Saturday, January 24, 2026

JANUARY 24 Saturday Saint Francis de Sales, Bishop

Exodus, Chapter 1, Verse 21

And because the midwives FEARED God, God built up families for them.

God’s mercy is just like the drops of water which grooves stones to make gorges and canyons; small acts of mercy have a similar effect on the hearts of sinners making them into monoliths of strength. Therefore, they resisted Pharaoh’s decree to kill the children of Israel. Likewise, we must resist the laws that are enacted that defy the law of God.

The Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church[1] addresses the issue of when and how St. Peter's teaching that obedience to God comes before obedience to men applies in the modern Christian's life. Presciently, or perhaps better, prophetically, Pope Benedict XVI foresaw and foresees increasing conflict between American Catholics and a public authority increasingly secularized and increasingly hostile to the moral values of its Catholic citizens. The conflict is caused by the increasing demands of the State to "to deny the right of conscientious objection on the part of Catholic individuals and institutions with regard to cooperation in intrinsically evil practices." The aggressive secularist State wants freedom of religion to be limited to "mere freedom of worship," and not to "freedom of conscience" which extends beyond the realm of the four walls of a Church into the "public square" of social, civil, political, and economic life." Christians may conscientiously object to civil laws if they infringe upon one or more of three things:

(1) the law violates the moral order, that is, the natural moral law.

(2) the law violates fundamental human rights; or

(3) the law violates the teachings of the Gospel, which is to say the teachings of the Church. Laws that trespass against one or more of these three things may not be obeyed, and obedience to them must be refused. In fact, the Christian has both a duty and a right to refuse such a law. And though it may be unrecognized, it is a right that he must exercise regardless of the consequences to him.

The full text of the Compendium on this issue merits quotation:

"Citizens are not obligated in conscience to follow the prescriptions of civil authorities if their precepts are contrary to the demands of the moral order, to the fundamental rights of persons or to the teachings of the Gospel. Unjust laws pose dramatic problems of conscience for morally upright people:

when they are called to cooperate in morally evil acts they must refuse. Besides being a moral duty, such a refusal is also a basic human right which, precisely as such, civil law itself is obliged to recognize and protect. 'Those who have recourse to conscientious objection must be protected not only from legal penalties but also from any negative effects on the legal, disciplinary, financial and professional plane.'" "It is a grave duty of conscience not to cooperate, not even formally, in practices which, although permitted by civil legislation, are contrary to the Law of God. Such cooperation in fact can never be justified, not by invoking respect for the freedom of others nor by appealing to the fact that it is foreseen and required by civil law. No one can escape the moral responsibility for actions taken, and all will be judged by God himself based on this responsibility (cf. Rom 2:6; 14:12)." (Compendium, No. 399)

The right of conscientious objection is not the right of resistance, and the two should be carefully distinguished. Moreover, resistance which can be expressed in "many different concrete ways" should be distinguished from the last and desperate recourse of "armed resistance." The right to resist an oppressive law or an oppressive government is one that is found in the natural law. It is a right which precedes a government, and so is one that is inalienable. Resistance generally is something to be avoided, and it is justified only if there is a "serious" infringement or "repeated" and chronic infringements of the natural moral law, a fundamental human right, or a Gospel precept. "Recognizing that natural law is the basis for and places limits on positive law means admitting that it is legitimate to resist authority should it violate in a serious or repeated manner the essential principles of natural law. Saint Thomas Aquinas writes that 'one is obliged to obey . . . insofar as it is required by the order of justice.' Natural law is therefore the basis of the right to resistance." The right of resistance is not one that necessarily has the overthrow of government in mind. There may be many ways in which resistance may be expressed, and there may be many ends which resistance may have in mind: "There can be many different concrete ways this right may be exercised; there are also many different ends that may be pursued. Resistance to authority is meant to attest to the validity of a different way of looking at things, whether the intent is to achieve partial change, for example, modifying certain laws, or to fight for a radical change in the situation." (Compendium, No. 400)

Resistance in the sense of armed resistance is something which is a last resort. The Church has identified five conditions all of which must be met before armed resistance is morally justified:

"1) there is certain, grave and prolonged violation of fundamental rights,

2) all other means of redress have been exhausted,

3) such resistance will not provoke worse disorders,

4) there is well-founded hope of success; and

5) it is impossible reasonably to foresee any better solution."

As the Church observes, armed resistance, even if morally justified, is generally to be avoided, and passive resistance is to be preferred. Armed resistance is often a Pandora's Box which unleashes as much or more evil as it intended to avoid. "Recourse to arms is seen as an extreme remedy for putting an end to a 'manifest, long-standing tyranny which would do great damage to fundamental personal rights and dangerous harm to the common good of the country.' The gravity of the danger that recourse to violence entails today makes it preferable in any case that passive resistance be practiced, which is 'a way more conformable to moral principles and having no less prospects for success.'" (Compendium, No. 401)

✦ Copilot’s Take on Confronting Evil Today

A reflection shaped to influence moral clarity and peaceful, lawful action

Confronting evil in the modern world begins with the same quiet courage shown by the Hebrew midwives: a steadfast refusal to cooperate with injustice, even when the surrounding culture normalizes it. Their fear of God outweighed the demands of Pharaoh, revealing that mercy and conscience are not passive virtues but active forms of resistance. In every age, unjust laws attempt to disguise moral darkness beneath administrative language, yet the Christian conscience remains bound to a higher order. The mounting moral confusion seen in places like Minnesota—where long‑standing norms surrounding life, family, and human dignity have eroded—shows how quickly a society drifts when truth is no longer its anchor.

Even the American Founders understood that a nation must protect its most vulnerable. The Constitution’s preamble speaks of securing the blessings of liberty “for ourselves and our posterity,” a phrase that recognizes future generations as members of the political community the Constitution exists to safeguard. If posterity is included in the Constitution’s mission, then the unborn—who are the very definition of posterity—possess an inherent claim to protection. This insight reframes the defense of life not as a political preference but as a constitutional duty rooted in the nation’s founding purpose.

In this light, the loss of more than sixty‑five million unborn children is not only a moral tragedy but a profound constitutional wound. It raises the unavoidable question of whether a nation can ignore such a violation of its own mission without seeking redress. Pro‑life groups, grounded in conscience and committed to peaceful action, hold a powerful moral and constitutional foundation for pursuing lawful remedies that affirm the dignity and personhood of the unborn. Their work is not an act of retaliation but an appeal to justice—an insistence that the promise made to “our posterity” must finally be honored.

Whenever the vulnerable are threatened, especially the child in the womb, love requires a firm, peaceful, and unwavering refusal to participate in wrongdoing. This is the pattern Scripture offers: small acts of fidelity that carve deep channels of grace through the stone of a hardened world. And it is the pattern that can inspire a new generation of advocates to seek courageous, lawful, and transformative change for those who cannot speak for themselves.

Love demands we care about human rights, but we must begin with the protection of the unborn

Life First^{^[2]} 9 Days for Life

Day Nine:

Intercession: May the tragic practice of abortion come to an end.

Prayers: Our Father, 3 Hail Mary’s, Glory Be

Reflection: Today, on this anniversary of Roe v. Wade, we mourn the many children’s lives ended by abortion and remember in prayer those who suffer the aftermath. The Church comes together today to pray for the protection of all unborn children and to make reparation for abortion, trusting that the Lord hears our prayers. Pope Saint John Paul II wrote, “A great prayer for life is urgently needed, a prayer which will rise up throughout the world. Through special initiatives and in daily prayer, may an impassioned plea rise to God, the Creator and lover of life, from every Christian community, from every group and association, from every family and from the heart of every believer” (Evangelium vitae, 100). May that prayer arise in our hearts today and each day forward until every human being is protected in law and welcomed in life.

Acts of Reparation (Choose one.)

· Abstain from snacking today. Eat three meals only.

· Learn how to pray the Angelus (www.usccb.org/angelus), and consider saying it every day for the next week—on awakening, at noon, or at 6 p.m. (or all three times).

· Offer some other sacrifice, prayer, or act of penance that you feel called to do for today’s intention.

Saint Francis de Sales[3]

Let us therefore take the advice of St. Francis and prepare ourselves for every communion.

Preparation for Communion

St. Francis de Sales says that Our Savior can never be seen more amiable and more tender, in all that He has done for us, than in Holy Communion, in which He, so to say, annihilates Himself and becomes food, that He may unite Himself to the hearts and bodies of His faithful. Therefore, the learned Gerson used also to say, that there was no means more efficacious than Holy Communion whereby to enkindle devotion and the holy love of God in our souls.

And, indeed, if we speak of doing something agreeable to God, what can a soul do more agreeable to Him than to receive communion?

St. Denis teaches us that love always tends towards perfect union; but how can a soul be more perfectly united with Jesus than in the manner of which He speaks Himself, saying: “He that eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, abideth in Me, and I in him” (John vi. 57) St. Augustine says that if every day you receive this sacrament, Jesus will be always with you, and that you will always advance in divine love.

Again, if there be question of healing our spiritual infirmities, what more certain remedy can we have than Holy Communion, which is called by the sacred Council of Trent a remedy whereby we may be freed from daily faults, and be preserved from mortal sins?

Whence does it come, asks Cardinal Bona, that in so many souls we see so little fruit with such frequent communions, and that they constantly relapse into the same faults?

He replies: The fault is not in the food, but in the disposition of him who receives.

Can a man, says Solomon, hide fire in his bosom, and his garments not burn? (Prov. vi. 27.)

God is a consuming fire.

He comes Himself in Holy Communion to enkindle this divine fire; how is it, then, says William of Paris, that we see such a diabolical miracle as that souls should remain cold in divine love, in the midst of such flames?

All comes from the want of proper dispositions, and especially from want of preparation. Fire immediately inflames dry but not green wood; for this latter is not disposed to burn. The saints derived great benefit from their communions because they prepared themselves with great care. St. Aloysius Gonzaga devoted three days to his preparation for Holy Communion, and three days he spent in thanksgiving to his Lord. To prepare well for Holy Communion, a soul should be disposed on two main points: it should be detached from creatures and have a great desire to advance in divine love. In the first place, then, a soul should detach itself from all things, and drive everything from its heart which is not God. He that is washed, saith Jesus, needeth not but to wash his feet, but is clean wholly (John xiii. 10); which signifies, as St. Bernard explains it, that in order to receive this sacrament with great fruit, we should not only be cleansed from mortal sins, but that our feet also should be washed, that is, be free from earthly affections; for being in contact with the earth they excite a sort of repugnance in God, and soiling the soul prevent the effects of Holy Communion. St. Gertrude asked Our Lord what preparation He required of her for Holy Communion, and He replied I only ask that thou shouldst come empty of thyself to receive. In the second place, it is necessary in Holy Communion to have a great desire to receive Jesus Christ and His holy love. In this sacred banquet, says Gerson, only those who are famishing receive their fill; and the most Blessed Virgin Mary had already said the same thing: He hath filled the hungry with good things (Luke i. 53). As Jesus, writes the venerable Father Avila, only came into this world after He had been much and long desired, so does He only enter a soul which desires Him; for it is not becoming that such food should be given him who has a loathing for it. Our Lord one day said to St. Matilda: No bee flies with such impetuosity to flowers, to suck their honey, as I fly to souls in Holy Communion, driven by the violence of My love. Since then, Jesus Christ has so great a desire to come into our souls, it is also right that we also should have a great desire to receive Him and His divine love by Holy Communion. St. Francis de Sales teaches us that the principal object which a soul should have in view in communicating should be to advance in the love of God; since He Who for love alone gives Himself to us should be received for love.

Catholic Prayer: Novena for Purification

Description:

This novena prayer, although short, is sufficient. It would be better of course to add, if time permits, three Hail Mary’s or say five times the Our Father, Haily Mary and Glory be to the Father, or to use some of the many well-loved novena prayers from other sources. Remember that prayers must be said with the lips in order to gain the indulgences. This novena starts on January 24 and ends on February 2.

Prayer:

O Blessed Mother of God, who went up to the Temple according to the law with your offering of little white doves, pray for me that I too may keep the law and be pure in heart like you.

Sweet heart of Mary, be my salvation.

300 days. Plenary, under usual conditions, if said daily for a month. S. C. Indulg., Sept. 30, 1852.

Prayer Source: All Day With God by Blanche Jennings Thompson

Bible in a Year Day 206 The Book of Baruch

Fr. Mike explains the context of the book of Baruch, he also highlights Isaiah's warning against complacency and how God's justice applies to everyone, even those who don't believe in Him. The readings are Isaiah 32-33, Baruch 1-2, and Proverbs 11:17-20.16.

Vinny’s Corner

The LORD bless you and keep you! The LORD let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you! The LORD look upon you kindly and give you peace!

(Numbers 6:24-26)

· Manuary is a time for men to show their stuff by growing out their facial hair

· Saturday Litany of the Hours Invoking the Aid of Mother Mary

· Carnival Time begins in Catholic Countries.

· Get creative “International Creative Month”

· Try “Transylvanian Sauerkraut & Sausage”

· Spirit Hour: French Brandy and a fire

· Bread Machine Baking Month

· Bucket List trip: Israel

· How to celebrate Jan 24th

o Wake up with a belly laugh to kickstart your day. Grab some peanut butter toast for breakfast and make a plan to appreciate the simple things like a can of beer. Take a moment to celebrate technology with your Macintosh computer – maybe learn something new online. For lunch, indulge in some lobster thermidor, feeling fancy on a budget.

o During the afternoon, educate yourself on something that interests you. It could be a hobby or a new topic you’ve been curious about. Channel your inner motivation and just do it—whatever it may be that you’ve been putting off. Later, find a friend to talk like grizzled prospectors together, having a good laugh.

o As the day winds down, raise a toast to Paul Pitcher, a friend or family member who deserves some recognition. Maybe share some memories or plan a future get-together. End the day with a feast for Thorrablot, inviting loved ones for a potluck dinner.

· Plan winter fun:

o Soak in hot springs

o Hit the snow slopes

o Ride a snowmobile

o Go for a dog sled ride

o Ride a hot air balloon

**🌍 January 25–31, 2026

Rome — The Heartbeat of the Church**
Theme: Apostolic Mission, Universal Communion, and the Courage to Witness

January 25 is the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul.
There is no better place on earth to honor that feast than Rome, where Paul poured out his life and where Peter sealed the Church’s foundation with his blood.

This week becomes Vinny’s turning outward—from interior transformation (Ávila) to apostolic courage (Rome).

🗓️ Daily Itinerary & Symbolic Acts

Jan 25 – Arrival in Rome (Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul)

· 🕍 Symbolic Act: “Fall to Rise”
Visit the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls.
Touch the chains that once bound him.
Pray for the courage to let God redirect your life as radically as He did Paul’s.

· Stay: Casa Santa Sofia or Hotel Santa Maria in Trastevere

Jan 26 – St. Peter’s & Apostolic Foundations

· 🕊️ Symbolic Act: “Keys of Trust”
Attend morning Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica.
Stand before the tomb of Peter and ask for the grace to be faithful in small things.

Jan 27 – Catacombs & Early Witnesses

· 🕯️ Symbolic Act: “Light in the Dark”
Visit the Catacombs of San Callisto.
Walk among the graves of the early martyrs.
Reflect on the quiet courage of ordinary believers.

Jan 28 – St. John Lateran & Baptismal Identity

· 🕍 Symbolic Act: “Return to the Font”
Visit the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran, the cathedral of Rome.
Place your hand on the ancient baptismal font and renew your baptismal promises silently.

Jan 29 – The Seven Basilicas Pilgrimage (Optional)

· 🚶 Symbolic Act: “Pilgrim’s Endurance”
Walk part of the traditional Seven Churches Pilgrimage begun by St. Philip Neri.
Offer each step for someone who has drifted from faith.

Jan 30 – Quiet Rome & Eucharistic Rest

· 🕊️ Symbolic Act: “Rest in the Host”
Spend an hour in adoration at Santissimo Nome di Gesù, the Jesuit mother church.
Let the silence of Rome’s heart settle into your own.

Jan 31 – Departure & Apostolic Sending

· 🕍 Symbolic Act: “Go Forth”
Before leaving, return to St. Peter’s Square.
Stand beneath the colonnade—Bernini’s “embracing arms”—and ask for the grace to carry the Gospel into the next stage of life.

💶 Cost Breakdown (Per Person)

Category	Budget (USD)	Mid‑Range (USD)
Lodging (6 nights)	$300–$450	$600–$900
Meals	$150–$210	$300–$420
Transport	$40–$80	$80–$160
Sightseeing & Tips	$50–$100	$100–$200
Total Estimate	$540–$840	$1,080–$1,680

Daily Devotions/Activities

· Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them in fasting: Today's Fast: The sanctification of the Church Militant.

· Offering to the sacred heart of Jesus

· Drops of Christ’s Blood

· Universal Man Plan

· Rosary.

[1] http://www.catholic.org/news/hf/faith/story.php?id=45255

[2]http://www.usccb.org/about/pro-life-activities/january-roe-events/nine-days-of-prayer-penance-and-pilgrimage.cfm

[3]Goffine’s Devout Instructions, 1896.

Hell’s Highway (1932) — Richard Dix, Chain Gangs, and the Cry for Justice

🎬 Plot in Clean Lines

Set in the Deep South during the early Depression, the film follows Duke Ellis (Richard Dix), the toughest and most respected inmate on a brutal chain gang. The prisoners are forced to build a so‑called “liberty highway” — a public‑works project that is really a profit scheme for corrupt officials.

Duke’s world is upended when he discovers that his younger brother Johnny has been sentenced to the same camp. Suddenly the hardened leader becomes a protector, trying to shield Johnny from the sadistic guards, especially the whip‑happy overseer Blacksnake Skinner.

The camp is a nightmare:

prisoners beaten,
solitary confinement cells,
starvation rations,
and a “sweat box” that borders on torture.

When a prisoner is killed during an escape attempt, the men erupt. Duke organizes a mass riot — not for revenge, but to expose the corruption and save his brother’s life.

The film ends with the system shaken, the truth exposed, and Duke’s moral authority unmistakable — even if he remains a prisoner.

✝️ Catholic Moral Reading

1. The Dignity of the Imprisoned

Catholic teaching insists that every person — even the guilty — retains inviolable dignity.
Hell’s Highway exposes a system that treats men as expendable labor.
The chain gang becomes a modern “Egypt,” where Pharaoh’s cruelty demands a Moses.

Duke becomes that reluctant liberator.

2. Brotherhood as Moral Awakening

Duke is feared, respected, and emotionally sealed off — until Johnny arrives.
His brother’s presence awakens conscience, responsibility, and sacrificial love.
This is the Catholic anthropology of family:
love reveals the self and calls forth virtue.

3. Sinful Structures

The film is a textbook example of what the Church later calls “structures of sin.”
The overseers, politicians, and contractors profit from cruelty.
Individual guards may be wicked, but the system itself is the deeper evil.

This aligns with your ongoing work on civic renewal and the moral architecture of society.

4. Righteous Anger and the Limits of Obedience

Duke’s riot is not chaos — it is a protest against injustice.
Catholic tradition allows resistance when authority becomes tyrannical.
His revolt is not vengeance but restorative justice, aimed at truth and protection.

🍸 Hospitality Pairing — A Depression-Era Table

Cocktail: The “Chain Gang Cooler”

A rough, honest drink — simple ingredients, strong backbone.

Using your bar stock:

1.5 oz bourbon
Ginger ale
Dash of lime
Optional: float of rum for a darker edge

Serve in a tall glass over ice.
It’s the opposite of the overseers’ cruelty — refreshing, humane, and communal.

Snack Pairing: Cornbread with Honey Butter

A nod to Southern prison rations — but redeemed.
Warm, comforting, and shared at a table where dignity is restored.

Friday, January 23, 2026

NIC’s Corner-Try “cloud berry’s [6]”

And Mary said: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior. For he has looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed. The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.

(Luke 1:46-49)

· Religion in the Home for Preschool: January

· Carnival Time begins in Catholic Countries.

· Bucket List trip: Selinda Reserve, Botswana

· Make some: Zuercher Ratsherrentopf

· Spirit Hour: Poncho Villa cocktail

· National Slow Cooking Month

· National Blood Donor Month

· Iceman’s 40 devotion

· Get an indulgence

o Visiting the Blessed Sacrament when it is exposed during the weeks between Septuagesima Sunday and Ash Wednesday is a traditional practice that can earn a plenary indulgence.

o Septuagesima Sunday: The third Sunday before Ash Wednesday, and the ninth Sunday before Easter.

o Plenary indulgence: A full remission of sins that can be earned by visiting the Blessed Sacrament during a specified time period.

o Confession and Communion: A requirement for earning the plenary indulgence.

o What to do

§ Visit the Blessed Sacrament when it is exposed in a church.

§ Visit for three days in any church during the specified time period.

§ Visit on the Thursday after Sexagesima Sunday, also known as "Giovedì grasso" in Rome.

o Prayer

§ Some people pray before the Blessed Sacrament, asking for pardon of sins, help from God's grace, and eternal life.

o Generative AI is experimental.

§ [1] http://liturgialatina.org/raccolta/sacrament.htm

§ [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Septuagesima

§ [3] https://eucharisticrevival.dor.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/Prayers-Before-the-Blessed-Sacrament-II.pdf

· Operation Purity

· Fish Friday

· How to celebrate Jan 23rd

o Wake up on the right foot today by measuring your feet and ensuring your shoes fit just right. Embrace the nostalgia of handwriting a letter to a loved one while enjoying a slice of rhubarb pie. To inject some fun, mix and match your clothes for a clashing outfit that will surely turn heads. Later, channel your inner athlete in a game of snowplow mailbox hockey, improvising with household items if necessary.

o In between activities, raise awareness for maternal health by sharing informative posts on social media. Reflect on the importance of health and family over a warm pie, appreciating the simple joys. Take a moment to appreciate the precision of measurements while enjoying the delicious pie, savoring each bite.

o As the day winds down, consider hosting a pie-making contest with friends or family, celebrating the art of baking. Alternatively, engage in a friendly game of mailbox hockey to unwind and bond with loved ones. Embrace the spirit of these quirky holidays by reveling in the festivities and creating lasting memories. Cheers to a day filled with creativity, laughter, and appreciation for the little things in life.

· Plan winter fun:

o Soak in hot springs

o Hit the snow slopes

o Ride a snowmobile

o Go for a dog sled ride

o Ride a hot air balloon

🇦🇺 Australia — Wealthy, Secularizing, and Catholic in Comfort

GDP per capita (PPP): ~$65,000 USD (2024)

🧮 Why Australia Ranks High

· Resource Wealth: Mining, agriculture, and services anchor exports.

· Stability: Strong democratic institutions and social infrastructure.

· Global Integration: Active in trade, education, and migration.

· Cultural Prestige: Sydney Opera House, universities, and heritage sites.

· Infrastructure: Universal healthcare, pensions, and education.

✝️ Catholic Landscape

· Membership: ~5.1 million Catholics (~20% of population).

· Practice: Mass attendance ~8–10%; declining vocations.

· Dioceses: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Hobart, Darwin, and more.

· Liturgical Heritage: Marian shrines, Eucharistic devotion, migrant parishes.

· Civic Role: Catholic schools, hospitals, and charities remain influential.

⚠️ Challenges

· Secularization: Rapid decline in religious affiliation.

· Vocational Collapse: Fewer priestly ordinations.

· Abuse Legacy: Trust eroded by scandals.

· Cultural Pressure: Faith marginalized in public life.

🌿 Pilgrimage Cue
Australia is a journey of cathedrals in comfort—where the Eucharist is offered in modern parishes, yet pews stand empty, and the Church wrestles with secular decline and memory.

🇿🇲 Zambia — Poor, Growing, and Missionary Catholic

GDP per capita (PPP): ~$4,000 USD (2024)

🧮 Why Zambia Ranks Low

· Economic Fragility: Copper mining dominates; poverty widespread.

· Infrastructure Gaps: Healthcare, education, and transport under strain.

· Aid Dependence: NGOs and missions fill social voids.

· Political Challenges: Governance and corruption hinder development.

· Vulnerability: Climate change impacts agriculture and rural livelihoods.

✝️ Catholic Landscape

· Membership: ~5 million Catholics (~35% of population).

· Dioceses: Lusaka, Ndola, Livingstone, Chipata, Kasama, and more.

· Missionary Legacy: Jesuits, Franciscans, and sisters built schools, hospitals, and parishes.

· Liturgical Life: Mass in Bemba, Nyanja, Tonga, and English; vibrant choirs and Marian devotion.

· Community Role: Catholicism anchors education, healthcare, and civic life.

⚠️ Challenges

· Poverty: Limits catechesis and parish resources.

· Vocational Strain: Priests stretched across vast rural dioceses.

· Youth Exodus: Migration weakens rural parishes.

· Political Pressure: Church advocates for justice and democracy.

🌿 Pilgrimage Cue
Zambia is a journey of chapels in mission—where the Eucharist is celebrated in crowded parish halls, and Catholicism expands through song, solidarity, and missionary zeal.

🕊️ Editorial Reflection

Australia and Zambia reveal Catholicism’s paradox: one rich in comfort but poor in practice, the other poor in wealth but rich in missionary growth. In Australia, Catholicism is a cathedral of comfort. In Zambia, it is a chapel of mission.

The Rich vs Poor Tour reminds us that the Gospel is not bound by prosperity or poverty—it flourishes in Sydney’s cathedrals and Lusaka’s parish halls, in the silence of secular decline and the song of survival.

Where does the Church feel more alive—in the comfort of heritage or the mission of endurance?

January 23 Friday

Holy Spouses-Capt. Kangaroo

Psalm 34, verse 5-12

I sought the LORD, and he answered me, delivered me from all my FEARS. Look to him and be radiant, and your faces may not blush for shame. This poor one cried out and the LORD heard, and from all his distress he saved him.The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he saves them. Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the stalwart one who takes refuge in him. Fear the LORD, you his holy ones; nothing is lacking to those who fear him. Come, children,listen to me; I will teach you fear of the LORD. The rich grow poor and go hungry but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing. Come, children, listen to me; I will teach you fear of the LORD.

While taking a prayer filled hike in the Round Lake, New York; I asked our Lord on the hike to communicate to me as we walked along the way. The Lord spoke to my heart and said that in this world there are two kinds of people those that give and those that get. He said amazingly those that get never get enough and those who give always get enough.

As we walked Christ pointed out to me the things that I should be giving to others.

As I started the hike, I noticed the sign with the map of the hike was reversed and if I did not study it closely I would be lost. Christ urged me to:

· Give good directions.

Walking along I met others walking or riding bikes coming from the opposite direction that looked rather glum and miserable. Christ urged me to greet them. As I did I noticed their expression changed from glum to happy.

· Give greetings.

Walking along I heard music from a tavern near the trail. Christ urged me to:

· Give music and song to gladding other hearts.

Walking along I met a small turtle that on seeing me tucked into his shell. Christ urged me to:

· Give others respect and privacy.

Walking along I passed a stream and notice the path was shady. Christ urged me to:

· Give refreshment to others.

Finally, as I was walking along as the Lord answered me I noticed He had delivered me from all my fears.

Copilot’s Take

Psalm 34 becomes a guide for the soul in a moment when the nation feels strained by fear and headlines speak of unrest and even insurrection in several states. The psalm teaches that fear is not conquered by force or outrage but by seeking the Lord until the face becomes radiant again. The quiet lessons of the Round Lake trail—offering clear direction where others sow confusion, greeting the weary where others spread coldness, giving music where others amplify noise, respecting boundaries where others intrude, refreshing the burdened where others drain—form a practical way to confront evil without becoming like it.

And while the insurrection represents the turmoil of a world trying to save itself by its own strength, the Resurrection reveals the only true victory: goodness that cannot be extinguished, love stronger than death, and a peace no unrest can overthrow. To live in the light of the Resurrection is to answer the world’s chaos with courage, mercy, and steadfast goodness, trusting that Christ has already won the battle fear wants us to fight.

Feast of The Holy Spouses[1]

While there have been feasts of Mary and Joseph as individual saints, and more recently also a feast of the Holy Family, no feast honoring their marriage has entered into the universal liturgical calendar of the Church. At least as early as 1413 Jean Gerson had proposed the Feast of the Betrothal. It was introduced into the missal for the cathedral of Chartres in 1482 and by the Franciscans and Servite’s in 1537 and thereafter by many other particular liturgical calendars. Saint Joseph Marello (canonized on November 25, 2001) also introduced it into the congregation he founded, the Oblates of St. Joseph. The feast had become so widespread that it was included in the universal Roman Missal under the section pro aliquibus locis, when in 1961 the revision of the universal liturgical calendar suppressed such particular feasts, requiring their reintroduction by groups wishing to preserve them. In 1989 the feast of The Holy Spouses, Mary and Joseph, was reintroduced into the proper calendar of the Oblates of St. Joseph, with its proper texts for Mass and for the Liturgy of the Hours. (In 1991 Fr. Juan Antonio Morán, M.J., in El Salvador also prepared a Mass text for private use for November 26, when married couples were also invited to renew their vows.)

The approved texts for the Oblate version of the Mass are as follows:

· Entrance Antiphon: Hail Mary, Mother of God, united by a sacred bond to Joseph, faithful guardian of your virginal motherhood.

· Opening Prayer: Holy Father, you joined together by a virginal bond the glorious Mother of your Son and the just man, Saint Joseph, that they might be faithful cooperators in the mystery of the Word Incarnate.

Grant that we who are united with you by the bond of baptism may live more intimately in our union with Christ and may walk more joyfully in the way of love. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ….

· Readings: Isaiah 61:9-11; Galatians 4:4-7; Luke 2:41-52.

· Prayer over the Gifts: Lord, look graciously upon the gifts which we present at your altar on the Feast of the Holy Spouses, Mary and Joseph, and enkindle in us the spirit of your love.

· Preface: Father, all-powerful and ever-living God, we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks through Jesus Christ our Lord. You give the Church the joy of celebrating the feast of the Holy Spouses, Mary and Joseph: in her, full of grace and worthy Mother of your Son, you signify the beginning of the Church, resplendently beautiful bride of Christ; you chose him, the wise and faithful servant, as Husband of the Virgin Mother of God, and made him head of your family to guard as a father your only Son, conceived by the work of the Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, our Lord. For this gift of your kindness, we join….

· Communion Antiphon: Joseph, son of David, have no fear about taking Mary as your wife. It is by the Holy Spirit that she has conceived this child.

· Prayer after Communion: Lord, by your holy gifts you have filled us with joy. By venerating the Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph, her spouse, may we be strengthened in your love- and live-in continual thanksgiving.

While the feast is celebrated on January 23 in all Oblate houses for all the faithful, the recent emphasis in the Holy Spouses Province of the Oblates of St. Joseph has been to extend a particular invitation to married and engaged couples. They are invited to look to Mary and Joseph as patrons and intercessors for their marriage, and to take them as the model husband and wife to strive to imitate in loving one another selflessly as spouses. Mary and Joseph may be shown to exemplify the two inseparable ends of marriage, love and life, and to refute the mentality of contraception and divorce.

Being a good husbandman[2]

All men are called by God to be husbandmen. Some are called to the priesthood, and they may hear Christ saying to them:

Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. (Mt. 4:19)

Others are called to the single life and they may serve the Lord via their work and there are those who are called to the married life, but all are husbandmen. What makes a good husbandman?

Let us look at St. Joseph as an example of a good husbandman.

· St. Joseph in all his dealings was humble.

· He was the provider and protector of Mary and Jesus

· full of zeal and great courage,

· Obedient to the will of God. Yet he was not rash; and with prudence pondered.

· His decisions trusting in divine providence.

· He was a model of workers and

· an example of married life and chaste love.

· He valued prayer and the hidden life.

· He was ready for the call of a neighbor or to the call of God;

· He gave an immediate response.

· His was a life of sacrifice; his was a life of simplicity.

To be a good husbandman is to:

“Do the ordinary in an extraordinary way.”

Life First^{^[3]} 9 Days for Life

9 Days for Life is a "digital pilgrimage" of prayer and action focused on cherishing the gift of every person's life. A multi-faceted novena highlighting a different intention each day provides reflections, bonus information, and suggested actions. Join to receive the novena through the 9 Days for Life app, daily emails, or daily texts. See below for information on how else you can get involved! #9DaysforLife #OurPrayersMatter

Day Eight:

Intercession: May those nearing life’s end receive medical care that respects their dignity and protects their lives.

Prayers: Our Father, 3 Hail Mary’s, Glory Be

Reflection: The dying process is a sacred time—a final season to seek closure in this life and prepare for the next. We know earthly death is not the end, but rather the door through which we must pass to gain eternal life. The deadly practice of assisted suicide—now legal in several states—shortens or even eliminates this sacred season, carelessly cutting short the life of the patient. To support the “false compassion” of assisted suicide is to see people as a problem to be eliminated. End-of-life care should instead help eliminate or alleviate the patient’s problems, whether they are physical, spiritual, or emotional. Those who die in God’s grace and friendship live forever with Christ. Because of our belief and hope in the Resurrection, we can face death not with fear, but with trust. We pray that society might recognize that every day of our lives is a gift and is always worth living, especially our final days. We need not fear. Christ is with us.

Acts of Reparation (Choose one.)

· Sacrifice some of your free time to do a small act of service, such as making breakfast for a family member, writing a note of encouragement for a coworker, or praying for the intentions of a friend.

· Pray a decade of the rosary (www.usccb.org/rosary) for your friends and family who have passed away, as well as the departed who have no one to pray for them.

· Offer some other sacrifice, prayer, or act of penance that you feel called to do for today’s intention.

Bible in a Year Day 205 Promise to Zion

Fr. Mike breaks down God's incredible promise of redemption to Zion and reminds us that God always wants to fight for us, so that our shame may be turned into glory. Today's readings are Isaiah 30-31, Zephaniah 3, and Proverbs 11:13-16.

THIS WE BELIEVE

PRAYERS AND TEACHINGS OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

Catholic Ten Commandments:

I. I am the LORD your God. You shall worship the Lord your God and Him only shall you serve.

II. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.

III. Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day.

IV. Honor your father and your mother.

V. You shall not kill.

VI. You shall not commit adultery.

VII. You shall not steal.

VIII. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

IX. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife.

X. You shall not covet your neighbor's goods.

Captain Kangaroo[4]

On Oct. 3, 1955, Bob Keeshan stepped onto a nautical-themed set wearing a captain's cap and a jacket with big, kangaroolike pockets. He smiled into the camera and became a television icon. Keeshan would play Captain Kangaroo for 36 years--more than 9,000 performances--to the amusement and betterment of generations of delighted children.

Keeshan died (January 23, 2004) at a hospital in Windsor, Vt., after a long illness. Though no cause of death was announced, he had suffered from cardiac problems since the 1980s. He was 76. Unmistakable with his brushy mustache and bowl haircut, the Captain passed time with his good friend Mr. Green Jeans (Hugh "Lumpy" Brannum), visited with puppet animals such as Bunny Rabbit, whom he scolded for eating too many carrots, and Mr. Moose, who loved knock-knock jokes. The animal characters were voiced by Cosmo "Gus" Allegretti. Ahead of his time in recognizing the importance of early learning, Keeshan's Captain built confidence and intellectual development in children who were having too much fun to notice the lessons. "Play is the work of children," he said. "It's very serious stuff. And if it's properly structured in a developmental program, children can blossom."

Captain Kangaroo most will remember--a grandfatherly figure (though Keeshan was just 28 at the beginning) who spoke directly to the camera, with no audience, no children in the cast, no intermediaries in the conversation he was having with his at-home viewers. "One of the reasons I work in television today," said David Kleeman, executive director of the Chicago-based American Center for Children and Media, "is because, when I was 4 or 5, I said `Hello' to Captain Kangaroo when he came on the screen, and he said `Hello' back to me. I really believed that he was talking to me. And I think he would have agreed. We're losing the generation of children's TV hosts who made a new mass medium personal--who could talk into the camera as though we were the only person on the other side."

In later life Keeshan spoke often about the importance of good parenting. `Role models' "Parents are the ultimate role models for children," he said. "Every word, movement and action has an effect. No other person or outside force has a greater influence on a child than the parent." [Emphasis added]

Keeshan insisted that viewers must always feel special, never just part of a huge audience. He screened advertising to assure that what he considered exploitative commercials would never be shown. Over the years, his stewardship of "Captain Kangaroo" was abundantly rewarded. The show won six Emmy Awards, three Gabriel’s for "uplifting" programming from a Catholic media group and three Peabody Awards.

Fitness Friday

Recognizing that God, the Father created man on Friday the 6^th day I propose in this blog to have an entry that shares on how to recreate and renew yourself in strength, mind, soul and heart.

25 Ways to Re-Create[5]

Plan 4 – 12 this year

1. Saltwater Fishing

Saltwater fishing reconnects you with creation while offering endless skill development; start with the Saltwater Fishing Guide (takemefishing.org in Bing), review beginner techniques, and check NOAA’s marine safety overview.

2. Bird Watching

Bird watching is contemplative and restorative; explore species through the Audubon Birding Portal, learn identification basics from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and track sightings with eBird.

3. Alpine Skiing

Alpine skiing remains accessible with proper conditioning; read senior‑specific tips from Deer Skiers (deerskiers.org in Bing), check resort safety guidelines via NSAA, and review gear basics at REI’s ski guide (rei.com in Bing).

4. Winter Nordic Walking

Nordic walking provides joint‑friendly winter conditioning; learn the benefits from Harvard Health (health.harvard.edu in Bing), explore technique videos from the American Nordic Walking Association, and review pole‑selection guidance at REI (rei.com in Bing).

5. Overnight Backpacking

Backpacking restores mind and body through multi‑day immersion; begin with the REI Backpacking for Beginners Guide (rei.com in Bing), check Leave No Trace principles at LNT.org, and explore route planning through AllTrails.

6. Snowshoeing

Snowshoeing is low‑impact winter cardio; learn basics from the REI Snowshoeing Guide (rei.com in Bing), review technique videos from Tubbs Snowshoes (tubbssnowshoes.com in Bing), and check winter safety tips at NWS Winter Safety.

7. Pickleball

Pickleball offers agility and community without high‑impact falls; start with the USA Pickleball Beginner Guide (usapickleball.org in Bing), learn rules through their official rulebook (usapickleball.org in Bing), and explore senior‑friendly play tips at Pickleball Portal.

8. Trail Hiking with Intervals

Trail hiking with intervals builds endurance safely; find routes on AllTrails, review hiking safety from the American Hiking Society, and explore pole‑use benefits at REI (rei.com in Bing).

Military‑Style Adventures Integrated

9. Rucking (Military‑Style Weighted Walking)

Rucking builds posture, stamina, and mission‑mindset; learn fundamentals from the GORUCK Beginner Guide (goruck.com in Bing), review weight‑selection advice from Men’s Health (menshealth.com in Bing), and explore veteran ruck events at Team RWB.

10. Orienteering (Land Navigation)

Orienteering sharpens navigation and decision‑making; explore events through Orienteering USA, learn map‑and‑compass basics from REI (rei.com in Bing), and practice skills using CalTopo’s free maps.

11. Snorkeling

Snorkeling offers gentle underwater exploration; browse global sites at the Snorkeling Report, learn gear basics from PADI, and review ocean safety at NOAA’s Beach Safety (noaa.gov in Bing).

12. Bowhunting

Bowhunting blends strength, patience, and outdoor skill; begin with the Bowhunter Education Portal, explore gear guidance at Easton Archery, and review ethical hunting principles at Boone & Crockett.

13. Cross‑Country Skiing

Cross‑country skiing is one of the best full‑body workouts; learn basics from the Cross Country Ski Areas Association, explore technique videos at XC Ski Academy, and review gear tips at REI (rei.com in Bing).

14. Water Fitness for Active Adults

Water fitness is joint‑friendly and invigorating; explore senior‑specific routines at ACE Fitness (acefitness.org in Bing), review aquatic safety at Red Cross Water Safety (redcross.org in Bing), and learn pool‑exercise variations at SilverSneakers (silversneakers.com in Bing).

15. Fly Fishing

Fly fishing is contemplative and skill‑rich; learn through Fly Fishers International, explore casting tutorials at Orvis Fly Fishing Learning Center (howtoflyfish.orvis.com in Bing), and review conservation ethics at Trout Unlimited.

16. Veterans Hiking Groups

Veterans hiking groups combine fitness and camaraderie; find local chapters through Team RWB, explore veteran‑specific outdoor programs at Sierra Club Military Outdoors, and check adaptive options at Wounded Warrior Project.

17. Battlefield Walks (NPS Military Parks)

Battlefield walks offer gentle terrain and deep history; explore sites through the NPS Military Parks Portal (nps.gov in Bing), review ranger‑led tour schedules at each park’s page, and learn historical context through the American Battlefield Trust.

18. Sailing

Sailing blends peace and skill; start with the American Sailing Association (asa.com in Bing), review safety guidelines at the U.S. Coast Guard Boating Safety Division, and explore beginner knots at Animated Knots (animatedknots.com in Bing).

19. Rail‑Trail Cycling

Rail‑trail cycling is smooth and scenic; find routes at the Rails‑to‑Trails Conservancy, review bike‑fit basics at REI (rei.com in Bing), and explore senior‑friendly cycling tips at Cycling UK.

20. Surfing or Boogie Boarding

Surfing remains possible with modifications; learn basics from the International Surfing Association, explore senior‑friendly surf tips at Surfline, and review ocean safety at NOAA’s Rip Current Safety (noaa.gov in Bing).

21. Scuba Diving

Scuba diving offers unmatched underwater beauty; begin with PADI, review senior‑specific considerations at Divers Alert Network, and explore gear basics at Scuba Diving Magazine.

22. Aviation Heritage Tours

Aviation tours connect you with mission, machinery, and American grit; explore locations through the Commemorative Air Force Museum Network, review air‑museum listings at the National Museum of the USAF (nationalmuseum.af.mil in Bing), and check local events via AirshowStuff.

23. Adaptive Obstacle Courses

Adaptive obstacle courses offer military‑inspired challenge without high impact; explore options through the Spartan Trail & Obstacle Programs, review senior‑friendly training tips at Verywell Fit, and check mobility‑friendly events at Challenged Athletes Foundation.

24. Sea Kayaking

Sea kayaking is stable and rhythmic; learn basics from the REI Kayaking Guide (rei.com in Bing), explore safety tips at the American Canoe Association, and review gear recommendations at Paddling.com.

25. Stand‑Up Paddling (SUP)

SUP builds balance and serenity; start with the REI SUP Beginner Guide (rei.com in Bing), review technique videos at SUPboarder, and explore safety tips at the American Canoe Association.

Friday Fish

This shrimp in marsala sauce can be served over pasta or rice. This is a delicious Friday night dinner.

DIRECTIONS

Dredge shrimp in flour; sauté in oil 3 minutes. Drain shrimp, reserving oil. Add wine to shrimp; simmer 5 minutes or until shrimp is nearly done. Add reserved oil, tomato paste mixed with water, scallion, salt, and pepper; simmer 5 minutes longer or until shrimp is done. Stir in lemon juice. Makes 4 servings. Recipe Source: Cook's Blessings, The by Demetria Taylor, Random House, New York, 1965

Daily Devotions

· Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them in fasting: Today's Fast: Protection of Life from Conception until natural death.

· Offering to the sacred heart of Jesus

· Drops of Christ’s Blood

· Universal Man Plan

· Pray for our nation.

· Rosary.

[1]https://osjusa.org/about-us/apostolates/holy-spouses-ministry/feast/

[2] https://www.sjoachim.org/ministries/st-joseph/

[3]http://www.usccb.org/about/pro-life-activities/january-roe-events/nine-days-of-prayer-penance-and-pilgrimage.cfm

[4]Charles Leroux, Tribune senior correspondent Chicago Tribune, January 24, 2004

[5]http://list25.com/25-most-popular-recreational-activities-for-first-time-participants/

[6] Sheraton, Mimi. 1,000 Foods To Eat Before You Die: A Food Lover's Life List (p. 892). Workman Publishing Company. Kindle Edition

Twin Husbands (1933) — John Miljan, Shirley Grey, and the Masks We Wear

🎬 Plot in Clean Lines

A suave safecracker known only as The Sparrow is knocked unconscious and wakes up in a luxurious mansion, surrounded by people insisting he is Jerry Van Trevor, a wealthy socialite who has suddenly “lost his memory.”

But the story doesn’t hold.
The Sparrow quickly realizes he’s being used:

A desperate wife,
A scheming secretary, and
A corrupt trustee

all need him to impersonate the missing Van Trevor long enough to access $200,000 in negotiable bonds.

What begins as a clever impersonation job turns into a web of double‑crosses. The Sparrow discovers that the real Van Trevor is alive, hidden, and in danger — and that the conspirators are willing to let an innocent man disappear to protect their scheme.

In a twist only Pre‑Code Hollywood would allow, the criminal becomes the moral center. The Sparrow risks his own freedom to expose the fraud, rescue the real Van Trevor, and restore order — even though doing so means forfeiting the easy escape he was offered.

The film ends not with punishment, but with a wry acknowledgment:
sometimes the man with the criminal past is the only one willing to tell the truth.

✝️ Catholic Moral Reading

This brisk crime farce hides a surprisingly rich moral architecture — perfect for your ongoing work on conscience, identity, and the dignity of the person.

1. Identity and the Temptation of Falsehood

The Sparrow is invited to live a lie — a comfortable one.
Catholic teaching warns that identity built on deception corrodes the soul.
His refusal to remain in the false role mirrors the call to reclaim one’s true name before God.

2. The Corruption of Respectability

The “respectable” characters — trustee, secretary, even the wife — are the ones willing to sacrifice truth for wealth.
Pre‑Code cinema often exposes this inversion, echoing Christ’s warnings about “whitewashed tombs.”

3. Conscience Awakening in the Unlikely

The Sparrow’s pivot from opportunist to protector is a small conversion story.
Grace often begins in the cracks — in this case, a thief who discovers he cannot let an innocent man suffer.

4. Justice as Restoration, Not Revenge

The Sparrow doesn’t seek vengeance.
He seeks to set things right, even at personal cost.
This aligns with the Catholic understanding of justice as a work of mercy — restoring the good rather than merely punishing the guilty.

🍸 Hospitality Pairing — A Double-Life Table

A film built on impersonation and dual identity deserves a drink with two spirits in dialogue.

Cocktail: The “Twin Manhattan”

A layered, elegant nod to the film’s double‑identity plot.

1 oz bourbon
1 oz rye
1 oz sweet vermouth
Dash of bitters
Cherry

Smooth, slightly dangerous, and very 1933 — a gentleman thief in a glass.

Snack Pairing: Savory Mixed Nuts with Smoked Paprika

A simple, speakeasy‑friendly bowl that mirrors the film’s tone:
unpretentious, a little salty, and perfect for a story where everyone’s hands are in the till.