The Daily Lives etc. Calendar
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I managed to find this dandy little item at a bookstore once, and I’ve been sold on them ever since. “The Daily Lives, Miracles and Wisdom of the Saints and Fasting Calendar” is a spiral-bound daily calendar lets you start the day with a little something to think about and other bits of help. In addition, it was the best boost I could ask for with a resolution I made to myself to get to know the saints and Orthodox writers (ancient and new) a little better. I’m passing on the recommendation because I don’t think they’re very well-known.
There’s a new one every year (of course). For every day you get:- a list of the saints of the day
- a longer reading — usually the life of one of the saints, but sometimes a church festival, miracle or the story of a celebrated icon.
- a short thought for the day from a church father or other Orthodox thinker
- Scripture readings for the day and a reference to any feasts
- fasting guidelines
Sort of like the old “Daily Bread” pages your grandma used to include in her letters to you (or was that just my grandma). Anyway, I’ve found them a wonderful help to kick off the little time I’ve got alloted to Orthodox reading. The only caveats I would throw in there is that: (a) not every quote of the day is solid gold — with 365 every year, you’re bound to have a clunker every now and then, but darn few; and (b) occasionally the Scripture readings don’t mesh with what we’re doing in church. And by the way, this is New Calendar, not Old Calendar.
They’re put out by a small company, and so I believe the only way to get them is to order by mail. They’re $15.00 each (with a 10% discount if you get more than 20), plus $1.75 S&H for one or $2.50 for two. Check or money order to:
Georgia Mitrakos
P. O. Box 11331
Pittsburgh, PA 15238There are other special instructions for Hawaii, Alaska and Canada, and I guess they don’t ship elsewhere. Plus other shipping info if you’re ordering more than two or want to get them faster. E-mail mitrakos@comcast.net for more info.
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I’ve gotten them before. If I were wise, I’d recycle them for other years, I just buy new ones.
You make a really good point. In the past, I have wished that I had thought to tear out pages with things I really want, because you may not see the same ones the next year.
I actually still have the ones I’ve bought, but I don’t use them again. Although I should.
[…] But thinking about the wooden egg reminds me of something I read earlier this week, so I go look up the quote for Wednesday in “Daily Lives.” Do not look only for delight in prayer; do not become despondent when you don’t feel joy. Sometimes you stand and stand in church, and it seems that you do not have a heart within you, but a piece of wood — rough and coarse. And so what? For the piece of wood, thank you Lord! it means that this is how it should be. By experiencing sweet delights, a soul can become puffed up; but such a state of ’stony insensibility’ humbles it. […]
[…] When I read that this morning in “Daily Lives,” I didn’t have to work hard to bring up examples in my mind of times when people I’ve thought I knew suddenly seemed to turn on me, or times when I turned on them. When I’m the one in the wrong, I’m almost as surprised as the other person. If they say “Where did THAT come from?” I’ve had to sheepishly answer “I don’t know.” Which isn’t quite the truth. I do know where it comes from. We all do, I think, except the most deluded or the most godless. […]
[…] I feel like I’ve had a lot of quotes lately about our sinful tendencies, so I thought the one I read in today’s “Daily Lives” might provide some much-needed perspective. […]
[…] From Daily Lives and the OCA site: A little bit about St. David of Hermopolis in Egypt, a saint commemorated today. Maybe the story’s not that unusual. I just never heard of a saint entering the monastic life by issuing death threats. […]
[…] From “Daily Lives:” Love which stems from created things is like a small lamp whose light is sustained by being fed with olive oil. Again, it is like a river fed by rainfall; once the supply that feeds it fails, the surge of its flow abates. But love whose cause is God is like a spring welling up from the depths. Its flow never abates, for God alone is that spring of love whose supply never fails. […]
[…] This was the quote today in “Daily Lives **” and I thought it was pretty appropriate as we get a little further into Lent: […]
[…] It was a good discussion, and I was still thinking about the humility we’re called to when I read this in “Daily Lives” the next day: […]
[…] I read this quote in “Daily Lives” weeks ago and I’ve been carrying it around with me ever since. I’m hoping to get a chance to put together a few thoughts about it, but everything seems to be conspiring these days to keep me busy. Which is ironic, given the subject of Elder Paisios advice: […]
[…] Loved this quote from St. Justin the Martyr in this morning’s “Daily Lives” reading: Every Divine Liturgy is a new Annunciation, since the One, Holy Catholic and Apostolic Orthodox Church stands in the Most Immaculate Theotokos’ place. While the Body of the church — through the mouth of the Celebrant Priest — says, “Send down Thy Holy Spirit upon us,” he repeats, in a way, the Ever-Virgin’s words: “Behold the handmaiden of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word,” and the Annunciation of the Theotokos of the Church is officiated. Blessed Annunciation feast to all! […]