Posts
🔸 January 2026 – Conscience & Vocation
- Jan 5 – Shadowlands (1994)
- Jan 12 – Three Godfathers (1948)
- Jan 19 – I Confess (1953)
- Jan 26 – The Wrong Man (1956)
🎬 I Confess (1953
🎥 Plot Summary
Father Michael Logan, a young priest in Québec, hears a late‑night confession from the rectory caretaker, Otto Keller. Keller admits he has murdered a lawyer during a botched robbery. Bound by the seal of confession, Father Logan cannot reveal what he knows—not to the police, not to the courts, not even to save his own life.
When circumstantial evidence begins to point toward him, Logan remains silent. His past friendship with Ruth Grandfort, now a politician’s wife, only deepens suspicion. As the investigation tightens, Logan becomes the prime suspect, and his refusal to defend himself appears almost suicidal.
The film builds toward a courtroom climax where Logan’s silence is interpreted as guilt. Only when Keller’s conscience finally cracks does the truth emerge—but not before Logan has endured public humiliation, suspicion, and near‑martyrdom.
✝️ Catholic Moral Reflection
Hitchcock—raised Catholic—understood the gravity of the confessional seal. I Confess is one of the rare Hollywood films that treats priestly identity not as costume but as vocation.
Three themes stand out for your devotional and hospitality work:
1. The Seal of Confession as a Form of Martyrdom
Father Logan’s silence is not passivity. It is active fidelity, a priest laying down his reputation—and possibly his life—for the sake of a sinner.
This is Romans 12:9–10 in cinematic form:
- “Let love be sincere.”
- “Outdo one another in showing honor.”
Logan honors Keller even when Keller has dishonored him.
2. The Cost of Innocence
The film exposes how innocence is not always rewarded in this world. Logan’s calm endurance echoes Christ before Pilate—truth standing silent before accusation.
For your devotional framework, this is a perfect Day‑theme on:
“The Eucharistic Christ who speaks through silence.”
3. The Danger of Half‑Truths
Ruth’s attempt to “explain” Logan’s innocence by revealing their past only deepens suspicion.
Hitchcock shows how partial truths, even when well‑intended, can distort justice.
This aligns beautifully with your emphasis on:
memory, mercy, and truth‑telling without embellishment.
4. The Priest as a Living Icon of Mercy
Logan’s refusal to break the seal is not legalism—it is mercy toward a man who does not deserve it.
This is the same spiritual logic you’ve been weaving into your pilgrimage calendar and your 33‑day devotional:
mercy that costs something.
🍷 Hospitality Pairing
The film’s mood is austere, wintry, and morally severe. The pairing should reflect:
- Québec setting
- stark moral clarity
- the cold beauty of sacrifice
Drink: The Québec Black Velvet
A classic, simple, dignified pairing:
- Half stout (Guinness or similar)
- Half dry cider (you already have cider in your bar stock)
The drink is visually symbolic:
- dark stout = the weight of sin
- bright cider = the mercy that rises through it
It layers, just like the film.
Food: Tourtière with a Eucharistic Twist
A Québec meat pie—warm, humble, communal.
Serve with:
- a small ramekin of bright cranberry relish
- a simple blessing on fidelity and truth before cutting the pie
The contrast of savory and tart mirrors the film’s tension between duty and suffering.
“When the world demands explanations, the saint clings to the silence that saves another’s soul.”
Christopher’s Corner
· Dolly Parton's birthday-when my dad was stationed in KY he took the family to Dollywood-we had a good time but froze.
· Bucket List trip: Saltzburg Austria Mozart Week (Jan 23-Feb 2)
· Eat waffles and Pray for the assistance of the Angels
· Religion in the Home for Preschool: January
· Carnival Time begins in Catholic Countries.
· Monday: Litany of Humility
· Spirit Hour: San Sabastion Punch
· Try[6]: Café Liégeois
· How to celebrate Jan 19th
o Picture this: you wake up to a world filled with possibilities. Start your day by brewing a unique potion to kickstart your adventure. Channel your inner artist by creating a masterpiece that embodies your rebellious spirit. As you revel in your creativity, indulge in some popcorn to keep your energy up. Take a moment to appreciate the different religions around the world on World Religion Day, perhaps by reading about different faiths or visiting a place of worship in your community.
o Feeling inspired by the diversity of beliefs, venture outside to celebrate World Snow Day. Build a snowman or have a snowball fight; embrace the childlike joy of playing in the snow. In between snow activities, take a few moments to reflect on your memories, honoring Good Memory Day by reminiscing about happy moments from your past.
o As the day continues, get resourceful on National Tin Can Day.
Repurpose tin cans into quirky decorations or useful organizers. Embrace your inner outlaw by breaking a few artistic rules on Artist as Outlaw Day. Experiment with unconventional art techniques or visit a local art exhibit to appreciate rebel artists.
o Before the day ends, dive into the world of science on World Quark Day. Learn about this unique subatomic particle or treat yourself to a delicious quark-based dessert. End your day with a moment of gratitude for the eclectic mix of experiences you’ve had, knowing that even the most seemingly unrelated holidays can come together to create a day filled with whimsy and wonder.
· Plan winter fun:
- Soak in hot springs
- Hit the snow slopes
- Ride a snowmobile
- Go for a dog sled ride
- Ride a hot air balloon
🕯️ Bucket List Trip [3] – Part 13: USA 70‑Degree Year Journey
Dates: January 19–25, 2026
Theme: Coastal Ordinary Time – Mission, Mercy & Maritime Light
Route: Phoenix → Corpus Christi → Padre Island → Port Aransas → Goliad
Style: Coastal pilgrimage, early Ordinary Time mission, Eucharistic grounding
Climate Alignment: Daily highs 68–72°F (Corpus Christi / Padre Island)
💰 Estimated Cost Overview
Category | Estimated Cost |
Lodging (6 nights) | ~$660 (mid‑range hotels) |
Food (daily meals) | ~$240 |
Transit (flight + rental car) | ~$280 (PHX → CRP + rental) |
Symbolic extras | ~$70 |
Total Estimate | ~$1,250 |
🛏️ Lodging Options
· Corpus Christi: Omni Corpus Christi Hotel
· Padre Island: Holiday Inn Corpus Christi – North Padre Island
🌠 Day 1 – Monday, January 19
Location: Corpus Christi – Corpus Christi Cathedral
Symbol: Body of Christ
Ritual Prompt: “Begin the week in the heart of the Eucharist.”
Evening Mass + quiet prayer before the Blessed Sacrament.
🥗 Foodie Stop: Water Street Oyster Bar (~$30)
🌊 Day 2 – Tuesday, January 20
Location: Padre Island National Seashore
Symbol: Shore of Mercy
Ritual Prompt: “Let the tide wash away what clings too tightly.”
Beach walk + journaling on mercy and release.
🍲 Foodie Stop: Padre Island Burger Company (~$20)
🌅 Day 3 – Wednesday, January 21
Location: Port Aransas – Chapel on the Dunes
Symbol: Hidden Sanctuary
Ritual Prompt: “Seek the quiet places where God whispers.”
Visit the historic whitewashed chapel overlooking the Gulf.
🥘 Foodie Stop: Trout Street Bar & Grill (~$30)
⚓ Day 4 – Thursday, January 22
Location: Corpus Christi – USS Lexington Museum
Symbol: Courage on the Waters
Ritual Prompt: “Remember the cost of courage.”
Walk the decks; reflect on sacrifice and mission.
🍷 Foodie Stop: Harrison’s Landing (~$25)
🕊️ Day 5 – Friday, January 23
Location: Our Lady of Corpus Christi – Perpetual Adoration Chapel
Symbol: Heart of Peace
Ritual Prompt: “Rest in the stillness of His presence.”
Holy Hour + rosary in the blue‑domed chapel.
🧺 Foodie Stop: Hester’s Café (~$18)
🌵 Day 6 – Saturday, January 24
Location: Goliad – Mission Espíritu Santo
Symbol: Mission & Memory
Ritual Prompt: “Walk the old mission road—carry the faith forward.”
Explore the restored Spanish mission; reflect on perseverance.
🍽️ Foodie Stop: Blue Quail Deli (~$15)
🌠 Day 7 – Sunday, January 25 (Third Sunday in Ordinary Time)
Location: Corpus Christi – St. Patrick Catholic Church
Symbol: Call to Discipleship
Ritual Prompt: “Leave the nets—follow Him anew.”
Sunday Mass + blog reflection: “Ordinary Time on the Shore of Christ.”
🍷 Foodie Stop: Doc’s Seafood & Steaks (~$35)
January 19 Monday
9 Days for Life-Martin
Luther King
Genesis, Chapter
50, Verse 21
So now, do not FEAR. I will provide for you and for
your children.” By thus speaking kindly to them, he reassured them.
Again,
Joseph is a precursor of Christ is an example of love and forgiveness of God;
therefore, mirroring the message of Paul,
“Consequently,
from now on we regard no one according to the flesh; even if we once knew
Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know him so no longer. So, whoever is
in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold new things
have come. And all this is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through
Christ and given us the ministry of reconciliation, namely,
God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting their
trespasses against them and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.”
Christ further advises us in Mathew’s gospel that if we have a brother
who sins against us, we should.
1) Go and tell him about his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to
you, you have won over your brother.
2) If he does not listen; take one or two others along
with you, so that ‘every fact may be established on the testimony of two or
three witnesses’ and
3) If he refuses to listen to them, tell the church and
4) if he refuses to listen even to the church, then treat
him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector. (Mt. 18:14-17)
One wonders what it means to treat someone as a gentile
or tax collector.
So,
exactly how did Jesus treat Gentiles and tax collectors?
Jesus heals the daughter of the Canaanite woman. He eats with sinners and tax collectors. He heals the Centurion’s servant. He calls a tax collector to be his disciple. Jesus repeatedly invited tax collectors and Gentiles into the kingdom of God. To “let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector” doesn’t mean wash our hands of them. It means we need to continue to reach out to those with whom we have a conflict. We must continue inviting them into the fellowship of the kingdom of God.[1]
Copilot’s Take
Joseph’s gentle reassurance tohis brothers—“Do not fear. I will provide for you and your children”—reveals a heart already shaped by the mercy Christ will one day embody perfectly. Paul names this transformation as the very work of God: in Christ, the old self dies and a new creation rises, capable of forgiveness that does not deny the wound but refuses to let the wound define the future. Jesus’ own teaching on reconciliation makes this even clearer. He calls us to pursue truth with courage, to confront with humility, to involve the community when needed, and finally, if all else fails, to treat the offender as a Gentile or tax collector—which is to say, as someone Christ never stopped seeking, healing, calling, and welcoming. The Gospel does not give us permission to write people off; it gives us a pattern for loving them even when they resist love. On a day marked by 9 Days for Life and the witness of Martin Luther King Jr., this call becomes especially urgent: reconciliation is not sentiment but discipline, not passivity but holy persistence. To follow Christ is to keep the door open, to keep the invitation extended, and to trust that God’s mercy can still make all things new.
Life First[2] 9 Days for Life day four
INTENTION-May every father of a preborn child lovingly support the mother of his child in welcoming new life.
PRAYERS-Our Father, 3 Hail Mary’s, Glory Be
REFLECTION-Fatherhood has its origins in God, who chose to reveal Himself to us as Our Father, sending his only Son for the sake of our salvation. Fathers therefore have a special role “in revealing and in reliving on earth the very fatherhood of God” (Familiaris consortio 25). Fathers are called to exhibit “generous responsibility for the life conceived under the heart of the mother” (FC 25). They are uniquely entrusted with the protection and defense of both mother and child and, in this way, in safeguarding the sanctity of human life.
As evidenced in our world today, the role of the father “is of unique and irreplaceable importance” (FC 25). Often women choose abortion because they do not have the support of the child’s father, or—even worse—the father of the child pressures her to make the decision to abort. At the same time, it is important to acknowledge with compassion that men can also be overwhelmed by an unexpected pregnancy and that society increasingly tells them that they should have no say in their children’s lives. In the face of these false messages, we pray that fathers of preborn children will find courage in the example of Saint Joseph—who embraced the role of father amid difficult circumstances—and offer loving, life-affirming support to the mothers of their children.
ACTS OF REPARATION (Choose one.)
·
Give
up sleeping on your pillow—or even your bed—tonight. Offer this small sacrifice
for the intention that fathers of preborn children will courageously answer
their call to support both mother and child.
·
Pray
a decade of the Rosary for all fathers of preborn children, that through her
intercession, Our Lady may inspire in them the virtues of Saint Joseph.
· Offer some other sacrifice, prayer, or act of penance that you feel called to do for today’s intention.
ONE STEP FURTHER-Research continues to show that one of the top
reasons a woman chooses abortion is due to a lack of financial resources. Read
"Poverty and Abortion: A Vicious Cycle," which explores the
connections between abortion and poverty, and how the absence of fathers
contributes to this ongoing cycle.
Bible in a Year Day 201 Keys to the Kingdom
Fr. Mike focuses on Isaiah 22 today and explains how the role of
the pope in the Catholic Church goes all the way back to this important chapter
in Isaiah. We learn that Jesus himself instituted the papacy by making Peter
his 'al-habbayit, the one over the household who holds the keys to the kingdom
when the king is away. Today's readings are Isaiah 21-22, Nahum 3, and Proverbs
10:29-32.
Martin Luther King[3]
Today we
celebrate the legacy of a man who died and lived to create a culture of justice
that ensures the dignity of all men, women, and children in America. Our church
also recognizes the need for dignity not only for mankind but also in marriage
and it is only when we recognize the grandeur of His works that we begin to
realize that every man, woman, and child is a wonder wroth by His hands.
The reverend
Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968) championed a movement that was based on
love and his ideal was to obtain justice by nonviolent means as expressed in
this speech.
Hate begets hate; violence begets violence; toughness begets
a greater toughness. We must meet the forces of hate with the power of love.
Our aim must never be to defeat or humiliate the white man, but to win his
friendship and understanding. “The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is
a descending spiral begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy, instead of
diminishing evil, it multiplies it. Through violence you may murder the liar,
but you cannot murder the lie, nor establish the truth. Through violence you
may murder the hater, but you do not murder hate. In fact, violence merely
increases hate. Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding
deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out
darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do
that.”
Character is Destiny[4]
According to John McCain a person or nation’s
character determines its destiny. McCain points out in his book Character is
Destiny the person who most exemplifies the characteristic of fairness is that
of Martin Luther King, Jr.
John said of King:
From a jail cell he wrote a letter that is one of
the most celebrated documents in American history and summoned his country to
the cause of justice.
“My Dear Fellow Clergymen,” it began.
Recognizing that his correspondents were “men of genuine good will and your
criticisms sincerely set forth,” he promised to respond in patient and
reasonable terms. They were reasonable terms, and undeniably fair, but patient
they were not.
We have
waited for more than 340 years for our constitutional and God-given rights. . .
. Perhaps it is easy for those who have never felt the stinging dark of segregation
to say, “Wait.” But when you have seen vicious mobs lynch your mothers and
fathers at will and drown your sisters and brothers at whim; when you have seen
hate-filled policemen curse, kick and even kill your black brothers and
sisters; when you see the vast majority of your twenty million Negro brothers
smothering in an airtight cage of poverty in the midst of an affluent society;
when you suddenly find your tongue twisted and your speech stammering as you
seek to explain to your six-year-old daughter why she can’t go to the public
amusement park that has just been advertised on television, and see tears
welling up in her eyes when she is told that Funtown is closed to colored
children, and see ominous clouds of inferiority beginning to form in her little
mental sky, and see her beginning to distort her personality by developing
unconscious bitterness toward white people; when you have to concoct an answer
for a five-year-old son who is asking: “Daddy, why do white people treat
colored people so mean?”; when you take a cross-country drive and find it
necessary to sleep night after night in the uncomfortable corners of your
automobile because no motel will accept you; when you are humiliated day in and day out by nagging signs reading
“white” and “colored”; when your first name becomes “nigger,” your middle name
becomes “boy” (however old you are) and your last name becomes “John,” and your
wife and mother are never given the respected title “Mrs.”; when you are
harried by day and haunted by night by the fact that you are a Negro, living
constantly at tiptoe stance, never quite knowing what to expect next, and are
plagued with inner fears and outer resentments; when you are forever fighting a
degenerating sense of “nobodiness” then you will understand why we find it
difficult to wait. There comes a time when the cup of endurance runs over, and
men are no longer willing to be plunged into the abyss of despair.
America still struggles internally and externally to
arrive at the place Dr. King had summoned us to, that exalted place that had
been the highest ambition of our Founding Fathers and the highest value we
recommend to the rest of the world; the place where all people are recognized
as equal and endowed by their Creator with inalienable rights. African
Americans recognize the debt they owe Dr. King’s courage, wisdom, and
unshakable sense of fairness. But Americans of European descent owe him a
greater one. At the cost of his life, he helped save us from a terrible
disgrace, the betrayal of our country, and the principles that have ennobled
our history. And that is a debt we must
happily bear forever.
Martin Luther King Facts & Quotes[5]
·
Martin Luther King was awarded the Nobel Peace
Prize in 1964. He was 35 years old, which made him the youngest Peace
Prize winner at that time.
·
I have a dream that my four little children
will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of
their skin, but by the content of their character.
·
Life's most persistent and urgent question is: 'What
are you doing for others?
·
Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice
everywhere.
·
Hate is too great a burden to bear.
Martin Luther King Top Events and Things to Do
·
Visit thekingcenter.org to find out about local events and ways you
can help promote unity, justice, and fight racism.
·
Become a mentor to an underprivileged person in your
community through Big Brothers, or another similar organization.
·
Visit the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial. For
more info see the Official
memorial website.
·
Donate to the United Negro College Fund or other charities that promote college degree attainment by minorities.
·
Watch a movie about MLK. Some popular films include:
Our Friend Martin (1999), Selma (2014) and The Witness (2008)
Daily Devotions
·
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting: Today's Fast: Reparations
for offenses and blasphemies against God and the Blessed Virgin Mary
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Rosary
[1]https://conversationinfaith.wordpress.com/2011/02/25/treat-them-like-gentiles-and-tax-collectors/
[2]http://www.usccb.org/about/pro-life-activities/january-roe-events/nine-days-of-prayer-penance-and-pilgrimage.cfm
[4] McCain, John and Salter, Mark. (2005)
Character is destiny. Random House, New York.
[6] Sheraton, Mimi.
1,000 Foods To Eat Before You Die: A Food Lover's Life List. Workman Publishing
Company. Kindle Edition.
🎬 Our Very Own (1950)
Ann Blyth • Farley Granger • Jane Wyatt • Ann Dvorak • Natalie Wood
🌿 Plot in Clean, Elegant Lines
Gail Macaulay (Ann Blyth) is preparing for her 18th birthday in a comfortable Los Angeles home filled with the kind of middle‑class optimism Samuel Goldwyn loved to photograph. Her younger sister Joan, in a moment of childish envy, discovers adoption papers and blurts out the truth: Gail is not the Macaulays’ biological daughter.
The revelation shatters Gail’s sense of belonging. Her adoptive mother Lois (Jane Wyatt) responds with tenderness and honesty, arranging a meeting with Gail’s birth mother, Gert Lynch (Ann Dvorak). But the reunion is awkward and humiliating—Gert’s husband unexpectedly appears, forcing her to pretend Gail is “a friend’s daughter.”
Gail leaves wounded, ashamed, and unsure of who she is.
Her boyfriend Chuck (Farley Granger) and her adoptive family gather around her, not with speeches but with presence. At her graduation, Gail reframes her crisis: family is not merely biological—it is the place where love is chosen, lived, and renewed.
✝️ Catholic Moral Reading
This film is a gentle catechesis on identity, mercy, and the dignity of adoptive love. It fits seamlessly into your devotional and pilgrimage work.
1. Adoption as a Mirror of Divine Sonship
Gail’s crisis echoes the spiritual truth of Romans 8:
We are adopted into God’s family—not by merit, but by love.
Her confusion becomes a doorway into a deeper identity.
2. The Macaulays as Icons of Steadfast Love
Lois and Fred Macaulay embody the quiet heroism of spiritual parenthood.
Their love is not sentimental—it is covenantal.
They model the same fidelity you emphasize in your 33‑day journey:
love that stays when the story gets complicated.
3. The Biological Mother’s Shame and the Church’s Mercy
Gert’s inability to acknowledge Gail publicly is painful, but it is also deeply human.
She is a bruised reed.
The Church’s response to such a soul is always mercy, not judgment.
4. Gail’s Graduation Speech as a Eucharistic Moment
Her realization—that love defines family—mirrors the Eucharistic truth that Christ binds us into one Body.
Identity is not inherited; it is received.
🍋 Hospitality Pairing: “The Macaulay Lemon Cream Cooler”
A drink that matches the film’s emotional arc: bright, shaken, softened by grace.
Ingredients (all from your bar stock)
- Gin with lime
- Cointreau
- Limoncello
- A splash of cream
- Lemon zest
Method
- Shake gin, Cointreau, limoncello, and cream over ice.
- Strain into a chilled glass.
- Garnish with lemon zest.
Symbolism
- Citrus brightness → Gail’s youthful optimism
- Cream → the softening mercy of her adoptive family
- Bittersweet oils → the sting of truth
- The final smooth sip → reconciliation and chosen love
Serve with lemon shortbread or fresh berries—clean, honest flavors for a film about honest love.
