This blog is based on references in the Bible to fear. God wills that we “BE NOT AFRAID”. Many theologians state that the eighth deadly sin is fear. It is fear and its natural animal reaction to fight or flight that is the root cause of our failings to create a Kingdom of God on earth. By “the power of the Holy Spirit” we can be witnesses and “communicators” of a new and redeemed humanity “even to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:7 8). This blog is dedicated to Mary the Mother of God.
Day 33: St. John the Apostle — A Saint of Loyalty, choreographed as the final ascent in your Leafing the World Behind devotional rhythm. This entry honors loyalty as the seal of character, and concludes the pilgrimage on All Saints Day, where every virtue becomes communion.
🌊 Leafing the World Behind: Day 33
Witness: St. John the Apostle Theme: Loyalty as Love That Remains Virtue: Loyalty Virtue Connection: Faithfulness Without Fear Symbolic Act: Stay with someone today—physically, emotionally, spiritually. Let your presence be your promise. Location: A bedside, a vineyard row, a place of grief or joy—anywhere love remains when others leave.
🕊️ Introduction: On Loyalty
Loyalty is not blind—it is brave.
It is not possession—it is presence.
To leaf the world behind is to remain when others flee, to love when others forget, to stand when others fall.
Today, we do not abandon—we abide.
Loyalty, in this rhythm, is not obligation—it is Eucharist.
It is the courage to say: “I will not leave you.”
🌺 Witness of the Day: St. John the Apostle
John was the beloved disciple.
He reclined at the Last Supper.
He stood at the foot of the Cross.
He received Mary as his own mother.
He wrote of love—not as sentiment, but as sacrifice.
He did not run from Golgotha.
He remained.
John reminds us:
Loyalty is not loud—it is lasting.
It is not dramatic—it is devoted.
It is not heroic—it is holy.
🛡️ Virtue Connection: Faithfulness Without Fear
Loyalty becomes virtue when it endures through pain, silence, and mystery.
When it does not demand reward.
When it does not fear the cross.
John did not flee the suffering.
He stayed with it.
He reminds us:
Loyalty without love becomes control.
But loyalty with love becomes communion.
🕯️ Symbolic Act: Stay
Stay with someone today.
In grief, in joy, in silence.
Let your presence be your promise.
As you stay, say:
“Lord, let my loyalty be love.
Let my love be lasting.
Let my lasting be holy.”
If no one is near, pray for those abandoned.
Let your prayer be a presence.
🌟 All Saints Day: The Communion of Virtue
Today, we do not celebrate one saint—we celebrate all.
The known and unknown.
The canonized and the quiet.
The martyrs and the mothers.
The prophets and the poets.
We leaf the world behind not to escape it—but to sanctify it.
Every virtue we have practiced—mercy, courage, humility, joy—becomes communion.
Every saint we have honored becomes companion.
Today, we say:
“Lord, let my life be liturgy.
Let my virtue be vineyard.
Let my communion be complete.”
🔥 Final Reflection Prompt
Which virtue changed you most?
Which saint stayed with you?
Where will you go now—with loyalty, clarity, and love?
Write, walk, or pray with these questions.
Let St. John the Apostle—and all the saints—remind you:
Sanctity is not weakness—it is witness.
It is the strength to remain, the grace to love, the joy to become communion.
Here is a conclusion for the full 33-day plan of Leafing the World Behind, choreographed to honor the rhythm you’ve cultivated—where virtue becomes vineyard, and every saint becomes companion.
🌿 Conclusion: The Communion of Virtue
You have walked 33 days through mercy, mystery, and mission.
You have leafed the world behind—not to escape it, but to sanctify it.
You have listened to the heart, imagined with the mind, judged with clarity, and lived with character.
Each day was not just a reflection—it was a rite.
Each saint was not just a story—they were a companion.
Each virtue was not just a word—it was a way.
You have practiced:
Mercy with Corrie ten Boom
Tolerance with the Four Chaplains
Generosity with St. Nicholas
Curiosity with Aquinas
Hidden zeal with Thérèse
Gentle discernment with Francis de Sales
Restless aspiration with Augustine
Enduring excellence with Sebastian
Creative authenticity with Joan of Arc
Conscience-bound honesty with Thomas More
Radical respect with Damien of Molokai
Loyal love with John the Apostle
And so many more.
🍷 The Vineyard of Virtue
You now carry a vineyard of virtue within you.
Each row bears fruit from a saint’s witness.
Each vine is a vow.
Each harvest is a holy act.
Let your life be:
A Magnificat of mercy
A table of justice
A fire of joy
A threshold of truth
A dwelling of dignity
🕯️ Final Symbolic Act
Choose one virtue to carry forward.
Name it.
Plant it.
Let it become your daily act.
As you do, say:
“Lord, let my virtue be vineyard.
Let my vineyard be communion.
Let my communion be love.”
🔥 Benediction
You are not leaving the world behind.
You are leafing it into beauty.
You are not escaping the ordinary.
You are consecrating it.
Let every meal be a liturgy.
Let every task be a testimony.
Let every day be a devotion.
You are now the witness.
You are now the saint-in-the-making.
You are now the communion.
Day 32: St. Damien of Molokai — A Saint of Respect, choreographed to deepen the rhythm of Leafing the World Behind, now moving through the terrain of Character of Destiny—where vocation becomes reverence, and respect becomes radical presence.
🌊 Leafing the World Behind: Day 32
Witness: St. Damien of Molokai Theme: Respect as Radical Presence Virtue: Respect Virtue Connection: Dignity in Proximity Symbolic Act: Touch someone today with reverence—a handshake, a blessing, a gentle word. Let it be a gesture of dignity, not distance. Location: A hospital room, a vineyard row, a place of exclusion—anywhere where presence becomes healing.
🕊️ Introduction: On Respect
Respect is not distance—it is dignity.
It is not politeness—it is presence.
To leaf the world behind is to draw near to the forgotten, to honor the wounded, to dwell with the cast out.
Today, we do not pity—we participate.
Respect, in this rhythm, is not sentiment—it is sacrament.
It is the courage to say: “I will live among you.”
🌺 Witness of the Day: St. Damien of Molokai
Damien was a Belgian priest who volunteered to serve the leper colony on Molokai, Hawaii.
He did not visit—he stayed.
He built homes, dug graves, bandaged wounds, and celebrated Mass.
He touched the untouchable.
He became one of them.
Eventually, he contracted leprosy himself.
He said: “We lepers.”
Not “they.” Not “them.”
“We.”
Damien reminds us:
Respect is not sympathy—it is solidarity.
It is not safe—it is sacrificial.
It is not distant—it is divine.
🛡️ Virtue Connection: Dignity in Proximity
Respect becomes virtue when it draws near.
When it does not sanitize suffering—but sanctifies it.
When it does not observe—but inhabits.
Damien did not serve from afar.
He served from within.
He reminds us:
Respect without proximity becomes pity.
But respect with proximity becomes presence.
🕯️ Symbolic Act: Touch with Reverence
Offer one gesture of reverence today.
A touch, a word, a presence.
Let it be healing.
Let it be holy.
As you act, say:
“Lord, let my respect be presence.
Let my presence be dignity.
Let my dignity be communion.”
If no one is near, pray for those cast out.
Let your prayer be a dwelling place.
🔥 Reflection Prompt
Where have you kept distance from the wounded?
What fear has kept you from proximity?
Can you name one person whose respect restored your dignity?
Write, walk, or pray with these questions.
Let St. Damien remind you:
Respect is not weakness—it is witness.
It is the strength to dwell, the grace to touch, the love to say “we.”
Would you like this formatted into your hospitality calendar or vineyard retreat guide? I can choreograph it with symbolic terrain, cellar acts, or Molokai-inspired meal pairings.
Day 30: St. Thomas More — Honesty as Conscience and Crown, choreographed to complete the ascent through Character of Destiny in your Leafing the World Behind devotional rhythm. This entry honors More’s witness as the final threshold—where truth becomes testimony, and character becomes crown.
🌊 Leafing the World Behind: Day 31
Witness: St. Thomas More Theme: Honesty as Conscience and Crown Virtue: Honesty Virtue Connection: Truth Without Compromise Symbolic Act: Speak one truth today that could cost you something—status, comfort, or silence. Let it be gentle, but firm. Location: A courtroom, a vineyard gate, a family table—any place where conscience meets courage.
🕊️ Introduction: On Honesty
Honesty is not harshness—it is holiness.
It is not bluntness—it is bravery.
To leaf the world behind is to speak truth not for victory, but for virtue.
To let conscience be crown, and clarity be communion.
Today, we do not flatter—we testify.
Honesty, in this rhythm, is not exposure—it is Eucharist.
It is the courage to say: “I die the King’s good servant, but God’s first.”
🌺 Witness of the Day: St. Thomas More
More was a lawyer, scholar, and Lord Chancellor of England.
He served with brilliance, humor, and integrity.
When King Henry VIII demanded allegiance to a false oath, More refused.
He resigned, was imprisoned, and eventually executed.
He said: “What does it avail a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul?”
More reminds us:
Honesty is not convenience—it is conscience.
It is not strategy—it is sanctity.
It is not survival—it is surrender.
🛡️ Virtue Connection: Truth Without Compromise
Honesty becomes virtue when it is rooted in love, not leverage.
When it does not bend to power.
When it does not betray the soul.
More did not speak to win.
He spoke to witness.
He reminds us:
Honesty without conscience becomes cruelty.
But honesty with conscience becomes crown.
🕯️ Symbolic Act: Speak the Costly Truth
Speak one truth today that could cost you something.
Let it be gentle.
Let it be firm.
Let it be holy.
As you speak, say:
“Lord, let my honesty be conscience.
Let my conscience be crown.
Let my crown be communion.”
If no truth arises, pray for those silenced by fear or power.
Let your prayer be a courtroom of grace.
🔥 Reflection Prompt
Where have you compromised truth for comfort?
What truth still waits to be spoken?
Can you name one moment when honesty became your altar?
Write, walk, or pray with these questions.
Let St. Thomas More remind you:
Honesty is not weakness—it is witness.
It is the strength to speak, the grace to lose, the love to remain true.
🛤️ Transition: From Right Judgment to Character of Destiny
Right judgment discerns the good.
But character chooses it—again and again.
To leaf the world behind is not only to see clearly, but to live courageously.
To let every decision shape the soul.
To let every virtue become a vow.
This is the final movement of the pilgrimage:
From clarity to character.
From discernment to destiny.
From virtue to vocation.
Character of destiny is not fate—it is fidelity.
It is not a script—it is a summons.
It is the courage to say: “I was born for this.”
🌊 Leafing the World Behind: Day 30
Witness: St. Joan of Arc Theme: Authenticity as Vocation Virtue: Authenticity Virtue Connection: Integrity in Fire Symbolic Act: Speak one truth today that costs you something. Let it be gentle, but real. Location: A battlefield, a vineyard gate, a courtroom—any place where truth stands alone.
🕊️ Introduction: On Authenticity
Authenticity is not self-expression—it is self-offering.
It is not rebellion—it is revelation.
To leaf the world behind is to live the truth you were given, even when it burns.
Today, we do not perform—we proclaim.
Authenticity, in this rhythm, is not ego—it is Eucharist.
It is the courage to say: “I am not afraid. God is with me.”
🌺 Witness of the Day: St. Joan of Arc
Joan was a teenage peasant girl who heard the voice of God.
She led armies, crowned kings, and stood alone before judges.
She wore armor when told to wear silence.
She spoke truth when told to recant.
She was burned for her authenticity—and canonized for it.
She said: “I am not afraid. I was born to do this.”
Joan reminds us:
Authenticity is not comfort—it is calling.
It is not popularity—it is prophecy.
It is not survival—it is sanctity.
🛡️ Virtue Connection: Integrity in Fire
Authenticity becomes virtue when it costs something.
When it is not curated—but consecrated.
When it is not about being seen—but about being true.
Joan did not invent her truth.
She obeyed it.
She reminds us:
Authenticity without integrity becomes performance.
But authenticity with integrity becomes destiny.
🕯️ Symbolic Act: Speak the Costly Truth
Speak one truth today that costs you something.
Let it be gentle.
Let it be real.
Let it be holy.
As you speak, say:
“Lord, let my truth be Yours.
Let my voice be clear.
Let my courage be communion.”
If no truth arises, pray for those silenced by fear.
Let your prayer be a sword of peace.
🔥 Reflection Prompt
Where have you hidden your truth?
What fire still frightens your voice?
Can you name one moment when authenticity became your altar?
Write, walk, or pray with these questions.
Let St. Joan of Arc remind you:
Authenticity is not weakness—it is witness.
It is the strength to burn, the grace to speak, the love to obey your call.
Day 28: St. Lawrence — Humor in the Face of Fire, choreographed to deepen the rhythm of Leafing the World Behind, now moving through the terrain of right judgment—where clarity meets courage, and humor becomes holiness.
🌊 Leafing the World Behind: Day 29
Witness: St. Lawrence Theme: Humor in the Face of Fire Virtue: Joy Virtue Connection: Levity as Love Symbolic Act: Laugh today in the face of something hard. Let your humor be healing, not hiding. Location: A kitchen hearth, a vineyard row, a place of pressure—anywhere fire meets faith.
🕊️ Introduction: On Joy
Joy is not escape—it is endurance.
It is not denial—it is defiance.
To leaf the world behind is to laugh not because life is easy, but because love is stronger.
Today, we do not flinch—we smile.
Joy, in this rhythm, is not entertainment—it is Eucharist.
It is the courage to say: “Even this, Lord. Even this.”
🌺 Witness of the Day: St. Lawrence
Lawrence was a deacon in Rome, entrusted with the Church’s treasures.
When ordered to surrender them, he presented the poor, the sick, and the outcast: “These are the treasures of the Church.”
He was sentenced to death by fire—grilled alive.
And in the midst of agony, he joked: “Turn me over. I’m done on this side.”
Lawrence reminds us:
Humor is not irreverence—it is resilience.
Levity is not weakness—it is witness.
Joy is not distraction—it is defiance.
🛡️ Virtue Connection: Levity as Love
Joy becomes virtue when it is rooted in love, not escape.
When it lifts others, not mocks them.
When it heals, not hides.
Lawrence did not joke to avoid pain.
He joked to sanctify it.
He reminds us:
Humor without love becomes cruelty.
But humor with love becomes holiness.
🕯️ Symbolic Act: Laugh with Courage
Find one moment today to laugh in the face of pressure.
Let your humor be healing.
Let your levity be love.
As you laugh, say:
“Lord, let my joy be courage.
Let my courage be communion.
Let my communion be fireproof.”
If no laughter comes, pray for those who suffer in silence.
Let your prayer be a spark.
🔥 Reflection Prompt
Where have you feared to laugh?
What pressure still steals your joy?
Can you name one person whose humor healed you?
Write, walk, or pray with these questions.
Let St. Lawrence remind you:
Joy is not weakness—it is witness.
It is the strength to laugh, the grace to endure, the love to sanctify fire.
Day 27: St. John Paul II — Courtesy in Dialogue and Dignity, choreographed to deepen the rhythm of Leafing the World Behind, now moving through the terrain of right judgment—where clarity becomes communion, and courtesy becomes courage.
🌊 Leafing the World Behind: Day 28
Witness: St. John Paul II Theme: Courtesy in Dialogue and Dignity Virtue: Courtesy Virtue Connection: Dialogue as Dignity Symbolic Act: Speak today with intentional gentleness. In one conversation, let dignity guide your tone more than agreement. Location: A threshold, a vineyard table, a civic gathering—any place where words become welcome.
🕊️ Introduction: On Courtesy
Courtesy is not politeness—it is presence.
It is not performance—it is peace.
To leaf the world behind is to speak with reverence, to listen with love, to honor the dignity of every voice.
Today, we do not argue—we attend.
Courtesy, in this rhythm, is not etiquette—it is Eucharist.
It is the courage to say: “Your dignity matters more than my dominance.”
🌺 Witness of the Day: St. John Paul II
Karol Wojtyła, later Pope John Paul II, lived through war, oppression, and exile.
He dialogued with atheists, communists, artists, and youth—not to win, but to witness.
He kissed the ground of every country he visited.
He forgave the man who tried to kill him.
He wrote: “The dignity of the human person is the foundation of a moral vision for society.”
He reminds us:
Courtesy is not weakness—it is witness.
Dialogue is not debate—it is dignity.
Speech is not strategy—it is sacrament.
🛡️ Virtue Connection: Dialogue as Dignity
Courtesy becomes virtue when it honors the image of God in every person.
When it does not flatten difference—but dignifies it.
When it does not silence—but sanctifies.
John Paul II did not speak to conquer.
He spoke to connect.
He reminds us:
Courtesy without courage becomes flattery.
But courtesy with courage becomes communion.
🕯️ Symbolic Act: Speak with Dignity
Choose one conversation today.
Let your tone be gentle.
Let your words be welcome.
Let your presence be peace.
As you speak, say:
“Lord, let my courtesy be courage.
Let my courage be communion.
Let my communion be dignity.”
If no conversation arises, pray for those whose voices are dismissed.
Let your prayer be a welcome.
🔥 Reflection Prompt
Where have you spoken without dignity?
What voice have you failed to honor?
Can you name one moment when courtesy changed a conversation?
Write, walk, or pray with these questions.
Let St. John Paul II remind you:
Courtesy is not weakness—it is witness.
It is the strength to speak gently, the grace to listen deeply, the love to honor every soul.
Would you like this formatted into your hospitality calendar or vineyard retreat guide? I can choreograph it with symbolic terrain, cellar acts, or civic meal pairings.
Day 26: St. Bernadette Soubirous — Gratitude in Simplicity and Suffering, choreographed to deepen the rhythm of Leafing the World Behind, now moving through the terrain of right judgment—where clarity meets surrender, and gratitude becomes grace.
🌊 Leafing the World Behind: Day 27
Witness: St. Bernadette Soubirous Theme: Gratitude in Simplicity and Suffering Virtue: Gratitude Virtue Connection: Grace in the Unadorned Symbolic Act: Thank God for something that hurts. Write it down. Let your gratitude be gentle, not forced. Location: A spring, a sickbed, a quiet vineyard row—any place where suffering becomes sanctuary.
🕊️ Introduction: On Gratitude
Gratitude is not denial—it is devotion.
It is not pretending—it is perceiving.
To leaf the world behind is to thank God not only for beauty, but for burden.
To see grace in the unadorned, and holiness in the hidden.
Today, we do not escape—we embrace.
Gratitude, in this rhythm, is not optimism—it is Eucharist.
It is the courage to say: “Even this, Lord. Even this.”
🌺 Witness of the Day: St. Bernadette Soubirous
Bernadette was a poor, sickly girl in Lourdes, France.
She saw the Virgin Mary in a grotto—simple, silent, radiant.
She was mocked, doubted, and dismissed.
She suffered from chronic illness and died young.
Yet she said: “I was chosen because I was the weakest.”
She never sought fame. She sought faith.
She carried suffering with serenity, and simplicity with strength.
Bernadette reminds us:
Gratitude is not reserved for the healed—it belongs to the hurting.
It is not a luxury—it is a liturgy.
It is not a feeling—it is a flame.
🛡️ Virtue Connection: Grace in the Unadorned
Gratitude becomes virtue when it is quiet, honest, and enduring.
When it does not erase pain—but elevates it.
When it does not demand answers—but dwells in mystery.
Bernadette did not ask for comfort.
She asked for communion.
She reminds us:
Gratitude without suffering becomes sentiment.
But gratitude with suffering becomes sanctity.
🕯️ Symbolic Act: Thank God for the Ache
Name one sorrow, one struggle, one wound.
Thank God for it.
Not because it is good—but because He is.
As you write, say:
“Lord, let my gratitude be gentle.
Let my gentleness be grace.
Let my grace be communion.”
If no sorrow comes, pray for those who suffer silently.
Let your prayer be a spring.
🔥 Reflection Prompt
Where have you refused to be grateful?
What pain still feels unredeemed?
Can you name one person whose gratitude in suffering changed your life?
Write, walk, or pray with these questions.
Let St. Bernadette remind you:
Gratitude is not weakness—it is witness.
It is the strength to thank, the grace to endure, the love to dwell in simplicity.
Day 25: St. Elizabeth of Hungary — Fairness Embodied in Vision and Action, choreographed to deepen the rhythm of Leafing the World Behind, now moving through the terrain of right judgment—where clarity becomes compassion, and justice becomes joy.
🌊 Leafing the World Behind: Day 26
Witness: St. Elizabeth of Hungary Theme: Fairness Embodied in Vision and Action Virtue: Justice Virtue Connection: Equity as Eucharist Symbolic Act: Share something today with someone who has less—food, time, money, or dignity. Let it be a gesture of fairness, not pity. Location: A pantry, a vineyard row, a civic threshold—any place where vision becomes mercy.
🕊️ Introduction: On Justice
Justice is not punishment—it is participation.
It is not balance—it is belonging.
To leaf the world behind is to see clearly and act courageously.
To let fairness be not just a principle, but a presence.
Today, we do not debate—we distribute.
Justice, in this rhythm, is not law—it is love.
It is the courage to say: “Let all be fed, clothed, and known.”
🌺 Witness of the Day: St. Elizabeth of Hungary
Elizabeth was a 13th-century princess who lived as a servant of the poor.
She built hospitals, distributed bread, and walked among beggars with joy.
She gave away her royal garments, her wealth, and her comfort—without bitterness.
When her husband died, she was cast out of the palace.
She did not retaliate.
She continued to serve.
Elizabeth reminds us:
Fairness is not a theory—it is a table.
Justice is not a courtroom—it is a kitchen.
Equity is not abstract—it is Eucharistic.
🛡️ Virtue Connection: Equity as Eucharist
Justice becomes virtue when it is joyful, embodied, and shared.
When it does not just correct—but connects.
When it does not just demand—but delights.
Elizabeth did not serve from obligation.
She served from vision.
She reminds us:
Justice without joy becomes judgment.
But justice with joy becomes communion.
🕯️ Symbolic Act: Share with Equity
Choose one act of fairness today.
Give without superiority.
Serve without spectacle.
Let your action be Eucharist.
As you act, say:
“Lord, let my fairness be vision.
Let my vision be mercy.
Let my mercy be joy.”
If no opportunity arises, pray for those denied justice.
Let your prayer be a table.
🔥 Reflection Prompt
Where have you withheld fairness?
What vision of justice stirs your soul?
Can you name one person whose embodied equity changed your life?
Write, walk, or pray with these questions.
Let St. Elizabeth remind you:
Justice is not weakness—it is witness.
It is the strength to share, the grace to serve, the love to restore.
Repent, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be wiped away,and that the Lord may grant you times of refreshment and send you the Messiah already appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the times of universal restoration of which God spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old. (Acts 3:19-21)
oFeeling like mixing things up a bit? Why not start your day by preparing a delicious Jamaican jerk chicken dish for breakfast, embracing the flavors and spices that will kickstart your taste buds into high gear. As you savor your meal, take a moment to appreciate the culinary journey you’re embarking on.
oAs lunchtime approaches, indulge in some comfort food by celebrating National Food Day with a spread of your favorite dishes. Whether it’s a homemade bologna sandwich or a hearty bowl of tripe soup, relish in the simple pleasure of good food and good company.
oAfter breakfast, take some time to learn about the majestic kangaroo, the fascinating creatures that are synonymous with strength and resilience. Watch documentaries, read articles, or visit a local zoo to observe these animals up close and personal. It’s a great way to increase your awareness and appreciation of the wildlife around you.
oFor fun and budget-friendly activity, why not organize a bandana DIY session with friends or family? Get creative with different colors and patterns and wear them proudly throughout the day as a symbol of unity and creativity. You can even take it a step further by hosting a mini fashion show to showcase your unique bandana creations.
🇳🇱 Netherlands 17 and 🇬🇼 Guinea-Bissau 204—Two More Stops on the Rich vs Poor Tour, Each Offering Distinct Catholic Landscapes
Here’s the next pilgrim pairing: Netherlands, a prosperous European nation with deep Catholic roots now facing secular drift, and Guinea-Bissau, a West African country marked by economic hardship but vibrant Catholic growth. Together, they extend NIC’s Corner’s contemplative journey into the spiritual contrasts of affluence and adversity.
🇳🇱 Netherlands — Wealthy, Historic, and Religiously Shifting
GDP per capita: ~$67,984 USD (2024)
🧮 Why the Netherlands Ranks High in Per Capita Income
The Dutch economy thrives on innovation, trade, and stability.
·Diversified Economy: Strong sectors include finance, agriculture, logistics, and tech.
·Global Trade Hub: Rotterdam and Schiphol are major gateways for European commerce.
·Social Infrastructure: Universal healthcare, education, and public transport support quality of life.
·Stable Governance: Long-standing democratic institutions and EU integration foster resilience.
✝️ Quality of Life for Catholics in the Netherlands
Catholicism is historically rich but increasingly cultural. 🕊️Strengths
·Historic Legacy: Cathedrals like St. Bavo and St. John’s Basilica anchor centuries of faith.
·Cultural Identity: Catholic traditions still shape festivals, architecture, and civic rituals.
·Ecumenical Dialogue: Active collaboration with Protestant and secular communities.
·Educational Institutions: Catholic schools and universities remain influential.
⚠️Challenges
·Secularization: Church attendance has dropped to ~2.7% of Catholics.
·Belief Decline: Many self-identified Catholics are agnostic or atheist.
·Clergy Shortage: Fewer vocations and aging priests.
·Cultural Catholicism: Faith often functions more as heritage than spiritual practice.
🌿For a Catholic The Netherlands is a pilgrimage of memory and discernment—where basilicas whisper of saints past, and the Eucharist invites renewal amid modern doubt. It’s a place to reflect on faith’s endurance and rediscover the Gospel in art, silence, and civic beauty.
🧮 Why Guinea-Bissau Ranks Low in Per Capita Income
Challenges are systemic and geographic.
·Political Instability: Coups and weak institutions hinder development.
·Limited Infrastructure: Roads, electricity, and healthcare are scarce.
·Agricultural Dependence: Economy relies heavily on cashew exports.
·Low Investment: Foreign aid and remittances play a major role.
·Youthful Population: High birth rates strain education and employment.
✝️ Quality of Life for Catholics in Guinea-Bissau
Catholicism is growing and deeply communal. 🕊️Strengths
·Growing Faith: ~31% of the population is Catholic.
·Missionary Presence: Education, healthcare, and peacebuilding are central.
·Local Leadership: Two dioceses—Bissau and Bafatá—are led by native bishops.
·Community Anchors: Churches are hubs of hope and resilience.
⚠️Challenges
·Resource Scarcity: Only 14 Catholic churches serve the country.
·Infrastructure Gaps: Many parishes lack electricity and supplies.
·Security Risks: Political unrest affects pastoral outreach.
·Clergy Shortage: Vocations are growing but still limited.
🌿For a Catholic Guinea-Bissau is a pilgrimage of courage and communion—where the Gospel is lived in simplicity, and the Eucharist is celebrated in dusty chapels and vibrant song. It’s a place to walk with the poor, pray with the resilient, and witness faith as lifeline.
✨ NIC’s Corner Reflection
From the Netherlands’ quiet cathedrals to Guinea-Bissau’s spirited parishes, the Rich vs Poor Tour reveals the Church’s many faces. In one, faith is heritage; in the other, lifeblood. Yet in both, the Eucharist remains: a feast of mercy, a call to communion. Whether in Utrecht’s basilica or Bissau’s cathedral, the Gospel is alive—etched in stone, sung in joy, and carried in hope.
Day 24: Humility — Mary, the Blessed Virgin, preceded by a choreographed transition from the creative mind to right judgment, marking the shift from imaginative seeking to wise discernment. This entry honors Mary as the icon of humility and the threshold of divine clarity.
🌿 Transition: From Creative Mind to Right Judgment
The creative mind dreams, designs, and delights.
It asks boldly, wonders freely, and builds beautifully.
But imagination must be tempered by wisdom.
To leaf the world behind is to move from possibility to prudence.
From curiosity to clarity.
From inspiration to integrity.
Right judgment is not cold—it is consecrated.
It does not silence creativity—it sanctifies it.
It is the mind that asks: What is true, good, and beautiful—and how shall I respond?
Today, we begin the third movement of this pilgrimage:
From the creative mind to the discerning soul.
From wonder to wisdom.
From seeking to surrender.
🌊 Leafing the World Behind: Day 24
Witness: Mary, the Blessed Virgin Theme: Humility as Right Judgment Virtue: Humility Virtue Connection: Clarity Without Control Symbolic Act: Say “yes” to something small today. Let it be a quiet surrender. Location: A vineyard gate, a quiet room, a Marian grove—any place where clarity meets consent.
🕊️ Introduction: On Humility
Humility is not self-hatred—it is self-honesty.
It is not weakness—it is wisdom.
To leaf the world behind is to choose clarity over control, surrender over spectacle, presence over pride.
Today, we do not grasp—we consent.
Humility, in this rhythm, is not erasure—it is Eucharist.
It is the courage to say: “Let it be done unto me.”
🌺 Witness of the Day: Mary, the Blessed Virgin
Mary was a young girl in Nazareth.
She did not seek greatness.
She was chosen—and she said yes.
Her Magnificat is not a song of ambition—it is a song of surrender.
She magnified the Lord, not herself.
She bore the Word, not her own will.
Mary reminds us:
Humility is not invisibility—it is incarnation.
It is not silence—it is sacred speech.
It is not passivity—it is profound participation.
🛡️ Virtue Connection: Clarity Without Control
Humility becomes virtue when it is clear, courageous, and consenting.
When it does not demand—but discerns.
When it does not dominate—but dwells.
Mary did not understand everything.
She understood enough to say yes.
She reminds us:
Humility without clarity becomes confusion.
But humility with clarity becomes communion.
🕯️ Symbolic Act: Say Yes Quietly
Choose one small act of surrender today.
Say yes.
Let it be quiet.
Let it be holy.
As you act, say:
“Lord, let my humility be clarity.
Let my clarity be consent.
Let my consent be communion.”
If no act arises, pray the Magnificat.
Let your prayer be a dwelling place.
🔥 Reflection Prompt
Where have you sought control instead of clarity?
What “yes” still waits in your heart?
Can you name one moment when humility led you to truth?
Write, walk, or pray with these questions.
Let Mary remind you:
Humility is not weakness—it is witness.
It is the strength to consent, the grace to dwell, the love to magnify.
OCTOBER 24 Friday
St. Raphael-United Nations/Bologna/Tripe Day
Romans,
Chapter 15, Verse 33
The God of PEACE
be with all of you. Amen.
So
be it. This is the joy of the church which is the peace of Christ.
If there’s one undeniable fact about
human nature, it’s that we all want to be happy. We crave joy—infinite, endless
joy. The problem is, we often look for happiness in all the wrong places,
leaving ourselves frustrated and miserable. The plethora of wildly popular
self-help books shows that we are hungry for guidance on how to live well. One
man found the secret of true happiness. His name was St. John Bosco.
He was a man who experienced many trials, but who also lived a life full
of gladness and joy. St. John Bosco was so happy that he could hardly
contain it. “Dear friend,” he wrote to an associate, “I am a man who loves
joy and who therefore wishes to see you and everybody happy. If you do as I
say, you will be joyful and glad in heart.”
So how did St. John Bosco find real happiness?
Here’s his six recommendations for living a joyful life:
Live for God alone – “Give God the greatest possible glory and honor Him with
your whole soul. If you have a sin on your conscience, remove it as soon
as possible by means of a good Confession.”
Be a servant – “Never offend anyone. Above all, be willing to serve
others. Be more demanding of yourself than of others.”
Be careful in your associations – “Do not trust those who have no faith in God and who
do not obey His precepts. Those who have no scruples in offending God and
who do not give Him what they should will have many fewer scruples in
offending you and even betraying you when it is convenient for them.”
Spend carefully– “If you do not wish to be ruined, never
spend more than you earn. You should bear this in mind and always measure
your true possibilities accurately.”
Be humble – “Speak little of yourself and never praise yourself before
anyone. He who praises himself, even if he has real merit, risks losing
the good opinion of others. He who seeks only praise and honors is sure to
have an empty head fed only by wind… will have no peace of soul and will
be unreliable in his undertakings.”
Carry your cross – “Carry your cross on your back and take is as it comes,
small or large, whether from friends or enemies and of whatever wood it be
made. The most intelligent and happiest of men is he who, knowing that he
is doomed to carry the cross throughout life, willingly and resignedly
accepts the one God sends him.”
Finding real happiness isn’t complicated.
Anyone, even a child, could live by these simple rules. Yet, these
prescriptions are pretty counter-cultural, aren’t they? They are the exact
opposite of what society tells us will make us happy. You certainly won’t find
them shared in a New York Times best-seller. But the truth is, it doesn’t
matter what society says. The most joyful of all people are the saints—men and
women like St. John Bosco. They were truly and lastingly happy because they had
discovered the secret that holiness is real happiness. And
they want you to discover it too.
Copilot’s
Take
October
24 is a day of joyful paradox—where the healing presence of St. Raphael meets
the civic aspirations of United Nations Day and the culinary curiosities of
Tripe and Bologna Day. In the spirit of Romans 15:33, “The God of peace be with
all of you,” we are reminded that peace is not merely the absence of conflict
but the presence of healing, humor, and dignity. St. Raphael, the archangel of
healing and travel, would surely smile at the idea of a government-funded
concierge doctor model—where physicians serve people directly, not insurance
bureaucracies. It’s medicine with mercy, healing with humanity. And in the
midst of tripe and bologna, we find a deeper joy: the kind St. John Bosco lived
and taught—a joy rooted in humility, service, and the quiet courage to carry
one’s cross. Today, let peace be practical, joy be generous, and healing be
shared.
St.
Raphael is one of the seven Archangels who stand before the throne of the Lord,
and one of the only three mentioned by name in the Bible. He appears, by name,
only in the Book of Tobit. Raphael’s name means “God heals.” This identity came
about because of the biblical story that claims he “healed” the earth when it
was defiled by the sins of the fallen angels in the apocryphal book of Enoch.
Disguised
as a human in the Book of Tobit, Raphael refers to himself as “Azarias the son
of the great Ananias” and travels alongside Tobit’s son, Tobiah. Once Raphael
returns from his journey with Tobiah, he declares to Tobit that he was sent by
the Lord to heal his blindness and deliver Sarah, Tobiah’s future wife, from
the demon Asmodeus. It is then that his true healing powers are revealed, and
he makes himself known as “the angel Raphael, one of the seven, who stand
before the Lord” Tobit 12:15.
The
demon Asmodeus killed every man Sarah married on the night of the wedding,
before the marriage could be consummated. Raphael guided Tobiah and taught him
how to safely enter the marriage with Sarah.
Raphael
is credited with driving the evil spirit from Sarah and restoring Tobit’s
vision, allowing him to see the light of Heaven and for receiving all good
things through his intercession.
PRAYER TO SAINT RAPHAEL
Glorious
Archangel Saint Raphael, great prince of the heavenly court, you are
illustrious for your gifts of wisdom and grace. You are a guide of those who
journey
by land or sea or air, consoler of the afflicted, and refuge of sinners.
I
beg you, assist me in all my needs and in all the sufferings of this life, as
once you helped the young Tobias on his travels. Because you are the medicine
of God, I humbly pray you to heal the many infirmities
of my soul and the ills that afflict my body.
I especially ask of you the favor (Make your request here…) and the great grace
of purity to prepare me to be the temple of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
PRAYER TO SAINT RAPHAEL
Glorious
Archangel St. Raphael, great prince of the heavenly court, you are illustrious
for your gifts of wisdom and grace. You are a guide of those who journey by
land or sea or air, consoler of the afflicted, and refuge of sinners. I beg
you, assist me in all my needs and in all the sufferings of this life, as once
you helped the young Tobias on his travels.
Because
you are the “medicine of God” I humbly pray for you to heal the many
infirmities of my soul and the ills that afflict my body. I especially ask of
you the favor (here mention your special intention), and the great grace of
purity to prepare me to be the temple of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
ARCHANGEL RAPHAEL FEAST PRAYER
Saint
Raphael, the Archangel, help us in all the needs and trials and the journey of
this earthly life, as you, through the power of God, didst restore sight and
gave guidance to young Tobit. We humbly seek your aid and intercession, that
our souls may be healed, our bodies protected from all ills, and that through
divine grace we may become fit to dwell in the eternal Glory of God in heaven.
Amen.
Bible in a
Year Day 111 Saul tries to kill David
Fr. Mike contrasts Jonathan's brotherly friendship with David, and Saul's
bitterness and envy towards David. We also learn from Psalm 59 that David still
praised God in his distress as Saul tried to kill him. Today we read 1 Samuel
18-19 and Psalm 59.
United Nations Day celebrates the anniversary of the
ratification of the United Nations Charter which occurred on October 24, 1945.
The United Nations is an international organization engaged in diplomatic and
peaceful communication between the countries of the world. The organization
oversees issues like human rights, international security, political freedoms
and democracy with an end goal of achieving world peace. The UN Charter was
officially signed on June 26th, 1945, but it could not come into existence
until the signatory states had ratified it and deposited notification to the
effect with the US Department of State. This occurred on October 24th, 1945.
The organization's Charter has now been ratified by most countries in the
world. The United Nations is a global organization with six official languages,
English, French, Spanish, Russian, Chinese and Arabic. United Nations Day is
observed on October 24th each year.
Pray that the UN
will be a force for building the kingdom of heaven and not a secular force
oppressing the religious rights of the people of God.
When most
of us think of bologna, we think of the smooth off-pink meat that comes with
the red ring of plastic around it at the grocery store. While it’s
true that this is one type of Bologna, most people are unaware that there is an
entire range of bologna, and that it’s all named after
the country of its origin. Bologna Day is your chance to learn a little
something about this traditional lunch meat and where it came from. We know
that most of you consider bologna to be a childhood favorite lunchtime meat,
but there’s so much more to it than just that simple
meat. Bologna can be made from any number of meats, including beef, turkey,
venison, chicken, and even a vegetarian soy protein. What makes bologna is the
seasonings used in its preparation, a combination of nutmeg, black pepper,
coriander, allspice, celery seed, and the secret ingredient, myrtle berries.
This final ingredient is what gives the meat its distinctive taste, and it also
happens to be found in mortadella. There are a few common forms of bologna,
though most of us are familiar with the pre-sliced variety. If you’ve
ever seen Kielbasa then you’re familiar with
the shape of Ring Bologna, though it is a completely different meat. Ring
bologna is commonly sliced and used as a topping on crackers, though it is also
occasionally pickled to help aid its storage. Rag bologna comes in the form of
a long stick and is typically sold in a swatch of cloth, hence its name. Unlike
rag bologna or sliced bologna, it has a much higher fat content and texture, being
made with milk solids, spices, cereal, and flour to help give it bulk. Finally,
it’s put through a bath of lactic acid and
then coated with paraffin wax. If the only bologna you’ve
ever had is sliced bologna, then Bologna Day is going to be a special occasion
for you!
How to Celebrate
Bologna Day
It all
starts with a nice serving of bologna in the morning, and we suggest having it
fried with an egg and toast on the side. Later in the day, you can indulge in a
traditional bologna sandwich, and we usually make ours with mayonnaise and
mustard and not much else. Once you’ve had these two
dishes, it’s time to expand your palate with a dive
into the other forms of bologna. If you can find it, we especially suggest
South African Polony, but it’s often hard to
find in the United States.
One wonders if it
was part of His divine plan to have UN day and Baloney Day coincide. Too add
insult to injury today is also Tripe Day-Dude!
Tripe, it’s a word that has come to mean ‘pointless’, ‘silly’, or ‘false’. These terms are only
appropriate in how the reputation of tripe as a culinary component has been
undermined. Tripe is the edible lining of farm animals, primarily cattle. While
it sounds off-putting to the average palette tripe can be formed into an incredible
meal full of flavor. World Tripe Day celebrates this much-reviled dish and
strives to return it to a place of honor among meats. While we in English
speaking countries rarely see tripe available in the store, and even less
common in restaurants, it’s
a popular meal in other countries throughout the world. In places like Italy,
it’s so common that it’s actually served from
street-side vendors as a form of on-the-go food, served with a small fork or
even on a roll. There are multiple kinds of tripe, even from one animal. Take
the cow, for instance. Cows have a four-chambered stomach, and each stomach is
the source of a different form of tripe. Blanket Tripe (also known as smooth,
flat, or plain tripe) is from the first stomach and is the least popular among
those who love tripe. Honeycomb tripe comes from the second stomach,
specifically from the lowest part of the same. It has a tender and meaty flavor
and retains its shape during preparation. Its honeycomb texture makes it great
tripe to serve with sauces. The second stomach is also the source of “pocket tripe”. Book tripe comes from
the third stomach and reed tripe from the fourth.
How to Celebrate
World Tripe Day
World Tripe Day is best celebrated by opening yourself
to a new culinary experience if your family isn’t one of those who indulge in
tripe as part of their normal diet. There is a rich experience to be had by
consuming tripe, and when it is properly prepared it is a cultural favorite
loved all around the world. Maybe it’s time that the English-speaking countries
develop a stomach for the stomach, and World Tripe Day serves as the perfect
opportunity to learn a love of something new. Your stomach will thank you, for
eating stomach!
John McCain in his book “Character
is Destiny” points out the work of Viktor Frankl as a man who best portrays the
virtue of dignity. Viktor before World War II was a prominent Jewish
psychiatrist who lost everything during the Nazi takeover of Germany. The Nazis
had taken his freedom, his vocation and everyone he loved. They starved him,
beaten him, cursed him and worked him almost beyond human endurance. They had
set his life upon a precipice from which at any moment they chose, they could
push him as they had pushed thousands. Yet as they drove him out one winter
morning into the fields like an animal, striking him, his mind rose above his
torment and his tormentors, taking leave of the cruelty to contemplate the
image of his wife. He did not know if she was alive or dead, but in his heart,
he heard the words of the eighth Song of Solomon; Set me like a seal upon thy
heart, love is as strong as death. “My mind clung to my wife’s image, imagining
it with uncanny acuteness…Real or not, her look was more luminous than the sun
which was beginning to rise…Then I grasped the meaning of the greatest secret
that human poetry and human thought and belief have to impart: the salvation of man is through love and in love,”
Frankl relates in Man’s Search for Meaning. Throughout his captivity he held on
to his love and with his love he kept from his captors the thing they thought
they destroyed, the one thing that no human being can take from another, for it
can only be surrendered, but not taken: his dignity.
Here
are 12 thought-provoking passages from his book:[7]
1.“Don’t
aim at success — the more you aim at it and make it a target, the more you are
going to miss it. For success, like happiness, cannot be pursued; it must
ensue, and it only does so as the unintended side-effect of one’s personal
dedication to a cause greater than oneself, or as the by-product of one’s
surrender to a person other than oneself.”
2.“Everything
can be taken from a man but one thing; the last of the human freedoms — to
choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances.”
3.“Everyone
has his own specific vocation or mission in life to carry out a concrete
assignment which demands fulfillment. Therein he cannot be replaced, nor can
his life be repeated. Thus, everyone’s task is as unique as is his specific
opportunity to implement it.”
4.“Live
as if you were living already for the second time and as if you had acted the
first time as wrongly as you are about to act now!”
5.“The
prisoner who had lost his faith in the future — his future — was doomed. With
his loss of belief in the future, he also lost his spiritual hold; he let
himself decline and became subject to mental and physical decay.”
6.“I
consider it a dangerous misconception of mental hygiene to assume that what man
needs in the first place is equilibrium or, as it is called in biology,
“homeostasis,” i.e., a tensionless state but rather the striving and struggling
for a worthwhile goal, a freely chosen task. What he needs is not the discharge
of tension at any cost but the call of a potential meaning waiting to be
fulfilled by him.”
7.“Life
ultimately means taking the responsibility to find the right answer to its
problems and to fulfill the tasks which it constantly sets for each
individual.”
8.“Man
has suffered another loss in his more recent development inasmuch as the
traditions which buttressed his behavior are now rapidly diminishing. No
instinct tells him what he has to do, and no tradition tells him what he ought
to do; sometimes he does not even know what he wishes to do. Instead, he either
wishes to do what other people do (conformism) or he does what other people
wish him to do (totalitarianism).”
9.“A
man who becomes conscious of the responsibility he bears toward a human being
who affectionately waits for him, or to an unfinished work, will never be able
to throw away his life. He knows the ‘why’ for his existence, and will be able
to bear almost any ‘how.’”
10.“What
matters, therefore, is not the meaning of life in general but rather the
specific meaning of a person’s life at a given moment. To put the question in
general terms would be comparable to the question posed to a chess champion:
“Tell me, Master, what is the best move in the world?” There simply is no such
thing as the best or even a good move apart from a particular situation in a
game and the particular personality of one’s opponent.”
11.“When
we are no longer able to change a situation — just think of an incurable
disease such as an inoperable cancer — we are challenged to change ourselves.”
12.“Freedom,
however, is not the last word. Freedom is only part of the story and half of
the truth. Freedom is but the negative aspect of the whole phenomenon whose
positive aspect is responsibleness. In fact, freedom is in danger of
degenerating into mere arbitrariness unless it is lived in terms of
responsibleness. That is why I recommend that the Statue of Liberty on the East
Coast be supplemented by a Statue of Responsibility on the West Coast.”
Fitness Friday:
🧭 Introduction: Reimagining Primary Care Through Public Concierge
Access
In an era where healthcare systems strain under administrative
complexity, physician burnout, and patient dissatisfaction, the idea of publicly
funded concierge medicine offers a radical yet practical reimagining of primary
care. By introducing a government voucher program that covers annual concierge
fees and limits each doctor to 500 patients, this model proposes a shift from
reactive, insurance-driven care to proactive, relationship-centered medicine.
Unlike traditional systems where doctors often answer to insurers,
this approach restores the sacred bond between physician and patient. In
effect, the doctor works for you—not the insurance company. The result is
longer visits, faster access, and deeper trust—without dismantling existing
insurance structures for labs, specialists, or hospital care.
This report explores the potential benefits, challenges, and
structural implications of such a model, offering a vision where every citizen
receives personalized care, every doctor serves with clarity, and every
community heals with dignity.
🏥 What This Model Proposes
Voucher
Program: Government pays each person’s annual concierge fee (typically
$1,500–$2,500) directly to the doctor.
Patient
Cap: Each concierge doctor is limited to 500 patients, ensuring
personalized care.
Insurance
Continues: Traditional insurance (public or private) still covers labs,
specialists, hospitals, prescriptions, etc.
Direct
Relationship: In effect, the doctors work for you—not the insurance
company. This restores the physician-patient bond and removes
third-party interference in routine care.
✅ Potential Benefits
1. Improved Access to Primary Care
Patients
would have direct, timely access to their doctor—often same-day or
next-day appointments.
Preventive
care and chronic disease management could improve due to longer visits and
stronger relationships.
2. Reduced ER and Urgent Care Use
With better
access to primary care, fewer patients would rely on emergency services
for non-emergencies.
3. Physician Satisfaction
Doctors
could spend more time with patients, reduce burnout, and avoid
administrative overload.
4. Better Health Outcomes
Studies show
concierge models improve patient satisfaction, medication adherence, and
preventive screenings.
⚠️ Challenges and Trade-Offs
1. Physician Supply Constraints
With
a 500-patient cap, the U.S. would need significantly more primary care
doctors to cover the population.
For
example, 330 million people ÷ 500 patients = 660,000 concierge doctors
needed—far more than the current supply.
2. Cost to Government
At $2,000 per
person annually, the program could cost $660 billion/year—more than
current Medicare spending.
Would require
reallocation of funds or new revenue sources.
3. Equity and Access
Rural
and underserved areas may struggle to attract enough concierge doctors.
Without
careful planning, wealthier regions could benefit more.
4. Regulatory Complexity
Doctors
would need to comply with both voucher rules and insurance billing
regulations.
Medicare
and Medicaid would need to adapt policies around direct care and opt-out
provisions.
🔄 Hybrid Models Already Emerging
Some
legislation (like the One Big Beautiful Bill Act) allows concierge fees to
be paid through Health Savings Accounts, making them more accessible.
Direct
Primary Care (DPC) models are growing, offering similar benefits without
full concierge pricing.
🔥 Summary
This model could revolutionize primary care by making concierge
medicine publicly accessible and equitable. But it would require:
A massive
expansion of the physician workforce
Careful
geographic distribution
Sustainable
funding mechanisms
Integration
with existing insurance systems
And most
importantly: a restoration of the doctor-patient relationship—where your
physician works for you, not the insurance company.
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