Posts
NOVEMBER
20 Thursday
Universal Children’s Day
Universal Children's Day[1]
Universal
Children's Day aims to create a day of international fraternity and
understanding between children all over the globe. The holiday's secondary
purpose is to promote the objectives and ideals of the Declaration of the
Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Rights of the Child through
activities and awareness. Children are the future of the planet, but they are a
vulnerable group exposed to abuse and exploitation on a daily basis. As young
dependents, children rely on adults for everything from food to shelter to
education and it is imperative that their rights be heard if they are to
survive and develop into the next generation of world citizens. Universal
Children's Day was declared on in 1954 by the United Nations
General Assembly as a day to be celebrated on November 20, the anniversaries of
the Declaration of the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Rights of
the Child, both of which protect the human rights of
children.
Universal
Children's Day Facts & Quotes
·
The UN General Assembly adopted the United
Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in November 1989. The United
States drafted and signed the treaty; however, it is currently the only member
county that has not ratified it, meaning that the US is not legally bound by
the Convention. Ratifying the treaty would go against certain laws
currently in place in the US, most notably, the treaty forbids life
imprisonment without parole for children under 18.
·
According to UNICEF, 22,000 children die every
day as a result of poverty, often due to preventable diseases such as diarrhea
and pneumonia.
·
As of 2013, 21.8 million children worldwide in
their first year of life had not received adequate vaccine doses against
diseases such as tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis.
·
The poor are hungry and their hunger traps them
in poverty. - The World Food Program
·
What is at stake is nothing less than the
survival and well-being of a generation of innocents. - Antonia Guterres, UN
High Commissioner for Refugees
Universal
Children's Day Top Events and Things to Do
·
Read the Declaration of the Rights of the Child
and the Convention on the Rights of the Child to learn more about how these
treaties can impact your community.
·
Spend the day playing with your children, your
nieces and nephews, your grandchildren or other children that you know. Take
them to the beach, a playground, a movie, or any other outing of their
choosing.
·
Donate your time to American organizations such
as Big Brothers Big Sisters of America or UNICEF that constantly need
volunteers to organize and execute activities for children in needy
communities.
·
Watch a movie that touches on children's
rights. Our picks are In This World (2012), Arna's Children (2002)
and Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
Catechism of the Catholic Church
Day
161
The Liturgy of the Hours
1174 The mystery of Christ, his Incarnation and Passover,
which we celebrate in the Eucharist especially at the Sunday assembly,
permeates and transfigures the time of each day, through the celebration of the
Liturgy of the Hours, "the divine office." This celebration,
faithful to the apostolic exhortations to "pray constantly," is
"so devised that the whole course of the day and night is made holy by the
praise of God." In this "public prayer of the Church," The
faithful (clergy, religious, and lay people) exercise the royal priesthood of
the baptized. Celebrated in "the form approved" by the Church, the
Liturgy of the Hours "is truly the voice of the Bride herself addressed to
her Bridegroom. It is the very prayer which Christ himself together with his
Body addresses to the Father.
1175 The Liturgy of the Hours is intended to become the
prayer of the whole People of God. In it Christ himself "continues his
priestly work through his Church." His members participate according
to their own place in the Church and the circumstances of their lives: priests
devoted to the pastoral ministry, because they are called to remain diligent in
prayer and the service of the word; religious, by the charism of their
consecrated lives; all the faithful as much as possible: "Pastors of souls
should see to it that the principal hours, especially Vespers, are celebrated
in common in church on Sundays and on the more solemn feasts. the laity, too,
are encouraged to recite the divine office, either with the priests, or among
themselves, or even individually."
1176 The celebration of the Liturgy of the Hours demands
not only harmonizing the voice with the praying heart, but also a deeper
"understanding of the liturgy and of the Bible, especially of the
Psalms."
1177 The hymns and litanies of the Liturgy of the Hours
integrate the prayer of the psalms into the age of the Church, expressing the
symbolism of the time of day, the liturgical season, or the feast being
celebrated. Moreover, the reading from the Word of God at each Hour (with the
subsequent responses or troparia) and readings from the Fathers and spiritual
masters at certain Hours, reveal more deeply the meaning of the mystery being
celebrated, assist in understanding the psalms, and prepare for silent prayer.
the lectio divina, where the Word of God is so read and meditated that it
becomes prayer, is thus rooted in the liturgical celebration.
1178 The
Liturgy of the Hours, which is like an extension of the Eucharistic
celebration, does not exclude but rather in a complementary way calls forth the
various devotions of the People of God, especially adoration and worship of the
Blessed Sacrament
Corner-
·
Joe Biden and Robert F. Kennedy’s Birthday
·
How to celebrate Nov 20th
o
Moving forward, embrace the spirit of learning
and knowledge on GIS
Day. Explore online maps, learn about geographic information systems,
or even try your hand at creating your own map. Dive into the world of
geography and discover new places from the comfort of your own home.
o
Next, acknowledge the importance of children on
Children’s Day in the UK and World Children’s Day. Spend quality time with the
children in your life, engage in fun activities, and create lasting memories
together. Show them love, care, and support.
o
Transitioning to the future, embrace Future
Teachers of America Day. Reflect on the impact teachers have had on
your life and consider mentoring or supporting aspiring educators. Share your
knowledge and experiences with those who are passionate about teaching.
o
Finally, treat yourself to a sweet delight on National
Peanut Butter Fudge Day. Whip up a batch of this delicious treat or
visit a local bakery to enjoy some fudgy goodness. Indulge in the creamy, nutty
flavors and savor each bite.
Best Place to visit in November:
Havasupai Falls is sure to take your breath away as soon as
you set your eyes on the bright blue water. Although it’s about a 10-mile hike to get to
the falls, the trip is totally worth it. While temperatures might be too
cold to enjoy swimming in the water in November, you might still be able to
take a dip if you’re feeling brave.
The main reason why November is ideal for seeing Havasupai
Falls is that the usual Arizona
heat is much milder. Considering the length of the hike, you’ll be glad to
enjoy those cooler temps.
The area is closed during the winter, starting in December,
and both October and November see fewer visitors. This means more opportunities
for moments of solitude like the one in the photo!
Thursday Feast
Thursday is the day of the week
that our Lord gave himself up for consumption. Thursday commemorates the last
supper. Some theologians believe after Sunday Thursday is the holiest day of
the week. We should then try to make this day special by making a visit to the
blessed sacrament chapel, Mass or even stopping by the grave of a loved one.
Why not plan to count the blessing of the week and thank our Lord. Plan a
special meal. Be at Peace.
Dinner Menu
- Drink: Beaujolais
Nouveau
- hors d'oeuvre
Bacon-wrapped
Scallops
- appetizer Beaujolais
goes great with French charcuterie like patés, terrines, rillettes, and
saucisson sec. You can also serve it with cornichons, fresh radishes, and
a crusty baguette
- main
course Poached salmon or seared tuna and salmon
- Dessert:
Cheesecake with Red Fruit
Absolutely—here’s your Souda Bay, Crete:
“Olive Mercy and Mountain Fire” Adventure Guide, formatted just like your
Naples guide with clean, embedded hyperlinks for every section:
🇬🇷
Souda Bay, Crete – Olive Mercy and Mountain Fire
A week of monastic clarity, coastal resilience,
and Cretan hospitality
1. Lodging with Legacy
Stay where olive groves meet naval rhythm
·
NSA
Souda Bay Passenger Terminal Info
·
Souda
Bay Space-A Travel Tips – Poppin’ Smoke
·
Sissy
Village Hotel – walkable from base
·
Royal
Sun Hotel – Chania – panoramic views and shuttle service
2. Olive Mercy – Seven-Course Ritual Meal
A symbolic Cretan supper rooted in oil, exile,
and resurrection
1.
Dakos salad – broken
bread and living water
2.
Dolmades
with avgolemono – hidden strength and lemon clarity
3.
Grilled
halloumi with thyme honey – sweet fire and monastic joy
4.
Lamb
with stamnagathi greens – wild mercy and rooted strength
5.
Fried
snails with rosemary – pilgrim’s patience and spiral return
6.
Graviera
cheese with fig jam – aged wisdom and sweetness preserved
7.
Loukoumades with
cinnamon and raki – golden joy and firelight finale
3. Symbolic Adventures
1.
Kayak
the Akrotiri Peninsula – mercy on the Aegean
2.
Hike
the Samaria Gorge – descent and ascent through mercy
3.
Visit
Arkadi Monastery – resistance, refuge, and Eucharistic fire
4.
Explore
Ancient Aptera – civic ruins and layered witness
4. Cultural Pilgrimage
·
Old
Venetian Harbor – Chania – light, exile, and return
·
Maritime
Museum of Crete – naval memory and island resilience
·
Folklore
Museum of Chania – woven witness and domestic mercy
5. Nature & Reflection
·
Botanical
Park & Gardens of Crete – healing through fire and regrowth
·
Seitan
Limania Beach – hidden mercy and baptismal cliffs
·
Olive Tree of Vouves – oldest
olive tree in the world
6. Sacred Anchors
·
Agia
Triada Monastery – Trinitarian hospitality and vine-clad
mercy
·
Gouverneto
Monastery & Bear Cave – desert silence and Marian strength
·
Church
of St. Nicholas – Chania – Orthodox-Catholic witness and civic unity
7. Firelight Finale
·
Bonfires not permitted, but rooftop candles or
olive oil lamps are welcome
·
Ritual Act: Pour olive oil into a
small bowl, light a floating wick, and name one mercy you carry forward
·
Film Pairing: Zorba the Greek
– joy, grief, and the dance of resilience
Daily Devotions/Practice
·
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting: Today's Fast: Reparations
for offenses and blasphemies against God and the Blessed Virgin Mary
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Rosary.
Public Catholic figures like Joe Kennedy, Joe Biden, and Nancy Pelosi offer cautionary lessons about the tension between personal faith and public policy—especially when Church teachings are selectively embraced or publicly contradicted.
Here are some key lessons drawn from their public lives and controversies:
🕊️ 1. Faith as Identity vs. Faith as Witness
- Lesson: Catholicism is not just cultural—it demands moral coherence.
- Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi often affirm their Catholic identity while supporting policies that contradict Church teachings on abortion, marriage, and religious liberty.
- This creates confusion for the public and scandal for the faithful, especially when such figures are described as “devout” while opposing core moral doctrines.
🧭 2. The Danger of Compartmentalization
- Lesson: Separating personal belief from public duty can erode integrity.
- JFK famously pledged to resign if his presidential duties ever conflicted with his religious obligations. While this reassured Protestant voters in 1960, it also modeled a form of compartmentalization that many Catholic leaders have since emulated.
- Biden and Pelosi have similarly argued that their political responsibilities require them to set aside Church teachings, especially on life and sexuality.
🛡️ 3. Selective Moral Advocacy
- Lesson: Cherry-picking Catholic social teaching weakens its prophetic power.
- These figures often invoke Catholic values like care for the poor, immigration, and healthcare—but ignore or oppose teachings on abortion, euthanasia, and marriage.
- Pelosi defended the Affordable Care Act as consistent with Catholic values, despite the bishops’ unified opposition due to abortion concerns.
🔍 4. Public Scandal and Ecclesial Response
- Lesson: Public dissent from Church teaching invites pastoral correction—not silence.
- The U.S. bishops have struggled to respond consistently to high-profile Catholics who publicly contradict Church teaching. This ambiguity can lead to scandal, confusion, and division within the Church.
🕯️ 5. The Need for Integrated Witness
- Lesson: Authentic Catholic leadership requires unity of life, faith, and public service.
- The Church calls all Catholics—especially public ones—to be witnesses of truth, not just symbols of cultural heritage. When faith is reduced to sentiment or identity, its transformative power is lost.
