A Carpe Diem Snapshot:
A very special sunrise this morning! Thundering hail on the skylight woke me up in the wee hours so I figured a planned 6 am walk in the park with Joseph was a no-go. To my surprise, however, he called to be sure I was awake, so I rose to the challenge. The Carpe Diem attitude has rubbed off on him, at least for today! We dodged huge puddles on our way to take in this view in the Villa Pamphili park, where we ran into a few of the students who were also greeting the dawn in the park. I savored this small sign of success in raising a child who appreciates the power and beauty of being in nature at dawn. It is a total immersion for the senses that is scientifically proven to be the number one thing to improve one's health- listening to bird song signals the brain that we are in a safe environment which reduces stress levels, gazing at the brightest part of the sky with naked eyes improves our circadian rhythm, moving the body first thing in the morning boosts the metabolism, and so on. Seize the Dawn!
Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he had finished,
one of his disciples said to him,
"Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples."
He said to them, "When you pray, say:
Father, hallowed be your name,
your Kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread
and forgive us our sins
for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us,
and do not subject us to the final test."
Bishop Barron's Gospel reflections today: "Friends, our Gospel for today gives us an opportunity to reflect on the great prayer that Jesus taught us. Think how this prayer links us to all of the great figures in Christian history, from Peter and Paul to Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, Francis of Assisi, John Henry Newman, G.K. Chesterton, John Paul II, and right up to the present day.
A desire to pray is planted deep within us. This just means the desire to speak to God and to listen to him. Keep in mind that prayer is not designed to change God’s mind or to tell God something he doesn’t know. God isn’t like a big city boss or a reluctant pasha whom we have to persuade. He is rather the one who wants nothing other than to give us good things—though they might not always be what we want.
Can you see how this prayer rightly orders us? We must put God’s holy name first; we must strive to do his will in all things and at all times; we must be strengthened by spiritual food or we will fall; we must be agents of forgiveness; we must be able to withstand the dark powers."
Sanctoral: England and Wales celebrate the Feast of St. John Henry Newman (1801-1890), who was canonized on October 13, 2019. At his beatification Pope Benedict XVI noted Newman's emphasis on the vital place of revealed religion in civilized society but also praised his pastoral zeal for the sick, the poor, the bereaved and those in prison. All other locations may celebrate an Optional Memorial. Here's more info with links.
The Roman Martyrology also commemorates St. Louis Bertrand (1526-1581), a Spanish Dominican who preached in South America during the 16th century, and is known as the "Apostle to the Americas."
St. Denis, a third-century apostle of Gaul, became first bishop of Paris. He suffered martyrdom there, together with his priest Rusticus and his deacon Eleutherius. He is one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers.
Human: Leif Eriksson Day
In A.D. 1000, long before Columbus, Eriksson led a Viking voyage westward from Greenland and reached the coast of North America, in what is now Newfoundland. He named his discovery Vinland. Although Eriksson is not officially credited with the European discovery of America, ever since 1964 U.S. presidents have had the option of proclaiming October 9 as Leif Eriksson Day.
Death of Oskar Schindler (businessman) – 1974
The Writer's Almanac today.
Natural: Leif Eriksson's Sea Route on Google Earth
Italian: Fede (faith)
Quote: "The world would have peace if only the men of politics would follow the Gospels." --St. Bridget of Sweden
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