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. "
Madeleine Carroll • George Brent • Beulah Bondi Drama / Mystery — Paramount Pictures
🌿 Overview
Hope Ames, a San Francisco socialite, is acquitted of murdering her husband — but acquittal does not restore her reputation. Her powerful mother‑in‑law launches a custody battle for Hope’s young son, and the district attorney who once tried to convict her becomes the unlikely ally who helps her uncover the truth. The film blends courtroom tension with intimate emotional drama, exploring reputation, motherhood, and the long road from suspicion to vindication.
🧭 Themes
Justice vs. Reputation — Acquittal is not the same as restoration.
Motherhood Under Siege — Hope’s fight for her son is the film’s emotional core.
Redemption Through Truth — Matt Logan must confront his own errors.
Power and Control — Mrs. Ames embodies cold, aristocratic certainty.
✝️ Spiritual Reflection
This film becomes a meditation on the Eighth Commandment — the wound inflicted when a person is judged without charity. Hope’s suffering reveals how suspicion can imprison a soul long after the courtroom doors close. Matt Logan’s transformation shows the humility required to admit error and pursue truth even when it undermines one’s pride. Mrs. Ames reminds us that power without compassion becomes cruelty.
Christian takeaway:
Justice without mercy becomes cruelty; mercy without truth becomes sentimentality. The Christian path requires both.
🍸 Signature Cocktail — The Acquittal
A 1930s‑style drink that looks delicate but carries quiet strength — just like Hope Ames.
Ingredients
2 oz gin
0.5 oz Cointreau
0.5 oz dry vermouth
0.25 oz lemon juice
2 dashes orange bitters
Lemon twist
Method
Shake with ice, strain into a chilled coupe, finish with a lemon twist.
Symbolism
Gin/vermouth — the sharpness of the courtroom
Cointreau — Hope’s grace
Lemon — the sting of suspicion
Bitters — the cold resolve of Mrs. Ames
🍽️ Supper Pairing — San Francisco Courtroom Supper
Main Course
Chicken à la King on Toast Points
Elegant, comforting, and era‑appropriate — the kind of supper Hope might have served before her world unraveled.
Side
Buttered Asparagus with Lemon Zest
Bright, refined, and quietly uplifting.
Bread
Sourdough Rolls
A nod to San Francisco’s culinary heritage.
Dessert
Coffee Custard Cups
Simple, soothing, and perfect with a drizzle of your coffee moonshine.
🏡 Hospitality Meditation
Serve a meal that restores dignity. Offer a drink that steadies the heart. In a world quick to judge, hospitality becomes a quiet act of justice — a way of saying: “You are seen. You are welcome. You are more than the worst thing said about you.”
oImagine a day filled with unique activities. Start by checking the weather forecast to plan outdoor fun in honor of the National Weatherperson’s Day. Hit a local park for a game of soccer or host a mini Olympics with friends to celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day. For a delicious twist, whip up some Nutella treats to mark World Nutella Day. Settle down with a good book and participate in a virtual read-aloud session for World Read Aloud Day.
oIndulge your sweet tooth by melting chocolate for some fondue on National Chocolate Fondue Day. If you’re into sports, design your own personalized signing day ceremony to honor National Signing Day. Get creative and bake some Runeberg cakes in tribute to Runeberg Day. Embrace the silly spirit and have a Fart Day contest with your pals for National Fart Day.
oUnleash your inner child by spending the day playing games and letting loose for Global School Play Day. Learn about conservation efforts and monarch butterflies on Western Monarch Day. Take a moment to reflect on diplomacy and political history in honor of Adlai Stevenson Day. Lastly, wrap up your day by watching classic movies and Broadway shows in support of the Move Hollywood & Broadway to Lebanon idea.
oMix and match these activities to create a whimsical and enjoyable day full of surprises and adventures. Remember, it’s all about celebrating the little things in life and having fun with those around you. Enjoy your motley assortment of festivities!
Best Place to visit in February: Petrified Forest National Park
I thought this was a unique and wonderful beauty spot! Located in northeastern Arizona, it’s a protected park which spans over 220,000 acres and I was in awe of it ancient fossilized trees, brightly coloured Badlands, plant and animal fossils, and stunning desert vistas.
The summer heat here can reach dangerously high levels, so I explored during this month instead. I also encountered fewer crowds, and unlike many other national parks, all the roads and trails remained open. The conditions were also perfect for long hikes
– I just made sure I bought warm clothes for the cooler temperatures.
When here, I explored the ancient Puerco Pueblo site which were the remains of a 600-year-old village filled with interesting petroglyphs, the extraordinary Painted Desert (a huge area of colorful badlands), the petroglyph-covered Newspaper Rock, and Rainbow Forest which I found was a surreal but very photogenic spot filled with petrified wood.
Visitors’Center Address: 1 Park Rd, Petrified Forest National Park, AZ 86028
Checking out Rainbow Forest Museum at the visitor center where I saw fossils from the Late Triassic period!
Strolling along the short Crystal Forest loop and admiring the beautiful wood log deposits.
Discovering the Blue Mesa Trail where I saw the incredible colorful badlands and pieces of petrified wood.
Driving on the famous Historic Route 66 which travels through the park!
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.
Theme: Mid‑Ocean Vigilance, Eucharistic Watchfulness, Island Resilience, Trans‑Atlantic Calm Dates: Fri, Feb 6 – Thu, Feb 12
Lajes is the ancient crossroads of the Atlantic — a place where sailors, aircrews, and chaplains have paused for centuries before crossing oceans. Perfect for your pilgrimage arc.
The
Israelite’s were afraid and preferred to have Moses mediate for them with God
rather than having a real relationship with God.
What is
love?
In
his text On Loving God, St. Bernard surveys the four types of love that
Christians experience as they grow in their relationship with God: loving one's
self, selfish love, loving God as God, and loving one's self in God. St.
Bernard reminds us that not only did God give us life, but He gave us Himself.
For indeed, "God deserves to be loved very much, yea, boundlessly, because
He loved us first, He infinite and we nothing, loved us, miserable sinners,
with a love so great and so free." St. Bernard reminds us that we are
indebted to God for his love and His sacrifice. Not only should we love God
because it is what He deserves, but also because loving God does not go without
reward. Loving God is to our advantage. The Lord rewards those who love Him
with the blessed state of the heavenly Fatherland, where sorrow and sadness
cannot enter. St. Bernard's medieval prose is poetic and full of clever
imagery. His work is as beautiful as it is knowledgeable.
Emmalon Davis, CCEL Staff Writer
Copilot’s Take
Fear has a way of echoing through both the Church
and the daily news, often blurring the line between spiritual anxiety and
societal unrest. In Scripture, the Israelites trembled at the foot of Sinai,
stepping back from the God who desired to draw them close. Today, many
believers experience a similar recoil—not from thunder and lightning, but from
the noise of a world saturated with conflict, division, and uncertainty.
Reports of disrupted worship, immigration tensions spilling into sacred spaces,
and communities shaken by public hostility reveal how fear can infiltrate even
the places meant to shelter the soul. Yet the Christian tradition insists that
holy fear is not the same as worldly fear. Holy fear steadies the heart,
sharpens conscience, and leads to deeper love. Worldly fear isolates, agitates,
and blinds. The challenge for the Church is to resist the instinct to retreat
and instead cultivate the reverent courage Moses described—a fear that frees
rather than enslaves, a fear that draws us toward God and one another rather
than driving us apart.
Agatha
came from Catania, a city in Sicily. I was stationed there while in the Navy
and lived in the small town of Nicolosi which was situated on the Volcano
(Etna) near the city of Catania. I was impressed and formed as a young man by
the faith and beauty of the people of Sicily.
Agatha
was born in Sicily and died there a martyr. She belonged to a rich, important
family. When she was young, she dedicated her life to God and resisted any men
who wanted to marry her or have sex with her. One of these men, Quintian, was
of a high enough rank that he felt he could force her to acquiesce. Knowing she
was a Christian in a time of persecution, he had her arrested and brought
before the judge - - himself. He expected her to give in to when faced with
torture and possible death, but she simply affirmed her belief in God by
praying:
"Jesus
Christ, Lord of all, you see my heart, you know my desires. Possess all that I
am. I am your sheep: make me worthy to overcome the devil."
Quintian
imprisoned her in a brothel in order to get her to change her mind.
He
brought her back before him after she had suffered a month of assault and
humiliation in the brothel, but Agatha had never wavered, proclaiming that her
freedom came from Jesus. Quintian sent her to prison, instead of back to the
brothel -- a move intended to make her more afraid, but which probably was a
great relief to her. When she continued to profess her faith in Jesus, He had
her tortured. He refused her any medical care, but God gave her all the care
she needed in the form of a vision of St. Peter. When she was tortured again,
she died after saying a final prayer:
"Lord,
my Creator, you have always protected me from the cradle; you have taken me
from the love of the world and given me patience to suffer. Receive my
soul."
Because
one of the tortures she supposedly suffered was to have her breasts cut off,
she was often depicted carrying her breasts on a plate. It is thought that
blessing of the bread that takes place on her feast may have come from the
mistaken notion that she was carrying loaves of bread. Because she was asked
for help during the eruption of Mount Etna, she is considered a protector
against the outbreak of fire. She is also considered the patroness of bell
makers for an unknown reason -- though some speculate it may have something to
do with the fact that bells were used as fire alarms.
Prayer: Saint Agatha, you suffered sexual assault
and indignity because of your faith. Help heal all those who are survivors of
sexual assault and protect those women who are in danger. Amen
·Bake an Agatha loaf! On St. Agatha's feast day
people would bake loaves attached to a picture of St. Agatha and prayers for
protection from fires. The parish priests would bless the loaves, and people
would keep them in their homes in case of a poor harvest and famine. The
prayers would then be hung above the main door of each home to invoke St.
Agatha's guardianship.
·Spanish tradition associates this feast day with
ancient fertility customs. Young men would visit many farms throughout the
countryside, singing songs of praise to St. Agatha and invoking God's blessing
upon people, animals, and fields. However, if they did not receive the
customary gifts of money or food for their services, they would call down a
'quick old age' upon the ungrateful inhabitants of that farm. Although most of
us do not live in such communities where this kind of custom would be practicable
or even understood, we can pray to St. Agatha for a greater openness to the
transmission of new life in our culture, and actively affirm and support young
couples with children whenever possible.
·St. Agatha is the patron saint against fire.
Take this day to establish a fire escape plan for the family and to practice a
family fire drill. Also check the smoke detectors, fire alarms, and carbon
monoxide detectors to see if they are all working. Change the batteries on all
the alarms!
Bible in a Year Day 218 Each Will Be Judged
Fr. Mike reflects on some of the ways that people turn away from God,
including: worshipping idols, fasting for selfish reasons, and not honoring the
sabbath. He also highlights the passage from Ezekiel 18 that tells us that each
person will be judged by their own actions, and not by those of their parents
or children. The readings are Isaiah 57-58, Ezekiel 17-18, and Proverbs 13:5-8.
National Signing Day
National
Signing Day marks the start of the college football signing season. From this
day forward, high school football players can sign a National Letter of Intent
to play football for a university in the National College Athletic Association
(NCAA). The National Letter of Intent is a binding agreement between a
potential student-athlete and a NLI member institution. Once signed, the
agreement requires the athlete to attend and represent the institution for at
least two semesters or three quarters, and in return, the institution must
provide athletic financial aid for the same duration. National Signing
Day marks the start of many football players' careers as they transition into
more professional setting. National Signing Day was established in 1981 by the
College Football Association in an effort to eliminate separate conference
signing dates and force student-athletes to commit to only one NCAA
institution. Prior to 1981, NCAA football conferences required recruits
to sign separate letters of intent since conference letters only restricted
signing within the conference itself.
National
Signing Day Top Events and Things to Do
·Get
out to your local park and play a game of football with your family and friends
to celebrate all those who are committing to playing in NCAA football today.
·Watch
the day's events of your favorite conference live. Most are aired live
across networks such as ESPN and they can often be found online.
·Review
some of the student-athlete rules and criteria in order to gain a better
understanding of the players' responsibilities and duties in addition to
playing ball. Some basic requirements include:
1) earn at least a 2.3 GPA in core courses
2) earn at least 9 credits per semester
3) adhere to amateurism requirements (limiting agent involvement, prize money,
salaries and contracts with professional teams)
·Watch
a movie about NCAA Football. Our favorites are Friday Night Lights
(2004), The Blind Side (2009), Rudy (1993) and The Express (2008).
·Support
a local high school football team. Your financial and time donations can mean
the chance to get a scholarship for a high school student to pursue university
studies.
A tight, Depression‑era romantic drama, Ring Around the Moon (1936) delivers an unexpectedly tender love story built on class tension, mistaken commitments, and the slow triumph of honest affection.
The film is short, earnest, and emotionally unpredictable — exactly the kind of classic that rewards a devotional, moral‑formation reading.
🎬 Film Snapshot
Year: 1936
Studio: Chesterfield Pictures
Director: Charles Lamont
Runtime: ~65 minutes
Genre: Romantic Drama
Cast: Donald Cook (Ross), Erin O’Brien‑Moore (Gloria), Ann Doran (Kay)
📖 Plot Summary
Ross Graham, an ambitious newspaperman, is romantically entangled with two women:
Kay Duncan — his sincere, grounded co‑worker
Gloria Endicott — a wealthy society woman
Ross prefers Kay, but through a mix of pressure, pride, and poor discernment, he ends up marrying Gloria — a decision he regrets almost immediately. Meanwhile, Kay has moved on and married someone else.
The story unfolds with surprising emotional turns, culminating in a sweet, redemptive ending that reviewers consistently praise.
🎭 Themes & Emotional Texture
Class & Identity: Depression‑era anxieties about wealth, status, and authenticity.
Duty vs. Desire: Ross’s choices reveal the cost of confusing comfort with calling.
Honesty as Redemption: The film rewards truth‑telling, even when late.
Unexpected Grace: Despite its B‑movie origins, the film carries real heart.
✝️ Catholic-Themed Reflection
This film is a quiet masterclass in discernment of spirits:
False Consolation
Ross chooses Gloria because the match looks good on paper — status, security, admiration.
But it leaves him restless, divided, and spiritually thin.
True Consolation
Kay represents humility, truth, and the kind of love that strengthens virtue.
Her eventual freedom — moving on without bitterness — is a model of detachment.
Moral Insight
The film invites a meditation on this principle: “Choose the love that leads you toward virtue, not the comfort that leads you away from yourself.”
🍸 Hospitality Pairing
Period‑Authentic Choice:
The Highball — simple, refreshing, unpretentious.
Perfect for Kay’s grounded character and the newsroom setting.
Thematic Modern Choice:
The Newspaper Cocktail — rye, lemon, simple syrup, bitters.
A nod to Ross’s profession and the film’s emotional sharpness.
The video highlights how organized groups in Minneapolis use intimidation, disorder, and narrative manipulation to pressure public officials. It argues that media framing often softens or excuses destructive behavior, creating a climate where mobs are treated as legitimate expressions of justice while victims and ordinary citizens are overlooked. The speaker emphasizes that leaders frequently yield out of fear—fear of backlash, fear of labels, fear of losing political standing. The result is a breakdown of public order and a widening gap between truth and public perception.
Confronting Evil: A Moral Reflection
Evil rarely announces itself with horns and fire. More often, it advances through confusion, distortion, and fear. The situation described in the video illustrates several enduring truths about how evil operates—and how it must be confronted.
1. Evil begins with deception
When violence is renamed “protest,” when intimidation is reframed as “expression,” when truth is blurred by selective reporting, evil gains its first foothold.
Confronting evil requires the courage to name reality as it is, not as propaganda paints it.
2. Evil feeds on fear
Leaders who fear public backlash or social punishment often retreat into silence.
Moral courage is not the absence of fear but the refusal to let fear dictate action.
3. Evil exploits moral vacuums
When those entrusted with authority fail to act, mobs fill the void.
A just society depends on leaders who stand firm, speak clearly, and protect the vulnerable.
4. Evil collapses under truth
Like every false wizard behind a curtain, deception cannot withstand sustained clarity.
Truth spoken calmly, consistently, and without rage is more powerful than any mob.
5. Evil is confronted through virtue, not vengeance
The answer to disorder is not counter‑disorder.
The answer is fortitude, justice, prudence, and truth—the virtues that stabilize a community and expose manipulation for what it is.
Ordinary Time | February 4 – February 10, 2026 Theme: Orientation, Openness & the Grace of New Shores Coordinates: Tasmania → Bass Strait → Melbourne → Sydney
🌫️Day 1 — February 4 | At Sea Departing Tasmania Title:The Quiet Re‑Orientation • Ritual: Pilgrims sit for three minutes naming one inner direction they feel called to turn toward • Scripture: Psalm 16:11 — “You show me the path of life…” • Meal: Ginger carrot soup, seeded crackers, mint tea • Reflection: “Re‑orientation begins in stillness, not motion.” • Hospitality Arc: Ask someone what direction they sense emerging within them
·🌤️Day 2 — February 5 | Crossing the Bass Strait Title:The Strait of Openness • Ritual: Pilgrims stand at the rail and open their hands to the wind, naming one thing they’re willing to receive • Scripture: John 1:16 — “From His fullness we have all received…” • Meal: Warm oats, berries, black tea • Reflection: “Openness is the soul’s first act of trust.” • Hospitality Arc: Share with someone what you’re opening yourself to
·🌆Day 3 — February 6 | Approaching Melbourne Title:The City That Invites Attention • Ritual: Pilgrims walk a short deck loop, noticing one detail that feels like a gift • Scripture: Matthew 6:22 — “The eye is the lamp of the body.”
• Meal: Tomato basil soup, sourdough, sparkling water • Reflection: “Attention is the beginning of devotion.” • Hospitality Arc: Tell someone the detail that caught your attention
·🌇Day 4 — February 7 | Docked in Melbourne Title:The Harbor of Insight • Ritual: Pilgrims walk a laneway or waterfront path, naming one insight that has surfaced this week • Scripture: Proverbs 2:6 — “For the Lord gives wisdom…” • Meal: Grilled prawns, avocado salad, chilled rosé • Reflection: “Insight grows where curiosity meets grace.” • Hospitality Arc: Share with someone the insight that surprised you Local Inspiration: Melbourne’s laneways, art, and café culture cultivate a spirituality of noticing and nuance.
·🌬️Day 5 — February 8 | At Sea Toward Sydney Title:The Breath of Readiness • Ritual: Pilgrims take three slow breaths—naming readiness, naming courage, naming peace • Scripture: Isaiah 40:29 — “He gives power to the faint…” • Meal: Lentil stew, flatbread, ginger tea • Reflection: “Readiness grows in the quiet places.” • Hospitality Arc: Offer someone a moment of unhurried listening
·🌅Day 6 — February 9 | Approaching Sydney Heads Title:The Harbor of Welcome • Ritual: Pilgrims face the bow and name one place in their life that needs welcoming—an idea, a person, a change • Scripture: Romans 15:7 — “Welcome one another… as Christ has welcomed you.” • Meal: Poached eggs, roasted tomatoes, herbal tea • Reflection: “Welcome is the posture of a generous soul.” • Hospitality Arc: Encourage someone in what they’re welcoming
·🌇Day 7 — February 10 | Docked in Sydney Title:The Shore of Possibility • Ritual: Pilgrims walk a short stretch near Circular Quay or Darling Harbour, naming one possibility they sense emerging • Scripture: Isaiah 43:19 — “See, I am doing a new thing…” • Meal: Fresh salmon, citrus greens, sparkling elderflower • Reflection: “Possibility is the whisper of the Spirit.” • Hospitality Arc: Ask someone what possibility they feel rising
Local Inspiration: Sydney’s harbor, cliffs, and light invite a spirituality of openness and new beginnings.
Our Lord asks us to lead, follow or get the out of the way.
Our Lord tells us,
“Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with
me scatters. Therefore, I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven
people, but blasphemy against the Spiritwill not be forgiven.”
(Mt. 12:30-31)
If you are a leader start leading in the church with a group
of ten; follow where you can and do not hinder the work of the Holy Spirit.
Copilot’s Take
On this First Wednesday, the day traditionally dedicated to
St. Joseph, the Church gives us the perfect model for how to respond when evil
presses in from within the Church or from the headlines. Joseph never postured,
never stalled, never blocked the work of God. He led when God told him to lead,
he followed when God told him to follow, and he stepped aside whenever the Holy
Spirit needed room to act. That’s the posture we need today. When corruption,
cowardice, or confusion rises in the Church or the culture, the call is the
same: lead with integrity, follow with humility, or get out of the Spirit’s
way. Anything else—silence, cynicism, obstruction—only strengthens the darkness
we claim to oppose.
Our Heavenly Father
desires all three hearts of Jesus, Mary and Joseph to be honored. And so along
with devotion to Jesus on First Fridays, and to Mary on First Saturdays, Our
Father longs for us to add devotion to St. Joseph on each First Wednesday of the
month.
"The Sacred
Hearts of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph have been chosen by the Most Holy Trinity to
bring peace to the world." It is at God's request that "special love
and honor be given to them" to help us "imitate" their love and their
lives, as well as "offer reparation" for the sins committed against
them and their love.
The
St. Joseph First Wednesday devotion is:
1. Pray the Joyful
Mysteries of the Rosary - remembering St. Joseph's love, his life, his role and
his sufferings
2. Receive Holy
Communion - in union with the love St. Joseph had for Jesus the first time and
each time he held him - his son, his God and Savior - in his arms.
In the approved
apparitions of Our Lady of America, St. Joseph revealed:
·"I
am the protector of the Church and the home, as I was the protector of Christ
and his Mother while I lived upon earth. Jesus and Mary desire that my pure
heart, so long hidden and unknown, be now honored in a special way.
·Let my
children honor my most pure heart in a special manner on the First Wednesday of
the month by reciting the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary in memory of my life
with Jesus and Mary and the love I bore them; the sorrow I suffered with
them.
·Let them
receive Holy Communion in union with the love with which I received the Savior
for the first time and each time I held Him in my arms.
·Those
who honor me in this way will be consoled by my presence at their death, and I
myself will conduct them safely into the presence of Jesus and Mary."
Bible in a Year Day 217
The
Everlasting Covenant
Fr. Mike highlights the rich text in Isaiah 55 and 56 which reveals that the
house of the Lord will not only be for the chosen people, but for all people.
We also hear the story of how God mercifully restores Israel who is like an
unfaithful bride. Today’s readings are Isaiah 55-56, Ezekiel 16, and Proverbs
13:1-4.
World Cancer Day
aims to save lives by raising awareness and educating the population about cancer. The day also serves to pressure governments and
individuals to take action in order to prevent, treat and control cancers.
Cancer is a heterogeneous group of diseases that result from abnormal cell
growth and have the potential to spread to other parts of the body. On February
4, 2000, World Cancer Day was officially established by the Paris Charter at
the World Summit Against Cancer for the New Millennium in Paris. The
Paris Charter sought to promote research for a cure, prevention, services for
patients and support from the global community.
World Cancer
Day Facts & Quotes
·Breast, lung and prostate
cancer are the most commonly diagnosed cancers in the United States.
Approximately 70% of patients with lung cancer die, while only 16% and 14% of
patients with breast and prostate cancer suffer the same fate.
·Childhood cancers are not
common. Less than 1% of all cancer diagnoses in a given year will be for a
child under the age of 15.
·Lifestyle changes such
as, not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, keeping
active and eating right can prevent certain types of
cancer.
·Since cancer knows no
boundaries, and individual countries cannot address the challenges of cancer in
isolation, a new cooperative approach to research, advocacy, prevention and
treatment must be established. - Paris Charter
World Cancer
Day Top Events and Things to Do
·Watch a documentary about
cancer and cancer related topics. Some of our favorites are: Understanding Cancer: The Enemy Within, Cancer: The Forbidden Cures and The Quest
for the Cures: Cancer.
·Understand the risks of
smoking and urge those that you know to quit smoking. Smoking is the cause of
22% of the cancers every year.
·Donate to cancer research
organizations. The American
Cancer Society accepts donations that
help with patient treatment and exhaustive research in the hopes of curing
cancer someday.
·Join the fundraising
activities to support cancer victims, their families and the continued research
efforts to find a cure. Many communities offer Walks for the Cure and
other types of fundraising events that can support cancer survivors or those currently
in treatment.
·Learn to recognize some
of the general signs and symptoms of cancer. Although the signs and symptoms
differ from cancer type, these are some of the American Cancer Society's
general signs and symptoms:
1) the presence of an obvious mass (a bump)
2) unexplained weight loss
3) loss of appetite
4) frequent fevers.
When the cold
winter winds are blowing and snow falls around your feet, nothing takes the
chill away like a bowl of homemade soup! You may think that to make a pot of
simmering heaven you would need to be highly skilled in the kitchen and have
all day free. This couldn’t be farther from the truth! With some well used
short cuts and easy, beginner-friendly recipes all over the internet, there is
no reason why you can’t impress family and friends alike with a wonderful
creation to celebrate Homemade Soup Day! Soup has been warming the stomachs of
the masses for nearly 9000 years! It’s about time there was a day devoted to
it! Not just any soup, mind you. Do not even think about opening a boring,
bland can of soup on Homemade Soup Day. It’s all about the fresh, easy,
homemade kind of soup! It’s a good thing that it falls in one of the coldest
months of the year, near the end of winter (or so we hope the end is near!). Meals
and snacks can get a little boring and repetitive when there isn’t an abundance
of fresh offerings. Taking some time to put together a pot of soup is a great
way to break up the monotony. What are your favorite flavors? There are many
easy recipes out there. Make some chicken soup, or tomato, or maybe something
more adventurous? That is what today is all about. Experiment and try something
new.
How to
celebrate Homemade Soup Day
If you are new
to creating culinary masterpieces you can use this day as a motivation to try
something new. Already a kitchen wizard? Use today to gather up some friends
and have a tasting of several different homemade soups. Or better yet have a
cook off! Each friend shows up with their own homemade masterpiece and you and
your friends have a lively night of fun to see whose soup is crowned the winner.
Looking for some
inspiration? Try this recipe on for size!
Ingredients
·32 oz Chicken Broth
·4 c water
·3 cups bite-size chicken
·2 t seasoning
·1/2 of a 12 oz. bag
egg-white noodles
·2c frozen vegetables
(corn, peas, etc)
·Salt and pepper
Directions
·In large stock pot, add
broth, water, chicken, and seasonings. (Add more seasoning to taste, if
desired.) Bring to a boil.
·Add egg noodles and
continue boiling to cook noodles as directed on package. Soup is ready to serve
when the noodles are done. Season with salt and pepper to taste or allow your
guests to season their own.
·Set this on the table
with a loaf of dark bread and you have a meal worthy of being part of the
celebration for Homemade Soup Day!
Every Wednesday is
Dedicated to St. Joseph
The Italian culture has
always had a close association with St. Joseph perhaps you could make
Wednesdays centered around Jesus’s Papa. Plan an Italian dinner of pizza or
spaghetti after attending Mass as most parishes have a Wednesday evening Mass.
You could even do carry out to help restaurants. If you are adventurous, you
could do the Universal Man Plan: St. Joseph style. Make the evening a family
night perhaps it could be a game night. Whatever you do make the day special.
·Today in honor of the Holy Trinity do the Divine Office giving your day
to God. To honor God REST: no shopping after 6 pm Saturday till Monday. Don’t
forget the internet.
Starring Barbara Stanwyck, Herbert Marshall, Ian Hunter
Directed by Sidney Lanfield
⭐ Plot Summary
Barbara Stanwyck plays Anne Rogers, a woman marked by loss and forced into a heartbreaking choice early in life. After the death of her fiancé, Anne gives up her newborn son to a wealthy couple who can provide the stability she cannot. Years later, she becomes a capable, globe‑trotting secretary to a businessman (Herbert Marshall), burying her grief in work and distance.
Fate intervenes when Anne unexpectedly crosses paths with her now‑grown son and his adoptive family. The encounter awakens all the maternal longing she has tried to suppress. At the same time, she finds herself caught between two men: her steady employer (Marshall) and a charming suitor (Ian Hunter). The emotional tension builds toward a choice between personal happiness and the quiet, sacrificial love that has defined her life.
The film leans into the classic 1930s melodrama structure:
a woman with a hidden wound
a child she cannot claim
a love triangle shaped by duty and desire
a final act where self‑denial becomes the highest form of love
Stanwyck carries the film with her trademark blend of steel and vulnerability.
✝️ Catholic / Moral Reflection
This is a story about sacrificial love, the kind that chooses the good of another even when it costs everything. Anne’s life echoes the spiritual truth that love is often expressed not in possession but in relinquishment.
Three themes stand out:
1. The Hidden Cross
Anne’s suffering is quiet, unseen, and unacknowledged — the kind of cross many people carry without recognition. Her dignity comes from bearing it without bitterness.
2. Motherhood as Vocation, Even When Invisible
Though she cannot raise her son, Anne’s maternal heart shapes every decision she makes. The film honors the truth that motherhood is not erased by circumstance.
3. Love That Lets Go
The climax of the film is not romantic triumph but moral clarity. Anne chooses the path that allows her son to flourish, even if it means stepping back.
It’s a Marian kind of love — steadfast, self‑emptying, and oriented toward the child’s good rather than the mother’s consolation.
This is a film that invites viewers to reflect on the difference between sentiment and charity, between wanting someone and willing their good.
🍸 Hospitality Pairing
The “Quiet Goodbye” Cocktail
A gentle, bittersweet drink that matches the film’s emotional tone.
1½ oz gin
½ oz dry vermouth
½ oz crème de violette
Lemon twist
Soft, floral, restrained — a drink that feels like a sigh.
Non‑Alcoholic Option: Lavender Lemon Tonic
Sparkling water
Lavender syrup
Fresh lemon
A sprig of mint
Light, fragrant, and reflective.
📝 One‑Sentence Takeaway
A tender melodrama where Barbara Stanwyck shows that the deepest love is often the love that steps back, blesses quietly, and says “goodbye” for the sake of another’s flourishing.
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