This blog is based on references in the Bible to fear. God wills that we “BE NOT AFRAID”. Vincit qui se vincit" is a Latin phrase meaning "He conquers who conquers himself." 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. This blog is dedicated to Mary the Mother of God. "
Starring: Charles Boyer, Hedy Lamarr, Sigrid Gurie, Joseph Calleia, Alan Hale Director: John Cromwell Studio: United Artists Genre: Crime, Romance, Melodrama Runtime: 95 minutes Source Material: Adapted from the 1937 French film Pépé le Moko
Plot Summary
Pépé le Moko (Charles Boyer) is a notorious jewel thief hiding in the Casbah of Algiers, a maze of alleys and rooftops where French police cannot reach him. He is protected by the locals, adored by his gang, and trapped by his own legend.
Into this world walks Gaby (Hedy Lamarr), a Parisian socialite whose elegance and loneliness awaken in Pépé a longing for the life he left behind. Their attraction is immediate, dangerous, and impossible.
Inspector Slimane (Joseph Calleia), patient and cunning, understands Pépé’s heart better than Pépé does. He knows that the thief’s desire for beauty, freedom, and the memory of Paris will be his undoing.
The film builds toward a tragic inevitability: Pépé’s attempt to escape the Casbah for love leads him into Slimane’s trap, and ultimately to a heartbreak that has become one of cinema’s iconic finales.
Cast Highlights
Charles Boyer delivers one of his defining performances — suave, melancholy, and fatalistic.
Hedy Lamarr, in her American debut, is luminous; her quiet presence reshaped Hollywood’s idea of exotic beauty.
Joseph Calleia gives a masterclass in understated villainy — or perhaps moral clarity.
Alan Hale adds warmth and humor as the affable American tourist.
Catholic & Moral Themes
1. The Illusion of Freedom
Pépé believes he is free in the Casbah, but he is imprisoned by his own reputation.
A classic meditation on how sin promises liberty but delivers confinement.
2. The Ache for Home
Gaby represents Paris — civilization, beauty, memory, and the life Pépé forfeited.
This longing mirrors the human heart’s desire for the Father’s house.
3. The Cunning of Evil vs. the Patience of Grace
Slimane is not a caricatured villain; he is patient, observant, and almost pastoral in his understanding of Pépé’s weaknesses.
It’s a reminder that the enemy rarely attacks head‑on; he waits for the moment when desire blinds judgment.
4. Tragic Love and the Cost of Desire
Pépé’s love for Gaby is real but disordered — rooted in nostalgia, not virtue.
It becomes a meditation on how even good desires, when misaligned, can lead to ruin.
5. The Final Scene: A Cry of the Heart
Without spoiling it explicitly, the ending is a raw portrayal of despair when hope is placed in the wrong kingdom.
A powerful contrast to Christian hope, which never ends in the street outside the ship but in resurrection.
Hospitality Pairing
Cocktail: The Casbah Whisper
A drink that blends elegance with danger — perfect for this film’s mood.
Ingredients (from your bar stock):
Gin with lime
Cointreau
A splash of vermouth (dry)
A whisper of Kahlúa (just enough to darken the edges)
Method:
Shake gin, lime, and Cointreau over ice.
Stir in the faintest touch of Kahlúa.
Serve in a chilled coupe.
Garnish with a lime twist.
It’s bright, mysterious, and slightly smoky — like the Casbah at dusk.
Meal Pairing: North African Comfort
Couscous with raisins and almonds
Spiced chicken or lamb
Mint tea afterward
A meal that mirrors the film’s blend of exotic atmosphere and emotional warmth.
Director: Joseph Hardy Writer: Christopher Fry (play) Starring: Richard Chamberlain, Eileen Atkins, John Carradine, Jacques Aubuchon
Plot Summary
Set in a medieval town around 1400, the story follows Thomas Mendip (Richard Chamberlain), a war-weary soldier who wants nothing more than to die. He arrives at the mayor’s house insisting he be hanged for murder—though he hasn’t committed one.
At the same time, Jennet Jourdemayne (Eileen Atkins) is brought in under accusation of witchcraft, though she is innocent and very much wants to live.
The household becomes a swirl of:
bumbling civic officials
lovestruck young people
a mother confused by her sons’ romantic entanglements
and a town eager to burn someone, anyone, to restore “order.”
Through lyrical, witty, and deeply humane dialogue, Thomas and Jennet discover in each other a reason to reverse their desires:
the man who wants death begins to choose life
the woman condemned to death begins to hope
The film ends with a gentle, luminous affirmation: mercy triumphs over fear, and love over despair.
Cast Highlights
Actor
Role
Notes
Richard Chamberlain
Thomas Mendip
Critics praise his command of Fry’s poetic language and emotional depth.
Eileen Atkins
Jennet Jourdemayne
Wry, grounded, and quietly radiant.
John Carradine
Old Matthew Skipps
Adds gravitas and eccentric charm.
Jacques Aubuchon
Edward Tappercoom
The flustered civic official trying to keep order.
Thematic & Moral Reflection
1. The Dignity of Life
Thomas’s desire for death is not suicidal despair but moral exhaustion. Yet the film gently insists: Life is not ours to discard.
Jennet’s innocence and courage become a mirror in which Thomas sees the possibility of redemption.
2. False Accusation & Scapegoating
The town’s eagerness to burn a “witch” echoes every age’s temptation to purify itself by destroying the vulnerable.
This resonates with:
the Passion narratives
the Church’s teaching on justice
the perennial need for discernment over hysteria
3. Mercy as Conversion
Jennet’s mercy toward Thomas awakens his desire to live.
Thomas’s honesty and courage strengthen Jennet’s hope.
Their mutual conversion is a beautiful image of grace working through human encounter.
4. Poetic Language as Revelation
Christopher Fry wrote the play in the aftermath of WWII, and this 1974 adaptation aired as the U.S. was leaving Vietnam. The film’s lyrical language becomes a counterweight to violence and cynicism—an act of cultural healing.
Hospitality Pairing
Cocktail: “The Mendip Mercy”
A medieval-inspired, warming drink:
Hot spiced cider
A splash of brandy
Honey
A twist of lemon
Garnish with a cinnamon stick
Warm, comforting, and a reminder that even the weary can be revived.
Meal: Rustic Hearth Supper
Herb-roasted chicken
Root vegetables
Dark bread with butter
A simple berry tart
A meal that feels like a return to the hearth after a long exile.
Devotional
Suggested reflection themes:
“Choosing Life When You’re Tired of Living”
“Mercy That Interrupts the Mob”
“Seeing the Image of God in the Accused”
“Poetry as a Path to Healing”
It would pair well with:
Sirach 4: “Do not grieve the desperate in spirit.”
John 8: The woman accused
Psalm 34: “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.”
Bucket List Trip [3] – Part 18: USA 70 Degree Year Journey
Dates: February 23 – March 1, 2026 Theme: Florida Keys Ordinary Time – Simplicity, Surrender & the Slow Work of God Route: Jekyll Island → Jacksonville → Key Largo → Islamorada → Key West Style: Island‑chain pilgrimage, uncluttered spirituality, Eucharistic simplicity Climate Alignment: Daily highs 72–75°F (Upper & Lower Keys)
💰 Estimated Cost Overview
Category
Estimated Cost
Lodging (6 nights)
~$880 (Keys mid‑range)
Food (daily meals)
~$280
Transit (flight + rental car)
~$360 (JAX → EYW + rental)
Symbolic extras
~$80
Total Estimate
~$1,600
🛏️ Lodging Options
Key Largo: Hampton Inn Key Largo
Key West: The Marker Key West Harbor Resort
🌠 Day 1 – Monday, February 23
Location: Jacksonville – Basilica of the Immaculate Conception Symbol: New Beginning Ritual Prompt: “Let grace reset your pace for the week.” Morning visit + quiet prayer before flying to the Keys. 🥗 Foodie Stop: The Bread & Board (~$22)
🌴 Day 2 – Tuesday, February 24
Location: Key Largo – John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park Symbol: Clarity Ritual Prompt: “Let the clear water teach you to see clearly.” Glass‑bottom boat or shoreline walk; journal on interior clarity. 🍲 Foodie Stop: The Fish House (~$28)
🌊 Day 3 – Wednesday, February 25
Location: Islamorada – Anne’s Beach Symbol: Simplicity Ritual Prompt: “Walk slowly—God is found in the simple things.” Shallow‑water walk; reflect on what can be simplified this season. 🥘 Foodie Stop: Morada Bay Beach Café (~$30)
🐬 Day 4 – Thursday, February 26
Location: Marathon – Seven Mile Bridge Symbol: Trust Ritual Prompt: “Cross the long bridge—trust the path beneath your feet.” Walk a portion of the pedestrian span; pray for perseverance. 🍷 Foodie Stop: Island Fish Company (~$25)
🕊️ Day 5 – Friday, February 27
Location: Key West – Basilica of St. Mary Star of the Sea
Symbol: Guiding Star Ritual Prompt: “Let Mary guide you through the ordinary days.” Holy Hour + rosary in the basilica’s quiet garden. 🧺 Foodie Stop: Blue Heaven (~$22)
🌅 Day 6 – Saturday, February 28
Location: Key West – Fort Zachary Taylor State Park Symbol: Stillness Ritual Prompt: “Sit with God in the quiet places.” Beach solitude; reflect on February’s arc of grace. 🍽️ Foodie Stop: Salute! On The Beach (~$28)
🌠 Day 7 – Sunday, March 1 (Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time)
Location: Key West – St. Mary Star of the Sea (Sunday Mass) Symbol: Providence Ritual Prompt: “Trust that God provides what you truly need.” Sunday Mass + blog reflection: “Keys Simplicity & the Slow Work of God.” 🍷 Foodie Stop: Louie’s Backyard (~$35)
February 23 Monday in the First Week of Lent
St.
Polycarp
Deuteronomy, Chapter 2, Verse 4
Command the people: You are now
about to pass through the territory of your relatives, the descendants of Esau,
who live in Seir. Though they are AFRAID
of you, be very careful.
Those that are beloved by God are those who revere and
follow His commandments. When we are infused with the Spirit of God others can
see it because the spirit within us is reflected in our physical presence. When
we receive the blessing of God; those who are not in the spirit can become
afraid of you. Our Lord wants to remind us even those who are close to us, even
those who are relatives will be afraid of us and we must be very vigilant and
be able to see in them simultaneously the humanity of Christ; to have peace
while waging a war with evil. This peace comes because while in the presence of
the Holy Spirit we have heard things that cannot be put into words and we have
experienced the truth mystically. By this truth we are compelled to follow
Christ and at times we too must pass
through the territory of our relatives; yet ever continuing our journey with
Him. For in truth those who do His Fathers will are His brothers and sisters.
All
I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen. (Ralph
Waldo Emerson)
Copilot’s Take
When we walk in the Spirit, we carry a presence that
unsettles what is false, distorted, or fearful in others. Deuteronomy’s warning
to Israel—they are afraid of you, so be very careful—reveals that
holiness itself can provoke anxiety in those who have not yet surrendered to
God. The danger is not their fear but the temptation to let it shape our
response. True confrontation of evil begins with clarity: refusing to mirror
the fear, aggression, or confusion around us. Instead, we move through these
territories—family systems, old wounds, spiritual deserts—with the steady peace
that comes from having heard the quiet, unutterable truth of God. That mystical
certainty becomes our shield.
Evil is ultimately confronted not by force but by
fidelity. We keep walking, as Israel did, without settling in the places where
fear tries to trap us. We see the humanity of those who resist us, even as we
refuse to be drawn into their distortions. Christ redefines our kinship—those
who do the Father’s will are our true brothers and sisters—and that frees us to
love without being entangled. The Spirit grants a peace that evil cannot
imitate and a clarity it cannot withstand. Everything we have seen of God teaches
us to trust Him for all we have not yet seen, and that trust becomes the quiet
courage by which evil is unmasked and overcome.
Given
these reflections on Catholic manhood, we move to the practical, that is, how
to live like a Catholic man. What practices can help us to take up our cross
and follow our King?
If
we think of soldiers who do not remain in strong physical and mental shape and
who fail to practice the essential combat arts, we know they will not be ready
for battle and will be a danger to themselves and their comrades in arms. The
same is true for Catholic men; those who do not prepare and strengthen
themselves for spiritual combat are incapable of filling the breach for Christ.
While
there are many habits and devotions that a Catholic man can form, I charge you
with keeping these seven basic practices on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis.
If these practices are not (yet) part of your life, start now!
Daily
Pray every day. Each Catholic man must start his
day with prayer. It is said, “Until you realize that prayer is the most
important thing in life, you will never have time for prayer.” Without prayer,
a man is like a soldier who lacks food, water, and ammunition. Set aside some
time to speak with God first thing each morning. Pray the three prayers
essential to the Catholic faith: the Our Father, the Hail Mary, and the Glory
Be. Pray also at every meal. Before food or drink touches your lips, make the
Sign of the Cross, say the “Bless us, O Lord” prayer, and end with the Sign of
the Cross. Do this no matter where you are, with whom or how much you are
eating. Never be shy or ashamed about praying over meals. Never deny Christ the
gratitude that is due to Him. Praying as a Catholic man before every meal is a
simple but powerful way to keep strong and fill the breach.
Examine your conscience before going to sleep. Take a few moments to review the
day, including both your blessings and sins. Give God thanks for blessings and
ask forgiveness for sins. Say an Act of Contrition.
Go to Mass.
Despite the fact that attending weekly Mass is a Precept of the Church, only
about one in three Catholic men attend Sunday Mass. For large numbers of
Catholic men, their neglect to attend Mass is a grave sin, a sin that puts them
in mortal danger. The Mass is a refuge in the Spiritual Battle, where Catholic
men meet their King, hear His commands, and become strengthened with the Bread
of Life. Every Mass is a miracle where Jesus Christ is fully present, a miracle
that is the high point not only of the week, but of our entire lives on Earth.
In the Mass, a man gives thanks to God for his many blessings and hears Christ
send him again into the world to build the Kingdom of God. Fathers who lead
their children to Mass are helping in a very real way to ensure their eternal
salvation.
Read the Bible. As St. Jerome so clearly tells us, “Ignorance of the
Sacred Scriptures is ignorance of Christ.” When we read God’s word, Jesus is
present. Married men, read with your wife and your children. If a man’s
children see him read the Scriptures, they are more likely to remain in the
Faith. My brothers in Christ, this I can assure you: men who read the Bible
grow in grace, wisdom, and peace.
Keep the Sabbath. From the creation of Adam and Eve, God the Father
established a weekly cycle ending with the Sabbath. He gave us the Sabbath to
ensure that one day out of seven we will give thanks to God, rest, and be
refreshed. In the Ten Commandments, God asserts anew the importance of keeping
the Sabbath. With today’s constant barrage of buying and selling and the
cacophony of noisy media, the Sabbath is God’s respite from the storm. As
Catholic men, you must begin, or deepen, keeping the holiness of the Sabbath.
If you are married, you must lead your wives and children to do the same.
Dedicate the day to rest and true recreation, and avoid work that is not
necessary. Spend time with family, attend Mass, and enjoy the gift of the day.
Monthly
Go to Confession. At the very start of Christ’s public ministry, Jesus
calls on all men to repent. Without repentance from sin, there can be no
healing or forgiveness, and there will be no Heaven. Large numbers of Catholic
men are in grave mortal danger, particularly given the epidemic levels of
pornography consumption and the sin of masturbation. My brothers, get to
Confession now! Our Lord Jesus Christ is a merciful King who will forgive those
who humbly confess their sins. He will not forgive those who refuse. Open your
soul to the gift of our Lord’s mercy!
Build fraternity with other Catholic men. Catholic friendship among men has
a dramatic impact on their faith lives. Men who have bonds of brotherhood with
other Catholic men pray more, go to Mass and Confession more frequently, read
the Scriptures more often, and are more active in the Faith. Proverbs tells us:
“As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another” (27:17). I call on each of
our priests and deacons to draw men together in their parishes and to begin to
rebuild a vibrant and transforming Catholic fraternity. I call on laymen to form
small fellowship groups for mutual support and growth in the faith. There is no
friendship like having a friend in Christ.
The
Bible is a weapon and in the hands of the untrained, “You could shoot your eye
out kid”. Therefore, the Bible should be handled with care. We should approach
scripture reading in light of the liturgy and church Dogmas. “Dogma is by
definition nothing other than an interpretation of Scripture.” (Pope Benedict
XVI) Dogmas are the Church’s infallible interpretation of Scripture. In the
1970’s the Catholic Church revised its lectionary—the order of scriptural
readings for the Mass. The readings now unfold in a three-year cycle and
include almost all the books of both testaments of the Bible. The great thing
about lectionary is that it presents the scriptures and also teaches us a
method of understanding the Scriptures: Showing us a consistent pattern of promise
and fulfillment. The New Testament is concealed in the Old, and the Old is
revealed the New. Perhaps a good practice would be for us to read the daily
scripture in the lectionary, maybe even before Mass.
"Lectio
Divina", a Latin term, means "divine reading" and describes
a way of reading the Scriptures whereby we gradually let go of our own agenda
and open ourselves to what God wants to say to us. In the 12th century, a
Carthusian monk called Guigo, described the stages which he saw as essential to
the practice of Lectio Divina. There are various ways of practicing Lectio
Divina either individually or in groups, but Guigo's description remains
fundamental.
He said that the first stage is lectio (reading) where we read the Word of God, slowly and reflectively so
that it sinks into us. Any passage of Scripture can be used for this way of
prayer but the passage should not be too long.
The second stage is meditatio (reflection)
where we think about the text we have chosen and ruminate upon it so that we
take from it what God wants to give us.
The third stage is oratio (response)
where we leave our thinking aside and simply let our hearts speak to God. This
response is inspired by our reflection on the Word of God.
The final stage of Lectio Divina is contemplatio (rest) where we let go not only of our own ideas, plans and
meditations but also of our holy words and thoughts. We simply rest in the Word
of God. We listen at the deepest level of our being to God who speaks within us
with a still small voice. As we listen, we are gradually transformed from
within. Obviously this transformation will have a profound effect on the way we
actually live and the way we live is the test of the authenticity of our
prayer. We must take what we read in the Word of God into our daily lives.
These stages of Lectio Divina are not fixed rules of
procedure but simply guidelines as to how the prayer normally develops. Its
natural movement is towards greater simplicity, with less and less talking and
more listening. Gradually the words of Scripture begin to dissolve, and the
Word is revealed before the eyes of our heart. How much time should be given to
each stage depends very much on whether it is used individually or in a group.
The practice of Lectio Divina as a way of praying the
Scriptures has been a fruitful source of growing in relationship with Christ
for many centuries and in our own day is being rediscovered by many individuals
and groups. The Word of God is alive and active and will transform each of us
if we open ourselves to receive what God wants to give us.
Monday
in the First Week of Lent
EPISTLE. Ezech. xxxiv. 11-16.
THUS, saith the Lord God:
Behold I Myself will seek My sheep and will visit them. As the shepherd
visiteth his flock in the day when he shall be in the midst of his sheep that
were scattered, so will I visit My sheep, and will deliver them out of all the
places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day. And I will
bring them out from the peoples, and will gather them out of the countries, and
will bring them to their own land: and I will feed them in the mountains of
Israel, by the rivers, and in all the habitations of the land. I will feed them
in the most fruitful pastures, and their pastures shall be in the high
mountains of Israel: there shall they rest on the green grass and be fed in fat
pastures upon the mountains of Israel. I will feed My sheep: and I will cause
them to lie down, saith the Lord God. I will seek that which was lost: and that
which was driven away I will bring again: and I will bind up that which was
broken, and I will strengthen that which was weak, and that which was fat and
strong I will preserve: and I will feed them in judgment, saith the Lord
Almighty.
GOSPEL. Matt. xxv. 31-46.
At
that time Jesus said to His disciples: When the Son of man
shall come in His majesty, and all the angels with Him, then shall He sit upon
the seat of His majesty. And all nations shall be gathered together before Him,
and He shall separate them one from another, as the shepherd separateth the
sheep from the goats: and He shall set the sheep on His right hand, but the
goats on His left. Then shall the King say to them that shall be on His right
hand: Come, ye blessed of My Father, possess you the kingdom prepared for you
from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave Me to eat I
was thirsty, and you gave Me to drink: I was a stranger, and you took Me in
naked, and you covered Me: sick, and you visited Me: I was in prison, and you
came to Me. Then shall the just answer Him, saying: Lord, when did we see Thee
hungry, and fed Thee; thirsty, and gave Thee drink? and when did we see Thee a
stranger, and took Thee in? or naked, and covered Thee? or when did we see Thee
sick or in prison, and came to Thee? And the King answering, shall say to them:
Amen I say to you, as long as you did it to one of these My least brethren, you
did it to Me. Then He shall say to them also that shall be on His left hand:
Depart from Me, yon cursed, into everlasting fire which was prepared for the
devil and his angels. For I was hungry, and you gave Me not to eat I was
thirsty, and you gave Me not to drink I was a stranger, and you took Me not in
naked, and you covered Me not: sick and in prison, and you did not visit Me.
Then they also shall answer Him, saying: Lord, when did we see Thee hungry or
thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister
to Thee? Then He shall answer them, saying: Amen I say to you, as long as you
did it not to one of these least, neither did you do it to Me. And these shall
go into everlasting punishment, but the just into life everlasting.
Prayer.
Convert us, O God, our salvation;
and, that the fast of Lent may benefit us, instruct our minds with heavenly
discipline.
·Read: Lent is a special time for those
preparing to be baptized through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
(RCIA). RCIA is a period of learning and discernment for those seeking to
become Catholic.
·Reflect; Take time to reflect on your own
decision to become a member of the Church.
·Reflect
2: On February 22,
1931, Jesus appeared to Faustina as the King of Divine Mercy. He asked her to
have a picture painted of him as she saw him — clothed in white, with red and
white rays of light streaming from his heart. The rays represent the blood and
water that flowed from the side of Jesus on the cross. Under the image are the
words, "Jesus, I trust in you." Many people did not believe Faustina
at first. The sisters in her own convent thought that Jesus could not possibly
have selected her for this great favor. After all, she was an uneducated
peasant girl. Her superiors often refused to give her permission to carry out
Jesus' requests. Church theologians, too, doubted her word. Jesus told Faustina
that he loved her obedience and that his will would be done in the end.
·Pray: Keep the elect, candidates, and
their sponsors in your prayers this Lent.
·Act: Download the CRS Rice Bowl App. . . today and try a new way of tracking your Lenten
journey, while also receiving daily reflections and meatless recipes.
·Each
time the Devil attacked with the temptation to doubt or disobey God, Jesus
quoted Scripture to throw him back.
·Scripture
is our sword against Satan!
·We
must listen carefully to the scriptural readings in Mass and meditate on them
deeply.
·We
must read Scripture on our own.
·We
must also memorize scriptural texts that we can use against temptation. Then,
when the Enemy assaults us, we can imitate Our Lord by the effective
counterassault of quoting the word of God.
This
is also the Ember week of Lent:[6]
the spring Embertide. The first week of Lent continues the subject introduced
on Sunday: temptation. The lessons of the principal and most ancient Masses
this week show that every Lenten effort brings results from the Lord: healing,
strengthening, conversion. But the effort itself is not the most important
thing; it is God's reaction and acceptance. We are like the grain of wheat
which must die to become productive. We must die before we grow into glory.
As we, the
heirs of the great jewel that is our traditional Catholic faith, handed down to
us through the martyrdom and struggle of untold numbers of faithful, navigate
the vast spiritual wasteland of these United States, we must again realize the
absolute necessity of arming ourselves in the timeless ascetical practices of
our forefathers. These rigorous and sacrificial practices helped prepare prior
generations of heroic Catholics for both physical and spiritual battle; a
battle they won, earning their heavenly reward.
Mindful of the
ever-present distractions and temptations to live a life of ease that sucks the
vibrancy and urgency out of our Christian lives, there must be a realization,
and therefore determination to be set apart to a healthy degree from a culture
that celebrates debauchery, profanity, immodestly, idleness and effeminacy.
These are not the way that a Catholic man must exist. As our late Holy Father,
Pope Benedict XVI once opined, “the world offers you comfort, but you were not
made for comfort, you were made for greatness.”
I ask you, dear faithful Catholics, is there anything
more de-motivating and less inspiring than the contemporary Church’s Lenten
regulations, not to mention the virtually non-existent Eucharistic fast?
As
a retired NYC Police Sergeant who worked in Intelligence and supervised a good
number of practicing Muslim investigators along the way, I can tell you without
hesitation that my least favorite time of year in this capacity was Lent. It
was at times, to be blunt, a wholly embarrassing situation; please let me
explain. Whereas during the Muslim cops’ observation of their holy month of
Ramadan, they would go, many times in the long summer months, from sunup to
sundown without a drop of water, never mind food each day for a month. This
contrasted with the rest of the personnel in my workplace, made up very likely
of a majority of K-12 Catholic school products, who would often be heard
complaining about not being able to have a cheeseburger six Fridays out of the
year. This lamentation would usually be followed by a gluttonous feast on pizza
from one of the premier pizzerias in the city; so much for denying oneself and
sacrificing.
This was also
contrasted throughout the year by the prayer lives of the Muslim cops, most of
whom faithfully observed their prayer times in a secluded place, while the
majority of Catholics observed exactly what the culture observes; absolutely
nothing.
Is it any
wonder that we see happening in western civilization what we do?
It
shouldn’t be a mystery to anyone. While the Mohammedans have kept their
discipline and ascetism, we have been given the green light to live lives of
ease and indulgence, often resulting in outright rebellion even at the thought
of no meat six Fridays out of the year.
I point this
out to say that, while I find Islam to be, as St. John Bosco observed, a
“monstrous mixture of Judaism, Paganism and Christianity” etc, therefore
leading innumerable souls to perdition, I also have respect for these men, as
at least they were sincere and faithful to what they believed in and would
sacrifice for it. They also understood the reverence and obedience due to God,
however different their concept of God is, which is another discussion.
How, I ask,
does this compare to the average contemporary Catholic?
The
sad fact of the matter is that we have been allowed to grow soft, weak, and
effeminate, like a fighter who goes into a match in which he is completely
physically and mentally unprepared, where he is summarily quite easily disposed
of by a better trained and more serious adversary. While there is no doubt that
we have been let down by a Church hierarchy – who many themselves are also
soft, weak, and effeminate – we cannot allow this to deter us. It has always
been the laity that resists corrupt, sycophantic, and worldly prelates; now
should not be any different.
We must prepare
ourselves for battle.
For sake of our
souls and those of our friends and family, enough already with this
emasculating, insultingly weak and failed version of Catholicism, which sends
any red-blooded man running for the border. It’s time to take off the damned
training wheels and let’s get serious. I’m not sure about you, but I’ve had
enough.
I do not mince
words on purpose. There is a great upheaval all around us. Our families and
children’s innocence are under assault. As it is said, “where sin abounds,
grace abounds all the more.” We will be given strength if we just cooperate and
avail ourselves to the grace of the good Lord, observing the ascetical
practices that shaped our forefathers into vessels that could truly be called
“Soldiers of Christ.” Furthermore, as I write this, a recently leaked memo from
the FBI, Richmond Field Office revealed that traditional Catholics are being
labeled as holding “anti-Semitic, anti-immigrant, anti-LGBT and white
supremac(ists)” ideology, while also preferring the “traditional Latin mass.”
Having worked in Intelligence for the last decade of my police career, I can
say without hesitation that based upon many things that I observed along the
way, this does not surprise me in the least. I will most likely further
elaborate in a future article.
The point I
am driving home here is, the long knives are out, and we are encircled by the
enemy; so, what are we to do?
What
follows is a Lenten prayer and ascetical regimen that I have done with several
cops and others over the last few years. We kicked it up a few notches last
year and to a man, it resulted in a much deeper, more sacrificial, and
charitable faith. I pray that many of you join us, the Patrolman’s Fraternity of St. Michael, and be the men that our Lord
created us to be.
I would also
like to humbly ask that if any readers know of any Catholics in law enforcement
that would be interested in our apostolate, to please alert them to our Lenten
Regimen and website, where they can inquire further about our mission, or email
us at patrolmansfraternitySM@gmail.com. In short, we are a Catholic lay
apostolate for active and retired law enforcements professionals, formed for
the sanctification of our members, and therefore our families and society at
large.
Here is the
routine, which will commence on Ash Wednesday and conclude on Holy Saturday at
dusk.
·Daily Fast (except Sunday) (1) full meal
along with (2) small snacks in morning and evening to maintain strength. Meat
only at the principal meal. No meat on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Ember
Days.
We at the
Patrolman’s Fraternity of St. Michael look forward to uniting with many of you
in prayer on the great triumph of Our Blessed Lord’s Resurrection on Easter.
Please join us and get holy!
In the immortal
words of the hymn written to commemorate the English Martyrs who refused to
give up their faith in the face of the Protestant revolt, “Faith of our
Fathers! Holy Faith! We will be true to thee till death.”
St. Polycarp
St. Polycarp was a second‑century
bishop and one of the most important figures of the early Church. A direct
disciple of St. John the Apostle, he served as the shepherd of Smyrna and
became a crucial link between the Apostles and the next generation of
Christians. Known for his clarity of doctrine, his steady leadership, and his
refusal to compromise with heresy or worldly pressure, he helped preserve the
faith at a time when persecution and false teaching threatened to tear the
Church apart. His martyrdom—calm, resolute, and rooted in decades of
disciplined fidelity—became one of the most celebrated in early Christian
history.
St. Polycarp shows us what a
lifetime of disciplined fidelity produces: a man who cannot be intimidated,
manipulated, or worn down by the world. His strength didn’t come from theatrics
or bravado but from decades of prayer, fasting, obedience, and interior
training. When the authorities demanded he deny Christ, he didn’t negotiate or
soften his witness. He simply stood firm, rooted in the quiet certainty of a
man who had already surrendered everything to God. His martyrdom wasn’t a
sudden act of courage—it was the natural conclusion of a life forged in
ascetical fire.
His example exposes the weakness
of a faith lived on comfort and convenience. Polycarp reminds us that spiritual
toughness is not inherited; it is built. He calls Catholic men back to the
ancient disciplines that formed the early Church into a force the world could
not break. As we enter Lent, his witness stands as a challenge: to train our
souls with the same seriousness, to reject the softness that has crept into
modern Catholic life, and to become men who can stand firm when the world
demands surrender. St. Polycarp, steadfast and unshakable, pray for us.
Aids in Battle[8]
Demons are not a figment of your imagination.
The Devil and other demons
would like us to believe that they are outdated, unenlightened superstitions,
but the Catholic Church remains firm, clear, and consistent in her teaching
about this reality.
·Our
heavenly Father has placed over each of us an angel under whose protection and
vigilance we may be enabled to escape the snares secretly prepared by our
enemy, repel the dreadful attacks he makes on us.
·Never
was anyone, conceived been liberated from the Devil’s dominion except by faith
in our Lord Jesus Christ, the mediator between God and humanity, who was
conceived without sin, was born and died. He alone by His death overthrew the
enemy of the human race, cancelling our sins, and unlocked the entrance to the
heavenly kingdom, which the first man by his sin had locked against himself and
all his posterity. COUNCIL OF FLORENCE (ECUMENICAL, 1431– 1445), SESSION 2
·Men
are separated into two diverse and opposite parts, of which the one steadfastly
contends for truth and virtue, the other of those things which are contrary to
virtue and to truth. The one is the kingdom of God on earth, namely, the true
Church of Jesus Christ; and those who desire from their heart to be united with
it, so as to gain salvation, must of
necessity serve God and His only begotten Son with their whole mind and with an
entire will. The other is the kingdom of Satan, in whose possession and control
are all who follow the fatal example of their leader and of our first parents,
those who refuse to obey the divine and eternal law, and who have many aims of
their own in contempt of God, and many aims also against God. POPE LEO XIII,
HUMANUM GENUS (PAPAL ENCYCLICAL, 1884), 1
·Satan
manages to sow in man’s soul the seed of opposition to the one who “from the
beginning” would be considered as man’s enemy— and not as Father. Man is
challenged to become the adversary of God! The analysis of sin in its original
dimension indicates that, through the influence of the “father of lies,”
throughout the history of humanity there will be a constant pressure on man to
reject God, even to the point of hating Him: “Love of self to the point of
contempt for God,” as St. Augustine puts it. POPE JOHN PAUL II, DOMINUM ET
VIVIFICANTEM (PAPAL ENCYCLICAL, 1986), 38
Thanks to Fear of the Lord, there is no Fear
of Evil[9]
History,
in fact, is not alone in the hands of dark powers, chance or human choices.
Over the unleashing of evil energies, the vehement irruption of Satan, and the
emergence of so many scourges and evils, the Lord rises, supreme arbiter of
historical events. He leads history wisely towards the dawn of the new heavens
and the new earth, sung in the final part of the book under the image of the
new Jerusalem (cf. Revelation 21-22).
·It must be reaffirmed, therefore, that God is
not indifferent to human events, but penetrates them realizing his
"ways," namely his plans and his efficacious "deeds."
·According to our hymn, this divine intervention
has a very specific purpose: to be a sign that invites all the peoples of the
earth to conversion. Nations must learn to "read" in history a
message of God. Humanity's history is not confused and without meaning, nor is
it given over, without appeal, to the malfeasance of the arrogant and perverse.
There is the possibility to recognize divine action hidden in it. In the
pastoral constitution "Gaudium et Spes," Vatican Council II also invites
the believer to scrutinize, in the light of the Gospel, the signs of the times
to see in them the manifestation of the very action of God (cf. n. 4 and 11).
This attitude of faith leads man to recognize the power of God operating in
history, and thus to open himself to fear of the name of the Lord. In biblical
language, in fact, this "fear" does not coincide with dread, but is
the recognition of the mystery of the divine transcendence. Because of this, it
is the basis of faith and is joined with love: "the Lord your God requires
of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to
serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul" (cf.
Deuteronomy 10:12).
·Following this line, in our brief hymn, taken
from Revelation, fear and glorification of God are united: "Who will not
fear you, Lord, or glorify your name" (15:4)? Thanks to fear of the Lord
there is no fear of the evil that rages in history and one takes up again with
vigor the journey of life, as the prophet Isaiah declared: "Strengthen the
hands that are feeble, make firm the knees that are weak, say to those whose
hearts are frightened: ‘Be strong, fear not!’" (Isaiah 35: 3-4).
Bible in a Year Day 236 Rich in Love
Fr. Mike focuses on the
concept of being rich in love instead of rich in wealth today, as we read about
the heart of a mother and father in our verse from Proverbs. He also emphasizes
the presence of sacrificial love in the vocation of marriage and family through
God's decision to keep Jeremiah single, saving him from more suffering. Today's
readings are Jeremiah 16-17, Ezekiel 45-46, and Proverbs 15:17-20.
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