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SMOKE IN THIS LIFE — MAY 5
Virtue: Terror, Purification, and the Fragrance of Truth
Fragrance: Chanel No. 5 — the cold, immaculate clarity of judgment
Bourbon: Four Roses Single Barrel — floral top, fire beneath
1. The Vision That Breaks the Belt
St. Mary Magdalene de’ Pazzi is shown a soul in Purgatory — not the soft, pastel version we invent, but the furnace of divine justice. The account records:
“The sight of this soul, a prey to the most terrible torment of fire… gave our saint such a shock that the cincture which she wore around her body was rent in twain.”
Holiness does not faint.
Holiness breaks when confronted with the true cost of sin.
This is the masculine lesson:
If you saw what your compromises cost, you would tear too.
2. Chanel No. 5 — The Fragrance of Judgment
Chanel No. 5 is not sentimental.
It is architecture — aldehydes, cold florals, clean geometry, a scent built like a cathedral of light.
It symbolizes:
- Purity without softness
- Beauty without indulgence
- A clarity that exposes everything
On May 5, the fragrance becomes the counterpoint to the saint’s vision:
- The fire of Purgatory
- The ice of Chanel No. 5
- The truth that stands between them
This is the day when elegance becomes a warning.
3. The Moral Line
May 5 is not a comfort entry.
It is a confrontation.
- Sin is not abstract
- Purgation is not poetic
- God’s justice is not negotiable
The saint’s torn cincture is the masculine reminder:
Your soul is not built to carry hidden rot. Purify now, or be purified later.
4. The Ritual — Fire and Fragrance
Tonight’s pairing is symbolic, not indulgent:
- Fragrance: Chanel No. 5 — one spray on the wrist, a reminder of clarity
- Drink: Four Roses Single Barrel — floral nose, disciplined burn
- Setting: A single lamp, open window, night air, silence
Let the fragrance rise like a clean blade.
Let the bourbon burn like a truth you’ve avoided.
5. Reflection Prompts
- What sin in my life would tear the cincture if I saw its true weight?
- Where have I mistaken beauty for innocence?
- What fire do I need now so I do not face a greater one later?
- What part of my soul still smells of smoke — and needs to be washed clean?
MAY 5 Tuesday of Fifth Week of Easter
Cinco
De Mayo
John, Chapter 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.
Shalom, which means peace, is a Hebrew
salutation. Yet Christ tells us that HIS shalom is different. It is a gift of
salvation a messianic blessing.
Through the spirit we are born again, sons and
daughters of the eternal. The world and its attractions to sin lose its sparkle
to us. Yes, we may fall from time to time, but the spirit and peace of Christ
is always with us, and we rise up again.
10 things happy professionals do
before 10 a.m.[1]
Success often seems like a visionary goal — a feat
in life that’s attempted only after many strides, plenty of pitfalls and a
healthy serving of endurance. However, for those who consider themselves
fulfilled by their career, it’s not only a sense of accomplishment and an
impressive LinkedIn profile that defines their satisfaction with their work. In
fact, their overall desire to work harder and effectively doesn’t just stem
from extra zeros on their paycheck, but rather, it derives from a place of happiness.
As the old rhyme reminds, contentment isn’t a destination, but a process — and
if you’re smart, a priority for both your professional and personal life. How
do you carve in time to, well, improve your overall mood and outlook?
Here, life coaches and psychologists explain the
joint secrets happy professionals share:
1. They get enough sleep
Even if college was many
moons ago, you’ve likely pulled an all-nighter in the past year. Or you’ve been
so overworked and double-booked that you spent more time tossing and turning
than resting. For those people who wake up ready – and elated – to tackle the
day ahead, the eight hours that come before the alarm clock dings are just as
important as the minutes that follow it. As licensed therapist Melody Li explains, many workers overlook the power of a good
night’s sleep in an effort to push their minds and bodies to the limit. As
studies indicate and Li reminds, not reaping the rewards of shuteye usually
results in poor memory, difficulty problem-solving and unexplained ups and
downs. Professionals who tuck themselves into bed instead of watching Netflix
(or their favorite YouTube videos on repeat)? They wake up in better spirits.
2. They take their time
Sure, there are some
mornings that warrant that tempting snooze button, but to rise on the right
side of the bed, yoga therapist and natural health expert Dr. Lynn Anderson Ph.D., giving
yourself time to linger is key. When you feel frazzled or pressed for time,
you’ll not only make more mistakes which can bum-out your confidence levels,
but you don’t allow yourself to ease into the day’s tasks in an enjoyable
manner. “Get up early enough to relax, enjoy a cup of tea or coffee and
organize the day. Rushing and running late leads to stress and stress is like a
fire extinguisher for happiness. It’s a poisonous gas that makes a mess. Being
organized and relaxed creates happiness,” she shares.
3. They make their bed
Seems simple enough, but how
often do you leave your apartment or home in shambles? It’s easy to forget in
the hustle of the morning, but motivational speaker and workplace expert Amy Cooper Hakim, Ph.D. says there’s a sense of glee found when your living
area is prime. “A happy professional builds confidence and self-efficacy by
completing a simple chore like making her bed before heading to the office.
This act sets a ‘can do’ mindset into motion for the day. It’s an easy task to
check off the to-do list,” she shares. “When we accomplish one item on our
agenda, we are more driven to accomplish others. Also, as a double bonus, many
find it especially comforting and gratifying to climb into a made bed at the
end of a long day!”
4. They are able to see gratitude and practice humility
We all have that Wonder
Woman (or man) in our life that seemingly glides through life, experiencing it
all with ease. They’re top of their game at work, thoughtful and kind to
others, brave to their core, and overall, rather funny. If you dig a little deeper,
you’ll notice a common thread of humility in these happy-go-lucky,
positive-thinking individuals. Career coach and shamanic practitioner John Moore explains that those who exercise gratitude as
part of their daily routine tend to be more joyful, in life and in work. He
adds that research even indicates thankful people have better relationships and
more enduring psychological health.
5. They set daily goals
Yep, you read that
correctly: Happy professionals are masters of setting micro, 24/7 goals that
keep them on the right track. As career and branding expert Wendi Weiner explains, those who are
able to turnaround the best work with the best attitude take the time to plan
ahead, so they aren’t caught in a bind or a last-minute deadline that slipped
off their radar. “These are non-negotiable tasks that must be completed for
that day. The reason for this is that when you actually achieve what you set
out to achieve, that will raise the level of happiness and personal
satisfaction,” she says.
6. They communicate with others
Those people who are nearly
always smiling — and not faking it, but really grinning their heart out —
usually want to spend time with one another. Moore explains that the pull comes
from a part in our brains called the ‘anterior cingulate cortex’ which measures
social status, as well as pain and a high number of opiate receptors. “Social
exclusion registers in the brain much like physical pain. In studies, one of
the greatest predictors of happiness is the breadth of social networks,” he
says.
Even if you don’t start
chatting up a storm with your partner or your morning-hating roommate, Moore
says you’ll start the day off brighter if you, at the very least, communicate
in some way. “Happy professionals focus some of their morning time growing and
nurturing social connections. Check in with friends, meet someone for coffee,
chat up the cute barista — just start talking!” he says.
7. They keep their calendars open
It might be difficult to
tango around time zones if you have international clients, but if you can help
it, health coach Kenneth
Rippetoe recommends keeping your calendar completely free until after 10 a.m.
This gives you time to prepare for your day and be mindful of the moments
you’re giving your energy to others, instead of always being readily available.
“Practice being intentional with your time and resources. When you are
intentional, you make the choices that do align with your value system and
goals for your personal and professional life,” he explains.
8. They focus on the present and future, not the past
Ask anyone who has been able
to send away the skeletons in their closet and they’ll agree that releasing the
mistakes of yesteryear was the first step. If you find yourself dreading each
day or feeling anxious about how your career will exceed, Weiner suggests
taking a page from the notebook of joy-focused professionals who make a habit
of living in the moment and preparing for the future with a solid outlook.
“Happy professionals will concentrate their focus on the present things they
are doing and the present goals they want to achieve as well as the future
things they plan to do and/or achieve,” she explains. “Their energy will
concentrate less on regrets, and more on taking chances and risks to maximize
their happiness.”
9. They complete a task that makes them feel powerful
Perhaps it was after you ran
your very first 5K. Or landed a client that took months to romance. Or when you
finally took the plunge and checked ‘bungee jumping’ off your bucket list.
While you can’t perform one-of-a-kind feats every single day (sadly), Li
stresses the importance of completing something in the A.M. that set you up to
feel powerful throughout the day. Though every person will sing a different
tune, it’s most important that you strategize your day to make time for this
task. “For many, it’s some type of physical activity like running, swimming, or
lifting. For others, it might be solving a tricky puzzle or crossword. It could
be meditating, dancing to energetic music, or even stretching,” she explains.
“Whatever that looks like to you, spend at least 15 minutes doing something
that reinforces the strength that you hold within and carry this sense of power
with you into your day.”
10. They visualize their success
Much like amping up for the
future — whether it’s a month, a year or a decade away — psychologist and
relationship expert Anotina
Hall says happy careers are much like flourishing love affairs. To truly find
the grace and vulnerability in the positions you’re in, you have to be
courageous enough to imagine your future. As Hall explains, “Studies have shown
that by spending even a few minutes each morning to visualize your goals coming
to fruition with ease increases the likelihood of successfully accomplishing
those goals.
“See your upcoming meeting
in vivid detail, visualizing the desired outcome will help make it go well and
build your confidence!”
Copilot’s Take
Christ offers a peace the world cannot imitate—a peace untouched by
shooters, political theatrics, media agitation, or the corrosive humor of those
shaped by darker influences. His shalom is not the fragile calm that
collapses with every headline but the interior authority that steadies a man in
a culture discipled by fear. The Catechism teaches that Christ’s peace flows
from His reconciliation of man to God (CCC 2305), making it a covenant, not a
mood.
The world profits from anxiety, outrage, and instability, yet the
Christian rises each morning ordered, grateful, disciplined, and unafraid. The
“10 before 10 a.m.” habits become more than productivity rituals; they are a
quiet form of spiritual resistance. They form a man who cannot be manipulated
by noise, panic, or the emotional volatility of the age. This is the
tranquility of order the CCC calls true peace (CCC 2304).
Cinco de Mayo becomes a fitting reminder that even small forces can hold
their ground against overwhelming odds. A disciplined minority can resist a
chaotic majority. The same is true spiritually: evil seeks to destabilize the
interior life before it disrupts the exterior world. The CCC teaches that evil
distorts the good, disorders the passions, and weakens the will (CCC 1707), but
grace restores clarity, strength, and direction.
In a culture shaped by fear‑rhetoric, instability, and the influence of
evil, the disciple refuses to surrender his interior ground. He practices
gratitude, sets non‑negotiable goals, orders his environment, and guards his
time. These habits are not self‑help; they are cooperation with grace, the
daily discipline that strengthens the heart against confusion and fear (CCC
736).
The Christian does not overcome evil by matching its chaos but by
standing in the order Christ restores. Conversion, discipline, and fidelity to
grace are the weapons the CCC identifies for spiritual combat (CCC 1426–1428).
A man who lives this way becomes unshakable, not because the world is stable,
but because his soul is anchored.
Christ’s peace is not the absence of danger but the presence of
authority. It is the interior strength that allows a man to walk into a
disordered world carrying a calm that cannot be stolen. In a time when many are
discipled by fear, the Christian becomes a sign of contradiction: steady,
clear, rooted, and free.
He carries Christ’s covenantal calm into a world addicted to chaos,
overcoming evil not by force or frenzy but by fidelity, clarity, and the steady
strength of a man formed by the Spirit.
Cinco de Mayo[2]
Today
is Cinco de Mayo; sometimes referred to as Cinco de Drunko, due to the heavy
consumption of alcohol connected with the hedonistic celebration. Cinco de Mayo
is a relatively minor holiday in Mexico. However, in America it is up there
with some of our most celebrated: like the Fourth of July and St. Patrick’s Day.
The holiday has reinvented itself in America, from celebrating Mexico's win at
the Battle of Puebla, to celebrating Mexican culture, and beer, and tequila. If
we're being completely honest though, the actual meaning of Cinco de Mayo in
America is pretty lost on us, but so is the meaning of St. Patrick’s Day. Today
instead of following this hedonistic celebration try and make it to Mass today.
Things
to Do[3]: other than drinking yourself into unconsciousness
- Attend a Cinco de Mayo
Festival. Popular such festivals can be found in San Antonio, Los
Angeles, Chicago and Houston.
- Go eat or have drinks at a
Mexican restaurant.
- Make Margaritas
with Mexican tequila.
- Attend a Parade.
- Make a piñata with your
friends. Piñatas usually contain sweets or treats that fall out once it
has been smashed open.
Instruction on Intemperance[4]
“Be sober and watch.” I. Peter v. 8.
St. Peter prescribes sobriety and watchfulness as necessary means for resisting the attacks of the devil, who by day and night goes about seeking whom he may devour. Woe to those who, by reason of their drunkenness, (The term drunkard applies to any person who is caught up in the addiction cycle, whether it is drink, gambling, drugs or sex.) live in a continual night and lie in the perpetual sleep of sin! How will it be with them if, suddenly awakened from this sleep by death, they find themselves standing, burdened with innumerable and unknown sins, before the judgment-seat of God? For who can number the sins, committed in and by reason of drunkenness, which the drunkard either accounts as trifles, easily pardoned, or else, not knowing what he has thought, said, and done in his fit of intoxication, considers to be no sins at all? Will the divine Judge, at the last day, thus reckon? Will He also find no sin in them? Will He let go unpunished the infamous deeds and the scandals of their drunkenness?
He Who demands strict account of every word spoken in vain, will He make no inquiry of so many shameful, scandalous, and blasphemous sayings, of so much time wasted, of so much money squandered, of so many neglects of the divine service, of the education of children, of the affairs of home, and of innumerable other sins? Will they be able to excuse themselves before this Judge by saying that they did not know what they were doing? Or that what they did was for want of reflection, or in jest? Or that they were not strong, and could not bear much? Will not such excuses rather witness against them that they are the worthier of punishment for having taken more than their strength could bear, thereby depriving themselves of the use of reason, making themselves like brutes, and, of their own free will, taking on themselves the responsibility for all the sins of which their drunkenness was the occasion? What, then, awaits them? What else than the fate of the rich glutton who, for his gluttony, was buried in hell? (Luke xvi. 22.)
Yes,
that shall be the place and the portion of the drunkard! There shall they in
vain sigh for a drop of water. There, for all the pleasures and satisfactions
which they had in the world, as many pains and torments shall now lay hold of
them (Apoc. xviii. 7); there shall they be compelled to drain the cup of God’s
anger to the dregs, as they, in life, forced others into drunkenness. This is
what they have to hope for, for St. Paul says expressly that drunkards shall
not possess the kingdom of God (i. Cor. vi. 10). What then remains for them but
to renounce either their intemperance or heaven? But how rare and difficult is
the true conversion of a drunkard! This is the teaching of experience. Will not
such a one, therefore, go to ruin?
Bible in a
year Day 304 Life
Beyond Death
Fr. Mike focuses on the powerful theme that connects all of our
readings today- the reality of life beyond death. In the story of the martyrdom
of the seven brothers in 2 Macabees, we see how the brothers and their mother
fiercely reject the temptation to violate God's law, and boldly hold onto their
hope in the resurrection of the dead. Our readings from Wisdom also remind us
that death is not the end, because we know that eternal life is waiting for us
beyond death. Today's readings are 2 Maccabees 7, Wisdom 3-4, and Proverbs
24:27-29.
May 5 — Litany of Trust
When I fear that
peace is impossible in a chaotic world — Jesus, I trust in You
Opening Invocation
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the
Holy Spirit. Amen.
“Lord Jesus, anchor my heart.
Silence the noise that surrounds me.
Teach me the peace that comes only from Your presence.”
Reflection
There is a fear that rises when the world grows loud:
the fear that true peace is no longer possible.
Not the fear of danger itself—
you’ve lived long enough to know the world has always been violent, unstable,
and unpredictable.
The deeper fear is this:
What if the chaos around me becomes the chaos within
me?
What if the world’s instability steals my interior ground?
What if peace is a promise meant for others, but not for me?
This is the fear that keeps a man reactive instead of
rooted.
Distracted instead of discerning.
Busy instead of whole.
But Christ does not give the world’s fragile peace.
He gives His own.
The Risen Lord stands before you today with the same
words He spoke in the Upper Room:
“Do not let your heart be troubled or afraid.”
Not because the world is calm,
but because He is stronger than the world.
Peace is not the absence of conflict.
Peace is the presence of Christ.
Scripture
John 14:27
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you…
Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.”
This is not wishful thinking.
It is a command rooted in reality:
Christ’s peace is unstealable.
Petition of the Day
From the fear that peace is impossible in a chaotic
world — deliver me, Jesus.
Not because the world is stable,
but because You are.
Act of Trust
“Jesus, I place my fears, my tension, and my restless
thoughts before You.
I release the belief that I must secure my own peace.
I choose the narrow road of trust,
not because I feel strong,
but because You are faithful.
Guard my heart from the noise of the age
and root me in Your unshakable calm.”
Hospitality Cue
Choose one act that cultivates interior peace today:
silence one source of noise
simplify one decision
step away from one draining conversation
say yes to one small act of grace
Before you act, pray:
“Jesus, I trust in You.”
Let the action become the offering.
Closing Prayer
“O Christ, my Captain and my King,
teach me the discipline of peace.
Let my heart be steady,
my mind clear,
my trust unwavering.
Lead me through the world’s noise,
and make me faithful there.”
Mary, Mother of Holy Confidence, pray for us.
Saint Joseph, Guardian of Peace, pray for us.
Around the Corner Try[5]: National
Cheese Month
Alexi’s Grill
Welcome to Alexi’s
Grill, a family-owned and operated restaurant that has been a treasured Phoenix
tradition for more than a quarter-century. Opened by Christo and Connie
Panagiotakopoulos, of Christo’s Ristorante, in 1994, has since become a Midtown
Phoenix landmark and highly acclaimed fine dining establishment. Now, nearly 30
years after our founding, Alexi’s Grill is dedicated to continuing our longtime
legacy of fantastic food, outstanding service, and a welcoming, upscale
ambiance.
We are proud to have
created an ideal environment for any occasion, including business lunches,
special celebrations, and even romantic dates. Besides our dine-in and take-out
services, we also offer catering for a wide range of events. Intimate and chic,
yet decidedly relaxed, Alexi’s Grill provides a dining experience unlike any
other in the Valley.
Happy Hour
Mon – Fri, 3:00PM –
7:00PM
All-inclusive Wellness Resort in
Mexico Feels Just Like Summer Camp — With 40 Miles of Hiking Trails and Cooking
Classes
Holistic spa treatments, an
on-site culinary school, and desert hikes await.
Named one of the best destination spas in the world
by Travel + Leisure Rancho La Puerta is a special place.
Rancho
La Puerta has been family-owned and operated since 1940 and is widely
recognized as the pioneer of the 20th-century wellness movement in the U.S. In
the wake of World War II, Edmond Szekely, a Jewish Romanian scholar known as
“the Professor,” and his wife, Deborah, were forced to move south across the
border to Mexico after his immigration status expired. The couple found a scrap
of land at the base of sacred Mount Kuchumaa with a bare-bones storage shed to
live in, and not long after, Rancho La Puerta was born.
The expansive grounds span 4,000 acres, with 40 miles
of hiking trails and 32 acres of landscaped gardens.
A daily sunrise hike concludes with breakfast at the
ranch’s culinary school, set on an organic farm.
There’s a huge, diverse selection of fitness
activities and spa treatments to choose from.
The villa accommodations have private patios and
wood-burning indoor fireplaces.
·
Pray Day 4 of
the Novena for our Pope and Bishops
·
Tuesday: Litany
of St. Michael the Archangel
·
Bucket List trip[6]: The
Sword of St. Michael
·
Religion in the Home for
Preschool: May
·
Spirit Hour: "Sunset"
Michelada
Daily Devotions
·
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting: Today's Fast: Increase
in Christian Masculinity
·
Litany of the Most Precious
Blood of Jesus
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
CRY DANGER (1951)
Dick Powell • Rhonda Fleming
A lean, sardonic Los Angeles noir where an ex‑con walks out of San Quentin with nothing but a dry wit, a bad alibi, and a determination to clear his name — only to find that the truth is more dangerous than the crime.
1. Production & Historical Setting
Released in 1951, directed by Robert Parrish, shot in sharp, high‑contrast black‑and‑white on a tight RKO budget, and filmed largely on real Bunker Hill locations — a vanished Los Angeles of stairways, trailer courts, and neon‑lit bars.
The film emerges from a post‑WWII America wrestling with:
- Disillusionment with institutions — police, courts, and wartime promises
- The rise of location noir, moving crime stories out of studio sets and into real streets
- A shift toward hard, unsentimental protagonists shaped by wartime trauma
- Hollywood’s fascination with the morally ambiguous ex‑GI navigating a corrupt city
Dick Powell plays Rocky Mulloy — dry, wounded, and razor‑sharp after five years in San Quentin for a robbery he insists he didn’t commit.
Rhonda Fleming plays Nancy, the luminous but conflicted wife of Rocky’s imprisoned best friend.
Richard Erdman plays Delong, a one‑legged Marine whose humor masks desperation — one of noir’s great supporting turns.
The world is trailer parks, cheap whiskey, and the moral fog of postwar Los Angeles — a perfect crucible for betrayal.
2. Story Summary
Rocky Mulloy is unexpectedly released from prison when Delong, a disabled Marine he barely knows, suddenly provides an alibi. Rocky heads straight to Los Angeles to:
- Clear his name
- Find the real thieves
- Reclaim the life stolen from him
But nothing is clean:
- The police still think he’s guilty
- The criminals think he’s after the missing robbery money
- Nancy, the woman he once loved, is tied to the past in ways he doesn’t want to see
What follows is a taut sequence of:
- Barroom interrogations
- Double‑crosses
- Shadowed meetings in trailer courts
- A tightening noose of suspicion
Rocky discovers that the robbery money is still in play — and that the people closest to him may be the ones who betrayed him. The final confrontation forces him to choose between vengeance, truth, and the last remnants of loyalty.
3. Spiritual & Moral Resonances
A. Innocence Under Suspicion
Rocky’s suffering is unjust, but it strips him down to the essentials — truth, loyalty, and endurance.
B. Loyalty as a Costly Virtue
His fidelity to his imprisoned friend becomes the film’s moral axis, even when that loyalty wounds him.
C. Temptation of the Crooked Path
The stolen money is always within reach; Rocky refuses the shortcut that would poison his soul.
D. Wounded Men Seeking Dignity
Delong’s humor hides despair; Rocky’s dryness hides pain. Both fight to retain a shred of honor.
E. Truth Requires Sacrifice
The final revelations demand that Rocky give up the life he imagined in order to live with a clean conscience.
4. Hospitality Pairing — The Ex‑Con’s Table
- Rye whiskey neat — dry, sharp, unsentimental
- Black coffee in a metal mug — the taste of a man who’s slept in too many hard places
- Salted peanuts or pretzels — barroom rations for men who don’t linger
- Dim lamp, open window, night air — the atmosphere of a trailer court perched above a city that doesn’t care
A setting for nights when you want to examine betrayal, endurance, and the discipline of refusing the easy lie.
5. Reflection Prompts
Where am I tempted to reclaim what was taken from me by force rather than by truth?
Whose loyalty have I taken for granted — or misjudged?
What compromises look small but would bend my character out of shape?
Where do I need Rocky’s dryness, Delong’s courage, or Nancy’s honesty?
What part of my past still shadows my present — and needs to be faced without illusion?
