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Monday, October 20, 2025

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Character is Destiny-Catholic Edition 33 day prayer in preparation to All Saints to start-Sep 29

Character is Destiny-Catholic Edition 33 day prayer in preparation to All Saints to start-Sep 29
“Qui Deo confidit, omnia facere potest.” He who trusts in God can do all things.

Saturday, November 1, 2025


 Day 33: St. John the Apostle — A Saint of Loyalty, choreographed as the final ascent in your Leafing the World Behind devotional rhythm. This entry honors loyalty as the seal of character, and concludes the pilgrimage on All Saints Day, where every virtue becomes communion.


🌊 Leafing the World Behind: Day 33

Witness: St. John the Apostle
Theme: Loyalty as Love That Remains
Virtue: Loyalty
Virtue Connection: Faithfulness Without Fear
Symbolic Act: Stay with someone today—physically, emotionally, spiritually. Let your presence be your promise.
Location: A bedside, a vineyard row, a place of grief or joy—anywhere love remains when others leave.


🕊️ Introduction: On Loyalty

Loyalty is not blind—it is brave.
It is not possession—it is presence.
To leaf the world behind is to remain when others flee, to love when others forget, to stand when others fall.

Today, we do not abandon—we abide.
Loyalty, in this rhythm, is not obligation—it is Eucharist.
It is the courage to say: “I will not leave you.”


🌺 Witness of the Day: St. John the Apostle

John was the beloved disciple.
He reclined at the Last Supper.
He stood at the foot of the Cross.
He received Mary as his own mother.
He wrote of love—not as sentiment, but as sacrifice.

He did not run from Golgotha.
He remained.

John reminds us:
Loyalty is not loud—it is lasting.
It is not dramatic—it is devoted.
It is not heroic—it is holy.


🛡️ Virtue Connection: Faithfulness Without Fear

Loyalty becomes virtue when it endures through pain, silence, and mystery.
When it does not demand reward.
When it does not fear the cross.

John did not flee the suffering.
He stayed with it.
He reminds us:

Loyalty without love becomes control.
But loyalty with love becomes communion.


🕯️ Symbolic Act: Stay

Stay with someone today.
In grief, in joy, in silence.
Let your presence be your promise.

As you stay, say:

“Lord, let my loyalty be love.
Let my love be lasting.
Let my lasting be holy.”

If no one is near, pray for those abandoned.
Let your prayer be a presence.


🌟 All Saints Day: The Communion of Virtue

Today, we do not celebrate one saint—we celebrate all.
The known and unknown.
The canonized and the quiet.
The martyrs and the mothers.
The prophets and the poets.

We leaf the world behind not to escape it—but to sanctify it.
Every virtue we have practiced—mercy, courage, humility, joy—becomes communion.
Every saint we have honored becomes companion.

Today, we say:

“Lord, let my life be liturgy.
Let my virtue be vineyard.
Let my communion be complete.”


🔥 Final Reflection Prompt

Which virtue changed you most?
Which saint stayed with you?
Where will you go now—with loyalty, clarity, and love?

Write, walk, or pray with these questions.
Let St. John the Apostle—and all the saints—remind you:

Sanctity is not weakness—it is witness.
It is the strength to remain, the grace to love, the joy to become communion.

Here is a conclusion for the full 33-day plan of Leafing the World Behind, choreographed to honor the rhythm you’ve cultivated—where virtue becomes vineyard, and every saint becomes companion.


🌿 Conclusion: The Communion of Virtue

You have walked 33 days through mercy, mystery, and mission.
You have leafed the world behind—not to escape it, but to sanctify it.
You have listened to the heart, imagined with the mind, judged with clarity, and lived with character.

Each day was not just a reflection—it was a rite.
Each saint was not just a story—they were a companion.
Each virtue was not just a word—it was a way.

You have practiced:

  • Mercy with Corrie ten Boom
  • Tolerance with the Four Chaplains
  • Generosity with St. Nicholas
  • Curiosity with Aquinas
  • Hidden zeal with Thérèse
  • Gentle discernment with Francis de Sales
  • Restless aspiration with Augustine
  • Enduring excellence with Sebastian
  • Creative authenticity with Joan of Arc
  • Conscience-bound honesty with Thomas More
  • Radical respect with Damien of Molokai
  • Loyal love with John the Apostle

And so many more.


🍷 The Vineyard of Virtue

You now carry a vineyard of virtue within you.
Each row bears fruit from a saint’s witness.
Each vine is a vow.
Each harvest is a holy act.

Let your life be:

  • A Magnificat of mercy
  • A table of justice
  • A fire of joy
  • A threshold of truth
  • A dwelling of dignity

🕯️ Final Symbolic Act

Choose one virtue to carry forward.
Name it.
Plant it.
Let it become your daily act.

As you do, say:

“Lord, let my virtue be vineyard.
Let my vineyard be communion.
Let my communion be love.”


🔥 Benediction

You are not leaving the world behind.
You are leafing it into beauty.
You are not escaping the ordinary.
You are consecrating it.

Let every meal be a liturgy.
Let every task be a testimony.
Let every day be a devotion.

You are now the witness.
You are now the saint-in-the-making.
You are now the communion.




Friday, October 31, 2025


 Day 32: St. Damien of Molokai — A Saint of Respect, choreographed to deepen the rhythm of Leafing the World Behind, now moving through the terrain of Character of Destiny—where vocation becomes reverence, and respect becomes radical presence.


🌊 Leafing the World Behind: Day 32

Witness: St. Damien of Molokai
Theme: Respect as Radical Presence
Virtue: Respect
Virtue Connection: Dignity in Proximity
Symbolic Act: Touch someone today with reverence—a handshake, a blessing, a gentle word. Let it be a gesture of dignity, not distance.
Location: A hospital room, a vineyard row, a place of exclusion—anywhere where presence becomes healing.


🕊️ Introduction: On Respect

Respect is not distance—it is dignity.
It is not politeness—it is presence.
To leaf the world behind is to draw near to the forgotten, to honor the wounded, to dwell with the cast out.

Today, we do not pity—we participate.
Respect, in this rhythm, is not sentiment—it is sacrament.
It is the courage to say: “I will live among you.”


🌺 Witness of the Day: St. Damien of Molokai

Damien was a Belgian priest who volunteered to serve the leper colony on Molokai, Hawaii.
He did not visit—he stayed.
He built homes, dug graves, bandaged wounds, and celebrated Mass.
He touched the untouchable.
He became one of them.

Eventually, he contracted leprosy himself.
He said:
“We lepers.”
Not “they.” Not “them.”
“We.”

Damien reminds us:
Respect is not sympathy—it is solidarity.
It is not safe—it is sacrificial.
It is not distant—it is divine.


🛡️ Virtue Connection: Dignity in Proximity

Respect becomes virtue when it draws near.
When it does not sanitize suffering—but sanctifies it.
When it does not observe—but inhabits.

Damien did not serve from afar.
He served from within.
He reminds us:

Respect without proximity becomes pity.
But respect with proximity becomes presence.


🕯️ Symbolic Act: Touch with Reverence

Offer one gesture of reverence today.
A touch, a word, a presence.
Let it be healing.
Let it be holy.

As you act, say:

“Lord, let my respect be presence.
Let my presence be dignity.
Let my dignity be communion.”

If no one is near, pray for those cast out.
Let your prayer be a dwelling place.


🔥 Reflection Prompt

Where have you kept distance from the wounded?
What fear has kept you from proximity?
Can you name one person whose respect restored your dignity?

Write, walk, or pray with these questions.
Let St. Damien remind you:

Respect is not weakness—it is witness.
It is the strength to dwell, the grace to touch, the love to say “we.”


Would you like this formatted into your hospitality calendar or vineyard retreat guide? I can choreograph it with symbolic terrain, cellar acts, or Molokai-inspired meal pairings.

Thursday, October 30, 2025

 


Day 30: St. Thomas More — Honesty as Conscience and Crown, choreographed to complete the ascent through Character of Destiny in your Leafing the World Behind devotional rhythm. This entry honors More’s witness as the final threshold—where truth becomes testimony, and character becomes crown.


🌊 Leafing the World Behind: Day 31

Witness: St. Thomas More
Theme: Honesty as Conscience and Crown
Virtue: Honesty
Virtue Connection: Truth Without Compromise
Symbolic Act: Speak one truth today that could cost you something—status, comfort, or silence. Let it be gentle, but firm.
Location: A courtroom, a vineyard gate, a family table—any place where conscience meets courage.


🕊️ Introduction: On Honesty

Honesty is not harshness—it is holiness.
It is not bluntness—it is bravery.
To leaf the world behind is to speak truth not for victory, but for virtue.
To let conscience be crown, and clarity be communion.

Today, we do not flatter—we testify.
Honesty, in this rhythm, is not exposure—it is Eucharist.
It is the courage to say: “I die the King’s good servant, but God’s first.”


🌺 Witness of the Day: St. Thomas More

More was a lawyer, scholar, and Lord Chancellor of England.
He served with brilliance, humor, and integrity.
When King Henry VIII demanded allegiance to a false oath, More refused.
He resigned, was imprisoned, and eventually executed.

He said:
“What does it avail a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul?”

More reminds us:
Honesty is not convenience—it is conscience.
It is not strategy—it is sanctity.
It is not survival—it is surrender.


🛡️ Virtue Connection: Truth Without Compromise

Honesty becomes virtue when it is rooted in love, not leverage.
When it does not bend to power.
When it does not betray the soul.

More did not speak to win.
He spoke to witness.
He reminds us:

Honesty without conscience becomes cruelty.
But honesty with conscience becomes crown.


🕯️ Symbolic Act: Speak the Costly Truth

Speak one truth today that could cost you something.
Let it be gentle.
Let it be firm.
Let it be holy.

As you speak, say:

“Lord, let my honesty be conscience.
Let my conscience be crown.
Let my crown be communion.”

If no truth arises, pray for those silenced by fear or power.
Let your prayer be a courtroom of grace.


🔥 Reflection Prompt

Where have you compromised truth for comfort?
What truth still waits to be spoken?
Can you name one moment when honesty became your altar?

Write, walk, or pray with these questions.
Let St. Thomas More remind you:

Honesty is not weakness—it is witness.
It is the strength to speak, the grace to lose, the love to remain true.



Wednesday, October 29, 2025




🛤️ Transition: From Right Judgment to Character of Destiny

Right judgment discerns the good.
But character chooses it—again and again.
To leaf the world behind is not only to see clearly, but to live courageously.
To let every decision shape the soul.
To let every virtue become a vow.

This is the final movement of the pilgrimage:
From clarity to character.
From discernment to destiny.
From virtue to vocation.

Character of destiny is not fate—it is fidelity.
It is not a script—it is a summons.
It is the courage to say: “I was born for this.”


🌊 Leafing the World Behind: Day 30

Witness: St. Joan of Arc
Theme: Authenticity as Vocation
Virtue: Authenticity
Virtue Connection: Integrity in Fire
Symbolic Act: Speak one truth today that costs you something. Let it be gentle, but real.
Location: A battlefield, a vineyard gate, a courtroom—any place where truth stands alone.


🕊️ Introduction: On Authenticity

Authenticity is not self-expression—it is self-offering.
It is not rebellion—it is revelation.
To leaf the world behind is to live the truth you were given, even when it burns.

Today, we do not perform—we proclaim.
Authenticity, in this rhythm, is not ego—it is Eucharist.
It is the courage to say: “I am not afraid. God is with me.”


🌺 Witness of the Day: St. Joan of Arc

Joan was a teenage peasant girl who heard the voice of God.
She led armies, crowned kings, and stood alone before judges.
She wore armor when told to wear silence.
She spoke truth when told to recant.
She was burned for her authenticity—and canonized for it.

She said:
“I am not afraid. I was born to do this.”

Joan reminds us:
Authenticity is not comfort—it is calling.
It is not popularity—it is prophecy.
It is not survival—it is sanctity.


🛡️ Virtue Connection: Integrity in Fire

Authenticity becomes virtue when it costs something.
When it is not curated—but consecrated.
When it is not about being seen—but about being true.

Joan did not invent her truth.
She obeyed it.
She reminds us:

Authenticity without integrity becomes performance.
But authenticity with integrity becomes destiny.


🕯️ Symbolic Act: Speak the Costly Truth

Speak one truth today that costs you something.
Let it be gentle.
Let it be real.
Let it be holy.

As you speak, say:

“Lord, let my truth be Yours.
Let my voice be clear.
Let my courage be communion.”

If no truth arises, pray for those silenced by fear.
Let your prayer be a sword of peace.


🔥 Reflection Prompt

Where have you hidden your truth?
What fire still frightens your voice?
Can you name one moment when authenticity became your altar?

Write, walk, or pray with these questions.
Let St. Joan of Arc remind you:

Authenticity is not weakness—it is witness.
It is the strength to burn, the grace to speak, the love to obey your call.



Tuesday, October 28, 2025


 Day 28: St. Lawrence — Humor in the Face of Fire, choreographed to deepen the rhythm of Leafing the World Behind, now moving through the terrain of right judgment—where clarity meets courage, and humor becomes holiness.


🌊 Leafing the World Behind: Day 29

Witness: St. Lawrence
Theme: Humor in the Face of Fire
Virtue: Joy
Virtue Connection: Levity as Love
Symbolic Act: Laugh today in the face of something hard. Let your humor be healing, not hiding.
Location: A kitchen hearth, a vineyard row, a place of pressure—anywhere fire meets faith.


🕊️ Introduction: On Joy

Joy is not escape—it is endurance.
It is not denial—it is defiance.
To leaf the world behind is to laugh not because life is easy, but because love is stronger.

Today, we do not flinch—we smile.
Joy, in this rhythm, is not entertainment—it is Eucharist.
It is the courage to say: “Even this, Lord. Even this.”


🌺 Witness of the Day: St. Lawrence

Lawrence was a deacon in Rome, entrusted with the Church’s treasures.
When ordered to surrender them, he presented the poor, the sick, and the outcast:
“These are the treasures of the Church.”

He was sentenced to death by fire—grilled alive.
And in the midst of agony, he joked:
“Turn me over. I’m done on this side.”

Lawrence reminds us:
Humor is not irreverence—it is resilience.
Levity is not weakness—it is witness.
Joy is not distraction—it is defiance.


🛡️ Virtue Connection: Levity as Love

Joy becomes virtue when it is rooted in love, not escape.
When it lifts others, not mocks them.
When it heals, not hides.

Lawrence did not joke to avoid pain.
He joked to sanctify it.
He reminds us:

Humor without love becomes cruelty.
But humor with love becomes holiness.


🕯️ Symbolic Act: Laugh with Courage

Find one moment today to laugh in the face of pressure.
Let your humor be healing.
Let your levity be love.

As you laugh, say:

“Lord, let my joy be courage.
Let my courage be communion.
Let my communion be fireproof.”

If no laughter comes, pray for those who suffer in silence.
Let your prayer be a spark.


🔥 Reflection Prompt

Where have you feared to laugh?
What pressure still steals your joy?
Can you name one person whose humor healed you?

Write, walk, or pray with these questions.
Let St. Lawrence remind you:

Joy is not weakness—it is witness.
It is the strength to laugh, the grace to endure, the love to sanctify fire.



Monday, October 27, 2025

 


Christopher’s Corner

·         Eat waffles and Pray for the assistance of the Angels

·         Spirit Hour: As evening approaches, unwind with a cold beer in honor of National American Beer Day. Pair it with some Parmigiano Reggiano cheese to elevate the experience.

·         Foodie-7 course meal

o    🍷 Pilgrimage Table: A 7-Course Meal of Memory and Communion

·         🥣 1. Desert Broth of Clarity

o    Inspired by: Sabino Canyon and Safford’s Guadalupe Chapel

o    Symbol: “Distractions dissolve. Clarity emerges.”

o    Dish: Clear vegetable consommé with desert herbs

o    Prep Link: Vegetable Consommé Recipe

·         🫓 2. Mercy Bread with Radiant Oil

o    Inspired by: Mission San Xavier del Bac

o    Symbol: “Mercy heals, remembers, welcomes.”

o    Dish: Pan de Muerto with orange zest and olive oil

o    Prep Link: Pan de Muerto Recipe

·         🥗 3. Grassland Reconciliation Salad

o    Inspired by: Patagonia’s desert grasslands

o    Symbol: “Reconciliation begins with listening.”

o    Dish: Wild greens with raspberry walnut vinaigrette or mesquite-style dressing

o    Prep Link: Wild Green Salad with Raspberry Walnut Vinaigrette

·         🐟 4. Waters of Communion Course

o    Inspired by: Patagonia Lake

o    Symbol: “Communion flows like water.”

o    Dish: Grilled trout with lemon and desert herbs

o    Prep Link: Grilled Trout with Lemon and Herbs

·         🍇 5. Fruit of Repair Tasting Plate

o    Inspired by: Sonoita Vineyards

o    Symbol: “Repair is fruit born of pruning.”

o    Dish: Cheese, wine-soaked fruit, and bread pairing

o    Prep Link: Cheese Platter Ideas for Wine Lovers

·         🌺 6. Marian Benediction Rosary Dessert

o    Inspired by: Vineyard Rosary Walk

o    Symbol: “Mary welcomed the Word. I welcome the weary.”

o    Dish: Rosewater panna cotta or lavender flan with edible flowers

o    Prep Link: Rosewater Panna Cotta Recipe

·         🍷 7. Radiant Sending Forth Toast

o    Inspired by: El Paso Eucharistic reflection

o    Symbol: “I was reconciled. I now radiate.”

o    Dish: Wine or cider toast with a communal blessing

o    Prep Link: How to Make a Memorable Wine Toast

·         MondayLitany of Humility

Drops of Christ’s Blood     

· 

Make some Fire Cider

·         Mental health experts recommend everyone just take the day off to chill out and watch the old cartoon version of “The Hobbit”.

·         How to celebrate Oct 27th

o   Start your day by running a virtual marathon in the comfort of your own neighborhood. Challenge yourself and feel the endorphins kick in as you complete the miles.

o   Keep the Navy Day spirit going by reaching out to a former or current naval member. Show your appreciation through a heartfelt message or a simple gesture of gratitude.

o   Next, celebrate National Mentoring Day by being an encouraging mentor to someone in your life. Offer guidance, support, and wisdom to help them navigate through challenges.

o   Embrace the playful energy of Cranky Co-Workers Day by organizing a virtual game night with your colleagues. Bond over friendly competition and lighten the mood.

·         Bucket List trip[3]USA 70-degree year trip:

Dates: October 27–November 2, 2025
Theme: Memory and Communion
Route: Tucson → Las Cruces → El Paso
Style: Borderland pilgrimage with All Saints reflection, All Souls remembrance, and Eucharistic hospitality
Climate Alignment: Daily highs 70–76°F


💰 Estimated Total Cost Overview

Category

Estimated Cost

Lodging (7 nights)

$455

Food (daily meals)

$210

Fuel (~400 miles)

$80

Symbolic extras

$55

Total Estimate

$800


🌵 Day 1 – Monday, October 27

Route: Tucson → Las Cruces (~275 miles)
Symbol: Threshold of Memory
Ritual Prompt: “Memory is a threshold—crossed with reverence, held with light.”

 Day 2 – Tuesday, October 28

Location: Basilica of San Albino, Mesilla
Symbol: Saints Among Us
Ritual Prompt: “The saints walk with us—in story, in silence, in sacrament.”

  • Visit historic basilica
  • Light candles and share a saint story
  • Foodie Stop: Andele Restaurant – salsa bar and chile fare (~$20)
  • Stay: WoodSpring Suites Las Cruces (~$65)

🌌 Day 3 – Wednesday, October 29

Route: Las Cruces → El Paso (~45 miles)
Symbol: Border of Mercy
Ritual Prompt: “Mercy crosses borders—it heals, it welcomes, it remembers.”

🕯️ Day 4 – Thursday, October 30

Location: El Paso Mission Trail
Symbol: Pilgrimage of the Departed
Ritual Prompt: “The departed are pilgrims too—walking with us in mystery.”

  • Visit Ysleta, Socorro, San Elizario Missions
  • Leave prayer offerings
  • Foodie Stop: Carlos & Mickey’s – enchiladas and margaritas (~$25)
  • Stay: Super 8 El Paso (~$65)

🌺 Day 5 – Friday, October 31

Location: San Elizario Chapel
Symbol: Vigil of the Veil
Ritual Prompt: “On the eve of All Saints, the veil thins—light meets longing.”

  • Prepare vigil altar with pan de muerto and candles
  • Write a letter to the departed
  • Foodie Stop: Kiki’s Restaurant & Bar – mole and brisket (~$20)
  • Stay: Super 8 El Paso (~$65)

🌟 Day 6 – Saturday, November 1 (All Saints Day)

Location: St. Patrick Cathedral
Symbol: Communion of Light
Ritual Prompt: “All Saints shine—not alone, but together.”

  • Attend Mass and pray the Litany of Saints
  • Create a communal blessing
  • Foodie Splurge: Cafe Central – upscale send-off meal (~$35)
  • Stay: Super 8 El Paso (~$65)

🌿 Day 7 – Sunday, November 2 (All Souls Day)

Location: Cemetery or Memorial Garden
Symbol: Eternal Communion
Ritual Prompt: “In communion, no one is lost. All are remembered.”

  • Visit cemetery and share Eucharistic act
  • Write blog post: “What I carry forward from the veil”
  • Optional Stay: Hotel Paso Del Norte (~$110)
  • Foodie Stop: Simple vineyard-style meal or picnic (~$20)

Day 27: St. John Paul II — Courtesy in Dialogue and Dignity, choreographed to deepen the rhythm of Leafing the World Behind, now moving through the terrain of right judgment—where clarity becomes communion, and courtesy becomes courage.


🌊 Leafing the World Behind: Day 28

Witness: St. John Paul II
Theme: Courtesy in Dialogue and Dignity
Virtue: Courtesy
Virtue Connection: Dialogue as Dignity
Symbolic Act: Speak today with intentional gentleness. In one conversation, let dignity guide your tone more than agreement.
Location: A threshold, a vineyard table, a civic gathering—any place where words become welcome.


🕊️ Introduction: On Courtesy

Courtesy is not politeness—it is presence.
It is not performance—it is peace.
To leaf the world behind is to speak with reverence, to listen with love, to honor the dignity of every voice.

Today, we do not argue—we attend.
Courtesy, in this rhythm, is not etiquette—it is Eucharist.
It is the courage to say: “Your dignity matters more than my dominance.”


🌺 Witness of the Day: St. John Paul II

Karol Wojtyła, later Pope John Paul II, lived through war, oppression, and exile.
He dialogued with atheists, communists, artists, and youth—not to win, but to witness.
He kissed the ground of every country he visited.
He forgave the man who tried to kill him.
He wrote:
“The dignity of the human person is the foundation of a moral vision for society.”

He reminds us:
Courtesy is not weakness—it is witness.
Dialogue is not debate—it is dignity.
Speech is not strategy—it is sacrament.


🛡️ Virtue Connection: Dialogue as Dignity

Courtesy becomes virtue when it honors the image of God in every person.
When it does not flatten difference—but dignifies it.
When it does not silence—but sanctifies.

John Paul II did not speak to conquer.
He spoke to connect.
He reminds us:

Courtesy without courage becomes flattery.
But courtesy with courage becomes communion.


🕯️ Symbolic Act: Speak with Dignity

Choose one conversation today.
Let your tone be gentle.
Let your words be welcome.
Let your presence be peace.

As you speak, say:

“Lord, let my courtesy be courage.
Let my courage be communion.
Let my communion be dignity.”

If no conversation arises, pray for those whose voices are dismissed.
Let your prayer be a welcome.


🔥 Reflection Prompt

Where have you spoken without dignity?
What voice have you failed to honor?
Can you name one moment when courtesy changed a conversation?

Write, walk, or pray with these questions.
Let St. John Paul II remind you:

Courtesy is not weakness—it is witness.
It is the strength to speak gently, the grace to listen deeply, the love to honor every soul.


Would you like this formatted into your hospitality calendar or vineyard retreat guide? I can choreograph it with symbolic terrain, cellar acts, or civic meal pairings.


OCTOBER 27 Monday

 

1 Corinthians, Chapter 7, Verse 15

If the unbeliever separates, however, let him separate. The brother or sister is not bound in such cases; God has called you to PEACE.

 

Paul here is talking about the keeping of your marriage vows. If possible, you are to live in peace with your spouse but if you cannot it is better to separate but there is a stipulation you must remain chase and not remarry. We must remember our physical marriage is a sign of our eternal wedding with the Holy Spirit. Peace is the target or mark in a marriage.

 

In the military, units of archers are men who are expert at hitting a mark or target.

 

Sin is the act of violating God's will. Sin can also be viewed as anything that violates the ideal relationship between an individual and God, or as any diversion from the ideal order for human living. To sin has been defined as "to miss the mark" to have a hardened heart, a loss of love for God, a disposition of the heart to depart from God because of inordinate self-love

 

We need to live the Shema Israel. Every day, every action of ours should be metaphorically speaking target practice aiming to love God with our whole heart, mind, soul and strength. We should exemplify this with the proper attitude toward wealth and be completely occupied with good deeds and alms-giving.

 

Let us never forget that Satan does his utmost to destroy mankind. In a thousand ways he plots and wars against God and tries to usurp His throne. On this subject, the following instruction given by Our Blessed Mother to Venerable Mary d' Agreda, is worth quoting: "My daughter," she says, "by no power of human words wilt thou in this mortal life ever succeed in describing the evil of Lucifer and his demons against men, or the malice, astuteness, deceits and ruses, with which, in his wrath, he seeks to bring them into sin and later on to eternal torments. He tries to hinder all good works . . . All the malice of which his own mind is capable, he attempts to inject into souls. Against these attacks, God provides admirable protection if men will only co-operate and correspond on their part." Among the means provided by God for our protection, is the ready recourse we may have at all times to the strengthening Blood of Christ. "This Blood," declares St. John Chrysostom, "has the power to drive away the evil spirits and to draw to our side the good angels, aye, the King of Angels, and to blazen the way to Heaven." Fortified by the Precious Blood, let us place ourselves under the leadership of St. Michael and unfurl everywhere the banner of our Faith, without fear of godlessness. If Satan tries to induce us to sin, and promises honors, riches, happiness on conditions that we omit a good work, or commit an evil deed, let us ever oppose the tempter with the energetic words: Who is like unto God? God is my only treasure, my highest Good, His Blood is upon me, and "though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil." If in time of temptation, we have the courage to rebuke the evil one and call upon the assistance of our leader, St. Michael, the enemy will surely be put to flight. But if we wish to enjoy the great Archangel's protection, we must also imitate his virtues, particularly his humility and his zeal for God's glory.

 

"O great St. Michael, take us 'neath thy shield, Thy mighty power in our favor wield!"[1]

 

Copilot’s Take

 

Paul’s teaching in 1 Corinthians 7:15 reminds us that peace is the divine aim in every relationship, especially within marriage. When unity is no longer possible, separation may be permitted—not as a failure, but as a faithful response to God’s higher calling. Like archers trained to hit a mark, we are summoned daily to aim our hearts toward love, fidelity, and spiritual alignment. Sin, then, is not just rebellion—it is missing that sacred target. To live the Shema is to make every action a form of target practice, loving God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Against the cunning of Satan, we are fortified by the Precious Blood of Christ and the leadership of St. Michael, whose humility and zeal we must imitate. Let us unfurl the banner of faith, rebuke temptation with courage, and walk in peace, knowing that God is our highest good and our eternal aim.

 

Bible in a Year Day 113 Broken Trust


In today's readings, we learn how Doeg the Edomite betrayed David, the priests, and the Lord. Fr. Mike explains that betrayal is painful because our hearts are deeply wounded when trust is broken. Today we read 1 Samuel 21-22 and Psalm 52.

Theodore Roosevelt's birthday Oct 27th (1858)

Enthusiasm-Teddy Roosevelt. We need to be enthusiastic about all things that God wills for us. John McCain in his book “Character is Destiny” points out that to have a creative mind we must be enthusiastic. John’s example of a man filled with enthusiasm is that of President Theodore Roosevelt.

McCain says of President Roosevelt:

 

        He led one of the most eventful lives in American history and did it all with the delight and eagerness of a six-year-old boy. Yet he was not afraid of work: library shelves would eventually groan under the weight of his forty books, many of them with multiple volumes. Besides being a writer and politician, he was also a warrior during the Spanish American war and led a charge up San Juan Hill.

 

        Roosevelt was sickly as a boy. He was small, terribly nearsighted, and plagued by asthma that left him chronically breathless. His father, who was the greatest influence on his life, and whom he loved more than any other, took him for carriage rides in the evenings so that the cool night air might restore regular breathing to his gasping child. Despite the crowded duties of the respected and civic-minded reformer, the older Roosevelt never deprived his son of loving attention. He calmed his fears, and encouraged him to defy his physical handicap, build his willpower, and strengthen his body. The dutiful son complied, and pushed himself with exercise, sports, and sheer bloody-minded determination to begin his lifelong crusade to become a vigorous, exuberant outdoorsman. He swam and fished and hunted and rowed and hiked and rode on horseback whenever he could. His mind was as eager as was the body he willed to health.

 

        Theodore as a young “Harvard” man had a romantic temperament, but he was a scrupulously moral young man. He did not smoke or drink and would never offend God and womankind by pressing unseemly affections on a young lady. And he could not abide, under any circumstances, indolence. He always thought “My duty is clear—to study well and live like a brave Christian gentleman.” He spent a few weeks before the start of his junior year living in Maine’s north woods with a rugged outdoorsman, lumberjack, and hunting guide, Bill Sewall, who became his lifelong friend. He was still a skinny kid, with thick spectacles. His constitution looked fragile to those who didn’t know him, but he impressed the older man immediately, carrying as much in his pack on their hunting trip as Sewall, sharing the chores, keeping the pace in their canoe, hiking for endless distances through all kinds of weather, swimming in freezing water, and falling exhausted into sleep beneath the stars.

 

Theodore Roosevelt (1901–1909)[2]

Teddy Roosevelt was a determined guy, and when it came to dinnertime, he made sure that his favorite comfort foods were a priority. Pigs in blankets, turtle soup and fried chicken smothered in white gravy kept him running—that and plenty of coffee, sweetened with as many as seven lumps of sugar!

 

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

·         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



[3] Schultz, Patricia. 1,000 Places to See Before You Die: A Traveler's Life List Workman Publishing Company. Kindle Edition.  


Domus Vinea Mariae

Domus Vinea Mariae
Home of Mary's Vineyard

Bourbon & Cigars

Bourbon & Cigars
Smoke in this Life not the Next