Posts
DECEMBER
14 St. John of the Cross
Roast
Chestnuts Day
Around the World in Perfect Weather: A 52‑Week
Dream Trip
🌊 Bermuda Extension • Claire’s Island Homecoming
December 15 – December 21, 2025
Dec 15 – Arrival in Mount Pleasant, Bermuda
• Flight: Quick hop from Florida into the Atlantic ($163–$257 round‑trip
per person)
• Lodging: Mount Pleasant Guesthouse ($110/night) – cozy, budget‑friendly
stay near beaches
• Meals: ~$65/day (fresh seafood, tropical fruit, island breakfast cafés)
• Symbolic Act: Journal on “Claire’s Island” — reflect on how birthplace ties
into Advent’s theme of incarnation and roots
Dec 16 – Pink Sand & Rock Coves
• Visit: Horseshoe Bay Beach – iconic pink sand and turquoise waters
• Lodging: Mount Pleasant Guesthouse (~$110/night)
• Meals: ~$60/day (beach picnic + local fish chowder)
• Symbolic Act: Collect a shell or stone inscribed with Claire’s name as a
gesture of gratitude for origins
Dec 17 – Island Gardens & Maritime
Reflection
• Visit: Bermuda Botanical Gardens – subtropical blooms and shaded paths
• Lodging: Mount Pleasant Guesthouse (~$110/night)
• Meals: ~$65/day (garden café lunch + island supper)
• Symbolic Act: Sketch a flower as a symbol of Advent growth and Claire’s
Bermudian heritage
Dec 18 – Eucharistic Horizon (Thursday of the
Third Week of Advent)
• Mass: St. Theresa’s Cathedral, Hamilton – Mass
Schedule
• Walk: Hamilton Harbour promenade – blend civic life with ocean clarity
• Lodging: Mount Pleasant Guesthouse (~$110/night)
• Meals: ~$60/day (light breakfast + harbour dinner)
• Symbolic Act: Light a candle for seafarers and journal on “Claire’s horizon”
— the gift of beginnings
Dec 19 – Maritime Wonder (Friday of the Third
Week of Advent)
• Visit: Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute – ocean science and shipwreck
exhibits
• Lodging: Mount Pleasant Guesthouse (~$110/night)
• Meals: ~$65/day (museum café + seafood supper)
• Tickets: ~$20 entry
• Symbolic Act: Journal on “Depths unseen” — reflect on hidden mercy and
Claire’s island roots
Dec 20 – Coastal Communion (Saturday of the
Third Week of Advent)
• Walk: Warwick Long Bay – quiet coves and coral reefs
• Lodging: Mount Pleasant Guesthouse (~$110/night)
• Meals: ~$60/day (beach breakfast + shared island supper)
• Symbolic Act: Share fruit or bread with fellow travelers, naming Claire’s
birthplace as a blessing
Dec 21 – Advent Joy in Bermuda (Fourth Sunday
of Advent)
• Mass: St. Theresa’s Cathedral, Hamilton – Mass
Schedule
• Reflection: Journal on “Prepare the way” — Advent’s final call, tied to
Claire’s island beginnings
• Lodging: Mount Pleasant Guesthouse (~$110/night)
• Meals: ~$65/day (celebratory Advent supper with citrus and wine)
• Symbolic Act: Leave a note of joy in a public place — “Rejoice, the Lord is
near — Claire’s island sings”
💰 Cost
Snapshot (Dec 15–21 Extension)
Lodging
(7 nights): ~$770
Meals
(7 days): ~$420–$455
Tickets/Activities:
~$40–$60
Local
Transport (bus/ferry): ~$100–$150
Flight hop Florida → Bermuda: ~$163–$257 round‑trip per person
➡️ Total
per person: ~$1,700–$1,850 for the Bermuda extension
✨ This version now shows everything clearly: lodging, meals, tickets, transport,
flight hop, and liturgical holy days — all tied to Claire’s birthplace.
Would you like me to merge Nov 30–Dec 21 (Orlando + Everglades + Bermuda) into one continuous Advent itinerary so you have a single copy‑ready calendar entry for your blog?
St. John of the Cross[1]
Juan de Yepes was the Castilian son of a poor silk weaver of Fontiberos, Toledo, Spain and was born in 1542. His father was of noble birth; he had married much beneath him, and for that offense had been entirely cut off by his family. He had taken to silk weaving as a means of livelihood but had never been able to make much of it. Soon after the birth of Juan he died, worn out with the effort to keep his wife and three children. The family was left in direst poverty; the children grew up always underfed, so that to the end of his life Juan remained dwarfed in stature.
Unable to learn a trade, he became the servant of the poor in the hospital of Medina, while still pursuing his sacred studies. In 1563, being then twenty-one, he humbly offered himself as a lay brother to the Carmelite friars, who, however, knowing his talents, had him ordained priest. He would now have exchanged to the severe Carthusian Order, had not St. Teresa of Avila, with the instinct of a saint, persuaded him to remain and help her in the reform of his own Order.
Thus, he became the first prior of the Discalced (meaning "barefoot") Carmelites. His reform, though approved by the general, was rejected by the elder friars, who condemned the saint as a fugitive and an apostrophe, and cast him into prison, whence he only escaped, after nine months' suffering, at the risk of his life. Twice again, before his death, he was shamefully persecuted by his brethren, and publicly disgraced. But his complete abandonment by creatures only deepened his interior peace and devout longing for heaven.
St. John was a great contemplative and spiritual writer. He was proclaimed Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius XI on August 24, 1926. He is the patron of contemplative life, mystical theology, mystics, and Spanish poets.
—Excerpted from Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints ©1878 and Saints for Sinners by Alban Goodier, S.J.
"With what procrastinations do you wait, since from this very moment you can love God in your heart?"
—Excerpted from Prayer of a Soul Taken with Love — St. John of the Cross
Mine are the heavens and mine is the earth. Mine are the nations, the just are mine and mine the sinners. The angels are mine, and the Mother of God, and all things are mine; and God himself is mine and for me, because Christ is mine and all for me. What do you ask, then, and seek my soul? Yours is all of this, and all is for you. Do not engage your self in something less or pay heed to the crumbs that fall from your Father's table. Go forth and exult in your Glory! Hide yourself in it and rejoice, and you will obtain the supplications of your heart.
—Excerpted from Sayings of Light and Love, 26-27 —St. John of the Cross
Patronage: Contemplative life;
contemplatives; mystical theology; mystics; Spanish poets; Segovia, Spain; Ta’
Xbiex, Malta
Symbols and Representation: eagle; priest in Carmelite robes holding a cross
Highlights and Things to Do:
·
See Celebrating the Feast of St.
John of the Cross for ideas.
·
Read more about
St. John of the Cross at the ICS website.
·
Three of his
works, Ascent of Mount Carmel, Dark Night of the Soul and Spiritual
Canticle of the Soul and the Bridegroom Christ are available online at the Christian Classics Ethereal Library.
Find
out more about the Discalced Carmelites, which is the Carmelite order St. John belonged.
Discalced simply means "unshod or barefooted" which means this
division of Carmelites either wear sandals or are barefooted.
·
Learn more
about St. John of the Cross:
St. John of the Cross-Advent Calendar[2]
Read: St. John of the Cross, who we honor today, was known for his deep spirituality and compassion.
Reflect: "We must dig deeply in Christ. He is like a rich mine with many pockets containing treasures: however deep we dig we will never find their end or their limit. Indeed, in every pocket new seams of fresh riches are discovered on all sides." —St. John of the Cross
Pray: Pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy today.
Act: Brainstorm ideas for how you can live out your call to "imbue every area of social life with the spirit of the Gospel" as an active citizen. For ideas, visit the Faithful Citizenship website.
Spiritual Crib[3]
A special devotion that can be performed during Advent to prepare for the coming of the Infant Savior. It can be adapted for adults and/or children and applied as is appropriate to your state in life.
·
4th day, December 14th: THE ROOF—Self-denial
Today we must practice self-denial in everything great or small. We must
therefore do the very things from which nature shrinks, and if opportunity
permits, abstain from some amusement in whatever way it presents itself. No
TV today
33 days to
Christmas-Start the 33 days to Eucharistic Glory[4]
Want to start a
small group? Download our 33 Days to Eucharistic Glory Study Guide
Day 23
On this 23rd day the reception of the
Eucharist renews our purpose to live out the Beatitudes of Christ and build a
Kingdom of God.
Copilot:
The reception of the Eucharist profoundly
renews our purpose to live out the Beatitudes and build the Kingdom of God in
several keyways:
1. Union with Christ: By receiving the Eucharist, believers are
united with Christ, whose teachings and example are the foundation of the
Beatitudes. This union strengthens their commitment to embodying these values.
2. Spiritual Nourishment: The Eucharist provides the spiritual
nourishment and grace needed to live out the Beatitudes, which often require
going against worldly values and embracing humility, mercy, and peacemaking.
3. Reflection and Commitment: Participation in the Eucharist involves
reflecting on Christ’s life and teachings. This reflection renews one's
commitment to living out the Beatitudes in daily life.
4. Strength in Trials: The grace received from the Eucharist
provides the strength to persevere in living out the Beatitudes, even in the
face of challenges and adversity.
5. Inspiration for Mercy and Compassion: The Eucharist reminds
believers of Christ’s infinite mercy and love, inspiring them to show mercy and
compassion to others, as called for in the Beatitudes.
6. Promotion of Peace: By partaking in the Eucharist, Catholics are
encouraged to be peacemakers in their communities, fostering reconciliation and
harmony.
7. Humility and Poverty of Spirit: The Eucharist helps believers embrace
humility and recognize their dependence on God, aligning with the Beatitude of
being "poor in spirit."
8. Comfort in Mourning: The Eucharist provides comfort and hope for
those who mourn, reinforcing the promise that they shall be comforted.
9. Righteousness and Justice: Receiving the Eucharist strengthens the
desire to seek justice and righteousness, upholding these Beatitudes in
society.
10. Pure Heart: The transformative power of the Eucharist
helps believers strive for purity of heart, enabling them to see God more
clearly in their lives.
11. Endurance in Persecution: The Eucharist fortifies believers to endure
persecution for righteousness' sake, as many saints have exemplified.
12. Community Building: The communal aspect of the Eucharist fosters
a sense of solidarity and shared mission among believers, encouraging them to
work together to build the Kingdom of God.
13. Living Witness: Finally, the Eucharist empowers believers to
be living witnesses of Christ’s love and teachings, spreading the values of the
Beatitudes through their actions and words.
Through these ways, the Eucharist
continuously renews and inspires Catholics to live out the Beatitudes and
actively participate in building the Kingdom of God here on earth.
Catechism of the Catholic Church
PART TWO: THE CELEBRATION OF THE CHRISTIAN MYSTERY
SECTION
TWO-THE SEVEN SACRAMENTS OF THE CHURCH
CHAPTER ONE-THE SACRAMENTS OF
CHRISTIAN INITIATION
Article 3-THE SACRAMENT OF
THE EUCHARIST
V. The Sacramental Sacrifice
Thanksgiving, Memorial, Presence
Day 185
1356 If from the beginning
Christians have celebrated the Eucharist and in a form whose substance has not
changed despite the great diversity of times and liturgies, it is because we
know ourselves to be bound by the command the Lord gave on the eve of his
Passion: "Do this in remembrance of me."
1357 We carry out this command of
the Lord by celebrating the memorial of his sacrifice. In so doing, we offer to
the Father what he has himself given us: the gifts of his creation, bread and
wine which, by the power of the Holy Spirit and by the words of Christ, have
become the body and blood of Christ. Christ is thus really and mysteriously
made present.
1358 We must therefore consider the
Eucharist as: - thanksgiving and praise to the Father;
- the sacrificial memorial of Christ and his Body;
- the presence of Christ by the power of his word and of his Spirit.
Thanksgiving and praise to the Father
1359 The Eucharist, the sacrament
of our salvation accomplished by Christ on the cross, is also a sacrifice of
praise in thanksgiving for the work of creation. In the Eucharistic sacrifice
the whole of creation loved by God is presented to the Father through the death
and the Resurrection of Christ. Through Christ the Church can offer the
sacrifice of praise in thanksgiving for all that God has made good, beautiful,
and just in creation and in humanity.
1360 The Eucharist is a sacrifice
of thanksgiving to the Father, a blessing by which the Church expresses her
gratitude to God for all his benefits, for all that he has accomplished through
creation, redemption, and sanctification. Eucharist means first of all
"thanksgiving."
1361 The Eucharist is also the
sacrifice of praise by which the Church sings the glory of God in the name of
all creation. This sacrifice of praise is possible only through Christ: he
unites the faithful to his person, to his praise, and to his intercession, so
that the sacrifice of praise to the Father is offered through Christ and with
him, to be accepted in him.
Corner
- Jesse
Tree ornament: Joseph: Matt. 1:18-25 Symbols: hammer, saw, chisel, angle
·
How to celebrate Dec 14th
o
You
wake up to the sun shining through your window, ready to embark on a day filled
with surprising delights. Begin your day by embracing your playful side and
celebrating Monkey Day. Visit a nearby zoo or wildlife sanctuary to observe
these curious creatures up close. If that’s not an option, spend some time
watching funny monkey videos online for a good chuckle.
o
Moving
on to National Alabama Day, why not explore the culture of the southern state
by whipping up a batch of homemade Southern comfort food? Cook up some classic
dishes like fried green tomatoes or shrimp and grits to transport your taste
buds to the heart of Alabama.
o
Next,
channel your inner entrepreneur on Sustainable Entrepreneurship Day. Support
local businesses by shopping at a farmer’s market or thrift store. Get creative
by upcycling old items into new treasures or starting a mini herb garden on
your windowsill.
o
Spread
some positivity on More Good Today Day by performing random acts of kindness.
Whether it’s buying a coffee for a stranger or leaving an uplifting note for a
loved one, brighten someone’s day with a small gesture of kindness.
Daily
Devotions
·
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting: Today's Fast: Catholic
Politicians & Leaders
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Rosary.
Easy Living (1937) is a screwball comedy about wealth, misunderstanding, and love. Its Catholic lessons highlight humility, the dangers of materialism, and the providence of truth and charity.
🎬 Film Summary
- Director/Writer: Mitchell Leisen, screenplay by Preston Sturges
- Stars: Jean Arthur (Mary Smith), Edward Arnold (J.B. Ball), Ray Milland (John Ball Jr.)
- Plot:
- J.B. Ball, a wealthy banker, throws his wife’s extravagant sable coat off their penthouse roof in frustration at her spending.
- The coat lands on Mary Smith, a poor stenographer. Ball tells her to keep it, but the gift sparks gossip that she is his mistress.
- Mary loses her job but gains sudden notoriety. A hotelier gives her a luxury suite, hoping to curry favor with Ball.
- At an automat, Mary meets John Ball Jr., who is working incognito. They fall in love.
- Misunderstandings about Mary’s supposed influence cause chaos in the stock market, nearly bankrupting J.B.
- Eventually, truth is revealed, John Jr. is reconciled with his father, and he proposes to Mary.
✝️ Catholic Lessons & Reflections
Though not written as a religious film, Easy Living offers moral insights that resonate with Catholic teaching:
1. Humility vs. Pride
- J.B. Ball’s pride in wealth and control leads to chaos. His son’s humility—working anonymously—shows the dignity of honest labor.
- Catholic lesson: Humility grounds us in truth; pride distorts relationships and society.
2. Materialism and Vanity
- Jenny Ball’s obsession with luxury coats symbolizes the emptiness of materialism.
- Mary, though poor, becomes entangled in false appearances of wealth.
- Catholic lesson: Vanity and consumerism enslave; simplicity frees the soul.
3. Truth vs. Gossip
- Gossip about Mary’s supposed affair spreads rapidly, damaging reputations and destabilizing markets.
- Catholic lesson: Bearing false witness is destructive; truth restores justice and peace.
4. Providence and Charity
- The “accidental” gift of the coat changes Mary’s life, ultimately leading her to love and stability.
- Catholic lesson: God’s providence works through unexpected events; charity (Mary’s kindness to John Jr.) bears fruit.
5. Family Reconciliation
- The strained father-son relationship is healed when John Jr. proves his worth and integrity.
- Catholic lesson: Honor thy father and mother, but also seek reconciliation through virtue and love.
📖 Key Takeaway
Easy Living dramatizes how wealth without virtue breeds chaos, while humility, honesty, and charity restore order and love. For Catholic reflection, the film can be read as a parable: worldly riches fade, but truth and love endure.
