A Carpe Diem Snapshot:
Each and every day in Rome, I encounter example after example of how all roads lead here. Yesterday evening we were invited to the Domus Australia by our program's Latin teacher, who is also the rector there, and an Irishman. The event was Vespers for the vigil of the Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary in the Domus' chapel, which is Rome's sanctuary of Our Lady of Pompei (a copy of the original miraculous painting is in the photo above, with a relic of Blessed Bartolo Longo, who gifted this church the painting with his own hands). The rector not only brought in a phenomenal choir for the occasion from the Oratory in Oxford, England, but also invited the Promoter General of the Holy Rosary, Fr. Lawrence Lew, O.P., to deliver the homily. Needless to say, it was a timely address on the eve of a day set aside for fasting and prayer for peace with a rosary recitation to be led by Pope Francis at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore at 7pm tonight. Fr. Lew has organized a coordinated rosary recitation at 7pm across the globe in each time zone, for a 24 hour prayer vigil. Traditionally, the entire month of October is devoted to the Holy Rosary in honor of today's feast. Yesterday morning, Fr. Lew celebrated Mass in the grotto in Lourdes, France, flying into Rome to preach to us at the Domus Australia last night and then to accompany Pope Francis today for this global rosary event.
Liturgical: The Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary was instituted to honor Mary for the Christian victory over the Turks at Lepanto on October 7, 1571. Pope St. Pius V and all Christians had prayed the Rosary for victory. The Rosary, or the Psalter of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is one of the best prayers to Mary, the Mother of God.
Pope Benedict XVI invited all families to pray the Rosary for the intentions of the Pope, the mission of the Church and peace. "It is as if every year Our Lady invited us to rediscover the beauty of this prayer, so simple and profound." The Rosary, a "contemplative and Christocentric prayer, inseparable from the meditation of Sacred Scripture," is "the prayer of the Christian who advances in the pilgrimage of faith, in the following of Jesus, preceded by Mary," said the Pontiff.
"Do not be afraid, Mary,
for you have found favor with God.
Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,
and you shall name him Jesus.
He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High,
and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,
and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever,
and of his Kingdom there will be no end."
Bishop Barron's Gospel reflections today.
An audio about today's feast.
Sanctoral: The Roman Martyrology commemorates St. Mark, pope (d. 336), who succeeded St. Sylvester and was pope for eight months during Constantine's reign. He zealously continued the great work of Church organization made possible by the period of freedom from persecution due to the Emperor's conversion. He built two churches in Rome, one of which, the titulus Marci, has become the church of St. Mark, and still exists. He died in 336.
Human: Child Health Day. First proclaimed to be May 1 by President Coolidge in 1928, this national observance has taken place on the first Monday in October since 1960. On Child Health Day, we are encouraged to pay special attention to the physical and mental health and safety of children in the United States. Topics covered on this day include prenatal care, environmental hazards, and adolescent issues.
2023-- Massacre in Israel, a year of war in review by the BBC.
The Writer's Almanac edition today.
Natural: Tiber Day 2024 (October 7-13) brings attention to the role of the river that runs through Rome in a series of events.
Italian: Tosse (cough)
Columba Marmion
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