us.
1 John 4:11-18
Bishop Barron's Gospel reflections today.
Sanctoral: Today the Roman Martyrology commemorates St. Laurence Justinian (1381-1455), who was one of the great Italian Saints of the 15th century. A great religious as well as a great bishop, he maintained his austerity as Patriarch of Venice. His mother had planned a glorious career for him, but he preferred a simple and holy life. He joined the canons of St. George of Alga and lived among them in constant prayer and penance until Eugene IV called him to the episcopate. Finally, he became the first Patriarch of Venice when the title was transferred from Grado: at that period the city reached the apex of its power and glory. He combated the excesses of humanism and his austerity made him an example to great and simple alike. He died in 1455. His feast was formerly celebrated on September 5, the day of his ordination.
Our Lady of Prompt Succor, Patroness of the State of Louisiana, is celebrated in some areas in the United States.
Human: First State of the Union message, delivered by President George Washington – 1790, The 11th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, modifying the power of the Supreme Court, was ratified – 1798, First soup kitchens opened in London for the relief of the poor – 1800, Lewis and Clark saw a 105-foot-long whale skeleton in NW Oregon – 1806, Andrew Jackson defeated the British at the Battle of New Orleans (War of 1812) – 1815, President Wilson delivered his Fourteen Points speech, suggesting the creation of a League of Nations – 1918
Natural: Death of Galileo (astronomer) – 1642, Eli Whitney (inventor) – 1825, 2002
Alexander Prokhorov (Russian scientist who shared the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1964 for work that led to the development of the laser) – 2002, Joseph Lister published the results of his study of antiseptic surgical methods. His use of carbolic acid to sterilize instuments and wounds trebles the survival rate of his patients – 1870
Italian: Chiacchierone (chatterbox)
Quote: "A children’s story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children’s story in the slightest.”
—C.S. Lewis
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