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. "
As we enter this Lenten season, I invite you to support and share the new Coffee with Christ audiobook, now available on Audible
Love Affair (1939)
Starring: Irene Dunne, Charles Boyer, Maria Ouspenskaya, Lee Bowman Director: Leo McCarey Studio: RKO Genre: Romantic Drama Runtime: ~88 minutes Release Year: 1939 — the same legendary year as Gone With the Wind, The Wizard of Oz, Stagecoach, and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.
Plot Summary
Michel Marnet (Charles Boyer), a charming French painter-turned-playboy, and Terry McKay (Irene Dunne), a witty American singer, meet aboard an ocean liner crossing the Atlantic. Both are engaged to other people, both are trying to behave, and both fail beautifully.
Their flirtation deepens into something unmistakably real. During a stop in Madeira, Michel brings Terry to visit his grandmother (Maria Ouspenskaya), whose warmth, faith, and quiet wisdom reveal Michel’s better nature. Terry sees the man he could be; Michel sees the woman he should love.
They agree: If they still feel the same in six months, they will meet at the top of the Empire State Building.
A test of love, maturity, and destiny.
But on the appointed day, Terry is struck by a car and left unable to walk. Ashamed to burden Michel, she disappears into a quiet life as a music teacher. Michel, believing she simply didn’t love him enough to come, returns to his old life—wounded, but proud.
Months later, in a Christmas‑season encounter, Michel visits Terry’s apartment. He finally discovers the truth when he sees the painting he donated to charity—now hanging on her wall. The realization breaks him open. The reunion is tender, restrained, and deeply earned.
Cast Highlights
Irene Dunne (Terry McKay)
At her most luminous: warm, intelligent, emotionally transparent.
Dunne’s ability to play humor, heartbreak, and grace in the same breath is unmatched.
Charles Boyer (Michel Marnet)
Sophisticated, continental charm with a surprising moral depth.
Boyer’s transformation from playboy to man of honor is the film’s spine.
Maria Ouspenskaya (Grandmother Janou)
A tiny performance with enormous spiritual weight.
Her scenes in Madeira are the film’s soul—quiet, reverent, almost sacramental.
Lee Bowman (Kenneth Bradley)
Terry’s fiancé: decent, loyal, and painfully aware he’s not the one she loves.
Catholic & Moral Themes
This film is rich with spiritual resonance—Leo McCarey was a devout Catholic, and it shows.
1. Conversion Through Encounter
Michel’s visit to his grandmother is a moment of moral awakening.
Her home is a sanctuary—icons, simplicity, prayerfulness.
Terry sees Michel’s true self; Michel sees the life he’s meant for.
2. The Six‑Month Promise as a Moral Fast
Their agreement is essentially a period of purification:
No impulsiveness
No adultery
No shortcuts
A test of fidelity and maturity
It mirrors the Catholic idea that love must be disciplined, chosen, and proven.
3. Suffering as Hidden Sanctification
Terry’s accident is not melodrama—it’s a crucible.
She refuses to burden Michel, choosing sacrificial love over self‑interest.
Her hidden suffering echoes the Christian theme of redemptive love lived quietly.
4. The Final Scene as Revelation
Michel’s discovery of the painting is almost Eucharistic:
A hidden truth suddenly revealed
A moment of recognition
A reunion grounded in mercy, not pride
It’s a scene about seeing rightly—a deeply biblical theme.
Hospitality Pairing
You love pairings that match the film’s emotional arc and era. Here’s one that fits perfectly.
Cocktail: The French 75
Elegant, sparkling, slightly bittersweet—just like the film.
A 1930s classic with:
Gin
Lemon
Simple syrup
Champagne
It mirrors the shipboard glamour and the Parisian refinement of Michel’s world.
Meal: Madeira Chicken with Roasted Grapes
A nod to the pivotal Madeira sequence:
Warm, comforting, old‑world
Slightly sweet from the grapes
Earthy and tender, like Grandmother Janou’s home
This dish carries the film’s emotional center: love revealed in a humble, sacred domestic space.
Dessert: Crêpes Suzette
A French dessert with theatrical flair—flambéed tableside in the 1930s.
Perfect for the film’s blend of romance and elegance.
oWake up and kick off your day by channeling your inner influencer with a trading card photoshoot. Gather your favorite trading cards, set up some creative shots, and capture your own unique collection in a fun and imaginative way. Get your artistic side flowing by arranging and displaying them in different patterns or designs.
oNext, dive into the kitchen and whip up a batch of homemade tortilla chips. It’s simple – just cut up some tortillas, season them to your liking, and bake them until crispy. They’re perfect for snacking on throughout the day or for serving with your favorite dips.
oAs the afternoon rolls around, why not try your hand at mixing up some delicious cocktails? Check out some bartending tutorials online and experiment with crafting your own signature drink. Invite a friend over (or enjoy solo), and toast to your newfound mixology skills.
oIn the evening, cozy up with a classic TV show or movie marathon. Celebrate all things mysterious by watching episodes of Twin Peaks or indulge in a film featuring doppelgängers and otherworldly elements. It’s the perfect way to unwind and embrace the weirdness of the day.
oRound off your festivities by preparing a meal sans coriander for International I Hate Coriander Day. Explore new recipes or adapt some of your favorites to exclude the divisive herb. Share your culinary creations on social media to join the anti-coriander movement.
Take a moment to read up on his life and accomplishments, or simply raise a glass in tribute to this historical figure. Reflect on the day’s eclectic celebrations and the joy found in embracing the unexpected.
Candace’s Worldwide Vineyard Tour — Sonoma County
Theme: Clarity, Purification, and the First Steps of Lent
🗓️ LITURGICAL CALENDAR
Tue Feb 24 — Tuesday after Ash Wednesday
Wed Feb 25 — Wednesday after Ash Wednesday
Thu Feb 26 — Thursday after Ash Wednesday
Fri Feb 27 — Friday after Ash Wednesday
Sat Feb 28 — Saturday after Ash Wednesday
Sun Mar 1 — 1st Sunday of Lent
Mon Mar 2 — Monday of the 1st Week of Lent
🌿 OVERVIEW
Sonoma is quieter, earthier, and more contemplative than Napa — the perfect landscape for the first movements of Lent: purification, simplicity, and interior clarity.
🍇 DAILY OUTLINE
TUESDAY • FEB 24
Location: Sonoma Plaza
(sonomavalley.com) Focus: Beginning the Fast Act: Walk the historic mission square; choose one Lenten intention to carry for 40 days. Prompt: What is God inviting me to release?
WEDNESDAY • FEB 25
Location: St. Francis Solano Mission (missionscalifornia.com) (missionscalifornia.com in Bing) Focus: Return to simplicity Act: Light a candle in the mission chapel. Prompt: Where do I need to return to the basics?
Vineyard: Gundlach Bundschu (gunbun.com) Prompt: What needs pruning in my life?
THURSDAY • FEB 26
Location: Benziger Family Winery (benziger.com) Focus: Organic purification Act: Biodynamic tram tour. Prompt: What part of my interior life needs detox?
FRIDAY • FEB 27
Location: Francis Ford Coppola Winery (thefamilycoppola.com) Focus: Story and sacrifice Act: Walk the memorabilia gallery; reflect on the cost of creating something meaningful. Prompt: What sacrifice is God asking of me this Lent?
SATURDAY • FEB 28
Location: Jordan Vineyard & Winery
(jordanwinery.com) Focus: Beauty and discipline Act: Estate hike + tasting. Prompt: Where does beauty call me to greater discipline?
SUNDAY • MARCH 1 — FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT
Mass: St. Leo the Great Catholic Church, Sonoma (stleosonoma.org) Vineyard: Rodney Strong Vineyards (rodneystrong.com) Focus: Temptation and strength Act: Write down your primary Lenten intention for the next 40 days.
MONDAY • MARCH 2
Location: Chateau St. Jean (chateaustjean.com) Focus: Beginning the Lenten journey Act: Quiet tasting in the gardens. Word to Carry: Resolve.
February 24 Tuesday-St. Matthias the Apostle
Deuteronomy, Chapter 2, Verse 25
This day
I will begin to put a FEAR and dread
of you into the peoples everywhere under heaven, so that at the mention of your
name they will quake and tremble before you.
This
verse sounds a bit like in the beginning with Adam and Eve when God puts the
fear of man into all creatures. It appears that men that are devoid of any
connection with God who are nothing more than mere animals have a deathly fear
of God’s own. These worldly creatures may see God’s people as clinging to their
guns and their Bibles but in truth they have a fear of God’s people. Often this
fear is expressed in stubbornness in mind, obstructionism and
obstinacy in heart.
Copilot’s Take — Confronting Evil
Evil always trembles before a man who walks with
God, but it rarely admits that openly. Instead, it hides behind the same masks
you named—stubbornness, obstruction, and a kind of animal defensiveness that
lashes out because it cannot comprehend holiness. When God places His fear upon
a people, it is not to make His servants intimidating; it is to expose the
spiritual poverty of those who have built their lives on sand. The world calls
God’s men “dangerous,” “extreme,” or “backwards,” not because they are any of
those things, but because evil cannot stand the presence of someone who refuses
to bow to its illusions.
Confronting evil today begins with recognizing this
dynamic. The resistance you meet is not always personal—it is often the recoil
of a heart that senses judgment simply by being near someone who lives in the
light. Evil’s first strategy is always the same: make the faithful doubt
themselves. Make them question their mission. Make them shrink. But the moment
a man understands that the world’s trembling is not a sign of his failure but
of God’s presence, he stops negotiating with darkness. He stands firm, speaks
plainly, and moves forward without apology.
The people of God do not conquer by intimidation;
they conquer by fidelity. And fidelity is the one thing evil cannot imitate,
counterfeit, or withstand. When a man refuses to be moved by the world’s fear
of him, he becomes the kind of man through whom God can move mountains.
Feast of Saint Matthias, Apostle
The
feast of Saint Matthias[1]was included in
the Roman Calendar in the 11th century and celebrated on the sixth day to the
Calends of March (24 February usually, but 25 February in leap years). In the revision of the General Roman
Calendar in
1969, his feast was transferred to 14 May, so as not to celebrate it in Lent but instead in Eastertide close to the Solemnity of the
Ascension, the
event after which the Acts of the Apostles recounts that Matthias was selected
to be ranked with the Twelve Apostles.
OF[2]
this apostle nothing certain is known beyond what is contained in the epistle.
In the Introit of the Mass the Church sings: “To me Thy friends, O God, are
made exceedingly honorable; their principality is exceedingly strengthened.
Lord, Thou hast proved me and known me; Thou hast known my sitting down and my
rising up.”
Prayer.
O God, Who didst associate blessed Matthias to the company of the apostles,
grant, we beseech Thee, that, by his intercession, we may ever experience Thy
tender mercy towards us.
Prayer
to St. Matthias.
O St. Matthias, glorious apostle
and martyr of Jesus Christ, who, by the special providence of God, wast added
to the eleven apostles in the room of the traitor, I humbly beseech thee to
obtain for us the grace of Him Who chose thee from all eternity, that, assisted
thereby, we may, after thy example, keep the commandments of God, practice good
works, and thus merit to be numbered with the elect. Amen.
Mass of St. Matthias
the Apostle
OF this apostle nothing certain is known beyond what is
contained in the epistle.
In the Introit of the Mass the Church sings: " To me
Thy friends, O God, are made exceedingly honorable; their principality is
exceedingly strengthened. Lord, Thou hast proved me and known me; Thou hast
known my sitting down and my rising up.”
Prayer.
O God, Who didst associate blessed Matthias to the company
of the apostles, grant, we beseech Thee, that, by his intercession, we may ever
experience Thy tender mercy towards us. Amen.
EPISTLE. Acts i.
15-26.
In those days Peter rising up in the midst of the brethren
said (now the number of persons together was about an hundred and twenty) :
Men, brethren, the Scripture must needs be fulfilled which the Holy Ghost spoke
before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who was the leader of them that
ap prehended Jesus: who was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this
ministry. And he indeed hath possessed a field of the reward of iniquity, and
being hanged burst asunder in the midst: and all his bowels gushed out. And it
became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem: so that the same therein.
field was called in their tongue, Haceldama, that is to say, The field of
blood. For it is written in the book of Psalms: Let their habitation become
desolate, and let there be none to dwell And his bishopric let another take.
Wherefore of these men who have companied with us, all the time that the Lord
Jesus came in and went out among us, beginning from the rection. baptism of
John until the day wherein He was taken up from us, one of these must be made a
witness with us of His resurrection. And they appointed two, Joseph, called
Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. And praying, they said: Thou,
Lord, Who knowest the hearts of all men, show whether of these two Thou hast
chosen to take the place of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas
hath by transgression fallen, that he might go to his own place. And they gave
them lots, and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven
apostles.
GOSPEL. Matt. xi.
25-30.
At that time Jesus answered and said: I confess to Thee, O
Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because Thou hast hid these things from the
wise and prudent, and hast revealed them to little ones. sight. Yea, Father:
for so hath it seemed good in Thy All things are delivered to Me by My Father.
And no one knoweth the Son, but the Father: neither doth anyone know the
Father, but the Son, and he to whom it shall please the Son to reveal Him. Come
to Me, all you that labor and are burdened, and I will refresh you. Take up My
yoke upon you, and learn of Me, because I am meek, and humble of heart: and you
shall find rest to your souls. For My yoke is sweet and My burden light.
foolishness. The wise and prudent referred to in this gospel are the proud
scribes and Pharisees, who, in their imaginary wisdom, would not receive the
incarnate and suffering Son of God, but despised and rejected Him; in general,
they represent also all who in their pride would measure everything by their
own understanding, and to whom, consequently, the mysteries of faith seem The
little ones are the apostles, who, although taken from a low condition of life,
without a learned education, but rather ignorant, were enlightened by God to
know the deepest mysteries, because they had docile and humble hearts, desirous
of salvation. Thus God gives grace to the humble, while the proud go away
empty. To those who bear His yoke, and follow Him, Christ promises peace of
mind, temporal and eternal happiness; and, indeed, we must confess that as
often as we are disquieted and discontented the cause of it is our selfishness
and want of submission to the will of God, our pride and vanity. Learn, then,
to love to be meek and humble, if you would enjoy peace, here or here after.
Prayer to St.
Matthias.
O St. Matthias, glorious apostle and martyr of Jesus Christ,
who, by the special providence of God, wast added to the eleven apostles in the
room of the traitor, I humbly beseech thee to obtain for us the grace of Him
Who chose thee from all eternity, that, assisted thereby, we may, after thy ex
ample, keep the commandments of God, practice good works, and thus merit to be
numbered with the elect. Amen
Lenten Calendar
Read: Lent is a time many often rededicate themselves to
prayer. Check out these 9 ways to pray. . .
from USCCB’s We Are Salt and Light for ideas on how to expand your prayer life this
season.
Pray: Try one of the 9 ways to pray from the article that
you have never tried before.
Act: If you found you liked one of the 9 ways to pray
from above to be helpful to you, share your experience with a loved one.
Finally, be strong in the Lord and
in the strength of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be
able to stand against the wiles of the Devil. For we are not contending against
flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against
the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of
wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take the whole armor of God, that
you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
EPHESIANS 6: 10– 13
The
ordinary activity of demons is subtle and occurs within our thought life. They
plant ideas within our minds seeking to influence our reason, memory, and
imagination— and ultimately, our will. They use various methods to tempt us.
First, the demons tempt
through deception. (The Devil is
the father of lies)
Second, demons tempt
through accusation.
Third, the Devil tempts us
through doubt as he seeks to
diminish our faith. (Don’t hesitate in faith)
Fourth, demons tempt us
through enticement. (Don’t take
the bait)
Finally, demons can tempt
us through provocation. (Don’t
give into vexations)
We should always remember that not all temptations come directly from
Satan and his minions. Many of them arise simply from our own weakness and the
habits of sin we have developed.
The practice of fasting that pleases God and goes
further than going without food. God does not delight in our denying ourselves
but in us turning eyes from ourselves to others and begin to loosen the chains
that bind others. God is calling us to live from His values and ethics not
ours. Fasting is good in that it redirects our focus and helps us to bring the
body back under the control of the mind and spirit, but we must not fast while
continuing to harbor destructive thoughts, assumptions and attitudes. Consider
what God expects from the “Fasted life.”
Adam had
sinned and so he hid from God. After Cain killed Able God asked him,
“Where is your brother? …
Yet again
according to catholic tradition Saint Peter was fleeing from crucifixion in
Rome at the hands of the government, and along the road outside the city he
meets the risen Jesus and this time it is Peter who asks the question in Latin
"Quo vadis?" “Where are you going?”
to which Jesus
replies, "Romam eo iterum crucifigi" ("I am going to Rome
to be crucified again"). Peter thereby gains the courage to continue his
ministry and returns to the city, to eventually be martyred by being crucified
upside-down. Confession is our own turning like Peter around to walk with our
Lord: to carry our cross with Him and to suffer with Him if need be. Confession
is something you do with your mouth and with your mind, heart and actions.
Confession should always be individual, spoken and specific. It is customary
for devout Catholics to go to confession frequently and the saints have
recommended that we go at least once a month. Yet in recent years some parishes
have seen a decline in the number of confessions. It is not that we are having a
decline in sin; it is because our hearts have become worldly. Will we have the
hearts to see our Lord as He passes us by and even say to Him “Quo Vadis”: have
we become so worldly that we have lost a sense of sin? Has our no-fault culture
convinced us to keep walking in the opposite direction of our Lord thinking
“I’m OK, you’re OK, no matter what choices we have made? Yes, God loves us just
the way we are, but he loves us too much to keep us fat, dumb and happy. We
need to experience his forgiveness so that we can heal and grow. “It is better to confess one’s sins than to
harden one’s heart.” (Pope St. Clement I)
1.Build
fraternity with other Catholic men. Catholic friendship among men has a
dramatic impact on their faith lives. Men who have bonds of brotherhood with
other Catholic men pray more, go to Mass and Confession more frequently, read
the Scriptures more often, and are more active in the Faith. Proverbs tells us:
“As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another” (27:17). I call on each of
our priests and deacons to draw men together in their parishes and to begin to
rebuild a vibrant and transforming Catholic fraternity. I call on laymen to form
small fellowship groups for mutual support and growth in the faith. There is no
friendship like having a friend in Christ.
Aids in Battle[4] The Word of God
useful for our warfare with evil
These biblical passages
provide aids in warfare for those who will ponder and act upon the truths they
teach us. Recite them as battle cries in the heat of the conflict. Call on
Jesus Christ, our Champion when the battle is fierce, turn your eyes to our victorious
commander and place your confidence in Him.
·To
this end the Son of God appeared that He might destroy the works of the Devil.
1 Jn 3: 8
·Be
steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that
your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
·That
at the name of Jesus every knee should bend of those in heaven, on earth and
under the earth, and every tongue should confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is
in the glory of God the Father.
·Disarming
the Principalities and Powers, He displayed them openly, leading them away in
triumph by force of [the Cross]. Col 2: 15
·Now
has come the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God.
Outside of Mass, the other great
refuge from the Devil and his wiles is prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. St.
John Bosco used to tell the boys who were under his care:
·Listen:
There are two things the Devil is deathly afraid of: fervent Communions and
frequent visits to the Blessed Sacrament.
·Do
you want Our Lord to grant you many graces? Visit him often.
·Do
you want Him to grant you only a few? Visit Him only seldom.
·Do
you want the Devil to attack you? Rarely visit the Blessed Sacrament.
·Do
you want the Devil to flee from you? Visit Jesus often.
·Do
you want to overcome the Devil? Take refuge at Jesus’ feet.
·Do
you want to be overcome by the Devil? Give up visiting Jesus.
·Visiting
the Blessed Sacrament is essential, my dear boys, if you want to overcome the
Devil. Therefore, make frequent visits to Jesus. If you do that, the Devil will
never prevail against you.
One of the Precepts of the Church is to
receive the sacraments of Penance
and HolyCommunion at
least once a year, during Lent or Paschaltide. Catholics once dedicated the
three days prior to Lent as a special time to go to confession. Shrovetide
arose from the desire to prepare for the holy asceticism of the Great Fast.
Once Lent begins, however, confession should still be sought out: since Lent is
a time for frequent and frank examinations of conscience, confession is a
sacrament that should be liberally taken advantage of during this time.
Our
lives always are better if we work with God rather than against him. To this
end God has assigned an angel to protect churches and persons for indeed we are
the true temples of God. We should be particularly attentive to our own
guardian angels, since they are specifically assigned to our care. Our guardian
angels want to help us cooperate with the will of God, and they want to keep us
from sin. They help us to comfort others-and they want to keep us safe and from
causing harm to others. They are our best friend in that they always want
what’s best for us even if it does not coincide with the things, we desire the
most and they will undoubtedly help us, especially when we ask them. Learn to
ask for what you need. Our angel helps us to answer Gods call for holiness. As
we are the sanctuary of the Holy Spirit our angel is charged with protecting
our temples and keeping us pure for the presence of God. We must learn to speak
to the angels.
No evil shall befall you, no
affliction come near your tent for he commands his angels with regard to you,
to guard you wherever you go. With their hands they shall support you,
lest you strike your foot against a stone. You can tread upon the asp and
the viper, trample the lion and the dragon. (Ps.91:10-13)
One
question that comes up repeatedly is why are the Ember Days only Wednesday,
Friday and Saturday?
Is
there any rhyme or reason to these days?
In the days of the early church,
Mass was originally only on Sundays. Gradually other days were added, the
development can be seen in connection with the Roman Station Churches, as I
wrote about last year in Roman
Pilgrimage: Station Churches.
The Ember Days fall on the days that had assigned stational churches,
originally Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Station churches for
Thursdays were a much later addition and are not included in the Ember Days.
Unique
Character of the Spring or Lent Ember Days
The
Lent Ember Days fall on the Wednesday, Friday and Saturday during the first
week of Lent. There are four major intentions of the Quarterly Ember Days, but
each set of days has a different flavor according to the corresponding
liturgical season.
The
Lent Ember Days were the last ones added to the liturgical calendar, and they
have a slightly different character than the other three. Since the Lenten
season already had fasting and abstinence, observing Ember Days in Lent only
added a little extra in penance to the already formerly strict laws of Lent.
The
focus of the Lenten Ember Days:
1.Consecration
of the New Season. The other Ember Days marked thanksgiving for
different harvests, but the Lent Ember Days did not. Instead, this was a time
of consecrating the new spring to God and asking blessing on the upcoming
growing season. This was also a time of thanksgiving for the gift of light.
Instead of harvest offerings on Ember Wednesday, flowers were usually presented
and blessed. The symbol of the Lenten Ember Days is the Paschal and baptismal
candles. (I have not found any evidence, but I conjecture that perhaps the wax
harvest from the honeybee might have been featured during these Lenten Ember
Days? It would seem to be a logical connection.)
2.Days
of Spiritual Renewal. Holy Mother Church provides us
so many opportunities to redirect, refresh and renew. The Lenten Ember Days
blends with the season of Lent, providing reminders to continue and persevere
in the spirit of conversion and penance.
3.Praying
for Priests. The Church no longer regularly ordains priests during
the Quarterly Ember Days, but this is a special time, particularly Ember
Saturday, to pray for priests and for seminarians, particularly the ones who
are about to be ordained within the year.
4.Reflecting
the Spirit of the Season. Each set of Ember Days reflect the
season of the Liturgical Year in which they occur. The Lenten season focuses on
our conversion of our hearts,
and also a focus on the supernatural life we receive at baptism, whether it be
as a catechumen or a renewal of baptismal promises.
[1]Thigpen, Paul. Manual for Spiritual Warfare. TAN
Books.
Fr. Mike guides us through the last two chapters of
Ezekiel, explaining the biblical significance of the water flowing from the
right side of the temple, and how it foreshadows Christ's passion. He also
emphasizes the imagery of the clay and the potter in Jeremiah, signifying how
our lives are meant to be open for God to mold and shape, according to his
will. Today's readings are Jeremiah 18-19, Ezekiel 47-48, and Proverbs 15:21-24.
Litany of Trust — Tuesday, February 24
Petition: From the fear
that I am invisible… deliver me, Jesus.
One of evil’s most subtle tactics is to whisper that our
presence does not matter—that our efforts disappear, our sacrifices go
unnoticed, and our voice carries no weight. This lie isolates the heart and
tempts us to believe that even God has overlooked us. But the truth is older
and stronger: the Lord sees what others miss, remembers what others forget, and
honors what others dismiss.
Hagar learned this in the wilderness when despair convinced
her she was unseen. Yet there, in the place she least expected, she encountered
the God who calls Himself the One who sees me. The lie of invisibility
was confronted by the truth of divine attention.
St. Joseph lived this same mystery. His life unfolded in
silence and hiddenness, without applause or recognition, yet God entrusted him
with the protection of the Holy Family. Evil cannot manipulate a heart that
serves without needing to be seen; hidden holiness is its own defiance.
Jesus, let the lie that invisibility means insignificance
be confronted by Your truth. Heal the wounds left by neglect, silence, or
dismissal. Teach us to trust that You see every act of fidelity, every hidden
offering, every quiet obedience. Let us live with the confidence of those who
know they are held in Your gaze—fully known, fully loved, never forgotten.
[3] Sheraton, Mimi. 1,000 Foods To Eat Before You Die: A
Food Lover's Life List (p. 800). Workman Publishing Company. Kindle Edition.
Algiers (1938)
Starring: Charles Boyer, Hedy Lamarr, Sigrid Gurie, Joseph Calleia, Alan Hale Director: John Cromwell Studio: United Artists Genre: Crime, Romance, Melodrama Runtime: 95 minutes Source Material: Adapted from the 1937 French film Pépé le Moko
Plot Summary
Pépé le Moko (Charles Boyer) is a notorious jewel thief hiding in the Casbah of Algiers, a maze of alleys and rooftops where French police cannot reach him. He is protected by the locals, adored by his gang, and trapped by his own legend.
Into this world walks Gaby (Hedy Lamarr), a Parisian socialite whose elegance and loneliness awaken in Pépé a longing for the life he left behind. Their attraction is immediate, dangerous, and impossible.
Inspector Slimane (Joseph Calleia), patient and cunning, understands Pépé’s heart better than Pépé does. He knows that the thief’s desire for beauty, freedom, and the memory of Paris will be his undoing.
The film builds toward a tragic inevitability: Pépé’s attempt to escape the Casbah for love leads him into Slimane’s trap, and ultimately to a heartbreak that has become one of cinema’s iconic finales.
Cast Highlights
Charles Boyer delivers one of his defining performances — suave, melancholy, and fatalistic.
Hedy Lamarr, in her American debut, is luminous; her quiet presence reshaped Hollywood’s idea of exotic beauty.
Joseph Calleia gives a masterclass in understated villainy — or perhaps moral clarity.
Alan Hale adds warmth and humor as the affable American tourist.
Catholic & Moral Themes
1. The Illusion of Freedom
Pépé believes he is free in the Casbah, but he is imprisoned by his own reputation.
A classic meditation on how sin promises liberty but delivers confinement.
2. The Ache for Home
Gaby represents Paris — civilization, beauty, memory, and the life Pépé forfeited.
This longing mirrors the human heart’s desire for the Father’s house.
3. The Cunning of Evil vs. the Patience of Grace
Slimane is not a caricatured villain; he is patient, observant, and almost pastoral in his understanding of Pépé’s weaknesses.
It’s a reminder that the enemy rarely attacks head‑on; he waits for the moment when desire blinds judgment.
4. Tragic Love and the Cost of Desire
Pépé’s love for Gaby is real but disordered — rooted in nostalgia, not virtue.
It becomes a meditation on how even good desires, when misaligned, can lead to ruin.
5. The Final Scene: A Cry of the Heart
Without spoiling it explicitly, the ending is a raw portrayal of despair when hope is placed in the wrong kingdom.
A powerful contrast to Christian hope, which never ends in the street outside the ship but in resurrection.
Hospitality Pairing
Cocktail: The Casbah Whisper
A drink that blends elegance with danger — perfect for this film’s mood.
Ingredients (from your bar stock):
Gin with lime
Cointreau
A splash of vermouth (dry)
A whisper of Kahlúa (just enough to darken the edges)
Method:
Shake gin, lime, and Cointreau over ice.
Stir in the faintest touch of Kahlúa.
Serve in a chilled coupe.
Garnish with a lime twist.
It’s bright, mysterious, and slightly smoky — like the Casbah at dusk.
Meal Pairing: North African Comfort
Couscous with raisins and almonds
Spiced chicken or lamb
Mint tea afterward
A meal that mirrors the film’s blend of exotic atmosphere and emotional warmth.
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