A Carpe Diem Snapshot:
Now that the humans are back to school and work, this place has gone to the birds. Day and night the geese practice their formations with increasing intensity and volume. With the Indian summer now thankfully upon us, I took advantage of the sun and solitude and went down to the dock to do my morning SAVERS routine. More often than not I don't discipline myself to get out of bed early enough to do this brief yet beneficial ritual before everyone else wakes up, including today. But when I opened Instagram this morning the first thing I saw was a post from Dr. Rangan Chatterjee: "Without question, in my opinion, a daily practice of solitude is the most important daily habit for health and happiness." And so, although the morning is nearly over, I took my SAVERS supplies down to the water. I noted how the geese training right in front of me don't require any supplies, or even encouragement, to train themselves for health and happiness, apart from the very loud honking of their drill sergeant. They just do what must be done, night and day.
Liturgical: Readings for the Memorial of Saint Cornelius, Pope and Martyr, and Saint Cyprian, Bishop and Martyr
"Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof. Therefore, I did not consider myself worthy to come to you; but say the word and let my servant be healed."
Bishop Barron's Gospel reflections today.
Sanctoral: Today's Memorial of Saints Cornelius (d. 253) and Cyprian (190-258) commemorates two friends in the service of Christ and his Church. Cornelius, a Roman, was the twenty-first Pope during the reign of the Emperor Gallus and Volusian. He had to oppose Novatian, the first anti-pope, who believed that apostates who repented could not be forgiven. Helped by St. Cyprian, Cornelius confirmed his papal authority. He was beheaded in exile at Civitavecchia, Italy in 253. Saints Cyprian and Cornelius are mentioned in the Roman Canon (Eucharistic Prayer I) of the Mass.
Human: 16 AD – Julia Drusilla was born, daughter of Germanicus, sister of Caligula. She was favored by Caligula, and widespread rumors claimed she was his lover too. We do not know if the close relations between the siblings were really sexual or whether they were only attempts to discredit the private life of the emperor. After her sudden death on 10 June 38 AD, Julia was buried with the honor of Augusta, proclaimed by the senate at the request of Caligula, a goddess and was consecrated as Panthea. She was the first woman in the history of Rome who was deified. Caligula gave the name Drusilla to his daughter – after his favorite sister.
307 AD – Emperor Severus II died. He was an officer of the Roman army, he served in Pannonia for many years, he was proclaimed co-emperor on 1 May 305 AD along with Constantius Chlorus. After the death of Chlorus on 25 July 306 AD, together with Galerius, he took part in an unsuccessful attempt to deprive Maxentius of power. He surrendered to Maximian (father of Maxentius) in Ravenna, and eventually was taken to Rome and killed there later.
The Writer's Almanac edition today-- lots of interesting stuff!
Natural: Many people reported seeing lake monster Ogopogo in Okanagan Lake, British Columbia – 1926
National Guacamole Day-- Valentina's recipe contains diced apples, yum!
Italian: Battuta (joke)
Quote: “Men may spurn our appeals, reject our message, oppose our arguments, despise our persons, but they are helpless against our prayers.”
J. Sidlow Baxter
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