ICEMANforChrist
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.
Prayers-Devotions-Information
- Stations of the Cross: Thursday before First Frida...
- Prayer for the Troops
- German Rosary
- You Need to Pray for those in Authority
- Iceman's Total Consecration to St. Joseph
- World Peace Rosary
- Character is Destiny
- Long Breastplate of St. Patrick
- The Manhood of the Master
- 54 Day Rosary
- Rosary
- Morning offerings plus four daily prayers(0900/1200/1500/1800 hours) that will change your life.
- Angelus
- Saturday Litany of the Hours Invoking the Aid of Mother Mary
- Angelic Examination of Conscience
- 40 Days to Freedom from the Devil
- Prayers of Reparation to the Holy Face
- Universal Man Plan (Phase III) "The St. Peter"
- An Hours Adoration before the Blessed Sacrament
- Universal Man Plan (Phase 2) "The St. George"
- 90 Days to Peace
- INTO THE BREACH
- Explanation of the Traditional Latin Mass
- First Friday
- Divine Mercy Novena
- Shoulder Wound of Christ
- Angelic Choirs Devotion
- Rosary the Roadmap of Salvation
- Universal Man Plan (Phase 4) The "St. Joseph"
- Novena of St. Joseph
- Time is a Gift from God
- Devotion to the Seven Joys and Sorrows of St. Jose...
- Novena to Pray for Strength, Humility and Resolve for Our Bishops
- Eucharistic Stations of the Cross
- Spiritual Warfare
- Iceman's 33 days to Eucharistic Glory
- EVENING DEVOTIONS Goffine's Devout Instructions, 1...
- Liturgy of the Hours
- Quo Vadis (Where are you going?)
- Fitness Fridays
- Chaplet of Divine Mercy
- Nineveh 90
- Peace through Strength
- Iceman's 40 hour devotion
- Our Lady of Sorrows: September Devotion
- Auxilium Christianorum
- Prayers Before and After Mass
- Total Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary
- Patrolman's Fraternity of St. Michael
- PRAYER FOR HEALING THE FAMILY TREE
- Renewal of Baptismal Vow
- Prayer before Mass
- Novena to the Holy Face
- Chronological Order of the Bible
- An Offering to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Universal Man Plan (Phase 1) "The St. Ignatius"
- A Method of Hearing Mass Spiritually
- Operation-Purity
- First Saturday Devotion
- Militia of the Immaculata
- Daily: Seven Sorrows of Mary
Featured Post
Thursday, July 10, 2025
Full Buck Moon According to the almanac today we are having a Full Buck Moon; plan to spend some time, if you are not a hunter, out hi...

Wednesday, July 16, 2025
- Bucket List Trip: “The World” next port of call: La Valletta, Malta
- Spirit Hour: Today is National Cherry Day-have a Kirshwasser
- Foodie-Maltese Bragioli
- Eat it while watching the “Maltese Falcon” and a red wine
· Snakes in a Blanket
o "Bite them before they bite you!"
· Catholic Recipe: Carmelite Sundaes
Meekness is stronger than Belligerence
· Let Freedom Ring Day 10
o In common usage, a belligerent person is one who looks for and pursues reasons to stir trouble and engage in violent revenge. The father of belligerence is none other than he who fomented the first ever revolution against God: the devil.
· Eat your Spinach-National Spinach Day
· Watch Oppenheimer-National Atomic Veterans Day
JULY 16 Wednesday
Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Matthew,
Chapter 15, verse 32
Jesus summoned his disciples and said, “My heart is moved with pity for the crowd, for they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, for FEAR they may collapse on the way.”
This chapter of Matthew records the feeding of the four thousand. Some would say that God has no fear but here we see that Christ was afraid for the welfare of the multitude. He knows our needs and is concerned for them. After all, “I am the good shepherd… I know my sheep, and mine know me.” (John 10:14)
Christ knows that even if our hearts desires are in the right place and we have perfect self-control we must acknowledge the legitimate needs of the body. We are both spirit and body; the perfection of the creator, which the fallen angels despise. We must care for because; both are the gift of God.
Christ says, “They have been with me now for three days and have had nothing to eat”. I suggest that we follow His advice starting this week if we can participate in Mass sometime during our midweek so we may not collapse along the way.
I also suggest now would
be a good time to look for a retreat of three days in which you can be with the
Lord knowing He will not send you away hungry.
Copilot
Matthew 15 offers
profound lessons on fear when read through a Catholic lens—especially in the
encounter between Jesus and the Canaanite woman (verses 21–28). While the
chapter begins with a confrontation over ritual purity, it crescendos into a
deeply human and theological moment that reveals how fear, faith, and
persistence intersect.
Here are the key
lessons on fear from this chapter:
🙏 1. Fear Can Drive Us to Faith
The Canaanite woman’s
plea—“Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a
demon”—is born of desperation and fear. But instead of paralyzing her, fear
propels her toward Christ.
·
Catholic
insight: Fear,
when rightly ordered, can be a holy fear—a recognition of our need for God’s
mercy. The Catechism speaks of “filial fear,” not servile dread, as a gift of
the Holy Spirit (CCC 1831).
·
Her
fear for her daughter’s well-being becomes a channel for grace, not a barrier
to it.
🕊️
2. Fear Is Transformed by Humility and Persistence
Jesus initially appears
to ignore her, then rebuffs her with a harsh metaphor. Yet she persists,
humbling herself: “Even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from their masters’
table” (v. 27).
·
Lesson: Fear of rejection or humiliation
doesn’t deter her. She models the kind of bold humility that Catholic tradition
sees in the saints—those who trust in God’s mercy more than they fear human
judgment.
·
St.
John Chrysostom
noted that her persistence was not prideful but reverent, a form of “reverent
boldness” that pleases God.
🧎
3. Fear Is Not the Final Word—Faith Is
Jesus ultimately
praises her: “O woman, great is your faith!” (v. 28). Her fear gave way to
faith, and her faith led to healing.
·
Catholic
reflection: This
moment echoes the teaching that faith is perfected in love (cf. 1 John 4:18:
“Perfect love casts out fear”). The woman’s love for her daughter and trust in
Jesus overcame her fear of being an outsider.
·
Her
story is a foretaste of the Church’s universal mission—extending salvation
beyond Israel to all nations.
🧠
4. Fear of the “Other” Is Challenged
The disciples want to
send her away. Jesus’ initial silence and the metaphor of “dogs” reflect the
cultural and religious boundaries of the time.
·
Catholic
interpretation:
This scene challenges the fear of the outsider. Jesus’ eventual response shows
that divine mercy transcends human prejudice.
·
As
Fr. John Bartunek writes, “Love, faith, and humility: these are the secret
ingredients for prayer that moves the heart of God—even a prayer as simple as,
‘Lord, help me’”.
🕯️
5. Fear of Silence Is Met with Divine Presence
Jesus’ silence is
striking: “He answered her not a word” (v. 23). In Catholic spirituality,
silence is not absence—it’s invitation.
·
Lesson: Fear of divine silence is real,
but it can be a test of faith. The woman doesn’t interpret silence as
rejection. She stays.
·
This
echoes the experience of many saints—St. Teresa of Calcutta, for example—who
endured long periods of spiritual dryness yet remained faithful.
✝️
Summary Table
Fear
Experienced |
Response
Modeled by the Woman |
Catholic
Insight |
Fear
for her child |
Persistent
intercession |
Holy
fear leads to deeper faith |
Fear
of rejection |
Humble
boldness |
Faith
is perfected in love |
Fear
of silence |
Continued
pleading |
Silence
can be a test of trust |
Fear
of being an outsider |
Acceptance
of her place |
God’s
mercy transcends boundaries |
Catholic Retreats[1]
To drop everything for a
weekend and spend time in solitude (and maybe silence!), prayer and reflection
is the perfect antidote to our busy, distracted lives. As we look forward to a
frenetic holiday season, with Thanksgiving around the corner, this may be the
perfect time for a spiritual retreat. If things are a little too busy now,
consider scheduling a retreat after Christmas, when you are ready to make the
most of it.
Spiritual retreats are not
just for priest and religious. In fact, the United States
Council of Catholic Bishops
urges lay people to take advantage of opportunities to go on a retreat: “In the
midst of your busy lives, a retreat opportunity affords you time of silence and
clarity that cannot be found in the world.”
These 12 Catholic retreat
centers offer all that, and more – each is a beautiful setting that will
inspire you and put you in the perfect frame of mind a fruitful spiritual
repose.
1. The Eastern Point Retreat House in Gloucester, Massachusetts
Eastern Point Retreat House
Located in an old stone
mansion overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, the Eastern Point Retreat House offers
Jesuit retreats based on the exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola.
2. New Camaldoli Hermitage in Big Sur, California
Courtesy of New Camaldoli Hermitage
Since 1958, the monks of
New Camaldoli Hermitage, have welcomed guests to experience the peace their
location, overlooking the Pacific Ocean affords their Benedictine community
every day. [Note: Due to extensive repairs to Highway 1 necessitated
by a major rockslide, access to the Hermitage is currently somewhat limited,
but they are welcoming guests again.]
3. The Shrine of Saint Therese of
Lisieux in Juneau,
Alaska
Courtesy of The Shrine of Saint Therese of Lisieux
At this national
shrine operated by
the Catholic Diocese of Alaska, retreatants come to enjoy the natural beauty of
the oceanside location, and the freedom from modern distractions. Depending on
their preference, guests can stay in log cabins or a small hermitage with no
running water or electricity.
4. The Monastery of Bethlehem in Sullivan County, New York
Courtesy of Monastery of Bethlehem
Located in the Catskill
Mountains two and a half hours from New York City, the Monastery of Bethlehem
offers beauty, silence and solitude from its location amidst acres of forest.
“The colors of the hills and the stillness of the lakes offer rest and relief
to weary spirits,” promise the monastic sisters who operated the retreat
center.
5. St. Joseph’s Abbey in Spencer, Massachusetts
Courtesy
of Saint Joseph's Abbey
The community of Trappist monks at St. Joseph’s Abbey
invites guests to get a taste of the monastic life at this beautiful bucolic
setting. Retreatants are welcome to join the monks for the Liturgy of the Hours
and for Mass, and at conferences given by the monks.
6. Cormaria in Sag Harbor, New York
Courtesy of Cormaria
Cormaria is a Catholic
Retreat House set on 18 waterfront acres in the historic whaling village of Sag
Harbor, New York. The Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary consider
inclusive hospitality their vocation and invite guests of all denominations to
“come away and rest a while.”
7. Villa Maria del Mar in Santa Cruz, California
Courtesy of Villa Maria del Mar
Villa Maria del Mar, a
beachfront property overlooking Monterey Bay in the Pacific Ocean, is owned and
operated by the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary.
8. Serra Retreat in Malibu, California
Courtesy of Serra Retreat
Located on top of a
26-acre knoll in Malibu, overlooking the Pacific Ocean, and with views of the
Santa Monica Mountains, the Serra Retreat is a place of uncommon beauty.
Operated by the Franciscan Friars, the retreat center offers private retreats
and themed retreats, including those based on the 12-step recovery program.
9. Loyola on the Potomac in Faulkner, Maryland
Courtesy
of Loyola on The Potomac
This Jesuit retreat house overlooks the Potomac River and is
surrounded by 235 acres of rolling woodland. Ignatian weekend retreats are
available.
10. Our Lady of the Oaks Retreat
House in Grand
Coteau, Louisiana
Courtesy
of Our Lady of the Oaks
Guests at the Jesuit-run Our Lady of Oaks Retreat House
enjoy sitting in the shade provided by old oak trees in the central courtyard
of the beautiful Spanish mission style estate. Retreats are based on St.
Ignatius’ spiritual exercises.
11. Saint Meinrad Archabbey in St. Meinrad, Indiana
Founded by monks from
Einsiedeln Abbey in Switzerland in 1854, Saint Meinrad Archabbey offers a
beautiful and tranquil spot for prayer and spiritual growth. Benedictine monks
lead three-day retreats during the weekends and during the week.
12. Longlea
Conference Center
in Boston, Virginia
Located on 843 acres next
to the scenic Blue Hills of Virginia, Longlea offers silent retreats conducted
by priests of Opus Dei for either men or women. Mothers with young babies are
welcome — each year two retreats are designated to accommodate infants.
Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel[2]
THE Church celebrates on this day the feast of the Scapular of Mount Carmel. The scapular, which derives its name from the Latin word scapula’s, meaning shoulders, is a dress which covers the shoulders. It is mentioned in the rule of St. Benedict as worn by monks over their other dress when they were at work, and it now forms a regular part of the religious dress in the old Orders. But it is best known among Catholics as the name of two little pieces of cloth worn out of devotion to the Blessed Virgin over the shoulders, under the ordinary garb, and connected by strings. The devotion of the scapular, now almost universal in the Catholic Church, began with the Carmelites. The history of its origin is as follows: During the thirteenth century the Carmelite Order suffered great persecution, and on July 16, 1251, while St. Simon Stock, then general of the Order, was at prayer, the Blessed Virgin appeared to him, holding in her hand a scapular. Giving it to the saint, she said,” Receive, my dear son, this scapular of thy Order, as the distinctive sign of my confraternity, and the mark of the privilege which I have obtained for thee and the children of Carmel. It is a sign of salvation, a safeguard in danger, and a special pledge of peace and protection till the end of time.” “Whosoever dies wearing this shall be preserved from eternal flames.” It is much to be wished that people should everywhere join this confraternity, for the honor of Mary and for the salvation of souls, by a life fitted to that end. In order to have a share in the merits of the sodality every member must:
·
Shun
sin, and, according to his state of life, lives chastely.
·
Say
every day, if possible, seven times, Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be to the
Father.
·
Strive
to serve God by venerating Mary and imitating her virtues. These rules, it is true, are not
binding under penalty of sin, but the breach of them deprives us of all merit;
and is not this something to be taken into account? “He who soweth sparingly
shall also reap sparingly.” (n. Cor. ix. 6).
Things to
Do[3]
·
If you have not already done so, have a priest enroll
you in the Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, or popularly known as the
"Brown Scapular" and begin wearing it as a sign of your love for Our
Lady.
·
Wearing the Brown Scapular is not an automatic
guarantee of salvation. It is not a magical charm, nor is it an excuse to live
in a way contrary to the teachings of the Church. (see Catechism,
no. 1670.)
·
See the Directory
on Popular Piety the
Brown Scapular is included in the document as a wonderful pious practice.
The history of Marian piety also includes "devotion" to various
scapulars, the most common of which is devotion to the Scapular of Our Lady of
Mount Carmel. Its use is truly universal and, undoubtedly, it is one of those
pious practices which the Council described as "recommended by the
Magisterium throughout the centuries."
·
Pope John Paul II has worn the scapular for a
long time. See the Holy Father's talk on the Scapular
of Carmel, A Treasure for the Church.
·
For the definitive treatment on the brown
scapular, read The Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel: Catechesis and Ritual.
·
The Blessed Virgin's scapular should remind us
that Christians have an apostolate against current extremes and extravagances
in modes of dress. Clothes are a symbol of the person. Like the Christian
heart, dress must be chaste and simple, for one judges the interior from the
exterior. It should not be necessary to add that special attention be given
this matter when preparing for church attendance. Examine yourself on how well
you reflect Christian modesty in your dress and if you are a parent, how well
you ensure that your children are modestly dressed.
·
In New York City in East
Harlem is one of the oldest festivals in America for Our Lady of Mount
Carmel. See Our
Lady of Mount Carmel Shrine of East Harlem – since 1881. Also Williamsburg in Brooklyn, NY
annually holds the Festival of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel and St. Paulinus of Nola
(Festa Del Giglio). It is unique to see a scene that one would expect in Europe
unfolding on the street of a major East coast city. You can view a You Tube
clip right here. Also look around your area for Italian
parishes, maybe one named after Our Lady of Mount Carmel? Many times, the
parish will host wonderful festivals in her honor.
·
Watch this You Tube
video to learn more about devotion to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel.
·
From the Catholic Culture library, the
Scapular Devotion, a description of Different
Kinds of Scapulars, The
Brown Scapular and information on the
Scapular Medal.
·
Learn more about St.
Simon Stock and the Brown Scapular.
Scapulars and Medals[4]
Medals
have been part of Catholic life since the early centuries of the Church. The
most popular is the cross; even Protestants wear crosses minus the corpus while
Catholics wear a crucifix. It is also noted that in the miraculous image of Our
Lady of Guadalupe she is wearing a cross about her neck. We wear scapulars,
too, which are mini habits of the religious orders. Pope John Paul II said that
the scapular is a powerful precisely because it is a “habit” in every sense of
the word, both a uniform and a pattern of good belief and good behavior. Since
1910, Catholics have been permitted to wear a scapular medal in place of a
cloth scapular.
Mount
Carmel Coffee[5]
This coffee ice is cool
and refreshing for this summer feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
Stir the sugar into the
warm water until it is melted and add the lemon juice, stirring for about five
minutes. Add the coffee, strain, place in a freezing tray, and freeze, stirring
frequently, until it becomes a mush.
- 3/4
cup sugar
- 2
cups warm water
- 1/2
cup lemon juice
- 2
cups strong coffee
Serve the ice slush in
glasses, topping the glasses of ice with any of the following:
- whipped cream (add vanilla, sugar, almond extract, etc.)
- liqueurs (Amaretto, Kahlua, Baileys, etc.)
- chocolate curls or small pieces
- candied citrus peel
Bible in a
Year-Day 27
Today we begin our journey in Egypt and Exodus as Fr. Mike reads about the
birth of Moses, and the connection between burnt offerings and the sacrifice of
the mass. Today's readings are Exodus 1-2, Leviticus 1, and Psalm 44.
Today
is National Hot Dog Day[6]
National Hot Dog Day seeks
to appreciate hotdogs. The National Hot Dog and Sausage Council created
the National Hot Dog Day to honor the all-American hot dog. The first
National Hot Dog Day was held in 1991, where a hot dog luncheon was served on
Capitol Hill. Since then, it has become tradition to serve hot dogs to
Capitol Hill staffers, lawmakers, agency officials and baseball legends.
Frankfurters, which are very similar to hot dogs, originated in Frankfurt,
Germany. In the 1880s, Antonoine Feuchtwanger began to sell hot dogs in
St. Louis, Missouri. Eventually by the 1890s, it is believed that Chris
von der Ahe, a German immigrant who owned the St. Louis Browns, began to sell
hotdogs at baseball games. Since then, hotdogs have been deeply rooted in
American baseball culture. To honor the association between baseball and
hotdogs, the American Meat Institute invites baseball players to attend the
annual hotdog luncheon on Capitol Hill during National Hot Dog Day on July
23rd.
National Hot Dog Day
Facts & Quotes
·
The
Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine has stated that hotdogs contain
carcinogenic (cancer
causing) compounds, are high in fat, cholesterol and salt.
·
In
fact, a recent study by the Harvard School of Public Health has
found that a single daily serving of processed meat can increase the risk of
colorectal cancer by 21%. These will kill you quicker than Covid 19!
Note: Los Angeles residents consume more hotdogs than any
other city. You are what you eat. Need we say more!
·
According
to the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council, the proper etiquette required to
eat a hotdog is finish the hot dog in five bites. In the case of a
foot-long wiener, only seven bites are appropriate.
·
Across
the United States, consumers spent more than $2.5 billion on hot dogs in 2014.
In 2014, Los Angeles consumed more than 39 million hotdogs.
·
Every
year on July 4th, Nathan's Famous Hot Dogs hosts a hot dog eating contest in
which contestants must consume as many hot dogs as possible in 10 minutes. The
current male record holder ate 69 hot dogs while the female record holder
inhaled 45 hot dogs in only 10 minutes.
·
A
hot dog at the ball game beats a roast beef at the Ritz. - Humphrey Bogart,
Famous 1940s actor.
Every Wednesday is
Dedicated to St. Joseph
The Italian culture has
always had a close association with St. Joseph perhaps you could make
Wednesdays centered around Jesus’s Papa. Plan an Italian dinner of pizza or
spaghetti after attending Mass as most parishes have a Wednesday evening Mass.
You could even do carry out to help restaurants. If you are adventurous, you
could do the Universal Man Plan: St. Joseph style. Make the evening a family
night perhaps it could be a game night. Whatever you do make the day special.
·
Devotion to the 7 Joys and Sorrows of St.
Joseph
·
Do the St.
Joseph Universal Man Plan.
·
Total Consecration
to St. Joseph Day 7
A
Prayer Before Mass (Wednesday) (by Saint Ambrose)
Catholic
Online Prayers
Mindful then, O Lord, of Thy worshipful Passion, I approach Thine Altar, sinner though I am, to join in the offering unto Thee that Sacrifice which Thou hast instituted and commanded to be offered in remembrance of Thee for our well-being. Receive it, I beseech Thee, O God most High, for Thy holy Church, and for the people whom Thou hast purchased with Thine own Blood. Let not, through my unworthiness, the price of their salvation be wasted, whose saving Victim and Redemption Thou didst Thyself vouchsafe to be. Also behold in pity, O Lord, the sorrows of Thy people, which I bring before Thee; the perils of Thy servants; the sorrowful sighing of prisoners; the miseries of widows and orphans, and all that are desolate and bereaved; the necessities of strangers and travellers; the helplessness and sadness of the weak and sickly; the depressions of the languishing; the weakness of the aged and of children; the trials and aspirations of young men; and the vows of virgins.
Daily
Devotions
·
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting: For
the Poor and Suffering
·
Litany of the Most Precious
Blood of Jesus
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Rosary
[1]https://aleteia.org/2017/09/15/10-breathtakingly-beautiful-catholic-retreats/#:~:text=12%20Catholic%20retreats%20held%20in%20the%20most%20beautiful,Serra%20Retreat%20in%20Malibu%2C%20California%20...%20More%20items
[2] Goffine’s Devout Instructions,
1896
[4] Hahn, Scott, Signs of Life; 40
Catholic Customs and their biblical roots. Chap. 36 Scapulars and
Medals.
[5]https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/recipes/view.cfm?id=91
Tuesday, July 15, 2025
Candace’s Corner
· Linda Ronstadt, born on July 15, 1946
o Note when the Iceman (Dad) was in Fort Huachuca, AZ he received an award from Linda’s brother who was the Chief of Police for Tucson for his Crime Prevention Unit which was selected as the Best in the State of Arizona.
· 10 coolest summer getaways in Arizona: Mountains, lakes and a chilly cave trek
· fast- Marian devotion, protection, and contemplation-Mount Carmel
· St. Anthony Novena 5-on thirteen consecutive Tuesdays.
· Pray Day 7 of the Novena for our Pope and Bishops
· Foodie: National Eggplant Month
o Today is National Orange Chicken Day
· Novena to Our Lady of Mount Carmel-Day 9
· Bucket List: Vineyard World Tour:
· Spirit Hour: after six cocktail
JULY 15 Tuesday-Memorial of Saint Bonaventure, Bishop
St. Swithun
Exodus, Chapter 2, Verse 13-14
13The
next day he went out again, and now two Hebrews were fighting! So, he asked the
culprit, “Why are you striking your companion?” 14But
he replied, “Who has appointed you ruler and judge over us? Are you thinking of
killing me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses became AFRAID and thought, “The affair must certainly be known.”
Moses was a prince of Egypt and a Hebrew. Moses as a man sought justice for his Hebrew brothers and in a fit of anger killed an Egyptian that was brutalizing a Hebrew slave and secretly buried him in the sand. Secrecy is a key element in knowing your own sinfulness. When we find ourselves wanting to keep something secret, we should ask ourselves are we going down a road that we want to go; is this secrecy that we desire really an attempt to hide our sinfulness from God; who sees all things. Think twice the next time you seek secrecy.
What does the
Bible say?[1]
1.
Proverbs 28:13 “If you hide your sins, you will not succeed. If you confess and
reject them, you will receive mercy.” (mercy verses)
2.
Psalm 69:5 “God, you know what I have done wrong; I cannot hide my guilt from
you.” (Guilt in the Bible)
3.
Psalm 44:20-21 “If we had forgotten the name of our God or lifted our hands to
a foreign god, wouldn’t God find out since he knows the secrets of the heart?”
4.
Psalm 90:8 “You have set our wrong-doing before You, our secret sins in the
light of Your face.”
5.
Numbers 32:23 “But if you don’t do these things, you will be sinning against
the Lord; know for sure that you will be punished for your sin.” God knows
everything about you and He is always watching you.
6.
Jeremiah 16:17-18 “I see everything they do. They cannot hide from me the
things they do; their sin is not hidden from my eyes. I will pay back the
people of Judah twice for every one of their sins, because they have made my
land unclean. They have filled my country with their hateful idols.” (Idolatry
in the Bible)
7.
Psalm 139:1-2 “Lord, you have examined me and know all about me. You know when
I sit down and when I get up. You know my thoughts before I think them.”
8.
Psalm 139:3-7 “You know where I go and where I lie down. You know everything I
do. Lord, even before I say a word, you already know it. You are all around
me—in front and in back— and have put your hand on me. Your knowledge is
amazing to me; it is more than I can understand. Where can I go to get away
from your Spirit? Where can I run from you?” (God Bible verses)
9.
Luke 12:1-2 “So many thousands of people had gathered that they were stepping
on each other. Jesus spoke first to his followers, saying, “Beware of the yeast
of the Pharisees, because they are hypocrites. Everything that is hidden will
be shown, and everything that is secret will be made known.”
10.
Hebrews 4:12-13 “God’s word is alive and working and is sharper than a
double-edged sword. It cuts all the way into us, where the soul and the spirit
are joined, to the center of our joints and bones. And it judges the thoughts
and feelings in our hearts. Nothing in all the world can be hidden from God.
Everything is clear and lies open before him, and to him we must explain the
way we have lived.”
The danger of
unconfessed sin
11.
Isaiah 59:1-2 “Surely the Lord’s power is enough to save you. He can hear you
when you ask him for help. It is your evil that has separated you from your
God. Your sins cause him to turn away from you, so he does not hear you.”
12.
Psalm 66:18-19 “If I had harbored sin in my heart, the Lord would not have
listened. However, God heard; he listened to my prayer.”
Repent of the
hidden sins you don’t know about.
13.
Psalm 19:12 “How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from
these hidden faults.”
Repent: Turn away
and follow Christ.
14.
1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us
our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (Repentance in the Bible)
15. 2 Chronicles 7:14 “If my people, who are
called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn
from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their
sin and will heal their land.”
Bonus: Don’t deny
your sins. See it as God sees it.
Isaiah
55:8-9 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,
declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways
higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
Copilot
Exodus 2 offers profound lessons on
fear when viewed through a Catholic lens, especially in light of divine
providence, moral courage, and the mystery of God's timing. Here are several
key insights:
🔍 1. Fear and Providence:
Trusting in God's Hidden Hand
- Jochebed’s
Fear and Faith: Moses’ mother, fearing for her son’s life under Pharaoh’s
decree, places him in a basket on the Nile (Ex 2:3). Her fear is real, but
it leads to an act of radical trust in God’s providence.
- Catholic interpretation sees this as a model of faith under
fear: entrusting what we cannot control to God’s care.
- The basket (or “ark”) echoes Noah’s ark—both symbols of
salvation through water, prefiguring baptism.
- Lesson:
Fear can be a catalyst for faith when it drives us to surrender to God’s
will. As the Catechism teaches, “God is the sovereign master of his plan.
But to carry it out he also makes use of his creatures’ cooperation” (CCC
306).
🛡️ 2. Fear of Man vs.
Fear of God
- Moses’
Killing of the Egyptian (Ex 2:11–12): Moses acts to defend a fellow
Hebrew, but when his deed is discovered, he becomes afraid and flees (Ex
2:14–15).
- According to Catholic commentators like Haydock and the
Ignatius Study Bible, Moses’ action was not merely impulsive but inspired
by a sense of justice and divine calling.
- Yet his fear of Pharaoh leads him into exile, showing the
tension between human fear and divine mission.
- Lesson:
The fear of man can derail our vocation if not tempered by the fear of the
Lord—a reverent awe that leads to obedience and courage. As Proverbs 29:25
says, “The fear of man lays a snare, but he who trusts in the Lord is
safe.”
🌿 3. Fear in the
Wilderness: A Place of Formation
- Exile
in Midian (Ex 2:15–22): Moses’ flight into the wilderness is not a retreat
from God’s plan but a preparation for it.
- Catholic theology often sees the desert as a place of
purification and encounter with God (cf. Elijah, John the Baptist,
Jesus).
- In Midian, Moses learns humility, patience, and
dependence—virtues forged in the crucible of fear and solitude.
- Lesson:
Fear and failure are not the end of the story. God often uses our
wilderness experiences to prepare us for greater missions. As St. Paul
later writes, “When I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor 12:10).
👁️ 4. God Sees, Hears,
Knows
- The
chapter ends with a powerful affirmation: “God saw the people of
Israel—and God knew” (Ex 2:25).
- This is not mere observation but a covenantal knowing—God’s
intimate awareness and readiness to act.
- Catholic tradition emphasizes that God’s providence is never
absent, even when He seems silent.
- Lesson:
In moments of fear and silence, we are invited to trust that God sees,
hears, and remembers His promises. This echoes the Catholic understanding
of divine providence and the assurance that “all things work together for
good for those who love God” (Rom 8:28).
Theme |
Fear Expressed |
Catholic Insight |
Maternal fear |
Jochebed hides Moses |
Trust in divine providence through
sacrificial love |
Moral fear |
Moses flees after killing Egyptian |
Fear of man must be overcome by
fear of God and fidelity to vocation |
Existential fear |
Moses in exile |
God uses fear and failure to form
us in humility and readiness |
Communal fear |
Israel cries out in slavery |
God hears the cry of the oppressed
and acts in covenantal faithfulness |
St. Bonaventure[2]
"In Bonaventure we meet a unique personality. He was unsurpassed in
sanctity, wisdom, eloquence, and gifted with a remarkable skill of
accomplishing things, a heart full of love, a winning disposition, benevolent,
affable, pious, charitable, rich in virtue, beloved by God and man. . . . The
Lord endowed him with such a charming disposition that everyone who saw him was
immediately attracted to him." In these words the historian of the Council
of Lyons concludes his account on St. Bonaventure.
At an early age he was a celebrated
teacher and a powerful preacher. At thirty-six he was called to the highest
post among the Franciscans, the Order which honors him as a second founder. He
was an important figure at the Council of Lyons. His virtue and wisdom, his
versatility and mildness were major factors in attaining the happy result that
the Greeks so easily returned to the unity of the Church.
Bonaventure was a subtle scholastic and a profound mystic. Because of the latter he is known as the "Seraphic Teacher." In philosophy he was the principal leader of the Platonic-Augustinian school of Franciscan thought; as such he stood opposed to the Aristotelianism that was making its way into the schools of the time (ably represented by Thomas Aquinas). Bonaventure's Life of St. Francis was a favorite book of the Middle Ages. When St. Thomas was told about Bonaventure's work, he said: "Let us allow one saint to labor for another." His contemporaries are said to have believed that no one was "more handsome, more holy, or more learned" than he.
—Excerpted from The Church's Year of Grace,
Pius Parsch
St Swithun, Bishop &
Confessor: Missa “Sacerdotes tui “
Saint Swithin Swithun (or Swithin, Old English: Swīþhūn;
died c. 862) was a Saxon bishop. He was born in the kingdom of Wessex and
educated in its capital, Winchester. He was famous for charitable gifts and
building churches. His feast day is 15 July and his emblems are rain drops and
apples.
Swithin was chaplain to Egbert, the 802-839 king of Wessex.
Egbert’s son Ethelwulf, whom Swithin educated, made him bishop of Winchester in
852.
Only one miracle is attributed to Swithin while he was
alive. An old lady’s eggs had been smashed by workmen building a church.
Swithin picked the broken eggs up and, it is said, they miraculously became
whole again.
And if any church fell down, or was in decay, S. Swithin
would anon amend it at his own cost. Or if any church were not hallowed, he
would go thither afoot and hallow it. For he loved no pride, ne to ride on gay
horses, ne to be praised ne flattered of the people…
Swithin died on 2 July 862. According to tradition, he had
asked to be buried humbly. His grave was just outside the west door of the Old
Minster, so that people would walk across it and rain fall on it in accordance
with Swithin’s wishes. William of Malmesbury recorded that the bishop left
instructions that his body should be buried outside the church, ubi et
pedibus praetereuntium et stillicidiis ex alto rorantibus esset obnoxius
[where it might be subject to the feet of passers-by and to the raindrops pouring
from on high], which has been taken as indicating that the legend was already
well known in the 12th century.
On 15 July 971 though, Swithin’s remains were dug up and
moved to a shrine in the cathedral by Bishop Ethelwold. Miraculous cures were
associated with the event, and Swithin’s feast day is the date of the removal
of his remains, not his death day. However, the removal was also accompanied by
ferocious and violent rain storms that lasted 40 days and 40 nights and are
said to indicate the saint’s displeasure at being moved. This is probably the
origin of the legend that if it rains on Saint Swithun’s feast day, the rain
will continue for 40 more days.
Saint Swithin is still seen as the patron of Winchester
Cathedral.
INTROIT Psalm 131: 9-10
Let Thy priests, O Lord, be clothed with justice, and let
Thy saints rejoice: for Thy servant David’s sake, turn not away the face of Thy
anointed. V. O Lord, remember David, and all his
meekness. v. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy
Ghost, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end.
Amen.
COLLECT
God, who dost gladden us by the merits and intercession of
thy blessed confessor bishop Swithun, grant us this boon, that we who ask for
his good offices may obtain them through the gift of thy grace.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee,
in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. R. Amen.
EPISTLE Hebrews 7: 23-27
Lesson from the Apostle Paul’s letter to the
Hebrews: Brethren, there were made many priests, because by reason of
death they were not suffered to continue: but Jesus, for that
He continueth forever, hath an everlasting priesthood. Whereby He is
able also to save forever them that come to God by Him; always living
to make intercession for us. For it was fitting that we should
have such a high priest, holy, innocent, and undefiled, separated from
sinners, and made higher than the heavens; Who needeth not daily, as
the other priests, to offer sacrifice first for His own sins, and then for
the people’s; for this Jesus Christ our Lord did once, in offering
Himself.
GRADUAL Psalm 131: 16-17
I will clothe her priests with salvation: and her saints
shall rejoice with exceeding great joy. There will I bring forth a horn to
David; I have prepared a lamp for my anointed. Alleluia, alleluia! Ps. 109:4
The Lord has sworn an oath there is no retracting: Thou art a priest forever in
the line of Melchisedech. Alleluia!
GOSPEL Matthew 24:
42-47
At that time, Jesus said to His disciples: Watch, because
you know not what hour your Lord will come. But this know ye, that, if the
goodman of the house knew at what hour the thief would come, he would certainly
watch, and would not suffer his house to be broken open. Wherefore be you also
ready: because at what hour you know not the Son of man will come. Who,
thinkest thou, is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath appointed
over his family, to give them meat in season? Blessed is that servant, whom
when his lord shall come he shall find so doing. Amen I say to you, he shall
place him over all his goods.
OFFERTORY
ANTIPHON Psalm 88: 25
My truth and My mercy shall be with him: and in My name
shall his horn be exalted.
SECRET
Hallow the gifts we offer Lord, and at the intercession of
thy blessed confessor bishop Swithun, do thou cleanse us by their means from
the defilement of our sins. Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth
and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world
without end. R. Amen.
PREFACE of the Common
It is truly meet and just, and profitable unto salvation,
that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks to thee, O Holy
Lord, Father Almighty, eternal God, through Christ, our Lord. Though whom the
angels praise thy majesty, the dominions adore it, the powers are in awe. Which
the heavens and the hosts of heaven together with the blessed seraphim joyfully
do magnify. And do thou command that it be permitted to us join with them in
confessing thee, while we say with lowly praise:
COMMUNION ANTIPHON Matthew
24: 46-47
Blessed is that servant, whom when his lord cometh he shall
find watching: Amen I say to you, he shall place him over all his goods.
POSTCOMMUNION
We humbly beg thee, almighty God, to grant that we whom
thou renewest with thy sacrament, at the intercession of thy blessed confessor
bishop Swithun, may lead lives acceptable to thee and worthy of thy
servants. Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth
with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without
end. R. Amen.
Bible in a Year-Day 26
Today we wrap up our journey through the Patriarchs as Fr. Mike finishes the book of Genesis and the book of Job. Fr. Mike particularly draws our attention to God's beautiful yet mysterious response to Job's questions. Today's readings are Genesis 49-50, Job 41-42, and Psalm 17.
Daily
Devotions
·
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting: The Families of St. Joseph Porters
·
Litany of the Most Precious
Blood of Jesus
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Rosary
· Let Freedom Ring Day 9 Freedom from Abuse of Sexuality Outside the Marital State
o From a Catholic perspective, sex transmutation—though not a term traditionally used in Church teaching—can be understood as the redirection of sexual energy toward higher, God-centered purposes such as chastity, charity, creativity, and sanctity. This aligns with the Church’s broader theology of the body, virtue, and spiritual discipline.
o ✝️ Catholic Understanding of Sexual Energy
§ The Church teaches that sexual desire is not evil in itself. Rather, it is a powerful gift from God, meant to be ordered toward:
· Unitive love within sacramental marriage
· Procreation of new life
· Sanctification through self-mastery and virtue
o When not expressed in marriage, sexual energy is to be sublimated—transformed into acts of love, service, and spiritual devotion. This is where the idea of “transmutation” finds resonance.
o 🕊️ Catholic Pathways to Transmuting Sexual Energy
§ 1. Chastity as a Virtue
· Chastity is not mere abstinence but the integration of sexuality within the person.
· It involves self-mastery, enabling one to love rightly and purely.
· Saints like Augustine and Aquinas emphasized chastity as a path to freedom and holiness.
§ 2. Redemptive Suffering and Offering
· Sexual temptation can be united with Christ’s suffering and offered for the salvation of souls.
· This transforms struggle into intercession and spiritual growth.
§ 3. Prayer and Contemplation
· Redirecting desire through contemplative prayer (e.g., the Rosary, Adoration) elevates the soul.
· St. John Paul II’s Theology of the Body teaches that the body, including its desires, can become a “sacrament” of divine love when rightly ordered.
§ 4. Creative and Apostolic Work
· Saints and mystics often channeled intense passion into writing, preaching, or serving the poor.
· Sexual energy, when sublimated, can fuel heroic virtue and creativity.
o 🧠 Catholic Examples of Transmutation
· Saint | · How They Transmuted Sexual Energy | · |
· St. Augustine | · Turned from lust to theological brilliance and pastoral zeal | · |
· St. Thomas Aquinas | · Chose celibacy and intellectual purity, writing the Summa Theologica | · |
· St. Francis of Assisi | · Embraced radical poverty and love of creation | · |
· St. Teresa of Ávila | · Channeled longing into mystical union with Christ | · |
o
📖 Scripture and Teaching
§ Romans 12:1 – “Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God.”
§ 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 – “Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit… glorify God in your body.”
§ Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 2337–2359) – Teaches about chastity, purity of heart, and the call to holiness for all states of life.
o 🕯️ A Catholic Practice of Sex Transmutation
§ Here’s a simple daily rhythm:
· Morning Offering: “Lord, I offer you my desires and passions today. Purify them and use them for your glory.”
· Midday Check-In: Redirect wandering thoughts with a Hail Mary or short prayer.
· Evening Reflection: Examine how you responded to temptations. Offer failures to God’s mercy and successes to His glory.
[1] https://biblereasons.com/secret-sins/
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