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. "
Father Michael Logan, a young priest in Québec, hears a late‑night confession from the rectory caretaker, Otto Keller. Keller admits he has murdered a lawyer during a botched robbery. Bound by the seal of confession, Father Logan cannot reveal what he knows—not to the police, not to the courts, not even to save his own life.
When circumstantial evidence begins to point toward him, Logan remains silent. His past friendship with Ruth Grandfort, now a politician’s wife, only deepens suspicion. As the investigation tightens, Logan becomes the prime suspect, and his refusal to defend himself appears almost suicidal.
The film builds toward a courtroom climax where Logan’s silence is interpreted as guilt. Only when Keller’s conscience finally cracks does the truth emerge—but not before Logan has endured public humiliation, suspicion, and near‑martyrdom.
✝️ Catholic Moral Reflection
Hitchcock—raised Catholic—understood the gravity of the confessional seal. I Confess is one of the rare Hollywood films that treats priestly identity not as costume but as vocation.
Three themes stand out for your devotional and hospitality work:
1. The Seal of Confession as a Form of Martyrdom
Father Logan’s silence is not passivity. It is active fidelity, a priest laying down his reputation—and possibly his life—for the sake of a sinner.
This is Romans 12:9–10 in cinematic form:
“Let love be sincere.”
“Outdo one another in showing honor.”
Logan honors Keller even when Keller has dishonored him.
2. The Cost of Innocence
The film exposes how innocence is not always rewarded in this world. Logan’s calm endurance echoes Christ before Pilate—truth standing silent before accusation.
For your devotional framework, this is a perfect Day‑theme on: “The Eucharistic Christ who speaks through silence.”
3. The Danger of Half‑Truths
Ruth’s attempt to “explain” Logan’s innocence by revealing their past only deepens suspicion.
Hitchcock shows how partial truths, even when well‑intended, can distort justice.
This aligns beautifully with your emphasis on: memory, mercy, and truth‑telling without embellishment.
4. The Priest as a Living Icon of Mercy
Logan’s refusal to break the seal is not legalism—it is mercy toward a man who does not deserve it.
This is the same spiritual logic you’ve been weaving into your pilgrimage calendar and your 33‑day devotional: mercy that costs something.
🍷 Hospitality Pairing
The film’s mood is austere, wintry, and morally severe. The pairing should reflect:
Québec setting
stark moral clarity
the cold beauty of sacrifice
Drink: The Québec Black Velvet
A classic, simple, dignified pairing:
Half stout (Guinness or similar)
Half dry cider (you already have cider in your bar stock)
The drink is visually symbolic:
dark stout = the weight of sin
bright cider = the mercy that rises through it
It layers, just like the film.
Food: Tourtière with a Eucharistic Twist
A Québec meat pie—warm, humble, communal.
Serve with:
a small ramekin of bright cranberry relish
a simple blessing on fidelity and truth before cutting the pie
The contrast of savory and tart mirrors the film’s tension between duty and suffering.
“When the world demands explanations, the saint clings to the silence that saves another’s soul.”
Martin Luther King Day
Dolly Parton birthday 1946
🎬 Our Very Own (1950)
Ann Blyth • Farley Granger • Jane Wyatt • Ann Dvorak • Natalie Wood
🌿 Plot in Clean, Elegant Lines
Gail Macaulay (Ann Blyth) is preparing for her 18th birthday in a comfortable Los Angeles home filled with the kind of middle‑class optimism Samuel Goldwyn loved to photograph. Her younger sister Joan, in a moment of childish envy, discovers adoption papers and blurts out the truth: Gail is not the Macaulays’ biological daughter.
The revelation shatters Gail’s sense of belonging. Her adoptive mother Lois (Jane Wyatt) responds with tenderness and honesty, arranging a meeting with Gail’s birth mother, Gert Lynch (Ann Dvorak). But the reunion is awkward and humiliating—Gert’s husband unexpectedly appears, forcing her to pretend Gail is “a friend’s daughter.”
Gail leaves wounded, ashamed, and unsure of who she is.
Her boyfriend Chuck (Farley Granger) and her adoptive family gather around her, not with speeches but with presence. At her graduation, Gail reframes her crisis: family is not merely biological—it is the place where love is chosen, lived, and renewed.
✝️ Catholic Moral Reading
This film is a gentle catechesis on identity, mercy, and the dignity of adoptive love. It fits seamlessly into your devotional and pilgrimage work.
1. Adoption as a Mirror of Divine Sonship
Gail’s crisis echoes the spiritual truth of Romans 8:
We are adopted into God’s family—not by merit, but by love.
Her confusion becomes a doorway into a deeper identity.
2. The Macaulays as Icons of Steadfast Love
Lois and Fred Macaulay embody the quiet heroism of spiritual parenthood.
Their love is not sentimental—it is covenantal.
They model the same fidelity you emphasize in your 33‑day journey: love that stays when the story gets complicated.
3. The Biological Mother’s Shame and the Church’s Mercy
Gert’s inability to acknowledge Gail publicly is painful, but it is also deeply human.
She is a bruised reed.
The Church’s response to such a soul is always mercy, not judgment.
4. Gail’s Graduation Speech as a Eucharistic Moment
Her realization—that love defines family—mirrors the Eucharistic truth that Christ binds us into one Body.
Identity is not inherited; it is received.
🍋 Hospitality Pairing: “The Macaulay Lemon Cream Cooler”
A drink that matches the film’s emotional arc: bright, shaken, softened by grace.
Ingredients (all from your bar stock)
Gin with lime
Cointreau
Limoncello
A splash of cream
Lemon zest
Method
Shake gin, Cointreau, limoncello, and cream over ice.
Strain into a chilled glass.
Garnish with lemon zest.
Symbolism
Citrus brightness → Gail’s youthful optimism
Cream → the softening mercy of her adoptive family
Bittersweet oils → the sting of truth
The final smooth sip → reconciliation and chosen love
Serve with lemon shortbread or fresh berries—clean, honest flavors for a film about honest love.
“Family is the place where love chooses you again.”
Growing up under the “Iceman,” life was always “fun” and it was always “real,” but it wasn’t always “real fun.” One summer he loaded my younger brothers and sisters into the family vehicle and pointed it toward Philmont, the legendary Scout training center. I was the oldest; my youngest brother was maybe seven — still at the age where adventure and catastrophe look exactly the same.
Somewhere along the way they stopped at a McDonald’s. Back then, McDonald’s sold CDs at the counter, and my siblings grabbed one for the road. Out in that stretch of country there were no rest stops, no gas stations, no toilets — just trees, rocks, and the long, empty road to New Mexico.
Then it happened.
The CD spun up the familiar children’s tune — the theme from Winnie the Pooh. But the Iceman, feeling the unmistakable pressure of nature’s call, didn’t sing the lyrics as written. He improvised. Loudly. With conviction.
“Really got to poop… really got to poop… really, really, really, really, really got to poop…”
The wilderness echoed with it. The kids howled. The Iceman powered through the miles with the determination of a man racing both time and biology. And somehow, they made it to Philmont before disaster struck.
That evening, at the community meal, everyone bowed their heads for prayer. Silence settled over the hall.
And then my youngest brother — sweet, innocent, seven-year-old comic timing — began softly singing the Iceman’s bathroom‑themed rendition of Winnie the Pooh.
The Iceman, legendary in many ways, was not legendary for blushing. But that night, he came close.
·How to celebrate Jan 18th
oBegin your day by channeling the carefree spirit of Winnie the Pooh.
Wear something yellow, grab a jar of honey, and head to your local park for a picnic. Embrace the simple joys of nature and indulge in some delicious honey treats.
oNext, treat yourself to a fancy cup of gourmet coffee. Hit up a local cafe or cozy up at home with some special brews. Take a moment to savor the rich flavors and aromas, finding a moment of bliss in every sip.
oNow, it’s time to celebrate Michigan with a virtual tour of the Great Lakes state. Explore online resources to learn about Michigan’s unique history, culture, and natural beauty. Test your knowledge with a fun quiz or plan a future road trip to experience Michigan in person.
oFeeling adventurous? Whip up a batch of Peking duck at home. Follow a simple recipe and impress yourself with your culinary skills. Gather your loved ones for a homemade feast or savor the delicious meal solo.
oAs the day winds down, focus on your health with Women’s Healthy Weight Day. Take a brisk walk, try out a new workout routine, or prepare a nutritious meal. Invest in your well-being and feel empowered in your journey towards a healthier lifestyle.
oWrap up your day by expanding your vocabulary on Thesaurus Day. Challenge yourself to use new words throughout your conversations or written communications. Dive into a thesaurus to discover a treasure trove of synonyms and elevate your language game.
Western Australia — “Desert Light & Indian Ocean Clarity”
January 18–24, 2026
📍 Base: Perth, Western Australia
January is warm, dry, and luminous — ideal for beaches, desert formations, and contemplative coastal walks.
Jan 18 – Arrival in Perth (2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time)
• Flight: Queenstown → Sydney → Perth (typical $420–$620 per person) • Mass: St. Mary’s Cathedral, Perth – Sunday Mass at 11:00 AM • Lodging: Holiday Inn Perth City Centre (~$145/night) • Meals: ~$75/day (Aussie café brunch + seafood dinner) • Symbolic Act: Journal on “Light in the West” — the sun setting over the Indian Ocean as a symbol of God’s presence at the world’s edge.
Jan 19 – Cottesloe Beach Clarity (Monday)
• Visit: Cottesloe Beach – turquoise water + iconic pines • Mass: St. Mary’s Cathedral – Daily Mass at 8:00 AM • Lodging: Holiday Inn Perth (~$145/night) • Meals: ~$70/day (beach café lunch + fish & chips supper) • Symbolic Act: Collect a small piece of sea‑smoothed shell as a reminder of gentleness.
Jan 20 – Rottnest Island Pilgrimage (Tuesday)
• Visit: Rottnest Island – ferry + beaches + quokkas • Ferry: Rottnest Express ($70–$85 round trip) • Mass: Early Mass at St. Mary’s • Lodging: Holiday Inn Perth ($145/night) • Meals: ~$75/day (island café + Perth dinner) • Symbolic Act: Write a reflection titled “Joy in Small Things” inspired by the quokka’s perpetual smile.
• Visit: Fremantle – port city, markets, maritime history • Mass: St. Patrick’s Basilica, Fremantle – Daily Mass at 12:10 PM • Lodging: Holiday Inn Perth (~$145/night) • Meals: ~$70/day (Italian lunch + harbor dinner) • Symbolic Act: Light a candle at St. Patrick’s for missionaries and seafarers.
Jan 23 – Kings Park & Swan River (Friday)
• Visit: Kings Park & Botanic Garden – one of the world’s largest inner‑city parks • Mass: St. Mary’s Cathedral – Daily Mass at 8:00 AM • Lodging: Holiday Inn Perth (~$145/night) • Meals: ~$70/day (botanic café lunch + riverside supper) • Symbolic Act: Write a reflection titled “Roots & Branches” under a eucalyptus tree.
Jan 24 – Farewell to Western Australia (Saturday)
• Visit: Swan River Foreshore Walk – sunrise reflection • Mass: Saturday Vigil at St. Mary’s Cathedral • Lodging: Holiday Inn Perth (~$145/night) • Meals: ~$70/day (farewell supper with Margaret River wine) • Symbolic Act: Leave a written prayer of gratitude at the river’s edge.
💰 Cost Snapshot (Jan 18–24 Western Australia Week)
Lodging (6 nights): ~$870 Meals (7 days): ~$490–$520 Tickets/Activities: ~$180–$220 Local Transport: ~$150–$180 Flight Queenstown → Perth: ~$420–$620 per person
➡️ Total per person: ~$2,110–$2,390 for the Western Australia week
January 18Second Sunday after Epiphany
“Endurance” trapped in the ice-1915-“Sale of Pre-Sliced Bread Banned In U.S. (Law Rescinded March 8), WII,
1943.”-Winnie the Pooh
Genesis, Chapter
50, Verse 16-19
So they sent to Joseph and said: “Before your
father died, he gave us these instructions:‘Thus you shall say to Joseph: Please forgive the criminal
wrongdoing of your brothers, who treated you harmfully.’ So now please forgive
the crime that we, the servants of the God of your father, committed.” When
they said this to him, Joseph broke into tears. 18Then his brothers also proceeded to fling themselves down before
him and said, “We are your slaves!” But Joseph replied to them: “Do
notFEAR. Can I take the place of
God?
So, Joseph now had his
brothers within his power to crush them and he did not. No, Joseph wept and
made peace with his brothers knowing the intent of God is that all men be free
in mind, body and spirit. Joseph knew that only
free men can sow their gifts before God and that “Whoever sows sparingly
will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap
bountifully. Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion,
for God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Cor. 9:7-8) You cannot give what you do not
own; therefore, each must be free to give back to God; Joseph is the precursor
of Christ who fulfills the gospel of abundance proclaim by our loving God. Here
Joseph was able to find the peace that only God can give by sincerely wanting God’s
will. Joseph found this peace only by trusting and having courage to live
entirely by God’s way.
Copilot’s Take
In a world where evil
often begins by shrinking our freedoms—whether through the fear that once ruled
Joseph’s brothers, the ice that trapped Shackleton’s Endurance, or even
the wartime ban on pre‑sliced bread that reminded Americans how quickly the
ordinary can be taken away—God keeps teaching the same lesson: abundance is His
signature, not scarcity. Joseph refuses to crush his brothers because he
refuses to live in fear’s economy; he chooses the wide-hearted freedom of a man
who knows God alone is judge. Shackleton’s men survived because they trusted
more than they panicked. And even Winnie‑the‑Pooh, in his gentle, honey-seeking
simplicity, becomes a small parable of Gospel endurance: the childlike
steadiness that does not cling, does not fear, and does not imagine the world
as a place of rationed grace. All three—Joseph, Shackleton, and Pooh—reveal
that confronting evil is not about matching its force but about refusing its
terms, choosing instead the courage, freedom, and cheerful generosity that God
Himself pours into those who trust Him.
The Day of the Risen Lord
and of the Gift
of the Holy Spirit
The
first day of the week
21.
It was for this reason that, from Apostolic times, "the first day after
the Sabbath", the first day of the week, began to shape the rhythm of life
for Christ's disciples (cf. 1 Cor 16:2). "The first day after the
Sabbath" was also the day upon which the faithful of Troas were gathered
"for the breaking of bread", when Paul bade them farewell and
miraculously restored the young Eutychus to life (cf. Acts 20:7-12). The
Book of Revelation gives evidence of the practice of calling the first day of
the week "the Lord's Day" (1:10). This would now be a characteristic
distinguishing Christians from the world around them. As early as the beginning
of the second century, it was noted by Pliny the Younger, governor of Bithynia,
in his report on the Christian practice "of gathering together on a set
day before sunrise and singing among themselves a hymn to Christ as to a
god". And when Christians spoke of the "Lord's Day", they did so
giving to this term the full sense of the Easter proclamation: "Jesus
Christ is Lord" (Phil 2:11; cf. Acts 2:36; 1 Cor
12:3). Thus, Christ was given the same title which the Septuagint used to
translate what in the revelation of the Old Testament was the unutterable name
of God: YHWH.
Christ
manifests His divinity and His mystical union with the Church with His first
miracle at the Wedding of Cana.
THE Introit the
Church invites us to thank God for the incarnation of His only begotten Son: “Let
all the earth adore Thee, and sing to Thee, O God; let it sing a psalm to Thy
name, shout with joy to God, all the earth, sing ye a psalm to His name, give
glory to His praise”.
Prayer.
Almighty and
everlasting God, “Who dost govern all things in heaven and on earth, mercifully
hear the prayers of Thy people, and grant us Thy peace in our days”. Amen.
EPISTLE.
Rom.
xii. 6-16.
Brethren: We have different gifts, according to the grace that is given us:
either prophecy, to be used according to the rule of faith, or ministry in
ministering, or he that teacheth in doctrine, he that exhorteth in exhorting,
he that giveth with simplicity, he that ruleth with carefulness, he that
showeth mercy with cheerfulness. Let love be without dissimulation. Hating that
which is evil, cleaving to that which is good: loving one another with the
charity of brotherhood: with honor preventing one another: in carefulness not
slothful: in spirit fervent: serving the Lord: rejoicing in hope: patient in
tribulation: instant in prayer; communicating to the necessities of the saints:
pursuing hospitality. Bless them that persecute you: bless, and curse not.
Rejoice with them that rejoice, weep with them that weep: being of one mind one
towards another: not minding high things, but consenting to the humble. Be not
wise in your own conceits.
What lesson does
the Apostle give us in this epistle?
That we should
hate that which is evil, and love that which is good; that we should love one
another, and practice works of mercy; that we should be solicitous and fervent,
as in the service of God. We should cooperate with the grace of God, and pray
instantly.
PRACTICAL
INSTRUCTIONS FOR SUPERIORS.
They must
expect a severe judgment who seek office only for the sake of emolument, caring
little for their duty, and regarding bribes and presents rather than justice.
Aspiration.
O God, give us
Thy grace to follow faithfully what St. Paul teaches us of humility and
charity, that we may have compassion on all who are in need, and not exalt
ourselves above our neighbors, but, humbling ourselves with the humble, may
merit, with them, to be exalted. Amen.
GOSPEL. John ii. 1-11
At that time there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee,
and the Mother of Jesus was there. And Jesus also was invited, and His
disciples, to the marriage. And the wine failing, the Mother of Jesus saith to
Him: They have no wine. And Jesus saith to her:
Woman, what is to Me and to thee?
My hour is not yet come. His Mother saith
to the waiters: Whatsoever He shall say to you, do ye. Now there were set there
six water-pots of stone, according to the manner of the purifying of the Jews,
containing two or three measures apiece. Jesus saith to them: Fill the
water-pots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. And Jesus saith to
them: Draw out now and carry to the chief steward of the feast. And they
carried it. And when the chief steward had tasted the water made wine, and knew
not whence it was, but the waiters knew who had drawn the water: the chief
steward calleth the bridegroom, and saith to him: Every man at first setteth
forth good wine, and when men have well drank, then that which is worse; but
thou hast kept the good wine until now. This beginning of miracles did Jesus in
Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.
Why was Jesus
present at the wedding with His Mother and disciples?
1. In order there to reveal His
majesty, and by that means to establish and confirm the belief in His divinity.
2. To show that marriage is pleasing
to God.
3. To let us understand how pious the
bridegroom and bride were.
4. To teach us that those pleasures
are permitted which are in accordance with reason and Christianity, and neither
sinful nor leading to sin.
Why did Mary
intercede for the bride and bridegroom when the wine was failing?
She was sorry for them, for she is the
tender-hearted mediatrix of the afflicted and destitute. Besides, the number of
the guests had been considerably increased by the presence of Jesus and His
disciples, so that the wine was not sufficient for all.
What is the meaning of the words, “Woman, what is that
to Me and to thee?”
According to the
idiom of the Hebrew language, they mean as much as, Mother, be not anxious; I
will provide the wine as soon as the hour appointed by My Father is come. Jesus
did not mean to rebuke His Mother, but He thus gave her and all who were present,
to understand that He had not received the power of working miracles as the son
of woman, but that He possessed it as the Son of God and should use it
according to the will of His Father.
The
Second Sunday in Ordinary Time is exactly 31 days before Ash Wednesday. The
Church has entered Tempus ad Annum, "The Season Throughout the
Year," most commonly referred to as "Ordinary
Time" and will soon enter the six-week period of Lent culminating in
the heart of the Liturgy and the Liturgical Year: Easter, the Paschal Feast. Although
not a liturgical season of the Church, the weeks after Christmas are
unofficially known as "Carnival," a season of balls, parades, parties
and rich food. There is no set beginning as Carnival begins on various dates
all over the world. Rio de Janeiro and Venice begin two and a half weeks before
Ash Wednesday. Most Americans are familiar with the South Louisiana Mardi Gras
which begins on Epiphany.Regardless of when Carnival begins or how it is
celebrated, the celebration intensifies the closer it gets to the beginning of
Lent and comes to screeching halt on Ash Wednesday.
The
word "carnival" literally means "farewell to meat."
In earlier times in the Church, Lenten fasting, and abstinence had more
stringent rules. Foods such as meat, butter, cheese, milk, eggs, fat, and bacon
were all forbidden in Lent, so Carnival was a time to indulge and use up (and
not waste) these foods. While Lent doesn't have the formerly strict
regulations, the word carnival in a broad sense is also saying farewell
to fleshly or worldly pleasures (even if they are mere indulgences and not
sinful) before our Lenten penances and mortifications.
Carnival's Spiritual Connections
For
centuries, all over the world, this has been known as a time for preparing for
Lent. "Preparing for Lent" is an odd way to describe what goes on
during Carnival, but it does have religious connections. Perhaps some have
forgotten the original intention, but Carnival is a time of mental and physical
preparation for the Lenten time of self-denial. This is a time for family, food
and fun before we face Ash Wednesday and fill our days with prayer, fasting and
almsgiving.
Although
it seems like such a secular and materialistic celebration, without the
spiritual grounding there can be no Carnival. As Josef Pieper explains:
Wherever festivity
can freely vent itself in all its possible forms, an event is produced that
leaves no zone of life, worldly or spiritual, untouched.... There are worldly,
but there are no purely profane, festivals. And we may presume that not only
can we not find them, but that they cannot exist. A festival without gods is a
non-concept, is inconceivable. For example, Carnival remains festive only where
Ash Wednesday still exists. To eliminate Ash Wednesday is to eliminate the
Carnival itself. Yet Ash Wednesday is obviously a day in Christendom's
liturgical year (Josef Pieper, 1963, pp 33-34).
And
Bernard Strasser elaborates on this spiritual connection:
These carnival
days in particular contain a remarkable lesson of spirituality for us.
According to their origin and the Church's intention they are anything but days
of thoughtless conviviality, and certainly not of dissolute merrymaking. They
are not a carryover from pagan times, of which the Church was unable to destroy
the memory and observance. Rather are they an integral part of the Church year,
with the significant task of illustrating graphically the first part of the
Church's sermon text for this season: "You are fools, all of you who seek
your final end in earthly things! I your Mother will during the coming weeks of
Lent show you where true happiness may be found, Who it is that brought it, and
how He merited it for us" (Carnival
and Ashes,Orate Fratres: A Liturgical Review, Vol. XVII, No.
4, 146).
Of
course, over the centuries there have been abuses of extremes, and the Church
has counterbalanced by providing spiritual balance, such as encouragement for
Shriving (confessions), Eucharist Adoration, especially the Forty Hours
devotion before Ash Wednesday.
There
is a juxtaposition of Carnival and Lent. As Pieper mentioned that Carnival
festivity "leaves no zone of life, worldly or spiritual, untouched,"
similar to our observance of Lent. The Church gives us this time to reexamine
and reorder all aspects of our life. We can see the contrast of Carnival
indulgence and Lenten fasting not just in foods, but all areas of life.
Balancing Family Fun Time
Maria
von Trapp in Around the Year with the Trapp Family recognized Carnival
as a time for family celebration. She suggested using this time of
"merry-making" for dancing, singing, games, parties and gatherings
with family and friends. Perhaps some of her suggestions seem subdued and
old-fashioned for a very electronically connected generation, but her emphasis
was to enjoy the togetherness. Our attention is focused outward nurturing
family connections and friendships, with opportunities in practicing dancing
and music. The opposite is true in the season of Lent: it is a season to reduce
social activities, to turn off the extra noise and visuals (electronics) and to
turn inward to talk to and listen to God.
In
the modern world our lives are not as connected to the days and the seasons of
nature except as inconvenience or enjoyment. Many of us are also disconnected
to the rhythm of the Liturgical Year, with its contrasting seasons and feasts.
Maria von Trapp explained this so beautifully:
Nobody could stand
a Thanksgiving Day dinner every day of the year. There can only be mountains if
there are also valleys. It is a pity that the Reformation did away not only
with most of the sacraments and all of the sacramentals, but also, unfortunately,
with the very breath of the Mystical Body — that wonderful, eternal rhythm of
high and low tide that makes up the year of the Church: times of waiting
alternate with times of fulfillment, the lean weeks of Lent with the feasts of
Easter and Pentecost, times of mourning with seasons of rejoicing. Modern man
lost track of this. Deep down in the human heart, however, is imbedded the
craving to celebrate, and, in a dumb way, the other craving to abstain, perhaps
to atone. In general, these cravings are no longer directed in seasonal
channels, as they are for the Catholic, or even for the aborigine who
participates in some tribal religious belief.....
It
should be our noble right and duty to bring up our children in such a way that
they become conscious of high tide and low tide, that they learn that there is
"a time to weep, and a time to laugh, a time to mourn, and a time to
dance." The rhythm of nature as it manifests itself in the four seasons,
in day and night, in the individual's heartbeat and breathing — this rhythm we
should learn to recognize, and to treat with more reverence. Modern man has
become used to turning day into night and night into day according to his whim
or pleasure. He has managed to lose contact completely with himself. He has
lost the instinct for the right food and drink, stuffing himself with huge
quantities of the wrong things and feeding himself sick. But worst of all, and
this sounds almost ridiculous, in the process of growing up he forgot the right
kind of breathing....
Again,
it is our faithful friend, Holy Mother Church, who leads her children first
back to nature in order to make them ready to receive supernatural grace.
"Gratia supponit naturam."
Looked
upon in this light, the weeks of Carnival are a most necessary time for the
individual as well as for families and communities. This period is set aside
for us to "let off steam," "to have a good time." And for
this we need company. Therefore, Carnival is most obviously the season for
parties and family get-togethers...with the avowed intention of having that
good time together. Carnival is the time to be social, to give and to receive
invitations for special parties. It is the time to celebrate as a parish
group... (Maria von Trapp, Around the Year with the Trapp Family, Carnival
or Mardi Gras).
Mrs.
Trapp shared different activities that her family enjoyed, such as folk
dancing, singing folk songs, and playing games. Growing up my family enjoyed
similar ideas, even though we weren't as musical as the Trapp Family. We loved
to learn songs in rounds or harmony to sing together. Other ideas: taking hikes
that end singing around a campfire, and Bunco parties, which any age can enjoy.
Our local homeschool group just had a sock-hop open to all ages, and checkers
and chess tournaments on cold winter days. Some gatherings can be quiet, like
family movie nights with popcorn. And don't forget just nurturing mothers with
little social gatherings, maybe with themes like a little craft or recipe
exchange or just coffee or wine and adult conversation. I have hosted socials
where my friends and family come to learn and practice writing pysanky
(Ukrainian Easter eggs). Later in Lent we have quiet times where we work on our
eggs as meditative work, but during Carnival time it's more of a fun social
gathering. The object is to enjoy this time with others.
Carnival
is a season with a spiritual focus that encompasses the entire person. It
provides contrasts with the spiritual and material, with feasting and fasting,
and with Ordinary Time and Lent. We can embrace this time and find ways for
merry making, focusing on family and friends to highlight those contrasts in
preparation for Lent. Happy Carnival Time!
Bible in a
Year Day 200 Egypt, Assyria, and
Israel
Fr. Mike celebrates Day 200 of our journey by
highlighting the relationship between Egypt, Assyria, and Israel according to
the Lord's plan. We have a God who died for his enemies to make him his
friends, and we see that foreshadowed in Isaiah, concerning the horrific acts
of Assyria and Egypt. Today's readings are Isaiah 18-20, Nahum 1-2, and
Proverbs 10:25-28.
January 18-Ice trapped the Endurance.
Antarctic explorers like Ernest Shackleton who wrote
this famous advertisement for men of courage.
Men wanted for hazardous journey. Low wages, bitter
cold, long hours of complete darkness. Safe return doubtful. Honour and
recognition in event of success.
Sir
Ernest Shackleton, like so many of his generation, were ultimate adventurers –
part hero, part daredevil – fighting the elements and the odds, too far from
civilization to call for help – laying it all on the line purely for the love
of adventure. Shackleton led a doomed expedition to miraculous survival through
the sheer force of his motivational leadership. In 1914, he set out with a crew
of twenty-eight men on a quest to be the first to travel across the entire
Antarctic continent by way of the South Pole. His ship, Endurance, became caught
in ice and was crushed. After abandoning the ship, he and his men faced
incredible hardship from a variety of brutal Antarctic conditions – from
shifting weather to shifting ice, along with the trials of hunger, illness, and
discouragement – for more than a year.
Yet every
man got home safely when the entire expedition would have perished under weaker
leadership. Incredibly, the only casualty was frostbitten toes on one man. He
had passion for the adventure of the mission, but he also had passion for the
men he led. When he was forced to abandon his doomed ship and realized he would
not achieve his goal of reaching the South Pole en route to the other side, he
kept his disappointment to himself while he shifted his priorities to the
well-being of his men. He said to another leader, F.A. Worsley, “It is a pity
[to miss the crossing], but that cannot be helped. It is the men we have to
think about. “He put his men above himself.
He
understood that the survival of them all might well depend on the quality of
his leadership. He also realized that he could provide better leadership if he
served as well as led. “Shackleton shared the physical labors as well as the
watches…[He] would forego his own rations in order to feed the undernourished
or the ill. And he often did so without anyone knowing it…Shackleton always put
the needs of his men ahead of his personal comfort, and as a result he saved
them all.” He realized that in order to survive they would have to stay healthy
– mentally as well as physically.
When we
are trying to survive, having fun is the farthest thing from our minds. It may
even be seen as trivializing the suffering. But during harsh tribulation it is
more important than ever to find
something to enjoy. During hard times we need to find a source of joy in order
to maintain a healthy perspective. As a leader, Shackleton accepted
responsibility for maintaining the spirits as well as the health of his men.
Yes, they were brave adventurers just as Shackleton was, well able to take care
of themselves. Still, Shackleton knew that as a leader he could provide a
unique kind of influence that would be empowering, energizing and uplifting. He
continually sought out ways to boost morale. He set aside time for recreation.
They improvised various forms of entertainment. Several of the men had chosen
books among the possessions they salvaged, and they read aloud to each other.
They played soccer on the ice. “Humor…played a role, with Shackleton telling
stories or teasing his men. What Shackleton was doing was keeping his men alive
inside; by encouraging them to read or sing, he was keeping their spirits from
sagging or dwelling on the inhospitalities that in other circumstances might
have overwhelmed them.” He Inspired Loyalty.
Shackleton’s
passion for his mission and for his men, his passion for leadership, and his
passion for motivation were a source of energy and courage during times of
severe adversity. These virtues made him a leader that people wanted to follow.
Even when his men may not have wanted to do something for themselves, they
would do it for him. He inspired this kind of loyalty because he gave it to his
men. They respected and trusted him because he respected and trusted them. They
took care of him because he took care of them. They put him first because he
put them first. He was a wonderful example of what a role model should be.
Shackleton
dedicated South, the book he wrote
about their extraordinary exploits, “To My Comrades.” In one especially moving
passage he observed: “In memories we were rich. We had pierced the veneer of
outside things. We had suffered, starved and triumphed, groveled down yet
grasped at glory, grown bigger in the bigness of the whole. We had seen God in
His splendors, heard the text that natures renders. We had reached the naked
soul of man.” Sixty years after they had been rescued, the expedition’s first
officer, Lionel Greenstreet, was asked how they had done it, how had they
survived such a deadly misadventure. Greenstreet gave a one-word response:
“Shackleton.”
The Ice is Nice
and Chee-Chee is Peachy
Over 100 years ago Roald Amundsen on March 7, 1912,
announced his success in reaching the Geographic South Pole to the world. This
is the story about the construction of the South Pole Station in Antarctica in
1973-4 by Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB71), also known as the ICE
Battalion, which the author was a member of. The difficulties encountered in
the construction of the station were monumental; enduring temperatures reaching
45 degrees below zero with wind chill factors reaching 80 below. This station
was comprised of a 52-foot-high geodesic dome, weather balloon launch station
and an observation tower for monitoring auroral phenomena. This Battalion was
on the ICE for almost five months and worked around the clock to complete the
project. This was an amazing fact when you consider that most of the
construction was completed in freezing temperatures at a high altitude; for the
South Pole is nearly two miles high by construction engineers less than 20
years old. The physical and mental stresses of working in this "frozen
desert" took its tolls on these young men. This story chronicles the
authors experience in this hostile environment, with bawdy engineers; humorous
antics; hard drinking and temporary insanities and the authors faith journey
amid the beauty and grandeur of the earth's last frontier: Antarctica. The
title of the book is also the motto of the ICE Battalion—it refers to our
mission and our R&R (rest and recreation) in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Around
1928, a Missouri jeweler named Otto F. Rohwedder invented the automatic
bread-slicing machine and became the darling of American kitchens. Bakeries
began advertising the pre-cut loaves as "the greatest forward step in the
baking industry since bread was wrapped," prompting Americans to coin that
immortal phrase: "The greatest thing since sliced bread."
But
America's love of sliced bread wouldn't stop the government from later banning
it.
Starting
January 18, 1943—the midst of World War II—sliced bread was barred from
American bakeries and homes. New baking regulations set by the Office of Price
Administration had boosted flour prices, and the government wanted to prevent
these costs from getting passed down to the consumer. By banning the use of
expensive bread-slicing machines, the government was hoping bakeries could keep
their prices low. Officials were also worried about the country's supply of wax
paper—and sliced bread required twice as much paraffin wrapping as an unsliced
loaf. (It prevented the slices from drying prematurely.)
The
decision was extremely unpopular. On January 26, Sue Forrester of Fairfield,
Connecticut wrote a letter to the editor of The New York Times complaining on
behalf of the country’s housewives. "I should like to let you know how
important sliced bread is to the morale and saneness of a household,"
Forrester wrote, saying she was forced to hand-cut more than 30 slices of bread
every day for her family. It was a waste of American time and energy, she
argued. It was also a waste of money: A good bread knife was difficult to find,
let alone afford, during the war.
The
rule was so disliked that nobody in the government apparently wanted to confess
to having the idea. The ban was ordered by Food Administrator Claude R.
Wickard, but the office of Price Administration blamed the idea on the
agricultural department, which blamed the baking industry.
"The
'off-again-on-again' ban on sliced bread today has all the earmarks of a
bureaucratic thriller," Illinois's Belvidere Daily Republican reported.
"The mystery over 'whodunnit' in the first place is surprised only by the
confusion in high places and the pointing of fingers at the next guy or anyone
within pointing distance."
The
rule also apparently took everybody by surprise. (Or, as the Daily Republican
put it, "[B]akers were caught with their wrappers down, so to
speak.") According to the Chicago Tribune, "[T]he governmental ban on
the sale of sliced bread, effective yesterday, caught hundreds of Chicago
housewives by surprise and sent them scurrying to hardware stores to raid
depleted supplies of bread knives."
The
ban applied to everybody except hotels, restaurants, and railroad dining cars,
which were awarded a 60-day reprieve to prepare. Bakeries that refused to abide
by the regulation and continued using their bread slicers faced steep fines.
The New York Area Supervisor of the Food Distribution Administration, John F.
Conaboy, warned bakeries that the government was "prepared to take stern
measures if necessary."
But
even the law's biggest proponents couldn't seem to get behind it. Emil Fink, a
prominent baker and member of the New York City Bakers Advisory Committee,
pushed hard for the bread-slicing ban. But one year later, Fink was in
court—for slicing bread. According to The New York Times, a U.S. Attorney
chastised the bakery-owner: "[Fink] called upon the Government to enforce
the regulation rigidly and, at that very time, his bakery was violating the
law." Fink was fined $1000.
According
to a February 1943 report in the Harrisburg Telegraph, the ban wasn't even
saving money—in fact, bakers in the area saw sales drop as much as 5 or 10
percent. "While all bakers have varied reasons for the prevailing
decrease, they all agree that the absence of sliced bread is at least playing
some part in the drop," the paper reported.
Not
only did the rule fail to save money, it didn't even save that much wax paper.
On March 8, 1943, the ban was rescinded, prompting jubilant headlines across
the country. As The New York Times trumpeted: "Sliced Bread Put Back on
Sale; Housewives' Thumbs Safe Again."
Christmas Holiday (1944) — Deanna Durbin, Gene Kelly, and the Darkness Beneath the Tinsel
🎬 Plot in Clean Lines
On Christmas Eve, Army officer Charlie Mason is stranded in New Orleans by bad weather. Seeking a simple night out, he’s taken to the Maison Lafitte nightclub, where he meets singer Jackie Lamont — who soon reveals her real name: Abigail Manette.
In a long, sorrowful flashback, Abigail recounts her marriage to Robert Manette (Gene Kelly), a charming Southern aristocrat whose inherited instability and violence slowly surface. When Robert murders a bookie, his domineering mother tries to cover it up. Abigail refuses to lie, and Robert is sentenced to life in prison — but both he and his mother blame her.
Wracked with guilt, Abigail flees her old life and becomes a nightclub hostess.
Robert escapes prison, finds her, and dies in a police shootout — in her arms.
Christmas dawns with no sentimentality, only the faintest suggestion that Abigail may finally begin again.
✝️ Catholic Moral Reading
This film is practically designed for your devotional sensibility — guilt, confession, misplaced loyalty, and the possibility of redemption even in the ruins.
1. The False Burden of Guilt
Abigail carries a guilt that is not hers.
Catholic moral theology is clear: you cannot be guilty for another’s sin.
Her journey is the slow unlearning of a lie — a liberation that mirrors the sacramental truth that confession frees, but only when the sin is real.
2. The Corrupting Power of Family Idolatry
Mrs. Manette is a study in disordered love:
a mother who worships her son’s image more than his soul.
Her refusal to face truth becomes a generational curse — a reminder that love without truth becomes tyranny.
3. The Noir Nativity
The film takes place on Christmas Eve, but the “holy night” is inverted:
a nightclub instead of a stable
a fallen woman instead of a virgin
a fugitive instead of a newborn king
And yet, grace still breaks in.
Abigail’s final release from Robert’s shadow is a kind of midnight Mass — a quiet annunciation that new life is possible even after devastation.
4. Redemption Through Truth, Not Sentiment
Noir rejects easy sentimentality, and so does the Gospel.
Abigail’s path is not about feeling better — it’s about seeing clearly.
Truth is the doorway to mercy.
🍸 Hospitality Pairing — A New Orleans Christmas Table
Your bar stock gives you plenty of room to honor the film’s setting without slipping into kitsch.
Cocktail: The “Maison Lafitte Nightcap”
A moody, candlelit drink for a moody, candlelit film.
Bourbon
Sweet vermouth
Cointreau
Dash of bitters
Orange twist
It’s essentially a softened, more contemplative Manhattan — perfect for a noir Christmas.
Snack Pairing: Spiced Pecans
A classic New Orleans bar snack:
warm, sweet, smoky, and communal.
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