Candace’s Corner
· 10 coolest summer getaways in Arizona: Mountains, lakes and a chilly cave trek
· Bucket List: Vineyard World Tour: Get your Woo-hoo on
o Vineyard
· St. Anthony Novena 8-on thirteen consecutive Tuesdays.
· Pray Day 1 of the Novena for our Pope and Bishops
o At Home
· Spirit Hour: Roman Punch
· Let Freedom Ring Day 30 Freedom from Secularism
o The left bludgeons anyone who brings Faith into the public square, even priests, with the Big Lie of "separation of Church and State." But prior to Lyndon Johnson's amendment and threat of taxation, faithful shepherds spoke up and spoke out against secular sin. Now, most everyone's a big coward, trembling in fear about being taxed. Please, dear family, honestly ask and answer two simple questions: Do we think the Father of Jesus Christ thinks it's a good idea that we cower in a corner because of oppressive secularism? Do we think Our Father thinks we should not openly bring Him into the public square? The answers are obvious. So are the consequences for how we answer those questions.
o When Jesus said "give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and give to God what is God's," the corollary is "don't give to Caesar what belongs to God." As it was, as it is, as it always will be: God first, last and always. So let us always acknowledge God before men, and let us always openly apply our lives of Faith in the public square.
AUGUST 5 Tuesday
Basilica
of Saint Mary Major in Rome
Matthew, Chapter 14,
Verse 22-27
22 Then he made the disciples get
into the boat and precede him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds.
23
After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When it was
evening, he was there alone. 24Meanwhile the boat, already a few
miles offshore, was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against
it. 25During the fourth watch of the
night, he came toward them, walking on
the sea. 26When
the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified. “It is a ghost,”
they said, and they cried out in fear. 27At once [Jesus] spoke to them,
“Take courage, it is I; do not be AFRAID.”
The disciples,
laboring against the turbulent sea are saved by Jesus. Jesus shows his power
over the waters by his walking on the sea during the
night. This happens during the fourth watch of the night-time:
between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m. The Romans divided the twelve hours between 6 p.m.
and 6 a.m. into four equal parts called “watches.” Christ further demonstrates that he is divine
by stating “it is I” or “I am.” This reflects his hidden identity of Jesus as
Son of God.
Fear of Ghosts[1]
Peter Kreeft,
professor of philosophy at Boston College, while acknowledging that the
Catholic Church does not teach specifically about “ghosts” or spirits,
speculates that there are three different kinds of ghosts:
We can distinguish three kinds of ghosts, I
believe.
First, the most familiar kind: the sad ones, the wispy
ones. They seem to be working out some unfinished earthly business or suffering
some purgatorial purification until released from their earthly,
business. These ghosts would seem to be the ones who just barely made it
to Purgatory, who feel little or no joy yet and who need to learn many painful
lessons about their past lives on earth.
Second, there are malicious and deceptive spirits and
since they are deceptive, they hardly
ever appear malicious. These are probably the ones who respond to
conjuring’s at séances. They probably come from Hell. Even
the chance of that happening should be sufficient to terrify away all
temptation to necromancy.
Third, there are the bright, happy spirits of dead
friends and family, especially spouses, who appear unbidden, at God’s will, not
ours, with messages of hope and love. They seem to come from Heaven. Unlike the
purgatorial ghosts who come back primarily for their own sakes, these bright
spirits come back for the sake of us the living, to tell us all is well. They
are aped by evil spirits who say the same, who speak “peace, peace, when there
is no peace”. But deception works only one way: the fake can deceive by
appearing genuine, but the genuine never deceives by appearing fake. Heavenly
spirits always convince us that they are genuinely good. Even the bright
spirits appear ghostlike to us because a ghost of any type is one whose
substance does not belong in or come from this world. In Heaven these spirits
are not ghosts but real, solid, and substantial because they are at home there.
“One can’t be a ghost in one’s own country.”
How to Outwit the Six Ghosts of Fear[2]
BEFORE you can put any portion of this
philosophy into successful use, your mind must be prepared to receive it. The
preparation is not difficult. It begins with study, analysis, and understanding
of three enemies which you shall have to clear out.
These are INDECISION, DOUBT, and FEAR! The
members of this unholy trio are closely related; where one is found, the other
two are close at hand.
INDECISION is the seedling of FEAR! Remember
this, as you read. Indecision crystalizes into DOUBT, the two blend and become
FEAR! The “blending” process often is slow. This is one reason why these three
enemies are so dangerous. They germinate and grow without their presence being
observed.
There are six basic fears, with some
combination of which every human suffers at one time or another. Most people
are fortunate if they do not suffer from the entire six. Named in the order of
their most common appearance, they are:
·
The fear of POVERTY
·
The fear of CRITICISM
·
The fear of ILL HEALTH
·
The fear of LOSS OF LOVE OF SOMEONE
·
The fear of OLD AGE
·
The fear of DEATH
All other fears are of minor importance; they
can be grouped under these six headings. The prevalence of these fears, as a
curse to the world, runs in cycles.
Breaking the cycle of fear of poverty
“Each year you shall tithe all the
produce of your seed that grows in the field; then
in the place which the LORD, your God, chooses as the dwelling place of his
name you shall eat in his presence the tithe of your grain, wine and oil, as
well as the firstlings of your herd and flock, that you may learn always to
fear the LORD, your God.” Deuteronomy 14
God
wants you to celebrate life; you shall eat in his presence the tithe of your
produce. Imagine what the world would be like if everyone did this! If we all
took time off with a tenth of the money, we made to celebrate with God and our
family and friends together. What a different world it would be. Imagine all
the celebrations you would attend. Maybe we should all strive to take a 40-day
retreat/celebration. Save your money for this! What is on your bucket list;
perhaps the Lord wants you and me to cross off some of those things in His
presence. If I were young again this is how I would budget: 10% for His
Presence (30 to 40 days’ vacation); 10% for charity/church; 10% savings and
live off the 70 percent; that is after the government takes their 50%. Imagine
if there was a fair tax……. that bequeathed everyone $5000 above the poverty
level for a family of 4 of $29,420 to
invest. A good resource for financial advice is a book entitled, “The Richest Man in Babylon”[3].
Copilot
Fear—whether spiritual,
psychological, or economic—can cloud our recognition of Christ’s presence and
distort our perception of reality. The interweaving of Matthew 14 with Kreeft’s
ghost typology and reflections on the “ghosts of fear” is a theological tapestry
where winds and waves of the sea mirror the unseen forces of dread, hesitation,
and spiritual distortion.
🌊 Walking into Fear
with Christ’s Presence
The fourth watch is such a hauntingly rich moment: deep night, exhausted
disciples, and then—Christ, striding through the chaos. His words, “It is I; do
not be afraid,” cut through not only the storm but every layer of fear we
carry. That “I am” echoes back to Exodus and forward to the
Transfiguration—it’s not just assurance, it’s revelation.
🕯️ Ghosts &
Discernment
Kreeft’s threefold typology has fascinating pastoral and mystical implications.
It almost reads like a spiritual discernment manual:
·
Purgatorial spirits: Bound to unfinished suffering, begging our
prayers.
·
Deceptive spirits:
Cloaked in comfort but echoing hollow peace—how many false consolations do we
mistake for God's voice?
·
Heavenly visitants: Truly sent, not summoned, and bearing grace.
The line: “One can’t
be a ghost in one’s own country.” There's something profoundly Eucharistic
and eschatological in that. Heaven is home; everything here is shadow until
then.
💰 Tithing & Fear of
Poverty
That Deuteronomy 14 passage is a beautiful antidote to the fear of scarcity.
Tithing as celebration—in God’s presence—is so radically different from the
idea of obligation or loss. Budgeting in “retreat time” and sacred feasting
flips the script on fear-based planning. It's fascinating to imagine a world
where spiritual joy shapes economic life. And yes—The Richest Man in Babylon
is a classic precisely because it reframes financial responsibility in terms of
discipline and dignity.
🔥 Indecision, Doubt,
Fear: The Unholy Trio
Napoleon Hill’s “ghosts of fear” resonate deeply. These mental phantoms may not
haunt halls, but they haunt hearts. And like the disciples who mistook Christ
for a ghost, we so often mistake the presence of grace for a threat, simply
because it arrives in unfamiliar form.
Lessons
Matthew 14:22–27 offers a
rich tapestry of Catholic insights—spiritual, sacramental, and ecclesial. Here
are several key lessons drawn from this passage:
🌊 Christ’s Lordship
Over Chaos
Jesus walking on the sea is not just a miracle—it’s a revelation. In Catholic
theology, water often symbolizes chaos, sin, and death. By walking on the
turbulent sea, Christ shows his dominion over all disorder. This echoes
Genesis, where the Spirit hovers over the waters, and anticipates baptism,
where Christ brings order and grace out of watery death.
🕯️ Prayer as Preparation
for Mission
Before approaching the disciples, Jesus retreats to pray alone on the mountain.
This solitude reflects his communion with the Father and models the rhythm of
Catholic life: contemplation before action. The Catechism teaches that Jesus’
prayer is the foundation of our own (CCC 2602–2604). It’s a reminder that
spiritual strength flows from intimacy with God.
🚶♂️ The Fourth Watch:
Divine Timing
The “fourth watch” (3–6 a.m.) is a time of deep vulnerability—physical
exhaustion, spiritual fatigue, and fear. Yet it’s precisely when Christ comes.
Catholic tradition sees this as a metaphor for grace arriving when we are
weakest. It’s a Eucharistic rhythm: Christ comes in the dark, in the storm, and
says, “Take courage, it is I.”
👻 Fear and
Misrecognition
The disciples mistake Jesus for a ghost. This speaks to the Catholic
understanding of fear as a distortion of truth. When fear dominates, we
misperceive grace as threat. The Church teaches that holy fear is reverence,
not terror. Jesus’ words—“Do not be afraid”—are repeated throughout Scripture
and liturgy, especially in Easter proclamations.
🪞 “It is I”: Echoes of
the Divine Name
Jesus’ declaration, “It is I” (Greek: ego eimi) recalls God’s
self-revelation to Moses: “I AM”. This is a profound Christological
moment. In Catholic theology, it affirms Jesus’ divinity and his identity as
the Son of God. The disciples’ fear is dispelled not by explanation, but by
presence.
⛵ The Church as the Boat
The tossing boat is a classic Catholic image of the Church amid worldly storms.
Christ doesn’t prevent the storm—he enters into it. This affirms the Church’s
mission: not to escape suffering, but to endure it with Christ. The boat is
fragile, but it holds together because Christ is near.
Dedication of the Basilica of Saint
Mary Major in Rome[4]
On 5
August, at the height of the Roman summer,
snow fell during the night on the summit of the Esquiline Hill. In obedience to
a vision of the Virgin Mary which they had the same night, the couple built a
basilica in honor of Mary on the very spot which was covered with snow.[5]
St.
Mary Major is important to Christendom for three reasons:
(a)
It stands as a venerable monument to the Council of Ephesus (431), at which the
dogma of Mary's divine Motherhood was solemnly defined; the definition of the
Council occasioned a most notable increase in the veneration paid to Mary.
(b)
The basilica is Rome's "church of the crib," a kind of Bethlehem
within the Eternal City; it also is a celebrated station church, serving, for
instance, as the center for Rome's liturgy for the first Mass on Christmas. In
some measure every picture of Mary with the divine Child is traceable to this
church.
(c)
St. Mary Major is Christendom's first Marian shrine for pilgrims. It set the
precedent for the countless shrines where pilgrims gather to honor our Blessed
Mother throughout the world. Here was introduced an authentic expression of
popular piety that has been the source of untold blessings and graces for
Christianity in the past as in the present.
The
beginnings of St. Mary Major date to the Constantinian period. Originally it
was called the Sicinini Basilica; it was the palace of a patrician family by
that name before its transformation into a church by Pope Liberius. The story
of its origin is legendary, dating from the Middle Ages. The Breviary gives
this version:
Liberius
was on the chair of Peter (352-366) when the Roman patrician John and his wife,
who was of like nobility, vowed to bequeath their estate to the most holy
Virgin and Mother of God, for they had no children to whom their property could
go. The couple gave themselves to assiduous prayer, beseeching Mary to make
known to them in some way what pious work they should subsidize in her honor.
Mary
answered their petition and confirmed her reply by means of the following
miracle. On the fifth of August — a time when it is unbearably hot in the city
of Rome — a portion of the Esquiline would be covered with snow during the
night. During that same night the Mother of God directed John and his wife in
separate dreams to build a church to be dedicated to the Virgin Mary on the
site where they would see snow lying. For it was in this manner that she wanted
her inheritance to be used.
John
immediately reported the whole matter to Pope Liberius, and he declared that a
similar dream had come to him. Accompanied by clergy and people, Liberius
proceeded on the following morning in solemn procession to the snow-covered
hill and there marked off the area on which the church in Mary's honor was to
be constructed.
Under
Pope Sixtus III (432-440) the basilica was rebuilt, and upon the occasion of
the definition of Mary's divine Motherhood by the Council of Ephesus,
consecrated to her honor (432). He decorated the apse and walls with mosaics
from the lives of Christ and His blessed Mother, which even to this day
beautify the church and belong to the oldest we possess. As early as the end of
the fourth century a replica of the Bethlehem nativity grotto had been added;
on this account the edifice became known as "St. Mary of the Crib."
To the Christian at Rome this church is Bethlehem. Other names for the basilica
are: Liberian Basilica, because it dates to the time of Pope Liberius; St. Mary
Major (being the largest church in Mary's honor in Rome); Our Lady of the Snow,
because of the miracle that supposedly occasioned its erection.
We
could point out how the divine Motherhood mystery dominates all Marian liturgy;
for the Theotokos doctrine has kept Mariology Christo-centric in the Church's
worship. Although recent popular devotion to Mary has become to a certain
extent soft and sentimental and has, one may say, erected its own sanctuary
around Mary as the center, devotion to our Blessed Mother in the liturgy has
always remained oriented to Christ. In the liturgy the divine Motherhood has
always been the bridge from Mary to Jesus. One need only examine Matins in
honor of Mary or the Masses from her Common to be reassured. Everywhere Christ
takes the central position, and Mary is the Christbearer. (Christopher)
—Excerpted
from The Church's Year of Grace, Pius Parsch
Patronage: Italy; diocese of Reno, Nevada;
Italy: Arzachena, Atella, Castiglione in Teverina, Conco, Rovereto, San Marco
in Lamis, Susa, Torre Annunziata; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Almagro, Spain; Utah
Highlights and Things
to Do:
- Pray
that your devotion to Mary remain solidly constructed upon dogma that is
Christo-centric, for such is the fruit of a living faith in Mary's divine
Motherhood.
- Read
this article from the Catholic Culture Library on Our Lady of the Snows.
- Find
more information see:
- Catholic Encyclopedia
- New Liturgical Movement
- My Catholic Life
- Franciscan Media
- Anastpaul 1
- Anastpaul 2
- Find
out more about the Basilica of St. Mary Major:
Fr. Mike reflects on God's presence to his people, and how that makes his chosen people distinct. Today's readings are Exodus 33-34, Leviticus 24, and Psalm 80.
Daily
Devotions
·
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting: True
Masculinity
·
Religion
in the Home for Preschool: August
·
Litany of the Most Precious
Blood of Jesus
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Rosary
[1]https://www.patheos.com/blogs/kathyschiffer/2015/04/jesus-a-ghost-what-does-the-catholic-church-teach-about-ghosts/
[3]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Richest_Man_in_Babylon_%28book%29
I ain't fraid of no ghost
Fear in the Storm Hike—combining a hike through the rugged
beauty near Jerome, AZ with a spiritual reflection on the apostles’ fear when
they mistook Christ for a ghost walking on the water. Let’s bring both elements
together:
🥾 Spiritual Hike in the
Jerome Area: A Catholic Reflection on Fear and Faith
🌄 Recommended Trail:
Woodchute Trail
- Location:
Just outside Jerome, AZ
- Length:
6.7 miles round trip
- Difficulty:
Moderate to hard
- Highlights:
Panoramic views of the Verde Valley, peaceful forested paths, and a sense
of solitude perfect for contemplation.
This trail offers a quiet, elevated setting—ideal for
meditating on the Gospel story from Matthew 14:22–33, where the
apostles, battered by wind and waves, see Jesus walking on the water and cry
out in fear, thinking He is a ghost.
✝️ Catholic Reflection: “It is I;
do not be afraid.”
“When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were
terrified. ‘It is a ghost!’ they said, and they cried out in fear. At once
Jesus spoke to them, ‘Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.’”
— Matthew 14:26–27
🌬️ Fear in the Storm
- The
apostles, many of them seasoned fishermen, were overwhelmed by the storm.
But their greater fear came not from the sea—but from the unknown.
- In
Catholic tradition, this moment reveals how fear distorts our perception
of Christ. They saw Him, but didn’t recognize Him.
👣 Faith That Steps Out
- Peter’s
response—“Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you”—is a bold act of
faith. But when he takes his eyes off Jesus and focuses on the wind, he
begins to sink.
- This
is a metaphor for our spiritual lives: when we focus on the chaos around
us, we falter. But when we fix our gaze on Christ, we walk above the
storm.
💡 Catholic Insight
- According
to Catholic
reflections, this story teaches that mature faith is not the
absence of fear, but the courage to trust in Christ amid fear.
- Jesus
doesn’t rebuke Peter for stepping out—He rebukes him for doubting. Even
“little faith” is enough to begin the journey, but it must grow through
trials.
🧘♂️ Suggested Meditative
Practice on the Trail
- Start
your hike in silence, offering the walk as a prayer.
- Pause
at a scenic overlook—perhaps halfway up Woodchute Trail—and read
Matthew 14:22–33 aloud.
- Reflect
on these questions:
- What
“storms” in my life cause me to lose sight of Christ?
- When
have I mistaken His presence for something frightening or unfamiliar?
- What
would it mean to “step out of the boat” in faith today?
- Pray
the Litany of Trust or simply repeat: “Jesus, I trust in You.”
- End
your hike with gratitude, recalling how Christ walks toward you in
every storm.
🥾 Spiritual Hike in the
Jerome Area: A Catholic Reflection on Fear and Faith
🌄 Recommended Trail:
Woodchute Trail
- Location:
Just outside Jerome, AZ
- Length:
6.7 miles round trip
- Difficulty:
Moderate to hard
- Highlights:
Panoramic views of the Verde Valley, peaceful forested paths, and a sense
of solitude perfect for contemplation.
This trail offers a quiet, elevated setting—ideal for
meditating on the Gospel story from Matthew 14:22–33, where the
apostles, battered by wind and waves, see Jesus walking on the water and cry
out in fear, thinking He is a ghost.
✝️ Catholic Reflection: “It is I;
do not be afraid.”
“When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were
terrified. ‘It is a ghost!’ they said, and they cried out in fear. At once
Jesus spoke to them, ‘Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.’”
— Matthew 14:26–27
🌬️ Fear in the Storm
- The
apostles, many of them seasoned fishermen, were overwhelmed by the storm.
But their greater fear came not from the sea—but from the unknown.
- In
Catholic tradition, this moment reveals how fear distorts our perception
of Christ. They saw Him, but didn’t recognize Him.
👣 Faith That Steps Out
- Peter’s
response—“Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you”—is a bold act of
faith. But when he takes his eyes off Jesus and focuses on the wind, he
begins to sink.
- This
is a metaphor for our spiritual lives: when we focus on the chaos around
us, we falter. But when we fix our gaze on Christ, we walk above the
storm.
💡 Catholic Insight
- According
to Catholic
reflections, this story teaches that mature faith is not the
absence of fear, but the courage to trust in Christ amid fear.
- Jesus
doesn’t rebuke Peter for stepping out—He rebukes him for doubting. Even
“little faith” is enough to begin the journey, but it must grow through
trials.
🧘♂️ Suggested Meditative
Practice on the Trail
- Start
your hike in silence, offering the walk as a prayer.
- Pause
at a scenic overlook—perhaps halfway up Woodchute Trail—and read
Matthew 14:22–33 aloud.
- Reflect
on these questions:
- What
“storms” in my life cause me to lose sight of Christ?
- When
have I mistaken His presence for something frightening or unfamiliar?
- What
would it mean to “step out of the boat” in faith today?
- Pray
the Litany of Trust or simply repeat: “Jesus, I trust in You.”
- End
your hike with gratitude, recalling how Christ walks toward you in
every storm.
