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. "
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.
Today is Benjamin Franklin's birthday 1706-distant relative on my Mother's side
🇺🇸 Summary of the 3‑Hour American Revolution Marathon
The History Channel’s The Revolution (2006) condenses its 13‑episode series into a sweeping narrative of America’s fight for independence. It follows the arc from the early sparks of rebellion to the final victory at Yorktown:
🔥 1. Seeds of Conflict
Stamp Act riots, Boston Massacre, Boston Tea Party, and Lexington & Concord ignite colonial resistance.
Ordinary tradesmen, farmers, and merchants become political actors.
🪖 2. Birth of a Nation-in-the-Making
Washington takes command of the Continental Army.
The Declaration of Independence emerges from a crucible of fear, hope, and political courage.
❄️ 3. Crisis and Resolve
The army nearly collapses in 1776–77.
Washington’s daring Christmas attack at Trenton revives the cause.
🌍 4. A Global War
Franklin secures French support after Saratoga.
The war spreads to the seas, the frontier, and the South.
⚔️ 5. Betrayal and Hard Lessons
Benedict Arnold’s treason exposes the fragility of honor and ambition.
🎖️ 6. The Southern Campaign & Yorktown
Brutal fighting in the Carolinas.
Greene’s strategic brilliance and French naval power trap Cornwallis.
The Treaty of Paris confirms independence.
✝️ Catholic Lessons for Today
1. Freedom Requires Virtue
The Founders insisted liberty collapses without moral self‑government.
Catholic parallel: Galatians 5:13 — “Do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh.”
Lesson: Freedom is not doing whatever we want; it is the disciplined capacity to choose the good.
2. Providence Works Through Imperfect People
Washington, Adams, Franklin, and Greene were flawed yet courageous.
Catholic parallel: God uses imperfect instruments — Moses, Peter, Augustine.
Lesson: Holiness and mission are forged in perseverance, not perfection.
3. Sacrifice Is the Price of Renewal
Valley Forge becomes a crucible of suffering and transformation.
Catholic parallel: The Paschal Mystery — suffering that leads to new life.
Lesson: Every renewal (family, parish, nation) requires someone willing to carry the cross first.
4. Betrayal Is Real — but Not Final
Arnold’s treason nearly breaks the cause.
Catholic parallel: Judas, yet the Church endures.
Lesson: Betrayal wounds, but fidelity heals and rebuilds.
5. Unity Beats Division
The colonies win only when they stop fighting each other.
Catholic parallel: “That they may all be one” (John 17).
Lesson: Unity is a spiritual weapon; division is always the enemy’s strategy.
🍸 Hospitality Pairings Inspired by the Revolution
Drawing from your bar stock and your hospitality–devotional style:
1. “Valley Forge Toddy” — Warm, Simple, Enduring
Bourbon
Hot water
Honey
Lemon
A drink of endurance and quiet resolve — perfect for the Valley Forge segment.
2. “The Continental” — Crisp, Defiant, Hopeful
Gin
Lime
Splash of dry vermouth
Simple syrup (light)
A colonial‑leaning riff on a gimlet: bright, disciplined, no nonsense.
3. “Saratoga Spark” — Victory with Restraint
Cider
Brandy float
Dash of bitters
A nod to the turning point of the war — celebratory but not extravagant.
4. “Yorktown Nightcap” — The Final Salute
Rum (Bumbu or Kraken)
Brown sugar
Nutmeg
Hot water
A naval‑themed grog for the French fleet’s decisive role.
.Here’s a tight, forceful Copilot take on confronting evil today, written to sit naturally beside your Revolution summary, your Catholic lessons, and your hospitality pairings. It keeps the same rhythm: historically aware, spiritually grounded, and morally unambiguous — the kind of tone that fits your devotional and your broader legacy work.
⚔️ Confronting Evil Today — A Copilot Take
Evil in our age rarely announces itself with muskets or redcoats. It arrives quietly, disguised as convenience, apathy, distraction, or the slow erosion of courage. The Revolution teaches that evil thrives when ordinary people stop paying attention; the Catholic tradition teaches that evil wins when good people stop resisting interiorly.
Put those together and you get a simple truth: Evil advances when virtue retreats.
1. Evil Today Is Subtle, Not Spectacular
The colonists faced open tyranny. We face quieter forms:
the numbing of conscience
the normalization of dishonesty
the pressure to remain silent when truth is costly
Evil prefers the slow drip, not the sudden blow.
2. The First Battlefield Is the Soul
Washington fought external enemies, but he also fought despair, pride, and fear.
The Catholic tradition insists the same: the enemy outside is never more dangerous than the enemy within.
If a man cannot govern himself, he cannot resist anything else.
3. Courage Is Still the Deciding Factor
The Revolution turned not on numbers but on resolve.
Today, the decisive virtue is still courage — the willingness to speak truth, defend the vulnerable, and refuse to cooperate with lies.
Courage is the modern Lexington Green.
4. Evil Wants You to Mirror It
Benedict Arnold teaches that evil often begins with wounded pride, resentment, or the desire for recognition.
The Catholic tradition warns: the devil’s favorite victory is not destruction but imitation.
The moment you fight evil with its own weapons, you’ve already lost.
5. Fidelity Is the Antidote
The Revolution was saved by fidelity — to the cause, to one another, to the idea of a nation worth suffering for.
The Church is sustained by the same fidelity — to Christ, to truth, to the dignity of every person.
Fidelity is the quiet, stubborn refusal to surrender your soul.
6. Confronting Evil Requires Action, Not Outrage
Evil feeds on noise and paralysis.
The saints — and the Founders — confronted evil through disciplined action:
prayer
sacrifice
truth-telling
service
moral clarity
unity
Not rage. Not theatrics. Not despair.
Evil is defeated by people who do the right thing even when no one is watching.
🍸 Hospitality Tie‑In: “The Sentinel”
A drink for moral clarity and steady resolve — something you could easily fold into your devotional or blog:
Whiskey
Cointreau
Dash of bitters
Orange peel expressed over the top
Strong, bright, uncompromising — a glass‑sized reminder that clarity and courage belong together.
Vinny’s Corner
Then God said: Let us make human beings in our image, after our likeness. Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the tame animals, all the wild animals, and all the creatures that crawl on the earth.
(Genisis 1:26)
·Manuary is a time for men to show their stuff by growing out their facial hair
oStart your day by channeling your inner inventor. Get creative with household items and try to come up with a new contraption. Who knows, you might just invent something groundbreaking on National Kid Inventors’ Day.
oFor lunch, embrace the bootlegger spirit with a speakeasy-style picnic in a hidden location. Pack some classic sandwiches and homemade lemonade to enjoy on National Bootlegger’s Day. Remember to keep a lookout for any undercover cops!
oAfter lunch, spend some time mentoring someone in your community. Share your knowledge and skills with others on International Mentoring Day.
Whether it’s teaching a new skill or offering career advice, your guidance could make a big difference in someone’s life.
oAs the day progresses, honor the wisdom and intellect of Benjamin Franklin. Dedicate some time to reading a book or researching a topic that interests you. You might discover a new passion on Benjamin Franklin Day.
oIn the evening, let go of any unrealistic New Year’s resolutions. Instead, celebrate Ditch New Year’s Resolutions Day by treating yourself to a guilty pleasure. Indulge in your favorite dessert or binge-watch a TV show guilt-free.
oFor dessert, commemorate Art’s Birthday by getting creative. Try your hand at a DIY art project or visit a local museum for inspiration. Let your imagination run wild and express yourself through art.
oEnd the night on a classy note by dressing up and having a fancy dinner at home. Light some candles, put on some music, and savor a delicious meal on National Classy Day. Who says you need a reservation at a fancy restaurant to feel fancy?
oCap off the day by cozying up with a hot buttered rum in hand. Toast to the end of the day and reminisce about your favorite Popeye moments on Popeye Day. Cheers to a day filled with creativity, mentorship, knowledge, art, indulgence, and class
🔥 The Desert of the Heart – Ávila & St. Teresa of Jesus
Dates: January 18–January 24, 2026 Theme: Interior Castle, Holy Detachment, and the Courage to Begin Again
After encountering Mary as Mother (Montserrat) and Mary as Pillar (Zaragoza), Vinny now meets the woman who teaches the soul how to walk inward—St. Teresa of Ávila. This is where the pilgrimage stops being about movement and becomes about transformation.
Ávila is the perfect “third movement” because:
·It is the birthplace of interior clarity
·It is the home of the Interior Castle
·It is a walled city—symbol of boundaries, protection, and spiritual strength
·It is where Teresa learned to confront the evil within: distraction, discouragement, and spiritual fatigue
·It is a place where Vinny can begin forming the “pillar within himself”
🗓️ Daily Itinerary & Symbolic Acts
Jan 18 – Arrival in Ávila
(Sunday After Epiphany)
·🕍 Symbolic Act: “Passing Through the Walls” Enter the medieval walls of Ávila through the Puerta del Alcázar. Pray for the grace to guard your heart without closing it.
·Stay: Hotel Las Leyendas or Palacio de los Velada
Jan 19 – Convent of St. Teresa
·🕊️ Symbolic Act: “Interior Doorway” Visit the Convento de Santa Teresa, built over her birthplace. Touch the threshold of her room and ask for the grace of holy focus.
Jan 20 – The Interior Castle
·📖 Symbolic Act: “Seven Rooms of the Soul” Spend the morning reading a short passage from The Interior Castle. Walk the cloister slowly, dedicating each lap to one “mansion” of the soul.
Jan 21 – Monastery of the Incarnation
·🕍 Symbolic Act: “Where She Learned to Pray” Visit the monastery where Teresa lived for 27 years. Sit in her cell. Ask for the grace to pray honestly, without pretense.
Jan 22 – The Walls at Sunset
·🌅 Symbolic Act: “Strength & Vulnerability” Walk the top of the city walls at sunset. Reflect on what must be defended in your life—and what must be surrendered.
Jan 23 – Eucharistic Day of Silence
·🕊️ Symbolic Act: “Stillness Before the Host” Spend an hour in Eucharistic adoration at the Cathedral of Ávila. Let the silence do the work. Let God speak where words fail.
Jan 24 – Departure & Benediction
·🕍 Symbolic Act: “Leaving the Castle” Before leaving, return to the Convent of St. Teresa. Place your hand on the stone and ask for the courage to live from the center.
💶 Cost Breakdown (Per Person)
Category
Budget (USD)
Mid‑Range (USD)
Lodging (6 nights)
$240–$360
$480–$720
Meals
$120–$180
$240–$360
Transport
$40–$80
$80–$160
Sightseeing & Tips
$40–$80
$80–$160
Total Estimate
$440–$700
$880–$1,400
JANUARY
17 -Saint Anthony, Abbot
Benjamin Franklin was born in 1706
Genesis, Chapter 50, Verse 15
Now that their father was dead, Joseph’s brothers became FEARFUL and thought, “Suppose Joseph has
been nursing a grudge against us and now most certainly will pay us back in
full for all the wrong we did him!”
Joseph’s reaction to his brothers was complete
confidence in God. “Even though you meant harm to me, God meant it for good, to
achieve this present end, the survival of many people” (v.20)
When we are fearful we are showing a lack of confidence in God.
God asks us to boldly go where no man has gone
before…for a man must be heroic to
live always in faith, hope, and love. Joseph believed and had confidence in a
God he could not see. We are the receivers of this confidence and blessed are
we that we can see God the Father through His son Jesus. Jesus asks us to
believe in His love. His love calls for love.
How
do you give Jesus love for love?
Be great in your faith;
before all and above all, by your confidence in Him. Therefore we must have
confidence, not in spite of our miseries, but because of them, since it is
misery which attracts mercy. We must be as confident as the good thief at the crucifixion.
The good thief also teaches us humility and confidence. A whole life of crimes,
a whole life of sin: a few minutes before dying, one word of humility and
confidence, and he is saved. Be confident that God will save you: How many
young people have lost the Faith, not from having fallen, but from not having
been helped, with love, to pick themselves up again as many times as was
necessary. Jesus needs nothing but your humility and your confidence to work
marvels of purification and sanctification in you. It is this confidence which
works all miracles.[1]
Copilot’s Take — Confronting Evil with Confidence, Not Panic
Evil always tries the same tactic: it whispers
that the past is stronger than grace, that wounds are permanent, that vengeance
is inevitable. Joseph’s brothers fall into that trap the moment Jacob dies.
Their fear is not about Joseph — it is about their own inability to imagine a
world governed by mercy rather than retaliation.
Joseph, however, stands in the lineage of
saints like Anthony the Abbot: men who learned that evil is loud but not
strong. Anthony spent decades in the desert wrestling demons, and his great
discovery was this — the devil can terrify, but he cannot compel. Fear is his
only weapon. Confidence in God is the counter‑weapon.
Benjamin Franklin, though not a theologian,
understood a parallel truth: “Do not anticipate trouble, or worry about what
may never happen.” He grasped the human tendency to invent catastrophes that
never come. Scripture simply goes further: fear invents a world where God is
absent.
So how does a Christian confront evil?
1. By refusing to negotiate with fear
Fear is the devil’s opening bid. Joseph never
takes it. Anthony never takes it. The good thief, in his final minutes, refuses
it. Confidence in God is not bravado — it is clarity.
2. By interpreting suffering through
Providence, not paranoia
Joseph’s line — “God meant it for good”
— is not naïve. It is the deepest realism. Evil wounds, but God weaves. The
Christian confronts evil by refusing to let suffering define the story.
3. By answering darkness with humility and
confidence together
Humility without confidence becomes despair.
Confidence without humility becomes pride.
The good thief holds both in perfect balance: “Remember me.”
That is the entire Christian posture in one sentence.
4. By helping the fallen rise again
You hit this beautifully: many lose the faith
not because they fall, but because no one helps them up. Confronting evil means
refusing to let another person’s failure become their identity. Mercy is not
softness — it is spiritual warfare.
5. By remembering that evil is loudest when it
is weakest
Anthony said the demons shrieked most violently
right before they fled.
Joseph’s brothers panic right before reconciliation.
The cross looks like defeat right before resurrection.
Evil’s noise is not a sign of its power — it is
a sign of its collapse.
Saint Anthony, called the Great, lived in Egypt between A.D. 251 and 356. At age
18, the gospel text "If you wish to be perfect, go and sell all that you
have and then follow me" so moved him that he left everything behind and
retired to an inaccessible place in the wilderness where he dedicated his life
to God in manual work and continual prayer. In his old age, he imparted wisdom
to his disciples and encouraged them to lead a monastic life. Because he was
the first Christian to retire to a monastic life, he is considered to be the
first monk and also the father of all monks. His feast is celebrated on January
17. Try this simple, healthy recipe in honor of Saint Antony the hermit.
Catholic Recipe: Saint Antony of the
Desert Soup[2]
INGREDIENTS
3 tablespoons oil of choice
1 cup barley
1 carrot, finely grated
2 leeks, sliced
1 bay leaf
1/3 cup fresh parsley, minced
Salt to taste
7 cups water
1 bouillon cube, if desired
Chopped mushrooms, if desired
DIRECTIONS
1. Heat the oil in a
soup pot and add the barley, stirring continuously for one minute. Immediately
add the carrot, leeks, bay leaf, parsley, salt, and water.
2. Cook the soup over
low to medium heat, covered, for 40 to 45 minutes, until the barley is tender.
Add more water if needed. For extra taste, add the bouillon and the mushrooms
during the last 20 minutes of simmering. Remove the bay leaf. Serve hot.
Recipe Source: From a
Monastery Kitchen: The Classic Natural Foods Cookbook by Brother Victor-Antoine
d'Avila-Latourrette, Gramercy Books, 1997
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.
In 1724, on
Christmas Eve, a young man aged 18 years old arrived in London from the
American colonies. Looking for work, he soon found it with the printers
situated in the Lady Chapel. His name was Benjamin
Franklin. “I immediately got into work at Palmer's,” he later wrote, “then a
famous printing-house in Bartholomew Close, and here I continued near a year.”
Franklin was to
spend two years in London. In his autobiography, he relates how his last
accommodation was with a landlady who was a Catholic convert:
“My lodging in
Little Britain being too remote, I found another in Duke Street, opposite to
the Romish chapel. … A widow lady kept the house. … An elderly woman [who] had been bred a
Protestant, being a clergyman's daughter, but was converted to the Catholic
religion by her husband, whose memory she much revered. … So I remained with
her at one shilling and sixpence as long as I stayed in London.”
Also living
there at the top of the house was a mysterious figure. Franklin continues:
“In a garret of
[the] house there lived a maiden lady of seventy, in the most retired manner,
of whom my landlady gave me this account: that she was a Roman Catholic, had
been sent abroad when young, and lodged in a nunnery with an intent of becoming
a nun; but, the country not agreeing with her, she returned to England, where,
there being no nunnery, she had vowed to lead the life of a nun as might be
done in those circumstances. Accordingly, she had given all her estate to
charitable uses, reserving only twelve pounds a year to live on, and out of
this sum she still gave a great deal in charity, living herself on water-gruel
only, and using no fire but to boil it. She had lived many years in that
garret, being permitted to remain there gratis by successive Catholic tenants
of the house below, as they deemed it a blessing to have her there. A priest
visited her to confess her every day.
Hell’s House (1932) — Bette Davis, Pat O’Brien, and the Cost of Silence
🎬 Plot in Clean Lines
Set in the waning days of Prohibition, the story follows Jimmy Mason, an orphan who falls under the sway of Matt Kelly, a swaggering bootlegger. Jimmy refuses to “rat” during a police raid and is sentenced to a brutal reform school. There he befriends Shorty, a sickly boy whose compassion becomes the film’s moral center.
When Shorty is thrown into solitary and denied medical care, Jimmy escapes to seek help from Kelly and Kelly’s girlfriend Peggy Gardner (Bette Davis). Peggy becomes the conscience of the adults — the one person willing to expose the truth. A newspaper columnist joins the fight, but Jimmy returns to find Shorty dead, a victim of institutional neglect.
The film ends not with triumph, but with revelation: corruption thrives when the innocent stay silent.
✝️ Catholic Moral Reading
This film practically begs for a moral lens — and it aligns with your themes of mercy, truth-telling, and the dignity of the overlooked.
1. The Sin of Omission
Jimmy’s refusal to speak is framed as loyalty, but the film exposes it as a tragic misunderstanding of virtue. Silence in the face of injustice becomes complicity — a classic moral category in Catholic teaching.
2. The Preferential Option for the Vulnerable
Shorty is the “least of these.” His death indicts a system that treats children as disposable. The film anticipates later Catholic social teaching on the inherent dignity of every person, especially the powerless.
3. The Conversion of the Adult World
Peggy (Bette Davis) is the film’s Marian note — the one who sees suffering clearly and intercedes. Her courage forces Kelly to confess, echoing the Catholic conviction that truth liberates even the guilty.
4. Justice as a Work of Mercy
The reform school is a parody of justice. The film insists that punishment without compassion is cruelty — a message that resonates with your devotional work on Eucharistic clarity and civic renewal.
🍸 Hospitality Pairing — A Prohibition-Era Table
You’ve got a rich bar stock, and this film’s bootlegging backdrop gives you a perfect excuse to lean into 1930s simplicity.
Cocktail: The “Peggy Gardner Highball”
A clean, honest drink for the film’s moral center.
Whiskey
Ginger ale
A squeeze of lime
Served tall over ice
It’s the opposite of Kelly’s illicit hooch — transparent, refreshing, and upright.
Snack Pairing: Warm Pretzels with Mustard
Reform-school austerity meets speakeasy comfort.
Simple, humble, and communal.
oHey, 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.
oGet 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!
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.
·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
·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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
[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.
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