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. "
Black Narcissus (1947) is one of the most visually arresting and spiritually charged films of the 20th century
π¬ Black Narcissus (1947)
Psychological Drama • Powell & Pressburger • Technicolor Masterpiece
Cast: Deborah Kerr, David Farrar, Flora Robson, Kathleen Byron, Sabu Release: 1947 (UK & US) • Runtime: 100 minutes Setting: A former harem perched on a Himalayan cliff, where Anglican nuns attempt to found a school and clinic.
π§ Plot Summary
A group of Anglican sisters, led by Sister Clodagh (Deborah Kerr), is sent to establish a mission in the abandoned palace of Mopu.
The altitude, wind, isolation, and sensual history of the building begin to erode the sisters’ discipline and interior peace.
Mr. Dean (David Farrar), the British agent, becomes an unsettling presence—both a practical necessity and a source of temptation.
Sister Ruth (Kathleen Byron) unravels psychologically, her instability becoming the film’s central dramatic fuse.
The climax unfolds at the cliffside bell tower—one of cinema’s most iconic sequences—where spiritual warfare, jealousy, and human frailty collide.
✝️ Catholic-Thematic Reflection
1. The Battle Between Exterior Mission and Interior Disposition
The sisters arrive with zeal, but the environment exposes their unhealed wounds.
Lesson: Mission without interior formation becomes fragile.
Tie‑in: A reminder for Feb 2 (Feast of the Presentation) that purification precedes offering.
2. The Palace as a Symbol of the Unconverted Heart
A former harem turned convent: a place with a past, now consecrated but still echoing old desires.
Lesson: Grace does not erase history; it transforms it through perseverance.
3. Sister Ruth — The Danger of Isolation Without Community
Her descent is not merely psychological but spiritual: pride, secrecy, and refusal of correction.
Lesson: The enemy works most effectively in isolation; community is a guardrail.
4. Sister Clodagh — Leadership Under Pressure
Her memories of lost love surface, revealing that holiness is not repression but integration.
Lesson: Leaders must shepherd their own hearts as much as their people.
5. The Bell Tower — A Visual Metaphor for Temptation and Judgment
The height, the wind, the abyss—Powell & Pressburger turn the cliff into a moral stage.
Lesson: Temptation often appears at the edge of our vocation.
π½️ Hospitality Pairing
Drink: “The High‑Cliff Gin & Lime”
A nod to the altitude, the austerity, and the sharp psychological edges of the film.
2 oz gin
¾ oz lime
½ oz simple syrup
Shake hard, serve in a chilled glass
Garnish with a thin lime wheel (symbolizing the Himalayan sun)
Food Pairing: Himalayan‑Inspired Simplicity
Lentil dal with toasted cumin
Warm flatbread
A small bowl of yogurt with honey
This keeps the meal monastic, humble, and atmospheric.
π―️ Devotional Angle for Feb 2 (Presentation of the Lord)
Pair the film with a short reflection on purification, clarity, and the unveiling of hidden motives.
Simeon’s prophecy (“a sword will pierce your heart”) mirrors the film’s theme: true consecration exposes what is unhealed.
The nuns’ unraveling becomes a cautionary tale about entering sacred work without interior readiness.
Soil under our
feet goes unnoticed, though this first foot of soil is where most living
organisms’ dwell. The health of the fragile skin of our earth is of utmost
importance. Humility comes from the Latin word for soil, "humus."
From and unto dust is the humbling message to each of us. Soil is rich and
fertile but also prone to erosion and pollution.
The month of February is traditionally dedicated to the Holy Family. Between
the events which marked Christmas and the beginning of Christ's public life the
Church has seen fit to recall the example of the Holy Family for the emulation
of the Christian family.
The
Feast of the Presentation (February 2) or Candlemas forms a
fitting transition from Christmas to Easter. The small Christ-Child is still in
His Mother's arms, but already she is offering Him in sacrifice. February 17,
Shrove Tuesday, will find us preparing for Ash Wednesday. The middle of
the month will find us on Ash Wednesday accepting the ashes that remind
us of our mortality and our need for penance.
Though
the shortest month of the year, February is rich in Liturgical activity. It
contains a feast (Presentation of our Lord) that bridges two other seasons
(Christmas and Easter)! The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord on February 2nd harkens
back to the Christmas mystery of Light except that now, Christ, the helpless
babe, is “the Light of Revelation to the Gentiles who will save his people from
their sins.” Candles, symbolizing Christ our Light, will be carried in procession
this day, as will be the Paschal candle during the Easter Vigil Liturgy. In
addition, the faithful may receive in February three of the four major public
sacramentals that the Church confers during the liturgical year: blessed
candles and the blessing of throats and blessed ashes.
"The
Light of Revelation" shines more brightly with each successive Sunday of
Ordinary Time, until its magnificence–exposing our sinfulness and need for
conversion–propels us into the penitential Season of Lent. We prepare to accept
the cross of blessed ashes on Ash Wednesday (February 18) and plunge ourselves
into anticipating the major exercises of Lent–fasting, prayer,
almsgiving–laying our thoughts and prayers on the heart of our Mother Mary.
She, who offered her Son in the temple and on the Cross, will teach us how to
deny ourselves, take up our cross daily, and follow after her Son.
Members
of each family or domestic church have the opportunity to have the candles for
their home altar blessed on Candlemas Day (February 2nd); and the next morning,
on the Feast of St. Blaise, all might receive the Blessing of the Throats.
Always a solicitous Mother, the Church offers this sacramental during the
wintry month of February and also sets aside the World Day of Prayer for the
Sick on February 11, the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes.
❄️ February Travel
Highlights
π΄ Take a Horse‑Drawn
Sleigh Ride (All Month – Yellowstone & Jackson Hole)
π Saranac Lake
Winter Carnival (Feb 6–15, 2026)
One of America’s oldest winter festivals, featuring
the famous Ice Palace, parades, fireworks, and the crowning of the Carnival
King and Queen. Official Site
𦫠See Punxsutawney
Phil’s Prediction (Feb 2)
Join the pre‑dawn crowd at Gobbler’s Knob to watch
Phil deliver his winter forecast. Groundhog Club
❄️ Party in Quebec
City (Feb 6–15, 2026)
Snow rafting, ice canoe racing, snow baths,
sculptures, and the iconic Bonhomme. Quebec Winter Carnival
π Super Bowl LX
(Feb 8, 2026)
The nation gathers for food, friends, and football. NFL Super Bowl
π· Smell the Flowers
at Tulipmania (Mid‑February 2026)
Over 39,000 tulips bloom at San Francisco’s Pier 39.
Tours begin at the Crab Statue and end with a treat from Trish’s Mini Donuts. Pier 39 • Trish’s Mini Donuts
Different cultures add their own flavor to the feast
of love:
Germany: Chocolate, flowers, and lucky pig figurines —
traditions at Germany Travel (germany.travel in Bing)
(bing.com in Bing) (bing.com in Bing)
Denmark: Snowdrop‑shaped notes, poems, and playful
riddles — cultural background at Denmark.dk (denmark.dk in Bing)
(bing.com in Bing) (bing.com in Bing)
π Attend the
Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show (Feb 12–22, 2026)
Over 2,400 horses compete for top honors, with family‑friendly
activities throughout the event. Kids 17 and under are free. Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show
π Carnival Season
(February–March)
Fat Tuesday — the height of global carnival
celebrations — falls on February 17, 2026.
oJust
like the Arizona Renaissance Festival, Tombstone, Arizona, beckons visitors to
step back in time during February. However, instead of transporting you back to
a mystical medieval era, Tombstone brings visitors to the rough and tumbling
times of the Old West.
oFor
those seeking a reprieve from the cold and yearning for breathtaking hikes,
Saguaro National Park is an excellent choice. With average winter temperatures
soaring into the high 60s, it stands out as a premier destination to thaw out
and partake in outdoor adventures in February. Upon entering the vast
143-square-mile park, you’ll be captivated by the towering saguaros. Some of
these cacti reach an impressive 50 feet and live a lifespan of up to 125 years.
The park is divided into two distinct sections: East Saguaro, characterized by
its mountainous terrain and abundant hiking and backpacking trails, and the
West side, home to a denser Saguaro Forest.
Confronting evil begins with remembering that we never confront it alone. Padre Pio’s witness makes this unmistakably clear: while we sleep, our guardian angel keeps watch, not as a symbol but as a soldier assigned to our soul. Evil works in shadows, in the hours when we are weakest or unaware — yet Heaven is already there, standing guard, interceding, and pushing back what we cannot see. This is the first truth of spiritual warfare: God equips us with protection long before we recognize the threat. The second is this — our task is not to match evil’s aggression but to remain faithful, transparent, and rooted in the light. When we confront evil in our waking hours, we do so with the same confidence Padre Pio lived by: that the battle is real, but the victory is not ours to manufacture. It is already being fought on our behalf, even in the silence of our sleep.
·Today in honor of the Holy Trinity do the Divine Office giving your day to God. To honor God REST: no shopping after 6 pm Saturday till Monday. Don’t forget the internet.
Start your day by enjoying a delicious breakfast of ice cream, celebrating Ice Cream For Breakfast Day. Treat yourself to a scoop of your favorite flavor and kick off the day with a sweet indulgence. Consider trying out a new recipe that incorporates ice cream into your morning meal for a fun twist.
As you savor your breakfast treat, take some time to change your passwords for added security on Change Your Password Day. Update your online accounts with strong, unique passwords to protect your information and stay one step ahead of cyber threats. Use this opportunity to enhance your digital safety practices and ensure your online presence is secure.
Take a moment to reflect on the importance of freedom and rights, and consider ways to support and advocate for equality and justice in your community. Engage in conversations about freedom and human rights to raise awareness and promote positive change.
Cap off your day with some relaxation and self-care on Spunky Old Broads Day. Treat yourself to a pampering session with a DIY spa night at home. Indulge in a soothing bubble bath, apply a face mask, and unwind with a good book or your favorite movie. Celebrate your resilience and strength as you embrace the spirit of spunky old broads everywhere.
Embrace the diversity and distinctiveness of these holidays, and make the most of each theme throughout your day. From indulging in ice cream for breakfast to advocating for freedom and enjoying some self-care, there are plenty of ways to celebrate and appreciate the unique qualities of each holiday. Let your imagination run wild as you embark on a day filled with fun, creativity, reflection, and relaxation. Enjoy the adventure!
“Garden Paths & Atlantic Grace” February 1–7, 2026 Base: Funchal — the Floating Garden of the Atlantic
π¦️Overview
Madeira in early February is a dream: 68–72°F, ocean breezes, flowers in bloom, and a Catholic heritage woven into every village. Funchal gives you gardens, levada walks, cliff views, and daily Mass — all within easy reach. Theme: renewal, quiet abundance, and walking with God through green places.
Symbolic Act: Leave a written prayer of gratitude at the shoreline
Fun: Try a passionfruit poncha or a fresh coconut by the water
π°Cost Snapshot (Per Person)
Lodging (6 nights): ~$900
Meals (7 days): ~$385–$420
Tickets/Activities: ~$60–$90
Local Transport: ~$120–$160
Flight (Lisbon → Madeira): ~$80–$150
➡️ Total:$1,545–$1,720
FEBRUARY 1 Septuagesima Sunday
Feast
Of St. Brigid-Manhood
of Christ-54-day Rosary-Full Snow Moon
Exodus, Chapter 14, Verse 30-31
Thus the LORD saved Israel on that day from the power of Egypt.
When Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the seashoreand saw the great power that the LORD had shown
against Egypt, the people FEARED the
LORD. They believed in the LORD and in Moses his servant.
The Hebrew’s after the
crossing of the red sea and seeing Gods great power feared Him with human fear,
but not Holy fear. There was no love towards God, only fear. God desires a
spiritual union with us; therefore, our belief must be mingled with great love
and affection. This is why later Israel would make the golden calf since their
hearts were dead to God after 400 years in Egypt.
What was it about Egypt
that enslaved the Israelites even after they were freed by God?
Egypt was
rich, so rich that even the Israelites were as self-indulgent as the Egyptians.
It meant a daily life of giving in to your desires and the brief enjoyments of
this passing life. They only thought of satisfying themselves with no thought
of He that Is. They made faint offerings to false gods to justify their
behavior. Their minds became weak and confused. Their mistakes and sins robbed
them of peace that only comes from doing the will of He that Is. We only find
peace and happiness when we are in union with God and doing His Holy will. We
are created by God for eternal happiness with Him. Things cannot bring us happiness.
Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is
one; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your Heart, and with all
your soul, and with your entire mind, and with all your strength.
The power of Egypt was the worship of demons
back thousands of years ago. The occult still is around today and just as in
the Holy Church, some official rites are required and are tied to feast days.
The most important is Halloween, which falls on the night between October 31
and November 1 of each year: it is considered the magic New Year. Therefore, it
is necessary to understand the extreme danger for our children and youth who
participate in the feast of Halloween on that date. The second precedes our feast
of the presentation of Jesus in the Temple on February 2. The night before, in
fact, begins the magic spring. We need not fear but look with love to our Lord.
Perhaps we could attend Mass this day and offer God our prayers and love.
Copilot’s Take
Feb. 1 stands at the crossroads of several
powerful currents—Septuagesima Sunday, the feast of St. Brigid, the meditation
on the Manhood of Christ, the ongoing 54‑Day Rosary, and the quiet brilliance
of the Full Snow Moon—and together they form a single call to return to God
with renewed clarity. Evil in our age works the same way Egypt worked on
Israel: not through spectacle, but through slow seduction, shaping what people
love and what they fear until they forget who they are. Israel crossed the Red
Sea with their bodies, yet Egypt still lived in their hearts; they feared God
with a human fear but had not yet learned the holy fear that springs from love.
Septuagesima interrupts the year precisely for this reason. It is the Church’s
ancient wake‑up call, a spiritual Red Sea moment when God invites His people to
begin their Exodus before Lent demands it. St. Brigid’s feast, glowing like a
hearth-fire beneath the Snow Moon, reminds us that holiness can burn even in
winter, and that purity, charity, and courage are the true antidotes to a
culture numbed by distraction and confusion. The Manhood of Christ reveals
strength without violence, authority without domination, and courage without
pride—virtues desperately needed in a world where headlines are filled with
corruption, fear, and the normalization of the occult. The 54‑Day Rosary
becomes, in this season, not a charm against darkness but a school of love,
bead by bead forming the holy fear that steadies the soul. And while the occult
claims its own “feast days,” Christians confront evil not with panic but with
presence—Mass, prayer, blessing, fasting, and fidelity. The Snow Moon overhead
whispers the same truth: winter is real but temporary; night is long but not
final. Septuagesima invites us to begin walking toward Easter now, to leave
modern Egypt behind, to let Christ’s strength, Brigid’s fire, and Mary’s Rosary
shape our desires. This is the moment to turn to God before the waters rise, to
reclaim our identity, and to step forward into the freedom of those who belong
to the living God.
The Day of the Risen Lord
and of the Gift
of the Holy Spirit
Growing
distinction from the Sabbath
23.
It was this newness which the catechesis of the first centuries stressed as it
sought to show the prominence of Sunday relative to the Jewish Sabbath. It was
on the Sabbath that the Jewish people had to gather in the synagogue and to
rest in the way prescribed by the Law. The Apostles, and in particular Saint
Paul, continued initially to attend the synagogue so that there they might
proclaim Jesus Christ, commenting upon "the words of the prophets which
are read every Sabbath" (Acts 13:27). Some communities observed the
Sabbath while also celebrating Sunday. Soon, however, the two days began to be
distinguished ever more clearly, in reaction chiefly to the insistence of those
Christians whose origins in Judaism made them inclined to maintain the obligation
of the old Law. Saint Ignatius of Antioch writes: "If those who were
living in the former state of things have come to a new hope, no longer
observing the Sabbath but keeping the Lord's Day, the day on which our life has
appeared through him and his death ..., that mystery from which we have
received our faith and in which we persevere in order to be judged disciples of
Christ, our only Master, how could we then live without him, given that the
prophets too, as his disciples in the Spirit, awaited him as master?".
Saint Augustine notes in turn: "Therefore the Lord too has placed his seal
on his day, which is the third after the Passion. In the weekly cycle, however,
it is the eighth day after the seventh, that is after the Sabbath, and the first
day of the week". The distinction of Sunday from the Jewish Sabbath grew
ever stronger in the mind of the Church, even though there have been times in
history when, because the obligation of Sunday rest was so emphasized, the
Lord's Day tended to become more like the Sabbath. Moreover, there have always
been groups within Christianity which observe both the Sabbath and Sunday as
"two brother days".
Three
weeks prior to Ash Wednesday, on the day before Septuagesima Sunday, a touching
ceremony is held. A choir assembles, chants the divine office and, afterwards,
sings a bittersweet hymn bidding farewell to the word
"Alleluia":
We do not now deserve to sing the Alleluia forever; Guilt forces us to
dismiss you, O Alleluia. For the time approaches in which we must weep for our
sins.
·So
important was Lent to both Eastern and Western Christians that they actually
had a separate season to prepare for it. Thus, the day after Septuagesima
Sunday, they would begin a period of voluntary
fastingthat would grow more severe as it approached the full and
obligatory fast of Lent. The amount of food would be reduced, and the
consumption of certain items, such as butter, milk, eggs, and cheese, would
gradually be abandoned. Starting on the Thursday before Ash Wednesday, this
self-imposed asceticism would culminate in abstinence from meat. Thus the name
for this seven-day period before Ash Wednesday, is "Carnival,"
from the Latin carne levarium, meaning "removal of meat."
Finally, within the week of Carnival, the last three days (the three days prior
to Lent) would be reserved for going to confession This period was known
as "Shrovetide,"
from the old English word "to shrive," or to have one's sins forgiven
through absolution.
·These
incremental steps eased the faithful into what was one of the holiest -- and
most demanding -- times of the year. Lent is a sacred period of forty days set
aside for penance,
contrition, and good works.
Just as Septuagesima imitates the seventy years of Babylonian exile (see elsewhere),
Quadragesima ("forty," the Latin name for Lent) imitates the holy
periods of purgation recorded in the Old Testament. The Hebrews spent forty
years wandering in the wilderness after their deliverance from the Pharoah and
before their entrance into the Promised Land. Moses, representative of the Law,
fasted and prepared forty days before ascending Mount Sinai, as did Elias, the
greatest of the Hebrew prophets. (So too did the gentile Ninevites in response
to Jonah's prophecy.) Moreover, these Old Testament types are ratified by the
example of our Lord, who fasted forty days in the desert before beginning His
public ministry.
·Given the significance of the number forty as a sign
of perfection-through-purgation, it is little wonder that Lent became
associated early on with two groups of people: public penitents and
catechumens. The former were sinners guilty of particularly heinous crimes. To
atone for their sins, they received a stern punishment from their bishop on Ash
Wednesday and then spent the next forty days wearing sackloth and ash and not
bathing. The visual, tactile, and odiferous unpleasantness of this practice was
meant to remind others-- and themselves -- of the repulsiveness of sin. These
penitents would remain in this state until they were publicly welcomed back
into the Church during a special Mass on Maundy Thursday morning. Catechumens,
on the other hand, underwent a rigorous period of instruction and admonition
during Lent. They, too, were not allowed to bathe as part of their contrition
for past sins. Near the start of Lent they would be exorcized with the formula
that is still used in the traditional Roman rite of baptism: "Depart, thou
accursed one!" In the middle of Lent they would learn the Apostle's Creed
so that they could recite it on Holy Saturday, and on Palm Sunday they would
learn the Lord's Prayer. Finally, on Holy Thursday they would bathe and on Holy
Saturday undergo a dramatic ritual during the Easter Vigil formally initiating
them into the Body of Christ. Over time, all Catholics would imitate these two
groups as a recognition of personal sinfulness and as a yearly re-avowal of the
Christian faith. Lent is thus not only a time to probe the dark recesses of our
fallen souls and to purge ourselves, with the cooperative grace of Christ, of
our stains, but to be renewed in our commitment to live a holy Christian life.
·Lent is often thought of as an undifferentiated
block of time preceding Easter: It is not. There are actually several distinct
"mini-seasons" within Lent designed to move the believer from a more
general recognition of the need for atonement (Ash Wednesday to the third
Sunday of Lent) to a more specific meditation on the passion of Jesus Christ
(Passion Sunday and Palm Sunday). These two periods, in turn, are separated by
a brief interlude of restrained joy called mid-Lent, which begins on the
Wednesday before Laetare Sunday and ends the Wednesday after. Finally, the
meditation on our Lord's suffering culminates during Holy Week with a Mass each
day presenting a different Gospel account of the Passion, the divine office of
Tenebrae on Spy Wednesday, and the three great liturgies of the Triduum (Maundy
Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday) that dwell at length on the final
events of Christ's earthly life and the mysteries of the Christian Pasch.
·Voluntary Fasting As mentioned
elsewhere, it was customary for some Christians to voluntarily begin fasting in
preparation for the Great Fastof Lent. Their fasts would become
progressively more ascetic, culminating in the abstinence of meat beginning on
the Thursday before Ash Wednesday. The name for this period, which ends the day
before Ash Wednesday, is "Carnival," from the Latin carne levarium,
meaning "removal of meat."
The progression of Lent can be understood
as follows:
Pre-Lent:
·Septuagesima
Sunday. Exile and the need for asceticism. (Depositio of the Alleluia the night
before.)
·Sexagesima
Sunday. The perils of exile (persecution) and the fruits of asceticism (the
Word being sown into our hearts).
·Thursday
after Sexagesima: Carnival
·Quinquagesima
Sunday (a.k.a. Carnival, or Shrove Sunday). "We are going up to
Jerusalem" -- a setting of the stage for the pilgrimage of Lent, and the
one thing we must bring with us: charity. [Also, traditional time for going to
confession]
·Shrove
Monday. [Traditional time for going to confession]
·Shrove
Tuesday. [Traditional time for going to confession]
Lent:
·Ash
Wednesday. The solemn season begins with a reminder of our mortality and our
profound need for repentance and conversion.
·First
Sunday of Lent. The model for our fasting, Christ in the desert, and the kinds
of temptations we can expect to encounter.
·Lenten
Embertide (Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday). See Ember Days, etc.
·Second
Sunday of Lent. As Paul exhorts us to keep up our progress, we hear the story
of the Transfiguration as a heartening foretaste of Christ's ultimate triumph.
·Third
Sunday of Lent. Christ again foreshadows His victory (this time over the
devil), but as we move closer to Passiontide, He also hints at the way in which
this will be done.
Mid-Lent:
·Wednesday
before Laetare Sunday: beginning of Mid-Lent.
·Fourth
Sunday of Lent (a.k.a. Laetare, or Mid-Lent Sunday). A note of joy is struck,
for having died to sin with Christ during Lent, we will rise again with Him and
be part of His mystical Body, the Church which is the new Jerusalem. Thus the
Introit: "Rejoice, Jerusalem."
·Wednesday
after Laetare Sunday: end of Mid-Lent.
Passiontide:
·(First)
Passion Sunday. The Jews' growing hatred of Christ recorded in today's Gospel
makes plain His imminent death.
·Friday
after Passion Sunday: Feast of the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary. A
special commemoration, one week before Good Friday, of Mary's com-passion for
(literally, "suffering with") Her innocent son.
·(Second
Passion or) Palm Sunday. Christ's triumphant entrance into Jerusalem and the
account of His Passion according to St. Matthew.
Holy
Week:
·Christ's
Triumphant Entry in Jerusalem
·Monday
of Holy Week. The Gospel for the Mass gives an account of Judas' character,
foreshadowing his act of betrayal.
·Tuesday
of Holy Week. The account of Christ's Passion according to St. Mark.
·Spy
Wednesday. The account of Christ's Passion according to St. Luke during the
daily Mass; and the nocturnal office of Tenebrae, a sustained reflection on the
treachery of Judas, the privation of holiness, and the need for conversion.
·Maundy
Thursday. A celebration of the institution of the Eucharist and the priesthood.
·Jesus
before the High Priest
·Good
Friday. A mournful commemoration of the death of our Lord.
·Holy
Saturday. During the morning and afternoon, a mournful remembrance of our Lord
in the tomb.
Goffine’s 1896 Devout Instructions
WHY
is this Sunday traditionally called Septuagesima?
The word means seventy. According to the
First Council of Orleans, in the year A.D. 545, many pious ecclesiastics and
lay persons of the primitive Church used to fast seventy days before Easter,
and their fast was called, therefore, Septuagesima, a name which was afterwards
retained to distinguish this Sunday from others. The same was the case with the
three following Sundays; many Christians beginning their fast sixty days before
Easter, whence the name Sexagesima; others fifty days, whence Quinquagesima; others
forty days, whence Quadragesima.
Why
did the first Christians fast seventy days?
Alcuin and Amakrius say that the captivity
of the Jews in Babylon first suggested it; for as the Jews were obliged to do
penance seventy years, that they might thereby merit to return into the
promised land, so Christians sought to regain the grace of God by fasting for
seventy days.
Why
does the Church, from this Sunday until Easter, omit all joyful chants, as the
Te Deum, Alleluia, Gloria in Excelsis?
To remind the sinner of the grievousness
of his errors, and to exhort him to penance. To incite us to sorrow for our
sins, and to show us the necessity of repentance, the Church at the Introit in
the name of all nations unites her prayers with David, saying, “The sorrows of
death surrounded me, the sorrows of hell encompassed me, and in my affliction,
I called upon the Lord, and He heard my voice from His holy temple. I will love
Thee! O Lord, my strength; the Lord is my firmament, my refuge, and my deliverer.”
Prayer.
Graciously hear the prayers of Thy people,
we beseech Thee, O Lord, that we, who are justly afflicted for our sins, may be
mercifully delivered, for the glory of Thy name.
EPISTLE, i. Cor.
ix. 24 x. 5.
Brethren: Know you not that they that run
in the race, all run indeed, but one receiveth the prize? So, run that you may
obtain. And everyone that striveth for the mastery refraineth himself from all
things, and they indeed that they may receive a corruptible crown: but we an
incorruptible one. I therefore so run, not as an uncertainty: I so fight, not
as one beating the air: but I chastise my body, and bring it into subjection:
lest perhaps, when I have preached to others, I myself should become a castaway.
For I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that our fathers were all under
the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all in Moses were baptized, in
the cloud, and in the sea: and did all eat the same spiritual food, and all
drank the same spiritual drink (and they drank of the spiritual rock that
followed them; and the rock was Christ), but with the most of them God was not
well pleased.
NOTE--Reflect, O Christian, what we poor
sinners ought to be willing to do to gain heaven when the great apostle
suffered so much to obtain eternal life.
Prayer.
O Jesus, assist me, that with Thy holy
grace I may follow the example of St. Paul, and endeavor to deny myself, to
chastise my body, and, by continual exercise of every virtue, to obtain
perfection and everlasting life. Amen.
GOSPEL. Matt. xx.
1-16.
At
that time Jesus spoke to His disciples this parable: The kingdom of heaven is
like to a householder, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers into
his vineyard. And having agreed with the laborers for a penny a day, he sent
them into his vineyard. And going out about the third hour, he saw others
standing in the market-place idle, and he said to them: Go you also into my
vineyard, and I will give you what shall be just. And they went their way. And
again, he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour: and did in like manner.
But about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing, and he saith
to them: Why stand you here all the day idle? They say to him: Because no man
hath hired us. He saith to them: Go you also into my vineyard. And when evening
was come, the lord of the vineyard saith to his steward: Call the laborers and
pay them their hire, beginning from the last even to the first. When therefore
they were come that came about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.
But when the first also came, they thought that they should receive more; and
they also received every man a penny. And receiving it, they murmured against
the master of the house, saying: These last have worked but one hour, and thou
hast made them equal to us, that have borne the burden of the day and the
heats. But he answering said to one of them: Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst
thou not agree with me for a penny? Take what is thine, and go thy way: I will
also give to this last even as to thee. Or is it not lawful for me to do what I
will? is thy eye evil because I am good? So, shall the last be first, and the
first last; for many are called, but few chosen.
In
these parables what is to be understood by the master of a family, the
vineyard, the laborers, and the penny?
The master of a family is God, Who calls
all men as laborers to His vineyard of the true religion, or Church, and to
receive the promised penny, which is the divine grace and eternal salvation.
How
and when does God call men?
By the instruction of parents and
teachers, by preachers and confessors, by spiritual books, edifying
conversation, good examples and inspirations; in early youth, in manhood, and
in old age which stages of human life are also signified by the different hours
of the day.
Who
are the laborers in the vineyard?
Those who work, combat, and suffer for God
and His honor, for their own salvation and that of others, particularly
spiritual teachers.
How
should we work in the vineyard of the Lord?
As in a vineyard men must dig, destroy the
weeds, cut off what is useless and bad, manure, plant, and bind, in like manner
must we, in the spiritual vineyard of our souls, destroy the weeds of vice by
rooting out sinful inclinations and their causes, and by real penance.
In
other words:
1. We
must hate every sin.
2. We
must produce in ourselves a fervent desire to destroy vice.
3. We
must earnestly beg God’s grace, without which we can do nothing.
4. We
must attend zealously at instructions, sermons, and catechism.
5. We
must often go to confession and communion and follow our confessor’s
directions.
6.
Every morning, we must make firm resolutions, and every night an examination of
conscience.
7. We
must read in some spiritual book, treating of the predominant sin which we have
to root out.
8. We
must venerate some saint who in life committed the same sin, as, for instance,
Mary Magdalen, who from being a great sinner became a great penitent.
9. We
must fast, give alms, and do other good works.
Why
did the last man, as mentioned in the gospel, receive as much as those who came
first?
Because God does not reward men according
to the time of their labor, but according to the zeal, love, fidelity, and
humility with which they have concurred with His grace (Wis. iv. 7, 8, 11; n.
Cor. ix. 6).
What
is meant by “many are called, but few chosen?”
It is as if Our Savior should say, do not
wonder that the last shall be first, and the first last, for many will not be
received at all. From among the Jews and gentiles He has called many, but few
only have followed Him, and of these again only few can be the chosen. How many
Christians are there who do not accept His calling, or who fail to live
according to their vocation, neither cooperating with His grace nor trying
forcibly to enter the kingdom of heaven!
Prayer.
O most merciful
and benign Lord, Who, without any merit of our own, hast called us, Thy
unworthy servants, out of mere mercy, into Thy vineyard the Church and
commanded us to work therein, grant us grace, we beseech Thee, never to be
idle, but as faithful servants to be always doing Thy holy will. Whatever we
have heretofore left undone, we will in future endeavor to do with persevering
zeal, through the grace of Jesus Christ. Amen.
·Read
the more detailed, corresponding passage in Matthew 5:3-12 on the Beatitudes.
Choose a beatitude to focus on for the rest of this month. Write it in
conspicuous places throughout your house — desk, home altar, fridge, bathroom
mirror. Think of some small practical ways to put this beatitude into action in
your daily life. For some ideas on how to live the poverty and detachment
prescribed by the first beatitude (Blessed are the poor in spirit),
read this interview with spiritual director and writer Fr. Dubay.
oVisiting the Blessed Sacrament when it is
exposed during the weeks between Septuagesima Sunday and Ash Wednesday is a
traditional practice that can earn a plenary indulgence.
oSeptuagesima Sunday: The third Sunday
before Ash Wednesday, and the ninth Sunday before Easter.
oPlenary indulgence: A full remission of
sins that can be earned by visiting the Blessed Sacrament during a specified
time period.
oConfession and Communion: A requirement
for earning the plenary indulgence.
oWhat to do
§Visit
the Blessed Sacrament when it is exposed in a church.
§Visit
for three days in any church during the specified time period.
§Visit
on the Thursday after Sexagesima Sunday, also known as "Giovedì
grasso" in Rome.
oPrayer
§Some
people pray before the Blessed Sacrament, asking for pardon of sins, help from
God's grace, and eternal life.
Feast of St. Bridget, Abbess, and patroness of Ireland[5]
BRIDGETT
was born about the year 453 at Fochard, in Ulster. When about twenty years old
she received the veil from St. Mel, the nephew and disciple of St. Patrick. So
many sought the religious life under her direction that a convent, the first in
Ireland, was erected for her and she was made superior. From this parent stem
branched forth other convents in different parts of Ireland, all which
acknowledged her as their mother and foundress. Several churches in England and
Scotland are dedicated to God under her name, and some also in Germany and in
France.
After
seventy years devoted to the practice of the most sublime virtues, corporal
infirmities admonished our saint that the time of her dissolution was nigh. For
half a century she had irrevocably consecrated herself to God, and during that
period great results had been attained. The day on which our abbess was to quit
this life, February 1, 523, having arrived, she received the blessed body and
blood of her Lord in the Blessed Eucharist, and, as it would seem, immediately
after her spirit passed forth, and went to possess Him in that heavenly country
where He is seen face to face and enjoyed without danger of ever losing Him.
Her
body was interred in the church adjoining her convent, but was some time after
exhumed, and deposited in a splendid shrine near the high altar. In the ninth
century, the country being desolated by the Danes, the remains of St. Bridget
were removed to Down-Patrick, where they were deposited in the same grave with
those of St. Patrick. Their bodies, together with that of St. Columba, were
translated after wards to the cathedral of the same city, but their monument
was destroyed in the reign of King Henry VIII. The head of St, Bridget is now
kept in the church of the Jesuits at Lisbon.
Bridget (Brigid, Bride, Bridey) of Kildare was born around 450 into a Druid
family, being the daughter of Dubhthach, court poet to King Loeghaire. At an
early age, Brigid decided to become a Christian, and she eventually took vows
as a nun. Together with a group of other women, she established a nunnery at
Kildare. She was later joined by a community of monks led by Conlaed. Kildare
had formerly been a pagan shrine where a sacred fire was kept perpetually
burning. Rather than stamping out this pagan flame, Brigid and her nuns kept it
burning as a Christian symbol. (This was in keeping with the general process
whereby Druidism in Ireland gave way to Christianity with very little
opposition, the Druids for the most part saying that their own beliefs were a partial
and tentative insight into the nature of God, and that they recognized in
Christianity what they had been looking for.) As an abbess, Brigid participated
in several Irish councils, and her influence on the policies of the Church in
Ireland was considerable.
Things to Do
Read Amy
Steedman's biography of Saint Brigid of Ireland to gain a greater
appreciation and devotion for this holy woman, who had a great tenderness
for mothers and their children.
Saint Brigid
always recognized Christ in the sick and the poor. Visit Christ in a
nursing home or hospital today, and pray for the grace of clear vision,
even when you encounter Him in a distressing disguise.
Meditate on 1
Corinthians 12:31-13:13. Is this the kind of love you share with your
family? Pray to Saint Brigid for the grace to be patient, kind, and gentle
with those entrusted to your care.
73. THE ROSARY OR CHAPLET
CALLED AFTER ST. BRIDGET.
Pope Leo X., in his Bull
of July 10, 1516, and Pope Clement XI., in his Bull De salute Dominici gregis,
of Sept. 22, 1714, granted many Indulgences to all who carry about them, or who
say, the Chaplet, called after St. Bridget because she first conceived the idea
of it and promulgated the usage of it. These Indulgences were confirmed by Pope
Benedict XIV., in his Brief of Jan. 15, 1743, wherein he added others, of all
which a summary will now be given.
This Chaplet is said in honour of the sixty-three
years which the most holy Mary lived upon this earth, being made up of six
divisions, each division consisting of one Pater noster, ten Ave Maria, and one
Credo;; after these is said one more Pater noster, and three more Ave Maria:
thus in all there will be seven Pater noster, to mark the number of her Seven
Dolours and Seven Joys; the three Ave Maria being added to make up the full
number of sixty-three years. (See the Archivium of the Segretaria of the S. Congr.
of Indulgences, tom. vi. p. 144.) It will be seen in the following summary that
the Indulgences may be gained by saying the fifteen decades, or five decades
only, as mentioned in the Rosary above.
It is requisite, in order to gain these Indulgences,
that the Chaplet, being made, as has been said, of six decades, &c., should
be blessed by the superiors of the monastic houses or other priests of the
order of St. Saviour, sometimes called the order of St Bridget, deputed for
this purpose; and after they have been blessed they cannot be sold, or lent for
the purpose of communicating the Indulgences to others, according to the
express command of the said Pope Clement XI. in the Bull above named, and according
to the general decrees of the S. Congr. of Indulgences, confirmed by Benedict
XIV., under date Feb. 9, 1743.
SUMMARY
OF INDULGENCES ANNEXED TO THE CHAPLET OF ST. BRIDGET.
i. The Indulgence of 100 days for each Pater, 100 days
for each Ave, and 100 days for each Credo, to all the faithful who say the
Rosary or Chaplet of St. Bridget. Pope Leo X., July 10, 1515.
ii. The Indulgence of seven years and seven
quarantines, besides the above, to every one who says the said Rosary or
Chaplet of fifteen decades. Grant of the same Pope Leo. (Whenever this Rosary
is said with others, each person may gain the Indulgences I. and II. precisely
the same as when the said Rosary is said by one person alone. The same Pope
Leo.)
iii. The Plenary Indulgence to all who shall say at
least five decades daily for a year, on any one day in the year when, after
Confession and Communion, they shall pray for the Holy Church. Pope Clement
XI., Sept. 22, 1714.
iv. The Plenary Indulgence, on the Feast of St.
Bridget (Oct. 8), to all who say the said Rosary of five decades at least once
a week, and, after Confession and Communion, visit their own parish church, or
any other church, and pray to God there for the Church as above. Benedict XIV.,
Jan. 15, 1743.
v. The Plenary Indulgence to all who have been
accustomed to say this Rosary, as in No. IV., when, in articulo mortis,
recommending their soul to God, they say the holy name Jesus with their hearts,
if unable to do so with their lips, having at the same time Confessed and
Communicated; or, if these conditions are impossible, being contrite of heart.
Benedict XIV.
vi. The Plenary Indulgence, once a month, to all who
say this Chaplet daily for a month, on any one day when, after Confession and
Communion, they visit a church and pray as above. Benedict XIV.
vii. The Indulgence of forty days to all who carry
this Rosary with them, if, at the tolling of the bell for a passing soul, they
kneel down and pray for that soul. Benedict XIV.
viii. The Indulgence of twenty days, to all who carry
this Rosary, whenever they make examination of conscience, and say three Pater
noster and three Ave Maria. Ben. XIV.
ix. The Indulgence of 100 days to all who carry this
Rosary whenever they hear Mass (feast-day or ferial), or assist at a sermon, or
accompany the Most Holy Viaticum, or bring back any sinner to his way of
salvation, or do any other good work in honour of our Lord Jesus Christ, the
Blessed Virgin, or St. Bridget, provided they say also three Pater noster and
three Ave Maria. Benedict XIV., as before.
The black mass is a parody of [the
Catholic] Mass, in which one adores and exalts Satan. Usually it is officiated
at night, because the darkness permits greater secrecy and because during the
night fewer people are found at prayer, which disturbs the ritual. During the
celebration, the words and the external signs of the Eucharistic liturgy are
used, but always in a contrary sense, in order to manifest opposition to God.
There is always a satanic priest officiating who wears blasphemous vestments,
an altar represented by a nude woman, possibly a virgin, on whom very serious
acts of profanity of the Eucharist (usually stolen from a church), are
performed, with words of consecration proclaimed in a contrary sense and an
overturned crucifix. Only members of the satanic sect, who are sworn to
secrecy, may participate. Nonmembers are never permitted to attend unless it is
hoped that, having already been seduced by the perversions and the illusion of
power, they may decide to enter the sect.
In general, the black masses are
celebrated by small groups of ten or at most fifteen of the “faithful.” Once
the ritual is concluded, the woman who functions as the altar is raped in turn
by all the participants: first by the one who exercised the “rites” of the
priest, then by all the others. This woman may have freely accepted that role,
or she may have been led there against her will; and aside from the physical
violence, she often suffers the terrible consequences of the ritual:
[diabolical] possession.
As in the Church, some of the
official rites are required and are tied to particular feast days.
·The
most important is Halloween, which falls on the night between October 31 and
November 1 of each year: it is considered the magic New Year. Therefore, it is
necessary to understand the extreme danger for our children and youth who
participate in the feast of Halloween on that date.
·The
second precedes our feast of the presentation of Jesus in the Temple on
February 2. The night before, in fact, the magic spring begins.
The officiator of these rites is
usually someone who is consecrated to Satan, and although it is not stated,
this person is also usually possessed by the devil. Often during these rituals,
the Eucharistic hosts are profaned, [having been] stolen from tabernacles or
taken by some of the faithful at Communion during Mass and not consumed.
Serpent Day
is a day of reflection and coming to grips with our fears. It’s dedicated
to pondering our reactions to the prime material behind that expensive
high-fashion snake-skin handbag. Its unique, slithering form has long been
associated with wisdom and power, used for either good or evil. Serpents have
been both feared and revered, at times simultaneously, in many different
periods of human history. Quetzalcoatl is a Mesoamerican deity, the
worship of which was first known documented in Teotihuacan in the first century
BCE or first century CE. The veneration of the figure appears spread throughout
Mesoamerica between 600–900 AD.
Quetzalcoatl,
also called “the Plumed Serpent,” played a dominant role as a god, model, myth,
historical figure and symbol in Aztec culture. According to legend, he
was incarnated on earth and founded the fabulous capital of the
Toltecs, Tollan. Quetzalcoatl represented the universal quest for
meaning in life, and was the guardian of water and rain, a precious
resource of the Aztecs.
In the
Hindu regions of Asia, the serpent, or naga, is considered a
nature spirit. As in the Aztec belief system, Naga is the protector of springs,
wells, and rivers, and so serpents bring rain, and fertility. The serpent
is also a fascinating biblical symbol. Perhaps the most common is the
portrayal of the serpent as an enemy in general, or as Satan in particular.
However,
a serpent is later used to foreshadow Jesus’ death on the cross and the
salvation it makes possible when a bronze serpent appears on a cross that the
severely ill Israelites looked upon to recover, which can be found in John
3:14-15. Anthropologists have argued that the serpent as a symbol of death
is built into our unconscious minds because of evolutionary history, as for
millions of years, snakes were mainly just predators of
primates. Nowadays, a snake wrapped around the Rod of Asclepius is on the
Star of Life, the worldwide symbol of medical aid.
Bible in a Year Day 214 The Hidden
Glory of God
Fr. Mike reflects on how Isaiah's prophecies in 49-50, point to the immediate
reality of God's promise of redemption for Israel, as well as to the distant
reality of Jesus Christ as the Messiah. In Ezekiel, we also learn how the glory
of God departed from the Temple, and how God's presence is often hidden from us
as well. Today's readings are Isaiah 49-50, Ezekiel 10-11, and Proverbs 12:17-20.
Copilot: The Full Snow Moon invites us to step outside with our
children or grandchildren, to play in the snow, make snow angels, and speak
gently to them about our love for God—a simple act that turns winter into a
catechism of joy. Snow has always carried a quiet theology, and the Church
remembers this in the story of Our Lady of the Snows, when on August 5, 352, a
miraculous snowfall covered the crest of Rome’s Esquiline Hill, outlining the
future basilica dedicated to the Mother of God. That same purity and wonder
echoes in the farthest reaches of the earth, in Antarctica, the land of eternal
snows, where explorers, chaplains, and scientists have carried the faith to the
bottom of the world. From Capt. Mackintosh’s memorial cross at Cape Evans to
Father William Menster’s first Mass on the continent, from Jesuit scientists
studying the earth’s mysteries to the chapels scattered across the
ice—Notre-Dame des Vents, the Ice Cave Chapel, the Chapel of the Snows at
McMurdo, Trinity Church on King George Island, and many more—Christian worship
has found a home even where the sun disappears for months at a time. These
chapels, carved from ice, concrete, pine, or even shipping containers, stand as
small but radiant signs that no place is too remote for grace. The Full Snow
Moon, Our Lady of the Snows, and the faith of those who prayed in Antarctica
all whisper the same truth: God meets His people wherever they are—on Roman
hills, polar ice, or a backyard blanketed in winter—and every snowfall becomes
an invitation to remember His presence, His purity, and His love.
Director: Mervyn LeRoy Stars: Gloria Swanson (Nella Vago), Melvyn Douglas (Jim Fletcher), Alison Skipworth (Grandmother), Ferdinand Gottschalk (Rudig) Studio: United Artists Based on: The 1928 Hungarian play Tonight or Never by Lajos Zilahy Release: October 31, 1931 Notable Achievement: Marked Melvyn Douglas’s film debut, pairing him immediately with one of Hollywood’s most commanding stars, Gloria Swanson, in a pre‑Code romantic comedy filled with wit, seduction, and European elegance.
π Plot in Brief
Nella Vago is a celebrated Hungarian opera soprano whose voice is technically flawless but emotionally cold. Her teacher insists she will never reach true greatness until she experiences real love.
A mysterious man begins appearing at her performances, unsettling her with his quiet intensity. Believing him to be a gigolo, she decides to risk everything on a single night of passion — a reckless act meant to unlock her artistic soul.
The twist: the man is actually Jim Fletcher, the influential Metropolitan Opera agent whose approval she desperately needs.
The revelation forces Nella to confront pride, vulnerability, and the difference between performing passion and actually living it.
π¬ Swanson & Douglas: Why This Pairing Works
⭐ Gloria Swanson as Nella Vago
Regal, witty, and emotionally guarded — a diva who has mastered control but not surrender.
Her transformation from icy perfection to awakened womanhood is the film’s emotional engine.
Swanson’s elegance, paired with Coco Chanel gowns, gives the film its visual electricity.
⭐ Melvyn Douglas as Jim Fletcher
A remarkably confident debut: suave, observant, and quietly commanding.
Plays the “mysterious stranger” with understatement rather than bravado.
His calm masculinity becomes the catalyst for Nella’s artistic and emotional breakthrough.
⭐ Their Dynamic
Swanson’s intensity meets Douglas’s restraint — a perfect pre‑Code contrast.
Their chemistry is built on curiosity, tension, and mutual unveiling, not melodrama.
The seduction sequence is daring for 1931, yet played with sophistication rather than scandal.
πΌ Style, Setting & Craft
Set in Budapest, Venice, and Paris — a tour of European elegance.
Early cinematography by Gregg Toland, who would later revolutionize film with Citizen Kane.
Pre‑Code freedom allows for flirtation, innuendo, and adult themes handled with wit rather than vulgarity.
The opera sequences blend glamour with emotional stakes, underscoring the theme that art requires vulnerability.
π️ Moral & Devotional Themes
✦ Authenticity vs. Performance
Nella’s crisis is spiritual as much as artistic:
she performs passion without ever having surrendered to it.
Her awakening mirrors the Christian call to integrity of heart — to live truthfully, not theatrically.
✦ The Courage to Love
Love requires risk, humility, and the willingness to be seen.
Nella’s transformation echoes the Gospel truth that fear suffocates the soul, while love frees it.
✦ Vocation and Gift
Her voice is a gift — but a gift that must be animated by lived experience.
This parallels the Catholic understanding that talent becomes vocation only when infused with charity.
✦ Humility as Breakthrough
Nella’s pride collapses when she discovers Jim’s true identity.
That collapse becomes the doorway to grace — a reminder that humility is the beginning of greatness.
π· Hospitality Pairing
Drink:The Prima Donna
A sparkling, elegant cocktail that matches Nella’s transformation from icy control to radiant warmth.
Sparkling wine
A splash of Cointreau
Lemon twist
Serve in a flute for theatrical effect
Snack:
Almond financiers or buttery opera cookies — small, refined, European, perfect for a pre‑Code romance.
Symbolic Touch:
A single white rose on the table — representing purity regained, pride surrendered, and the awakening of authentic love.
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