This blog is based on references in the Bible to fear. God wills that we “BE NOT AFRAID”. Many theologians state that the eighth deadly sin is fear. It is fear and its natural animal reaction to fight or flight that is the root cause of our failings to create a Kingdom of God on earth. By “the power of the Holy Spirit” we can be witnesses and “communicators” of a new and redeemed humanity “even to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:7 8). This blog is dedicated to Mary the Mother of God.
🎬 Strange Cargo (1940), directed by Frank Borzage, is a hauntingly allegorical film that blends prison escape drama with spiritual parable. From a Catholic perspective, it offers a rich meditation on grace, redemption, and the mystery of Christ’s presence among sinners.
🕊️ Summary Through a Catholic Lens
The story follows a group of convicts escaping Devil’s Island, including Verne (Clark Gable), a cynical thief, and Julie (Joan Crawford), a disillusioned saloon girl.
Among them is Cambreau (Ian Hunter), a mysterious, serene figure who gradually reveals himself as a Christ-like presence—calm, compassionate, and seemingly omniscient.
Cambreau doesn’t preach but quietly offers each character a chance at transformation. His presence unsettles the hardened men, yet draws them toward introspection and, for some, repentance.
The journey becomes less about physical escape and more about spiritual reckoning. Cambreau’s final moments—adrift in cruciform pose—evoke Christ’s sacrifice and the offer of salvation.
✨ Catholic Themes & Lessons
Christ Among Sinners: Cambreau embodies Christ’s willingness to walk among the broken, offering grace without coercion. His quiet companionship mirrors Luke 24’s Emmaus moment—recognition dawning slowly.
Free Will & Redemption: Each convict must choose whether to accept Cambreau’s guidance. Some do, some reject it—echoing the Catholic understanding of free will and the personal nature of salvation.
Sacramental Imagery: Water, light, and bread appear throughout the film, subtly evoking baptism, divine illumination, and Eucharistic echoes.
The Power of Love: Julie’s transformation from bitterness to tenderness reflects the healing power of love—human and divine. Her final union with Verne hints at the sanctification of even the most wounded relationships.
🧭 Spiritual Takeaways
Christ doesn’t force—He invites. Cambreau’s gentle presence reminds us that grace is offered, not imposed.
Redemption is possible, even in the darkest places. Devil’s Island becomes a metaphor for spiritual exile, and the journey out mirrors the path of conversion.
We are never too far gone. Verne’s hardened heart softens, not through punishment, but through encounter—an echo of the prodigal son.
Bach died 1950
Christopher’s Corner
·Beans Month bursts into July with a celebration of one of the world’s favorite and most versatile ingredient—beans!
·Eat waffles and Pray for the assistance of the Angels
§In Greek mythology, we find the rather tragic figure of Narcissus. As the story goes, he is an extraordinary young man in every possible way. But, he is aloof and rather full of himself. Anyone who falls in love with him pays a steep price because he will not love them back. Eventually, while hunting, Narcissus stoops down to the water to get a drink. He sees his own reflection and falls madly in love with it. He reaches out to grab the reflection and drowns, suffering the abysmal fate others who tried to love him did. In psychology, narcissism is described as "selfishness, involving a sense of entitlement, a lack of empathy, and a need for admiration, as characterizing a personality type." My brothers and sisters, does not this word describe our society to a T?
Then
the angel said to her, “Do not be AFRAID, Mary, for you have found favor
with God.
Mary had no fear of the world or
man, yet, when the angel appeared she was immersed in holy fear. Let us follow
Mary’s example and bravely face the day saying YES to God.
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Luke 1:30 is such a tender
moment—Gabriel’s words pierce through the mystery and awe with reassurance: “Do
not be afraid.” It’s not just comfort; it’s a divine invitation to trust.
Mary’s fear wasn’t worldly—it was
the trembling awe that comes from encountering the holy. She didn’t cower; she
listened. And then she said yes. That “yes” wasn’t passive—it was courageous,
active, and transformative. She became the first disciple of Christ before He
was even born.
Holy fear isn’t about shrinking
back—it’s about standing in reverence and stepping forward in faith.
It’s the kind of fear that leads to surrender, not paralysis.
There are some rich lessons drawn
from Luke 1:30,—each one echoing Mary’s encounter with the divine and her
courageous “yes”:
🌟
Lessons from Luke 1:30
·God’s
favor is unearned grace
Mary didn’t earn her role through merit; she was chosen by grace. This reminds
us that divine favor often comes as a gift, not a reward.
·Holy
fear is not worldly fear
Mary’s fear wasn’t of danger—it was awe in the presence of the sacred. It
teaches us to distinguish between fear that paralyzes and reverence that
awakens.
·God
calls us by name
Gabriel addresses Mary personally. This shows that God’s invitations are
intimate and specific—He knows us deeply and calls us uniquely.
·Fear
is often the first reaction to divine calling
Even the most faithful may tremble when God interrupts their plans. But the
angel’s words—“Do not be afraid”—are a divine refrain throughout scripture,
urging trust over terror.
·Saying
“yes” to God requires courage
Mary’s assent wasn’t passive. It was a bold step into mystery, risk, and
transformation. Her “yes” is a model of active faith.
·Favor
doesn’t mean ease
Mary’s path was filled with uncertainty and sacrifice. God’s favor equips us
for purpose, not comfort.
·God’s
plans often begin in obscurity
Mary was a young woman in a small town, yet she became the vessel of salvation.
This reminds us that greatness often begins in hidden places.
Saint John Marie Baptist
Vianney, what confidence the people had in your prayers! You could not leave
your old rectory or your humble church without being surrounded by imploring
souls, who appealed to you as they would have appealed to Jesus Himself during
His earthly life. And you, O good Saint, gave them hope by your words, which
were full of love for God. You, who had always counted entirely on the heart of
God, obtain for me a deep filial trust in His Providence. As the hope of divine
goods fills my heart, give me courage and help me to always obey the
Commandments of God. Holy Priest of Ars, I have confidence in your
intercession. Pray for me during this novena especially for ... (mention
silently your special intentions).
Our
Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.
Bible in a Year-Day 39 Today, Fr. Mike explains how God's heart is revealed through his
commandments, and how we are all called to a life of justice, as we read from
Exodus 22, Leviticus 15, and Psalm 76.
·Today in honor of the Holy Trinity do the Divine Office giving your day to God. To honor God REST: no shopping after 6 pm Saturday till Monday. Don’t forget the internet.
oO Glorious Queen of Heaven and Earth, Virgin Most Powerful, thou who hast the power to crush the head of the ancient serpent with thy heel, come and exercise this power flowing from the grace of thine Immaculate Conception. Shield us under the mantle of thy purity and love, draw us into the sweet abode of thy heart and annihilate and render impotent the forces bent on destroying us. Come Most Sovereign Mistress of the Holy Angels and Mistress of the Most Holy Rosary, thou who from the very beginning hast received from God the power and the mission to crush the head of Satan. Send forth thy holy legions, we humbly beseech thee, that under thy command and by thy power they may pursue the evil spirits, counter them on every side, resist their bold attacks and drive them far from us, harming no one on the way, binding them to the foot of the Cross to be judged and sentenced by Jesus Christ Thy Son and to be disposed of by Him as He wills.
oSt. Joseph, Patron of the Universal Church, come to our aid in this grave battle against the forces of darkness, repel the attacks of the devil and free the members of the Auxilium Christianorum, and those for whom the priests of the Auxilium Christianorum pray, from the strongholds of the enemy.
oSt. Michael, summon the entire heavenly court to engage their forces in this fierce battle against the powers of hell. Come O Prince of Heaven with thy mighty sword and thrust into hell Satan and all the other evil spirits. O Guardian Angels, guide and protect us. Amen.
God's blessings are indeed signs of His goodness, signs of His infinite Love. Are we indifferent to those signs of His goodness and love? Are we so unaware of His signs that we are disconnected from Him that we can take it or leave it?
·St. Pantaleon (July 27th), bishop and martyr. Invoked against consumption, protection for domestic animals and patron of physicians and midwives
JULY 27 Seventh Sunday after
Pentecost
Novena
St. John Vianney-Scotch
Whisky Day-Parents' Day
Luke, Chapter 1,
verse 13:
13 But
the angel said to him, “Do not be AFRAID, Zechariah, because your prayer
has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall name him
John.
To a Pious Jew and
especially a Levi priest the knowledge that God is so holy we dare not even say
His name. Notice frequently in the bible the angels will use the term, “Do not
be afraid”, and this is because at times we knowing our sinfulness may not feel
worthy. Feeling unworthy is a tool the
evil one often uses to discourage us from doing good works.
I have felt this fear of
being unworthy often. In the mid-seventies while still a youth in my 20’s I was
chosen to be a lay Eucharistic minister while working at the South Pole in
Antarctica by the priest that had come 900 miles to bring our Lord to us
catholic boys working I didn’t feel worthy; come on this is Richard you know;
but the Priest convinced me that it was the only way and I did want to bring
“Our Lord” to my fellow brothers in Christ.
We must remember that the evil one will sow fear in
our hearts trying to convince us we are unworthy and if we listen we become
like the man who out of fear buried his talent in the ground.
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🙏 1. Fear
as a Threshold to Grace
·In scripture, fear often precedes divine
encounter—Moses before the burning bush, Isaiah in the temple, Zechariah in the
sanctuary.
oCatholic
tradition sees this fear not as rejection, but as a reverent awe that
opens us to grace.
§The
Catechism calls this “filial fear”—a fear not of punishment, but of
offending the One we love (CCC 1831).
🛡️ 2. The
Evil One Exploits Fear
·Saints and spiritual writers warn that fear is one
of the enemy’s favorite tools.
oIt
isolates, paralyzes, and convinces us we are unworthy or alone.
§But
Christ’s repeated “Do not be afraid” is a direct counter to this lie. As one
reflection puts it: “Fear is powerful... but it’s part of the enemy’s plan
to overshadow our life with unbearable darkness”.
🌊 3.
Trust Over Terror: Peter on the Water
·Matthew 14:22–33 is a masterclass in fear and
faith. Peter walks on water until fear overtakes him.
oJesus
doesn’t scold him for stepping out—He catches him. The lesson? Faith doesn’t
mean fear won’t come; it means we know Who to reach for when it does.
🕊️ 4.
Saints Who Faced Fear
·St. Aloysius Gonzaga faced
plague, family pressure, and early death—but chose holiness over fear.
oSt.
Margaret Mary taught that nothing displeases God more than our
uneasiness and despondency. Her advice? “Let Him act!”
📖 5. Fear
of the Lord vs. Fear of the World
·Catholic teaching distinguishes between holy fear
(reverence) and worldly fear (anxiety).
oJesus
says in Luke 12:4–5: “Fear him who, after he has killed, has power to cast
into hell.” This isn’t to terrify—it’s to redirect our fear toward what
truly matters.
✨ 6.
Practical Steps to Overcome Fear
·Daily prayer and scripture meditation, especially
on verses like “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid” (Mark 6:50).
oEucharistic
Adoration, where fear meets Presence.
46. Since the Eucharist is the very
heart of Sunday, it is clear why, from the earliest centuries, the Pastors of
the Church have not ceased to remind the faithful of the need to take part
in the liturgical assembly. "Leave everything on the Lord's Day",
urges the third century text known as the Didascalia, "and run
diligently to your assembly, because it is your praise of God. Otherwise, what
excuse will they make to God, those who do not come together on the Lord's Day
to hear the word of life and feed on the divine nourishment which lasts
forever?". The faithful have generally accepted this call of the Pastors
with conviction of soul and, although there have been times and situations when
this duty has not been perfectly met, one should never forget the genuine
heroism of priests and faithful who have fulfilled this obligation even when
faced with danger and the denial of religious freedom, as can be documented
from the first centuries of Christianity up to our own time.
In his first Apology addressed to the
Emperor Antoninus and the Senate, Saint Justin proudly described the Christian
practice of the Sunday assembly, which gathered in one place Christians from
both the city and the countryside. When, during the persecution of Diocletian,
their assemblies were banned with the greatest severity, many were courageous
enough to defy the imperial decree and accepted death rather than miss the
Sunday Eucharist. This was the case of the martyrs of Abitina, in Proconsular
Africa, who replied to their accusers: "Without fear of any kind we have
celebrated the Lord's Supper, because it cannot be missed; that is our
law"; "We cannot live without the Lord's Supper". As she
confessed her faith, one of the martyrs said: "Yes, I went to the assembly
and I celebrated the Lord's Supper with my brothers and sisters, because I am a
Christian".
"Not
everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord’, . . .but he who does the will of my
Father. . .shall enter the kingdom of heaven". Not so much what one
"says" about the Lord, but how he "does" His
"Will," is what brings forth "good fruit". Deeds, not mere
words, are acceptable to God, acceptable to neighbor also. Example is the best
precept.
The
final fruit of sin is "death;" the fruit of "justice" is
"life everlasting".
The
Holy Eucharist is the "health-giving" Fruit of Calvary, our antidote
against the poison-laden Dead-Sea fruit of the world, the flesh and the devil.
IN[3] the Introit of the Mass the Church invites us to
the praise of God in the following words: “Oh, clap your hands, all ye nations,
shout unto God with the voice of joy, for the Lord is most high, He is
terrible: He is a great king over all the earth”; (Ps.xlvi. 2, 3).
Prayer. O God, whose providence
never faileth in what it doth order, we humbly beseech Thee to put away from us
all things hurtful, and to give us all things profitable to us.
EPISTLE.
Rom. vi. 19-23.
Brethren: I speak a human
thing, because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as you have yielded your
members to serve uncleanness and iniquity unto iniquity, so now yield your
members to serve justice unto sanctification. For when you were the servants of
sin you were free men to justice. What fruit therefore had you then in those
things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of them is death. But now
being made free from sin, and become servants of God, you have your fruit unto
sanctification, and the end life everlasting. For the wages of sin is death,
but the grace of God, life everlasting in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Explanation. In these words, St. Paul admonishes the Romans
that they ought henceforward to devote themselves as zealously to the service
of God as they had hitherto done to that of iniquity, because the service of
sin is death, but the service of God is life everlasting. The words “servants,
to serve”, denote the full and unconditional subjection of the Christian to
God, without walking any longer according to his own will, just as, in regard
to the state of sin, they indicate the dominion of the passions over the
sinner. There is no requirement more reasonable than that a man should labor as
much for God and his own salvation as he has labored for sin and hell. We
should, therefore, often think on the wages of sin eternal death; and when we
are tempted, ask ourselves, “What shall I gain by my lust, my in justice, my
vengeance? Ah, nothing but eternal death! And shall I, created to inherit
eternal life, shall I make myself the heir of eternal death?”
GOSPEL.
Matt. vii. 15-21.
At that time Jesus said to His disciples: Beware of
false prophets, who come to you in the clothing of sheep, but inwardly they are
ravening wolves: by their fruits you shall know them. Do men gather grapes of
thorns, or figs of thistles?
Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit,
and the evil tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth
evil fruit: neither can an evil tree bring forth good fruit: every tree that
bringeth not forth good fruit shall be cut down and shall be cast into the
fire. Wherefore by their fruits you shall know them. Not everyone that saith to
Me: Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven: but he that doth the
will of My Father Who is in heaven, he shall enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Who are meant by false prophets?
1. The world, which
promises us honors and riches, but in the end rewards our toil and labor with
disgrace and scorn.
2. The flesh, which
promises pleasures and joys, but at last leaves nothing but the bitter
reproaches of an unquiet conscience.
3. The devil, who
promises us a long life, and time for repentance, while the obdurate sinner is
cut off suddenly in the midst of his days.
4. All such evil-minded
persons as conceal their wicked purpose under the mask of virtue and honesty,
until they have entrapped unwary souls, and drawn them into all kinds of
shameful misdeeds. It is these false prophets of Satan, and wolves of hell, that
make the greatest havoc in the flock of Christ.
Why does Christ say, “every tree that bringeth not
forth good fruit shall be cut down and cast into the fire”?
He thereby warns us that
faith alone, without good works, or, in other. words, the mere desire for
heaven without the practice of virtue, will not save us. Christ says plainly, “Not
everyone that saith to Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven,
but he that doth the will of My Father Who is in heaven.” Jesus also saith, “Whosoever
shall do the will of My Father Who is in heaven, he is My brother, and sister,
and mother; (Matt. xii. 50). Endeavor, therefore, O Christian, to fulfil in all
things the will of God.
INSTRUCTION ON GOOD WORKS
What are
good works?
All actions of men which are
done according to the will of God, from love of Him, and by the help of grace.
Which are
the principal good works?
Prayer, fasting, and
almsgiving. Prayer including all acts belonging to the service of God: fasting,
all mortifications of the body; almsgiving, all works of mercy.
How many
are the works of mercy?
Two: corporal and spiritual.
Which are
the spiritual works of mercy?
Those which have for their
object the salvation of our neighbor; as,
1, to admonish the sinner.
2, to instruct the ignorant.
3, to counsel the doubtful.
4, to comfort the afflicted.
5, to bear wrongs patiently.
6, to forgive injuries and offences.
7, to pray
for the living and the dead.
Which are the corporal works of
mercy?
1, To feed
the hungry.
2, to give
drink to the thirsty.
3, to
clothe the naked.
4, to visit
the prisoners.
5, to
shelter the houseless.
6, to visit
the sick.
7, to bury
the dead.
What is necessary to render works
meritorious?
1, They must be good in themselves.
2, they must be done by the grace of God.
3, in the
state of grace.
4, by free
will.
5, with the
good intention of pleasing God.
Can we be saved without good works?
No;
for Christ says expressly, “Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit shall
be cut down and shall be cast into the fire.” And that servant in the Gospel
(Matt. xxv. 25) who neither wasted his talent nor yet traded with it, but
digged into the earth and hid his lord’s money, was therefore cast into the
outer darkness.
Saint John Marie Baptist
Vianney you were born of a deeply religious mother; from her you received the
Holy Faith; you learned to love God and to pray. At a young age, you were seen
kneeling in front of the statue of Mary. Your soul was supernaturally carried
towards the things on High. Despite the high cost, you answered your vocation!
Against many obstacles and contradictions, you had to fight and suffer to
become the perfect priest which you were. But your deep spirit of faith
supported you in all these battles. O Great Saint you know the desire of my
soul; I would like to serve God better; from Him I have received so many good
things. For this, obtain for me more courage and especially the depth of faith.
Many of my thoughts, words, and actions are useless for my sanctification and
for my salvation, because this supernatural spirit does not stir up my life.
Help me to be better in the future. Holy Priest of Ars, I have confidence in
your intercession. Pray for me during this novena especially for ... (mention
silently your special intentions).
Our
Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be
Bible in a Year-Day 39 Fr. Mike gives us the historical context around the commandments on slavery
to help us better grasp the concept of slavery in the Old Testament. Today we
read from Exodus 21, Leviticus 14, and Psalm 75.
The Babylonians of
Mesopotamia were likely the first people to distill alcohol as 2nd millennium
BC. At the time it is likely that various perfumes and aromatics were most
often distilled. The earliest records of the distillation of alcohol for the
purpose of drinking date back to 13th century Italy, where harder alcohols were
distilled from wine. Soon, the practice of distillation use spread through
medieval monasteries and was used largely for medicinal purposes, such as the
treatment of smallpox and other illnesses. Distillation spread to today’s Great Britain in the 15th
century, and the first evidence of whisky production in Scotland comes from an
entry in the Exchequer Rolls for 1494 where malt is sent “To Friar John Cor, by order of the
king, to make aquavitae”,
enough to make about 500 bottles. Whisky production later moved out of a
monastic setting and into personal homes and farms when King Henry VIII of
England dissolved all the monasteries in his country due to his feud with the
Pope, causing the monks to find a way to earn a living for themselves. However,
the distillation process in those days was much more basic than it is today,
and the whisky itself was not allowed to age, meaning it must have tasted much
rawer than it does today.
Scotch Whisky Day was
created to celebrate this alcoholic beverage in all of its glory and remind
people that Ballantine’s
is not as good as it gets!
How to celebrate Scotch Whisky Day
There are hundreds of
distilleries in Scotland you have likely never heard of that make whisky better
than you’ve ever
tried before, and this day is the day to experience them. The best part is that
not all good Scotch whiskies are expensive, so if you want to enjoy this day to
the fullest, you can order 5 or 6 miniatures—or more, if you decide to invite
people over to share the fun—and
enjoy an evening of sampling the unique whiskies Scotland has to offer. Ten-,
twelve- and even fifteen-year-old single malt Scotch whisky miniatures can be
purchased for under £5 and are sure to help you understand why this drink is
loved worldwide. and because it is usually a bad idea to drink strong alcohol
on an empty stomach, make sure you have some snacks on hand during your
whisky-tasting as well! Cheeses like Roquefort go well with many whiskies, as
does high-quality dark chocolate. If you feel like eating something more
filling, try a simple meat dish like slow-roasted pork spareribs.
There are also quite a few
films to choose from that would be perfect for this day, such as The
Angel’s Share, an acclaimed Scottish
comedy-drama about a man trying to get his life back on track after narrowly
avoiding a prison sentence. The titular “angel’s share” is what distilleries call the
portion (share) of a whisky’s
volume that is lost to evaporation during aging in oak barrels.
Parents’ Day celebrates
and recognizes the important role of
responsible parenting in everyday family life. Families are a fundamental human
institution; they are bonded by unconditional love and commitment. Parents' Day
was established in 1994 and the National Parents’ Day Coalition was developed
to support Parents’ Day by annually selecting ‘Parents’ of the Year’ at local,
national and state levels. The Coalition also provides educational
programs for parents and aims to promote the stability of family by encouraging
fidelity between husbands and wives, as well as abstinence in young people
prior to marriage. In addition to The National Parents’ Day Coalition,
other organizations use Parents’ Day to promote the traditional two parent
nuclear family model. Parents' Day is held annually on the fourth Sunday in
July.
Parents' Day Facts & Quotes
·In 2015, 3.3 million unmarried or cohabiting
couples in America had children under the age of 18. This is in
comparison to 1.2 million cohabiting couples with children in 1996. In 1960,
73% of U.S. children lived in a traditional home with two married heterosexual
parents in their first marriage. By 1980, this figure had dropped to 61%.
By 2013, 46% of children lived in a traditional home.
·All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel
mother. — Abraham Lincoln.
·By the time a man realizes that maybe his father
was right, he usually has a son who thinks he's wrong. — Charles Wadsworth,
Classical Pianist
