Random trivia that I have collected over the years.
Jump to: Devil's Advocate,
Ides of March
The Ides of March
The term Ides comes from the earliest Roman calendar, which is said to have been devised by Romulus, the founder of Rome. The Roman calendar organized its months around three days:
- Kalends (1st day of the month)
- Nones (the 7th day in March, May, July, and
October; the 5th in the other months)
- Ides (the 15th day in March, May, July, and
October; the 13th in the other months)
The remaining, unnamed days of the month were identified by counting backwards from the Kalends, Nones, or the Ides. For example, March 3 would be V Nones, 5 days before the Nones (the Roman method of counting days was inclusive; in other words, the Nones would be counted as one of the 5 days).
The Devil's Advocate
A quick search of the web would turn up a number of definitions:
- Historical: 'a person appointed by the
Roman
Catholic Church to challenge a proposed beatification or canonization,
or the verification of a miracle.' - Oxford Enlish Dictionary
- One who argues against a cause or
position, not as a committed opponent but simply for the sake of
argument or to determine the validity of the cause or position. -
FreeDictionary.com
- Latin Advocatus
Diaboli,
in the Roman Catholic church, the promoter
of the faith, who critically
examines the life of and miracles attributed to an individual proposed
for beatification or canonization. He is popularly called the devil's
advocate because his presentation of facts includes everything
unfavourable to the candidate. - Encyclopedia
Britinica
The Roman Catholic Church felt it neccesary to temper one-sided arguments by having someone question the motives and accuracy of those involved.
Questioning in this way is not a bad thing if it isn't carried too far.
Copyright 1998-2005, owl communications, All rights reserved.
Home Fun