A Carpe Diem Snapshot:
In small towns like Mecosta, there are just two annual parades that bring everyone out, such as this Memorial Day ceremony at the village's cemetery, Mount Hope, where my earliest ancestors are buried, including the first village president, Amos Johnson. The local high school band played as veterans honored the fallen at a monument in the cemetery. Small flags were placed at all the graves of servicemen, and I spotted at least one civil war veteran marker. My Dad claimed this village as home during his bachelor years, eventually bringing his bride here from New York City in 1964, and she hasn't looked back since.
Liturgical: Monday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time
"Although you have not seen him you love him; even though you do not see him now yet you believe in him, you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, as you attain the goal of faith, the salvation of your souls."
Sanctoral: Memorial of St. Augustine of Canterbury (d. 605), who was born in Rome and died in Canterbury, England as the first Archbishop, having been sent there by Pope St. Gregory the Great, one of the Church Fathers.
Human: 2024 Memorial Day in the United States. Here is the National Memorial Day concert.
Natural: The risks of mouth-breathing (in children) and how to stop it.
Italian word of the day: Salve! = common formal greeting in Italian, from the Latin word meaning "Health to you!"
Quote: Today, I am celebrating the completion of my introduction to the book of stoic quotes. Here are a few by my favorite philosopher-king, Marcus Aurelius, a veteran of many wars:
"In your actions, don't procrastinate. In your conversations, don't confuse. In your thoughts, don't wander. In your soul, don't be passive or aggressive. In your life, don't be all about business."
"Not to feel exasperated or defeated or despondent because your days aren't packed with wise and moral actions. But to get back up when you fail, to celebrate behaving like a human—however imperfectly—and fully embrace the pursuit you've embarked on."
"A person who doesn't know what the universe is doesn't know who they are. A person who doesn't know their purpose in life doesn't know who they are or what the universe is. A person who doesn't know any of these things doesn't know why they are here. So what to make of people who seek or avoid the praise of those who have no knowledge of where or who they are?"
"Shame on the soul, to falter on the road of life while the body still perseveres."
"Whatever happens to you has been waiting to happen since the beginning of time. The twining strands of fate wove both of them together: your own existence and the things that happen to you."
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