Monday, January 12, 2026

🔸 January 2026 – Conscience & Vocation

Jan 5 – Shadowlands (1994)
Jan 12 – Three Godfathers (1948)
Jan 19 – I Confess (1953)
Jan 26 – The Wrong Man (1956)

Here’s a polished, spiritually attuned, blog‑ready breakdown of Three Godfathers (1948)—perfect for your classic-film cycle, your Christmas-season reflections, or your ongoing work of weaving Catholic moral themes into hospitality and legacy formation.

🎬 Three Godfathers (1948)

A Western Nativity, a Redemption Tale, and a Study in Masculine Vocation

Directed by: John Ford
Starring: John Wayne, Pedro Armendáriz, Harry Carey Jr.
Plot & critical details sourced from:

🌵 1. Plot Summary (Clean, Tight, and Theologically Useful)

Three outlaws—Bob Hightower, Pete Fuerte, and The Abilene Kid—rob a bank in Welcome, Arizona and flee into the desert. Sheriff Buck Sweet pursues them relentlessly. Their escape collapses when they lose their horses and stumble upon a dying woman in childbirth.

With her last breath, she entrusts her newborn son to them.
They promise to bring the child safely to New Jerusalem—a name Ford chooses with zero subtlety.

The film becomes a Western retelling of the Christmas story, with the three outlaws functioning as rough-edged Magi, bearing not gold, frankincense, and myrrh, but courage, sacrifice, and repentance.

One by one, the men fall—some literally, some morally, some sacrificially—until only Hightower remains to carry the child through the desert. Ford explicitly frames him as a Prodigal Son figure in the final act.

✝️ 2. Catholic Moral Reading

This film is tailor-made for your devotional and parenting frameworks. It practically begs to be read through the lens of:

A. The Nativity

A child born in poverty
A mother dying in labor
Three men who should be nowhere near a miracle
A journey toward a place called New Jerusalem

Ford is not hiding the parallels. He’s catechizing through Technicolor.

B. Redemption as Vocation

The men begin as criminals, but the baby becomes their summons to fatherhood, sacrifice, and moral clarity.
This aligns beautifully with your ongoing theme:

“Discipline as discipleship; fatherhood as formation.”

C. The Desert as Purgation

The desert sequences—praised for their beauty—function as a spiritual stripping.
No water.
No horses.
No illusions.
Only the truth of who they are and who they must become.

D. The Law vs. Mercy

Sheriff Sweet is relentless but not cruel.
The film’s final movement is a meditation on justice tempered by mercy—something you’ve been integrating into your parenting and devotional work.

🍷 3. Hospitality Pairing (Your Signature Touch)

A Western Nativity deserves a drink that blends:

Heat of the desert
Tenderness of the Nativity
Masculine repentance
Christmas symbolism

The Desert Epiphany

A rugged but gentle cocktail using your bar stock:

Ingredients (all from your shelf):

Bourbon (the outlaw’s backbone)
Cointreau (citrus brightness = star in the East)
A splash of Baileys (the tenderness of the child)
Dash of Kahlúa (the desert night)
Serve over ice, garnish with a twist of lime (your signature)

Symbolism:

Bourbon = the men’s roughness
Baileys = the infant’s innocence
Cointreau = guidance
Kahlúa = the long night of the soul
Lime = the unexpected grace that cuts through everything

🕯️ 4. Parenting & Formation Lesson

This film gives you a ready-made entry for your Christmas discipline blog series.

Lesson: “A Man Becomes Who He Carries.”

The three outlaws change not because they are punished, but because they are entrusted.
Responsibility—not fear—transforms them.

For your seven children, this becomes a legacy line:

“You rise to the weight you carry. Choose your burdens wisely.”

📜 5. Closing Reflection

Three Godfathers is not merely a Western.
It is a catechesis in Technicolor:

A Nativity in the desert
A Prodigal Son with a baby in his arms
A meditation on masculine sacrifice
A reminder that grace often arrives swaddled and crying

Ford gives us a world where even outlaws can become Magi, and where the road to New Jerusalem is walked by men who finally understand what it means to be fathers.

Christopher’s Corner

· Eat waffles and Pray for the assistance of the Angels

· Carnival Time begins in Catholic Countries.

· Spirit Hour: Champagne Cocktail

· Monday: Litany of Humility

· Bucket List trip: Bora Bora

· Try: Asian Pear

· Plan winter fun:

Soak in hot springs
Hit the snow slopes
Ride a snowmobile
Go for a dog sled ride
Ride a hot air balloon

🕯️ Bucket List Trip [3] – Part 12 (Budget Edition)

USA 70‑Degree Year Journey

Dates: January 12–19, 2026
Theme: Desert Ordinary Time – Light in the Wilderness
Route: Tampa → Phoenix → Sedona → Cottonwood → Jerome
Climate: 68–72°F highs
Budget Target: $1,000 total

💰 Updated Budget Overview (Ultra‑Cheap Mode)

Category	Estimated Cost
Flights (TPA → PHX)	~$150 (budget airline, no bags)
Lodging (7 nights)	~$420 (mix of budget inns + Cottonwood/Sedona off‑peak deals)
Food	~$210 (simple meals + 1–2 treats)
Transit (compact rental + gas)	~$180
Symbolic extras	~$40
Total	~$1,000

Key savings strategies:

Stay in Cottonwood instead of Sedona (½ the price, same access).
Use free desert sites (Papago, Jerome, Cathedral Rock trailhead).
Eat one restaurant meal per day, rest grocery‑store simple.
Rent the cheapest compact and avoid add‑ons.
No paid tours, no museum fees unless essential.

🛏️ Budget Lodging Options (All Under $65–70/night)

Phoenix (2 nights)

Red Roof Inn Phoenix Airport
EZ 8 Motel Airporter

Cottonwood (5 nights)

Little Daisy Motel
Iron Horse Inn (Jerome access, still cheap in January)
Pines Inn & Suites (off‑season deals)

Cottonwood is your secret weapon: warm, central, quiet, and inexpensive.

🌄 DAILY ITINERARY (Budget‑Optimized)

🌞 Day 1 – Monday, January 12

Location: St. Mary’s Basilica, Phoenix
Symbol: Ordinary Time Dawn
Ritual Prompt: “Return to the desert with the Light you carry.”
Evening Mass (free).
Food: Food City hot bar (~$10)

🌵 Day 2 – Tuesday, January 13

Location: Papago Park – Hole‑in‑the‑Rock
Symbol: Desert Threshold
Ritual Prompt: “Let the wilderness simplify the heart.”
Sunrise climb + silence (free).
Food: Fry’s grocery sandwich + fruit (~$8)

🏜️ Day 3 – Wednesday, January 14

Location: Scottsdale – Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Symbol: Marian Shelter
Ritual Prompt: “Mother, keep me steady in the ordinary.”
Candle lighting (free).
Drive to Cottonwood (1.5 hrs).
Food: Filiberto’s burrito (~$9)

🔥 Day 4 – Thursday, January 15

Location: Cathedral Rock (Sedona)
Symbol: Pillar of Fire
Ritual Prompt: “Stand where the earth rises toward heaven.”
Hike the saddle (free).
Food: Safeway deli + drink (~$12)

🌌 Day 5 – Friday, January 16

Location: Chapel of the Holy Cross
Symbol: Rock of Refuge
Ritual Prompt: “Christ, carve Your peace into my days.”
Pray the Litany of Humility (free).
Food: Cottonwood Thai Palace lunch special (~$14)

🏞️ Day 6 – Saturday, January 17

Location: Jerome – Historic Mining Town
Symbol: Heights of Perspective
Ritual Prompt: “Rise above what once buried you.”
Walk the switchbacks (free).
Food: Mile High Grill breakfast (~$12)

✨ Day 7 – Sunday, January 18

Location: Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Cottonwood
Symbol: Desert Eucharist
Ritual Prompt: “Let the Word take root in dry ground.”
Mass + blog reflection: “Light in the Wilderness.”
Food: Grocery store picnic (~$10)

🌠 Why This Works at $1,000

Lodging: $60 × 7 nights = $420
Food: $30/day = $210
Flight: ~$150 (January is cheap)
Car + gas: ~$180
Extras: ~$40

Total: $1,000

January 12 Plough Monday

Genesis, Chapter 38, Verse 11

Then Judah said to his daughter-in-law Tamar, “Remain a widow in your father’s house until my son Shelah grows up”—for he FEARED that Shelah also might die like his brothers. So Tamar went to live in her father’s house.

Judah feared his youngest would die like his two brothers who married Tamar and failed to provide for her children from the marriage sending her back to her father; fearing she was cursed causing Judah’s two older son’s deaths. This sordid tale reads like a soap opera.

Tamar is first described as marrying Judah's eldest son, Er. Because of his wickedness, Er was killed by God.By way of a Levirate union, (a marriage in which the brother of a deceased man is obliged to marry his brother's widow) Judah asked his second son, Onan, to provide offspring for Tamar so that the family line might continue. Tikva Frymer-Kensky explains that this could have substantial economic repercussions, with any son born deemed the heir of the deceased Er, and able to claim the firstborn's double share of inheritance. However, if Er was childless, Onan would inherit as the oldest surviving son. Onan spills his seed out on the ground as an act of greed. His actions were deemed wicked by God and so, like his older brother, he died prematurely. At this point, Judah is portrayed as viewing Tamar to be cursed, and is therefore reluctant to give his remaining and youngest son to her. Rather, he told Tamar to wait for Shelah, his son to grow older. However, even after he grew up, Judah did not give Tamar to Shelah in marriage.

At the time Shelah grew up, Judah became a widower. After Judah mourned the death of his wife, he planned on going to Timnah to shear his sheep. Upon hearing this news, Tamar disguised herself as a prostitute and immediately went to Enaim which was en route to Judah's destination. Upon arriving at Enaim, Judah saw the woman but did not recognize her as Tamar because of the veil she wore over her face. Thinking she was a prostitute; he requested her services. Tamar's plan was to become pregnant by this ruse in order to bear a child in Judah's line, because Judah had not given her to his son Shelah. So she played the part of a prostitute and struck a deal with Judah for a goat with a security deposit of his staff, seal, and cord. When Judah was able to have a goat sent to Enaim, in order to collect his staff and seal, the woman was nowhere to be found and no one knew of any prostitute in Enaim.

Three months later, Tamar was accused of prostitution on account of her pregnancy. Upon hearing this news, Judah ordered that she be burned to death. Tamar sent the staff, seal, and cord to Judah with a message declaring that the owner of these items was the man who had made her pregnant. Upon recognizing his security deposit, Judah released Tamar from her sentence. Tamar's place in the family and Judah's posterity secured, she gives birth to twins, Perez and Zerah. Their birth is reminiscent of the birth of Rebekah's twin sons. The midwife marks Zerah's hand with a scarlet cord when it emerges from the womb first, but Perez is born first.Perez is identified in the Book of Ruth as the ancestor of King David.[1]

Whew! To Er is human but to love is divine. It is stuff like this that sometimes makes you want to go out into the desert and become a hermit.

Copilot’s Take-On Confronting Evil

Evil in Genesis 38 doesn’t roar—it whispers through fear, avoidance, and the quiet abdication of responsibility, the very patterns that hollow out families and corrode justice from within. Judah’s terror of losing another son becomes the soil in which injustice grows, leaving Tamar abandoned and exposed, yet it is precisely her courage to bring truth into the light—and Judah’s humility to receive it—that breaks the cycle. In this strange, desert‑worthy tale, God shows that confronting evil is less about slaying monsters and more about naming fear, refusing to hide, and allowing truth to plough open the hardened ground of the heart. Tamar’s boldness and Judah’s repentance become the unlikely furrow through which the lineage of David—and ultimately Christ—emerges, reminding us that God does His most redemptive work in the ruins we would rather flee than face

Plough Monday[2] is the traditional start of the English agricultural year. While local practices may vary, Plough Monday is generally the first Monday after Twelfth Day (Epiphany), 6 January. The day traditionally saw the resumption of work after the Christmas period.

As we begin our working year let us remember that our primary work in the world as a follower of Christ is to do his will for us putting our hand on the plough and looking forward to the year; may all of our days and rows be straight.

No man, having put his hand ... - To put one's hand to a plow is a proverbial expression to signify undertaking any business. In order that a plowman may accomplish his work, it is necessary to look onward - to be intent on his employment - not to be looking back with regret that he undertook it. So, in religion, He that enters on it must do it with his whole heart, He that comes still loving the world - still looking with regret on its pleasures, its wealth, and its honors - that has not "wholly" forsaken them as his portion, cannot be a Christian, and is not fit for the kingdom of God. How searching is this test to those who profess to be Christians! And how solemn the duty of all people to renounce all earthly objects, and to be not only "almost," but "altogether," followers of the Son of God! It is perilous to tamper with the world - to look at its pleasures or to seek its society. He that would enter heaven must come with a heart full of love to God; giving "all" into his hands, and prepared always to give up all his property, his health, his friends, his body, his soul to God, when he demands them, or he cannot be a Christian. Religion is everything or nothing. He that is not willing to sacrifice "everything" for the cause of God, is really willing to sacrifice nothing.

Bible in a Year Day 195 Tobias and Sarah pray

Fr. Mike highlights the purity of Tobias and Sarah's love, and the power of their prayer as a married couple. Today we read Isaiah 7-8, Tobit 7-9, and Proverbs 10:5-8.

Climb an Iceberg in Jasper[3]

Thru January 31

The Canadian Rockies is the place for adventure in January. Besides the predictable winter activities — skiing, snowshoeing, skating — Jasper in January hosts fat bike snow races, sleigh riding, dog sledding and ice climbing. And that’s just during the day, Jasper’s evenings offer wine and whiskey tasting, food-a-paloolza, live music, entertainment, kids’ scavenger hunts, plus stargazing and northern-light viewing with s’mores.

Daily Devotions

· Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them in fasting: Today's Fast: Victims of clergy sexual abuse

· Offering to the sacred heart of Jesus

· Drops of Christ’s Blood

· Universal Man Plan

· Rosary

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamar_%28Genesis%29

[2] Barnes' Notes on the Bible

[3]https://www.travelchannel.com/interests/travels-best/photos/awesome-things-to-do-in-january

Sunday, January 11, 2026

Claire’s Corner Try “Ethiopian Coffee”

Today’s menu is from the State of Illinois where Bishop Fulton Sheen comes from. My father was born there, moving to Arizona when he was two. My Grandfather grew up in Illinois, my father Arizona.

o Jameson Irish Whiskey

o Stockyard Inn beef vegetable soup

o Chicago-Style Hot Giardiniera

o Italian Beef Hoagies

o Chocolate-Raspberry Creme Brulee

· 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.

· Manuary is a time for men to show their stuff by growing out their facial hair

· Alexander Hamilton born 1755-Note my family came from Germany in 1756

· Bucket Item trip: Barossa Valley Vineyards Australia

· Carnival Time begins in Catholic Countries.

· Religion in the Home for Preschool: January

· How to celebrate Jan 11th

o Wake up with a grateful heart – it’s a day to celebrate gratitude! Start by texting or calling a friend to say thank you for being awesome. Then, whip up a creamy milkshake to kickstart your day in a delicious way. As you sip on your milk treat, take a moment to think about workplace equality and how you can promote parity at work.

o Feeling chilly? Warm up with a cozy hot toddy

as you brainstorm ways to raise awareness about human trafficking. Get creative and share informative posts on social media – every bit helps. Next, it’s time for some outdoor fun! Head to a nearby pond or puddle and splash around with your friends. Embrace the childlike joy of National Step in a Puddle and Splash Your Friends Day.

o Take a break from the splash zone to learn Morse code – a handy skill that could come in useful someday. Practice spelling out your name in dots and dashes and challenge your pals to do the same. Feeling artsy? Grab a sketchbook and doodle your heart out in honor of World Sketchnote Day. Unleash your creativity and see where your pen takes you.

o Wrap up the day with a heartwarming gesture – give someone a big hug and spread some love on National Girl Hug Boy Day. Show appreciation for the meaningful relationships in your life. Remember, every small act of kindness goes a long way.

· Plan winter fun:

o Soak in hot springs

o Hit the snow slopes

o Ride a snowmobile

o Go for a dog sled ride

o Ride a hot air balloon

🏔️ Around the World in Perfect Weather: Week 3

Queenstown, New Zealand — “The Baptism of the Lord in Middle‑Earth” January 11–17, 2026

Jan 11 – Arrival in Queenstown (Baptism of the Lord, Sunday)

• Flight: Rarotonga → Auckland → Queenstown (typical $480–$650 per person)
• Mass: St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Queenstown – Baptism of the Lord Mass at 9:00 AM
• Lodging: Heartland Hotel Queenstown (~$145/night)
• Meals: ~$75/day (lakeside bistro + NZ lamb dinner)
• Symbolic Act: Journal on “Beloved Sonship” while sitting at Lake Wakatipu.

Jan 12 – Lake Wakatipu Pilgrimage (Monday)

• Visit: Lake Wakatipu Walkway – shoreline walk + jetty views
• Mass: St. Joseph’s – Daily Mass at 9:00 AM
• Lodging: Heartland Hotel (~$145/night)
• Meals: ~$70/day (lake café lunch + local wine supper)
• Symbolic Act: Skip a stone across the lake as a sign of “ripples of grace.”

Jan 13 – Glenorchy & Middle‑Earth Day (Tuesday)

• Visit: Glenorchy – 45‑minute drive, LOTR landscapes
• Mass: St. Joseph’s – Daily Mass at 9:00 AM
• Lodging: Heartland Hotel (~$145/night)
• Meals: ~$70/day (Glenorchy café + Queenstown dinner)
• Symbolic Act: Reflect on “pilgrimage as journey” at the Glenorchy Wharf.

Jan 14 – Skyline Gondola & Peak Reflection (Wednesday)

• Visit: Skyline Queenstown Gondola – panoramic summit
• Mass: St. Joseph’s – Daily Mass at 9:00 AM
• Lodging: Heartland Hotel (~$145/night)
• Meals: ~$75/day (mountain café + lakeside supper)
• Tickets: ~$52 gondola
• Symbolic Act: Journal on “Heights of the Spirit” at the summit.

Jan 15 – Milford Sound Wonder (Thursday)

• Visit: Milford Sound Day Trip – fjords, waterfalls, cruise
• Mass: Early Mass at St. Joseph’s
• Lodging: Heartland Hotel (~$145/night)
• Meals: ~$75/day (packed lunch + Queenstown dinner)
• Tickets: ~$140–$160 for bus + cruise
• Symbolic Act: Offer a prayer of awe at the base of Bowen Falls.

Jan 16 – Arrowtown Heritage Day (Friday)

• Visit: Arrowtown Historic Village – gold‑rush town + river walk
• Mass: St. Joseph’s – Daily Mass at 9:00 AM
• Lodging: Heartland Hotel (~$145/night)
• Meals: ~$70/day (Arrowtown bakery + Queenstown supper)
• Symbolic Act: Write a reflection on “hidden treasure” inspired by the gold‑rush history.

Jan 17 – Farewell to Queenstown (Saturday)

• Visit: Queenstown Gardens – roses, lake views, quiet paths
• Mass: Saturday Vigil at St. Joseph’s
• Lodging: Heartland Hotel (~$145/night)
• Meals: ~$70/day (farewell supper with Central Otago wine)
• Symbolic Act: Leave a written prayer of gratitude under a lakeside tree.

💰 Cost Snapshot (Jan 11–17 Queenstown Week)

Lodging (6 nights): ~$870
Meals (7 days): ~$490–$520
Tickets/Activities: ~$190–$220
Local Transport: ~$150–$180
Flight Rarotonga → Queenstown: ~$480–$650 per person

➡️ Total per person: ~$2,180–$2,440 for the Queenstown week

January 11 Sunday-Baptism of the Lord

First Sunday After Epiphany-Human Trafficking Awareness Day

Acts, Chapter 10, verse 34-35

Then Peter proceeded to speak and said, “In truth, I see that God shows no partiality. Rather, in every nation whoever FEARS him and acts uprightly is acceptable to him.

God shows no impartiality. This is true today as it was in the time of Peter. Rome had no fear of God when it came to the sins of the flesh and lust of the eyes having killed an estimated 400,000 human beings in the coliseum. “Yet Rome, as terrible as it was, pales in comparison to the sins of America, with 63,459,781 abortions committed since Roe v. Wade in 1973.” God shows no impartiality to Nations either. Each receives their due.

God is no respecter of rank or titles and asks us to combat the evil in our day. Pope John Paul has proclaimed “Here is the remedy against evil. Pray, pray, and nothing more.

Michael Brown in his book “Prayer of the Warrior,” reminds us that it was Luke who mentions that Jesus very frequently stated: “Unless you repent you will all perish.” (Lk. 13:3) To save us our Lord has not abandoned us we have His church and the Virgin Mary’s apparitions during these last days. She constantly emphasizes prayer, conversion, fasting, penance, and faith. At Medjugorje she has stated, “Members of all faiths are equal before God. God rules over each faith just like a sovereign over his kingdom. In the world, all religions are not the same because all people have not complied with the commandments of God. They reject and disparage them.” Indeed, God shows no impartiality there are saints of God that are not catholic. The Virgin told the seers of Medjugorje that there was a saint in the village and they were astonished because this person was a Muslim.

The eight things’ Catholics and Muslims agree on[1]

Senior leaders from the Catholic Church and the Muslim community have issued an eight-point joint statement reflecting their shared beliefs. The document, which is the result of the fourth Catholic-Muslim colloquium on interreligious dialogue, includes a call for basic human rights to be protected by law, a pledge of solidarity with all those in need, a rejection of all forms of proselytism and a focus on the right of young people to an education that is “respectful of diversity”. At the end of a two-day meeting at the Vatican entitled ‘Shared values in social and political life: Christian and Muslim perspectives’. Delegates from a dozen different countries came together, organised by the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue and Jordan’s Royal Institute for Inter-Faith Studies. They were joined by Pope Francis on the concluding day. Former Canadian ambassador to the Holy See, Anne Leahy, who currently teaches Catholic Social Thought at McGill University in Montreal said “there was a meeting of minds” on the important values that Muslims and Christians share in terms of being good citizens acting together for the common good. “We hear too much about what our differences are”, she said, so it’s important now “to witness that there are basic values we share that can counter the negativity”. Muslims and Christians can work with all people of good will who do not profess a religion, so “inclusivity was a hallmark here”, she says.

However, a month earlier the Vatican’s chief inter-faith expert, Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, warned that dialogue with Muslims had so far produced “negligible results” and failed to prevent the threatened eradication of Christianity in the Middle East. The Cardinal said: "We meet, we observe and listen to each other - but the problem is that all these small achievements don't translate at all into law and administration, or into the lives of ordinary people. The dialogue is just too elitist".

The eight-point agreement stated:

1. We share beliefs and moral values. Our commonalities are much more than our particularities, and they constitute a solid basis peacefully and fruitfully living together, also with persons of good will who do not profess a particular religion.

2. We believe in the humanizing and civilizing role of our religions, when their followers adhere to their principles of worshipping God and loving and caring for the other.

3. We believe that God bestowed upon every person dignity and inalienable rights. They are His gifts that should be recognised, guaranteed and protected by law.

4. We pledge our solidarity with our brothers and sisters in humanity who are in any kind of need regardless of their ethnic, religious or cultural background.

5. Our help to the poor and the needy should be offered out of compassion and for the sake of God's favour. It should never be used to proselytise.

6. We believe that the youth represent not only the future of humanity. They are also an important part of its present. They have the right to proper education that prepares them to be good citizens respectful of diversity.

7. Our world, our "common home", is going through many complicated crises and needs the steady efforts of its inhabitants to make it a suitable place where we can live together peacefully, sharing the resources of the universe, mindful of future generations.

8. We express our proximity and solidarity with all those who suffer, especially from violence and armed conflict. Respect for international law, dialogue, justice, mercy, compassion are values and adequate means to achieve peace and harmony.

Copilot Take-On Confronting Evil

On the Baptism of the Lord—set alongside Human Trafficking Awareness Day—the Church proclaims that God shows no partiality, and that truth becomes a direct summons to confront the evil that disfigures His image in the world. Christ steps into the Jordan not to bless our neutrality but to arm us for battle, identifying Himself with every victim of exploitation and every soul crushed by the machinery of sin. Nations, like individuals, are judged by their courage or cowardice before evil, and our own age bears wounds that cannot be ignored—from the silent slaughter of the unborn to the global trade in human beings that thrives in shadows. Yet God has not left us defenseless: repentance, prayer, fasting, and conversion remain the weapons that topple empires of darkness, as saints, popes, and the Virgin Mary have insisted again and again. Even Medjugorje’s startling witness—that holiness can be found in unexpected places—reminds us that God recruits His warriors from every creed and corner of the earth. Interfaith agreements and shared moral commitments matter only insofar as they move from paper to action, from polite dialogue to real resistance against injustice. The Baptism of the Lord is not a gentle feast; it is a commissioning to expose evil, defend the vulnerable, and stand where Christ stands—unafraid, unambiguous, and unwilling to let darkness have the final word.

Baptism of Jesus^{^[2]} A closing celebration of Christ's initial manifestations to the world through His life and early ministry, especially in His baptism by St. John.

"Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near" (Is 55, 6).

These words from the second part of the Book of Isaiah ring out on this Sunday that ends the Christmas season. They are an invitation to go more deeply into the meaning for us of today's Feast, the Baptism of the Lord. In spirit let us return to the banks of the Jordan where John the Baptist administered a Baptism of repentance, exhorting to conversion. Coming up to the Precursor is Jesus, and with his presence he transformed that gesture of repentance into a solemn manifestation of his divinity. A voice suddenly comes from heaven: "You are my beloved Son; in you I am well pleased" (Mk 1, 11) and, in the form of a dove, the Spirit descends upon Jesus. In that extraordinary event, John saw realized what had been said about the Messiah born in Bethlehem, adored by the shepherds and the Magi. He was the very One foretold by the prophets, the beloved Son of the Father; we must seek him while he can be found and call upon him while he is at hand. In Baptism every Christian personally meets him; he is inserted into the mystery of Christ's death and resurrection and receives a new life, which is the life of God. What a great gift and what a great responsibility!

Blessing of Water^{^[3]}

The commemoration of our Lord's Baptism in the Jordan led to a number of impressive blessings concerning water. In Palestine, the river Jordan itself was blessed, with throngs of the faithful immersing in it three times to obtain the blessing, while in Egypt, the whole Christian population and its livestock would show up for the blessing of the Nile and do the same thing. In Byzantium, Epiphany water was blessed in church and then distributed. Rome followed this custom, instituting it on the Vigil of the feast. The formula for the blessing may be found in the Roman ritual.

Renewal of Baptismal Vows

Dear brethren, through the Paschal Mystery we have been buried with Christ in Baptism, that we may walk with him in newness of life. And so, let us renew the promises of Holy Baptism, which we once renounced Satan and his works and promised to serve God in the holy Catholic Church.

And so, I ask you:

V. Do you renounce Satan?
R. I do.

V. And all his works?
R. I do.

V. And all his empty show?
R. I do.

ON KEEPING THE LORD'S DAY HOLY[4]

CHAPTER II

DIES CHRISTI

The Day of the Risen Lord
and of the Gift
of the Holy Spirit

The weekly Easter

20. According to the common witness of the Gospels, the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead took place on "the first day after the Sabbath" (Mk 16:2,9; Lk 24:1; Jn 20:1). On the same day, the Risen Lord appeared to the two disciples of Emmaus (cf. Lk 24:13-35) and to the eleven Apostles gathered together (cf. Lk 24:36; Jn 20:19). A week later — as the Gospel of John recounts (cf. 20:26) — the disciples were gathered together once again, when Jesus appeared to them and made himself known to Thomas by showing him the signs of his Passion. The day of Pentecost — the first day of the eighth week after the Jewish Passover (cf. Acts 2:1), when the promise made by Jesus to the Apostles after the Resurrection was fulfilled by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit (cf. Lk 24:49; Acts 1:4-5) — also fell on a Sunday. This was the day of the first proclamation and the first baptisms: Peter announced to the assembled crowd that Christ was risen and "those who received his word were baptized" (Acts 2:41). This was the epiphany of the Church, revealed as the people into which are gathered in unity, beyond all their differences, the scattered children of God.

First Sunday After Epiphany

AT the Introit of the Mass the Church animates us to adore and obey God willingly and joyfully. "Upon a high throne I saw a man sitting, Whom a multitude of angels adored, singing together, Behold Him, the name of Whose empire is eternity " (Dan. vii.). " Sing joyfully to God, all the earth: serve the Lord with gladness ' ' (Ps. xcix. 2). Glory be to the Father, etc.

Prayer.

Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord, in Thy heavenly mercy, the prayers of Thy suppliant people, that they may both see what they ought to do and may be enabled to do what they see. Amen

EPISTLE. Rom. xii. 1-5.

Brethren: I beseech you, by the mercy of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, pleasing unto God, your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world, but be reformed in the newness of your mind: that you may prove what is the good, and the acceptable, and the perfect will of so God. For I say, by the grace that is given me, to all that are among you, not to be more wise than it behoveth to be wise, but to be wise unto sobriety, and according as God hath divided to everyone the measure of faith. For as in one body we have many members, but all the members have not the same office: we being many are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another in Christ Jesus our Lord.

How can we present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God?

By keeping the body and its members clean from all sin, serving God with soul and body. Thus, to serve God, with our soul and body, is our reasonable service, and the vocation of every Christian.

What does St. Paul mean by the comparison of ' ' one body and many members ' ‘?

He means that we Christians belong all to one body, the Church, the head of which is Christ. Now, as all the members the body work for its welfare, so should every Christian minister to the wants of all in the Church. One should join the other in the work of salvation; should instruct or punish, warn, admonish, or correct, as there is occasion for it. This is true love, such as we ought to have, one for another, and happy are we when we thus love in word and deed.

Aspiration.

Grant, O Jesus, that I may present my soul and body a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing, to Thee, by mortification, humiliation, and contrition, and that I may never defile them by impurity, gluttony, lust, vanity, or pride; give me also Thy grace, O my Savior, to love my neighbor as myself, for we are one body in Christ, and each one members of one another.

GOSPEL. Luke ii. 42-52.

When Jesus was twelve years old they going up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast, and having fulfilled the days, when they returned, the child Jesus remained in Jerusalem, and His parents knew it not. And thinking that He was in the company, they came a day's journey and sought Him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. And not finding Him, they returned into Jerusalem seeking Him. And it came to pass that after three days they found Him in the temple sitting in the midst of the doctors, hearing them and asking them questions. And all that heard Him were astonished at His wisdom and His answers. And seeing Him, they wondered. And His Mother said to Him:

Son, why hast Thou done so to us?

behold Thy father and I have sought Thee sorrowing. And He said to them:

How is it that you sought Me? did you not know that I must be about My Father's business?

And they understood not the word that He spoke unto them. And He went down with them, and came to Nazareth; and was subject to them. And His Mother kept all these words in her heart. And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age, and grace with God and men.

What are we Christians to learn by this?

That we should never miss an opportunity to go to church, particularly on Sundays and holy-days, and there assist at the public services, with inward and outward devotion. Parents should learn from Joseph and Mary to take their children to church and school, and to teach them their prayers and the other exercises of religion.

What lesson does the infant Jesus teach us?

That we also should attend religious instructions, the sermon, and catechism, to learn what is necessary in regard to our salvation.

What do we learn by those words, " Jesus was subject to them"?

That children should obey their parents. When the God-Man was thus subject to His poor Mother and to His foster-father, who was a plain mechanic, those children should blush who are ashamed of their parents, or refuse to assist them in their old age, poverty, or distress.

Bible in a Year Day 194 Holy is the Lord

Fr. Mike zeroes in on Isaiah 5-6 today. He emphasizes the literary masterpiece of the parable of the vineyard in Isaiah 5 and how it represents the story of Israel. He also shows us how Isaiah 6 is full of rich symbolism that points to the sacred realities of the Mass. We are reminded that God is truly holy and deserving of our praise. Today's readings are Isaiah 5-6, Tobit 5-6, and Proverbs 10:1-4.

Human Trafficking Awareness[5]

Human Trafficking Awareness Day is dedicated to raising awareness of sexual slavery and human trafficking worldwide. “Today, an estimated 50 million people are enslaved worldwide—more than at any time in human history.” Every day, modern slavery can be recognized: children become soldiers; young women are forced into prostitution and migrant workers exploited in the workforce. Human Trafficking Awareness Day seeks to end this slavery, return rights to individuals and make the world a safer place for all inhabitants. Human Trafficking Awareness Day started in 2007, when the U.S. Senate designated January 11th as National Human Trafficking Awareness Day in the hopes of raising awareness to combat human trafficking. It began as a U.S. initiative, and the United Nations has started to highlight this topic and work towards global awareness with days such as International Day for the Abolition of Slavery.

Human Trafficking Awareness Facts & Quotes

· The most common form of human trafficking is sexual exploitation, accounting for 79% of human trafficking victims. These victims of sexual exploitation are predominantly women and girls.

· According to UNICEF, 2 million children are estimated to be trafficking victims of sex trade each year. 20% of traffic victims are children.

· The average age of a girl being forced into the US domestic sex slavery market is 13.

· The average cost of a slave around the world is $90.

· It is slavery in the modern age. Every year thousands of people, mainly women and children, are exploited by criminals who use them for forced labor or the sex trade. No country is immune. Almost all play a part, either as a source of trafficked people, transit point or destination. - United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon.

Human Trafficking Awareness Top Events and Things to Do

§ Talk to children about strangers and make sure they memorize important addresses and phone numbers.

§ Save 888-373-7888 to your phone. This is number to the National Human Trafficking Resources Hotline.

§ Make a donation to an organization fighting human trafficking.

§ Learn the signs and indicators of human trafficking so that you can learn to recognize it and report it. US Homeland Security offers a training online free of charge.

· Watch a movie about human trafficking. Our picks: Taken (2008), Trade (2007), Human Trafficking (2005), The Pink Room (2011), Nefarious (2011) and Lilya 4-ever (2002).

Know the Signs[6]

Recognizing indicators of human trafficking is key to identifying victims and helping them find assistance.

Look for someone who:

1. Is not free to leave or come and go as he/she wishes.

2. Is unpaid, paid very little, or paid only through tips.

3. Works excessively long and/or unusual hours

4. Is not allowed breaks or suffers under unusual restrictions at work.

5. Owes a large debt and is unable to pay it off.

6. Was recruited through false promises concerning the nature and conditions of his/her work.

7. High security measures exist in work and/or living locations (e.g., opaque windows, boarded-up windows, bars on windows, barbed wire, security cameras, etc.)

8. Is fearful, anxious, depressed, submissive, tense or nervous/paranoid.

9. Exhibits unusually fearful or anxious behavior after mention of law enforcement.

10. Avoids eye contact.

11. Lacks health care

12. Appears malnourished.

13. Shows signs of physical and/or sexual abuse, physical restraint, confinement, or torture

14. Has few or no personal possessions?

15. Is not in control of his/her own money, has no financial records or bank account.

16. Is not in control of his/her own identification documents (ID or passport)

17. Is not allowed or able to speak for themselves (a third party may insist on being present and/or translating)

18. Claims of just visiting and inability to clarify where he/she is staying/address.

19. Lack of knowledge of whereabouts and/or do not know what city he/she is in

20. Loss of sense of time

21. Has numerous inconsistencies in his/her story?

Party at Winterskol in Aspen

January 11-14

Raise a toast to winter in Aspen’s annual Winterskol Festival. The winter tradition is more than 60 years strong and was started by a lodge owner who wanted to enliven the Aspen winter season following Christmas. Today, the four-day winter fest includes a snow sculpture competition, a soup cook-off and a downhill race with apple strudel at the finish line.

Daily Devotions

· Today's Fast: Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them in fasting: Holy Priests, Consecrated and Religious.

· Offering to the sacred heart of Jesus

· Drops of Christ’s Blood

· Universal Man Plan

· Rosary

[1]http://www.thetablet.co.uk/news/5531/the-eight-things-catholics-and-muslims-agree-on

[2] HOMILY OF JOHN PAUL II, Sistine Chapel, Sunday, 12 January 2003

[3]http://www.holytrinitygerman.org/xmascustoms.html

[4]https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?id=419

[5]http://www.wincalendar.com/Human-Trafficking-Awareness

[6]https://www.osv.com/OSVNewsweekly/National/Article/TabId/717/ArtMID/13622/ArticleID/21753/The-push-to-decriminalize-child-prostitution.aspx

Here’s a rich, Copilot‑style breakdown of Manhattan Tower (1932)—a compact, fascinating slice of pre‑Code Hollywood that fits beautifully into your ongoing exploration of early‑’30s moral architecture, economic anxiety, and Catholic‑readable themes.

🗽 Manhattan Tower (1932)

Pre‑Code Hollywood • Directed by Frank R. Strayer

Starring: Mary Brian, James Hall, Irene Rich

🎬 What the Film Is About

Manhattan Tower is a 67‑minute ensemble drama set inside the then‑new Empire State Building, using the skyscraper as a vertical cross‑section of American ambition, temptation, and collapse.

Fresh search results confirm the core plot:

Mary Harper (Mary Brian), a secretary, and Jimmy Duncan (James Hall), an engineer, dream of marriage and a modest home.
Mary’s philandering, crooked boss persuades her to hand over her savings for “investment”—but he’s already blown his own money, his wife’s money, and company funds on reckless speculation.
His wife wants a quiet divorce to marry a politician.
When Mary asks for her money back, the boss refuses and mistreats her.
Jimmy confronts him; others join; a gun is drawn; the boss falls through a window to his death.
The witnesses agree to call it suicide.
Meanwhile, a bank run erupts in the building due to a casual comment by a secretary.
The film weaves multiple stories of workers, executives, and strivers all caught in the building’s economic and moral pressure cooker.

🕰️ Why It’s Pure Pre‑Code

The film is a perfect example of the pre‑Code era’s willingness to show:

1. Financial corruption without euphemism

Speculation, embezzlement, and moral rot at the top are depicted bluntly—no Production Code sanitizing.

2. Sexual misconduct as a structural problem

The boss’s womanizing isn’t comic relief; it’s tied to exploitation, power imbalance, and the vulnerability of working women.

3. Moral ambiguity in the resolution

The decision to call the death a “suicide” is a communal lie—an ethically compromised survival tactic that the Code would later forbid.

4. Social realism

The film acknowledges the Great Depression’s distrust of banks and markets, even staging a bank run inside the skyscraper.

🕯️ Catholic Moral Reading (tailored to your devotional and editorial instincts)

This film is a surprisingly fertile ground for Catholic reflection:

The Empire State Building as Babel

A tower of human ambition, built upward while the moral foundation below is crumbling.

Mary and Jimmy as the “just remnant”

They desire simple goods—marriage, home, stability—yet are surrounded by a culture of deceit and self‑interest.

The boss’s fall as a parable of unrepented sin

He literally falls from the heights of power.
His death is accidental, but symbolically it’s the natural consequence of a life built on lies.

The communal lie as a crisis of conscience

Their decision to call it suicide is a moment of collective moral compromise—an echo of the temptation to “solve” sin by burying it rather than confronting it.