Start 2026 in the MOST POWERFUL Way Possible!

Saturday, January 3, 2026

· Full Wolf Moon

o According to the almanac today we are having a Full Wolf Moon; plan to go with your children or grandchildren around a fire and howl a little at the moon having fun together. Also, you could sit down together and listen to the music from Peter and the Wolf. As a child this was one of my favorite record albums that I would make my mother play repeatedly much to her distress.

Vinny’s Corner-Mel Gibson’s Birthday 1956

Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love.

(1 John 4:8)

· International Mind-Body Wellness Day

· John Ronald Reuel Tolkien Day

· Festival of Sleep Day

Around the World in Perfect Weather: A 52‑Week Dream Trip

🎨 Valparaíso • Neruda’s Bohemian Port
January 3 – January 10, 2026

Jan 3 – Arrival in Valparaíso
• Travel: Easy coastline drive or short flight north from Bariloche/Santiago (_{$120–$180 one‑way)
• Lodging:}_{Hotel Da Vinci Valparaíso}₍$95/night) – boutique stay in the historic quarter
• Meals: ~$60/day (seafood empanadas + local wine)
• Symbolic Act: Journal on “Port of arrival” — reflect on thresholds and beginnings

Jan 4 – Hillside Colors & Neruda’s House (Sunday, Epiphany Vigil)
• Visit: La Sebastiana, Pablo Neruda’s House – museum of poetry and views
• Mass: Iglesia de la Matriz de Valparaíso — Sunday Mass (Epiphany Vigil)
• Lodging: Hotel Da Vinci (~$95/night)
• Meals: ~$65/day (harbor café lunch + bohemian supper)
• Tickets: ~$10 entry
• Symbolic Act: Sketch a hillside mural as a symbol of layered stories

Jan 5 – Feast of the Epiphany (Holy Day of Obligation)
• Mass: Catedral de Valparaíso — Epiphany Mass
• Visit: Cerro Concepción — panoramic views and street art
• Lodging: Hotel Da Vinci (~$95/night)
• Meals: ~$70/day (celebratory Epiphany supper with seafood and citrus)
• Symbolic Act: Journal on “Light to the nations” — reflect on the Magi’s journey in a port city

Jan 6 – Port & Market Communion
• Visit: Mercado Cardonal — bustling local market
• Mass: Daily Mass at 11:00 AM or 8:00 PM
• Lodging: Hotel Da Vinci (~$95/night)
• Meals: ~$60/day (market lunch + seafood supper)
• Symbolic Act: Share fruit or bread with fellow travelers

Jan 7 – Civic Art & Street Murals
• Walk: Cerro Alegre — famous street art neighborhoods
• Mass: Daily Mass at 11:00 AM or 8:00 PM
• Lodging: Hotel Da Vinci (~$95/night)
• Meals: ~$65/day (street café lunch + wine bar dinner)
• Symbolic Act: Journal on “Walls that speak” — reflect on civic joy

Jan 8 – Coastal Rest & Reflection
• Visit: Playa Las Torpederas — quiet beach near the port
• Mass: Daily Mass at 11:00 AM or 8:00 PM
• Lodging: Hotel Da Vinci (~$95/night)
• Meals: ~$60/day (beach picnic + farewell supper)
• Symbolic Act: Journal on “Rest after Epiphany” — pause in the light of revelation

Jan 9 – Ascensor & Panoramic Farewell
• Visit: Ascensor Artillería — historic funicular with panoramic views

• Mass: Daily Mass at 11:00 AM or 8:00 PM
• Lodging: Hotel Da Vinci (~$95/night)
• Meals: ~$65/day (harbor café lunch + farewell dinner)
• Tickets: ~$1.50 funicular ride
• Symbolic Act: Write a closing note of gratitude and leave it at the port

Jan 10 – Departure from Valparaíso
• Travel: Return to Santiago (~$120–$180 one‑way)
• Meals: ~$60/day (light breakfast + airport lunch)
• Symbolic Act: Journal on “Port of departure” — reflect on transitions and onward journeys

💰 Cost Snapshot (Jan 3–10 Valparaíso Week)

Lodging (7 nights): ~$665

Meals (7 days): ~$445–$460

Tickets/Activities: ~$25–$30

Local Transport (funiculars, buses): ~$50–$70

Flight/Drive Santiago → Valparaíso: ~$120–$180 per person

➡️ Total per person: ~$1,300–$1,400 for the Valparaíso week

January 3 First Saturday

Holy Name of Jesus-10^th Day of Christmas-Full Wolf Moon

Genesis, Chapter 28, Verse 17

He was AFRAID and said, 'How awe-inspiring this place is! This is nothing less than the abode of God, and this is the gate of heaven!'

This verse is about Jacob, who was the grandson of Abraham and he was on a journey to the ancestral home of Abraham, Haran. During this journey he had a dream while sleeping in the desert that put him in a Holy fear. Almost all fear is destructive but holy fear is the beginning of wisdom and prepares one to do the will of God. A holy fear helps us to have a great respect for life in all its stages from the child that goes in the mother’s womb to the elderly that are approaching their end of life. Holy fear also encompasses a great respect for the earth and all its creatures. The earth in its grandeur reminds us of the awe of our God. Make plans to go out to some awe-inspiring place to experience heavens gates. Holy fear compels us to protect others and nature; realizing that the earth and each life in it are sacred and deserving of protection.

Copilot’s Take

Jacob wakes from his desert dream trembling, not with the panic that scatters a man, but with the holy fear that gathers him. “How awe‑inspiring this place is… this is the gate of heaven.” On the tenth day of Christmas, under the Full Wolf Moon, the Church whispers the Holy Name of Jesus — the Name before which every fear is sifted, sorted, and redeemed. Jacob’s fear becomes reverence; his loneliness becomes encounter; his stone pillow becomes an altar. Holy fear does this: it reorders the heart so we can recognize the sacred in front of us — the unborn child, the aging parent, the stranger, the land itself. It teaches us that creation is not raw material but entrusted gift, that every life bears the imprint of the One whose Name we invoke today. On this First Saturday, let Jacob’s awakening become our own. Go somewhere that stirs awe — a canyon overlook, a winter field, a quiet chapel — and let the veil thin. Holy fear is not the dread that shrinks us but the clarity that enlarges us, reminding us that we walk daily on the threshold of heaven, and that our task is to guard what God calls good.

First Saturday Devotion^{^[1]}

The practice of the First Saturday devotion was requested by Our Lady of Fatima, who appeared to three shepherd children in Fatima, Portugal, multiple times starting in 1917. She said to Lucia, the oldest of the three children: “I shall come to ask . . . that on the First Saturday of every month, Communions of reparation be made in atonement for the sins of the world.” Years later she repeated her request to Sr. Lucia, the only one still living of the three young Fatima seers, while she was a postulant sister living in a convent in Spain: “Look, my daughter, at my Heart, surrounded with thorns with which ungrateful men pierce me at very moment by their blasphemies and ingratitude. You at least try to console me, and say that I promise to assist at the hour of death, with the graces necessary for salvation, all those who, on the first Saturday of five consecutive months, shall confess, receive Holy Communion, recite five decades of the rosary, and keep me company for 15 minutes while meditating on the 15 mysteries of the rosary, with the intention of making reparation to me.”

Conditions to Fulfill the First Saturday Devotion

There are five requirements to obtain this promise from the Immaculate Heart of Mary. On five consecutive first Saturdays of the month, one should:

1. Have the intention of consoling the Immaculate Heart in a spirit of reparation.

2. Go to confession (within eight days before or after the first Saturday).

3. Receive Holy Communion.

4. Say five decades of the Holy Rosary.

5. Meditate for 15 minutes on the mysteries of the Holy Rosary with the goal of keeping Our Lady company (for example, while in church or before an image or statue of Our Lady).

Read How to Make Your First Saturday Rosary Meditation According to Sr. Lucia

Why Five Saturdays?

Our Lord appeared to Sr. Lucia on May 29, 1930, and gave her the reason behind the five Saturdays devotion. It is because there are five types of offenses and blasphemies committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary:

1. Blasphemies against the Immaculate Conception

2. Blasphemies against Our Lady’s perpetual virginity

3. Blasphemies against her divine maternity, in refusing at the same time to recognize her as the Mother of men

4. Blasphemies of those who publicly seek to sow in the hearts of children, indifference or scorn or even hatred of their Immaculate Mother

5. Offenses of those who outrage Our Lady directly in her holy images

Never think that Jesus is indifferent to whether or not His mother is honored!

The Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus[2]

Devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus was originally reserved to the Feast of the Circumcision, since it was at His circumcision that our Lord received His name. But because of the growth of this devotion, a separate feast was instituted, first by the Franciscans in the seventeenth century, then by the universal Church (its date was permanently fixed by Pope St. Pius X). One of the most cherished customs of this feast is singing the hymn, Jesu, Dulcis Memoria by St. Bernard of Clairvaux, the great medieval monk and tireless promoter of devotion to the Holy Name. The Litany of the Most Holy Name of Jesus, recited either after Mass or in procession, is also a popular devotion.

Holy Name of Jesus[3]

The Name Jesus as had been foretold by the angel. The feast is meant to impress on us Christians the dignity of the Holy Name.

What did a name signify originally?

The name should express the nature of a thing. Thus, Adam in paradise gave the animals names in accordance with their being. Among the Jews God's name expressed His essence, Yahweh, i.e., I (alone) am who am (and cause all else to be). The Jews had the highest respect for the name of God, a reverence that finds continuation in the Our Father: "Hallowed be Thy Name." Persons who played prominent roles in the history of salvation often received their names from God Himself. Adam — man of the earth; Eve — mother of all the living; Abraham — father of many nations; Peter — the rock. The Savior's precursor was given the name God assigned him. According to divine precedent, then, the name of the Redeemer should not be accidental, of human choosing, but given by God Himself. For His name should express His mission. We read in Sacred Scripture how the angel Gabriel revealed that name to Mary: "You shall call His name Jesus." And to St. Joseph the angel not merely revealed the name but explained its meaning: "You shall call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins." The Messiah should not only be the savior but should be called Savior. With Jesus, therefore, the name actually tells the purpose of His existence. This is why we must esteem His name as sacred. Whenever we pronounce it, we ought to bow our heads; for the very name reminds us of the greatest favor we have ever received, salvation.

Jesus[4]

His name was called Jesus, which was called by the Angel before He was conceived in the womb." LUKE ii. 21.

1. It is not difficult to meditate upon the Holy Name, or to use the Holy Name in prayer. More than any other name, perhaps alone among all proper names, it is appropriate to the One Who owned it. Usually, the names of men are given at random; they mean nothing in themselves; a man who happens to be called John might just as well have been called Thomas or William; the mere name tells us nothing about him; it is a convenient means of distinguishing him from others, a label put upon him and little or no more With a few human beings it has been otherwise: Adam, Abraham, Josue, John the Baptist were given names that signified the men on whom they were bestowed. But with none is this so true as it is with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. With care the Angel impressed it on His Mother's mind: "Thou shalt call His name Jesus," he said, and there followed the description of His future greatness. With care it was repeated to Joseph: Thou shalt call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins.

2. The Name stands as a complete summary and description of our Lord's character and office, and it is under this aspect that it has been regarded by thousands of saints, whose hearts have melted at its mere sound. To them Jesus is their God, Jesus is their King, Jesus is their Redeemer, Jesus is their Mediator, Jesus is their Savior, Jesus is their great Priest, Jesus is their Intercessor, Jesus is the Captain under Whom they fight, Jesus is the Leader Whom they follow, Jesus is their Teacher, Jesus is the Giver of their law, Jesus is the Spouse and Shepherd of their souls, Jesus is their Light, Jesus is their Life, Jesus is the Judge before Whom they rejoice to think that they must one day stand, Jesus is their final and eternal Reward, for which alone they live.

3. But He is also to them the mirror of all the most glorious and winning virtues. He is, and His Name tells them that He is, unbounded Charity, infinite Mercy, extremist Kindness, deepest Humility, most devoted Piety, transparent Simplicity, uttermost Poverty, Chastity without a stain. It is the prerogative of love to transform those who love into the likeness of Him Whom they love; and as the mere name of one who is loved cannot sound in the ear or be thought of in the mind without adding to the love which is already there, so the thought of the Holy Name and the mention of the Holy Name have a kind of sacramental power in the hearts of His saints. They seem to convey the grace which enables men to think like Him, to speak like Him, to act like Him, to sacrifice themselves like Him, and to Him, and for Him, and along with Him, to make Him known to others, not by word only, but also by reproduction of Him in themselves, and to win all men to love Him.

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and let all that is within thee bless His Holy Name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and never forget all He hath done for thee. Ps. cii. i, 2.

Names are important.^{^[5]}

Most of us remember the elementary school playground and the mean names kids called each other. Author and speaker, Kary Oberbrunner, states that we all have a secret name that the One who made us gives us. Oberbrunner said, “My name is Kary, and I have a girl’s name.” He was no stranger to mean names on the playground. He went on to say that each of us has three names:

Our birth name – the name assigned to us when we arrive in this world.
Our given names – the names assigned to us as we walk through the world. These names can be positive and negative, ranging from successful, beautiful, star athlete to those names assigned by mean kids, like concentration camp victim, stupid, addict.
Our secret name – the name granted to us by God, Oberbrunner said the problem is our birth names and given names don’t ever fill up the void inside us. We pretend and wear masks.

What would God call you?

When Christ called his apostles; He revealed to some of them God’s name for them. Sons of Thunder for John and James and for Simon son of John, He called him Peter which means “Rock”.

Christmas Calendar[6]

Read "But the one name that contains everything is the one that the Son of God received in his incarnation: JESUS. The divine name may not be spoken by human lips, but by assuming humanity the Word of God hands it over to us and we can invoke it: "Jesus," "YHWAH saves." The name "Jesus" contains all: God and man and the whole economy of creation and salvation. To pray "Jesus" is to invoke him and to call him within us. His name is the only one that contains the presence it signifies. Jesus is the Risen One, and whoever invokes the name of Jesus is welcoming the Son of God who loved him and who gave himself up for him. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 2666)

Reflect "May he—who did not shrink from taking a beginning like ours—perfect in us his gifts, and may he also make us children of God, he who for our sakes wished to become a child of man." — St. Augustine, Sermons, 184

Pray Today we remember and honor the Most Holy Name of Jesus. Take time to read the Litany of the Holy Name of Jesus.

Act Make reading the daily readings a part of your New Year's habits this year.

Today is the tenth day of Christmas the 10 Lord’s leaping are a sign for the Ten Commandments.

Bible in a Year Day 186 Struggles with Self-Interest

Fr. Mike highlights the goodness of Hezekiah as king of Judah but also points out his failure to protect the future of his people. While Hezekiah let his self-interest cloud his judgment, we are reminded to pray for those who will come after us, doing our best to preserve what will be theirs one day. Today's readings are 2 Kings 20, 2 Chronicles 31, and Psalm 144.

Daily Devotions

· Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them in fasting: Today's Fast: The Pope

· Drops of Christ’s Blood

· Universal Man Plan

· Rosary

[1]https://www.catholiccompany.com/getfed/what-is-the-first-friday-and-first-saturday-devotion/

[2]https://www.holytrinitygerman.org/xmascustoms.html#holyname

[3]http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2014-01-03

[4]Goffine’s Devout Instructions, 1896.

[5] http://www.yoursecretname.com/

[6]http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/liturgical-year/christmas/christmas-january-3.cfm

🎬 Too Many Husbands (1940)

Starring: Jean Arthur, Fred MacMurray, Melvyn Douglas
Director: Wesley Ruggles
Studio: Columbia Pictures
Based on: Home and Beauty (1919) by W. Somerset Maugham, retitled Too Many Husbands for New York; inspired by Tennyson’s Enoch Arden.

⭐ Plot Summary

Vicky Lowndes (Jean Arthur) believes her husband Bill (Fred MacMurray) has died in a boating accident. Grieving and lonely, she eventually marries Henry (Melvyn Douglas), Bill’s best friend and business partner.

Six months into her new marriage, Bill unexpectedly returns—very much alive—after surviving on a deserted island.

What follows is a screwball triangle of:

two husbands who both want her,
a wife who enjoys being adored by both,
and a legal/moral puzzle about marriage, loyalty, and desire.

The men bicker, compete, and even share a bedroom to keep an eye on each other, while Vicky refuses to choose until they “work it out.” The film plays the situation for comedy rather than scandal, leaning into rapid-fire dialogue, jealousy, and gender-role satire.

🎭 Why It Works

Jean Arthur is the engine of the film—vivacious, mischievous, and fully aware of her power. MacMurray and Douglas play beautifully off each other: one rugged and impulsive, the other refined and strategic.

It’s stage‑bound (Columbia kept the budget tight), but the performances and pacing make it sparkle.

✝️ Catholic Moral & Virtue Reflections

This is where your hospitality‑and‑formation lens shines. The film’s comedic premise actually opens up rich moral territory.

1. Marriage as Covenant, Not Convenience

The film treats marriage lightly—almost as a social contract that can be rearranged.
Catholic teaching insists marriage is:

exclusive,
permanent,
ordered toward mutual self-gift.

The comedy works precisely because the audience knows the situation is morally impossible. The absurdity highlights the seriousness of the real thing.

2. The Temptation of Being “Wanted by Two”

Vicky enjoys the attention.
This is the spiritual danger of vanity—the desire to be adored rather than to love.
Her indecision becomes a mirror for our own temptations to keep options open instead of committing fully.

3. Friendship Tested by Rivalry

Bill and Henry were business partners and friends.
Their rivalry exposes:

envy,
suspicion,
the fragility of male ego.

Catholic virtue calls for justice and charity—even when desires collide.

4. Providence and the Return of the “Dead”

Bill’s reappearance echoes Enoch Arden—a story about sacrifice, not competition.
Maugham’s play satirizes that ideal; the film softens it into farce.
But the underlying question remains:
What do we owe the people we once vowed to love?

🍸 Hospitality Pairing: A 1940 Screwball Cocktail

Your bar stock is perfect for this era.

The “Vicky’s Dilemma”

A playful, balanced drink representing her two husbands:

1 oz gin (Bill’s boldness)
1 oz bourbon (Henry’s steadiness)
0.5 oz Cointreau
0.5 oz lemon juice
Shake hard; serve up; garnish with a lemon twist split down the middle.

A drink that shouldn’t work—but does—just like the film’s premise.

Friday, January 2, 2026

NIC’s Corner-Try grilled ‘Cevapi-only meat allowed on 1^st Friday

He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, (and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” (Luke 1:32-33)

· Celebration of Life Month-Life, Liberty and Happiness but life first

· Try a buffet, it is national buffet day.

(1 John 4:8)

· Get creative “International Creative Month”

· Bucket List trip: Alexandrea, Egypt

· Iceman’s 40 devotion

· Try “Berenjenas Fritas”

· Operation Purity

· Fish Friday

Rich vs Poor Tour entry for 🇩🇪 Germany vs 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe — Cathedrals of Crisis and Chapels of Struggle.
Germany represents wealth, heritage, and secular decline; Zimbabwe embodies poverty, resilience, and missionary endurance. Together, they extend NIC’s Corner into the tension between institutional collapse and grassroots survival.

🇩🇪 Germany — Wealthy, Industrial, and Crisis Catholic

GDP per capita (PPP): ~$72,300 USD (2024)

🧮 Why Germany Ranks High

Industrial Powerhouse: Automobiles, engineering, and chemicals anchor exports.
EU Leadership: Berlin shapes European policy and finance.
Social Infrastructure: Universal healthcare, pensions, and education.
Cultural Prestige: Gothic cathedrals, Baroque monasteries, and pilgrimage routes.
Political Stability: Strong institutions despite demographic challenges.

✝️ Catholic Landscape

Membership: ~19.8 million Catholics (23.7% of population).
Practice: Only 6.6% attend Sunday Mass; fewer than 30 priestly ordinations in 2024.
Historic Dioceses: Cologne, Munich-Freising, Regensburg, and Berlin.
Liturgical Heritage: Gregorian chant, Eucharistic devotion, Marian shrines.
Civic Role: Catholic schools, hospitals, and charities remain influential.

⚠️ Challenges

Secularization: Nearly half of Germans profess no religion.
Mass Exodus: 321,000 formal resignations in 2024.
Vocational Collapse: Sharp decline in priestly vocations.
Abuse Legacy: Trust eroded by scandals.
Synodal Path: Ongoing debates over reform and identity.

🌿 Pilgrimage Cue
Germany is a journey of cathedrals in crisis—where the Eucharist is offered beneath soaring spires, yet pews stand empty, and the Church wrestles with memory, reform, and survival.

🇿🇼 Zimbabwe — Poor, Struggling, and Missionary Catholic

GDP per capita (PPP): ~$3,450 USD (2024)

🧮 Why Zimbabwe Ranks Low

Economic Fragility: Inflation, unemployment, and currency instability.
Resource Strain: Agriculture and mining underperform amid droughts.
Infrastructure Gaps: Hospitals, schools, and transport underfunded.
Aid Reliance: NGOs and Church missions fill social voids.
Political Instability: Governance challenges weaken development.

✝️ Catholic Landscape

Membership: ~2 million Catholics (≈8–9% of population).
Dioceses: Harare, Bulawayo, Mutare, Gweru, Masvingo, Hwange, Chinhoyi, Gokwe.
Missionary Legacy: Jesuits and religious sisters built schools and clinics.
Liturgical Life: Mass in Shona, Ndebele, and English; strong Marian devotion.
Community Role: Catholicism anchors education, health, and civic life.

⚠️ Challenges

Poverty: Limits catechesis, sacramental preparation, and parish resources.
Vocational Strain: Few priests for vast rural dioceses.
Political Pressure: Past tensions between bishops and state.
Youth Exodus: Migration weakens parish vitality.

🌿 Pilgrimage Cue
Zimbabwe is a journey of chapels in struggle—where the Eucharist is celebrated in crowded parish halls, and the Church sings its faith in endurance, solidarity, and hope against hardship.

🕊️ Editorial Reflection

Germany and Zimbabwe reveal Catholicism’s paradox: one rich in stone but poor in spirit, the other poor in wealth but rich in witness. In Germany, Catholicism is a cathedral of crisis. In Zimbabwe, it is a chapel of struggle. The Rich vs Poor Tour reminds us that the Gospel is not bound by prosperity or poverty—it flourishes in Cologne’s spires and Harare’s parish halls, in the silence of secular decline and the song of survival.

Where does the Church feel more alive—in the echo of empty cathedrals or the cry of faithful resilience?

January 2 First Friday-Saint Basil the Great

9^th Day of Christmas-Motivation

Psalm 23, verse 4:

⁴Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will FEAR no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff comfort me.

Saint Pope John Paul II was an example of someone who walked through the valley of the shadow of death and feared no evil. The Lord’s rod and staff sustained him through the nightmare of the Nazis and the Communists. Both were evil empires devoted to the destruction of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all except for the few selected elite. These empires systematically replaced God with the rule of the chosen ones of the State. People from both the Fatherland and the Motherland sat by and watched the evil grow without taking decisive action, making the adage ‘All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men (or women) do nothing.’ Remember to measure our nation and our politics with Gods Rod (Rods were often used in ancient times to measure) and not the political States or the media nor the opinion of the rich and the powerful. Let us be ever ready to speak up for what is righteous using Gods rod, which are His laws of justice and mercy, working tirelessly and remember Saint Pope John Paul II words of encouragement, “I plead with you – never, ever give up on hope, never doubt, never tire, and never become discouraged. Be not afraid.”

Let us also carry with us for the journey the Staff of God which is truth, not worldly truth but Gods truth. “The word of truth, publicly, indeed almost liturgically, proclaimed was the antidote the Rhapsodic Theater sought to apply to the violent lies of the Occupation. The tools for fighting evil included speaking truth to power.” [1]

Copilot’s Take

On January 2, the feast of Saint Basil the Great and the ninth day of Christmas, we are reminded by Psalm 23:4 that even in the valley of shadows, God’s rod and staff sustain us with justice and truth. Saint John Paul II embodied this courage, enduring the terrors of Nazism and Communism without fear, proclaiming hope and urging us to “be not afraid.” His witness teaches us that motivation is not rooted in worldly power or opinion but in God’s presence, which measures our lives by His laws of mercy and steadies us with His truth. Like Basil, who defended the faith and cared for the poor, and John Paul, who spoke truth to power, we too are called to rise with courage, resist deception, and act when others remain silent. Motivation in this season is not mere enthusiasm but the conviction that God walks with us, empowering us to proclaim His truth and live His justice with steadfast hope.

First Friday and the Sacred Heart of Jesus[2]

ALTHOUGH many pious souls had been accustomed, in the silence of their secluded lives, to venerate the sacred Heart of Jesus with great devotion, still our divine Savior desired that the boundless love of His Heart might be known by all men, and that a new fire of love should thereby be kindled in the cold hearts of Christians. For this purpose, He made use of a frail and little-known instrument in the person of Margaret Mary Alacoque, a nun of the Order of the Visitation, at Parayle-Monial, France. One day, when, according to her custom during the octave of Corpus Christi, she was deeply engaged in devotions before the Blessed Sacrament, the divine Savior appeared to her, showed her His Heart burning with love, and said: “Behold this Heart, which has so loved men that it has spared nothing, even to exhausting and consuming itself, in order to testify its love. In return I receive from the greater part only ingratitude, by their irreverence and sacrilege, and by the coldness and contempt they have for Me in this sacrament of love. And what is most painful to Me is that they are hearts consecrated to Me. It is for this reason I ask thee that the first Friday after the octave of Corpus Christi be appropriated to a special feast to honor My Heart by communicating on that day and making reparation for the indignity that it has received. And I promise that My Heart shall dilate to pour out abundantly the influences of its love on all that will render it this honor or procure its being rendered. Margaret obeyed, but met everywhere the greatest opposition, until finally, when she became mistress of novices, she succeeded, by the help of her divine Spouse, in animating her young charges to venerate the sacred Heart of Jesus. But this was not sufficient for her zeal. She persevered until she softened the opposition of the nuns and kindled in all an equal devotion towards the most sacred Heart. Thence the devotion spread to the adjoining dioceses, where confraternities in honor of the most sacred Heart of Jesus soon sprung up. Pope Clement XIII., after having instituted a most rigorous examination of the whole affair, commanded that the feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus should be solemnly celebrated throughout the whole Catholic Church every year, on the first Friday after the octave of Corpus Christi.

The Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

1. Object of this Devotion.

In the divine Heart of Our Savior, we must not imagine an inanimate heart, separated from the person of Christ, but the living heart of the God-Man, the center of all His affections, the fountain of all His virtues, the most touching emblem of His infinite love to man. The Church venerates the cross, the blood, and the wounds of the divine Savior, by feasts which have their proper masses and lessons, in order, by meditation upon these objects, to awaken in us a more fervent devotion to the Redeemer. How much more worthy, then, of our devotion is the sacred Heart of Our Savior, since all its thoughts, movements, and affections aim at our salvation, and it is always ready to receive truly penitent sinners, to pardon them, to restore them again to God s favor, and make them partakers of eternal happiness!

2. Excellence of this Devotion.

It is, writes the venerable P. Simon Gourdan:

a. A holy devotion, for therein men venerate in Christ those affections and motions of His Heart by which He sanctified the Church, glorified His Heavenly Father, and showed Himself to men as a perfect example of the most sublime holiness.

b. An ancient devotion of the Catholic Church, which, instructed by St. Paul, the great apostle, has at all times acknowledged the great beneficence of the divine and sacred Heart of Jesus.

c. An approved devotion, for the Holy Scriptures everywhere admonish us to renew the heart, by changing our lives; to penetrate it with true sorrow, to inflame it with divine love, and to adorn it by the practice of all virtues. When, therefore, a new heart is promised us, by which to direct our lives, that can be no other than the Heart of Jesus, which is to us the pattern of all excellence, and which we must follow if we would be saved.

d. A perfect devotion, as being the origin of all other devotions. For the Heart of Jesus is the inexhaustible treasury from which the blessed Mother of God, and all other saints have derived their graces, their virtues, their life, their spiritual goods. Filled first with treasures from this source, different servants of God have instituted and established other devotions.

e. A profitable devotion, for thereby we have brought before our eyes the very fountain of life and grace, and can draw directly from it, increasing in ourselves all virtues, by adoring this divine Heart, meditating on its holy affections, and endeavoring to imitate them.

f. A devotion pleasing to God, for thus we adore God, as Christ requires, in spirit and in truth, serving Him inwardly in our hearts, and endeavoring to please Him. Finally, it is:

g. A useful devotion, since its whole object is to unite us most intimately with Christ as members of Him, her head, to make us live by and according to His spirit, to have one heart and soul with Him, and through grace finally to become one with Him, which is and must be the object of all devotions.

As this devotion is, then, so excellent, we cannot sufficiently recommend it to all who are anxious for their salvation. While everyone can practice this devotion, and adore the sacred Heart of Jesus, by himself, there is a greater blessing when pious souls unite and form a confraternity for practicing the devotion. Hesitate not, Christian soul, to engage in this devotion, and to join in the adoration of that sacred Heart of Jesus in which all men find propitiation, the pious, confidence; sinners, hope; the afflicted, consolation; the sick, support; the dying, refuge; the elect, joy and delight.

An Offering to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

Whoever says the following prayer before the image of the most sacred Heart of Jesus, with sincere sorrow for his sins, gains each time an indulgence of one hundred days; and by saying it daily for a month, he can on any one day gain a plenary indulgence, if he makes his confession, receives communion, and prays according to the intention of the Church:

“My loving Jesus, I (N.N.) give Thee my heart; and I consecrate myself wholly to Thee, out of the grateful love I bear Thee, and as reparation for all my unfaithfulness; and with Thy aid I purpose never to sin again.”

St. Basil the Great-9th day of Christmas

The nine lady’s dancing is a sign of the fruits of the Holy Spirit for those who are not afraid: love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. It also reminds us of the nine choirs of angels which are commanded by God to assist us in our journey. Today reflect on the nine choirs and call upon their aid. Devotion to the Angels.

Christmas Calendar[3]

Read: Today we read about St. Basil the Great, revered as a Doctor of the Church.

Reflect: "St. Basil, in a much-quoted homily, once declared that the bread we clutch in our hands belongs to the starving, the cloak we keep locked in our closet belongs to the naked, the shoes we are not using belong to the barefooted. In these ways in the post-biblical age Christians strove to keep a religious perspective on their use of material things."

Pray: As many prepare to return to work after this Holy season, say a prayer for work.

Act: St. Basil once wrote, "Do everything possible to make yourself worthy of the Kingdom. Do not disdain the invitation you have received" (Exhortation to Baptism, 7-8).

When I think of all this, I am left terrorized and swallowed up with fear that, because of fickleness of heart or preoccupation with things of no importance, I may weaken in my love of God and even become a reason of shame or disorder for Christ.”

St. Basil’s Bread[4]

In the Eastern Churches St. Basil's Bread is blessed on his feast day. This blessing has been adapted for home use. The family gathers at the table where the bread is placed along with an icon of St. Basil (if available). The parts marked leader are done by the father or other suitable person.

Prayer

Leader: Through the prayers of our holy fathers, O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us!

All: Amen.

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (three times) Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and forever. Amen.

Most holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse us of our sins. Master, forgive our transgressions. Holy One, come to us and heal our infirmities for Your Name's sake.

Lord, have mercy. (three times)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and forever. Amen.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.

Leader: For Thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever, and forever.

All: Amen.

Troparion - Tone 1 Your voice resounds throughout the world * which has excepted the lessons so well taught by you. * You have given explanation of divine truths. * You have clarified the nature of created things. * You have made a rule of life for men. * By your royal priesthood, O venerable father Basil, * intercede with Christ to save our souls.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and forever. Amen.

Kondakion - Tone 4 O venerable and heavenly inspired Basil, * you were a firm foundation of the Church * by giving to all treasure * and impressing them with your teachings.

Leader: Let us pray to the Lord. All: Lord, have mercy.

Prayer of Blessing

Leader: O Lord, King of the Ages and Creator of all things; You are abounding in mercy and plenteous in goodness! You accepted the gifts of the Wise Men in Bethlehem. You are the Bread of Life Who came down from heaven. You put times and years under Your authority and hold our lives in Your hands. Hear us on this auspicious day of the beginning of this New Year of (name the year) and bless + this sweet bread which is offered for Your glory and honor and in memory of our Father among the Saints Basil the Great, Archbishop of Caesarea in Cappodocia. O Generous One, look down from heaven and send down Your heavenly gifts upon us, those who prepared this bread and all who shall partake of it, because we have placed our hope in You, the Eternal Living God! Bless our coming and going, enrich our lives with Your abundant blessings and direct our steps in the working of Your Divine commandments, because we shall not live by bread alone. Through the intercessions of Your all-pure and holy Mother, of our Father among the Saints, Basil the Great, and of all Your Saints, who have pleased You over the ages.

All: Amen.

The leader takes a knife and incises the sign of the Cross in the bottom of the loaf. It is then cut. It is eaten after the prayers are complete.

Closing Prayers

All: Lord, have mercy. (three times)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and forever. Amen.

More honorable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, who, a virgin, gave birth to God the Word, true Birth-giver of God, we magnify you!

Leader: Lord Jesus Christ, our true God, circumcised in the flesh, through the prayers of His most pure Mother, of Saint Basil the Great, whom we honor this day and of all the saints, have mercy on us and save us.

All: Amen.

Remember to pray for souls in purgatory[5]

Reigning from 1198 to 1216, Pope Innocent III was one of the most influential and important popes of his era.

He granted Francis of Assisi and his small band of follower’s permission to found the Order of Friars Minor; he convened the Fourth Lateran Council which, among other things, dogmatically defined the doctrine of transubstantiation; and he organized great efforts to combat heresy in Europe and repel invading Muslim forces.

Then, after more than 18 years as pope, he died suddenly. But that wasn’t the last he was heard from. When a Christian dies, Catholics believe, they may go straight to heaven if they lack any outstanding temporal punishment due to sins they’ve committed. But many Christians will go to purgatory first, where, by the grace of Jesus Christ, they are purified and prepared to enter into the presence of the all-holy God.

The story goes that on the day Pope Innocent III died, or soon thereafter, he appeared to St. Lutgardis of Aywières in Belgium. St. Lutgardis is considered to have been one of the great mystics of the 13th century, known for her miracles, visions, levitation, and particularly adept teaching.

When Pope Innocent appeared to her, he thanked her for her prayers during his lifetime, but explained that he was in trouble: he had not gone straight to heaven but was in purgatory, suffering its purifying fire for three specific faults he had committed during his life.

And he made a desperate plea for help:

“Alas! It is terrible; and will last for centuries if you do not come to my assistance. In the name of Mary, who has obtained for me the favor of appealing to you, help me!”

Then he vanished.

With a sense of urgency, St. Lutgardis quickly told her fellow religious sisters what she had seen and prayed for his soul.

Remember to pray for the holy souls in purgatory!

Bible in a Year Day 185 Hezekiah’s Prayer

Fr. Mike continues to emphasize Hezekiah's faithfulness as he turns to God in prayer in the midst of battle, and reinstitutes the Passover feast. Today we read 2 Kings 19, 2 Chronicles 30, and Psalm 143.

Motivation and Inspiration Day[6]

It’s January 2nd, the beginning of a whole new year, and you’ve just gotten over your hangover—what time could possibly be better to be motivated and inspired?

You have a whole 365 days ahead of you, and now is the time to start making them count! Even though to many, January 2nd is in fact just about finally getting over your New Year’s Party hangover, the history of Motivation and Inspiration Day is much more somber. National Motivation & Inspiration Day was passed by The United States Congress on December 18th, 2001, after the tragic events of September 11th, 2001. That was when Kevin L. McCrudden became the first and so far, only motivational and leadership speaker to ever have had such a day passed by Congress, acknowledging the importance of “motivation” and “inspiration” in our daily lives. After the tragedy that was September 11th, 2001, McCrudden felt that all Americans needed something to remind them that there were still many things to live on for. The reality was bleak at that time, and many people felt sad, scared or lost—especially those whose family members or friends had gotten killed suddenly in the World Trade Center attacks of just a few months before. McCrudden originally intended for this day to be dedicated to helping people become the best they can be and maximize their potential through the creation of annual goals. The idea caught on quite quickly, and Motivation and Inspiration Day is now celebrated in different places across the world as well as in the United States, encouraging people everywhere to change their lives for the better.

How to Celebrate Motivation and Inspiration Day

There are a few things you can do to celebrate this special day. Firstly, taking into consideration the events of September 11th, 2001 that led to the creation of Motivation and Inspiration Day, it would be good to just spend a minute or two in silence out of respect for the men and women who lost their lives to terrorism so suddenly that day. And then honor their memory by appreciating your own life and making it better! There are many ways to do this. One is to think of someone in your life who inspires you, whether it’s your mother, father, spouse or friend and find a way to show them an appreciation for being who they are. The gesture doesn’t have to be a grand one—take your mother, father or friend out to lunch and talk about their life and what helped to make them as strong as they are, thank them for showing you how to deal with life’s challenges. Buy a nice bottle of wine for your spouse and be sure to spend the evening with him or her, telling them how glad you are to be able to share your life with them. All too often in life, people take their close ones for granted, but we should never miss a chance to tell people who are special and inspirational to us just how much we appreciate them. You can also start doing something you’ve wanted to do for a long time but have kept putting off. Sign up for a martial arts class, start learning a new language, make a list of books to read, or buy a cookbook full of healthy recipes to make for your family instead of eating takeout every evening. Whatever way you decide to celebrate Motivation and Inspiration Day, make sure it changes your life for the better and helps you appreciate life more!

Fitness Friday- “on the sixth day God created man”

Charles Atlas Inspired Workout[7]

While several of these movements aren’t very familiar to today’s generation of athletes and fitness enthusiasts, it can be argued that dynamic tension can have a place in the modern fitness program.

Below is a workout that can challenge the entire body and be performed in around 25 minutes. This workout will include movements and time for each. Squeeze and contract the muscle like you would with resistance. Feel a stretch before performing the next rep. Take 30 seconds of rest between each exercise before moving on to the next.

Exercise	Sets	Reps
Pushup (2 Sec Hold)	1	10
Standing Chest Fly (2 Sec Hold)	1	10
Row Squeeze (2 Sec Hold)	1	10
Vertical Pull	1	10
High Elbow Row	1	10
Shoulder Press	1	10
Bicep Curl (1 Sec Hold)	1	10
Close Grip Push Up (1 Sec Hold)	1	10
Squat	1	15
Good Morning	1	15
Seated Toe Raise	1	15
Standing Calf Raise	1	15
Crunch	1	10
Single Lying Leg Raise	1	10 Each

Give the program a shot for yourself. It can be performed as a beginner routine for up to 6 weeks

Daily Devotions

· Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them in fasting: Today's Fast: Restoring the Church

· Offering to the sacred heart of Jesus

· Make reparations to the Holy Face

· Drops of Christ’s Blood

· Rosary

[1] George Wiegel, Witness to Hope, 1999, p66.

[2] Goffine’s Devout Instructions, 1896.

[3]http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/liturgical-year/christmas/christmas-january-2.cfm

[4]http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/prayers/view.cfm?id=968

[5]https://www.churchpop.com/2015/11/01/the-sobering-story-of-the-pope-who-begged-for-help-from-purgatory/

[6]https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/motivation-and-inspiration-day/

[7]https://www.muscleandstrength.com/workouts/charles-atlas-workout

🚢 Mystery Liner (1934)

Pre‑Code Thriller • Edgar Wallace Adaptation • Remote‑Control Sabotage

Sources:

🎬 Summary (Clean, Accurate, Atmospheric)

Mystery Liner is a compact, 62‑minute thriller from Monogram Pictures, directed by William Nigh and based on Edgar Wallace’s short story “The Ghost of John Holling”.

Captain John Holling (Noah Beery) is removed from command after a nervous breakdown—though the film hints that something darker may be at play. His replacement, Captain Downey, takes charge just as the ship is chosen for a groundbreaking experiment: Professor Grimson’s new system that allows a vessel to be steered remotely from land.

But spies are listening.

A foreign power wants the technology, and the liner becomes a floating pressure cooker of sabotage, coded messages, and murder. A military investigator, a mysterious traveler, a sharp‑eyed old woman, and a watchman (played by Gabby Hayes) all become pieces in a tense, low‑budget but cleverly staged thriller.

The film was notable enough to be screened at the 1934 International Exhibition of Cinematographic Art in Venice—the precursor to the Venice Film Festival.

✝️ Catholic Moral Lessons (Thriller Edition)

Even in a Poverty Row thriller, the moral architecture is surprisingly rich.

1. Technology without virtue becomes a weapon

The remote‑control system is morally neutral; the intentions of the user determine its fruit.
Lesson: Catholic teaching insists that human freedom—not machinery—carries moral weight.

2. Fear distorts judgment

Captain Holling’s breakdown is a cautionary tale: fear unacknowledged becomes vulnerability.
Lesson: Courage is not the absence of fear but the ordering of fear toward the good.

3. Truth surfaces under pressure

The ship becomes a crucible where hidden loyalties are exposed.
Lesson: Crisis reveals character; grace strengthens it.

4. Vigilance is a virtue

The spies succeed because people assume peace where vigilance is required.
Lesson: Catholic tradition calls this custodia cordis—guarding the heart.