This blog is based on references in the Bible to fear. God wills that we “BE NOT AFRAID”. Vincit qui se vincit" is a Latin phrase meaning "He conquers who conquers himself." Many theologians state that the eighth deadly sin is fear. It is fear and its natural animal reaction to fight or flight that is the root cause of our failings to create a Kingdom of God on earth. This blog is dedicated to Mary the Mother of God. "
There seems to be a focused effort to divide Catholics and other Christians regarding Pope Leo XIV and President Trump. Fr Chris Alar joins us to help sift through all the rhetoric and opinions and find the truth about not only why we might want to reconsider how we're looking at this topic, but how we look at other divisive issues as well. The need to unite is as great as ever.
Wednesday, April 29 Cheap Smoke Day Vice Under the Knife: Impurity & Pride
Tonight’s Pairing
Cigar: whatever’s left in the bottom of the box
Whiskey: the bottle you don’t mind finishing
Reason: you’re not here for refinement—you’re here for clarity
The Reflection
She was led next into the place where the souls once stained by impurity were held. It wasn’t fire that struck her first—it was filth. A dungeon so foul, so pestilential, that even a saint recoiled. She turned away, nauseated by what sin actually looks like when stripped of its perfume.
Then she saw the ambitious and the proud.
Those who needed to shine.
Those who needed to be seen.
Those who needed applause like oxygen.
Now they were buried in obscurity—forgotten, unseen, swallowed by the very darkness they once believed they were above.
Her verdict was simple: “Behold those who wished to shine before men; now they are condemned to live in this frightful obscurity.”
This is the part we never admit: impurity and pride always promise elevation, but they always deliver degradation. They sell you a crown and hand you a collar. They whisper “freedom” and then lock the door.
Cheap Smoke Day is the counter-move.
You choose the lesser thing now so you don’t become the lesser thing later.
You take the humble seat now so you don’t get forced into it later.
You let the smoke sting your eyes now so you don’t choke on the fumes of your own vanity in the next life.
Purgatory Note
The saints insist that Purgatory is mercy, not vengeance—but mercy is not softness. Impurity leaves a stench on the soul; pride leaves a shadow. In Purgatory, both are burned off with a precision that makes earthly discomfort look like a warm bath.
Better to scrub now.
Better to choose obscurity now.
Better to take the cheap smoke now.
APRIL
29 Wednesday-Saint Catherine of
Siena, Virgin
Chemical
Warfare
Psalm 103, Verse 13
As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has
compassion on those who FEAR him.
Does God derive anything from having us fear Him?
His only wish is to see us truly growing
and fruitful. He made us and as a loving
father knows our needs both physical and spiritual. If we have a loving fear of
our father, we are compelled by the Holy Spirit into spiritual leadership
avoiding sloth which often comes as a result of being stuck in a victim
mentality or not letting go of rage by forgiving the offender.
Today seek the Father’s compassion by going to
confession then arise and grow in spiritual leadership. As we grow in our spiritual leadership[1]
we tend to be:
Confident in God
Know God
Seek God’s will
Self-sacrifice
Serve all
Motivated by love
Trust the Holy Spirit
Lead others
Copilot’s
Take
Fear of the Lord is not
something God extracts from humanity; it is something He restores within it.
Psalm 103 places compassion and fear side by side because filial fear is the
posture that keeps a person awake, sober, and aligned. The Catechism describes
this as the reverence of a child who refuses to wound the Father who loves
them. It is not terror. It is clarity. It is the internal ordering that makes
spiritual leadership possible. God gains nothing from human fear; humanity
gains the strength to stop drifting.
The real battlefield is
interior. When the day’s theme is framed as Chemical Warfare, the truth
becomes visible: evil rarely storms the gates; it seeps in. Sloth, resentment,
victimhood, and unprocessed rage are corrosive agents that weaken a soul from
the inside. CCC 409 describes humanity as locked in a “dramatic struggle”
against the powers of evil, and that struggle begins in the hidden places where
a person either disciplines the soul or lets it decay. Holy fear is the
antidote because it forces confrontation with what would otherwise be ignored.
Confession becomes the
first act of combat. It clears the field, cuts the wires, and disarms the
toxins. A person who confesses is not weak—such a person is dangerous to the
enemy because compromised equipment is no longer carried into battle. CCC 2846
reminds the faithful that temptation is not theoretical; the prayer “lead us
not into temptation” exists because the fight is real, and neutrality is
impossible. Confession is the step back onto the right side of the line.
Forgiveness is the
second strike. Rage feels like strength, but it is a chemical burn that eats
the vessel that carries it. Filial fear compels the release of the offender not
because the offender deserves it, but because the Father commands it. Forgiveness
is not sentimentality; it is strategy. It prevents the enemy from weaponizing
wounds. This discipline breaks the victim mentality and restores agency under
God.
From there, spiritual
leadership emerges with steadiness. A person who fears the Lord becomes
confident in God, seeks His will, sacrifices self, serves others, trusts the
Holy Spirit, and leads without theatrics. CCC 1808 calls this
fortitude—firmness in difficulty and constancy in the pursuit of the good. Holy
fear produces that firmness. It is the spine of a soul that refuses to be ruled
by sloth, resentment, or self‑pity.
The call for the day is
simple and unsentimental: seek the Father’s compassion through confession, then
rise. Grow. Lead. Let filial fear burn away the toxins and restore the clarity
of one who knows whom they serve and what they stand against. This is how evil
is confronted—not with noise, but with ordered strength.
Catherine,
the youngest of twenty-five children, was born in Siena on March 25, 1347.
During her youth she had to contend with great difficulties on the part of her
parents. They were planning marriage for their favorite daughter; but
Catherine, who at the age of seven had already taken a vow of virginity,
refused. To break her resistance, her beautiful golden-brown tresses were shorn
to the very skin and she was forced to do the most menial tasks. Undone by her
patience, mother and father finally relented and their child entered the Third
Order of St. Dominic.
Unbelievable were her
austerities, her miracles, her ecstasies. The reputation of her sanctity soon
spread abroad; thousands came to see her, to be converted by her. The priests
associated with her, having received extraordinary faculties of absolution, were
unable to accommodate the crowds of penitents. She was a helper and a consoler
in every need. As time went on, her influence reached out to secular and
ecclesiastical matters. She made peace between worldly princes. The heads of
Church and State bowed to her words. She weaned Italy away from an anti-pope,
and made cardinals and princes promise allegiance to the rightful pontiff. She
journeyed to Avignon and persuaded Pope Gregory XI to return to Rome. Even
though she barely reached the age of thirty-three her accomplishments place her
among the great women of the Middle Ages. The virgin Catherine was espoused to
Christ by a precious nuptial ring which, although visible only to her, always
remained on her finger.
Excerpted
from The Church's Year of Grace, Pius Parsch
Patron:
Against fire; bodily ills; Europe; fire prevention; firefighters; illness;
Italy; miscarriages; nurses; nursing services; people ridiculed for their
piety; sexual temptation; sick people; sickness; Siena, Italy; temptations.
Fr. Mike discusses the story of Jeremiah and the Ark of the
Covenant, offering insight on where it was hidden and how that affected the
people of God. He also looks ahead to the rest of 2 Maccabees and poses a
question for all of us: What will the people who love us remember about us?
Today’s readings are 2 Maccabees 2, Sirach 42-44, and Proverbs 24:8-9.
Remembrance for All Victims of Chemical Warfare[3]
Day of Remembrance for all the Victims of Chemical Warfare
commemorates the victims of chemical warfare and serves to reaffirm the world's
commitment to eliminate chemical weapons. Thus, the day also serves to promote
peace, security and multilateralism. Although chemical weapons have been banned
for some time by the Geneva Convention, they are still infrequently used. The
United Nations proclaimed the Day of Remembrance for all the Victims of
Chemical Warfare in November of 2005. It has since been celebrated on April
29th, the same date on which the Chemical Weapons Convention entered into force
in 1997. The day aims to destroy chemical weapons and further gain adherence to
the Convention's articles in order to achieve a safer and more peaceful world.
Remembrance for Victims of Chemical Warfare Facts &
Quotes
·Chemical
weapons were used for the first time on a large scale in battle during World
War I at the battle of Ypres in 1915. The chemical that was used as a weapon
was chlorine gas.
·90%
of the world’s declared chemical weapons stockpile of 72,525 metric tons has
been verifiably destroyed.
·There
are three different schedules of chemicals:
1) Schedule One: these are typically used in weapons such as sarin and mustard
gas
2) Schedule Two: these are used in weapons such as amiton and BZ
3) Schedule Three: these are typically the least toxic chemicals and are used
for research and the production of medicines.
·For
the risks that the leaders of a rogue state will use nuclear, chemical or
biological weapons against us, or our allies is the greatest security threat we
face. – Madeleine Albright, American politician and diplomat, first woman to be
secretary of state.
Remembrance of
Victims Top Events and Things to Do
·Watch
a documentary or movie on the perils of chemical warfare. Some popular options
are: Science at War: Laboratory of War, Chemical Warfare Watch, Avoiding
Armageddon: Chemical Weapons, and Total Recall.
·Read
a book on the widespread dangers of chemical warfare. Some good suggestions are
War of Nerves, Chemical and Biological Warfare: America’s Hidden Arsenal, and a
Higher Form of Killing.
·Spread
awareness on social media by using the hashtags #peacenotwar and
#remembranceforallchemicalwarfarevictims
·Visit
the site of some of the chemical weapon use. Some ideas, the Battlefields of
Ypres, the Battlefields of Passchendaele and the Tokyo Subway.
THIS WE BELIEVE
PRAYERS AND TEACHINGS OF THE CATHOLIC
CHURCH
Act of Hope
O my God, relying
on Your infinite goodness and promises, I hope to obtain pardon for my sins,
the help of Your grace and life everlasting, through the merits of Jesus
Christ, my Lord and Redeemer. Amen.
Gloria Swanson, Laurence Olivier, John Halliday
A modern‑marriage experiment collapses under the weight of pride, jealousy, and the naïve belief that human weakness can be outsmarted by a contract.
1. Production & Historical Setting
Released in 1933 and filmed at Ealing Studios, Perfect Understanding belongs to the late‑Pre‑Code moment when cinema flirted openly with marital ambiguity, sexual candor, and the illusion of sophistication. Gloria Swanson produced the film as a vehicle to reassert herself in the sound era; Laurence Olivier, still early in his career, brings a polished but untested masculinity.
The film emerges from an era fascinated by:
the “modern marriage” as a social experiment
the tension between emotional freedom and emotional fidelity
the fragility of male ego in the face of female independence
the belief that rational agreements can override irrational human desire
Swanson plays Judy, a woman determined to build a marriage on honesty and equality. Olivier plays Nicholas, a charming but weak-willed husband whose ideals collapse the moment they are tested. John Halliday plays Ivan, the friend whose presence exposes the cracks in the couple’s “perfect understanding.”
The world of the film is a blend of London drawing rooms, Riviera indulgence, and the brittle optimism of early‑’30s modernity.
2. Story Summary
Judy and Nicholas marry under a bold pact: absolute honesty, no jealousy, no accusations—perfect understanding.
But the agreement is built on sand.
On a trip to Cannes, Nicholas drinks too much and sleeps with his former mistress, Stephanie. He confesses immediately, believing their pact will protect them. Judy forgives him, but the wound is deeper than she admits.
While Nicholas is away on business, Judy leans on her friend Ivan for comfort. He confesses his love; she refuses him, but leaves a note of gratitude. Nicholas later sees her entering Ivan’s building and assumes betrayal.
The misunderstanding metastasizes:
Judy’s innocence is questioned publicly.
Nicholas’s pride hardens into suspicion.
A courtroom battle weaponizes Judy’s letter.
Their “perfect understanding” becomes the very thing that destroys them.
Only after the collapse do they recognize the truth: their marriage failed not because of infidelity, but because of wounded pride and the refusal to speak honestly about pain.
The film ends with reconciliation—not triumphant, but chastened.
3. Spiritual & Moral Resonances
A. Human Weakness Cannot Be Outrun by Agreements
The couple tries to engineer a marriage immune to jealousy. But sin, insecurity, and pride are not solved by rules—they are solved by humility.
B. Confession Without Contrition Is Not Healing
Nicholas confesses his infidelity, but he does not grasp its emotional cost. His honesty is technical, not relational.
C. Pride Turns Hurt Into Accusation
Nicholas’s wounded ego becomes the engine of the film’s tragedy. Pride always interprets ambiguity as insult.
D. Emotional Isolation Is More Dangerous Than Temptation
Judy’s vulnerability with Ivan is not adultery—but it reveals how loneliness corrodes fidelity long before any physical act.
E. Marriage Requires Mercy, Not Perfection
The title is ironic: “perfect understanding” is impossible. What is possible is mercy, patience, and the willingness to see the other truthfully.
4. Hospitality Pairing — The Modern Marriage Table
A chilled gin cocktail — elegant, brittle, deceptively strong; the drink of people who pretend everything is fine.
A plate of olives and hard cheese — sharp, salty, the taste of unspoken tension.
A single white candle — the fragile idealism of their marriage pact.
A silver cigarette case on the table — the symbol of early‑’30s sophistication masking emotional immaturity.
A setting for evenings when you want to examine the difference between appearing modern and actually being mature.
5. Reflection Prompts
Where am I relying on rules or agreements instead of cultivating virtue?
What wound in me becomes suspicion when left unspoken?
Where has pride made me interpret ambiguity as betrayal?
Who do I turn to for comfort when I feel unseen—and what does that reveal?
What part of my life needs mercy rather than perfection?
Smoke in This Life and Not the Next Virtue: Gratitude & Vigilance Cigar: Toasted, warm (Cameroon) Bourbon: Jefferson’s Ocean — bright, expansive Reflection:“What blessings have I overlooked?”
The Entry
The Cameroon wrapper gives you that toasted, sun‑warmed sweetness — the kind that doesn’t shout, but reveals itself slowly if you’re paying attention. Jefferson’s Ocean does the same thing: bright, saline edges, a sense of movement, a reminder that grace often arrives after long miles and rough waters.
This Tuesday is about seeing what you’ve missed. Gratitude is not soft; it’s a discipline of vigilance. It’s the refusal to let blessings slip past unnoticed. It’s the trained eye that catches the small mercies, the quiet rescues, the unearned consolations.
And vigilance is not suspicion — it’s readiness. It’s the posture of someone who knows God is always acting, even when the surface looks still.
Purgatory Note — The Press of Impatience
Advancing a little, she saw a multitude of souls bruised and crushed as under a press — those who had lived with impatience and disobedience. The image is severe, but the lesson is clean: impatience flattens the soul. It compresses everything into the narrow space of “my timing, my way.” Disobedience does the same — it collapses the will inward until it can no longer breathe freely.
The press is not punishment for punishment’s sake. It is the soul being stretched back into its true shape after years of shrinking itself.
Gratitude and vigilance are the antidotes now. They widen the interior space. They keep the soul supple. They prevent the slow hardening that leads to that crushing press later.
Saul
was unfaithful and weak and therefore led his warriors by fear rather than by
inspiration. His main concern was keeping and holding power. Hum…some things
don’t change. There was no humility in him, only hubris. “I” was the first word
in his life rather than saying and living the word of God.
Hear,
O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one; and you shall love the Lord your
God with all your Heart, and with all your soul, and with your entire mind, and
with all your strength.”
Saul
fell because of his hubris when humility would have saved him. Real leaders are
humble. They realize and appreciate the sacrifices of others and consider it a
privilege to have the honor and trust to lead them.
Copilot’s
Take
Saul’s rash oath in 1
Samuel 14 exposes a leader who has lost interior order. The Catechism teaches
that humanity lives in a battlefield where evil is both around us and within us
(CCC 409). Saul’s fear-driven command—“before I am able to avenge myself”—reveals
a man who no longer trusts God’s timing. His leadership becomes reactive, not
rooted. When a leader’s interior clock is governed by insecurity, he begins to
legislate panic as if it were piety.
The people’s response is
telling: they fear Saul’s oath more than they trust God’s provision. Honey lies
on the ground—strength, sweetness, renewal—and no one dares touch it. The CCC
warns that authority detached from the moral law becomes mere domination (CCC
1902–1903). Saul’s authority has drifted into that territory. He uses fear to
hold power rather than humility to steward it. Evil thrives in that environment
because fear always shrinks the soul before it ever strengthens the will.
Humility, by contrast,
is the foundation of prayer (CCC 2559) and the only posture that keeps a leader
aligned with God’s timing. Biological Clock Day becomes an unexpected metaphor
here: Saul’s interior timing is off. He rushes, reacts, and imposes burdens God
never commanded. Humility slows a man down enough to hear again. It restores
the rhythm of obedience. It keeps a leader from confusing urgency with
faithfulness.
St. Louis de Montfort
stands as the counterpoint. His life of total consecration is the exact
opposite of Saul’s self-consecration. Where Saul clings to control, de Montfort
empties himself. Where Saul binds others with fear, de Montfort binds himself
to Christ with love. The CCC’s vision of rightly ordered love—God above self,
freedom above coercion, courage above manipulation (CCC 1731, 1808)—is embodied
in him. This is how evil is confronted: not by frantic vows, but by ordered
love.
The pattern is
consistent across Scripture and history: hubris collapses; humility endures.
Evil is not defeated by oaths, displays of strength, or the leader’s anxiety.
It is confronted when a man refuses to lead by fear, refuses to make himself
the center, and refuses to weaponize urgency. When a leader fears God, the
people are free. When a leader fears losing power, the people starve. The fall
of Saul is not a mystery—it is a warning. The path of de Montfort is not an
exception—it is the blueprint.
The world is watching a
widening conflict in the Middle East, and the pattern is painfully familiar:
leaders grasping for control, factions acting from grievance rather than
justice, and entire populations caught in the undertow of fear. The Church
never treats war as an inevitability; it treats it as a sign of disordered
hearts and disordered power. The Catechism warns that evil exploits precisely
these moments of instability—when nations act from wounded pride, when
vengeance masquerades as strategy, when rhetoric outruns reason (CCC
2314–2317). What is developing now is not simply geopolitical tension but a
spiritual crisis: a region where ancient wounds, modern weapons, and competing
narratives of righteousness collide. In such an hour, the Christian task is not
to predict outcomes but to remain anchored in the truth that peace is built
only where humility governs power, justice restrains force, and leaders refuse
the Saul-like temptation to secure victory through fear.
Louis'
life is inseparable from his efforts to promote genuine devotion to Mary, the
mother of Jesus and mother of the church. Totus tuus (completely yours) was
Louis's personal motto; Karol Wojtyla chose it as his episcopal motto. Born in
the Breton village of Montfort, close to Rennes (France), as an adult Louis
identified himself by the place of his baptism instead of his family name,
Grignion. After being educated by the Jesuits and the Sulpicians, he was
ordained as a diocesan priest in 1700. Soon he began preaching parish missions
throughout western France. His years of ministering to the poor prompted him to
travel and live very simply, sometimes getting him into trouble with church
authorities. In his preaching, which attracted thousands of people back to the
faith, Father Louis recommended frequent, even daily, Holy Communion (not the
custom then!) and imitation of the Virgin Mary's ongoing acceptance of God's
will for her life. Louis founded the Missionaries of the Company of Mary (for
priests and brothers) and the Daughters of Wisdom, who cared especially for the
sick. His book, True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin, has become a classic
explanation of Marian devotion. Louis died in Saint-Laurent-sur-Sevre, where a
basilica has been erected in his honor. He was canonized in 1947.
Excerpted
from Saint of the Day, Leonard Foley, O.F.M.
Things to
Do
·Read a longer biography of St. Louis de Montfort's life.
·Start June 13 to end on July 16, the feast of
Our Lady of Mount Carmel
·Start July 13 to end on August 15, the feast of
the Assumption
·Start July 20 to end on August 22, the feast of
the Queenship of Mary
·Start August 6 to end on September 8, the feast
of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary
·Start August 10 to end on September 12, the
feast of the Holy Name of Mary
·Start August 13 to end on September 15, the
feast of Our Lady of Sorrows
·Start September 4 to end on October 7, the feast
of Our Lady of the Rosary
·Start October 17 to end on November 19, the
feast of Our Lady of Divine Providence
·Start October 19 to end on November 21, the
feast of the Presentation of the Virgin Mary
·Start October 25 to end on November 27, the
feast of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal
·Start November 5 to end on December 8, the feast
of the Immaculate Conception
·Start November 9 to end on December 12, the
feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe
·Start November 29 to end on January 1, the feast
of Mary, Mother of God
·Start December 31 to end on February 2, the
feast of the Presentation of Our Lord.
Bible
in a year Day 298 The
Gift of Life
Fr. Mike gives us context for the beginning of 2 Maccabees and recounts the
story of Nehemiah’s discovery of the sacred fire. He also offers a reflection
for those struggling with grief and death, which serves as a reminder to all
about the blessing of our lives and the lives of those we love. Today’s
readings are 2 Maccabees 1, Sirach 40-41, and Proverbs 24:1-7.
TODAY IS ALSO Biological
Clock Day
Biological Clock Day offers a
variety of opportunities to pay respect and attention to our bodies. Perhaps
implement some of these ideas in celebration of the day:
Re-Regulate the Body
It might be a good idea to
celebrate Biological Clock Day by setting aside some time to re-regulate the
body. This will likely take more than a 24-hour period, but the day can perhaps
be a good catalyst. Get started by creating a regular bedtime routine that
allows plenty of time for relaxing and falling asleep at night.
Limit Artificial Light
One of the most basic ways
to observe Biological Clock Day might be to get back to a rhythm the way nature
intended it to be. Try unplugging those electronics and turn off the lights at
a set time in the evening. Pick up an actual book with pages instead of
scrolling through the phone.
See what happens when
nature takes its course and there’s no human intervention of technology to
hijack the processes the body really needs. It might take a bit of time for the
body to detox and reset itself, but the effort will certainly be worth it in the
end!
Practice Sleep Hygiene
Need some additional tips
on how to get the body to engage with its natural rhythms on Biological Clock
Day? Try some of these sleep hygiene ideas:
Go to sleep and wake up at
the same time every day.
Try to avoid taking naps if
they seem to inhibit the ability to fall asleep at the right time at night!
Stop eating and exercising at
least two hours (or more) before bedtime and avoid chemical stimulants
like caffeine and nicotine during these hours.
Try wearing glasses that
block blue light.
THIS WE BELIEVE
PRAYERS AND TEACHINGS OF THE CATHOLIC
CHURCH
Act of Faith
O my God, I firmly believe that
You are one God in three Divine Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I
believe that Your Divine Son became man and died for our sins, and that He will
come to judge the living and the dead. I believe these and all the truths which
the Holy Catholic Church teaches, because You revealed them, who can neither
deceive nor be deceived. Amen.
When I fear that surrender will cost me too much — Jesus,
I trust in You
Opening Invocation
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the
Holy Spirit. Amen.
“Lord Jesus, steady my heart.
Strip away the illusions of control.
Teach me the freedom that comes only through surrender.”
Reflection
There is a particular fear that surfaces once Easter’s
brightness settles:
the fear that trusting God will require a cost you cannot bear.
Not the fear of suffering itself—
you’ve endured enough to know pain is survivable.
The deeper fear is this:
If I surrender fully, God may ask for something I want
to keep.
If I open my hands, He may take what I still cling to.
If I trust Him, He may lead me where I would not choose to go.
This is the fear that keeps a man half‑converted.
Half‑available.
Half‑alive.
But Christ does not deal in halves.
The Risen Lord stands before you today with the same
words He spoke to Peter on the shore:
“Follow Me.”
Not because He wants to diminish you,
but because He intends to make you whole.
Trust is not the loss of self.
Trust is the recovery of the self God intended.
Scripture
John 21:18
“When you were younger, you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted;
but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands…”
This is not a threat.
It is a promise:
maturity in Christ leads to a life guided, not grasping.
Petition of the Day
From the fear that surrender will cost me too much —
deliver me, Jesus.
Not because surrender is painless,
but because surrender is the only path to peace.
Act of Trust
“Jesus, I place my plans, my preferences, and my
private fears before You.
I release the illusion that I can secure my own future.
I choose the narrow road of obedience,
not because it is easy,
but because it is Yours.
Strengthen my will to follow You without bargaining.”
Hospitality Cue
Choose one concrete act of relinquishment today:
simplify one decision you’ve been over‑managing
hand off a task you’ve been gripping too tightly
say no to something that drains your mission
say yes to something God has been nudging you toward
Before you act, pray:
“Jesus, I trust in You.”
Let the action become the offering.
Closing Prayer
“O Christ, my Captain and my King,
teach me the courage of surrender.
Let my obedience be steady,
my heart unafraid,
my trust unbroken.
Lead me where You will,
and make me faithful there.”
[3] Schultz, Patricia. 1,000 Places to See Before You
Die: A Traveler's Life List Workman Publishing Company. Kindle Edition.
[4] Sheraton, Mimi. 1,000 Foods To Eat Before You Die: A
Food Lover's Life List (p. 800). Workman Publishing Company. Kindle Edition.
THE LIGHT THAT FAILED (1939)
Ronald Colman, Walter Huston, Ida Lupino, Muriel Angelus
A tragic drama where pride, blindness, and unspoken longing converge—and where a man discovers too late that vision without humility destroys the very people he loves.
1. Production & Historical Setting
Released by Paramount in 1939 and adapted from Rudyard Kipling’s novel, The Light That Failed sits at the crossroads of late‑’30s romantic tragedy and pre‑war fatalism. Directed by William A. Wellman, the film carries the muscular, unsentimental tone he brought to Wings and A Star Is Born, but here the canvas is smaller, more intimate, more bruised.
The film emerges from an era fascinated by:
the wounded veteran as a symbol of masculine fragility
the artist as both visionary and self‑saboteur
the tension between imperial nostalgia and modern disillusionment
the moral cost of pride in relationships
Ronald Colman plays Dick Heldar, a war artist whose eyesight is failing; Walter Huston plays Torpenhow, the loyal friend who sees the truth before Dick does. Ida Lupino, in one of her early breakout roles, plays Bessie—the volatile model whose resentment becomes the spark of tragedy. Muriel Angelus plays Maisie, the idealized love Heldar cannot hold onto because he cannot see her clearly.
The world of the film is a blend of London studios, Sudan battlefields, and the dim interiors where artists wrestle with their own shadows.
2. Story Summary
Dick Heldar returns from the Sudan with fame, scars, and a secret: his vision is deteriorating. He throws himself into painting, determined to complete his masterpiece before the darkness closes in. Torpenhow, his closest friend, tries to steady him, but Dick’s pride makes him deaf to warning.
Enter Bessie (Ida Lupino), a street‑tough model whose bitterness mirrors Dick’s own interior fractures. Their relationship is combustible—part muse, part torment, part mirror. Dick treats her with a mixture of condescension and desperation; she responds with wounded fury.
Maisie, the woman Dick truly loves, remains just out of reach. Their history is marked by misread intentions, unspoken apologies, and the emotional blindness that precedes the physical.
As Dick’s sight collapses, so does his judgment:
His pride blinds him to Torpenhow’s loyalty.
His desperation blinds him to Maisie’s affection.
His cruelty blinds him to Bessie’s breaking point.
In a moment of vengeance and despair, Bessie destroys Dick’s nearly finished masterpiece. When he discovers the ruin, he realizes too late that his blindness—literal and moral—has cost him everything.
The film ends not with melodrama but with inevitability: a man undone by the very pride that once fueled his genius.
3. Spiritual & Moral Resonances
A. Pride Makes a Man Blind Before His Eyes Fail
Dick’s tragedy begins long before his vision dims. Pride isolates him, distorts his relationships, and makes him incapable of receiving help.
B. Wounded People Wound Others
Bessie is not a villain; she is a soul shaped by neglect and humiliation. Her act of destruction is the cry of someone who has never been seen with compassion.
C. Friendship as Moral Anchor
Torpenhow embodies the virtue of steadfastness. His loyalty is the film’s moral backbone—a reminder that true friendship is a form of grace.
D. The Danger of Idealized Love
Maisie represents the life Dick could have lived, but idealization prevents him from engaging her honestly. The film warns against loving an image rather than a person.
E. Talent Without Humility Becomes a Curse
Dick’s artistic gift becomes the very thing that destroys him because he refuses to steward it with gratitude, discipline, and truth.
4. Hospitality Pairing — The Artist’s Last Light
Black tea with a squeeze of lemon — sharp, clear, a reminder of what is slipping away.
A heel of crusty bread — the sustenance of men who work with their hands and eyes.
A burnt match on the table — the symbol of vision fading, pride consuming itself.
A sprig of lavender — the gentleness Dick could never receive, the mercy he needed but resisted.
A setting for evenings when you need to remember that gifts are not possessions—they are responsibilities.
5. Reflection Prompts
Where has pride made me blind to the people who are trying to help me?
What gifts in my life am I treating as entitlements rather than responsibilities?
Who is the “Torpenhow” in my life—steady, loyal, often unthanked?
Where am I idealizing someone instead of loving them truthfully?
What resentment or wound in me, if left unaddressed, could become destructive?
Posts
