Posts
NIC’s Corner
· Jesus is Flower of Jesse: Isaiah 11:1-3 Symbols: flower, plant with flower
· How to celebrate Dec 19th
o Ever felt the urge to delve into the emo side of life? Toss on some dark eyeliner, blast sad music, and pen some poetry. Let each tear become a badge of honor on National Emo Day. Next up, indulge in the underrated delight of oatmeal muffins. Bake a batch to savor with a steaming cup of tea, celebrating National Oatmeal Muffin Day. Then, let the sweetness linger with some nostalgic hard candies. Pop a few in your mouth, reveling in the sugary taste on National Hard Candy Day. Afterward, embark on a scavenger hunt for the perfect evergreen. Embrace the search, enjoying the crisp air and earthy scents on Look for an Evergreen Day. Get ready to declutter and destress by embracing the art of re-gifting. Find a hidden gem in your possessions and pass it along on National Re-Gifting Day. Lastly, pay homage to the unsung heroes and heroines in your life. Write a letter, make a call, or simply reflect on their impact on National Heroes and Heroines Day. So, go ahead and immerse yourself in this delightful medley of offbeat celebrations!
· Fish Friday: Mexican Fish Bake Banuelos
🇦🇹 Austria vs 🇷🇼 Rwanda — Baroque Altars and Genocide Graves
Two More Stops on the Rich vs Poor Tour: A Catholic Contrast in Memory and Mercy
🇦🇹 Austria — Wealthy, Historic, and Culturally Catholic
GDP per capita (PPP): ~$63,300 USD (2024)
🧮 Why Austria Ranks High
• EU Integration: Strong trade, tourism, and finance sectors.
• Industrial Base: Machinery, chemicals, and services drive growth.
• Social Safety Net: Universal healthcare, education, and pensions.
• Cultural Capital: Vienna is a global hub for music, art, and diplomacy.
• Political Stability: Democratic institutions and low corruption.
✝️ Catholic Landscape
• Majority Faith: ~55% Catholic, though declining.
• Nine Dioceses: Including Vienna, Salzburg, and Graz-Seckau.
• Baroque Heritage: Lavish churches, monasteries, and sacred music.
• Clergy Influence: Historically strong, now more symbolic.
• Pilgrimage Sites: Mariazell Basilica and Melk Abbey draw thousands.
⚠️ Challenges
• Secularization: Church attendance and vocations are declining.
• Cultural Catholicism: Faith often expressed through tradition, not practice.
• Clergy Scandals: Past abuse cases have eroded trust.
• Immigration Tensions: Integration of migrant Catholics is uneven.
🌿 Pilgrimage Cue
Austria is a journey of sacred memory—where the Eucharist is offered beneath gilded domes, and the Church stands as both monument and mirror to Europe’s spiritual heritage.
🇷🇼 Rwanda — Poor, Rebuilding, and Forgiving Catholic
GDP per capita (PPP): ~$3,300 USD (2024)
🧮 Why Rwanda Ranks Low
• Post-Genocide Recovery: 1994 genocide devastated institutions and economy.
• Landlocked Geography: Trade and transport are limited.
• Agricultural Economy: Coffee and tea dominate exports.
• Youthful Population: Over 60% under age 25.
• Climate Vulnerability: Rainfall variability affects food security.
✝️ Catholic Landscape
• Majority Faith: ~43% Catholic, deeply embedded in national identity.
• Nine Dioceses: Including Kigali, Butare, and Ruhengeri.
• Genocide Wounds: Some clergy were complicit; others were martyred.
• Reconciliation Ministry: The Church plays a key role in healing and justice.
• Marian Devotion: Kibeho is an approved apparition site, drawing pilgrims from across Africa.
⚠️ Challenges
• Trauma Legacy: The Church must navigate its role in both harm and healing.
• Poverty: Parishes often lack resources for catechesis and outreach.
• Vocational Strain: Many priests serve multiple communities.
• Youth Formation: Rebuilding trust and faith among post-genocide generations.
🌿 Pilgrimage Cue
Rwanda is a journey of mercy and memory—where the Eucharist is offered in chapels of tears and hope, and the Church walks with a people learning to forgive, rebuild, and believe again.
🕊️ Editorial Reflection
Austria and Rwanda offer a profound contrast: one rich in cultural Catholicism, the other rich in redemptive suffering. In Austria, the Church is a museum of memory. In Rwanda, it is a field hospital of forgiveness. The Rich vs Poor Tour reminds us that the Gospel is not bound by marble or mud—it flourishes in cathedrals and confessionals, in requiems and resurrection.
What does it mean to be Catholic in a land of gilded heritage—or genocide graves?
Where does the Church feel more alive—in the echo of Mozart or the silence of Kibeho?
DECEMBER 19 Ember Friday
Evergreen Day
Acts, Chapter 26, Verse 5-7
They have known about me from the start, if they are willing to
testify, that I have lived my life as a Pharisee, the strictest party of our
religion. But now I am standing
trial because of my HOPE in the
promise made by God to our ancestors. Our twelve tribes hope to attain to that promise as they
fervently worship God day and night; and on account of this hope I am accused by Jews, O king.
Paul clearly explains
that his entire life was in preparation for the hope of Israel, Christ Jesus,
who Israel did not recognize as the son of God. Paul states that the prophets
and Moses had foretold that the Christ would suffer, and as first to be raised
from the dead, he would proclaim light to both God’s people and the Gentiles.
The resurrection is God’s promise to Israel. Paul like Christ ultimately was a
victim of intolerance.[1]
Copilot’s Take
On December 19, marked as Ember Friday and Evergreen Day, Paul’s defense
before King Agrippa in Acts 26 reminds us that the strict discipline of his
Pharisaic life was not wasted but prepared him to bear witness to the hope of
Israel fulfilled in Christ. He proclaims that the resurrection is God’s
promise, a light for both Jews and Gentiles, even though this very hope makes
him a target of intolerance. The evergreen, celebrated today, becomes a fitting
symbol of that promise—life that endures through winter, faith that remains
steadfast in trial, and hope that cannot be extinguished. Ember Friday’s call
to fasting and prayer deepens this witness, inviting us to strip away
distractions so that the evergreen truth of resurrection may root itself more
firmly in our lives.
Ember Friday[2]
The purpose of these “mini-Lents” is to pray,
fast and to thank God for the gifts He gives us through nature. They
follow the four seasons of the year with the beauty and uniqueness of each
particular season. They are here for us to teach us to use, with
moderation, what God gives us through nature, and to also share these gifts
with the poor.
So what
does this mean for you?
Well, because of the changes in Church law, not
a whole lot; at least not officially. The mandatory observation of Ember days
was excised from Church practice during the pontificate of Pope Paul VI. But as
voluntary practice, there is much that is salutary in
observing the Ember days of the Church.
How do we
observe Ember days?
On Wednesday and Saturday, we observe partial fast
and abstinence – two small meatless meals, and one full meal that can include
meat.
On Friday, we may have two small meals and one full meal, but observe total
abstinence from meat even at the main meal. This is identical to the currently
observed fasts of Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
Spiritual Crib[3]
A special devotion that can be performed during Advent to prepare for the coming of the Infant Savior. It can be adapted for adults and/or children and applied as is appropriate to your state in life.
· 9th day, December 19th: THE OX—Silence Today we may speak nothing unnecessary, much less give way to distracting thoughts. On the contrary, hold interior converse with God by loving aspirations to Him.
Evening Antiphon[4]
Come to deliver us, and tarry not.
O Root of Jesse,
who stands for an ensign of the people, before whom kings shall keep silence
and unto whom the Gentiles shall make supplication: Come to deliver us, and
tarry not.
O Root of Jesse
"Come to deliver us and tarry not." The world cries out for Christ its King, who shall cast out the prince of this world (John 12:31). The prince of this world established his power over men as a result of original sin. Even after we had been delivered from the servitude of Satan through the death of Christ on the cross, the prince of this world attempts to exercise his power over us. "The devil, as a roaring lion, goeth about seeking whom he may devour" (I Pet. 5:8). In these trying times, when faith in Christ and in God has largely disappeared, when the propaganda of a pagan culture is broadcast everywhere, and the forces of evil and falsehood rise up to cast God from His throne, who does not feel the power of the devil?
Does it not appear that we are approaching that time when Satan will be released from the depths of hell to work his wonders and mislead, if possible, even the elect? (Apoc. 20:2; Matt. 24:24.)
"Come, tarry not." Observe how thoroughly the world of today has submitted to the reign of Satan. Mankind has abandoned the search for what is good and holy. Loyalty, justice, freedom, love, and mutual trust are no longer highly regarded. Establish, O God, Thy kingdom among us, a kingdom established upon truth, justice, and peace. "Come, tarry not." "Thy kingdom come."
God’s Handiwork
Every Christmas although the same in many ways is always new for each Christmas expresses a hope learned from a lifetime of praising God. For every Christmas if we open our eyes to truth, we will see the handiwork of God; the rock of our salvation. Perhaps in these final days of anticipation it would do us well to reflect on the virtues (Humility, Generosity, and Chastity) of Mary Christ’s very own mother and in these final days in some way reflect them in our own lives.
Chastity[5] a pouring out of the soul to God
After the fall of Adam, man's senses became rebellious to reason. As a consequence, chastity is the most difficult of all the virtues to practice. Saint Augustine says: "Of all inner conflicts the most arduous are concerned with chastity. These battles are of daily occurrence, but victory is rare." However, Mary is a shining example of this virtue. Saint Sophronius replies: "God chose a pure virgin for his mother, that she might be an example of chastity to everybody." That is why Saint Ambrose calls Mary "the standard-bearer of virginity." Because of Mary's purity the Holy Spirit declared that she is as beautiful as the turtledove: Your cheeks are beautiful as the turtledove's (Cant 1:9). "A most pure turtledove" is what Aponius calls her. She inspired everybody who saw her with chaste thoughts. Saint Thomas confirms this when he says that the beauty of the Blessed Virgin incited to chastity all who looked at her. Saint Jerome maintains that Saint Joseph remained a virgin as a result of living with Mary. Saint Gregory of Nyssa says that the Blessed Virgin loved chastity so much, that to preserve it she would have been willing to renounce even the dignity of Mother of God. This seems evident from her reply to the archangel: How shall this happen, since I do not know man? (Lk 1:34). And from the words she added then: Be it done to me according to your word (Lk 1:38), signifying that she gave her consent on the condition that, as the angel had assured her, she should become a mother only by the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit. Saint Ambrose says that "anyone who preserves chastity is an angel; anyone who loses it is a devil." Our Lord assures us that those who are chaste become angels: They...shall be as the angels of God in heaven (Mt 22:30). But the unchaste become hateful to God, like devils. Saint Remigius used to say that the majority of adults are lost by this vice. We have quoted Saint Augustine as saying that a victory is very seldom gained in this combat. Why is this? Because the means by which the victory may be gained are very seldom used. These means are threefold, according to Bellarmine and the masters of the spiritual life: fasting, the avoidance of dangerous occasions of sin, and prayer.
1. By fasting we mean especially mortification of the eyes and the appetite. Although our Blessed Lady was filled with divine grace, she nevertheless practiced mortification of the eyes, according to Saint Epiphanius and Saint John Damascene. Her glances were always modest, and she never gazed fixedly at anyone. She was so unassuming, even from childhood, that everyone who saw her was charmed by her reserve. Saint Luke remarks that when she went to visit Elizabeth, she went with haste (Lk 1:39), in order to avoid the public gaze. Saint Gregory of Tours maintains that she fasted throughout her life. Saint Bonaventure explains this: "Mary would never have found so much grace if she had not been moderate in her meals, for grace and gluttony do not go together." In short, Mary was mortified in everything, so that it was true to say of her: My hands dripped with myrrh (Cant 5:5).
2. The second means is avoidance of the occasions of sin: He that is aware of the snares shall be secure (Prov 11:15). Saint Philip Neri coined the expression: "In the war of the senses, cowards conquer." By cowards he means those who flee from dangerous occasions. Mary fled as much as possible from the gaze of men. Remember Saint Luke's remark that, in going to visit Elizabeth, Mary went with haste into the hill country. One author calls attention to the fact that Our Lady left Elizabeth before Saint John was born: And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her own house. Now Elizabeth's time was fulfilled that she should be delivered, and she brought forth a son (Lk 1:56-57). Why did Mary not wait for Saint John's birth? Because she wanted to avoid the hubbub and excitement that usually accompany such an event.
3. The third means is prayer. The Wise Man said: And as I knew that I could not otherwise be continent except God gave it...I went to the Lord and besought him (Wis 8:21). Mary revealed to Saint Elizabeth of Hungary that she did not acquire any virtue without effort and without continual prayer. Saint John Damascene calls our Immaculate Mother "a lover of purity." She cannot endure those who are content to be unchaste. And if anybody appeals to her to be delivered from unchastity she will certainly help him. All he has to do is call upon her confidently. The Venerable John of Ávila used to say that many have conquered impure temptations merely through devotion to Mary Immaculate.
The Battle of the Soul and Flesh[6]
Beginning with Cain and Abel, there have been children of God who
obeyed God's commandments, and, on the other hand, children of Satan, as Holy
Scripture, call them, who seek their salvation in the pleasures of this life.
Since the time of Cain and Abel, mankind has been split into two divisions, one
seeking the kingdom of God, the other the kingdom of the world, the kingdom of
Satan. When our Savior conquered Satan, He left him power over those who make
themselves slaves to the sensual pleasures, and thus there exists an evil force
against the Church, and it will exist to the end of time.
This is a fact that we must keep in view in order to fully
understand and judge the conditions. The realm of darkness, Satan's realm,
stands opposed to the realm of Christ. Satan and his adherents carry on the
warfare against the Church of Christ, as they assaulted Christ Himself.
"As they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you," so did
Christ prophecy. The Church of Christ demands the subjection of the flesh; she
preaches against luxury, pride and selfishness. She preaches chastity and
submission to the commandments of God; she preaches penance alike to those of
high and low station in life. This angers all those who would indulge in the
evil things of this world. They cry: "Let us break her bonds asunder; and
let us cast away her yoke from us." But as Christ foretold the persecution
of His Church, so He also foretold that the gates of hell would not prevail
against her.
33 days to Christmas-Start the 33 days to
Eucharistic Glory[7]
Want to start a small group? Download
our 33 Days to Eucharistic Glory Study Guide
Day
28
On
this 28th day the reception of the Eucharist compels us to greater
unity with the church
Copilot:
The
reception of the Eucharist compels Catholics to greater unity with the Church
in several profound ways:
1.
Shared
Belief and Practice: The Eucharist
is a central belief and practice in the Catholic faith. Participating in this
sacrament unifies believers around a common ritual that transcends individual
differences.
2.
Communion
with Christ: Receiving the
Eucharist is a direct encounter with Christ, which strengthens the bond between
the individual and the entire Body of Christ, the Church.
3.
Sense of
Belonging: The communal aspect of the
Eucharist fosters a sense of belonging to the Church family, reinforcing the
idea that believers are part of a larger spiritual community.
4.
Unity in
Diversity: The Eucharist brings
together people from diverse backgrounds and cultures, united in their shared
faith and devotion to Christ.
5.
Strengthening
Community Bonds: Regular
participation in the Eucharist helps build and strengthen relationships within
the Church community, fostering mutual support and encouragement.
6.
Commitment
to the Church’s Mission: The
Eucharist inspires believers to commit to the Church’s mission of spreading the
Gospel and serving others, working together to build the Kingdom of God.
7.
Living Out
Christ’s Commandments: By
receiving the Eucharist, Catholics are reminded of Christ’s commandments to
love God and love one another. This common goal unites believers in their
efforts to live out these teachings.
8.
Mutual
Forgiveness: The Eucharist
encourages believers to seek and offer forgiveness, promoting reconciliation
and unity within the Church.
9.
Sharing in
Christ’s Sacrifice: The Eucharist
is a participation in Christ’s sacrificial love, which calls believers to live
sacrificially and selflessly, fostering greater unity and compassion within the
Church.
10. Strengthening the Church’s Witness: A united Church is a stronger witness to the world.
The Eucharist empowers Catholics to be effective ambassadors of Christ’s love
and message.
11. Support in Faith Journey: Receiving the Eucharist provides spiritual support
and strength for individual faith journeys, which is further enhanced by the
collective journey of the Church community.
12. Encouragement of Service: The Eucharist inspires acts of charity and service,
encouraging believers to work together in ministry and outreach, strengthening
the Church’s communal bonds.
13. Celebration of Unity: The Eucharist is a celebration of the unity of the
Church, bringing believers together in worship and praise of God.
Through
these ways, the reception of the Eucharist not only strengthens individual
faith but also reinforces the unity and cohesion of the Church as a whole,
fostering a community that is united in purpose, love, and service.
Bible in a
Year Day 171 Elijah and Elisha
Fr. Mike breaks down the moment Elijah is taken up to heaven, and the miracle
Elisha performs at the spring. In 2 Chronicles, we also read about how king
Amaziah suddenly turned his heart away from God by worshipping idols. Today's
readings are 2 Kings 2, 2 Chronicles 25, and Psalm 70.
Evergreen Day[8]
Every year one thing remains the same around
the holidays, people everywhere have to decide at what point before the big day
they’re going to go out and hunt down a Christmas tree. Look for an Evergreen Day is about the last opportunity you have
if you haven’t already gotten yours to ensure you have a tree for the Holidays.
Even if you’ve already got your tree for this year, this is a great opportunity
to go out and familiarize yourself with the other types of Evergreens in your
neighborhood, and discover that these regal giants are around you all year
round. Look for an Evergreen Day was originally established by the National
Arborist Association to create a day to appreciate the beauty of these trees
outside of the confines of merely being bedecked with glittering lights and
ornaments even in the depths of winter these noble trees keep their foliage,
providing that wonderful green and white contrast that is so representative of
deep winter. Evergreens have played an important role in many societies throughout
the ages, selected for religious observances due to their seemingly eternal
nature even in a season of death, ·but that’s not the only place they’re
represented, the Native Americans of the Pacific Northwest were entirely
reliant on the red cedar for multiple aspects of their culture. Whether they
were making clothing, fishing line, ropes, or building their homes or canoes,
the red cedar was vital a vital part of their lives. Going back even further,
most people have heard about how Socrates was made to drink a glass of hemlock
tea, which he did with his normal unflinching nature. Hemlocks are a shade
tolerant evergreen with short striped needles. As you can tell, knowing the
difference between your evergreens could one day save your life!
How to celebrate Look for an Evergreen Day
·
The best way to celebrate is to grab a book of
local flora/fauna, and head out to identify all the different types of
evergreen plants that grow in your part of the world· There are literally
thousands of different varieties from every place in the vegetable kingdom, so
there are certain to be multiple examples in your local area.
·
Obviously, if you haven’t gotten your tree yet,
then Look for an Evergreen Day is
when it should happen· By understanding the difference between Blue Spruce,
Douglas Fir, and the dozens of other varieties of Christmas Tree available,
you’ll know which ones will have the most even spread, which ones will be the
most dense, and will best compliment your home and decorating scheme.
Christmas
Tree[9]
The
Christmas tree has become one of the most accepted traditions of the modern
world at Christmas. Here we have a short explanation of the Christian
symbolism.
It's not always possible to set up a tree at
Christmas Eve but waiting until the 3rd or 4th Sunday of Advent is a good
compromise.
DIRECTIONS
There is a beautiful symbolism in the
traditional Christmas tree which is so popular in our country. The tree
represents the long period of waiting for the coming of the Christ, Who is
represented by a star or some other shining ornament at the top of the tree.
The ornaments, candles and lights represent His gifts and graces to us. This
meaning of the Christmas tree should be made clear to all the children of the
family — they will love the element of mystery they find here.
In Germany and in many other countries, candy,
cookies and nuts are hung on the branches. The children love this. These
articles represent good things which can be eaten as well as looked at.
Therese Mueller suggests that the best time to
put up the tree is on Christmas Eve, and not before. All of the symbolism
points to the Nativity of Our Lord and premature erection of the tree and crib
takes something from the meaning of these things (Cf. Family Life in Christ,
Liturgical Press: Collegeville, MN, p. 15).
Activity Source: How to Make Your House a Home
by Rev. Bernard Stokes, O.F.M., Family Life Bureau, Washington D.C., 1955
Fitness Friday[10]
3 Healthy Things to Do Every Winter Solstice
1. Sleep deep. Shortest day = longest night. Take advantage of this and plan for it to be a perfect night of sleep.
Check in with yourself to evaluate your sleep hygiene. Sleep experts recommend that you establish a simple ritual before you go to bed to tell your body it is time to rest.
Brush your teeth, wash your face, read a book or meditate for several minutes before you close the light. Make your slumber environment clear of stressors by making your room as dark as possible, turning off the television and silencing your phone.
Set yourself up to be successful by making your bedroom a sanctuary for sleep.
2. Sweat often. It’s dark when we leave for work and dark when we return home. It’s only normal that motivation to move wanes without the friendship of the sun.
While it’s tempting to skip the gym in favor of extra time hunkered down, do your best to move each day, especially today.
Walk an extra few minutes to a bus or subway stop further away, take the stairs and walk the mall to incorporate a little more movement into your daily routine.
Also, you don’t have to be a weekend warrior to enjoy an hour or two of cross-country skiing, a few minutes on the ice rink, or an afternoon sledding with the kids. Make time during the week for simple, active pleasure.
The benefits will show in your mood first. Remember these little bits of movement can not only add up but can also motivate us to move more and get in a “real” workout.
3. Live consciously. We spend a lot more time inside when it’s dark and cold outside. Spending time making your home or office a space that you like to be in will deflect some of the stress and help you lead a well and healthy life.
Winter cleaning isn’t so bad when you play your favorite music, and the result often makes you feel great. Carve out an hour to freshen up your space today.
Light scented candles and shift some furniture around so that you can enjoy it in a new way. Take a minute to look at what is and isn’t working in the space you live in so that you can feel empowered in your world. Take time to appreciate your surroundings today – those in nature and those you created for yourself.
Acknowledge the winter solstice this year, and every year going forward. Honor yourself and your work as you pursue your personal Nutritious Life ambitions for another season. Make it a day every year that you press the reset button amid the chaos of the holiday season and focus on you.
As you look forward to sunnier days, remember to enjoy the darker days, too!
Daily Devotions
·
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting: Today's Fast: Conversion of Sinners
·
Rosary
[1]The Collegeville Bible Commentary
[6]Frings,
Math Josef. The Excellence of the Rosary Conferences for Devotions in Honor of
the Blessed Virgin
[7]https://www.dynamiccatholic.com/33-days-to-eucharistic-glory/33EG.html?srsltid=AfmBOopIHMivIR422BjtUtJ2KZm8-MrVMEJFtxZYH7ZkFuXRwdu5G1Qi#longDescription
[10] https://nutritiouslife.com/nurture-yourself/winter-solstice/
Quick Answer: Oh, Mr. Porter! (1937) is a British comedy about an inept railway worker turned stationmaster who, with two bumbling colleagues, accidentally thwarts gunrunners. Its Catholic lessons can be drawn from themes of perseverance, humility, vigilance against evil, and the dignity of even flawed service.
🎬 Film Summary
- Premise: William Porter (Will Hay), a clumsy railway worker, is promoted to stationmaster at a dilapidated rural station in Northern Ireland. His assistants are the elderly Harbottle (Moore Marriott) and cheeky Albert (Graham Moffatt).
- Comic Chaos: The trio mishandle stolen livestock, botch renovations, and fall prey to local legends about the ghost of One-Eyed Joe.
- Conflict: Porter unwittingly agrees to transport smugglers (gunrunners) disguised as football fans. The criminals hijack the train, diverting it to a haunted windmill.
- Resolution: Despite their incompetence, Porter and his companions escape, recapture the train, and alert authorities. The railway mobilizes to stop the smugglers, who are arrested. The film ends with comic respect for the old engine, which promptly explodes.
✝️ Catholic Lessons & Reflections
Though a secular comedy, the film’s themes resonate with Catholic moral imagination:
- Humility in Service: Porter is inept, mocked, and underestimated, yet his persistence leads to justice. Catholic teaching emphasizes that God works through the humble and imperfect (cf. 1 Corinthians 1:27).
- Perseverance in Trial: Despite ridicule and repeated failure, Porter continues striving. This echoes the virtue of fortitude, enduring difficulties for the sake of the good.
- Vigilance Against Evil: The smugglers represent hidden corruption. Porter’s eventual recognition and resistance reflect the call to discern and oppose evil, even when disguised as ordinary life.
- Communal Action: The railway’s mobilization to stop the criminals mirrors the Church’s teaching on solidarity—evil is overcome when communities act together for justice.
- Respect for Tradition: The trio’s salute to the old engine, even after its comic explosion, suggests reverence for what has carried them forward. This parallels Catholic respect for tradition and the instruments of grace, even when fragile.
- Comic Redemption: The humor itself is instructive—Catholic spirituality often values joy and laughter as signs of hope, reminding us that God’s providence can shine through even absurd circumstances.
🌲 Why It Matters for Devotional Hospitality
For your hospitality and devotional framework, Oh, Mr. Porter! can be paired with:
- Evergreen Hope: Like the old engine “Gladstone,” faith may seem worn but remains capable of carrying us forward.
- Symbolic Meal Cue: A simple railway-themed meal (bread rolls as “tickets,” tea in tin mugs) could embody humility and perseverance.
- Scriptural Tie-In: Luke 12:37–40 (“Blessed are those servants whom the master finds vigilant”) aligns with Porter’s accidental but faithful vigilance.
