Posts
Rachel’s Corner
Not only that, but we even boast of our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance, and endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope, and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the holy Spirit that has been given to us. (Romans 5:3-5)
· do a personal eucharistic stations of the cross.
· Jesse Tree ornament: Jesus is Lord: Ex. 3:2; 20:1 Symbols: burning bush, stone tablets.
· Steven Spielberg’s birthday; 1946
· Bake Cookies Day
· How to celebrate Dec 18th
o You wake up to a world filled with possibilities. Start your day by baking a batch of cookies, celebrating the art of homemade treats. As they bake, take some time to appreciate the beauty of the Arabic language. Explore its sounds and script, maybe even learn a new word or phrase. Embrace the uniqueness of every flake, outside and in—find joy in the intricate details. When the phone rings, answer with the spirit of Buddy the Elf—spread cheer and laughter through every conversation.
o For lunch, consider trying a new dish that celebrates cultural diversity, like a flavorful roast suckling pig. Take a moment to reflect on the journeys of migrants around the globe, their courage and resilience. Share stories or research ways to support migrants in need. End your day with a simple gesture of kindness, perhaps by offering a warm meal to someone in your community.
Best Place to visit in December: Antarctica
Now’s as good a time as any to finally book that once-in-a-lifetime trip you’ve always dreamed about—like an expedition to Antarctica,
for example. The white continent is at its best from December to March, when wildlife is active and the sun shines for nearly 24 hours a day. And while trips like these typically require a lot of advance planning, there’s still time to book a spot on an expedition cruise ship before 2024 wraps up (although you may want to use this time to start researching for next year).
Ponant has seven sailings available through the end of December, with trips ranging from 10 to 15 nights and including stops in South Georgia and the Falkland Islands. Another great option is Quark Expedition’s “Antarctic Explorer: Discovering the 7th Continent” voyage, an 11-day trip with four departure dates within the month of December (plus many in 2025). Each sailing includes the typical stops, but Quark also started offering a majorly cool add-on a few years ago: alpine heli-trekking, in which guests board a helicopter (just imagine those views) and fly to typically inaccessible terrain to enjoy hiking or snowshoeing.
Thursday Feast
Thursday is the day of the week that our Lord gave himself up for consumption. Thursday commemorates the last supper. Some theologians believe after Sunday Thursday is the holiest day of the week. We should then try to make this day special by making a visit to the blessed sacrament chapel, Mass or even stopping by the grave of a loved one. Why not plan to count the blessing of the week and thank our Lord. Plan a special meal. Be at Peace.
Dinner Menu
🇪🇸 Morón AB – Andalusian Endurance & Eucharistic Witness
A week of frontier endurance, Eucharistic clarity, civic resilience, and military recreation
Day 1 – Fri, Dec 19 – Arrival & Base Orientation
Lodging: Air Force Inns – Morón AB ($65–$95/night)
Evening walk in Seville’s Plaza de España
Orientation at Morón Fitness Center (MWR)
Day 2 – Sat, Dec 20 – Marian Anchors & Recreation
Morning visit to Seville Cathedral (Marian devotion, civic anchor)
Afternoon Outdoor Rec trip: Córdoba Mezquita (~€40, transport + guide)
Evening bowling or intramural sports via MWR
Day 3 – Sun, Dec 21 – Sunday Mass & Civic Witness (Fourth Sunday of Advent)
Sunday Catholic Mass at Morón Chapel: 9:00 AM (base chapel schedule)
Afternoon civic witness in Seville – Alcázar fortress and civic squares
Evening resilience: base community center family activities
Day 4 – Mon, Dec 22 – Civic Resilience & Fitness
Excursion to Cádiz – fortress walls and cathedral
Afternoon workout at Morón Fitness Center
Dinner: Andalusian tapas with sherry pairing
Day 5 – Tue, Dec 23 – Fortress Witness & Outdoor Rec
Visit Castillo de Almodóvar del Río
(fortress of civic endurance)
Outdoor Rec trip: hiking in Sierra Morena (~€40)
Evening bowling league
Day 6 – Wed, Dec 24 – Christmas Vigil & Civic Witness
Christmas Eve Mass at Morón Chapel: 7:00 PM
Civic witness: Seville Christmas markets and nativity displays
Evening vigil with candlelight at base quarters
Day 7 – Thu, Dec 25 – Christmas Day Eucharistic Clarity
Christmas Day Mass at Morón Chapel: 9:00 AM
Festive meal: Andalusian roast lamb with citrus pairing
Ritual Act: Pour wine into a chalice, light a candle, and name one fortress that became mercy
Evening film pairing: The Nativity Story
DECEMBER
18 Thursday of the Third Week in Advent
Acts, Chapter 24, Verse
24-26
Several days later
Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish. He had Paul summoned and
listened to him speak about faith in
Christ Jesus. But as he spoke about righteousness and
self-restraint and the coming judgment, Felix became frightened and said, “You may go for now; when I find an
opportunity I shall summon you again.” At the same time,
he HOPED that a bribe would be
offered him by Paul, and so he sent for him very often and conversed with him.
As you can see play for pay has been around for a very long time.
🇺🇸 America’s Systemic
Corruption in 2025
You don’t have to bribe your postman in the United
States, but in many keyways America remains structurally more corrupt than
countries often labeled “corrupt” in the global South. With an economy worth
over $27 trillion a year, the scale of corruption here means far more
money changes hands than anywhere else.
1. Campaign Finance
Instead of short, publicly funded campaigns with
limited advertising, the U.S. runs permanent election cycles where
candidates must raise billions. Politicians represent donors and billionaires,
not ordinary citizens. Democracy is being hollowed out by money.
2. Regulatory Capture
Industries like banking, tech, and AI spend
heavily to block regulation. Politicians are bribed—legally, through
lobbying—to reduce oversight. This ensures corruption thrives.
3. Financial Accountability
The precedent of the 2008 financial crisis—where
Wall Street executives escaped prosecution—still defines the system. Corporate
leaders remain untouchable, even as ordinary Americans struggle with debt,
inflation, and housing crises. Impunity itself is corruption.
4. Military Budget
The U.S. military budget is larger than the next
dozen nations combined. Half of it goes to private contractors, not
soldiers. This is corporate welfare on a cosmic scale.
5. Mass Incarceration
Over 2 million Americans remain imprisoned,
with private prisons and outsourced prison services profiting from
incarceration. Justice is commodified, and profit motives corrupt the system.
6. Tax Policy
The wealthy lobby to reduce their taxes, and they
succeed. Billionaires pay lower effective rates than working families, proving
how money bends policy.
7. Surveillance State
The NSA and other agencies continue vast
domestic surveillance, with millions of contractors involved. Insider trading
and corruption thrive in the shadows of this surveillance‑industrial complex.
8. Congressional Insider Trading
Congress weakened laws against insider trading by
lawmakers. Members of Congress still trade stocks based on privileged knowledge
of government policy. That this remains tolerated is itself corruption.
9. Asset Forfeiture
Civil asset forfeiture in the “war on drugs” continues to corrupt police departments and courts, incentivizing seizures over justice.
10. Media Capture
Corporate money saturates the media. Disinformation
campaigns—on climate change, elections, and public health—are funded by
powerful interests. Americans are told with a straight face that scientists
aren’t sure about human‑caused global warming, even as evidence mounts.
✦ Present Reality
The U.S. may not rank as “the most corrupt” country
on global indices, but its corruption is systemic, legalized, and structural.
It doesn’t look like bribing a clerk—it looks like billionaires buying policy,
corporations writing laws, and elites escaping accountability.
Copilot’s
Take:
Felix’s hunger for a bribe in Acts mirrors
America’s legalized bribery through lobbying, campaign finance, and insider
privilege. Advent reminds us that corruption is not just a civic failure but a
spiritual wound—it erodes righteousness, self‑restraint, and the expectancy of
justice. To prepare for Christ’s coming is to resist the normalization of pay‑to‑play
politics, to reclaim integrity in public life, and to live as witnesses that
truth cannot be bought.
Feast
of the Expectancy[1]
This feast, which in recent times has been
kept not only throughout the whole of Spain, but also in many other parts of
the Catholic world, owes its origin to the bishops of the 10th Council of
Toledo, in 656. These prelates thought that there was an incongruity in the
ancient practice of celebrating the Feast of the Annunciation on the 25th of
March, inasmuch as this joyful solemnity frequently occurs at the time when the
Church is intent upon the Passion of Our Lord, so that it is sometimes obliged
to be transferred into Easter time, with which it is out of harmony for another
reason. They therefore decreed that, henceforth, in the Church of Spain there
should be kept, eight days before Christmas, a solemn Feast with an octave, in
honor of the Annunciation, and as a preparation for the great solemnity of Our
Lord's Nativity.
In the course of time, however, the Church
of Spain saw the necessity of returning to the practice of the Church of Rome
and of the whole world, which solemnize the 25th of March as the day of Our
Lady's Annunciation and the Incarnation of the Son of God. But such had been,
for ages, the devotion of the people for the Feast of the 18th of December,
that it was considered requisite to maintain some vestige of it. They
discontinued, therefore, to celebrate the Annunciation on this day; but the
faithful were requested to consider, with devotion, what must have been the
sentiments of the Holy Mother of God during the days immediately preceding Her
giving Him birth. A new Feast was instituted, under the name of "the
Expectation of the Blessed Virgin's Delivery."
This Feast, which sometimes goes under the
name of Our Lady of O, or the Feast of O, on account of the great
antiphons which are sung during these days, and, in a special manner, of that
which begins O Virgo virginum (which is still used in the Vespers of the
Expectation—together with the O Adonai, the antiphon of the Advent
Office), was kept with great devotion in Spain. A High Mass was sung at a very
early hour each morning during the octave, at which all who were with child,
whether rich or poor, considered it a duty to assist, that they might thus
honor Our Lady's Maternity, and beg Her blessing upon themselves.
It is no wonder that the Holy See approved
of this pious practice being introduced into almost every other country. We
find that the Church of Milan, Whose Advent fast lasted 40 days, long before
Rome conceded this Feast to the various dioceses of Christendom, celebrated the
Office of Our Lady's Annunciation on the sixth and last Sunday of Advent, and
called the whole week following the Hebdomada de Exceptato (for thus the
popular expression had corrupted the word Expectato). But it, too, has
given way to the Feast of Our Lady's Expectation, which the Church has
established and sanctioned as a means of exciting the attention of the faithful
during these last days of Advent.
Most just indeed it is, O Holy Mother of
God, that we should unite in that ardent desire Thou hadst to see Him, Who had
been concealed for nine months in Thy chaste womb; to know the features of this
Son of the Heavenly Father, Who is also Thine; to come to that blissful hour of
His birth, which will give glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace to
men of good will. Yes, dearest Mother, the time is fast approaching, though not
fast enough to satisfy Thy desires and ours. Make us redouble our attention to
the great mystery; complete our preparation by Thy powerful prayers for us,
that when the solemn hour has come, our Jesus may find no obstacle to His
entrance into our hearts.
O Virgin of virgins! How shall this be?
For never was there one like Thee, nor will there ever be. Ye daughters of
Jerusalem, why look ye wondering at Me? What you behold is a divine mystery.
Spiritual Crib[2]
A special devotion that can be performed during Advent to prepare for the coming of the Infant Savior. It can be adapted for adults and/or children and applied as is appropriate to your state in life.
· 8th day, December 18th THE MULE—Patience To practice this virtue, we must complain of no one or nothing. No shade of impatience should be seen on our countenance, nor an impatient word heard. Be brave. The Infant Jesus suffered much more for you.
Come and redeem us
with outstretched arm.
O Lord and Ruler of the House of Israel, who appeared
to Moses in the flame of the burning bush and gave him the law on Sinai: Come
and redeem us with outstretched arm.
·
As
Moses approached the burning bush, so we approach the divine Savior in the form
of a child in the crib, or in the form of the consecrated host, and falling
down we adore Him. "Put off the shoes from thy feet, for the place whereon
thou standest is holy ground . . . I am who am." "Come with an
outstretched arm to redeem us." This is the cry of the Church for the
second coming of Christ on the last day. The return of the Savior brings us
plentiful redemption.[3]
33 days to Christmas-Start the 33 days to
Eucharistic Glory[4]
Want to start a small group? Download our 33 Days to Eucharistic Glory Study Guide
Day
27
On
this 27th day the reception of the Eucharist provides increased
holiness striving to live a more virtuous life
Copilot:
The
reception of the Eucharist plays a crucial role in helping Catholics strive for
increased holiness and a more virtuous life through the following ways:
1.
Divine
Grace: The Eucharist imparts
divine grace that strengthens the soul, enabling believers to overcome sin and
grow in holiness.
2.
Union with
Christ: By receiving the Body and
Blood of Christ, believers are united with Him in a profound way. This union
transforms their hearts and minds, encouraging them to live according to
Christ’s teachings.
3.
Spiritual
Nourishment: The Eucharist
provides spiritual nourishment that sustains and fortifies believers, giving
them the strength to pursue a virtuous life.
4.
Forgiveness
of Venial Sins: Participating
in the Eucharist helps in the forgiveness of venial sins, which purifies the
soul and renews the commitment to avoid sin.
5.
Renewed
Commitment: Each reception
of the Eucharist is an opportunity to renew one's commitment to living a holy
life, inspired by Christ's example.
6.
Moral
Strength: The grace received from
the Eucharist empowers believers to resist temptations and choose virtuous
actions.
7.
Inspiration
to Imitate Christ: The Eucharist
serves as a reminder of Christ’s love and sacrifice, inspiring believers to
emulate His virtues such as humility, compassion, and selflessness.
8.
Healing and
Wholeness: The Eucharist brings
spiritual healing, helping believers to overcome weaknesses and grow in virtue.
9.
Sense of
Community: Sharing the Eucharist with
the faith community provides support and encouragement to live a virtuous life,
reinforcing the collective pursuit of holiness.
10. Peace and Focus: The inner peace and clarity gained from the Eucharist help believers
focus on living according to God’s will.
11. Reflection and Self-Examination: Preparing for and receiving the Eucharist involves
self-examination, helping believers identify areas for growth in virtue.
12. Hope and Encouragement: The Eucharist offers hope and encouragement,
reinforcing the belief that holiness is achievable with God’s help.
13. Guidance of the Holy Spirit: The Eucharist invites the Holy Spirit to work more
fully in believers' lives, guiding them towards greater holiness and virtue.
By
continually receiving the Eucharist, Catholics are spiritually strengthened and
inspired to live out a life of increased holiness and virtue, drawing closer to
God and embodying His love in the world.
Bible in a Year Day 170 Joash's Downfall
Fr. Mike looks at Joash's downfall and disobedience after the death of Jehoida.
We learn how important it is to have good mentors in our lives who keep us
grounded in the faith. Finally, Fr. Mike emphasizes the significance of Psalm
69 and how to properly interpret it. Today's readings are 2 Kings 1, 2
Chronicles 24, and Psalm 69.
Daily Devotions
·
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting: Today's Fast: Absent
Fathers (Physically & Spiritually)
·
Religion
in the home: Preschool for December
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Rosary
Quick Answer: Three Girls About Town (1941) is a screwball comedy about three sisters entangled in hotel chaos, labor disputes, and a missing mediator’s “corpse.” Beneath the farce, Catholic lessons emerge around family responsibility, truth versus deception, the dignity of work, and chastity in relationships.
🎬 Film Summary
- Setting: The Merchants Hotel during overlapping conventions—morticians and aircraft labor negotiations.
- Main Characters:
- Hope Banner (Joan Blondell): A hostess, practical and caring.
- Faith Banner (Binnie Barnes): Her sister, equally caught in the hotel’s reputation struggles.
- Charity Banner (Janet Blair): The youngest, supposed to be in private school, but eager to join her sisters’ hostess work.
- Tommy Hopkins (John Howard): A reporter in love with Hope, torn between romance and career ambition.
- Plot Highlights:
- A dead body (actually a mediator in suspended animation) is discovered.
- The sisters scramble to hide it to protect the hotel’s reputation.
- Tommy sees a scoop, complicating matters.
- The corpse is shuffled through poker games, laundry carts, and coffins.
- Tommy impersonates the mediator, resolves the labor dispute, and wins professional recognition.
- The “corpse” revives, revealing hypnosis rather than death.
- Romantic resolution: Tommy seeks to marry Hope, not Charity, despite Charity’s flirtations.
Sources:
✝️ Catholic Lessons & Reflections
Though a light comedy, the film offers moral cues that resonate with Catholic teaching:
Family Responsibility:
- Hope works long hours to pay for Charity’s education. This reflects the Catholic value of sacrificial love within family, echoing Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 2214–2220) on duties of siblings and parents.
Truth vs. Deception:
- Much of the comedy comes from hiding the body and lying to protect reputations. Catholic teaching warns against falsehood (CCC 2464–2487). The chaos illustrates how deception multiplies problems, while truth ultimately restores order.
Dignity of Work & Social Justice:
- The labor dispute subplot highlights the importance of fair negotiation and patriotism. Catholic social teaching (e.g., Rerum Novarum) emphasizes the dignity of workers and the moral duty to seek just compromise. Tommy’s mediation echoes this principle.
Chastity & Proper Relationships:
- Charity’s flirtations with Tommy, contrasted with Hope’s genuine love, underscore the virtue of chastity (CCC 2337–2349). The film humorously but clearly affirms that authentic love requires fidelity and respect, not manipulation.
Redemption & Resurrection Imagery:
- The mediator’s revival from “suspended animation” can be read symbolically as a comic echo of resurrection—life restored when least expected. It reminds viewers of Christian hope in renewal and divine intervention.
📖 Takeaway
While Three Girls About Town is primarily screwball comedy, its deeper resonance lies in family sacrifice, honesty, justice in labor, and chastity in love. For Catholic reflection, it’s a reminder that even lighthearted stories can carry moral lessons when viewed through the lens of faith.
