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. "
Screenplay: Ben Hecht (uncredited rewrites by several others)
Stars: Carole Lombard, Fredric March, Walter Connolly
Genre: Screwball satire / Media farce
Notable: One of the earliest Technicolor comedies; a rare Lombard–March pairing; a foundational “fake news” satire decades before the term existed.
π§ Story Summary
Wally Cook (Fredric March), a disgraced New York reporter desperate for redemption, discovers Hazel Flagg (Carole Lombard), a small‑town woman supposedly dying of radium poisoning. He brings her to New York as a tragic heroine, and the city explodes with adoration—banquets, parades, charity drives, and endless newspaper coverage.
But Hazel isn’t dying. Her doctor misdiagnosed her, and she decides to ride the wave of sympathy a little longer. Wally, believing her doomed, falls in love with her. Hazel, trapped in her lie, tries to confess but is swept up in the city’s appetite for melodrama. When the truth finally threatens to surface, the machinery of publicity becomes even more absurd: the city needs her to be dying, and the newspapers would rather preserve the myth than face the truth.
The film ends with Hazel and Wally escaping the circus entirely—alive, married, and leaving New York to choke on its own sensationalism.
π° Historical and Cultural Context
Media sensationalism was already a national anxiety. The 1930s saw tabloid wars, Hearst influence, and the rise of celebrity journalism. The film exaggerates—but only slightly.
Public appetite for tragedy was booming. Depression-era audiences devoured stories of suffering, martyrdom, and “human interest” uplift.
Technicolor comedy was rare. Wellman uses color not for beauty but for garishness—a visual metaphor for a city drunk on spectacle.
Ben Hecht’s cynicism is the film’s spine. A former Chicago reporter, he knew exactly how newsrooms manufactured emotion.
✝️ Catholic Moral Resonances
Even though the film is secular and cynical, it opens rich moral territory:
1. Truth vs. Performance
Hazel’s lie begins as self-protection but becomes a trap. The film exposes how easily society rewards performed suffering over authentic virtue.
Catholic moral tradition insists that truth is not merely factual but relational—ordered toward the good of others. Hazel’s deception fractures every relationship around her.
2. The Temptation of False Martyrdom
Hazel becomes a “saint of the tabloids,” adored precisely because she is believed to be dying.
This mirrors the spiritual temptation to seek admiration for suffering rather than holiness—martyrdom without sacrifice.
3. Media as a Distortion of Human Dignity
The city treats Hazel not as a person but as a symbol.
Catholic anthropology insists on the inviolable dignity of the human person; the film shows what happens when a society forgets this and turns people into consumable narratives.
4. Redemption Through Escape, Not Applause
Hazel and Wally’s final act—leaving the city and its lies—echoes the biblical pattern of exodus.
Sometimes the only path to integrity is to walk away from systems that reward vice.
π· Hospitality Pairing
Drink:The Tabloid Spritz — light, bubbly, slightly bitter (Aperol or Campari with soda). A nod to the fizzy, gaudy world of publicity.
Snack: A simple charcuterie board—bright, colorful, arranged almost too perfectly. It mirrors the film’s theme: beauty arranged for display, not substance.
Atmosphere:
Warm lighting
A newspaper spread on the table (real or symbolic)
A sense of theatricality—because the film is about how easily we stage our own lives
πͺ Reflection Prompt
Where in your life are you tempted to perform a version of yourself—suffering, success, virtue, or tragedy—because you believe others expect it? And what would it look like to step out of that performance and live in the freedom of truth?
Penny Serenade (1941) is one of those films that feels like opening an old cedar box of keepsakes—fragile, fragrant, and full of the music that shaped a marriage. It carries the emotional honesty of wartime America, the tenderness of two wounded people trying to build a life, and the quiet heroism of choosing love again after loss.
π¬ Film Details
Title:Penny Serenade Year: 1941 Director: George Stevens Stars: Cary Grant (Roger Adams), Irene Dunne (Julie Gardiner Adams) Studio: Columbia Pictures Genre: Melodrama / Romance Notable Recognition: Cary Grant received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor for his performance.
π―️ Story Summary
Julie prepares to leave her husband, Roger. As she packs, she plays old phonograph records—each song unlocking a chapter of their shared life.
A lively tune recalls their whirlwind courtship and impulsive New Year’s Eve marriage. A romantic ballad brings back their time in Tokyo, where Julie’s pregnancy ends in tragedy after the 1923 earthquake. A gentle lullaby ushers in their decision to adopt a baby girl, Trina, and the unforgettable courtroom scene where Roger pleads to be allowed to keep her. A somber melody marks the shattering grief of Trina’s sudden death, a loss that nearly destroys their marriage.
The final record plays as the phone rings: the adoption agency offers them another child. Julie and Roger, broken but willing, choose to begin again.
π️ Historical & Cultural Notes
Released months before the U.S. entered WWII, the film resonated with audiences facing uncertainty, separation, and the fragility of family life.
George Stevens—later known for A Place in the Sun and Shane—directs with a gentle realism shaped by his own experiences of loss.
The film’s structure, built around popular songs, mirrors the way Americans used music as emotional memory during the Depression and wartime eras.
Adoption was rarely portrayed with such dignity in early Hollywood; the judge’s scene remains one of the most compassionate depictions of fatherhood in classic cinema.
✝️ Catholic Themes & Moral Resonances
1. Marriage as a School of Fidelity
Julie and Roger’s story reveals marriage not as sentiment but as formation. Their vows are tested by grief, poverty, and disappointment—yet fidelity becomes the quiet miracle that endures.
2. Grief as a Crucible of Vocation
The death of their daughter is the film’s deepest rupture. It exposes the temptation to withdraw, to abandon one’s calling, to let sorrow define the future. Their eventual “yes” to another child becomes an act of resurrection.
3. Adoption as an Icon of Divine Love
Roger’s courtroom plea is a cinematic parable of chosen love—love that is not earned, not biological, but freely given. It echoes the Christian understanding of being adopted as children of God.
4. Providence Through Memory
The records Julie plays function like a litany. Each memory—joyful or painful—becomes a place where grace was present, even if unseen at the time.
5. The Home as a Sanctuary
The Adams household, fragile and imperfect, becomes a sacramental space where love is practiced through small acts: rocking a baby, cooking simple meals, showing up for each other when words fail.
π Hospitality Pairing
A meal that mirrors the film’s emotional palette—warm, restorative, and rooted in the rituals that hold a family together.
Chicken and rice soup with thyme: comforting, steady, the kind of meal shared after a long season of sorrow.
Homemade rolls with soft butter: tactile, grounding, a reminder of the daily work of love.
A modest glass of white wine—something gentle and clean, like a Pinot Grigio: not celebratory, but quietly hopeful.
Dessert: A small bowl of vanilla custard: simple, soothing, reminiscent of nursery comfort and the sweetness of new beginnings.
Set the table with one candle lit for remembrance—an embodied acknowledgment of Trina’s brief life and the love that continues.
π§ Reflection
Where has grief tempted me to abandon my vocation or withdraw from love?
What memories—joyful or painful—is God inviting me to revisit with new tenderness?
How might I practice chosen love today, especially toward those who depend on my fidelity?
What small act of hope is being asked of me, even if I do not yet feel strong?
Where is God offering me a new beginning, and can I receive it with humility?
Fr. Dan Reehil consistently teaches that the first line of defense against evil is a life of ordered, sacramental fidelity—a home and heart anchored in Christ through prayer, virtue, and renunciation of sin. Deliverance begins long before an exorcist arrives; it begins in the daily habits of a Christian who refuses to give the devil a foothold.
What Fr. Reehil emphasizes as the “first line of defense”
1. State of Grace
Remaining free of mortal sin is the most powerful protection. Evil spirits exploit spiritual vulnerabilities; grace closes the door.
Frequent Confession
Examination of conscience
Renunciation of occult practices, unforgiveness, and habitual sin
2. Daily Prayer as Non‑Negotiable
He stresses that prayer is not optional for spiritual survival.
Morning offering
Daily Rosary
Scripture reading
Invoking the Holy Spirit
Prayers of protection (St. Michael, Guardian Angel)
3. Sacramental Life
The sacraments are not symbolic—they are weapons.
Eucharist as the “armor of Christ”
Confession as “spiritual detox”
Holy Water, blessed salt, blessed medals as extensions of sacramental grace
4. Authority of the Domestic Church
Parents have real spiritual authority over their homes.
Blessing children
Praying aloud in the home
Removing spiritually dangerous objects
Establishing a rhythm of peace, order, and charity
5. Rejecting Occult Doorways
He is blunt: most demonic problems begin with curiosity.
New Age practices
Divination, tarot, astrology
Manifestation rituals
Pornography
Unforgiveness and generational wounds
6. Living in Truth
Demons operate in deception; truth is their undoing.
Honesty
Confession
Naming sin
Refusing self-deception
Submitting intellect and will to Christ
Catholic lessons embedded in his teaching
π️ 1. Holiness is the real spiritual warfare
The Church does not teach that exorcism is the primary battlefield. Sanctity is.
The devil fears a humble, obedient, repentant soul more than any ritual.
π‘️ 2. Authority flows from obedience
A priest’s authority in exorcism comes from the Church.
A parent’s authority in the home comes from God.
A Christian’s authority over temptation comes from fidelity to Christ.
π₯ 3. Evil is attracted to disorder
Where there is chaos—emotional, moral, or spiritual—evil finds opportunity.
Where there is order—virtue, prayer, sacrament—evil flees.
✝️ 4. Deliverance is a process, not an event
Most liberation happens through:
Confession
Forgiveness
Renunciation of lies
Healing of wounds
Daily discipline
Exorcism is the last step, not the first.
π―️ 5. The home is a sanctuary
The domestic church is meant to be a place where:
Scripture is proclaimed
Peace is cultivated
Hospitality is practiced
Children learn courage, truth, and mercy
This is where most spiritual battles are won.
πΏ 6. Virtue is the antidote to evil
Every vice has a corresponding virtue that disarms the enemy:
Pride → humility
Lust → chastity
Anger → patience
Envy → gratitude
Sloth → diligence
Greed → generosity
Gluttony → temperance
Fr. Reehil’s point: deliverance is not just casting out demons; it is cultivating virtue.
The Bells of St. Mary’s (1945) is one of those rare films that feels like a warm chapel on a cold morning—gentle, humorous, and quietly profound. Let’s shape it in your devotional‑film format, with the same clarity, cadence, and pastoral resonance you’ve been cultivating.
π¬ Film Details
Title:The Bells of St. Mary’s
Year: 1945
Director: Leo McCarey
Stars: Bing Crosby (Father O’Malley), Ingrid Bergman (Sister Mary Benedict)
Studio: RKO Radio Pictures
Genre: Drama / Comedy
Sequel Context: Follows McCarey’s earlier Going My Way (1944), but stands fully on its own.
π―️ Story Summary
Father O’Malley arrives at St. Mary’s, a struggling parochial school run by a devoted community of Sisters. His easygoing pastoral style immediately contrasts with the disciplined, idealistic approach of Sister Mary Benedict. Their shared mission—to save the school—draws them into a series of tender, humorous, and spiritually charged encounters.
A wealthy businessman, Horace Bogardus, plans to demolish the school to expand his office complex. The Sisters pray instead that he will give them the new building. Meanwhile, Father O’Malley navigates the needs of the students, including a shy boy who needs confidence and a young woman whose home life requires delicate pastoral care.
The film culminates in a quiet miracle of providence, a reconciliation of wills, and a parting between O’Malley and Sister Benedict that is as moving as it is understated.
π️ Historical & Cultural Notes
Released just months after WWII, the film’s tone of healing, rebuilding, and gentle authority resonated deeply with American audiences.
Ingrid Bergman’s portrayal of a nun was groundbreaking—dignified, strong, and deeply human.
The film’s depiction of Catholic life is idealized but respectful, reflecting McCarey’s own Catholic upbringing.
Its themes of institutional survival, vocational fidelity, and the tension between obedience and personal conviction mirror the Church’s post‑war challenges.
✝️ Catholic Themes & Moral Resonances
1. Obedience as Love, Not Subservience
Sister Benedict’s obedience is not passive; it is a chosen, intelligent offering. Her tension with Father O’Malley reveals obedience as a dialogue of charity, not a hierarchy of power.
2. Providence Through Ordinary Means
The Sisters pray for a miracle, but the miracle comes through human conversion—Bogardus’s softened heart. Grace works through the cracks of ordinary life.
3. Pastoral Care as Accompaniment
Father O’Malley embodies a pastoral style rooted in presence, humor, and gentle redirection. He never forces outcomes; he shepherds people toward them.
4. The Dignity of Formation
The school’s mission is not merely academic. It forms souls—teaching courage, humility, and hope. The boxing lesson scene, humorous as it is, becomes a parable of confidence and self‑respect.
5. Sacrifice Without Recognition
Sister Benedict’s tuberculosis diagnosis and her removal from the school echo the hidden sacrifices of religious life. She leaves quietly, trusting God with the fruit of her labor.
π Hospitality Pairing
A simple, comforting meal that mirrors the film’s warmth and humility:
Creamy potato soup — humble, nourishing, reminiscent of parish kitchens and convent tables.
Fresh bread with butter — the daily bread of community life.
A light, crisp white wine (e.g., a Riesling or Pinot Grigio) — gentle, bright, echoing the film’s hopeful tone.
Dessert: A small slice of angel food cake — airy, celebratory, fitting for a film about unseen grace.
Set the table with soft light—perhaps a single candle—to evoke the quiet holiness of St. Mary’s chapel.
π§ Reflection
Where do I resist God’s invitations because they come through people whose style differs from mine?
What “school” in my life is God asking me to protect or rebuild—family, vocation, community, interior life?
How do I practice obedience as an act of love rather than compliance?
Where have I seen providence arrive through ordinary, even humorous, circumstances?
What hidden sacrifices am I being asked to make, and can I offer them without seeking recognition?
·Patrick’s Day March 17th Don your friendliest green for St. Patrick’s Day. Boston is the place to be, with the city’s official St. Patrick’s Day Parade drawing anywhere from 600,000 to 1 million people every year.
·Evacuation Day in Boston marks the moment when the city was freed from British military control during the early days of the American Revolutionary War.
Candace’s Worldwide Vineyard Tour — Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Theme: Ascent, Clarity, and the Courage to Rise With Christ
π️LITURGICAL CALENDAR
Tue Mar 17 — St. Patrick Wed Mar 18 — Wednesday of the 4th Week of Lent Thu Mar 19 — St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary Fri Mar 20 — Friday of the 4th Week of Lent Sat Mar 21 — Lenten Weekday Sun Mar 22 — 4th Sunday of Lent (Laetare Sunday) Mon Mar 23 — Lenten Weekday
πΏOVERVIEW
The Okanagan Valley
is a landscape of ascent—long lakes, rising slopes, and vineyards terraced toward the sky. It is a natural setting for the Lenten movement from fear to courage, from darkness to clarity, from the valley floor to the high places where God reveals Himself.
This week is about rising: letting the Father lift you as He lifted Christ, letting truth elevate your vision, and letting courage take root in the places where fear once ruled. The wines here—Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, ice wine, and cool‑climate blends—carry that same upward energy: bright, lifted, crystalline.
πDAILY OUTLINE
TUESDAY • MAR 17 — ST. PATRICK
Location: Mission Hill Family Estate (missionhillwinery.com) Focus: Courage in the shaking Act: Stand at the bell tower overlook and breathe deeply. Prompt: Where is Christ lifting me above the fears that once held me down?
WEDNESDAY • MAR 18
Location: Quails’ Gate Winery (quailsgate.com) Focus: Honesty that clarifies Act: Taste a single‑vineyard Pinot and sit with its purity. Prompt: What truth is God clarifying in me right now?
THURSDAY • MAR 19 — ST. JOSEPH
Location: St. Charles Garnier Catholic Parish, Kelowna (stcharlesgarnier.ca) Vineyard: CedarCreek Estate Winery (cedarcreek.bc.ca) Focus: Hidden strength and faithful obedience Act: Offer a quiet prayer for the work God has entrusted to you. Prompt: Where is God asking me to obey without applause?
FRIDAY • MAR 20
Location: Summerhill Pyramid Winery
(summerhill.bc.ca) Focus: Reparation and alignment Act: Walk the vineyard rows slowly, matching your breath to your steps. Prompt: What part of my life needs to be realigned with Christ’s heart?
SATURDAY • MAR 21
Location: Tantalus Vineyards (tantalus.ca) Focus: Precision and purity Act: Taste their Riesling and note its clean, lifted structure. Prompt: What is God refining in me with precision?
SUNDAY • MAR 22 — LAETARE SUNDAY
Mass: Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Kelowna (icckelowna.ca) Vineyard: Liquidity Wines (liquiditywines.com) Focus: Joy in the ascent Act: Write one place where God is restoring joy in you. Word: Rise.
MONDAY • MAR 23
Location: Painted Rock Estate Winery (paintedrock.ca) Focus: Identity and elevation Act: Taste their structured reds and reflect on your God‑given dignity.
Prompt:What part of my identity is God lifting into clearer light?
MARCH
17 Tuesday of the Fourth
Week of Lent
St. Patrick’s Day
Psalm 46, Verse 3-4
Thus we do not FEAR, though earth be shaken and
mountains quake to the depths of the sea,though its waters rage and foam and mountains totter at its
surging.
The Roman soldiers guarding His tomb did not fear
God even though the earth did shake and having witnessed His resurrection for
they did not confess with their lips that Jesus is Lord; yet they did fear the
Jews and took their money which they died with. Today confess Him with your
lips knowing that Christ is the conqueror of the Nations for He is our refuge
and our strength, an ever-present help in distress.
Come and see the
works of the LORD, who has done fearsome deeds on earth; Who stops wars to the
ends of the earth, breaks the bow, splinters the spear, and burns the shields
with fire; “Be still and know that I am God! (Psalm 46:9-11)[1]
Copilot’s Take
Fear is finally confronted not
just by remembering God’s nearness, but by remembering the direction of
Christ’s Resurrection. The early Church Fathers often spoke of the Resurrection
as a vertical act—the Father lifting the Son from the depths of death
and exalting Him above every earthly and demonic power. St. Paul echoes this
when he writes that the Father “raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His
right hand in the heavenly places, far above every principality and power” (Eph
1:20–21). Christ is not merely revived; He is raised, lifted, exalted—His
Resurrection is an upward movement that pulls the whole human race with Him.
Fear collapses when we remember that the One who stands with us is the One whom
the Father has lifted above every force that threatens us.
This vertical Resurrection is the
antidote to the shaking world of Psalm 46. Mountains fall, waters roar, nations
rage—but Christ has been lifted higher than all of them. St. Patrick lived from
this truth. He walked into a land ruled by fear because he knew that the Father
had already raised Christ above every spirit, curse, and power of darkness. The
Roman soldiers at the tomb trembled at the earthquake yet remained spiritually
horizontal—bound to the earth, bound to men’s opinions, bound to fear. Patrick stood
upright because Christ stood upright. To confront fear, then, is to stand in
the upward pull of the Resurrection, letting the Father’s act of lifting His
Son become the pattern of your own courage: you rise because He rose, you stand
because He stands, and you fear nothing because the Risen Christ has already
been lifted above everything that shakes the earth.
Prayer. WE beseech Thee, O Lord,
that the fasts of this holy observance may procure us an increase of piety in
our lives, and the continual help of Thy mercy.
EPISTLE. Exodus xxxii. 7-14.
In those days the Lord
spoke to Moses, saying: Go, get thee down: thy people, which thou hast brought
out of the land of Egypt, hath sinned. They have quickly strayed from the way
which thou didst show them: and they have made to themselves a molten calf, and
have adored it, and sacrificing victims to it, have said: These are thy gods, O
Israel, that have brought thee out of the land of Egypt. And again, the Lord
said to Moses: I see that this people are stiff-necked: let Me alone, that My
wrath may be kindled against them, and that I may destroy them, and I will make
of thee a great nation. But Moses besought the Lord his God, saying: Why, O
Lord, is Thy indignation enkindled against Thy people, whom Thou hast brought
out of the land of Egypt, with great power, and with a mighty hand?
Let not the Egyptians say,
I beseech Thee: He craftily brought them out, that He might kill them in the
mountains, and destroy them from the earth: let Thy anger cease and be appeased
upon the wickedness of Thy people. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy
servants, to whom Thou sworest by Thy own self, saying: I will multiply your
seed as the stars of heaven: and this whole land that I have spoken of, I will
give to your seed, and you shall possess it forever. And the Lord was appeased
from doing the evil which He had spoken against His people.
GOSPEL. John vii. 14-31.
At that time: About the
midst of the feast, Jesus went up into the temple, and taught. And the Jews
wondered, saying: How doth this man know letters, having never learned?
Jesus answered them and
said: My doctrine is not Mine, but His that sent Me. If any man will do the
will of Him: he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I
speak of Myself. He that speaketh of himself, seeketh his own glory: but he
that seeketh the glory of him that sent him, he is true, and there is no
injustice in him. Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth
the law? Why seek you to kill Me? The multitude answered, and said: Thou hast a
devil; who seeketh to kill Thee?
Jesus answered and said to
them: One work I have done; and you all wonder: therefore, Moses gave you
circumcision (not because it is of Moses, but of the fathers); and on the
Sabbath-day you circumcise a man. If a man receive circumcision on the Sabbath-day,
that the law of Moses may not be broken; are you angry at Me because I have
healed the whole man on the Sabbath-day?
Judge not according to the
appearance but judge just judgment. Some therefore of Jerusalem said: Is not
this He Whom they seek to kill?
And behold He speaketh
openly, and they say nothing to Him. Have the rulers known for a truth that
this is the Christ?
But we know this man
whence He is but when the Christ cometh, no man knoweth whence He is. Jesus
therefore cried out in the temple, teaching and saying: You both know Me, and
you know whence I am, and I am not come of Myself; but He that sent Me is true,
Whom you know not. I know Him, because I am from Him, and He hath sent Me. They
sought therefore to apprehend Him: and no man laid hands on Him, because His
hour was not yet come. But of the people many believed in Him.
(During times when we wish to express
repentance and especially during Lent, it is customary to pray the seven
penitential psalms. The penitential designation of these psalms dates from the
seventh century. Prayerfully reciting these psalms will help us to recognize
our sinfulness, express our sorrow and ask for God’s forgiveness.)
Pray:
“Hasten to answer me,
LORD; for my spirit fails me. Do not hide your face from me, lest I become like
those descending to the pit. In the morning let me hear of your mercy, for
in you I trust. Show me the path I should walk, for I entrust my life to
you.” (Ps
143:7-8)
Act: The psalmist pleads his case before
the Lord: he is surrounded by enemies, his spirit is faint, and he has nothing
left to withstand them. And so, he begs for mercy, that the Lord would show his
face and be his refuge in his time of great need.
We often learn our doctrine much more deeply and effectively simply by
celebrating the feasts and fasts of the Church.
In fact in Orthodox Judaism the calendar is the catechism of Israel.
According to Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch, “On
the pinions of time which bear us through life, God has inscribed the eternal
words of His soul-inspiring doctrine, making days and weeks, months and years
the heralds to proclaim His truths. Nothing would seem more fleeting than these
elements of time, but to them God has entrusted the care of His holy things,
thereby rendering them more imperishable and more accessible.”
CCC2698.
The Tradition of the Church proposes to the faithful certain rhythms of praying
intended to nourish continual prayer. Some are daily, such as morning and
evening prayer, grace before and after meals, the Liturgy of the Hours.
Sundays, centered on the Eucharist, are kept holy primarily by prayer. The
cycle of the liturgical year and its great feasts are also basic rhythms of the
Christian's life of prayer.
No one knows human nature better than the God who created it. The book of
Genesis tells us that the Lord God made the world in six days and rested on the
seventh. He rested not because he was weary-God does not tire-but because He
wanted to provide a model for human labor and rest. The Church calendar
coincides with the cosmic rhythms of God. The Church calendar reflects this
fact: That Christ rose from the dead in
payment for our sins and is the Jewish Messiah that was hoped for.
Though technically only the last
fourteen days of Lent explicitly consider the sufferings of our Lord, the
Stations of the Cross (a.k.a. the Way of the Cross) have long been a popular
Lenten devotion for any or all of the forty days (though they tend to be done
on Fridays). These fourteen scenes from the via dolorosa, the sorrowful path
that Christ took while carrying His cross to Golgotha, help direct one's heart
to the mysterium fidei of our Lord's selfless sacrifice.
ST. PATRICK[6] was born towards the close of the
fourth century, but the place of his birth is not positively known. Britain and
Scotland both claim the honor, but the best authorities seem to agree upon
Brittany, in France. In his sixteenth year he was carried into captivity by
certain barbarians, who took him into Ireland, where he was obliged to keep
cattle on the mountains and in the forests, in hunger and nakedness, amidst
snows, rain, and ice. The young man had recourse to God with his whole heart in
fervent prayer and fasting and from that time faith and the love of God
acquired continually new strength in his tender soul. After six months spent in
slavery under the same master St. Patrick was admonished by God in a dream to
return to his own country, and informed that a ship was then ready to sail
thither. He went at once to the seacoast, though at a great distance, and found
the vessel. After three days sail, they made land, but wandered twenty-seven
days through deserts, and were a long while distressed for want of provisions.
Patrick assured the company that if they would address themselves with their
whole hearts to the true God He would hear and succor them. They did so, and on
the same day met with a herd of swine. From that time provisions never failed
them, till on the twenty-seventh day they came into a country that was
cultivated and inhabited. Some years afterwards he was again led captive but
recovered his liberty after two months. When he was at home with his parents,
God manifested to him, by divers’ visions, that He destined him to the great
work of the conversion of Ireland. The writers of his life say that after his
second captivity he travelled into Gaul and Italy, and saw St. Martin, St.
Germanus of Auxerre, and Pope Celestine, and that he received his mission and
the apostolical benediction from this Pope, who died in 432. Great opposition
was made to his episcopal consecration and mission, both by his own relations
and by the clergy; but the Lord, whose will he consulted by earnest prayer,
supported him, and he persevered in his resolution. He forsook his family, sold
his birthright and dignity to serve strangers, and consecrated his soul to God,
to carry His name to the ends of the earth. In this disposition he passed into
Ireland to preach the Gospel, penetrating into the remotest corners; and such
was the fruit of his preaching’s and sufferings that he baptized an infinite
number of people. He ordained everywhere clergymen, induced women to live in
holy widowhood and continence, consecrated virgins to Christ, and instituted
monks. He took nothing from the many thousands whom he baptized, but gave
freely of his own, both to pagans and Christians, distributed large alms to the
poor in the provinces where he passed, and maintained and educated many children,
whom he trained to serve at the altar. The happy success of his labors cost him
many persecutions. He died and was buried at Down, in Ulster. His body was
found there in a church of his name in 1185 and translated to another part of
the same church.
I
bind unto myself today the power of God to hold and lead, His eye to watch, his
might to stay, His ear to hearken to my need; the wisdom of my God to teach,
his hand to guide, his shield to ward; the word of God to give me speech, his
heavenly host to be my guard. Christ be with me, Christ within me, Christ
behind me, Christ before me, Christ beside me, Christ to win me, Christ to
comfort and restore me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ in quiet,
Christ in danger, Christ in the hearts of all that love me, Christ in the mouth
of friend and stranger. Amen
·This
is a good day to honor St. Patrick by trying typical Irish fare: corned beef
and cabbage, soda bread, scones, stew, Shepherd's pie, potatoes in various
forms and the famous beer and spirits of Ireland. For dessert, try making the
Irish Porter Cake.
·Read
the Lorica (Breastplate) of St. Patrick. Here is an older translation — pray it with your family after your rosary tonight.
·Don
your friendliest green for St. Patrick’s Day. Boston is the place to be, with the city’s official
St. Patrick’s Day Parade drawing anywhere from 600,000 to 1 million people
every year.
·St.
Patrick used the three-leaf shamrock to explain the Trinity to non-Christians.
The leaves stood for the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
·Approximately
5.5 million pints of Irish Guinness stout are consumed on an average day. On
St. Patrick's Day, nearly 13 million are consumed.
·Wearing
the shamrock, a three-leaf clover is a St. Patrick's Day tradition. The
official three-leaf clover is known scientifically as Trifolium dubium however
clovers can also have more leaves. Four-leaf clovers are said to be lucky,
however the odds of finding one are about 1 to 10,000.
·The
love of God and his fear grew in me more and more, as did the faith, and my
soul was roused, so that, in a single day, I have said as many as a hundred
prayers and in the night, nearly the same. - St. Patrick
·SlΓ‘inte!
- used when clinking glasses with friends at a bar (equivalent of Cheers or
Health!)
Saint
Patrick's Day Top Events and Things to Do
·Wear
green! In some parts of the world, the custom is to pinch people who aren't
wearing the color of shamrocks.
·Attend
a St. Patrick's Day parade. Major cities like Chicago, New York, San
Francisco, Dallas, and Boston host marching bands and floats.
·The
heart of any Irish neighborhood is its local pub. Share a couple of green
Guinness beers
with friends at a local Irish pub or try Magner's (Bulmer's) apple cider as an
alternative.
·St.
Patrick was a brave and humble man. Have you been putting off something
because you are afraid to do it? Do it today in honor of St. Patrick's
Day.
Ireland has a long tradition of holy pilgrimages, dating
back to St. Patrick’s
fast on what is now known as Croagh Patrick in 441. In the pasts few years, the
Pilgrim Paths foundation has been restoring the ancient penitential paths and
has so far created five guided walks. After pilgrims get their “passports” stamped after completing
each of the five routes, they receive an Irish Pilgrim Paths completion
certificate from Ballintubber Abbey in County Mayo.
When we consider God valued the
human person as so precious enough to die for, we should make a concerted
effort to aid others.
The giving of Alms has everything
to do with devotions and piety. Almsgiving is a powerful form of prayer. “Prayer and fasting are good, but better
than either is almsgiving accompanied by righteousness…It is better to give
alms than to store up gold; for almsgiving saves one from death and expiates
every sin. Those who regularly give alms shall enjoy a full life” (Tob
12:8-9) To give alms is to give to God. If we are giving alms righteously then
most likely we are doing it though some form of fasting giving from our
substance. The giving of Alms should not philanthropy with a smiling photo op
and boost to our pride. The earliest Christians knew they could not make a good
Communion if they neglected the poor. St. Ignatius noted that the twin marks of
heresy are the neglect of the poor and neglect of the Eucharist. “The mystery
of the poor is this: that they are Jesus and what you do for them you do to
him.” (Dorothy Day) The Eucharist is the key to a civilization of love. It
saves us from misguided tenderness and feel-good philanthropy, because it gives
us the grace to sacrifice as Jesus did. Our main focus must be widows and
orphans. (Single parents and children) “Widows and orphan are to be revered
like the altar of sacrifice.” (Pope Paul VI) We should give as much as we can
and we should give it responsibly making sure the alms are not wasted.
Mormons in their almsgiving, for
example, do fast offerings in addition to tithing. This offering accompanies a
monthly 24-hour fast. All the money that would have been spent to buy food
during those 24 hours is donated to the Church for the purpose of feeding the
hungry and caring for the needy.
Bible in a
year Day 258 The
Kingdom is here
Fr. Mike introduces us to the Gospel of Matthew, including his
genealogy, nativity, and the first days of his ministry. He pulls it all
together to show that not only is Jesus reconstituting the kingdom in his
ministry, but he's inviting us to join him in this kingdom. Today’s readings
are Matthew 1-4, and Proverbs 18:17-20.
Litany of Trust — Tuesday,
March 17
From
the fear that the world’s shaking will undo me,
deliver
me, Jesus.
Reflection
There are seasons when the world
feels unstable—when nations rage, foundations tremble, and the future seems to
tilt beneath our feet. Psalm 46 names this shaking honestly, yet answers it
with a deeper truth: God is not distant from the turmoil; He is in the midst
of His people. Fear gains power when we imagine ourselves standing alone, but
it collapses when we remember that the One who holds the earth together holds
us as well.
The early Church understood the
Resurrection not only as victory over death but as an ascent—Christ lifted by
the Father into a place no earthly power can reach. That upward movement
becomes the pattern of Christian courage. St. Patrick lived from this reality.
He entered a land ruled by fear, yet he walked with the confidence of one who
knew that Christ had already been raised above every spirit, curse, and threat.
The soldiers at the tomb trembled at the earthquake but remained bound to
earthly fear; Patrick stood firm because his life was anchored in the risen,
exalted Christ. To confront fear is to let that same upward pull steady your
heart—to stand because He stands, to rise because He has been raised, and to
trust that no shaking can overturn the one whom the Father lifts.
Scripture
“God is our refuge and our
strength, an ever‑present help in distress. Therefore we do not fear, though
earth be shaken and mountains quake to the depths of the sea.”
— Psalm 46:2–3
Prayer
Jesus, when the world trembles
and fear presses close, lift my eyes to Your risen life. Let the strength of
Your exaltation become the strength of my heart. Teach me to stand in Your
victory and to trust that the Father who raised You will hold me fast.
Reflection Question
Where do you feel the ground
shifting beneath you—and what would it look like to let the risen Christ lift
your courage above the fear?
[10] Hahn, Scott, Signs of Life; 40 Catholic Customs
and their biblical roots. Chap. 33. Almsgiving.
[11]Foley, Michael P... Drinking with the Saints: The
Sinner's Guide to a Holy Happy Hour (p. 370). Regnery History. Kindle Edition.
[12] Schultz, Patricia. 1,000 Places to See Before You
Die: A Traveler's Life List Workman Publishing Company. Kindle Edition.
[13] Sheraton, Mimi. 1,000 Foods To Eat Before You Die: A
Food Lover's Life List (p. 800). Workman Publishing Company. Kindle Edition.
It Happens Every Spring (1949)
Production Details
Studio: 20th Century Fox Director: Lloyd Bacon Release: May 26, 1949 Source Material: Original story by Shirley W. Smith Genre: Comedy / Sports / Light Fantasy Runtime: 87 minutes Cast: Ray Milland, Jean Peters, Paul Douglas, Ed Begley, Alan Hale Sr., Ted de Corsia
Story Summary
Professor Vernon K. Simpson (Ray Milland), a gentle, underpaid chemistry instructor, dreams of marrying Deborah Greenleaf (Jean Peters), the dean’s daughter. But with no money and no prospects, he feels trapped in a life too small for the hopes he carries.
Then an accident in his laboratory produces a strange compound—methylethylpropylbutyl—that repels wood. When it touches a baseball, bats cannot make contact. Suddenly, Simpson sees a way out: take a secret advantage, become a star pitcher, earn enough money to marry Deborah, and return to teaching.
Under the alias “King Kelly,” he becomes a sensation for the St. Louis team, baffling hitters and thrilling fans. But the deeper he goes into the deception, the more he feels the strain of living a double life. His conscience, his vocation, and his love for Deborah all begin to pull him back toward the truth.
The climax arrives when Simpson must choose between worldly success built on a lie and the quiet, honest life he was made for. His return to integrity restores his peace—and his future.
Historical and Cultural Influences
Postwar American Optimism
Released in 1949, the film reflects a nation eager for lightness after the war. Baseball—America’s pastime—became a symbol of renewal, normalcy, and communal joy. The film’s tone mirrors that cultural longing for innocence regained.
The Scientist as Folk Hero
The late 1940s saw a fascination with scientific breakthroughs, from atomic power to plastics. Simpson represents the “everyman scientist”—brilliant but humble—whose discovery disrupts the world in a comic rather than catastrophic way.
Baseball as Moral Arena
Baseball films of the era often used the sport as a stage for character formation. Here, the diamond becomes a place where temptation, ambition, and integrity collide.
Catholic Themes and Moral Resonances
Integrity Over Advantage
Simpson’s chemical discovery is a metaphor for the shortcuts we justify when we feel unseen or undervalued. The film gently exposes how even “harmless” deception erodes the soul.
Vocation as Anchor
Simpson is a teacher at heart. His detour into fame reveals the spiritual truth that vocation is not merely what we do—it is who we are. Returning to teaching is his return to himself.
Love as Moral Compass
Deborah’s steady, luminous presence embodies the virtue of constancy. She does not push, manipulate, or demand. Her quiet goodness becomes the gravitational pull that draws Simpson back to honesty.
Springtime as Spiritual Symbol
Spring is the season of renewal, repentance, and restored beginnings. Simpson’s journey mirrors the Christian rhythm of falling, awakening, and returning.
Hospitality Pairing
Drink
Spring Shandy — half crisp pilsner, half fresh lemonade, garnished with a thin lemon wheel. Light, refreshing, and honest—no tricks, no shortcuts.
Snack/Meal
Ballpark Board — grilled brats, soft pretzels, mustard trio (yellow, spicy brown, honey), and a bowl of spring pickles. A playful nod to baseball culture with a touch of refinement.
Atmosphere
Open windows, fresh air, and the faint sound of a ballgame on the radio before the film begins. Use simple, clean tableware—nothing fancy—to reinforce the theme of returning to what is true and unpretentious.
Reflection Prompt
Where in your life are you tempted to use a “secret advantage” to get ahead—and what would it look like to lay it down and return to the vocation that actually gives you peace?
Posts
