Calendar Class of May 14, 2024

A Carpe Diem Snapshot:

Although the kids and I keep reminding her that she came to Rome to see us, her offspring, my mother insists that it was really to meet these distinguished gentlemen in the photo above! ;) Just next to her is Agostino Carrino, who recently published the Italian translation of my Dad's book Rights and Duties. Next to Professor Carrino is Gary Gregg, a longtime friend and professor at the McConnell Center at the University of Louisville in Kentucky (as well as the author of the newly published book, The Stag and the Spear!). Next to Gary is another old friend, Marco Respinti, a globe-trotting journalist and translator of The Roots of American Order into Italian (no small accomplishment!). And finally, there is Professor Infantino, who helped Professor Carrino with the publication. Although he's been gone for thirty years now, it was Dad who brought these friends, both old and new, together at the Villa Magnolia.

Liturgical: Readings for the Feast of Saint Matthias

I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father.

Sanctoral: Feast of St. Matthias, Apostle and Martyr. He is the only apostle to be buried north of the alps, in Trier, Germany.

Human: Ancient Rome-- The rituals of the Argei took place on March 16 and 17, and on May 14 and 15. At the time of Augustus, the purpose of these rites was unclear even to the Romans themselves. In May there was a procession of pontiffs, vestals and praetors around the circus, which made its way around a circuit of 27 stations (sacella or sacraria) with a human figure made of reed and straw. After all the stations were visited, the procession moved to the Pons Sublicius, the oldest known bridge in Rome, where the gathered figures were tossed into the Tiber River. According to Ovid, this ritual was established as a form of endearing Saturn or Tiberinus. However, we do not know the exact reason for the ceremony.

Natural: How are rainbows formed? Rainbows are formed opposite to the sun by the refraction and reflection of the sun’s rays in drops of falling rain. The raindrops are responsible for the colors of rainbows. They break the sunlight up into the full spectrum of colors, each drop acting as a sort of miniature prism. Each color emerges at a slightly different angle on each raindrop. When millions of raindrops gather, the spectrum shows up as distinct bands of color — each with a different length. Red is the longest and violet the shortest band. The arc is most pronounced when the Sun is close to the horizon.

Quote:

"Trees" by Joyce Kilner

I think that I shall never see

A poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest

Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day,

And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in Summer wear

A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;

Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me,

But only God can make a tree.

Today, the Villa Magnolia hosted the poetess, Sally Read, to discuss her inspiring conversion story as well as her new book, 100 Great Catholic Poems. The poem above was selected from this anthology.