Thursday, January 15, 2026

Rachel’s Corner Try an “Alphonso Mango”

· Martin Luther King Jr. birthday 1929-1969

· Bucket List Trip: Los Cabos

· Spirit hour: Spanish Monk

· Dry January or Ginuary

· Get your Soup On

· Hot Tea Month

· 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

· How to celebrate Jan 15th

o Start your day with a fresh bagel for breakfast, then spend some time reading interesting articles on Wikipedia. If it’s snowing outside, embrace the winter wonderland and participate in some snow-related activities. Don a hat to stay warm and stylish while enjoying the cold weather.

o For lunch, sip on some freshly squeezed juice to stay refreshed. Consider donating to a charity or volunteering to celebrate the spirit of giving on the Feast of the Holy Child. Thank your elementary school teacher for their hard work on Elementary School Teacher Day.

o Indulge in a scoop of strawberry ice cream for dessert and brew a batch of homemade kombucha to celebrate National Booch Day. Take some time to learn about different religions and appreciate diversity on World Religion Day.

o While driving, be mindful of potholes on National Pothole Day and advocate for better road maintenance. Take a moment to honor the bravery and sacrifices of the Indian Army on Indian Army Day.

o End your day by cooking a traditional meal for Pongal, a South Indian harvest festival. Reflect on the importance of agriculture and celebrate the bounty of the harvest season.

Best Place to visit in January: Barbados

Barbados is one of the Caribbean’s top family-friendly destinations and a great place to enjoy some winter sun with little ones. Not only does the island have countless amazing family-friendly resorts and villas, but there’s plenty to do with kids of all ages too.

Young animal lovers will enjoy spotting the monkeys at Barbados Wildlife Reserve, while the amazing 500,000-year-old Harrison’s Cave is definitely a must-visit.

You can also take a cruise around the island to enjoy the beautiful waters or head underwater in a submarine to see the incredible coral reefs up close – great for little explorers who are too young to swim or snorkel yet.

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

National Bagel Day-Munch on this doughy, holey bread at every meal, bake your own or host a bagel party to sample a variety of delicious fillings and toppings.[2]

National Hat Day-National Hat Day seeks to celebrate the different styles and types of hats. This day encourages everyone to wear their favorite hat whether that be one that is comfortable, stylistic, or that stands out. People have worn hats for thousands of years whether to protect themselves from the elements or to show status. Today, people still wear hats for similar reasons. No matter the reason, on National Hat Day all hats are celebrated today.[3]

🇩🇪 Ramstein Air Base – Airbridge of Providence

A week of Eucharistic grounding, alliance lifelines, aircrew culture, and spiritual vigilance.

Day 1 – Fri, Jan 16 – Arrival & Airlift Orientation

Lodging:

Ramstein Inn (86fss.com in Bing)

Evening:

Walk through the Kaiserslautern Military Community Center (ramstein.af.mil in Bing)

Orientation at Southside Fitness Center (86 FSS)

Day 2 – Sat, Jan 17 – Airlift Heritage & Recreation

Morning:

Visit the Ramstein North Chapel (ramstein.af.mil in Bing) for Eucharistic grounding

Afternoon Outdoor Rec:

Kaiserslautern forest hike or Rhine River castles via Ramstein Outdoor Recreation (86fss.com in Bing)

Evening:

Bowling at the Ramstein Bowling Center

Day 3 – Sun, Jan 18 – Sunday Mass & Aircrew Witness

Catholic Mass:

9:00 AM at the North Chapel (ramstein.af.mil in Bing)

Afternoon:

Berlin Airlift Memorial (on base)

Evening:

Community Center resilience night

Day 4 – Mon, Jan 19 – Alliance Lifelines & Fitness

86th Airlift Wing Heritage Display

Workout at Southside Fitness Center

Dinner: schnitzel + Riesling

Day 5 – Tue, Jan 20 – Fortress Airfields & Outdoor Rec

Excursion to Speyer Cathedral

Black Forest snowshoe or winter hike

via Outdoor Rec (86fss.com in Bing)

Evening intramurals

Day 6 – Wed, Jan 21 – Monastic Clarity & Aircrew Culture

Visit Maria Laach Abbey

Civic witness in Kaiserslautern old town

Evening resilience at the Community Center

Day 7 – Thu, Jan 22 – Runway Vigil

Candlelight vigil at Ramstein Inn

Ritual Act: Pour wine into a chalice, light a candle, and name one “airbridge” God built in your life

Final workout at Southside Fitness Center

🔑 Key Links (Clean & Embedded)

Ramstein Inn (86fss.com in Bing)

Ramstein Outdoor Recreation (86fss.com in Bing)

Ramstein North Chapel (ramstein.af.mil in Bing)

Kaiserslautern Military Community Center (ramstein.af.mil in Bing)

January 15 Thursday

Genesis, Chapter 43, Verse 23

He replied, “Calm down! Do not FEAR! Your God and the God of your father must have put treasure in your bags for you. As for your money, I received it.” With that, he led Simeon out to them.

Being calm under pressure or threat is the ultimate way we can show trust in God. Here are some more verses to ponder on calming down:[1]

· Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun set on your anger,and do not leave room for the devil.(Ep. 4:26-27)

· For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control. (2Tm. 1:7)

· He hushed the storm to silence; the waves of the sea were stilled.They rejoiced that the sea grew calm, that God brought them to the harbor they longed for. (Ps. 107:29-30)

· He got into a boat and his disciples followed him. Suddenly a violent storm came up on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by waves; but he was asleep. They came and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” He said to them, “Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?” Then he got up, rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was great calm. The men were amazed and said, “What sort of man is this, whom even the winds and the sea obey?” (Mt. 8:23-27)

Many are afraid of our Pope, the president, and the communist new world order—Calm Down! Do not Fear! Remember the Lord’s words to Pilate "You wouldn't have any authority over me if it hadn't been given to you from above.”

Copilot’s Take

The brothers trembled before an authority they did not understand, yet the steward’s first words cut through their anxiety: “Calm down. Do not fear.” Scripture never treats calm as naïveté; it treats it as the fruit of knowing who truly governs the world. Human power—whether benevolent, confused, or even hostile—remains secondary, derivative, borrowed. Christ’s words to Pilate echo through every age: “You would have no authority over me unless it had been given you from above.” Nothing has changed.

Fear thrives on the illusion that history is in the hands of the loudest, the strongest, or the most ideological. Hope thrives on the truth that history is in the hands of God.

Even when leadership seems strange, unpredictable, or opposed to the Gospel, Scripture never instructs the faithful to panic. Instead, it calls them to become signs of a different kingdom—calm, steady, unafraid. Joseph remained serene under Pharaoh. Daniel remained faithful under Babylon. The early Church flourished under emperors who neither understood nor welcomed them. God’s people have always lived under rulers of every temperament and persuasion, yet the pattern remains: God writes straight with crooked lines.

So even if a city is led by someone whose worldview seems foreign or unsettling, the believer’s task does not change. Hope does not depend on who sits in an office; hope depends on who sits on the throne. Calm is not passivity—it is confidence that God can work through, around, or in spite of any system, any ideology, any leader.

The steward in Genesis speaks a word for every age:
“Your God… must have put treasure in your bags.”
Even in unfamiliar times, God is still placing hidden treasure—grace, protection, unexpected provision—into the lives of those who trust Him.

Calm down. Do not fear. The winds and the sea still obey Him.

Bible in a Year Day 198 The Day of the Lord

Fr. Mike introduces us to the prophet Joel, and the unique timing of his ministry in the midst of tragedy. He also touches on the prophecy concerning Lucifer and St. Michael the Archangel, and how the two are directly contrasted to show the glory of God. Today's readings are Isaiah 14-15, Joel 1-2, and Proverbs 10:17-20.

Daily Devotions

· Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them in fasting: Today's Fast: For the Poor and Suffering

· Offering to the sacred heart of Jesus

· Drops of Christ’s Blood

· Universal Man Plan

· Rosary

[1] http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Being-Calm

[2] https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/bagel-day/

[3] https://www.wincalendar.com/Hat-Day

🎭 Lady of Secrets (1936)

Ruth Chatterton • Otto Kruger • Marian Marsh

A Drama of Wounds, Memory, and the Burden of Love

🎬 Plot Summary (Grounded in Search Results)

The film centers on Celia Whittaker, a reclusive socialite whose life has been shaped — and scarred — by a tragic love affair in her youth. Her emotional volatility and isolation are not random; they are the residue of a wound she has never allowed to heal.

Key plot elements include:

Celia’s trauma resurfaces when a Fourth of July parade triggers memories of her lost love, Michael.
Her younger sister Joan becomes engaged to David Eastman, an older professor, even though she truly loves a young doctor named Richard.
Celia senses the marriage is wrong and warns David she will oppose it if necessary.
Their domineering father insists the wedding proceed, even attempting to confine Celia to silence her objections.
A flashback reveals the roots of Celia’s melancholy and the secret that has shaped her life.

The film blends melodrama, psychological portraiture, and family conflict — all anchored by Chatterton’s intense performance.

✝️ Catholic Moral Reflection

This film is a meditation on wounded memory, family pressure, and the quiet heroism of truth-telling.

1. The Wound That Never Heals Without Grace

Celia’s entire life is shaped by a past she refuses to face.
Her isolation is not pride — it is unhealed grief.

Takeaway:
Wounds hidden become wounds that rule us. Grace begins where secrecy ends.

2. The Courage to Oppose a Wrong Marriage

Celia’s warning to David is not meddling — it is moral clarity.
She refuses to let her sister enter a loveless union for convenience or status.

Takeaway:
Love is not sentiment; it is the willingness to speak truth even when it costs us.

3. The Tyranny of Appearances

Mr. Whittaker’s insistence on the marriage reflects a common 1930s theme:
family honor over personal happiness.

Takeaway:
When reputation becomes an idol, people become sacrifices.

4. Memory as a Moral Force

The flashback sequence — though heavy-handed — reveals a profound truth:
our past is not dead; it shapes our present unless redeemed.

Takeaway:
Christian hope does not erase the past; it transforms it.

🍸 Hospitality Pairing: “The Celia Whittaker”

A drink from your bar stock that mirrors the film’s emotional palette — elegant, bittersweet, and layered.

The Celia Whittaker

Ingredients:

Brandy (memory, depth)
Sweet vermouth (melancholy sweetness)
Cointreau (the sharpness of truth)
A whisper of red wine floated on top (the “secret”)

Build:
Stir brandy, vermouth, and Cointreau over ice.
Strain into a coupe.
Float a teaspoon of red wine — a visual metaphor for the past rising to the surface.

Snack Pairing:

Dark chocolate and dried cherries
— rich, bittersweet, and emotionally resonant.

Wednesday, January 14, 2026

Dara’s Corner-Try “Pho Bo”

· Bucket List trip: Calgary Stampede Alberta, Cananda

· Carnival Time begins in Catholic Countries.

· Catholic Recipe: Spiedini Romano

· Spirit Hour: Champagne or Vodka

· Albert Schweitzer born 1875

· Apple and Apricot Month

· Plan winter fun:

· Soak in hot springs

· Hit the snow slopes

· Ride a snowmobile

· Go for a dog sled ride

· Ride a hot air balloon

· How to celebrate Jan 14th

· Grab your furry companion and get creative by dressing them up with DIY costumes, celebrating National Dress Up Your Pet Day.

· Later, indulge in a scrumptious hot pastrami sandwich to honor National Hot Pastrami Sandwich Day.

· Plan your next adventure by browsing deals on National Shop for Travel Day.

· Embrace cultural festivities by dancing and feasting during Magh Bihu.

· Head outdoors to fly kites and soak up the sun for International Kite Day.

· Declutter and spruce up your living space to observe National Organize Your Home Day.

· Learn about Mahayana New Year traditions and consider setting meaningful resolutions.

· Engage your brain on World Logic Day by solving puzzles or riddles.

· Treat a friend to lunch and meaningful conversation on Take a Missionary to Lunch Day.

· Incorporate poetry into your workday on Poetry at Work Day for inspiration.

· Acknowledge the importance of medical advancements on Cesarean Section Day.

Please pray for the intentions of my sister Candace Faith, whose name means “Shining Faith” pray that the “Candace can do miracles”!

🌍 Dara’s Corner: Aboard The World

Ordinary Time Begins | January 15–21, 2026
Theme: Steadiness, Stewardship & the Quiet Work of Becoming
Coordinates: At Sea → Esperance → Margaret River → Fremantle (Perth)

🌤️ Day 1 — January 15 | At Sea Along the Southern Coast

Title: The Slow Unfolding

· Ritual: Pilgrims journal one place in their life where God is working slowly rather than suddenly

· Scripture: Mark 4:28 — “First the blade, then the ear, then the full grain…”

· Meal: Avocado toast with chili flakes, citrus water, green tea

· Reflection: “Growth is rarely dramatic—yet always real.”

· Hospitality Arc: Ask someone what is growing quietly in them—and honor its pace

🐬 Day 2 — January 16 | Approaching Esperance

Title: White Sands, Clear Calling

· Ritual: Barefoot shoreline walk at twilight; pilgrims gather a handful of white sand as a symbol of clarity

· Scripture: Psalm 119:105 — “Your word is a lamp for my feet…”

· Meal: Grilled snapper, lemon couscous, iced mint tea

· Reflection: “Clarity is not certainty—it is direction enough for the next step.”

· Hospitality Arc: Share with someone the last time you felt truly guided

🌊 Day 3 — January 17 | Docked in Esperance

Title: The Blue Beyond

· Ritual: Pilgrims take a silent 10‑minute gaze at the turquoise water, naming one desire they’ve been afraid to voice

· Scripture: Psalm 37:4 — “Delight yourself in the Lord…”

· Meal: Local oysters, sea‑salt crackers, crisp white wine

· Reflection: “Desire is not danger—it is invitation.”

· Hospitality Arc: Ask someone what they long for—and receive it without judgment

Local Inspiration:

· Esperance’s famed beaches: Lucky Bay, Twilight Beach

· National Park overview: Cape Le Grand (Australia tourism pages have excellent summaries)

🌿 Day 4 — January 18 | At Sea Toward Margaret River

Title: The Vineyard Within

· Ritual: Pilgrims hold a grape in their palm, naming one virtue they want to cultivate this year

· Scripture: Galatians 5:22 — “The fruit of the Spirit is…”

· Meal: Tomato‑basil pasta, olive oil bread, sparkling water

· Reflection: “Virtue grows where attention is given.”

· Hospitality Arc: Name a virtue you see in someone—and how it blesses others

🍇 Day 5 — January 19 | Margaret River Wine Region

Title: The Good Earth

· Ritual: Vineyard walk; pilgrims touch the soil and offer a prayer of gratitude for the land

· Scripture: Isaiah 55:10 — “As the rain and snow come down from heaven…”

· Meal: Cheese board, local Cabernet Sauvignon, fig jam

· Reflection: “Goodness takes root in the places we tend.”

· Hospitality Arc: Ask someone what part of their life needs tending—and offer encouragement

Suggested Vineyards:

· Leeuwin Estate

· Vasse Felix

· Voyager Estate
(All easily found on Australia’s official tourism site)

🌇 Day 6 — January 20 | Sailing Toward Fremantle (Perth)

Title: Harbor of the Heart

· Ritual: Pilgrims write a short blessing for someone they love and place it in a communal bowl

· Scripture: Philippians 1:3 — “I thank my God every time I remember you.”

· Meal: Grilled chicken with rosemary, roasted vegetables, ginger tea

· Reflection: “Blessing is the language of belonging.”

· Hospitality Arc: Speak a blessing aloud to someone—simple, sincere, specific

🌅 Day 7 — January 21 | Docked in Fremantle (Perth)

Title: The Wide Horizon

· Ritual: Pilgrims stand facing west at sunset, naming one horizon they feel called toward this year

· Scripture: Isaiah 60:1 — “Arise, shine, for your light has come.”

· Meal: Barramundi with lemon butter, fresh greens, sparkling elderflower

· Reflection: “A horizon is not a destination—it is an invitation to move.”

· Hospitality Arc: Ask someone what horizon they see—and what courage it will require

January 14 Wednesday

Orthodox New Year

Genesis, Chapter 42, Verse 35

When they were emptying their sacks, there in each one’s sack was his moneybag! At the sight of their moneybags, they and their father were AFRAID.

Why was Jacob (Israel) and Joseph’s brothers afraid?

As I pondered this thought it occurred to me that they were afraid because they had no compassion in them. Yes, even Jacob; for was it not Jacob who cheated his brother out of his birthright and stole Esau’s dying blessing from his own father Isaac. These men were hard.

Yet, God still loved them and blessed them. Finding the money sacks still in with the grain meant to them that now they would have to pay for the grain with their lives-for nothing is free! This act of compassion from Joseph unsettled them. It upset their world; it toppled their assumptions of the world, and they would never be the same. They were by this simple gesture being asked to radically change. To think in a new way: that is to realize that the dignity and loyalty that men seek; is not a birthright given to the firstborn or something to be gained taken by being the most powerful of men. That dignity and loyalty are the birthright of all persons; however, they can be lost by unbridled selfishness.

Wisdom teaches us that in order to retain our dignity and the loyalty of others we must be persons of character and that we must lose our absorption with ourselves to contemplate and develop a sincere love for others.

Copilot’s Take — Grace as the First Blow Against Evil

The fear in Jacob’s household is the fear that rises when entrenched evil is finally confronted—not by force, but by a mercy that exposes everything it touches. These men had lived so long inside a world shaped by deceit, rivalry, and self‑protection that Joseph’s returned money felt less like kindness and more like judgment. Evil depends on predictable patterns; it thrives when hearts stay hard and assumptions stay unchallenged. But grace disrupts that order. It breaks the spell. Their terror marks the moment God begins dismantling the old patterns and calling them into a new way of being. It’s fitting that this reading falls on the Orthodox New Year, a day that invites a clean beginning—not by pretending the darkness isn’t there, but by letting God’s mercy unmask it and undo it. In that sense, Joseph’s gesture becomes a kind of spiritual new year for his brothers: the moment when the old life can no longer continue and the long work of becoming men of loyalty, dignity, and love finally begins.

Orthodox New Year^{^[1]}

Orthodox New Year is celebrated as the first day of the New Year as per the Julian calendar. Orthodox New Year is a celebration of the year to come. It is often referred to as Old New Year, and is celebrated by Orthodox churches in Russia, Serbia, and other Eastern European countries on January 14. Although most countries have adopted the Gregorian calendar, where New Year's Day is January 1, the Orthodox Church still follows the Julian calendar, which places Christmas on January 7 and New Year's a week later.

· Russian Orthodox churches in the United States hold church services often with festive dinner and dancing to celebrate the holiday. The traditional dishes include meat dumplings, beet salad, pickled mushrooms, tomatoes, and cucumbers along with vodka.

· Orthodox Serbians also celebrate Old New Year, which is sometimes called the Serbian New Year. Many Serbians Orthodox churches hold services, followed by dinner, and dancing.

· Although the Old New Year is a popular holiday for many practicing the Orthodox faith, it isn't an official holiday.

· Macedonians, including those living in the United States, also celebrate Old New Year's with traditional food, folk music, and visiting friends and family.

· Many Russians enjoy extending the holiday season by including Orthodox New Year in it.

Orthodox New Year Top Events and Things to Do

· Enjoy a dinner dance at Orthodox Church with native cuisine folk music.

· Learn to cook some Russian or Eastern European dishes. One of the most important Russian dishes during the holiday season is kutya, a porridge made of grain, honey and poppy seeds. It symbolizes hope, happiness, and success.

· Rent a movie Dr. Zhivago (1965).

It depicts some of the lavish parties held during the holidays right before the Russian Revolution. The film is based on the 1957 novel by Boris Pasternak.

o A New Year Reflection — Zhivago, Revolution, and America’s Quiet Experiment

§ If you watch Dr. Zhivago around the New Year, you feel the tremor of a society dancing on the edge of collapse—lavish parties, glittering salons, and a cultured elite unaware that the ground beneath them is already cracking. Pasternak’s world shows how quickly an idea, once unleashed, can sweep through a nation and reorder everything: property, family, faith, even the meaning of the human person.

§ What many Americans forget is that New York once hosted its own small‑scale experiment with communist idealism. In the early 20th century—especially in the 1910s and 1920s—New York’s Lower East Side became a laboratory for utopian socialism and communal living. Immigrant intellectuals, labor organizers, and idealists gathered in coffeehouses and settlement halls, convinced that a new world could be built through shared property, collective labor, and the abolition of class distinctions. It was earnest, energetic, and—like all utopian projects—short‑lived.

§ The experiment didn’t collapse through violence as in Russia. It simply ran aground on human nature. The communal apartments fractured over personal conflicts. Cooperative workshops struggled with uneven effort. Ideological purity tests splintered friendships. The dream faded not because of oppression, but because the human heart resisted being engineered.

§ And that’s the contrast worth pondering on the Orthodox New Year: Revolutions promise to remake society, but they rarely remake the soul.

§ Pasternak understood this. His novel shows that when a system tries to erase individuality, family loyalty, and spiritual longing, it ends up crushing the very people it claims to liberate. New York’s quieter experiment revealed the same truth in miniature: you cannot build a just world by ignoring the complexity, dignity, and stubborn freedom of the human person.

o So as the New Year begins—Orthodox or otherwise, the lesson is simple and perennial: Real renewal begins not with ideology, but with character. Not with the restructuring of society, but with the reshaping of the heart.

Bible in a Year Day 197 Woe and Consolation

Fr. Mike reveals yet another prophetic message that points towards the coming of Christ, explaining why the Book of Isaiah is often called the Book of Woe and the Book of Consolation. He also touches on the powerful prayer we hear as we end our journey with Tobit. Today's readings are Isaiah 11-13, Tobit 13-14, and Proverbs 10:13-16.

Every Wednesday is Dedicated to St. Joseph

The Italian culture has always had a close association with St. Joseph perhaps you could make Wednesdays centered around Jesus’s Papa. Plan an Italian dinner of pizza or spaghetti after attending Mass as most parishes have a Wednesday evening Mass. You could even do carry out to help restaurants. If you are adventurous, you could do the Universal Man Plan: St. Joseph style. Make the evening a family night, perhaps it could be a game night. Whatever you do, make the day special.

· Do the St. Joseph Universal Man Plan.

· Devotion to the 7 Joys and Sorrows of St. Joseph

· Be a model worker.

Work is both an obligation and a right. Both workers and employees have responsibilities under God.

What does the Catholic Church teach about work?[1]

Here are some excerpts from the USCCB, which detail several of the Church's teachings at work.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Work is an important part of who we are. It is a common boast how long people work and how much they earn as a result of their labor. We identify so powerfully with our work that a common question upon meeting another person tends to be,

"What do you do for work?"

While the question isn't always welcome, for it suggests the dignity of a person is primarily attached to their work, it tells a lot about our society. And indeed, work does build dignity.

We spend a lot of time talking about work, the value of labor, and what we should do with those who cannot or choose not to work.

What should the poor do?

Should the working poor be paid more?

Or should they work doubly hard for the same pay?

While we grapple, sometimes fiercely with these questions, the Catholic Church has already provided some direction. Read these excerpts, courtesy of the USCCB, and then consider these questions again.

Do these statements change your mind?

Or to reinforce what you already know?

Scripture

Genesis 2:1-3

God rests on the seventh day.

Genesis 2:15

God settles man in the garden of Eden to cultivate and care for it.

Deuteronomy 5:13-15

The Sabbath is for everyone-all are allowed to rest from their work.

Deuteronomy 14:28-29

The Lord blesses our work so that we may share its fruits with others.

Deuteronomy 24:14-15

Do not withhold wages from your workers, for their livelihood depends on them.

Sirach 34:20-22

To deprive an employee of wages is to commit murder.

Isaiah 58:3-7

To observe religious practices, but oppress your workers is false worship.

Jeremiah 22:13

Woe to him who treats his workers unjustly.

Matthew 20:1-16

All workers should be paid a just and living wage.

Mark 2:27

The Sabbath was made for people, not people for the Sabbath.

Luke 3:10-14

Practice integrity in your work.

Luke 12:13-21

One's worth is not determined by an abundance of possessions.

James 5:1-6

Those who become rich by abusing their workers have sinned against God.

Tradition

Work is, as has been said, an obligation, that is to say, a duty, on the part of man. . . Man must work, both because the Creator has commanded it and because of his own humanity, which requires work in order to be maintained and developed. Man must work out of regard for others, especially his own family, but also for the society he belongs to, the country of which he is a child, and the whole human family of which he is a member, since he is the heir to the work of generations and at the same time a sharer in building the future of those who will come after him in the succession of history. On Human Work (Laborem Exercens)

Work is a good thing for man-a good thing for his humanity-because through work man not only transforms nature, adapting it to his own needs, but he also achieves fulfilment as a human being and indeed, in a sense, becomes "more a human being." On Human Work (Laborem Exercens)

The obligation to earn one's bread by the sweat of one's brow also presumes the right to do so. A society in which this right is systematically denied, in which economic policies do not allow workers to reach satisfactory levels of employment, cannot be justified from an ethical point of view, nor can that society attain social peace. The Hundredth Year (Centesimus Annus)

In many cases, poverty results from a violation of the dignity of human work, either because work opportunities are limited (through unemployment or underemployment), or "because a low value is put on work and the rights that flow from it, especially the right to a just wage and to the personal security of the worker and his or her family." Charity in Truth (Caritas in Veritate)

All people have the right to economic initiative, to productive work, to just wages and benefits, to decent working conditions, as well as to organize and join unions or other associations. A Catholic Framework for Economic Life.

All these rights, together with the need for the workers themselves to secure them, give rise to yet another right: the right of association, that is to form associations for the purpose of defending the vital interests of those employed in the various professions. These associations are called labor or trade unions. On Human Work (Laborem Exercens)

As the Church solemnly reaffirmed in the recent Council, "the beginning, the subject and the goal of all social institutions is and must be the human person." All people have the right to work, to a chance to develop their qualities and their personalities in the exercise of their professions, to equitable remuneration which will enable them and their families "to lead a worthy life on the material, social, cultural and spiritual level" and to assistance in case of need arising from sickness or age. A Call to Action (Octogesima Adveniens)

The economic sphere is neither ethically neutral, nor inherently inhuman or opposed to society. It is part and parcel of human activity and precisely because it is human, it must be structured and governed in an ethical manner. Charity in Truth (Caritas in Veritate)

I would like to remind everyone, especially governments engaged in boosting the world's economic and social assets, that the primary capital to be safeguarded and valued is man, the human person in his or her integrity: "Man is the source, the focus and the aim of all economic and social life." Charity in Truth (Caritas in Veritate), quoting The Church in the Modern World. (Gaudium et Spes)

[1] https://www.catholic.org/news/hf/faith/story.php?id=67827

Daily Devotions

· Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them in fasting: Today's Fast: Families of St. Joseph Porters

· Offering to the sacred heart of Jesus

· Drops of Christ’s Blood

· Universal Man Plan

· Rosary

[1]http://www.wincalendar.com/Orthodox-New-Year

🕵️‍♂️ The Lady in Scarlet (1935)

Mystery • Corruption • False Leads • Moral Clarity

🎬 Plot Summary (Grounded in Search Results)

A wealthy New York antique dealer, Albert J. Sayre, is found murdered in his home. Private investigator Oliver Keith and his sharp, loyal assistant Ella Carey take the case. What begins as a simple domestic suspicion quickly spirals into a web of:

Fake antiques and fraudulent dealings
A jealous wife accused of infidelity and murder
A daughter who suspects her stepmother of killing for inheritance
A rival dealer with motive and fingerprints at the scene
Missing bonds worth $100,000, tied to a secret marriage Sayre opposed
A second murder — Dr. Boyer — deepening the mystery

Keith eventually uncovers that the attorney, Jerome Shelby, is the true culprit. His slip? He identifies the stolen bonds’ type and denomination even though he previously claimed ignorance.

The film blends mystery, light comedy, and the brisk pacing typical of Chesterfield Pictures.

✝️ Catholic Moral Reflection

This one practically begs for a meditation on truth, justice, and the rot that grows when small sins are tolerated.

1. Hidden Corruption Always Surfaces

Sayre’s antique business was built on fraud — selling fake antiques through a rival dealer.
His murder is the bitter fruit of long‑ignored moral decay.

Takeaway:
Sin tolerated becomes sin multiplied. What we hide will eventually be revealed.

2. False Accusations and the Danger of Rash Judgment

Nearly every character is accused at some point:

The wife
The daughter
The rival dealer
The gigolo
Even the doctor

Each accusation is rooted in fear, pride, or self‑interest.

Takeaway:
Rash judgment wounds charity and blinds us to truth. Justice requires patience.

3. The Steadfastness of the Just Investigator

Oliver Keith is no saint, but he embodies a virtue you often highlight in your memoir work:
clarity under pressure.
He refuses to be swayed by emotion, wealth, or appearances.

Takeaway:
Truth-seeking is a moral act. Justice is not merely legal — it is spiritual.

4. The Bonds Motif: What We Owe Each Other

The missing bonds symbolize broken trust:

Between husband and wife
Between father and daughter
Between business partners
Between attorney and client

Takeaway:
Human relationships are covenants, not commodities.

🍸 Hospitality Pairing: “The Scarlet Bond”

A mystery cocktail built from your bar stock — elegant, sharp, and morally symbolic.

The Scarlet Bond

Ingredients:

Bourbon (for moral weight)
Sweet vermouth (for hidden sweetness)
Cointreau (for the twist of deception)
A dash of red wine floated on top (the “scarlet”)

Build:
Stir bourbon, vermouth, and Cointreau over ice.
Strain into a chilled glass.
Float a teaspoon of red wine on top — a visual “scarlet clue.”