A Carpe Diem Snapshot:
This is my "room with a view"! The "new" St. Peter's Basilica is the reason why we are living in this location, to give our students, pilgrims, and tourist clients access to this incredible church and the little city-state that surrounds it. It was on this day that the new St. Peter's Basilica was consecrated in 1626, making it the largest Christian church in the world, to this very day.
Liturgical: Monday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time
Blessed is the one who reads aloud
and blessed are those who listen to this prophetic message
and heed what is written in it, for the appointed time is near.
Bishop Barron's Gospel reflections today
Sanctoral: Today is the Optional Memorial of the Dedication of the Basilicas of Sts. Peter and Paul. The whole Church celebrates the dedication of the two great Roman basilicas of St. Peter at the Vatican and of St. Paul-Outside-the-Walls. The Basilica of St. Peter stands on the site of the tomb of the Prince of the Apostles, where Nero's Circus stood. It was here that St. Peter was executed. Recent excavations have shown that the present basilica which, in the seventeenth century replaced the ancient Constantinian basilica, was built over the tomb of St. Peter, just as the previous basilica. It was consecrated by Urban VIII on November 18, 1626. St. Paul-Outside-the-Walls, situated at the other end of the city on the Ostian Way, is built near the place St. Paul was martyred. It was almost completely destroyed by fire in 1823 and was rebuilt in sumptuous fashion by Gregory XVI and Pius IX and consecrated by the latter on December 10, 1854. The celebration of the anniversary of these two dedications has been kept, nevertheless, on November 18.
Human: 1477 First English dated printed book "Dictes & Sayengis of the Phylosophers" by William Caxton is printed at his press in London
Ancient Roman history today:
The season of trade fairs began, which lasted until November 20. Cicero mentions that Numa Pompillius, the semi-legendary king of Rome, established a mercatus to facilitate trade and linked it with the ludi cereales. From then on, more people gathered on the markets.
401 AD – The Visigoths, led by Alaric, crossed the Alps and invaded Northern Italy. In Rome itself, the city walls were strengthened. Alaric’s troops joined the siege of Milan, in which emperor Honorius was hiding. Stilicho, who had arrived with the reinforcements, fought with the Visigoths the battle of Polentia on 6 April 402 AD. After this clash, Alaric promised to leave Italy.
The Writer's Almanac edition today.
Italian: Capriccio (tantrum / whim)
Quote: "There is scarcely an account of any Roman sojourn that does not contain the impressions of a visit to St Peter's. Those who remained silent about virtually everything else often found their voices inside the great basilica. The sole record of Fyodor Dostoevsky's thoughts during his 1863 stay are that the church 'sent a shiver down the spine'."
'A Literary Companion to Rome' Copyright © 1991 by John Varriano, p. 221
I like the view from your room. Enjoy!