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NIC’s Corner-Try “ANZAC Biscuits[5]”
Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.
(Luke 1:38)
· Today is my aunt’s birthday Denise Gail (her name means “To be devoted …to the joy of the father); please pray for her intentions.
· Carnival Time begins in Catholic Countries.
· Spirit Hour: St. Honorat Wines
· Bucket List trip: Buenos Aires
· How to celebrate Jan 16th
o Hey, you’ve got a bunch of offbeat holidays lined up! Let’s dive in and make the most of them. Start your day by munching on some delicious Fig Newtons to honor National Fig Newton Day. Next, add some fire to your life with International Hot and Spicy Food Day – challenge yourself to whip up a spicy dish for lunch.
o For National Quinoa Day, cook up a healthy quinoa salad for a light and nutritious snack. Wind down with a calming cup of rooibos tea to celebrate International Rooibos Day. Take a moment to appreciate the teens around you for National Good Teen Day. Engage in peaceful discussions about different beliefs on National Religious Freedom Day.
o Get moving on Women’s Healthy Weight Day by going for a walk or doing some yoga. Unleash your creativity on National Appreciate A Dragon Day by drawing or reading about these mythical creatures. Relax and pamper yourself on National Without a Scalpel Day – a bubble bath or a face mask can do wonders. And finally, for National Nothing Day,
simply take a breather and do absolutely nothing. Enjoy the odd mix of celebrations – have a blast!
· Plan winter fun:
o Soak in hot springs
o Hit the snow slopes
o Ride a snowmobile
o Go for a dog sled ride
o Ride a hot air balloon
Rich vs Poor Tour: ⛪ Malta vs Tanzania — Chapels of Heritage and Churches of Growth
Malta represents wealth, heritage, and Catholic continuity; Tanzania embodies poverty, resilience, and missionary expansion. Together, they extend NIC’s Corner into the paradox of Catholicism lived in historic stone and vibrant grassroots growth.
🇲🇹 Malta — Wealthy, Historic, and Catholic Heartland
GDP per capita (PPP): ~$55,000 USD (2024)
🧮 Why Malta Ranks High
· EU Integration: Strong financial services, tourism, and shipping industries.
· Stability: Political and social institutions remain robust.
· Heritage: Ancient temples, medieval fortresses, and Baroque churches.
· Tourism: Pilgrimage and leisure converge in Valletta, Mdina, and Gozo.
· Infrastructure: Universal healthcare, education, and social services.
✝️ Catholic Landscape
· Membership: ~90% of population identifies as Catholic (~450,000).
· Practice: Mass attendance ~40% (among the highest in Europe).
· Dioceses: Archdiocese of Malta, Diocese of Gozo.
· Liturgical Heritage: Feast days, processions, Marian devotion, Knights of St. John legacy.
· Civic Role: Catholic schools, hospitals, and charities remain central.
⚠️ Challenges
· Secularization: Younger generations less engaged.
· Tourism Pressure: Heritage sites risk commercialization.
· Vocational Decline: Fewer priestly vocations compared to past centuries.
🌿 Pilgrimage Cue
Malta is a journey of chapels in heritage—where the Eucharist is celebrated beneath Baroque domes, and Catholicism remains woven into civic and cultural life.
🇹🇿 Tanzania — Poor, Growing, and Missionary Catholic
GDP per capita (PPP): ~$3,100 USD (2024)
🧮 Why Tanzania Ranks Low
· Economic Fragility: Agriculture dominates; poverty remains widespread.
· Infrastructure Gaps: Healthcare, education, and transport under strain.
· Aid Dependence: NGOs and missions fill social voids.
· Political Challenges: Governance and corruption hinder development.
· Vulnerability: Climate change impacts agriculture and rural livelihoods.
✝️ Catholic Landscape
· Membership: ~13 million Catholics (~30% of population).
· Dioceses: 34 dioceses including Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Mwanza, Dodoma.
· Missionary Legacy: Jesuits, White Fathers, and sisters built schools, hospitals, and parishes.
· Liturgical Life: Mass in Swahili and tribal languages; vibrant choirs and Marian devotion.
· Community Role: Catholicism anchors education, healthcare, and civic life.
⚠️ Challenges
· Poverty: Limits catechesis, sacramental preparation, and parish resources.
· Vocational Strain: Priests stretched across vast rural dioceses.
· Youth Exodus: Migration to cities weakens rural parishes.
· Political Pressure: Church often advocates for justice and democracy.
🌿 Pilgrimage Cue
Tanzania is a journey of churches in growth—where the Eucharist is celebrated in crowded parish halls, and Catholicism expands through song, solidarity, and missionary zeal.
🕊️ Editorial Reflection
Malta and Tanzania reveal Catholicism’s paradox: one rich in heritage but facing secular decline, the other poor in wealth but rich in missionary growth. In Malta, Catholicism is a chapel of heritage. In Tanzania, it is a church of growth.
The Rich vs Poor Tour reminds us that the Gospel is not bound by prosperity or poverty—it flourishes in Valletta’s domes and Dar es Salaam’s parish halls, in the memory of tradition and the vitality of expansion.
Where does the Church feel more alive—in the heritage of stone or the growth of song?
JANUARY
16 Friday
Religious Freedom Day-Nine Days for life-Novena for the 25th Day
Genesis, Chapter 46, Verse 3
Then he said: I am God, the God of your father. Do not be AFRAID to go down to Egypt, for there I
will make you a great nation.
At times God asks us to go
down into our personal Egypt’s; so he can make us more by raising us up.
I
will observe your statutes; do not utterly forsake me.
– Psalm 119:8
Blessed is anyone
who endures temptation. Such a one has stood the test and will receive the
crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. – James 1:12
What is your “Egypt”?
What is your temptation, your land of (empty) promise?
What has placed you under bondage?
For some it could be that “dream” job across the country. For others it could be that big house, or luxury car. Chances are, if you find yourself saying something like, “Things would better if I could only…”, then you have an “Egypt” of your own. In most cases your “Egypt” is really just another heap of steaming trouble, bundled in empty hope and wrapped with false promise. God knows that humility, and a sense of self-worth centered in God’s grace and not in “things” and “stuff” is what leads to a heart that is not been made cynical by the disappointments of materialism. A humble and compassionate heart is softer, fertile ground made ready and willing to love. We must find contentment in the immutable, in the unwavering God. Only then will the distractions, the idols, and the daily lies we tell ourselves to feel okay… only then will they start to fall away and we can be fully Present. Being Present means to exist fully in the now, in this moment. Not regretting the past, not worrying about the future, but fully mindful and present in the moment at hand. Then you would be able to give this text your full attention, and not simply a cursory scan. You would find yourself really listening to someone speaking and not simply waiting for a chance to talk. And most importantly, you find yourself fully enjoying the presence of someone close to you, fully mindful that in an instant they could be gone. Our personal “Egypt” is a always a source of bondage and domination. We find ourselves broken through our pursuit of it, and God forbid, we attain it! Then we realize that its promise and hope were dust and dreams and there is nothing of substance to sustain us.
Where do we turn to now?
We’ve already spent ourselves trying to attain our own personal “Egypt”?
We turn back to God. He is always ready and willing to perform the next personal Exodus out of another personal Egypt. And you will need God’s help, for the wisdom of the world and it’s Pharaohs will rise up to stop you the very moment you start to trust God’s immutable providence for your life: Wake up. Spread the blood of lamb on the lintels of your soul. Ask God for salvation from bondage to your own personal Egypt, and God will act in your life.[1]
Copilot’s Take-On Confronting Evil
When God tells Jacob, “Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt,” He is sending him straight into a place marked by danger, confusion, and the misuse of power—yet also into the very place where God intends to act. That same pattern echoes today. Religious Freedom Day reminds us that whenever conscience is threatened—whether by governments, ideologies, or cultural pressures—Egypt is rising again. Minnesota’s recent struggles with disorder and institutional strain reveal how fragile freedom becomes when truth is ignored and moral clarity fades. 9 Days for Life calls us to confront this evil not with fear or anger but with the courage of a people who know that every human life is a gift, every conscience is sacred, and every act of love pushes back the darkness. The Christian does not flee Egypt; he enters it with God, trusting that fidelity, prayer, and sacrificial love can transform even the hardest places. In a world where life is often treated as disposable and freedom as negotiable, God’s command remains the same: Do not be afraid. Go into the Egypt's of your time. I am with you, and there I will make you fruitful.
Religious Freedom
Day[2]
Religions
and religious organizations have been responsible for a great deal of good
being done in the world, from the founding of worldwide charity organizations
to simply inspiring people to be kinder and humbler daily, as well as more
sympathetic to the plight of his fellow man. Unfortunately, an often-observed
characteristic of many religions is that their faithful often try to convert
others to their faith, and when those others refuse, the consequences can be
grave. From the Roman persecutions of Christians in the ancient times, to the
infamous Spanish Inquisition, to the witch hunts of Puritan America, to the
Islamic Jihads (or secular progressives
for that matter) still occurring today, it is easy to see how dangerous
religions can be if not checked, and how overzealous believers in a certain god
or no god at all can be in attempting to force everyone else to believe as they
do. This is why it is enormously important to make sure religious freedom is
granted and protected to all, and this is why the Founding Fathers of the
United States of America saw this as such.
On
January 16, 1786, soon after the United States of America came into existence
as a sovereign nation, the Virginia General Assembly adopted Thomas
Jefferson’s landmark Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom. This statute then
became the basis for what we know today as the First Amendment, which
guarantees religious freedom to all people residing in the U.S.A. Every year
since then, a statement is released on this same day by the president of the
United States officially proclaiming Religious Freedom Day.
How to Celebrate Religious Freedom Day
A
good way to celebrate Religious Freedom Day is to do some research about what
life used to be like before religious freedom was protected, and every person
had the right to believe in what he or she chose.
·
“The
Name of the Rose” is both an excellent book and an excellent movie, which quite
accurately depicts what life was like during the Inquisition, and how far the
inquisitors were willing to go to find and punish people they suspected of
sorcery.
·
The
young adult novel titled, “The Witch of Blackbird Pond” can also help one
understand what it was like to be the least bit different from the rest of the
villagers in 17th century New England, and just how dangerous it was to avoid
church.
·
1951’s Quo
Vadis, on the other hand, demonstrates how badly Christian were persecuted
during the reign of the Emperor Nero in Ancient Rome.
·
“The
Diary of a Young Girl”, written by Jewish teenager Anne Frank during the height
of the Nazi persecution of Europe’s Jewish population is both interesting a
heartbreaking when one thinks about all the other innocent children like Anne
who died horrible deaths for simply being of the wrong religion.
·
The
works of Salman Rushdie could also prove to be a very insightful read, as the
author himself received years of death threats after the release of his
acclaimed novel “The Satanic Verses”, which was critical of Islam was
published.
·
Now.
What if you refuse abortion tainted vaccines?
It
could also be an interesting idea to have several of your friends of different
faiths get together for coffee and discuss how positively religious freedom and
the freedom to not practice any religion at all impact all your lives and help
make them better. Religious freedom is a wonderful thing that should be fully
appreciated and celebrated.
Life First[3] 9 Days for Life
9 Days for Life is a "digital pilgrimage" of prayer and action focused on cherishing the gift of every person's life. A multi-faceted novena highlighting a different intention each day provides reflections, bonus information, and suggested actions. Join to receive the novena through the 9 Days for Life app, daily emails, or daily texts. See below for information on how else you can get involved! #9DaysforLife #OurPrayersMatter
Day One:
INTENTION
May the tragic practice of abortion end.
PRAYERS
Our Father, 3 Hail Marys, Glory Be
REFLECTION
At every stage and in every circumstance, we are
held in existence by God’s love. The presence of an illness, disability, or
other challenging situation never diminishes the value of a human life. God
does not call us to perfection of appearance or abilities, but to perfection in
love. Christ invites us to embrace our own lives and the lives of others as
true gifts.
Abortion tragically rejects the truth that every
life is a good and perfect gift, deserving protection. This violent practice
ends the life of a human being at its very beginning and horribly wounds all
those involved. But Christ came that we “might have life and have it more
abundantly” (John 10:10), taking on human flesh for the sake of our redemption.
May our culture experience the power of God’s transforming love, that all eyes
may be opened to the incredible beauty of every human life.
(Choose one.)
ACTS OF REPARATION
Take a break from television and movies today.
Consider spending some of that time praying with today’s reflection.
Pray the short prayer “Every Life is Worth Living,”
reflecting on the gift of human life.
Heavenly Father, thank you for the precious gift of
life. Help us to cherish and protect this gift, even in the midst of fear,
pain, and suffering. Give us love for all people, especially the most
vulnerable, and help us bear witness to the truth that every life is worth
living. Grant us the humility to accept help when we are in need, and teach us
to be merciful to all. Through our words and actions, may others encounter the
outstretched hands of Your mercy. We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Offer some other sacrifice, prayer, or act of
penance that you feel called to do for today’s intention.
ONE STEP FURTHER Abortion is frequently a topic in
the news, political debates, and everyday conversations with family or friends.
Because abortion can be a controversial and emotional issue in any arena, many
of us may feel intimidated when the topic arises, not knowing what to say.
"Another Look at Abortion" provides a basic overview and summarizes
key points. This article will help you be better prepared to witness to the
sanctity of human life. Catechism of the Catholic Church
A Comprehensive List of Food Companies and Products That Use
Senomyx (Used Aborted Babies)
Updated: Nov 5, 2023
A
large number of major food and drink brands across The United States and the
world have partnered with San Diego-based company "Senomyx" which has
created a flavor enhancer using the cell lines of an electively aborted human
being. I compiled a comprehensive list of the food brands using senomyx, for
those who also seek to no longer support or consume these brands.
I will go out of my way to not support
companies who go out of their way to support the slaughter of innocent human
children. You'll notice that there is almost always a more local, more organic
option right beside the brand-name products, and these alternative options
always seem to be many times healthier as well. They tend to lack ingredients
like high-fructose corn syrup, red and blue dyes, along with lacking the use of
senomyx as a flavor enhancer. More information with direct info: Click Here
🕊️ Monthly Novena
for the 25th Day
A
Simple Family Devotion Honoring the Birth of Jesus
From the Raccolta
💡 What Is This
Novena?
This
is a short, meaningful prayer devotion that helps us remember the birth of
Jesus—not just at Christmas, but every month on the 25th. It’s perfect for
families, including those with small children, and can be prayed at home in
just a few minutes each day.
It’s a
way to keep the light of Christ alive in our homes all year long.
📅 When to Pray
·
Start
on the 16th of each month
·
Pray
daily through the 24th
·
Celebrate
Jesus on the 25th with joy and thanksgiving
You can
pray together at the dinner table, before bedtime, or during a quiet moment in
the day.
🙏 Why It Matters
·
Keeps
Jesus at the center of family life
·
Teaches
children the story of Christ’s birth in gentle, daily steps
·
Builds
a rhythm of prayer, gratitude, and hope
·
Helps
us prepare spiritually for Christmas every month
🛐 Daily Novena Structure (16th–24th)
Each
day, pray the five offerings below. After each offering, say
the Gloria Patri:
Glory
be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
✨ The Five Offerings
1.
The
Birth of Jesus
ETERNAL FATHER, I offer to Thy honour and glory, and for my own salvation,
and for the salvation of all the world, the mystery of the Birth of our Divine
SAVIOUR.
Gloria Patri
2.
Mary
and Joseph’s Journey to Bethlehem
ETERNAL FATHER, I offer to Thy honour and glory, and for my eternal
salvation, the sufferings of the most holy Virgin and of St Joseph in that long
and weary journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem…
Gloria Patri
3.
The
Stable and the Infant Jesus
ETERNAL FATHER, I offer to Thy honour and glory, and for my eternal
salvation, the stable where JESUS was born, the hard straw which served Him for
a bed…
Gloria Patri
4.
The
Circumcision and First Shedding of Blood
ETERNAL FATHER, I offer to Thy honour and glory, and for my eternal
salvation, the pain which the divine Child JESUS felt…
Gloria Patri
5.
The
Virtues of the Child Jesus
ETERNAL FATHER, I offer to Thy honour and glory, and for my eternal
salvation, the humility, mortification, patience, charity, and all the virtues
of the Child JESUS…
Gloria Patri
📖 Versicle & Response
V/. The
Word was made flesh.
R/. And dwelt among us.
🙏 Closing Prayer
O
GOD, whose only-begotten SON was made manifest to us in the substance of our
flesh; grant, we beseech Thee, that our souls may be inwardly renewed through
Him, whom our eyes have seen externally like unto ourselves. Who liveth and
reigneth with Thee for ever and ever. Amen.
Bible in a
Year Day 199 Times for War
Fr. Mike explains why Joel would say that there are
certain times for war, even within God's plan. In a broken world, we are
sometimes going to be called to fight the brokenness around us, but we must
believe that God is allowing this not because he likes war, but because
something better will come in its place. Today's readings are Isaiah 16-17,
Joel 3, and Proverbs 10:21-24.
Fitness Friday[4]
Health Benefits of Bergamot
If you’ve
ever had Earl Grey tea, then you’ve tasted the flavor of bergamot. It comes
from the Citrus bergamia plant, a fruit tree believed to be native to
the Mediterranean region.
A blend
of the sour orange and lemon (or citron) plant, bergamot
produces a fruit that looks like a round lemon. Although generally too sour to
eat on its own, it’s been part of the Mediterranean diet since the early 18th
century.
People
use extracts from bergamot’s sour juice and oil from its peel for a variety of
things including:
- Scents for
personal care products
- Aromatherapy
- Health
supplements
Health Benefits
Bergamot
has health benefits include:
Reducing
Cholesterol
Several
studies have shown that bergamot may help to reduce overall cholesterol and
“bad” LDL
cholesterol. It may also help to increase “good” HDL cholesterol and has
the potential to be an effective supplement to cholesterol drugs.
Depression
Relief
Studies
have shown that an aromatherapy blend that includes bergamot may help with
depression symptoms in older adults, people with terminal cancer, and women who
are at high risk of postpartum depression.
There
hasn’t been enough research yet to confirm the results, and there’s no
conclusive evidence that it can help with depression in other populations.
However, there have been some promising early studies with animals.
Scientists
have found that bergamot might protect the joints in people taking aromatase
inhibitors as part of cancer treatment. More research is needed.
Schizophrenia Relief
One study
shows that taking bergamot supplements may help people with schizophrenia think
more clearly. People in the study had better results on several cognitive tests
after taking bergamot. Further research is needed.
Health Risks of Bergamot
Mild side effects. Some
people experience side effects like dizziness, muscle cramps, and heartburn
when they take bergamot with food.
Blood sugar issues. Bergamot may
cause your blood sugar to drop. If you have diabetes, your blood
sugar might reach unsafe levels. It’s important to monitor those levels if you
choose to use bergamot supplements.
Even if you don’t have diabetes, bergamot could make it harder for doctors to control your blood sugar during surgery. Experts recommend that you stop using bergamot supplements two weeks before you have surgery.
Daily Devotions
· Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them in fasting: Today's Fast: Individuals with Mental Illness
·
The
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity-Day 1
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
[2]https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/religious-freedom-day/
[3]http://www.usccb.org/about/pro-life-activities/january-roe-events/nine-days-of-prayer-penance-and-pilgrimage.cfm
[5] Sheraton, Mimi. 1,000 Foods To Eat Before You
Die: A Food Lover's Life List (p. 892). Workman Publishing Company. Kindle
Edition.
🎭 No, No, Nanette (1940)
Comedy / Musical • Dir. Herbert Wilcox
Starring Anna Neagle, Richard Carlson, Victor Mature, Roland Young
🌟 Summary
The 1940 No, No, Nanette is a bright, lightly screwball musical comedy built around Nanette (Anna Neagle), a spirited young woman whose good intentions land her in a tangle of romantic and social complications. Her uncle Jimmy—an incurable flirt with a generous checkbook—has promised “help” to several attractive young women, and Nanette tries to rescue him before her aunt discovers the truth.
In the process, Nanette becomes the object of affection for two men:
- Tom Gillespie, a sincere young artist (Richard Carlson), and
- Bill Trainor, a theatrical producer (Victor Mature), who is drawn into the chaos while trying to help her untangle Jimmy’s messes.
The film keeps the musical numbers light—Tea for Two, I Want to Be Happy, and the title tune appear, though far less prominently than in the stage version. The real engine is the interplay of flirtation, misunderstanding, and Nanette’s earnest desire to set things right.
🎬 Tone & Style
This is a polished RKO confection:
- buoyant,
- visually crisp,
- anchored by Anna Neagle’s charm,
- and carried by Roland Young’s comic timing as the hapless uncle.
It’s not a full-throated musical; it’s a comedy with musical accents, leaning more on character interplay than production numbers.
✝️ Catholic Moral Reading
1. Good Intentions vs. Moral Clarity
Nanette’s desire to “fix” her uncle’s indiscretions mirrors the perennial temptation to manage sin rather than confront it.
- She wants peace without truth.
- She wants harmony without confession.
This is the classic moral trap: trying to save someone from the consequences of their own behavior without calling them to conversion.
2. The Folly of “Innocent” Flirtation
Uncle Jimmy’s behavior is presented as harmless, but the film quietly acknowledges the damage caused by emotional dishonesty.
- Even “innocent” flirtations fracture trust.
- The comedy works because the stakes are real.
It’s a gentle reminder of the Catholic virtue of integrity in relationships—the unity of heart, word, and action.
3. Choosing the Right Love
Nanette’s two suitors represent two paths:
- Tom: sincerity, vocation, and steady affection.
- Bill: glamour, opportunity, and the thrill of the stage.
Her discernment mirrors the spiritual task of choosing substance over sparkle, vocation over vanity.
🍸 Hospitality Pairing
The “Tea for Two” Highball
A light, cheerful drink that matches the film’s tone and nods to its most famous song.
Ingredients (from your bar):
- 1.5 oz gin
- 0.5 oz Cointreau
- 0.5 oz lemon juice
- Top with cider (for a playful sparkle)
- Lemon twist
Why it works:
- It’s bright, effervescent, and uncomplicated—like Nanette herself.
- The cider adds a Prohibition‑era wink.
- The citrus keeps it honest, cutting through the sweetness the way truth cuts through Jimmy’s evasions.
Optional food pairing:
- Tea sandwiches or light pastries—something that feels like a rehearsal‑break snack in a 1940s Broadway producer’s office.
