ICEMANforChrist

This blog is based on references in the Bible to fear. God wills that we “BE NOT AFRAID”. 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. By “the power of the Holy Spirit” we can be witnesses and “communicators” of a new and redeemed humanity “even to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:7 8). This blog is dedicated to Mary the Mother of God.

There is Power in Christ's Precious Blood!

Wednesday, July 16, 2025

Dara’s Corner

Bucket List Trip: “The World” next port of call: La Valletta, Malta

Spirit Hour: Today is National Cherry Day-have a Kirshwasser
Foodie-Maltese Bragioli

Eat it while watching the “Maltese Falcon” and a red wine

Meekness is stronger than Belligerence

· Let Freedom Ring Day 10

o In common usage, a belligerent person is one who looks for and pursues reasons to stir trouble and engage in violent revenge. The father of belligerence is none other than he who fomented the first ever revolution against God: the devil.

· Eat your Spinach-National Spinach Day

· Watch Oppenheimer-National Atomic Veterans Day

JULY 16 Wednesday

Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Matthew, Chapter 15, verse 32

Jesus summoned his disciples and said, “My heart is moved with pity for the crowd, for they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, for FEAR they may collapse on the way.”

This chapter of Matthew records the feeding of the four thousand. Some would say that God has no fear but here we see that Christ was afraid for the welfare of the multitude. He knows our needs and is concerned for them. After all, “I am the good shepherd… I know my sheep, and mine know me.” (John 10:14)

Christ knows that even if our hearts desires are in the right place and we have perfect self-control we must acknowledge the legitimate needs of the body. We are both spirit and body; the perfection of the creator, which the fallen angels despise. We must care for because; both are the gift of God.

Christ says, “They have been with me now for three days and have had nothing to eat”. I suggest that we follow His advice starting this week if we can participate in Mass sometime during our midweek so we may not collapse along the way.

I also suggest now would be a good time to look for a retreat of three days in which you can be with the Lord knowing He will not send you away hungry.

Copilot

Matthew 15 offers profound lessons on fear when read through a Catholic lens—especially in the encounter between Jesus and the Canaanite woman (verses 21–28). While the chapter begins with a confrontation over ritual purity, it crescendos into a deeply human and theological moment that reveals how fear, faith, and persistence intersect.

Here are the key lessons on fear from this chapter:

🙏 1. Fear Can Drive Us to Faith

The Canaanite woman’s plea—“Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon”—is born of desperation and fear. But instead of paralyzing her, fear propels her toward Christ.

· Catholic insight: Fear, when rightly ordered, can be a holy fear—a recognition of our need for God’s mercy. The Catechism speaks of “filial fear,” not servile dread, as a gift of the Holy Spirit (CCC 1831).

· Her fear for her daughter’s well-being becomes a channel for grace, not a barrier to it.

🕊️ 2. Fear Is Transformed by Humility and Persistence

Jesus initially appears to ignore her, then rebuffs her with a harsh metaphor. Yet she persists, humbling herself: “Even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from their masters’ table” (v. 27).

· Lesson: Fear of rejection or humiliation doesn’t deter her. She models the kind of bold humility that Catholic tradition sees in the saints—those who trust in God’s mercy more than they fear human judgment.

· St. John Chrysostom noted that her persistence was not prideful but reverent, a form of “reverent boldness” that pleases God.

🧎 3. Fear Is Not the Final Word—Faith Is

Jesus ultimately praises her: “O woman, great is your faith!” (v. 28). Her fear gave way to faith, and her faith led to healing.

· Catholic reflection: This moment echoes the teaching that faith is perfected in love (cf. 1 John 4:18: “Perfect love casts out fear”). The woman’s love for her daughter and trust in Jesus overcame her fear of being an outsider.

· Her story is a foretaste of the Church’s universal mission—extending salvation beyond Israel to all nations.

🧠 4. Fear of the “Other” Is Challenged

The disciples want to send her away. Jesus’ initial silence and the metaphor of “dogs” reflect the cultural and religious boundaries of the time.

· Catholic interpretation: This scene challenges the fear of the outsider. Jesus’ eventual response shows that divine mercy transcends human prejudice.

· As Fr. John Bartunek writes, “Love, faith, and humility: these are the secret ingredients for prayer that moves the heart of God—even a prayer as simple as, ‘Lord, help me’”.

🕯️ 5. Fear of Silence Is Met with Divine Presence

Jesus’ silence is striking: “He answered her not a word” (v. 23). In Catholic spirituality, silence is not absence—it’s invitation.

· Lesson: Fear of divine silence is real, but it can be a test of faith. The woman doesn’t interpret silence as rejection. She stays.

· This echoes the experience of many saints—St. Teresa of Calcutta, for example—who endured long periods of spiritual dryness yet remained faithful.

✝️ Summary Table

Fear Experienced	Response Modeled by the Woman	Catholic Insight
Fear for her child	Persistent intercession	Holy fear leads to deeper faith
Fear of rejection	Humble boldness	Faith is perfected in love
Fear of silence	Continued pleading	Silence can be a test of trust
Fear of being an outsider	Acceptance of her place	God’s mercy transcends boundaries

Catholic Retreats[1]

To drop everything for a weekend and spend time in solitude (and maybe silence!), prayer and reflection is the perfect antidote to our busy, distracted lives. As we look forward to a frenetic holiday season, with Thanksgiving around the corner, this may be the perfect time for a spiritual retreat. If things are a little too busy now, consider scheduling a retreat after Christmas, when you are ready to make the most of it.

Spiritual retreats are not just for priest and religious. In fact, the United States Council of Catholic Bishops urges lay people to take advantage of opportunities to go on a retreat: “In the midst of your busy lives, a retreat opportunity affords you time of silence and clarity that cannot be found in the world.”

These 12 Catholic retreat centers offer all that, and more – each is a beautiful setting that will inspire you and put you in the perfect frame of mind a fruitful spiritual repose.

1. The Eastern Point Retreat House in Gloucester, Massachusetts

Eastern Point Retreat House

Located in an old stone mansion overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, the Eastern Point Retreat House offers Jesuit retreats based on the exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola.

2. New Camaldoli Hermitage in Big Sur, California

Courtesy of New Camaldoli Hermitage

Since 1958, the monks of New Camaldoli Hermitage, have welcomed guests to experience the peace their location, overlooking the Pacific Ocean affords their Benedictine community every day. [Note: Due to extensive repairs to Highway 1 necessitated by a major rockslide, access to the Hermitage is currently somewhat limited, but they are welcoming guests again.]

3. The Shrine of Saint Therese of Lisieux in Juneau, Alaska

Courtesy of The Shrine of Saint Therese of Lisieux

At this national shrine operated by the Catholic Diocese of Alaska, retreatants come to enjoy the natural beauty of the oceanside location, and the freedom from modern distractions. Depending on their preference, guests can stay in log cabins or a small hermitage with no running water or electricity.

4. The Monastery of Bethlehem in Sullivan County, New York

Courtesy of Monastery of Bethlehem

Located in the Catskill Mountains two and a half hours from New York City, the Monastery of Bethlehem offers beauty, silence and solitude from its location amidst acres of forest. “The colors of the hills and the stillness of the lakes offer rest and relief to weary spirits,” promise the monastic sisters who operated the retreat center.

5. St. Joseph’s Abbey in Spencer, Massachusetts

Courtesy of Saint Joseph's Abbey

The community of Trappist monks at St. Joseph’s Abbey invites guests to get a taste of the monastic life at this beautiful bucolic setting. Retreatants are welcome to join the monks for the Liturgy of the Hours and for Mass, and at conferences given by the monks.

6. Cormaria in Sag Harbor, New York

Courtesy of Cormaria

Cormaria is a Catholic Retreat House set on 18 waterfront acres in the historic whaling village of Sag Harbor, New York. The Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary consider inclusive hospitality their vocation and invite guests of all denominations to “come away and rest a while.”

7. Villa Maria del Mar in Santa Cruz, California

Courtesy of Villa Maria del Mar

Villa Maria del Mar, a beachfront property overlooking Monterey Bay in the Pacific Ocean, is owned and operated by the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary.

8. Serra Retreat in Malibu, California

Courtesy of Serra Retreat

Located on top of a 26-acre knoll in Malibu, overlooking the Pacific Ocean, and with views of the Santa Monica Mountains, the Serra Retreat is a place of uncommon beauty. Operated by the Franciscan Friars, the retreat center offers private retreats and themed retreats, including those based on the 12-step recovery program.

9. Loyola on the Potomac in Faulkner, Maryland

Courtesy of Loyola on The Potomac

This Jesuit retreat house overlooks the Potomac River and is surrounded by 235 acres of rolling woodland. Ignatian weekend retreats are available.

10. Our Lady of the Oaks Retreat House in Grand Coteau, Louisiana

Courtesy of Our Lady of the Oaks

Guests at the Jesuit-run Our Lady of Oaks Retreat House enjoy sitting in the shade provided by old oak trees in the central courtyard of the beautiful Spanish mission style estate. Retreats are based on St. Ignatius’ spiritual exercises.

11. Saint Meinrad Archabbey in St. Meinrad, Indiana

Founded by monks from Einsiedeln Abbey in Switzerland in 1854, Saint Meinrad Archabbey offers a beautiful and tranquil spot for prayer and spiritual growth. Benedictine monks lead three-day retreats during the weekends and during the week.

12. Longlea Conference Center in Boston, Virginia

Located on 843 acres next to the scenic Blue Hills of Virginia, Longlea offers silent retreats conducted by priests of Opus Dei for either men or women. Mothers with young babies are welcome — each year two retreats are designated to accommodate infants.

Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel[2]

THE Church celebrates on this day the feast of the Scapular of Mount Carmel. The scapular, which derives its name from the Latin word scapula’s, meaning shoulders, is a dress which covers the shoulders. It is mentioned in the rule of St. Benedict as worn by monks over their other dress when they were at work, and it now forms a regular part of the religious dress in the old Orders. But it is best known among Catholics as the name of two little pieces of cloth worn out of devotion to the Blessed Virgin over the shoulders, under the ordinary garb, and connected by strings. The devotion of the scapular, now almost universal in the Catholic Church, began with the Carmelites. The history of its origin is as follows: During the thirteenth century the Carmelite Order suffered great persecution, and on July 16, 1251, while St. Simon Stock, then general of the Order, was at prayer, the Blessed Virgin appeared to him, holding in her hand a scapular. Giving it to the saint, she said,” Receive, my dear son, this scapular of thy Order, as the distinctive sign of my confraternity, and the mark of the privilege which I have obtained for thee and the children of Carmel. It is a sign of salvation, a safeguard in danger, and a special pledge of peace and protection till the end of time.” “Whosoever dies wearing this shall be preserved from eternal flames.” It is much to be wished that people should everywhere join this confraternity, for the honor of Mary and for the salvation of souls, by a life fitted to that end. In order to have a share in the merits of the sodality every member must:

· Shun sin, and, according to his state of life, lives chastely.

· Say every day, if possible, seven times, Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be to the Father.

· Strive to serve God by venerating Mary and imitating her virtues. These rules, it is true, are not binding under penalty of sin, but the breach of them deprives us of all merit; and is not this something to be taken into account? “He who soweth sparingly shall also reap sparingly.” (n. Cor. ix. 6).

Things to Do[3]

· If you have not already done so, have a priest enroll you in the Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, or popularly known as the "Brown Scapular" and begin wearing it as a sign of your love for Our Lady.

· Wearing the Brown Scapular is not an automatic guarantee of salvation. It is not a magical charm, nor is it an excuse to live in a way contrary to the teachings of the Church. (see Catechism, no. 1670.)

· See the Directory on Popular Piety the Brown Scapular is included in the document as a wonderful pious practice. The history of Marian piety also includes "devotion" to various scapulars, the most common of which is devotion to the Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Its use is truly universal and, undoubtedly, it is one of those pious practices which the Council described as "recommended by the Magisterium throughout the centuries."

· Pope John Paul II has worn the scapular for a long time. See the Holy Father's talk on the Scapular of Carmel, A Treasure for the Church.

· For the definitive treatment on the brown scapular, read The Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel: Catechesis and Ritual.

· The Blessed Virgin's scapular should remind us that Christians have an apostolate against current extremes and extravagances in modes of dress. Clothes are a symbol of the person. Like the Christian heart, dress must be chaste and simple, for one judges the interior from the exterior. It should not be necessary to add that special attention be given this matter when preparing for church attendance. Examine yourself on how well you reflect Christian modesty in your dress and if you are a parent, how well you ensure that your children are modestly dressed.

· In New York City in East Harlem is one of the oldest festivals in America for Our Lady of Mount Carmel. See Our Lady of Mount Carmel Shrine of East Harlem – since 1881. Also Williamsburg in Brooklyn, NY annually holds the Festival of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel and St. Paulinus of Nola (Festa Del Giglio). It is unique to see a scene that one would expect in Europe unfolding on the street of a major East coast city. You can view a You Tube clip right here. Also look around your area for Italian parishes, maybe one named after Our Lady of Mount Carmel? Many times, the parish will host wonderful festivals in her honor.

· Watch this You Tube video to learn more about devotion to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel.

· From the Catholic Culture library, the Scapular Devotion, a description of Different Kinds of Scapulars, The Brown Scapular and information on the Scapular Medal.

· Learn more about St. Simon Stock and the Brown Scapular.

Scapulars and Medals[4]

Medals have been part of Catholic life since the early centuries of the Church. The most popular is the cross; even Protestants wear crosses minus the corpus while Catholics wear a crucifix. It is also noted that in the miraculous image of Our Lady of Guadalupe she is wearing a cross about her neck. We wear scapulars, too, which are mini habits of the religious orders. Pope John Paul II said that the scapular is a powerful precisely because it is a “habit” in every sense of the word, both a uniform and a pattern of good belief and good behavior. Since 1910, Catholics have been permitted to wear a scapular medal in place of a cloth scapular.

Mount Carmel Coffee[5]

This coffee ice is cool and refreshing for this summer feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

DIRECTIONS

Stir the sugar into the warm water until it is melted and add the lemon juice, stirring for about five minutes. Add the coffee, strain, place in a freezing tray, and freeze, stirring frequently, until it becomes a mush.

INGREDIENTS

3/4 cup sugar
2 cups warm water
1/2 cup lemon juice
2 cups strong coffee

Serve the ice slush in glasses, topping the glasses of ice with any of the following:

whipped cream (add vanilla, sugar, almond extract, etc.)
liqueurs (Amaretto, Kahlua, Baileys, etc.)
chocolate curls or small pieces
candied citrus peel

Bible in a Year-Day 27

Today we begin our journey in Egypt and Exodus as Fr. Mike reads about the birth of Moses, and the connection between burnt offerings and the sacrifice of the mass. Today's readings are Exodus 1-2, Leviticus 1, and Psalm 44.

Today is National Hot Dog Day[6]

National Hot Dog Day seeks to appreciate hotdogs. The National Hot Dog and Sausage Council created the National Hot Dog Day to honor the all-American hot dog. The first National Hot Dog Day was held in 1991, where a hot dog luncheon was served on Capitol Hill. Since then, it has become tradition to serve hot dogs to Capitol Hill staffers, lawmakers, agency officials and baseball legends. Frankfurters, which are very similar to hot dogs, originated in Frankfurt, Germany. In the 1880s, Antonoine Feuchtwanger began to sell hot dogs in St. Louis, Missouri. Eventually by the 1890s, it is believed that Chris von der Ahe, a German immigrant who owned the St. Louis Browns, began to sell hotdogs at baseball games. Since then, hotdogs have been deeply rooted in American baseball culture. To honor the association between baseball and hotdogs, the American Meat Institute invites baseball players to attend the annual hotdog luncheon on Capitol Hill during National Hot Dog Day on July 23rd.

National Hot Dog Day Facts & Quotes

· The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine has stated that hotdogs contain carcinogenic (cancer causing) compounds, are high in fat, cholesterol and salt.

· In fact, a recent study by the Harvard School of Public Health has found that a single daily serving of processed meat can increase the risk of colorectal cancer by 21%. These will kill you quicker than Covid 19! Note: Los Angeles residents consume more hotdogs than any other city. You are what you eat. Need we say more!

· According to the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council, the proper etiquette required to eat a hotdog is finish the hot dog in five bites. In the case of a foot-long wiener, only seven bites are appropriate.

· Across the United States, consumers spent more than $2.5 billion on hot dogs in 2014. In 2014, Los Angeles consumed more than 39 million hotdogs.

· Every year on July 4th, Nathan's Famous Hot Dogs hosts a hot dog eating contest in which contestants must consume as many hot dogs as possible in 10 minutes. The current male record holder ate 69 hot dogs while the female record holder inhaled 45 hot dogs in only 10 minutes.

· A hot dog at the ball game beats a roast beef at the Ritz. - Humphrey Bogart, Famous 1940s actor.

Every Wednesday is Dedicated to St. Joseph

The Italian culture has always had a close association with St. Joseph perhaps you could make Wednesdays centered around Jesus’s Papa. Plan an Italian dinner of pizza or spaghetti after attending Mass as most parishes have a Wednesday evening Mass. You could even do carry out to help restaurants. If you are adventurous, you could do the Universal Man Plan: St. Joseph style. Make the evening a family night perhaps it could be a game night. Whatever you do make the day special.

· Devotion to the 7 Joys and Sorrows of St. Joseph

· Do the St. Joseph Universal Man Plan.

· Total Consecration to St. Joseph Day 7

A Prayer Before Mass (Wednesday) (by Saint Ambrose)

Catholic Online Prayers

Mindful then, O Lord, of Thy worshipful Passion, I approach Thine Altar, sinner though I am, to join in the offering unto Thee that Sacrifice which Thou hast instituted and commanded to be offered in remembrance of Thee for our well-being. Receive it, I beseech Thee, O God most High, for Thy holy Church, and for the people whom Thou hast purchased with Thine own Blood. Let not, through my unworthiness, the price of their salvation be wasted, whose saving Victim and Redemption Thou didst Thyself vouchsafe to be. Also behold in pity, O Lord, the sorrows of Thy people, which I bring before Thee; the perils of Thy servants; the sorrowful sighing of prisoners; the miseries of widows and orphans, and all that are desolate and bereaved; the necessities of strangers and travellers; the helplessness and sadness of the weak and sickly; the depressions of the languishing; the weakness of the aged and of children; the trials and aspirations of young men; and the vows of virgins.

Daily Devotions

· Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them in fasting: For the Poor and Suffering

· Litany of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus

· Offering to the sacred heart of Jesus

· Drops of Christ’s Blood

· Universal Man Plan

· Rosary

[1]https://aleteia.org/2017/09/15/10-breathtakingly-beautiful-catholic-retreats/#:~:text=12%20Catholic%20retreats%20held%20in%20the%20most%20beautiful,Serra%20Retreat%20in%20Malibu%2C%20California%20...%20More%20items

[2] Goffine’s Devout Instructions, 1896

[3]http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2016-07-16

[4] Hahn, Scott, Signs of Life; 40 Catholic Customs and their biblical roots. Chap. 36 Scapulars and Medals.

[5]https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/recipes/view.cfm?id=91

[6] http://www.wincalendar.com/Hot-Dog-Day

Tuesday, July 15, 2025

Candace’s Corner

· Linda Ronstadt, born on July 15, 1946

o Note when the Iceman (Dad) was in Fort Huachuca, AZ he received an award from Linda’s brother who was the Chief of Police for Tucson for his Crime Prevention Unit which was selected as the Best in the State of Arizona.

· 10 coolest summer getaways in Arizona: Mountains, lakes and a chilly cave trek

· fast- Marian devotion, protection, and contemplation-Mount Carmel

· St. Anthony Novena 5-on thirteen consecutive Tuesdays.

· Pray Day 7 of the Novena for our Pope and Bishops

· Foodie: National Eggplant Month

o Today is National Orange Chicken Day

· Novena to Our Lady of Mount Carmel-Day 9

· Bucket List: Vineyard World Tour:

o Holesinsky Vineyard, Idaho

· Spirit Hour: after six cocktail

· Wild About Wildlife Month

JULY 15 Tuesday-Memorial of Saint Bonaventure, Bishop

St. Swithun

Exodus, Chapter 2, Verse 13-14

¹³The next day he went out again, and now two Hebrews were fighting! So, he asked the culprit, “Why are you striking your companion?” ¹⁴But he replied, “Who has appointed you ruler and judge over us? Are you thinking of killing me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses became AFRAID and thought, “The affair must certainly be known.”

Moses was a prince of Egypt and a Hebrew. Moses as a man sought justice for his Hebrew brothers and in a fit of anger killed an Egyptian that was brutalizing a Hebrew slave and secretly buried him in the sand. Secrecy is a key element in knowing your own sinfulness. When we find ourselves wanting to keep something secret, we should ask ourselves are we going down a road that we want to go; is this secrecy that we desire really an attempt to hide our sinfulness from God; who sees all things. Think twice the next time you seek secrecy.

What does the Bible say?[1]

1. Proverbs 28:13 “If you hide your sins, you will not succeed. If you confess and reject them, you will receive mercy.” (mercy verses)

2. Psalm 69:5 “God, you know what I have done wrong; I cannot hide my guilt from you.” (Guilt in the Bible)

3. Psalm 44:20-21 “If we had forgotten the name of our God or lifted our hands to a foreign god, wouldn’t God find out since he knows the secrets of the heart?”

4. Psalm 90:8 “You have set our wrong-doing before You, our secret sins in the light of Your face.”

5. Numbers 32:23 “But if you don’t do these things, you will be sinning against the Lord; know for sure that you will be punished for your sin.” God knows everything about you and He is always watching you.

6. Jeremiah 16:17-18 “I see everything they do. They cannot hide from me the things they do; their sin is not hidden from my eyes. I will pay back the people of Judah twice for every one of their sins, because they have made my land unclean. They have filled my country with their hateful idols.” (Idolatry in the Bible)

7. Psalm 139:1-2 “Lord, you have examined me and know all about me. You know when I sit down and when I get up. You know my thoughts before I think them.”

8. Psalm 139:3-7 “You know where I go and where I lie down. You know everything I do. Lord, even before I say a word, you already know it. You are all around me—in front and in back— and have put your hand on me. Your knowledge is amazing to me; it is more than I can understand. Where can I go to get away from your Spirit? Where can I run from you?” (God Bible verses)

9. Luke 12:1-2 “So many thousands of people had gathered that they were stepping on each other. Jesus spoke first to his followers, saying, “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees, because they are hypocrites. Everything that is hidden will be shown, and everything that is secret will be made known.”

10. Hebrews 4:12-13 “God’s word is alive and working and is sharper than a double-edged sword. It cuts all the way into us, where the soul and the spirit are joined, to the center of our joints and bones. And it judges the thoughts and feelings in our hearts. Nothing in all the world can be hidden from God. Everything is clear and lies open before him, and to him we must explain the way we have lived.”

The danger of unconfessed sin

11. Isaiah 59:1-2 “Surely the Lord’s power is enough to save you. He can hear you when you ask him for help. It is your evil that has separated you from your God. Your sins cause him to turn away from you, so he does not hear you.”

12. Psalm 66:18-19 “If I had harbored sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. However, God heard; he listened to my prayer.”

Repent of the hidden sins you don’t know about.

13. Psalm 19:12 “How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults.”

Repent: Turn away and follow Christ.

14. 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (Repentance in the Bible)

15. 2 Chronicles 7:14 “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

Bonus: Don’t deny your sins. See it as God sees it.

Isaiah 55:8-9 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Copilot

Exodus 2 offers profound lessons on fear when viewed through a Catholic lens, especially in light of divine providence, moral courage, and the mystery of God's timing. Here are several key insights:

🔍 1. Fear and Providence: Trusting in God's Hidden Hand

Jochebed’s Fear and Faith: Moses’ mother, fearing for her son’s life under Pharaoh’s decree, places him in a basket on the Nile (Ex 2:3). Her fear is real, but it leads to an act of radical trust in God’s providence.

Catholic interpretation sees this as a model of faith under fear: entrusting what we cannot control to God’s care.
The basket (or “ark”) echoes Noah’s ark—both symbols of salvation through water, prefiguring baptism.

Lesson: Fear can be a catalyst for faith when it drives us to surrender to God’s will. As the Catechism teaches, “God is the sovereign master of his plan. But to carry it out he also makes use of his creatures’ cooperation” (CCC 306).

🛡️ 2. Fear of Man vs. Fear of God

Moses’ Killing of the Egyptian (Ex 2:11–12): Moses acts to defend a fellow Hebrew, but when his deed is discovered, he becomes afraid and flees (Ex 2:14–15).

According to Catholic commentators like Haydock and the Ignatius Study Bible, Moses’ action was not merely impulsive but inspired by a sense of justice and divine calling.
Yet his fear of Pharaoh leads him into exile, showing the tension between human fear and divine mission.

Lesson: The fear of man can derail our vocation if not tempered by the fear of the Lord—a reverent awe that leads to obedience and courage. As Proverbs 29:25 says, “The fear of man lays a snare, but he who trusts in the Lord is safe.”

🌿 3. Fear in the Wilderness: A Place of Formation

Exile in Midian (Ex 2:15–22): Moses’ flight into the wilderness is not a retreat from God’s plan but a preparation for it.

Catholic theology often sees the desert as a place of purification and encounter with God (cf. Elijah, John the Baptist, Jesus).
In Midian, Moses learns humility, patience, and dependence—virtues forged in the crucible of fear and solitude.

Lesson: Fear and failure are not the end of the story. God often uses our wilderness experiences to prepare us for greater missions. As St. Paul later writes, “When I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor 12:10).

👁️ 4. God Sees, Hears, Knows

The chapter ends with a powerful affirmation: “God saw the people of Israel—and God knew” (Ex 2:25).

This is not mere observation but a covenantal knowing—God’s intimate awareness and readiness to act.
Catholic tradition emphasizes that God’s providence is never absent, even when He seems silent.

Lesson: In moments of fear and silence, we are invited to trust that God sees, hears, and remembers His promises. This echoes the Catholic understanding of divine providence and the assurance that “all things work together for good for those who love God” (Rom 8:28).

✝️ Summary: Catholic Lessons on Fear from Exodus 2

Theme	Fear Expressed	Catholic Insight
Maternal fear	Jochebed hides Moses	Trust in divine providence through sacrificial love
Moral fear	Moses flees after killing Egyptian	Fear of man must be overcome by fear of God and fidelity to vocation
Existential fear	Moses in exile	God uses fear and failure to form us in humility and readiness
Communal fear	Israel cries out in slavery	God hears the cry of the oppressed and acts in covenantal faithfulness

St. Bonaventure[2] "In Bonaventure we meet a unique personality. He was unsurpassed in sanctity, wisdom, eloquence, and gifted with a remarkable skill of accomplishing things, a heart full of love, a winning disposition, benevolent, affable, pious, charitable, rich in virtue, beloved by God and man. . . . The Lord endowed him with such a charming disposition that everyone who saw him was immediately attracted to him." In these words the historian of the Council of Lyons concludes his account on St. Bonaventure.

At an early age he was a celebrated teacher and a powerful preacher. At thirty-six he was called to the highest post among the Franciscans, the Order which honors him as a second founder. He was an important figure at the Council of Lyons. His virtue and wisdom, his versatility and mildness were major factors in attaining the happy result that the Greeks so easily returned to the unity of the Church.

Bonaventure was a subtle scholastic and a profound mystic. Because of the latter he is known as the "Seraphic Teacher." In philosophy he was the principal leader of the Platonic-Augustinian school of Franciscan thought; as such he stood opposed to the Aristotelianism that was making its way into the schools of the time (ably represented by Thomas Aquinas). Bonaventure's Life of St. Francis was a favorite book of the Middle Ages. When St. Thomas was told about Bonaventure's work, he said: "Let us allow one saint to labor for another." His contemporaries are said to have believed that no one was "more handsome, more holy, or more learned" than he.

—Excerpted from The Church's Year of Grace, Pius Parsch

St Swithun, Bishop & Confessor: Missa “Sacerdotes tui “

Saint Swithin Swithun (or Swithin, Old English: Swīþhūn; died c. 862) was a Saxon bishop. He was born in the kingdom of Wessex and educated in its capital, Winchester. He was famous for charitable gifts and building churches. His feast day is 15 July and his emblems are rain drops and apples.

Swithin was chaplain to Egbert, the 802-839 king of Wessex. Egbert’s son Ethelwulf, whom Swithin educated, made him bishop of Winchester in 852.

Only one miracle is attributed to Swithin while he was alive. An old lady’s eggs had been smashed by workmen building a church. Swithin picked the broken eggs up and, it is said, they miraculously became whole again.

And if any church fell down, or was in decay, S. Swithin would anon amend it at his own cost. Or if any church were not hallowed, he would go thither afoot and hallow it. For he loved no pride, ne to ride on gay horses, ne to be praised ne flattered of the people…

Swithin died on 2 July 862. According to tradition, he had asked to be buried humbly. His grave was just outside the west door of the Old Minster, so that people would walk across it and rain fall on it in accordance with Swithin’s wishes. William of Malmesbury recorded that the bishop left instructions that his body should be buried outside the church, ubi et pedibus praetereuntium et stillicidiis ex alto rorantibus esset obnoxius [where it might be subject to the feet of passers-by and to the raindrops pouring from on high], which has been taken as indicating that the legend was already well known in the 12th century.

On 15 July 971 though, Swithin’s remains were dug up and moved to a shrine in the cathedral by Bishop Ethelwold. Miraculous cures were associated with the event, and Swithin’s feast day is the date of the removal of his remains, not his death day. However, the removal was also accompanied by ferocious and violent rain storms that lasted 40 days and 40 nights and are said to indicate the saint’s displeasure at being moved. This is probably the origin of the legend that if it rains on Saint Swithun’s feast day, the rain will continue for 40 more days.

Saint Swithin is still seen as the patron of Winchester Cathedral.

INTROIT Psalm 131: 9-10

Let Thy priests, O Lord, be clothed with justice, and let Thy saints rejoice: for Thy servant David’s sake, turn not away the face of Thy anointed. V. O Lord, remember David, and all his meekness. v. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

COLLECT

God, who dost gladden us by the merits and intercession of thy blessed confessor bishop Swithun, grant us this boon, that we who ask for his good offices may obtain them through the gift of thy grace. Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. R. Amen.

EPISTLE Hebrews 7: 23-27

Lesson from the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Hebrews: Brethren, there were made many priests, because by reason of death they were not suffered to continue: but Jesus, for that He continueth forever, hath an everlasting priesthood. Whereby He is able also to save forever them that come to God by Him; always living to make intercession for us. For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, and undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; Who needeth not daily, as the other priests, to offer sacrifice first for His own sins, and then for the people’s; for this Jesus Christ our Lord did once, in offering Himself.

GRADUAL Psalm 131: 16-17

I will clothe her priests with salvation: and her saints shall rejoice with exceeding great joy. There will I bring forth a horn to David; I have prepared a lamp for my anointed. Alleluia, alleluia! Ps. 109:4 The Lord has sworn an oath there is no retracting: Thou art a priest forever in the line of Melchisedech. Alleluia!

GOSPEL Matthew 24: 42-47

At that time, Jesus said to His disciples: Watch, because you know not what hour your Lord will come. But this know ye, that, if the goodman of the house knew at what hour the thief would come, he would certainly watch, and would not suffer his house to be broken open. Wherefore be you also ready: because at what hour you know not the Son of man will come. Who, thinkest thou, is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath appointed over his family, to give them meat in season? Blessed is that servant, whom when his lord shall come he shall find so doing. Amen I say to you, he shall place him over all his goods.

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Psalm 88: 25

My truth and My mercy shall be with him: and in My name shall his horn be exalted.

SECRET

Hallow the gifts we offer Lord, and at the intercession of thy blessed confessor bishop Swithun, do thou cleanse us by their means from the defilement of our sins. Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. R. Amen.

PREFACE of the Common

It is truly meet and just, and profitable unto salvation, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks to thee, O Holy Lord, Father Almighty, eternal God, through Christ, our Lord. Though whom the angels praise thy majesty, the dominions adore it, the powers are in awe. Which the heavens and the hosts of heaven together with the blessed seraphim joyfully do magnify. And do thou command that it be permitted to us join with them in confessing thee, while we say with lowly praise:

COMMUNION ANTIPHON Matthew 24: 46-47

Blessed is that servant, whom when his lord cometh he shall find watching: Amen I say to you, he shall place him over all his goods.

POSTCOMMUNION

We humbly beg thee, almighty God, to grant that we whom thou renewest with thy sacrament, at the intercession of thy blessed confessor bishop Swithun, may lead lives acceptable to thee and worthy of thy servants. Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. R. Amen.

Bible in a Year-Day 26

Today we wrap up our journey through the Patriarchs as Fr. Mike finishes the book of Genesis and the book of Job. Fr. Mike particularly draws our attention to God's beautiful yet mysterious response to Job's questions. Today's readings are Genesis 49-50, Job 41-42, and Psalm 17.

Daily Devotions

· Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them in fasting: The Families of St. Joseph Porters

· Litany of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus

· Offering to the sacred heart of Jesus

· Drops of Christ’s Blood

· Universal Man Plan

· Rosary

· Let Freedom Ring Day 9 Freedom from Abuse of Sexuality Outside the Marital State

o From a Catholic perspective, sex transmutation—though not a term traditionally used in Church teaching—can be understood as the redirection of sexual energy toward higher, God-centered purposes such as chastity, charity, creativity, and sanctity. This aligns with the Church’s broader theology of the body, virtue, and spiritual discipline.

o ✝️ Catholic Understanding of Sexual Energy

§ The Church teaches that sexual desire is not evil in itself. Rather, it is a powerful gift from God, meant to be ordered toward:

· Unitive love within sacramental marriage

· Procreation of new life

· Sanctification through self-mastery and virtue

o When not expressed in marriage, sexual energy is to be sublimated—transformed into acts of love, service, and spiritual devotion. This is where the idea of “transmutation” finds resonance.

o 🕊️ Catholic Pathways to Transmuting Sexual Energy

§ 1. Chastity as a Virtue

· Chastity is not mere abstinence but the integration of sexuality within the person.

· It involves self-mastery, enabling one to love rightly and purely.

· Saints like Augustine and Aquinas emphasized chastity as a path to freedom and holiness.

§ 2. Redemptive Suffering and Offering

· Sexual temptation can be united with Christ’s suffering and offered for the salvation of souls.

· This transforms struggle into intercession and spiritual growth.

§ 3. Prayer and Contemplation

· Redirecting desire through contemplative prayer (e.g., the Rosary, Adoration) elevates the soul.

· St. John Paul II’s Theology of the Body teaches that the body, including its desires, can become a “sacrament” of divine love when rightly ordered.

§ 4. Creative and Apostolic Work

· Saints and mystics often channeled intense passion into writing, preaching, or serving the poor.

· Sexual energy, when sublimated, can fuel heroic virtue and creativity.

o 🧠 Catholic Examples of Transmutation

· Saint	· How They Transmuted Sexual Energy	·
· St. Augustine	· Turned from lust to theological brilliance and pastoral zeal	·
· St. Thomas Aquinas	· Chose celibacy and intellectual purity, writing the Summa Theologica	·
· St. Francis of Assisi	· Embraced radical poverty and love of creation	·
· St. Teresa of Ávila	· Channeled longing into mystical union with Christ	·