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. "
Purple Stride Saves Lives-Donate on this picture of my daughter and her mother
The Fighting Seabees (1944) — War / Origin Story
Director: Edward Ludwig Starring: John Wayne (Wedge Donovan), Susan Hayward (Constance Chesley), Dennis O’Keefe (Lt. Cmdr. Robert Yarrow) Studio: Republic Pictures Release: January 27, 1944 Runtime: 100 minutes Source Material: Fictionalized account of the creation of the U.S. Navy Construction Battalions (Seabees)
Plot Summary
Civilian construction boss Wedge Donovan leads crews building airstrips in the Pacific, but they are forbidden to defend themselves during Japanese attacks. After a deadly assault kills several of his men, Donovan pushes the Navy to create a new kind of unit—builders who can also fight.
The Navy forms the Construction Battalions. Donovan and his men enlist, train, and deploy as the newly minted Seabees. As the war intensifies, they must defend the very ground they built. In the climactic battle, Donovan sacrifices himself by driving an explosive‑rigged bulldozer into enemy fuel tanks, stopping an assault and saving the battalion.
The film dramatizes the birth of the Seabees as a people who build under fire, defend what they build, and give everything for the mission.
Cast Highlights
John Wayne — Wedge Donovan, the hard‑driving builder whose zeal and flaws shape the battalion’s creation Susan Hayward — Constance Chesley, the correspondent who witnesses the Seabees’ transformation Dennis O’Keefe — Lt. Cmdr. Robert Yarrow, the officer who understands the strategic need for a builder‑fighter force William Frawley — Eddie Powers, representing the grit and humor of the construction crews
Themes & Moral Resonance
1. Inheritance of Mission
The Seabees inherit a battlefield they did not choose. Their task is not merely to survive but to build what others depend on.
This raises the spiritual question:
What mission has God entrusted to you that must be built under fire?
2. Truth vs. Illusion
Donovan’s frustration exposes a deeper truth: good men cannot remain passive in the face of evil.
The illusion is that “someone else” will protect the vulnerable.
The truth is that vocation demands responsibility.
3. Courage in the Face of Chaos
The Seabees’ courage is not bravado but perseverance:
build the runway
hold the line
finish the mission
This mirrors the Christian call to construct the good even when darkness presses in.
Catholic Lessons on Confronting Evil
1. Evil exploits the undefended; holiness fortifies.
The unarmed workers symbolize souls left vulnerable.
The formation of the Seabees mirrors the Church’s task: train, guard, and strengthen the faithful.
2. Evil thrives in disorder; holiness restores mission.
The chaos of the early attacks reveals the enemy’s strategy:
confuse, scatter, demoralize.
The Seabees respond with order, discipline, and purpose.
3. Evil manipulates fear; holiness acts with clarity.
The enemy attacks at night, from shadows, through intimidation.
The Seabees respond by stepping forward, not retreating.
This is the Christian pattern: courage is clarity in motion.
4. Evil seeks destruction; holiness builds and defends.
The Seabees’ motto—We build, we fight—is a spiritual truth:
you defend what you love, and you love what you build.
5. Evil is broken by sacrifice; holiness gives itself away.
Donovan’s final act is a parable of Christlike self‑gift:
victory comes through offering, not rage.
Hospitality Pairing
Menu
Beef Stew — rugged, sustaining, wartime fare
Hard Bread — the simple food of men who work before dawn
Strong Black Coffee — the drink of builders and fighters
Atmosphere
Dim room with one bright lamp—clarity cutting through danger
A carpenter’s square, steel bolt, or small American flag on the table—symbols of the builder‑fighter identity
Closing Reflection
The Fighting Seabees shows that evil is not defeated by panic or bravado but by ordered courage, rightful authority, and sacrificial love.
The Seabees become a parable:
Stand your ground.
Build what is needed.
Defend what is good.
Give yourself so others may live.
The video argues that the modern world faces a coordinated ideological threat from what the speaker calls a union of Islam and Communism, which he claims is openly advancing against American and global freedom. Intelligence analyst John Guandolo outlines how these movements operate, why he believes they are strategically aligned, and what citizens must do to defend liberty. youtu.be
2. Key Points From the Video
A. The Framing of the Threat
The host asserts that America is in a “serious battle for freedom” and that the enemy is “clever and bold.”
Guandolo claims that Islamist and communist networks share methods, goals, and operational strategies.
He argues that these networks are no longer hiding but acting openly in cultural, political, and institutional spaces. youtu.be
B. Guandolo’s Background (as presented)
Former Marine Corps officer in infantry and reconnaissance.
Nearly 13 years in the FBI, where he says he developed early counter‑terrorism programs identifying jihadi networks. youtu.be
C. What He Says We Are “Up Against”
Ideological infiltration rather than conventional warfare.
A long‑term strategy aimed at undermining Western freedoms from within.
A moral and spiritual battle as much as a political one. youtu.be
D. What He Says We Must Do
Understand the ideological roots of the threat.
Re‑commit to defending freedom at the cultural and spiritual level.
Strengthen communities, families, and faith practices.
3. Lessons on Confronting Evil (Christian, strategic, and practical)
A. Evil thrives in confusion — so name it clearly
The video’s central claim is that evil advances when people refuse to identify its ideology or methods.
Christian tradition agrees: clarity is the first act of charity.
Lesson: Confront evil by refusing euphemisms, denial, or wishful thinking.
B. Evil works through alliances of convenience
The video frames Islamism and Communism as ideologically different but strategically aligned.
Whether one agrees with the framing or not, the principle stands: Evil often forms coalitions not because of shared beliefs but shared enemies.
Lesson: Watch for patterns, not labels.
C. Evil advances when the good are passive
The host emphasizes that the threat is “not hiding anymore.”
In Christian anthropology, evil fills vacuums left by the sloth of the righteous.
Lesson: Confront evil by acting—spiritually, civically, and communally—before crises erupt.
D. Evil targets institutions first
The video stresses infiltration of cultural, political, and educational structures.
This mirrors the Church’s teaching that structures of sin can form when vigilance lapses.
Lesson: Guard institutions with the same seriousness as personal morality.
E. Evil is defeated by formation, not outrage
The video calls for understanding, discipline, and preparedness—not panic.
This aligns with your own emphasis on clarity, gentleness, and fidelity.
Lesson: Confront evil by forming people who are spiritually, intellectually, and morally resilient.
F. Evil collapses when confronted with truth and courage
The speaker’s solution is not violence but knowledge, readiness, and moral resolve.
Christian tradition: truth spoken in charity is the primary weapon against deception.
Lesson: Confront evil by living the truth publicly and without fear.
Evil does not win by strength but by our confusion, our silence, and our fatigue.
The task is not to match its aggression but to surpass its clarity.
When the good are formed, vigilant, and unafraid to name reality, evil loses its camouflage—and once exposed, it cannot endure the light.
·Start your day with a hearty breakfast of pancakes to celebrate the delicious National Pancake Day. Get moving and dance your way through the day in honor of National Dance The Waltz Day, whether it’s in your living room or along the sidewalk. Share some love and appreciation for the sons in your life on National Sons Day by reaching out with a thoughtful message or spending quality time together.
·As you continue your day, consider the importance of brain health on Brain Injury Awareness Day. Take a moment to engage in activities that stimulate your mind, such as puzzles or learning something new. Embrace sportsmanship and fair play on National Sportsmanship Day by participating in a friendly game or competition with friends or family.
·Indulge in a delicious snack to celebrate National Snack Day, trying out new and unique flavors you haven’t experienced before. Explore the great outdoors on National Backcountry Ski Day, even if it just means taking a walk in a nearby park or nature reserve. Get creative and preserve your memories on International Scrapbooking Industry Day by gathering old photos and mementos to create a scrapbook.
·Show gratitude and support for those who have served in the military on National Hug a G.I. Day by sending a care package or donating to a veteran’s organization. Take a moment to appreciate the diverse names people have on Unique Names Day by sharing the story behind your own name or learning about the meanings of different names.
·As the day comes to a close, end it on a sweet note with a slice of pound cake in celebration of National Pound Cake Day. Reflect on the history and significance of town meetings on National Town Meeting Day by familiarizing yourself with local government processes and attending a community meeting if possible.
·Overall, mix and match these holiday themes to create a day filled with movement, creativity, appreciation, and reflection. Let the spirit of each holiday guide your activities and interactions, making the most of this eclectic combination of celebrations.
π Dara’s Corner: Aboard The World
Ordinary Time | March 4 – March 10, 2026 Theme: Awe, Reverence & the Grace of the Great South Coordinates: Eastern Ross Sea → Amundsen Sea → Bellingshausen Sea → Drake Passage → Approaching Cape Horn
❄️ March 4 | Eastern Ross Sea Title: Where the Ice Teaches Patience • Ritual: Hold a piece of ice until it melts, naming one place in your life where patience is forming • Scripture: Psalm 27:14 — “Wait for the Lord…” • Meal: Hot oats with honey, black tea • Reflection: “Patience is the slow thaw that makes truth livable.” • Hospitality Arc: Ask someone where patience has surprised them
π¬️ March 5 | Entering the Amundsen Sea Title: The Wind That Remembers • Ritual: Face the wind and let it carry one old burden away • Scripture: John 3:8 — “The wind blows where it chooses…” • Meal: Root‑vegetable soup, rye crackers, ginger water • Reflection: “The winds of the South remember what we forget.” • Hospitality Arc: Invite someone to name a burden they’re ready to release
π March 6 | Amundsen Sea Drift Title: The Long Quiet • Ritual: Five minutes of stillness with eyes closed, listening for the quiet beneath the quiet • Scripture: Psalm 131:2 — “I have calmed and quieted my soul.” • Meal: Steamed fish, soft rice, herbal tea • Reflection: “Quiet is not the absence of sound but the presence of peace.” • Hospitality Arc: Offer someone a moment of shared silence
π―️ March 7 | Bellingshausen Sea Title: The Hidden Currents • Ritual: Write one hidden current in your life—something moving beneath the surface—and fold it away • Scripture: Proverbs 20:5 — “The purposes of the human heart are deep waters…” • Meal: Lentils, roasted squash, warm citrus water • Reflection: “What moves beneath us often guides us more than what we see.”
• Hospitality Arc: Share a hidden current with someone you trust
π March 8 | Turning North Toward Cape Horn Title: The Great Turning • Ritual: Turn your body slowly northward, naming one turning your life is making • Scripture: Ezekiel 36:26 — “I will give you a new heart…” • Meal: Tomato broth, toasted bread, peppermint tea • Reflection: “Every turning is a kind of conversion.” • Hospitality Arc: Ask someone what direction their heart is turning
π€️ March 9 | Drake Passage Title: The Waters That Test Us • Ritual: Hold the rail and breathe through whatever the sea is doing—calm or storm • Scripture: Mark 4:39 — “Peace! Be still!” • Meal: Simple crackers, broth, ginger tea • Reflection: “Testing waters reveal the strength we forgot we had.” • Hospitality Arc: Check on someone who may be struggling with the motion
π️ March 10 | Approaching Cape Horn / Ushuaia Title: The First Light of Return • Ritual: Watch for the first sight of land and name one grace Antarctica has given you • Scripture: Psalm 90:14 — “Satisfy us in the morning with Your steadfast love…” • Meal: Fresh fruit, warm pastries, strong coffee • Reflection: “Return is not the end of the journey but the beginning of understanding.” • Hospitality Arc: Share with someone the grace you’re carrying home
March 4 Wednesday in the Second Week of Lent
Deuteronomy, Chapter 6, Verse 13
The LORD, your God, shall you FEAR; him shall you serve, and by his
name shall you swear.
I
will not serve. Non serviam is Latin
for "I will not serve". The phrase is traditionally attributed to Satan, who
is thought to have spoken these words as a refusal to serve God in heaven.[1]
Doing the will
of God in all things which He requires of us, in whatever state of life we may
be placed, and doing this with fidelity, with unwearied zeal, and out of love
for Him.
Who are the two master’s whom we
cannot serve at the same time?
God and an inordinate desire for worldly gain. One
cannot serve both, because they demand things that are contradictory.
Who are they that serve mammon, or worldly
wealth?
The avaricious, who, impelled by their longing for
riches, offend God by manifold transgressions of His commandments.
Why does Christ refer us to the
birds of the air and the lilies of the field?
To awaken in us
confidence in Divine Providence. If God feeds the young ravens (Ps. cxlvi. 9)
and the birds of the air if He decks so beautifully the flowers of the field,
how much more will He not care for men, whom He has created after His own
image, and adopted as His children.
Are we, then, to use no care or
labor?
That by no means follows from what has been said. The
Savior forbids only that anxiety, proceeding from little faith, which, in
striving for maintenance, neglects God s honor and commandments, and the good
of one’s soul. For the rest, God Himself has commanded man to labor (Gen. iii.
17-19); and St. Paul says, “If any man will not work, neither let him eat” (n.
Thess. iii. 10).
What should preserve us from
excessive anxiety?
A firm and living faith that God can and will help us.
That He can is clear, because He is almighty; that He will is certain, for the
reason that He is love that He has promised it to us, more than once, most
expressly, and that He is faithful in keeping His promises.
Let
us, then, trust in God, and daily renew our confidence in Him, particularly
when we say the Creed, or when, in the Our Father, we pray, Give us this day
our daily bread.
Consolation
in Poverty
In
your misery and poverty, say often, with Job: “The Lord gave, and the Lord hath
taken away; as it hath pleased the Lord so it is done; blessed be the name of
the Lord (Job i. 21). Or seek comfort in these words: “We lead indeed a poor
life, but we shall have many good things if we fear God and depart from all sin
and do that which is good” (Job iv. 23).
Warning
against Usury
Usury
is that mortal sin which takes advantage of our neighbor’s poverty and need to
extort from him what is justly his own. Would that usurers might bear in mind
what the Lord says: “What doth it profit a man if he gain the whole world and
suffer the loss of his own soul?” (Matt. xvi. 26.)
Copilot’s Take
The
ancient command of Deuteronomy—“The LORD your God shall you fear; Him shall
you serve”—lands with fresh force in an age that has forgotten what service
even means. The first rebellion, non serviam, was not a dramatic tantrum
but a refusal to receive reality as gift. That same refusal animates our
culture today, where self‑sovereignty is treated as the highest virtue and any
external claim on the human will is seen as oppression. The modern person does
not shout “I will not serve”; he simply constructs a life in which service is
unnecessary, inconvenient, or beneath him.
Christ’s
warning about the two masters remains painfully relevant. Mammon today is not
merely money but the entire ecosystem of self‑creation, self‑promotion, and
self‑preservation. It promises freedom while quietly demanding total
allegiance. The avaricious of our time are not only those who hoard wealth but
those who hoard autonomy, comfort, and control. They sacrifice integrity,
relationships, and even their own peace of soul to maintain the illusion that
they answer to no one. In this sense, the worship of mammon is the worship of
the self—an altar that always consumes more than it gives.
Evil
in our era is rarely theatrical. It is efficient, polite, and algorithmic. It
does not persecute the saints; it distracts them. It does not demand open
rebellion; it whispers that prayer can wait, that virtue is optional, that
boundaries are unkind, that sin is outdated language for personal preference.
This is why Christ points us to the birds of the air and the lilies of the
field: not to romanticize nature, but to expose the absurdity of our anxieties.
The one who sustains creation is not incapable of sustaining us. Excessive
worry is not prudence—it is a subtle form of unbelief.
To
confront evil today is to reclaim the simplicity of ordered service. It means
doing the will of God in the concrete duties of our state in life, with
fidelity and without theatrics. It means laboring without anxiety, giving
without calculation, and refusing to exploit the vulnerable in any
form—financial, emotional, or spiritual. It means trusting God enough to obey
Him, even when obedience costs us comfort, reputation, or the approval of the
age. This is the quiet heroism that breaks the spell of non serviam and
exposes the devil’s rebellion as small, tired, and ultimately joyless.
And
finally, it means embracing the poverty of spirit that Job models so clearly: “The
Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”
True poverty—material or spiritual—strips away illusions and forces us to
confront the only question that matters: Whom do you serve? The one who fears
God, departs from sin, and does good will never be abandoned. In a world that
worships autonomy, the Christian who serves with humility becomes a sign of
contradiction, a living reminder that freedom is not found in refusing to
serve, but in serving the One whose will is life.
Prayer. regard Thy people, O Lord, we
beseech Thee, and grant that we, whom Thou commandath to abstain from carnal
food, may also cease from hurtful vices.
EPISTLE. Esther xiii.
9-17.
In
those days Mardochai prayed to the Lord, saying: Oh, Lord, Almighty King, for
all things are in Thy power, and there is none that can resist Thy will, if
Thou determine to save Israel. Thou hast made heaven and earth, and all things
that are under the cope of heaven. Thou art Lord of all, and there is none that
can resist Thy majesty. Thou knowest all things, and Thou knowest that it was
not out of pride and contempt, or any desire of glory, that I refused to
worship the proud Arnan. (For I would willingly and readily for the salvation
of Israel have kissed even the steps of his feet.) But I feared lest I should
transfer the honor of my God to a man, and lest I should adore anyone except my
God. And now, O Lord, O King, O God of Abraham, have mercy on Thy people,
because our enemies resolve to destroy us, and extinguish Thy inheritance.
Despise not Thy portion, which Thou hast redeemed for Thy self out of Egypt.
Hear my supplication, and be merciful to Thy lot and inheritance, and turn our
mourning into joy, that we may live and praise Thy name, O Lord, and shut not
the mouths of them that sing to Thee, O Lord our God.
GOSPEL. Matt. xx.
17-28.
At that
time: Jesus, going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples apart, and said
to them: Behold we go up to Jerusalem, and the Son of man shall be betrayed to
the chief priests and the scribes, and they shall condemn Him to death. And
they shall deliver Him to the gentiles to be mocked, and scourged, and
crucified, and the third day He shall rise again. Then came to Him the mother
of the sons of Zebedee with her sons, adoring and asking something of Him. Who
said to her: What wilt thou?
She
saith to Him: Say that these my two sons may sit, the one on Thy right hand,
and the other on Thy left, in Thy kingdom. But Jesus answering, said: You know
not what you ask. Can you drink the chalice that I shall drink?
They
say to Him: We can. He saith to them: My chalice indeed you shall drink but to
sit on My right or left hand, is not Mine to give to you, but to them for whom
it is prepared by My Father. And the ten hearing it, were moved with
indignation against the two brethren. But Jesus called them to Him and said:
You know that the princes of the gentile’s lord it over them: and they that are
the greater exercise power upon them. It shall not be so among you, but
whosoever will be the greater among you, let him be your minister. And he that
will be first among you, shall be your servant. Even as the Son of man is not
come to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a redemption
for many.
Lenten Calendar
Read: During Lent, it is important
for us to remember the corporal
works of mercy, which are found in the teachings of Jesus and give us a
model for how we should treat all others: as if they were Christ in
disguise.
Reflect: What small changes would
allow you to perform corporal works of mercy: Can you allocate your time
differently, so you have a couple extra hours to volunteer? Do you discard food
that could instead be donated to a local soup kitchen? When was the last time
you participated in a blood drive?
Pray: With mercy on your mind.
Act: Pick one of the seven
corporal works of mercy and do it this week!
Bible in a
year Day 245 The
Faithfulness of Daniel
Fr. Mike takes us through the last chapter of Daniel
and explains how Daniel models for us on how to live in exile and still be
faithful to the Lord. We also see in Jeremiah the Lord promise a new covenant
that will ultimately be fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Today’s readings are
Jeremiah 31, Daniel 14, and Proverbs 16:21-24.
Source Material:The House of Secrets (1926 novel) by Sydney Horler bing.com
Plot Summary
American heir Barry Wilding meets the charming Julie Kenmore on a ship bound for England. Upon arrival, he learns he has inherited an ancestral estate. But when he visits the house, he finds it already occupied—by an old man and Julie herself.
Strange figures lurk around the property, shadowy forces seek control of the house, and Barry is drawn into a web of hidden identities, secret experiments, and criminal schemes. As the mystery deepens, Barry must discern whom to trust, expose the darkness operating within his own inheritance, and reclaim what is rightfully his. Wikipedia
Cast Highlights
Leslie Fenton — Barry Wilding, the unsuspecting heir drawn into danger
Muriel Evans — Julie Kenmore, the mysterious woman with divided loyalties
Noel Madison — Dan Wharton, a figure tied to the criminal undercurrent
Sidney Blackmer — Tom Starr, Barry’s ally Wikipedia
Themes & Moral Resonance
1. Inheritance and Identity
Barry inherits not just a house but a moral responsibility. The film uses the “haunted inheritance” trope to explore:
What do we do with the burdens we didn’t choose?
How do we respond when our past contains hidden corruption?
2. Truth vs. Deception
The house is full of false occupants, secret motives, and hidden rooms—a visual metaphor for:
The layers of self-deception
The danger of letting evil occupy what belongs to the good
The necessity of bringing hidden things into the light
3. Courage in the Face of Intrigue
Barry’s refusal to abandon the house mirrors the Christian call to:
Stand firm when evil tries to intimidate
Reclaim territory that darkness has unlawfully seized
Persevere even when the path is confusing or frightening
The criminals pretend to be the legitimate occupants of the house.
Barry’s insistence on his true inheritance mirrors:
Christ reclaiming the world from the “prince of this world”
The believer reclaiming their vocation from sin’s counterfeit claims
5. Evil fragments; holiness integrates.
The film’s mystery is a tangle of:
False identities
Conflicting motives
Disjointed clues
Barry’s perseverance brings unity and coherence—a symbol of how grace restores order where sin creates chaos.
Hospitality Pairing
For a film built on secrecy, inheritance, and revelation:
Menu
Shepherd’s Pie — a humble, English comfort dish grounding the story’s London setting
Brown Bread & Butter — simple, honest food contrasting the house’s duplicity
Hot Black Tea — the classic companion for unraveling mysteries
Atmosphere
Dim lighting with one bright lamp—symbolizing the single beam of truth cutting through confusion
A small table with keys, old letters, or a pocket watch as props—evoking the inheritance theme
Closing Reflection
House of Secrets shows that evil is not defeated by panic, bravado, or cleverness but by persistent truth‑seeking, courageous presence, and rightful authority reclaimed.
Barry’s journey becomes a parable: Stand your ground, expose the darkness, gather your allies, and reclaim what God has entrusted to you.
oReady for a day full of randomness and fun? Start by simplifying your life: declutter, organize, and prioritize what truly matters. Treat yourself to some Canadian bacon and mulled wine. Show appreciation to caregivers and make someone happy. Fuel your brain with Omega-3s and try a variety of cold cuts. Embrace the Navy spirit and sing anthems. Wear a Moscow Mule mustache and speak in third person. Imagine pets with opposable thumbs and share soup with a friend. Support wildlife, listen up on World Hearing Day, and ponder the what-ifs in life. Taste all 33 flavors, honor the Missouri Compromise, and party like triplets on Tripel Day. Celebrate Bulgaria’s liberation and don’t forget the furry friends on Cats and Dogs Day. This motley mix guarantees a day full of laughter, good food, and quirky activities. So go on, mix and match these celebrations for an unforgettable and bizarrely delightful day!
Candace’s Worldwide Vineyard Tour — Willamette Valley, Oregon
Theme: Stillness, Depth, and the Interior Wilderness of Lent
π️ LITURGICAL CALENDAR
Tue Mar 3 — Tuesday of the 1st Week of Lent
Wed Mar 4 — Wednesday of the 1st Week of Lent
Thu Mar 5 — Thursday of the 1st Week of Lent
Fri Mar 6 — Friday of the 1st Week of Lent
Sat Mar 7 — Sts. Perpetua & Felicity
Sun Mar 8 — 2nd Sunday of Lent
Mon Mar 9 — St. Frances of Rome
πΏ OVERVIEW
The Willamette Valley is the spiritual opposite of Napa and Sonoma: cool, misty, forest‑ringed, contemplative. Perfect for the deepening of Lent — humility, silence, and interior clarity.
Pinot Noir country becomes a metaphor for subtlety, restraint, and truth.
π DAILY OUTLINE
TUESDAY • MAR 3
Location: Eyrie Vineyards (eyrievineyards.com) Focus: Return to roots Act: Taste the original Oregon Pinot Noir lineage. Prompt: What is the root truth God is calling me back to?
WEDNESDAY • MAR 4
Location: St. Mary Catholic Church, Corvallis (stmarycorvallis.org) Focus: Mid‑week Lenten steadiness Act: Light a candle for perseverance.
Vineyard: Domaine Drouhin Oregon (domainedrouhin.com) Prompt: Where do I need more discipline and less noise?
THURSDAY • MAR 5
Location: Sokol Blosser Winery (sokolblosser.com) Focus: Organic clarity Act: Walk the eco‑certified vineyards. Prompt: What clutter is God asking me to clear?
FRIDAY • MAR 6
Location: Trappist Abbey of Our Lady of Guadalupe (trappistabbey.org) Focus: Silence and surrender Act: 30 minutes of silent walking on the abbey trails. Prompt: What rises in me when everything else grows quiet?
SATURDAY • MAR 7 — STS. PERPETUA & FELICITY
Location: Archery Summit (archerysummit.com) Focus: Courage and witness Act: Barrel‑cave tasting. Prompt: Where is God asking me to be brave?
SUNDAY • MAR 8 — SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT
Mass: St. Edward Catholic Church, Keizer (stedwardkeizer.org) Vineyard: Penner‑Ash Wine Cellars (pennerash.com) Focus: The mountain of Transfiguration Act: Write one place in your life where God is revealing unexpected light.
MONDAY • MAR 9 — ST. FRANCES OF ROME
Location: Brooks Wine (brookswine.com) Focus: Hospitality and hidden service Act: Quiet tasting with a journal. Word to Carry: Depth.
MARCH 3 Tuesday
in the Second Week of Lent
Chinese Lantern Festival-International Irish
Whiskey Day
Deuteronomy, Chapter 6, Verse 1-2
This then is the commandment, the
statutes and the ordinances, which the LORD, your God, has commanded that you
be taught to observe in the land you are about to cross into to possess,so that you, that is, you, your
child, and your grandchild, may FEAR
the LORD, your God, by keeping, as long as you live, all his statutes and
commandments which I enjoin on you, and thus
have long life.
Those
that fear the Lord have a great love for Him. “If you love me you will keep my commandments” (Jn. 14:15)
Put to death, then, the parts of you that are earthly:
immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and the greed that is idolatry.
Because of these the wrath of God is coming upon the disobedient. By these you
too once conducted yourselves, when you lived in that way. But now you must put
them all away: anger, fury, malice, slander, and obscene language out of your
mouths. Stop lying to one another, since you have taken off the old self with
its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed, for
knowledge, in the image of its creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew,
circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ
is all and in all.(Col. 3:5-11)
Copilot’s Take
The readings for March 3 remind us that the fear of
the Lord is not servility but ordered love. Deuteronomy ties fear directly to
teaching children and grandchildren because evil gains ground whenever fathers
stop forming their households. God’s warning is simple: if you want to survive
what you’re about to walk into, you must fear Him more than you fear the
culture around you.
The Church’s present weakness is not primarily
persecution but forgetfulness. Too many leaders speak like diplomats instead of
apostles, and too many parishes resemble wellness centers instead of outposts
of the Kingdom. When the Church loses the fear of the Lord, she inevitably
gains fear of the world, and a fearful Church will always try to appease the
very forces she is meant to resist.
The so‑called “new world order” is simply the old
pattern of empire dressed in modern clothing—technocratic control, self‑creation,
and therapeutic morality replacing truth, family, and worship. Every age
repeats the same sequence: redefine the human person, redefine the family,
redefine truth, and punish dissent. None of this is new; it is only our turn to
face it.
Paul’s command in Colossians to “put to death” the
earthly self is not moralism but strategy. A man who has not executed the
internal traitors—anger, impurity, greed, deceit—cannot confront external evil
without becoming its pawn. Renewal begins with personal holiness, and personal
holiness is the most destabilizing force in history.
So confronting evil today means radical obedience,
fearless public fidelity, and the formation of children who know the
commandments not as burdens but as boundaries of freedom. The Lantern
Festival’s celebration of light and the Irish memory of keeping the flame alive
under oppression both echo the same truth: God always preserves a remnant, and
a faithful remnant is enough to rebuild the world.
Jesus’ condemnation of religious externalism,
hypocrisy and vanity is not meant to correct only the Pharisees of his time. It
is also directed at us. We should look into our Lenten practices of piety and
works of charity and see whether they are tainted with hypocrisy. During the
celebration that follows, Christ, the servant of Yahweh, will increase in us
the spirit of human service.
The “phylacteries” mentioned in the gospel were
bands of parchment enclosed in small boxes worn on the forehead and left
fore-arm where they were fixed by straps. On these bands were inscribed the
most important texts of the Law. The “fringes” were the tassels which the Law
required to be worn at the four corners of the cloak. By wearing broad
phylacteries and long tassels the Pharisees intended to show clearly their
fidelity to the Law. —St. Andrew Missal
Prayer.
GRANT, we beseech Thee, O Almighty God, that Thy
family, who, afflicting their flesh, abstain from food, by following justice
may fast from sin.
EPISTLE. Daniel ix.
15-19.
In those days
Daniel prayed unto the Lord, saying: O Lord our God, Who hast brought forth Thy
people out of the land of Egypt with a strong hand, and hast made Thee a name
as at this day: we have sinned, we have committed iniquity, Lord, against all
Thy justice: let Thy wrath and Thy indignation be turned away, I beseech Thee,
from Thy city Jerusalem, and from Thy holy mountain. For by reason of our sins,
and the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem, and Thy people are a reproach to
all that are round about us. Now, therefore, O our God, hear the supplication
of Thy servant, and his prayers: and show Thy face upon Thy sanctuary which is
desolate, for Thy own sake. Incline, O my God, Thy ear and hear: open Thy eyes,
and see our desolation, and the city upon which Thy name is called: for it is
not for our justifications that we present our prayers before Thy face, but for
the multitude of Thy tender mercies. O Lord hear: O Lord, be appeased: hearken
and do: delay not for Thy own sake, O my God: because Thy name is invoked upon
Thy city, and upon Thy people.
GOSPEL. John viii.
21-29.
At that time
Jesus said to the multitude of the Jews: I go, and you shall seek Me, and you
shall die in your sin. Whither I go, you cannot come. The Jews therefore said:
Will He kill Himself, because He said: Whither I go, you cannot come? And He
said to them: You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I
am not of this world. Therefore, I said to you, that you shall die in your
sins. For if you believe not that I am He, you shall die in your sin. They said
therefore to Him: Who art Thou? Jesus said to them: The beginning, Who also
speak unto you. Many things I have to speak and to judge of you. But He that
sent Me is true: and the things I have heard of Him, these same I speak in the
world. And they understood not that He called God His Father. Jesus therefore
said to them: When you shall have lifted up the Son of man, then shall you know
that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself, but as the Father hath taught
Me, these things I speak: and He that sent Me is with Me, and He hath not left
Me alone: for I do always the things that please Him.
Also known as the Shang Yuan Festival or the Yuan Xiao Jie
Festival, the Lantern Festival is a traditional Chinese holiday that falls
during the first month of the lunar calendar, on the fifteenth day. The
festival is a celebration of the end of the Chinese New Year celebrations and
the start of the new year. It’s a time for families to come together and enjoy
food, entertainment, and the lighting of lanterns. One of the fundamental
traditions of the Lantern Festival is the display and appreciation of colorful
lanterns as well as other activities such as fireworks displays, parades, and
traditional dance and music performances. Many people also participate in
cultural activities such as solving riddles written on lanterns or eating sweet
dumplings, called yuanxiao.
History of Lantern
Festival
The origins of the Lantern Festival can be traced back to
the Han Dynasty (202 BC – 220 AD) in ancient China. According to legend, the
festival was originally a celebration of the deity Taiyi,
who was believed to be responsible for the creation of the universe. Over time,
the festival evolved to become a celebration of the new year and the end of the
winter season.
During the Tang Dynasty (618 – 907 AD), the Lantern
Festival became an important cultural event that was celebrated by people from
all walks of life as a time to pay respect to their ancestors and to pray for
good fortune in the new year.
In the modern era, the Lantern Festival is still an
important cultural event in China and is celebrated by millions of people
around the world. It is a time for celebration, reflection, and coming together
with loved ones, and is an integral part of Chinese culture and tradition.
How to Celebrate Lantern Festival
There are many ways in which people celebrate the Lantern
Festival. Some common traditions and activities include:
Displaying and
Appreciating Lanterns
People display lanterns of all shapes and sizes, often in
the form of parades or displays. The lanterns are made from a variety of
materials, including paper, silk, and metal, and come in a wide range of shapes
and sizes. Some lanterns are shaped like animals or objects, while others are
simple round or cylindrical shapes.
Lighting Lanterns
Many people also light lanterns as part of the festival
celebrations. These lanterns can be small handheld lanterns or larger lanterns
that are suspended in the air. In some cases, people release lanterns into the
sky as a symbol of letting go of the past and welcoming the future.
Solving Riddles
Some lanterns may have riddles written on them, and people
try to solve these riddles, which is seen as a fun and interactive way to
celebrate the holiday.
Eating Traditional Foods
The Lantern Festival is also a time for people to enjoy
traditional foods, such as yuanxiao, a type of sweet
dumpling made from glutinous rice flour. Other traditional foods that are often
eaten during the festival include tangyuan (sweet rice
balls) and other sweet treats.
Enjoying Performances
The Lantern Festival is often accompanied by performances
of traditional Chinese music and dance, as well as other forms of entertainment
such as acrobatics and theater.
Fireworks Displays
In some areas, fireworks displays are an important part of
the Lantern Festival celebrations. These displays are often elaborate and
spectacular, and are enjoyed by people of all ages.
Irish Whiskey Day was created by international whiskey
writer Stuart McNamara. Although Stuart writes about whiskey (sometimes spelled
“whisky”) from all over the world, his Irish upbringing means that he has a
special love and respect for Irish Whiskey in particular. This led to him
becoming the editor of IrishWhiskey.Com, the Irish Whiskey Trail and the Dublin
Whiskey Trail.
Stuart became concerned at the way that Irish Whiskey was
being marketed outside Ireland by irresponsible marketers as a shots type
drink. It bothered him that people partook of the precious drink without any
recognition of the amazing degree of science, art, history, heritage, nature
and culture which is the backbone of every single glass of Irish Whiskey or
Uisce Beatha in Irish Gaelic.
Of particular worry to Stuart was the lack of respect for
Irish Whiskey outside of Ireland on that most Irish of days that occurs each
year – St Patrick’s Day, which is celebrated on the 17th of March.
So, Stuart created the special day and the very first
International Irish Whiskey Day was celebrated more than ten years ago. And the
date chosen was particularly significant in relation to many factors.
History of
International Irish Whiskey Day
The numeral 3 has always been of special importance in
Ireland, for a variety of reasons. The symbol of Ireland (the Shamrock) has
three leaves. The Irish flag contains three colors (green, white and orange).
And there are three types of Irish Whiskey – Single Malt, Single Grain and the
uniquely Irish Single Pot Still.
In keeping with the lucky number 3, Irish Whiskey is also
unique in that by tradition, it is triple distilled. Plus, this spirit must be
matured for 3 years in order to be considered “whiskey”, adding to the
fortuitous nature of the number three.
And so, the 3rd of March or 3/3 became the obvious choice of
date for our annual Irish Whiskey Day. It also is exactly two weeks to the day
before St Patrick’s Day which is always on 17 March, making it a perfect time
to raise awareness.
How to Celebrate
International Irish Whiskey Day
Sure, this day is a great time to raise a dram, but there’s
much more to it than just drinking! More options for celebrating this
momentous day include:
Join an Online or Live Event
Today, Irish Pubs and Whiskey Clubs located all over the
world host global online and in-person Irish Whiskey tastings, lectures, talks,
visits and other fun and educational Irish Whiskey activities each year on
March 3rd.
The idea of these events is to educate and inform their
patrons and members from all over the world on the wonder and joy of Irish
Whiskey, just in time to share their newfound Irish Whiskey knowledge and
appreciation with their own friends two weeks later on 17 March St. Patrick’s
Day.
In fact, any Pub, Restaurant or Irish Whiskey friendly venue
can create a free event and map listing for their March 3rd Irish Whiskey Day
Event, no matter where in the world they are located.
Irish Whiskey Tasting Party
Grab a few friends with discerning tastes (five to seven is
perfect) and invite them to an Irish Whiskey tasting.
Provide 4-5 varieties of Irish whiskey. Choose from:
Tullamore D.E.W. Original
Jameson Irish Whiskey
Bushmills Original
Redbreast 15 year
Teeling Single Grain Irish Whiskey
Knappogue Castle Single Malt 16 Year
It will be necessary to have enough tulip-shaped tasting
glasses for each guest to try each type of whiskey. Have a friend bring some
along or borrow from a neighbor if there might not be enough on hand.
Make sure there’s enough room temperature bottled water on
hand to dilute the drinks as well as for people to drink between tastings. Also
provide a few snacks as a palate cleanser, such as oatcakes or crackers.
Make sure each guest has a notepad so they can keep track of
their findings when tasting. Aficionados will know to use the terms Nose, Taste
and Finish. People who are newer to whiskey tasting can simply write down what
they think.
Irish Whiskey in
Entertainment
While Scotch whiskey shows up in many films, Irish Whiskey
may be just a bit more discerning. Still, for the person who is paying
attention, Irish spirits can often be found making Cameo appearances in various
films and shows, which are perfect for watching when celebrating International
Irish Whiskey Day, such as:
Mad Men, American drama series (2007-2015).
Jameson Irish Whiskey makes an appearance with Don Draper (played by John
Hamm), set in the 1960s.
Kill the Irishman, a 2011 biographical crime
film. Bushmills Irish Whiskey is shown passing through the lips of the
main character, Danny Greene (played by Ray Stevenson), a few times
throughout the film.
Out of Africa, an epic romantic film (1985).
Jameson Irish Whiskey makes a cameo appearance in this film depicting the
1937 autobiographical novel of the same name, by Isak Dinesen.
Blown Away, a 1994 action thriller where Jeff
Bridges and Tommy Lee Jones are shown tipping back a few drams of
Bushmills Irish Whiskey.
With a growing online audience each year, International
Irish Whiskey Day is playing its own small part in building a sustainable
lifelong tribe of new Irish Whiskey drinkers and aficionados. Join in the
celebration!
Bible
in a year Day 244 Susanna's
Righteousness
Fr. Mike reflects on the story of Susanna's
righteousness in the Book of Daniel. While celebrating Susanna's virtue,
Daniel's wisdom, and God's faithfulness, Father Mike also warns us that, like
the corrupt elders in the story, we too can allow our to hearts become
perverted by the things we fix our eyes on. The readings are Jeremiah 30,
Daniel 12-13, and Proverbs 16:17-20.
[3]Foley, Michael P... Drinking with the Saints: The
Sinner's Guide to a Holy Happy Hour (p. 370). Regnery History. Kindle Edition.
[4] Schultz, Patricia. 1,000 Places to See Before You
Die: A Traveler's Life List Workman Publishing Company. Kindle Edition.
[5] Sheraton, Mimi. 1,000 Foods To Eat Before You Die: A
Food Lover's Life List (p. 800). Workman Publishing Company. Kindle Edition.
π¬ Women of Glamour (1937)
Starring: Virginia Bruce, Melvyn Douglas, Reginald Denny Director: Gordon Wiles
⭐ What Makes This Film Special
This is Columbia in its mid‑’30s refinement phase — polished, brisk, and built around the studio’s growing confidence in romantic melodrama softened by comedy. It’s also a fascinating echo of Ladies of Leisure (1930), but with the edges rounded by the Production Code and the emotional palette shifted from raw desperation to aspirational gentility.
Melvyn Douglas, as always, is the stabilizing center:
urbane without being aloof
emotionally available without sentimentality
a man whose decency is never performative
Virginia Bruce brings a luminous, almost aching dignity to the “showgirl with a past” archetype. She plays Gloria not as a fallen woman but as someone who refuses to let the world define her worth.
Reginald Denny adds the right amount of breezy charm, keeping the film from sinking into melodrama.
π§ Plot in a Nutshell
Gloria Hudson (Bruce), a nightclub entertainer with a reputation she can’t quite outrun, crosses paths with wealthy artist Dick Stark (Douglas). Their connection is immediate but complicated by class expectations, social gossip, and Dick’s entanglement with the calculating Carol Coulter.
As Gloria tries to step into a better life, she discovers that love with a man from a different world requires courage — and that dignity sometimes means stepping back so the other person can see clearly.
The film moves lightly, but beneath the surface is a story about self‑respect, social barriers, and the quiet heroism of choosing the good even when it costs you.
π‘ Themes
1. Class and the Illusion of Respectability
The film gently exposes how “respectability” is often a performance. Gloria’s past is judged more harshly than the manipulations of the wealthy, revealing the moral asymmetry of class.
2. The Dignity of the Outsider
Virginia Bruce plays Gloria with a moral steadiness that outshines the society people who look down on her. Her integrity becomes the film’s compass.
3. The Douglas Archetype
Douglas once again embodies the man who sees past surfaces — but only after being humbled. His arc is not about rescuing Gloria but about recognizing her worth.
4. Redemption Through Self‑Knowledge
The film suggests that love becomes possible only when each character confronts their own illusions:
Gloria’s belief that she doesn’t belong
Dick’s belief that he can live by society’s script
Carol’s belief that status can substitute for affection
π· A Hospitality Pairing
This film calls for something elegant but unpretentious — a nod to Gloria’s blend of glamour and groundedness.
Suggested pairing:
A dry sparkling wine (Cava or Prosecco — celebratory without pretense)
A small plate of fruit and soft cheese
A simple, candle‑lit setting that mirrors the film’s quiet yearning for beauty and belonging
This is a film best enjoyed in a reflective mood — not rushed, not distracted, but with space to appreciate the emotional gentleness beneath its studio gloss.
✨ A Spiritual Reflection
At its heart, Women of Glamour is about the truth that dignity is not bestowed by society — it is lived.
Gloria’s choices echo the spirit of Romans 12:16: “Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly.”
She never demands honor; she simply lives in a way that reveals it.
Douglas’s character learns that love requires humility — the willingness to see another person as God sees them, not as society labels them.
The film becomes a quiet meditation on the holiness of seeing rightly.
Posts
