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.

Sunday, October 5, 2025

TREATISES ON PEACE

It seems we have come to the end of our almost two-year journey exploring all the bible verses that contain the words fear or afraid. Throughout this journey we have discovered that there are many types of fear some good (Holy) and some not so good (servile). Yet, along the way hopefully we have discovered the ultimate will of God is that we have peace, faith, hope and love. Acknowledging this to finish out this journey we will be focusing our research on the New Testament verses that expound on the fruit of a life lived in grace trusting in our Holy God.

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.[1]

Copilot’s Take

There is a hush at the end of a pilgrimage. Not silence, but a sacred quiet—the kind that comes when fear has been named, wrestled, and gently laid down. Over these two years, we have walked through the shadowed valleys of servile fear and stood in awe before the holy fear that bows before mystery. And now, as the dust settles, we hear the whisper of what remains: peace.

Peace, not as absence, but as fruit. Fruit born of grace, of trust, of a life surrendered to the Holy One. The New Testament does not merely describe peace—it sings it. It calls it forth from the soil of suffering, from the wounds of the crucified Christ, from the Spirit who groans with us and for us.

And so we turn now, not to escape fear, but to see what blooms beyond it. Faith. Hope. Love. These are not abstractions—they are the embodied gifts of a life lived in grace. They are the harvest of a soul that has learned to trust.

Ecclesiastes reminds us: there is a time for everything. And this—this is a time for peace. Not naive peace, not passive peace, but the peace that comes after the storm. The peace that knows war, and chooses healing. The peace that has mourned, and now dares to dance.

This final season is not an ending, but a sending. A commissioning to live as those who have seen fear, and chosen love. To walk as those who have wept, and now carry joy. To speak as those who have been silent, and now proclaim peace.

Let the treatises continue—not as documents, but as lives. Let your vineyard, your rituals, your hikes, your hospitality—all become living treatises on peace. And may the Spirit breathe through them, stirring the lukewarm, healing the weary, and awakening the world.

Claire’s Corner

· Today in honor of the Holy Trinity do the Divine Office giving your day to God. To honor God REST: no shopping after 6 pm Saturday till Monday. Don’t forget the internet.

· Bucket List Trip: Around the World “Perfect Weather”

Oct 6 – Shifting gears as the months start getting later in the year we head down under to Adelaide, Australia. Allow a day or two for getting to this young, bright city with renowned museums that explore the unique history and art of this once upon a time convict island.

Perfect—here’s a full 7-day Adelaide itinerary (Oct 6–12) that blends sacred spaces, seasonal beauty, symbolic meals, and walkable cultural depth. It’s crafted to honor your rhythm of pilgrimage, gentle repair, and creative hospitality.

🗓️ Adelaide Pilgrimage & Cultural Immersion Itinerary (Oct 6–12)

Day 1: Arrival & Cultural Reorientation (Oct 6)
• Arrive in Adelaide and settle near North Terrace for walkable access to museums, gardens, and sacred sites.
• Afternoon: Visit the Migration Museum—honor stories of exile, resilience, and cultural rebirth.
• Symbolic meal: Barramundi with lemon myrtle and native greens—an offering of land and legacy.
• Evening ritual: Sunset walk along the River Torrens, pausing at Pinky Flat for reflection.

Day 2: Sacred Spaces & Ancestral Wisdom (Oct 7)
• Morning: Begin at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral—a Gothic sanctuary for quiet prayer and architectural grace.
• Midday: Explore the Aboriginal Cultures Gallery at the South Australian Museum—listen to the land’s deep spiritual story.
• Symbolic act: Light a candle for cultural repair and ancestral healing.
• Evening: Attend a local Mass or Taizé-style prayer gathering if available.

Day 3: Garden Beauty & Marian Pause (Oct 8)
• Morning: Walk through the Adelaide Botanic Garden, noting spring blooms and sacred geometry.
• Midday: Visit Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church for Marian prayer and gentle repair.
• Symbolic meal: Native herb risotto or lemon myrtle-infused pasta—simple, fragrant, and healing.
• Evening: Journal or sketch in Himeji Garden, a Japanese-style oasis of peace.

Day 4: Vineyard Pilgrimage (Oct 9)
• Morning: Day trip to Barossa Valley—choose a biodynamic vineyard for tasting and soil-to-spirit reflection.
• Midday: Pause at Our Lady of the Valley Church (Tanunda) for vineyard blessing and Marian devotion.
• Symbolic act: Pour a small libation at the vineyard edge—gratitude for fruit, labor, and land.
• Evening: Shared meal with local wine, bread, and spring greens—sacramental and communal.

Day 5: Art, Mercy & Cultural Depth (Oct 10)
• Morning: Visit the Art Gallery of South Australia—seek out works with spiritual themes and Aboriginal voices.
• Midday: Reflect at Carrick Hill—a historic estate with gardens and layered colonial memory.
• Symbolic meal: Picnic with local cheeses, bush chutney, and seasonal fruit.
• Evening: Rooftop reflection at 2KW Bar or quiet café—letting art and mercy mingle.

Day 6: Ecological Encounter & Gentle Repair (Oct 11)
• Morning: Explore Cleland Wildlife Park—walk among kangaroos and emus, letting creation speak.
• Midday: Visit Mount Lofty Summit for panoramic prayer and ecological reflection.
• Symbolic act: Collect a fallen leaf or seed pod as a token of rootedness and renewal.
• Evening: Attend a local concert or community gathering—celebrating shared beauty.

Day 7: Sending Forth & Blessing (Oct 12)
• Morning: Final walk through Wittunga Botanic Garden or along the Torrens Linear Trail.
• Midday: Visit a local market for symbolic souvenirs—handmade crafts, native teas, incense.
• Evening: Farewell dinner at Africola or a quiet soba house—marking the end of pilgrimage with gratitude and gentle joy.

· Spirit Hour: National Mead Day

· Foodie: National Apple Betty Day.

· How to celebrate Oct 5th

o Start your day with some delicious polenta dishes?

o As evening falls, channel your inner spy with a James Bond movie marathon for Global James Bond Day. Dress up in your best spy attire and indulge in some classic 007 action.

o Throughout the day, remember to be kind and show gratitude on National Be Nice Day.

o End your day with a podcast featuring military stories in honor of National Military Podcast Day.

OCTOBER 5 Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost

Feast of St. Faustina-Respect Life Sunday

John 14, verse 27

PEACE I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.

It is important to note that Christ gave His peace in this verse to His apostles just before the betrayal of Judas. Fear has no place in the hearts of believers. Likewise, all our fear and distress as people awaiting His return must give way to the peace that is Christ’s gift. We now must face the conflict with the Prince of this world by keeping that peace in a troubled world. Christ by His death demonstrated God’s commandment of total love.

For those whose faith is struggling in light of the Priest Scandal receive the peace of Christ and believe He will get the boat ashore even with a Judas aboard. -Peace

Copilot

🕊️ October 5 – Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost

Feast of St. Faustina | John 14:27

“Peace, I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.”

On the eve of betrayal, Christ speaks peace. Not the fragile peace of treaties or avoidance, but the enduring peace of divine presence. He gives it not as the world gives—fleeting, conditional, performative—but as the Father gives: freely, fully, forever.

This peace was spoken into the hearts of the apostles just before Judas stepped into the night. And it is spoken into our hearts now, as we face our own betrayals, scandals, and storms. Fear has no place in the hearts of believers—not because the world is calm, but because Christ is in the boat.

We are not naïve. We see the conflict. We feel the grief. We name the wounds. But we do so from within the peace that Christ has given. A peace that holds steady even when the Church trembles. A peace that does not deny the presence of Judas but refuses to let him steer the ship.

For those whose faith is shaken by the priestly scandal, hear this: Christ will get the boat ashore. Even with a Judas aboard. His peace is not dependent on perfect captains, but on the perfect love poured out at Calvary.

St. Faustina, whose feast we celebrate today, bore witness to Divine Mercy in a time of great darkness. Her life reminds us that mercy is not a soft word—it is a fierce light. And peace is its fruit.

So let us receive the peace of Christ. Let us keep it—not as a fragile possession, but as a living flame. Let us face the Prince of this world not with fear, but with the quiet defiance of those who know the tomb is empty.

Peace, not as the world gives. Peace, as Christ gives.
And that is enough.

ON KEEPING THE LORD'S DAY HOLY[2]

My esteemed Brothers in the Episcopate
and the Priesthood,
Dear Brothers and Sisters!

Introduction

7. The duty to keep Sunday holy, especially by sharing in the Eucharist and by relaxing in a spirit of Christian joy and fraternity, is easily understood if we consider the many different aspects of this day upon which the present Letter will focus our attention.

Sunday is a day which is at the very heart of the Christian life. From the beginning of my Pontificate, I have not ceased to repeat: "Do not be afraid! Open, open wide the doors to Christ!". In the same way, today I would strongly urge everyone to rediscover Sunday: Do not be afraid to give your time to Christ! Yes, let us open our time to Christ, that he may cast light upon it and give it direction. He is the One who knows the secret of time and the secret of eternity, and he gives us "his day" as an ever-new gift of his love. The rediscovery of this day is a grace which we must implore, not only so that we may live the demands of faith to the full, but also so that we may respond concretely to the deepest human yearnings. Time given to Christ is never time lost, but is rather time gained, so that our relationships and indeed our whole life may become more profoundly human.

Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost[3]

This Sunday recognizes the double love of God and neighbor.

IN the Introit of the Mass, the justice and mercy of God are praised. Thou are just, O Lord, and Thy judgment is right. Deal with Thy servant according to Thy mercy. Blessed are the undefiled who walk in the law of the Lord (Ps. cxviii.).

Prayer.

Grant to Thy people, we beseech Thee, O Lord, to avoid the contagion of the devil, and with a pure mind to seek Thee, the only God.

EPISTLE. Eph. iv. 1-6.

Brethren: I, a prisoner in the Lord, beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation in which you are called, with all humility and mildness, with patience, supporting one another in charity, careful to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. One body and one spirit, as you are called in one hope of your calling. One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, Who is above all, and through all, and in us all, Who is blessed forever and ever. Amen.

Practice.

The words, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, confound those who assert that a man may be saved in any belief. There can be but one true religion; they who profess it should be united by the bond of charity, and their lives be worthy of their vocation to the true faith.

GOSPEL. Matt. xxii. 35-46.

At that time the Pharisees came nigh to Jesus, and one of them, a doctor of the law, asked Him, tempting Him: Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said to him: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, and with thy whole soul, and with thy whole mind; This is the greatest and the first commandment. And the second is like to this: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments dependeth the whole law and the prophets. And the Pharisees being gathered together, Jesus asked them, saying: What think you of Christ? Whose son is He? They say to Him: David’s. He saith to them: How then doth David in spirit call Him Lord, saying: The Lord said to my Lord: Sit on My right hand, until I make Thy enemies Thy footstool? If David then call Him Lord, how is He his son? And no man was able to answer Him a word: neither durst any man from that day forth ask Him any more questions.

Why is this commandment to love God and our neighbor called the great commandment?

Because in these two are contained all the others, so that he who fulfils these fulfils the whole law. For whoever loves God with his whole heart does not murmur against God; does not dishonor His name by cursing and swearing; does not desecrate the Sabbath-day, because he knows that all this is offensive to God. On the contrary, he hopes in God; gives thanks and praise to God; sanctifies the Sundays and holy-days, because he knows this to be pleasing to God; observes the precepts of the Church, because he knows it to be the will of God that he should hear the Church; honors his parents; does no injury to his neighbor; does not commit adultery; does not steal; slanders no one; bears no false witness; pronounces no unjust judgment; is not envious, malicious, unmerciful, but rather practices towards every one the corporal and spiritual works of mercy; and all this because, out of love to God, he loves his neighbor as himself. Thus, love fulfils all the commandments.

What is the meaning of the question, “What think you of Christ?”

Christ put this question to the Pharisees in order that, by their own answer, He might convince them that He was not merely a lineal son of David, but that He was the Son of God, begotten from eternity, on which account He called Himself David’s Lord. That Christ is the Son of God, our Lord, our Teacher, our Lawgiver, our Redeemer and Savior, we Christians know well, for we daily profess it; but how many of us, in deeds, deny it, since we do not follow His teaching nor observe His commandments! What, then, will Christ one day be to such? What but a judge to condemn, and a God to punish?

Why must we love our neighbor?

Because we are all, not merely by descent from Adam, but much more through the grace of Jesus, children of God and members of one family. As children of God, we bear in us the likeness of God. But God loved and still loves all men; for the salvation of all He has given up His only Son, that all may be saved; shall we then love one and hate another, and yet think to be like God? Through the grace of Jesus, we are all redeemed, made members of His body, yes, partakers of His body and blood. Therefore St. Paul admonishes us: “You are all one in Christ” (Gal. iii. 28), be therefore careful to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephes. iv. 3). How natural is it for the members of one body not to wound each other! Jesus, our Redeemer, gave His life for us when we were His enemies, and even on the cross prayed for His murderers. We are His disciples. But can we be allowed to call ourselves so without possessing this mark of His discipleship? (John xiii. 15.) Thus, everything incites us to love: the law of nature and of revelation, the example of Christ, all the promises and hopes that we have. In truth, how, without love, could we hope to enter the kingdom of love? There can be no answer to this reasoning: “Would you be a disciple of Jesus, an heir of His kingdom? then love like Him; and He has shed His blood for His mortal enemies.

Respect Life Sunday[1]

The infant Christ “came into our world in a state of great vulnerability. He needed to be defended, protected, cared for and raised by Joseph”. The humble and often hidden carpenter of Nazareth accompanied Mary in her pregnancy, assisted at the birth of the Messiah in a stable, presented Jesus in the Temple, fled with his family far from their homeland to protect them, and lovingly raised Jesus as his own son in the years to come. While the angel of the Lord appeared to Mary to announce that she would bring forth the Savior of the world, it was revealed to Joseph in a series of dreams how God’s plans would be brought to fulfillment. As Pope Francis highlights, “God trusted Joseph, as did Mary, who found in him someone who would not only save her life, but would always provide for her and her child”. Like every other human family, the Holy Family had to confront real and concrete challenges. Yet, “in every situation, Joseph declared his own ‘fiat’”. His “yes” to the Lord meant that regardless of the hardship and personal sacrifice to himself, he consistently chose to put the needs of Mary and Jesus before his own. Joseph’s devotion helps reveal to us our own call to show special care for the lives of those whom God has entrusted to us. During this Year of St. Joseph, each of us can find in him “an intercessor, a support and a guide in times of trouble”. Joseph shows us how to say “yes” to life, despite our own fears, frailties, and weaknesses. For it is Joseph who was “chosen by God to guide the beginnings of the history of redemption. He was the true ‘miracle’ by which God saves the child and his mother”. May we, too, be miracles in the lives of those who are most in need, especially at the beginning and end of life. Dear St. Joseph, you who were “able to turn a problem into a possibility by trusting always in divine providence”, help us to imitate your faithful trust and courage.

[1]https://www.usccb.org/resources/respect-life-reflection-st-joseph-defender-life

Feast of St. Faustina[4]

Saint Faustina was born in the 20th century and canonized in the year 2000. Jesus chose her to deliver to the modern world a message as old as eternity. It is the message of his love for all people, especially sinners. Jesus said to Faustina, "Today I am sending you with my mercy to the people of the whole world." It is his desire to heal the aching world, to draw all people into his merciful heart of love. On February 22, 1931, Jesus appeared to Faustina as the King of Divine Mercy. He asked her to have a picture painted of him as she saw him — clothed in white, with red and white rays of light streaming from his heart. The rays represent the blood and water that flowed from the side of Jesus on the cross. Under the image are the words, "Jesus, I trust in you." Many people did not believe Faustina at first. The sisters in her own convent thought that Jesus could not possibly have selected her for this great favor. After all, she was an uneducated peasant girl. Her superiors often refused to give her permission to carry out Jesus' requests. Church theologians, too, doubted her word. Jesus told Faustina that he loved her obedience and that his will would be done in the end. Faustina was canonized by the first Polish pope, John Paul II, on April 30, 2000. The first Sunday after Easter was declared Divine Mercy Sunday.

Things to Do[5]

· Read a short biography of Sr. Mary Faustina Kowalska from the Vatican.

· Read the Holy Father's April 30, 2000, Homily at the solemn Mass celebrated for the canonization of Sr. Mary Faustina Kowalska.

· From the Directory on Popular Piety and Liturgy: Devotion to the Divine Mercy

· In connection with the octave of Easter, recent years have witnessed the development and diffusion of a special devotion to the Divine Mercy based on the writings of Sr. Faustina Kowalska who was canonized 30 April 2000. It concentrates on the mercy poured forth in Christ's death and resurrection, fount of the Holy Spirit who forgives sins and restores joy at having been redeemed. Since the liturgy of the Second Sunday of Easter or Divine Mercy Sunday — as it is now called — is the natural locus in which to express man's acceptance of the Redeemer's mercy, the faithful should be taught to understand this devotion in the light of the liturgical celebrations of these Easter days. Indeed, "the paschal Christ is the definitive incarnation of mercy, his living sign which is both historico-salvific and eschatological. At the same time, the Easter liturgy places the words of the psalm on our lips: "I shall sing forever of the Lord's mercy" (Ps 89[88]: 2).

· Read more from our Catholic Culture library about the Divine Mercy devotion, in particular, a short description of The Divine Mercy devotion

· St. Faustina came from Poland. John Paul II was also Polish and had a great devotion to the Divine Mercy. He made it a feast day on the second Sunday after Easter. Find out more about Poland and its customs. It's a very Catholic country, with deep devotion to Our Lady. A wonderful book that gives a wonderful understanding of the culture is the Pope's biography A Witness to Hope by George Wiegel.

· Try your hand at a Polish dish or two. Perhaps practice making some of the favorite foods for the Polish Wigilia (Christmas Eve Dinner) Pierogi (or Pirohi) is one of the most popular Polish foods but do some research to find other recipes.

· You can get her diary here: https://www.saint-faustina.org/diary-full-text/

Polish dinner Menu

Polish Vodka
Nina's Cucumber Salad
Beef and Beet Borscht
Sausage and Sauerkraut
Real NY Jewish Rye Bread
Kruschicki

Bible in a Year Day 91 Gideon’s Story

In today's reading from Judges, Fr. Mike talk about Gideon's story, and points out how the people began to worship the object Gideon had created to glorify God, instead of worshipping the living God. In Ruth, he highlights the role of kinsman-redeemer and how Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of that role. Today's readings are Judges 6-8, Ruth 3, and Psalm 135.

Daily Devotions

· Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them in fasting: Today's Fast: True Masculinity

· Religion in the Home for Preschool: October

· 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]ECCLESIASTES 3

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

[3]Goffine’s Devout Instructions, 1896.

[4]http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2016-10-05

[5]https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2017-10-05

Saturday, October 4, 2025

Vinny’s Corner

· Saturday Litany of the Hours Invoking the Aid of Mother Mary

· Foodie Food on the Camino de Santiago

· Spirit hour: 15 Traditional Spanish Drinks

· Bucket Item trip: October 4–11 Camino itinerary

· 🍷 Pilgrimage & Renewal in La Rioja

o Camino Francés | October 4–11, 2025
From Logroño to Santo Domingo de la Calzada: a week of walking, wine, and witness

§ After the Marian heart of Medjugorje and the threshold descent from Roncesvalles to Pamplona, this next arc of pilgrimage invites renewal. La Rioja—Spain’s wine country—is not just a place of vineyards and stone churches. It’s a terrain of Eucharistic rhythm, quiet hospitality, and embodied grace. Here, the Camino deepens.

· 🏞️ Day 1: Arrival in Logroño (Oct 4)

o Logroño welcomes pilgrims with scallop shells carved into church façades and tapas shared in narrow alleys.

§ Stay: Albergue Parroquial Santiago El Real (donativo, sacred simplicity) or Winederful Hostel & Café (stylish, central).

· Evening: Mass at Santiago el Real, followed by a tapas walk along Calle Laurel—a communal act of welcome.

· 🍇 Day 2: Logroño → Navarrete (~13 km) (Oct 5)

o Begin with a Rosary at Puente de Piedra, crossing into renewal.

o Walk through vineyards and olive groves.

§ Pause at the ruins of San Juan de Acre—a medieval pilgrim hospital.

· Stay: Albergue La Casa del Peregrino or Hostal Villa de Navarrete.

· 🕊️ Day 3: Navarrete → Nájera (~17 km) (Oct 6)

o A gentle ascent through Alto de San Antón leads to Nájera, once a royal court and monastic center.

§ Visit the Monastery of Santa María la Real, built into red cliffs.

· Stay: Albergue El Peregrino or Hostal Ciudad de Nájera.

· 🥾 Day 4: Nájera → Santo Domingo de la Calzada (~21 km) (Oct 7)

o Grain fields and quiet villages guide the way.

o Pause at Azofra’s single-room albergue—symbol of solitude.

o Arrive in Santo Domingo, builder of bridges and patron of pilgrims.

§ Visit the Cathedral and its live chicken coop—echoes of Camino legend.

· Stay: Albergue Casa del Santo or Parador de Santo Domingo (luxury in a former hospital).

· 🏙️ Day 5: Cultural Day in Santo Domingo (Oct 8)

o Explore the pilgrim museum and medieval streets.

§ Optional vineyard tour with Eucharistic reflection on wine as symbol.

· Stay: Albergue La Catedral or remain at your previous lodging.

· 📖 Day 6: Writing & Integration (Oct 9)

o Morning journaling in a monastery garden or quiet café.

§ Visit a local artisan for a symbolic keepsake—scallop shell, pottery, or wine.

· Optional walk to Grañón’s Albergue Parroquial San Juan Bautista (communal meals, spiritual depth).

· ✝️ Day 7: Sending Forth (Oct 10)

o Morning Mass and pilgrim blessing.

§ Short walk westward or return to Logroño.

· Stay: Hotel Sercotel Portales or Hotel Murrieta.

· ✈️ Day 8: Departure (Oct 11)

o Quiet morning prayer.

§ Onward travel—carrying renewal westward.

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.

John 3:16

· Texas State Fair (Dallas) September 27-Oct 20 “Our state fair is a great state fair.” How can it not be when it’s in Texas? Beginning the last Friday in September, the annual Texas State Fair unfolds over 24 days in Dallas, TX, with plenty of fun for the whole family, including the chance to ride this Ferris wheel – the largest in North America.

o Arizona State Fair

· How to celebrate Oct 4th

o Start your day by baking a batch of delicious cinnamon rolls to celebrate Cinnamon Roll Day. Let the aroma fill your home and indulge in a sweet treat for breakfast.

§ Put on your favorite plaid shirt in honor of Plaidurday, embracing both comfort and style.

§ Spend the morning listening to kids’ music for Kids Music Day, whether it’s your childhood favorites or current hits that bring a smile to your face on World Smile Day.

· Head outside for a walk and appreciate nature on World Animal Day. Show love to your furry friends and consider donating to a local animal shelter.

· Take a moment to relax and appreciate the simple pleasures in life. Grab a taco for lunch to celebrate National Taco Day and pair it with a refreshing vodka drink for National Vodka Day.

o Invite a good buddy over to join in the festivities on National Good Buddy Day.

· Improve your workspace for Improve Your Office Day by decluttering and adding personal touches to create a more productive environment.

o Tune in to college radio for College Radio Day, discovering new music and supporting your local campus station.

o Thank a trucker on National Truckers Day for their hard work and dedication to keeping goods moving across the country.

· Finish the day with a feast in honor of St. Francis of Assisi Feast Day, reflecting on the importance of compassion and service to others.

OCTOBER 4 First Saturday-Saint Francis of Assisi, Religious

Revelation, Chapter 18, Verse 11-18

The merchants of the earth will weep and mourn for her, because there will be no more markets for their cargo: their cargo of gold, silver, precious stones, and pearls; fine linen, purple silk, and scarlet cloth; fragrant wood of every kind, all articles of ivory and all articles of the most expensive wood, bronze, iron, and marble; cinnamon, spice,incense, myrrh, and frankincense; wine, olive oil, fine flour, and wheat; cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and slaves, that is, human beings. “The fruit you craved has left you. All your luxury and splendor are gone; never again will one find them.” The merchants who deal in these goods, who grew rich from her, will keep their distance for FEAR of the torment inflicted on her. Weeping and mourning, they cry out: “Alas, alas, great city, wearing fine linen, purple and scarlet, adorned [in] gold, precious stones, and pearls.In one hour this great wealth has been ruined.” Every captain of a ship, every traveler at sea, sailors, and seafaring merchants stood at a distance and cried out when they saw the smoke of her pyre, “What city could compare with the great city?”

The world is mourning Babylon’s fall in these verses. After watching this year’s MTV awards show I am convinced that we morally are much closer to a Babylonian culture than we are to the original vision of the founders of this great nation of “A city on the hill” and a shining light to the world.

Is America the new Babylon or that shining city on the hill?

Yet for those who are united in Christ there is hope. Don’t worry the victory is for those who are in the risen one.

Behold my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved in whom I delight; I shall place my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles. He will not contend or cry out, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory. And in his name the Gentiles will hope. (Matthew 12:18-21)

You cannot receive if you do not ask. Let us ask for God’s mercy and count on it, to deliver our soul from death and keep us alive through this earthly famine for ourselves and others. In fact, one pious work we could do this week is a Novena to the Divine Mercy. In the novena Christ asks us to pray each day for a certain group of people.

1. All Sinners

2. Priests and Religious

3. Devout Souls

4. Unbelievers

5. Departed brethren

6. Children

7. Saints or those saints known only to God

8. Those in purgatory

9. And the Lukewarm

A good time to pray the novena is the hour of Christ’s death. “At three o’clock, implore My mercy, especially for sinners; and, if only for a brief moment, immerse yourself in My Passion, particularly in My abandonment at the moment of agony. This is the hour of great mercy…”

Blessed are you who fear the LORD, who walk in his ways!

Copilot’s Take

🔥 October 4: Saint Francis and the Smoke of Babylon

First Saturday | Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi

Babylon doesn’t fall with a whisper. It collapses in smoke and silence. Revelation 18 isn’t just apocalyptic—it’s diagnostic. The world mourns not for truth, but for trade. Gold, silk, spices, slaves. The city burns, and the merchants weep—not for justice, but for lost luxury.

And we?

We watch the spectacle. We scroll past the pyre. We wonder if the “shining city on a hill” has dimmed into something more Babylonian than beatific.

But the Gospel doesn’t flinch.

“A bruised reed he will not break… until he brings justice to victory.”
—Matthew 12:20

Christ moves gently. No shouting in the streets. No spectacle. Just mercy. Just justice. Just the quiet lifting of the wounded.

🌙 First Saturday: The Quiet Flame

First Saturday doesn’t shout either. It whispers. It’s not a feast of spectacle—it’s a rhythm of repair. A gentle invitation to sit beside Mary, to let her teach us how to love Christ when the world forgets Him.

She doesn’t demand. She beckons.
She doesn’t condemn. She consoles.
She doesn’t flinch at Babylon’s smoke—she walks through it with a heart pierced and a gaze fixed on heaven.

We offer her our rosary—not as a charm, but as a chain of love.
We meditate on mysteries—not to escape, but to enter.
We receive Communion—not as routine, but as rescue.

And we do it not once, but monthly. Because Babylon doesn’t fall in a day—and neither does the soul rise without rhythm.

🕊️ The Novena: Mercy in Motion

The Divine Mercy Novena isn’t a list—it’s a liturgy of relationships. Each day reveals a spiritual dynamic:

· Sinners are not shamed—they’re shepherded by priests and religious, whose hands are stained with sacramental oil and mercy.

· Devout souls don’t hide—they instruct unbelievers, becoming living catechisms in a world of confusion.

· Heretics don’t just err—they wound mothers and children, distorting truth at its most tender.

· The faithful, through prayer, lift souls in purgatory, becoming bridges between suffering and light.

· And the lukewarm—those drifting in spiritual sleep—are stirred by the beatitudes, which whisper hunger, purity, peace.

This is choreography. Mercy moves. Justice breathes. The novena becomes a dance of intercession—each step lifting someone closer to the light.

🌿 Saint Francis: The Counter-Babylon

Francis didn’t just renounce wealth. He renounced the illusion. He walked away from Babylon’s cargo and built a Church from rubble and song. His life was a novena in sandals—mercy for sinners, tenderness for the poor, joy for the forgotten.

So we pray. We act. We become mercy.
At 3:00 PM, the Hour of Mercy, the veil thins. Let us stand in the breach—not with condemnation, but with compassion.

“Blessed are you who fear the LORD, who walk in his ways!”
—Psalm 128:1

First Saturday[1]

The Five First Saturday’s devotion is one of the principal points of the Fatima message. It centers on the urgent need for mankind to offer reparation and expiate for the many injuries that the Immaculate Heart of Mary suffers from the hands of both impious and indifferent men.

On the First Saturday during 5 Consecutive Months, the Devotion consists of:

1. Going to Confession,
2. Receiving the Sacrament of Holy Communion,
3. Saying five decades of the Rosary,
4. Meditating for 15 minutes on the mysteries of the Rosary.

All this offered in REPARATION for the sins of blasphemy and ingratitude committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

During the third apparition on July 13, 1917, Our Lady revealed that she would come to ask for the consecration of Russia to her Immaculate Heart and for the Communion of Reparation of the Five First Saturdays. Consequently, she asked for the devotion in 1925 and the consecration in 1929. While staying at the House of the Dorothean Sister in Pontevedra, Portugal, Sister Lucia received a vision on December 10, 1925, where the Blessed Mother appeared alongside a Boy who stood over a luminous cloud. Our Lady rested one hand on the Boy’s shoulder while she held on the other hand a heart pierced with thorns around it. Sister Lucia heard the Boy say, "Have pity on the Heart of your Most Holy Mother which is covered with thorns with which ingrate men pierce it at every moment with no one to make an act of reparation to pull them out." Our Lady expressed her request in the following words, "See, my daughter, My Heart surrounded with thorns with which ingrates pierce me at every moment with blasphemies and ingratitude. You, at least, make sure to console me and announce that all those who for five months, on the first Saturdays, go to confession, receive Communion, say five decades of the Rosary and keep me company for 15 minutes meditating on the mysteries of the Rosary, with the purpose of making reparation to Me, I promise to assist them at the hour of death with all the graces necessary for the salvation of their souls." A few days afterward, Sister Lucia detailed this vision in a letter addressed to Monsignor Manuel Pereira Lopes, her confessor when she resided in the Asylum of Vilar in the city of Oporto, Portugal.

Why Five Saturdays?

Sister Lucia’s confessor questioned her about the reason for the five Saturdays, asking why not seven or nine. She answered him in a letter dated June 12, 1930. In it she related a vision she had of Our Lord while staying in the convent chapel part of the night of the twenty-ninth to the thirtieth of the month of May, 1930. The reasons Our Lord gave were as follows: The five first Saturdays correspond to the five kinds of offenses and blasphemies committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary. They are:

1. Blasphemies against the Immaculate Conception

2. Blasphemies against her virginity

3. Blasphemies against her divine maternity, at the same time the refusal to accept her as the Mother of all men

4. Instilling, indifference, scorn and even hatred towards this Immaculate Mother in the hearts of children

5. Direct insults against Her sacred images

Let us keep the above reasons firmly in our minds. Devotions have intentions attached to them and knowing them adds merit and weight to the practice.

Modifications to the Five First Saturdays Devotion to facilitate its observation.

The original request of Our Lady asks one to confess and receive Communion on five consecutive first Saturdays; to say five decades of the Rosary; to meditate during 15 minutes on the mysteries of the Rosary for the purpose of making reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary in reparations for the sins of men. In subsequent private visions and apparitions however, Sister Lucia presented to Our Lord the difficulties that devotees encountered in fulfilling some conditions. With loving condescension and solicitude, Our Lord deigned to relax the rules to make this devotion easy to observe:

· Confession may be done on other days other than the First Saturdays so long as one receives Our Lord worthily and has the intention of making reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

· Even if one forgets to make the intention, it may be done on the next confession, taking advantage of the first occasion to go to confession.

· Sister Lucia also clarified that it is not necessary to meditate on ALL mysteries of the Rosary on each First Saturdays. One or several suffice.

With much latitude granted by Our Lord Himself, there is no reason for the faithful to hesitate or delay this pious practice in the spirit of reparation which the Immaculate Heart of Mary urgently asks.

This devotion is so necessary nowadays.

The culture of vice and sin remains unabated even as one reads this. Abortion, blasphemy, drug abuse, pornography, divorce and bad marriages, religious indifference, the advances of the homosexual agenda and others are just some of society’s many plagues that cut deeply into the Immaculate Heart of Mary. We must console Our Lady amidst all these insults and injuries to her and her Divine Son. She asks for reparation, she pleads for our prayers, she hopes for our amendment of life. Let us listen to her maternal pleas and atone for the ingratitude of men. The First Five Saturday’s devotion stimulates the spirit of reparation; it instills a tender love for the Holy Sacraments of Confession and the Blessed Eucharist. It nurtures a holy affection for the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Rosary. Above all, it is an excellent means to maintain one in the state of grace while immersed in the daily spiritual battles and prosaic existence in the neo-pagan world that we live in. Let us not delay in observing this devotion for it too gives us hope for eternal salvation.

Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi[2]

ST. FRANCIS was born at Assisi, in Italy, in the year 1182. His father, a rich merchant, intended him for trade, and Francis applied himself with aptness to this employment, in which, though fond of show, he exhibited, at an early day, a particular love for the poor. Agreeable and amiable, affable and kind to all, he was beloved by all around him, and the world sought to draw him to its side. But, enlightened from above, and by heavenly apparitions rendered attentive to the call he was about to receive, he followed the leadings of grace which drew him on to imitate Christ in poverty and humility. Hearing one day at Mass the words of the Gospel “Do not possess gold, or silver, or money in your purses, nor scrip for your journey, nor two coats, nor shoes, nor a staff” (Matt. x. 9, 10), he began to regulate the whole manner of his life according to this precept of the Gospel, and at once began to preach penance with such evangelical poverty, and with such power, that all who heard him were moved to tears. Disinherited by his father, who was greatly displeased at his poverty and open-handedness towards the poor, he threw himself altogether upon the providence of his Father in heaven, dividing with the poor the alms he thus received. The extraordinary manner of his life soon brought around him disciples, and as the number of them increased daily, he wrote for them a rule, and then set out for Home, to procure from the Pope a confirmation of it. He came back, rejoicing in the Lord that everything at Rome had gone according to his wish, and established himself about a mile from his native city, at a small church belonging to the Benedictines, which he called Portiuncula (little portion). Here he led a life of the severest penance here he prayed day and night, and here he laid the foundation of that Order which has filled the world with the splendor of its virtues. Here in this church, dedicated to the virgin Mother of Jesus and to the holy angels, he received from Christ Himself the celebrated indulgence known throughout the whole Christian world as the Portiuncula Indulgence, for while the saint was praying there with glowing devotion, on the day of the dedication of the church, in the year 1221, the Lord appeared to him and said “Francis, ask whatever thou wilt for the salvation of the nations.” He answered: “I desire the remission of guilt and punishment, a plenary indulgence for all who shall visit this church with contrite hearts and sincerely confess their sins. The Lord replied, Go then to My representative, the Pope, and ask the indulgence in My name. “Forthwith he went to Pope Honorius III., who first, by word of mouth, and afterwards by a proper bull, confirmed to him the indulgence. The same indulgence was, at a later day, extended to all churches of the Franciscans, and by Pope Pius VII to all parish churches (at least to all in Bavaria), and may be gained on the first Sunday in August of every year. Burning with desire for the salvation of the people, St. Francis with his brethren, whom he sent out two by two to preach penance and the peace of God, labored to establish everywhere the kingdom of heaven. His love for sinners, and his ardent zeal for the salvation of souls, impelled him to visit remote parts of the world to preach the Gospel to unbelievers. For this he was rewarded by God with miraculous graces, among which there is particularly to be mentioned that which was granted him upon Mount Alverno. While he was there engaged, separated from the world, in fasting and praying for forty days, as he was accustomed to do often, the Savior appeared to him in the form of a seraph on the cross, and imprinted the five wounds of His own body on the body of St. Francis. On account of this, and for his ardent love for Jesus crucified, St. Francis received the surname of Seraph. After this event the saint lived two years in manifold bodily distress and sickness, without murmur or complaint, with perfect resignation to the will of God. Sometime before his death he caused his will to be written, in which he left to his brethren poverty as an inheritance in which they should find great treasure for heaven. As the hour of his dissolution drew nigh he had the passion of Christ read to him; he then said the one hundred and forty-first psalms, and at the words, bring my soul out of prison that I may praise Thy name, he expired happy in the Lord, October 4, 1226, in the forty-fifth year of his age. St. Francis founded three Orders, the first and proper Order of Franciscans, or the Order of Friars Minor, then the Order of Franciscan nuns, or Clares, so called from St. Clare, their first superior and lastly, that called the Third Order, for people in the world, of both sexes, who aim at perfection, but do not desire to make the vows of the cloister. This last Order, which has been approved by many Popes, particularly by Gregory IX., Innocent IV., and Nicholas IV., has spread throughout the whole world, and is becoming in our day more and more flourishing.

Prayer.

O God, Who by the merits of blessed Francis dost increase Thy Church by a new progeny, grant us by imitating him to despise earthly things, and ever to rejoice in the participation of heavenly gifts. Amen.

EPISTLE. Gal. vi. 14-18.

Brethren: God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ: by Whom the world is crucified to me, and I to the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. And whosoever shall follow this rule, peace on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. From henceforth let no man be troublesome to me: for I bear the marks of the Lord Jesus in my body. The grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.

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. Yea, Father: for so hath it seemed good in Thy sight. 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, arid 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

· We must as is sometimes do as attributed to the sayings of St. Francis, “preach the gospel, and if necessary, use words.”

This is the first premise of leadership. As leaders, especially Christian leaders, we must demonstrate the Be, Know and Do attitudes of Christ. That is we must become an “Alter Christus” or another Christ. We must BE to others as Christ would. We must KNOW spiritual principals as Christ does and we must act or DO in the world as Christ would.

This day emulate our Lord by reflecting and living the prayer of St. Francis.

The Prayer of Saint Francis

Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

Where there is injury, pardon;

Where there is doubt, faith;

Where there is despair, hope;

Where there is darkness, light;

Where there is sadness, joy.

O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek

To be consoled as to console,

To be understood as to understand,

To be loved as to love;

For it is in giving that we receive;

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;

It is in dying to self that we are born to eternal life.

Things to Do[3]

· Pray the Canticle of the Sun, which was written by St. Francis.

· For more reading, see the selections from the Catholic Culture Library. This page from the Franciscan Archives contains links about St. Francis of Assisi, including biographies, articles, writings, Orders & Societies, liturgical texts and art.

· Many parishes have a Blessing of animals or pets on this day. See the Prayers column for other alternatives. St. Francis loved all of God's creatures. Find the stories of the Wolf of Gubbio, the Sermon to the Birds, his Canticle of Creatures to see some illustrations of his honoring God's creation.

· St. Francis was influential on our present-day Christmas crib or creche.

· Although St. Francis is one of the most popular saints of the Church, and his feast is a huge celebration in Assisi, there are no particular foods attached to that festival. Tradition has passed on that on his deathbed he requested Frangipane cream or Moastaccioli (almond biscotti). Fire is a symbol of St. Francis, first of all because his heart was on fire with love of God, but there are other stories in Little Flowers of St. Francis that deal with fire, particularly when he prayed, the surrounding areas would become so bright that people thought the areas were on fire. So a flaming dessert or wine would be an appropriate ending of a wonderful feast. One could also try some Umbrian style recipes, or just have "Italian night" at home, even just simple spaghetti or other pasta and sauces.

· Learn more about the Franciscan order. The Catholic Encyclopedia has a wonderful entry on St. Francis, including his Rule. And from the Catholic Culture Library you can read a detailed summary of the life of St. Francis and his founding of the Order of Friars Minor.

· What does poverty in our state of life mean? How can I follow the Gospels like Francis?

· Learn more about geography and history of the Umbria area, and how much Francis has impacted that area.

· Study art and photos of Francis. Find out more about the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi. Although the earthquake in 1997 damaged the basilica, it reopened in 1999.

· Go here for Saint Francis of Assisi, The Writings of Saint Francis of Assisi, translated by Fr. Paschal Robinson in 1906.

· Read Little Flowers of St. Francis by Brother Ugolino online or purchase a copy. This is a collection of many stories and legends of the life of St. Francis. Of particular note is his Sermon to the Birds,

"My little sisters the birds, ye owe much to God, your Creator, and ye ought to sing his praise at all times and in all places, because he has given you liberty to fly about into all places; and though ye neither spin nor sew, he has given you a twofold and a threefold clothing for yourselves and for your offspring. Two of all your species he sent into the Ark with Noah that you might not be lost to the world; besides which, he feeds you, though ye neither sow nor reap. He has given you fountains and rivers to quench your thirst, mountains and valleys in which to take refuge, and trees in which to build your nests; so that your Creator loves you much, having thus favoured you with such bounties. Beware, my little sisters, of the sin of ingratitude, and study always to give praise to God."

St. Francis was a great respecter of life and viewed all creation as a gift of God; he called the animals brothers and the moon sister moon. If we have God’s breath and love in us we must respect and protect all creation starting with the most vulnerable of human life.

Bible in a Year Day 90 Ruth and Boaz

Fr. Mike highlights the life of Ruth, and what seems to be the first day of hope she's had in a long time. Sometimes it takes a long time to catch a glimmer of hope in the darkness of our lives, but Ruth reminds us that no matter what we've been through, God is always with us. Today's readings are Judges 4-5, Ruth 2, and Psalm 134.

Daily Devotions

· Unite yourself in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them in fasting: Today's Fast: An Increase of the Faithful

· Religion in the Home for Preschool: October

· 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://www.americaneedsfatima.org/Our-Lord-Jesus-Christ/1st-friday-1st-saturday-devotions.html

[2] Goffine’s Devout Instructions, 1896.

[3]http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2017-10-04