Posts
Dara’s Corner-Try “Paella”
· Bucket List trip: Tivoli Gardens Copenhagen Denmark
· Carnival Time begins in Catholic Countries.
· Spirit Hour: Arise My Love Cocktail
· Plan winter fun:
· Soak in hot springs
· Hit the snow slopes
· Ride a snowmobile
· Go for a dog sled ride
· Ride a hot air balloon
· How to celebrate Jan 21st
i. Start the day by wearing your favorite cheesy socks for an instant mood lift. Embrace the spirit of National Hugging Day by sharing warm embraces with loved ones or even offering free hugs to strangers. Keep hunger at bay with a DIY granola bar-making session. Show some love to your furry friends on National Squirrel Appreciation Day by creating a cozy outdoor feeding station.
ii. Inject humor into your day by crafting clever one-liners to share with friends and family. Arrange a playdate with friends or family to celebrate International Playdate Day with games and laughter. Lounge comfortably in your favorite pair of sweatpants for International Sweatpants Day.
iii. Get creative and visit a local museum for Museum Selfie Day, where you can pose with your favorite exhibits. Indulge in some skincare pampering on National Hyaluronic Acid Day with a DIY hyaluronic acid face mask. End the day by hosting a soup swap with friends, where everyone brings a homemade soup to trade and enjoy together.
🌍 Dara’s Corner: Aboard The World
Ordinary Time | January 22–28, 2026
Theme: Courage, Clarity & the Grace of Forward Motion
Coordinates: Fremantle
→ Geraldton → Coral Coast → Exmouth (Ningaloo Reef)
🌤️ Day 1 — January 22 | Departing Fremantle
Title: The First Step Forward
· Ritual: Pilgrims place a small pebble in their pocket as a sign of the step they’re willing to take
· Scripture: Joshua 1:9 — “Be strong and courageous…”
· Meal: Lemon‑herb chicken wraps, cucumber salad, iced green tea
· Reflection: “Courage is not loud—it is simply choosing to move.”
· Hospitality Arc: Ask someone what step they’re afraid to take—and bless their courage
🌾 Day 2 — January 23 | At Sea Along the Coral Coast
Title: The Quiet Coastline
· Ritual: Pilgrims sit in silence for five minutes, listening only to the sound of the ship cutting water
· Scripture: Psalm 46:10 — “Be still and know…”
· Meal: Roasted vegetable quinoa bowl, citrus water
· Reflection: “Stillness is not inactivity—it is attention.”
· Hospitality Arc: Offer someone your full presence for one uninterrupted conversation
Regional Overview:
· Australia’s Coral Coast — the 1,100‑km stretch of coastline from Cervantes to Exmouth
· Tourism Australia: Coral Coast Guide
🐚 Day 3 — January 24 | Docked in Geraldton
Title: Harbor of Gratitude
· Ritual: Pilgrims write a short gratitude on a smooth stone and leave it near the shoreline
· Scripture: Colossians 3:15 — “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts…”
· Meal: Local prawns, garlic butter, fresh greens
· Reflection: “Gratitude is the harbor where peace anchors.”
· Hospitality Arc: Tell someone why you’re grateful for them—name the moment it became clear
Local Inspiration:
· Geraldton — Tourism Western Australia
· Guide to Geraldton — Tourism Australia
🌊 Day 4 — January 25 | At Sea Toward Ningaloo
Title: The Deep Call
· Ritual: Pilgrims hold a small bowl of seawater and name one depth they want to explore in their life
· Scripture: Psalm 42:7 — “Deep calls to deep…”
· Meal: Coconut curry soup, jasmine rice, ginger tea
· Reflection: “Depth is not darkness—it is discovery.”
· Hospitality Arc: Ask someone what depth they feel drawn toward—and honor its mystery
Regional Overview:
🐬 Day 5 — January 26 | Exmouth & Ningaloo Reef
Title: The Living Waters
· Ritual: Pilgrims snorkel or wade in the shallows, naming one place in their life that needs renewal
· Scripture: John 7:38 — “Rivers of living water will flow…”
· Meal: Fresh reef fish, lime slaw, chilled white wine
· Reflection: “Renewal begins where we allow ourselves to be immersed.”
· Hospitality Arc: Share with someone where you feel renewal stirring
Local Inspiration:
· Ningaloo Reef — Tourism Western Australia
· Exmouth — Australia’s Coral Coast
🌅 Day 6 — January 27 | At Anchor Near Exmouth
Title: Sunset of Surrender
· Ritual: Pilgrims watch the sunset in silence, releasing one burden they’ve been carrying
· Scripture: Matthew 11:28 — “Come to me, all who labor…”
· Meal: Honey‑glazed chicken, roasted pumpkin, mint tea
· Reflection: “Surrender is not defeat—it is trust.”
· Hospitality Arc: Ask someone what they’re ready to lay down—and bless their release
Local Inspiration:
🌬️ Day 7 — January 28 | At Sea Toward Broome
Title: Wind of the North
· Ritual: Pilgrims stand on deck and let the northern wind touch their face, naming one hope rising in them
· Scripture: Isaiah 43:19 — “I am doing something new…”
· Meal: Grilled barramundi, lemon rice, sparkling water with mint
· Reflection: “Hope is the wind that turns us toward the future.”
· Hospitality Arc: Share aloud one hope you carry—and ask someone to bless it
January 21 Wednesday-Saint Agnes, Virgin and Martyr
9 Days for Life
Exodus, Chapter 1, Verse 17
The midwives,
however, FEARED God; they did not do
as the king of Egypt had ordered them, but let the boys live.
The book of Exodus retells the story of the leaving of
the children of Abraham from the land of Egypt. God blessed Abraham’s
descendants and they prospered and overpopulated the land. Egyptians then
oppressed the Israelites and took action to control their population by
commanding midwives to kill the male children born to the Israelite’s.
Nothing ever changes it seems the midwives, were the
king of Egypt’s version of our Planned Parenthood. Yet, they the midwives
feared God more than the King and spared life. I do not think anyone in the
Planned Parenthood organization has any fear of God. The midwives of Egypt were
ordered to kill only the male children of the Israelites. In our modern world I
wonder who the equivalent of the King of Egypt is.
I wonder who or what sex and races are the equivalents
of the Israelite children?
Let us pray that those within the Planned
Parenthood organization and those who support the existence of organizational
weapons for the destruction of innocent unborn life may have an awakening to
the voice of conscience and fear God: thus preserving life first, then liberty
and then the pursuit of happiness. For is not life more, precious than liberty;
and is not liberty more precious than the pursuit of wealth. It can be in no
other order. As a people and as a nation we have dulled our consciences for too
long; this is why the soul of this nation can find no peace. We like the
midwives of ancient Egypt must fear
God more than Pharaoh. Then and only then will our consciences as a people
become unsullied and we will have the strength, courage, and loyalty to follow
what is right.
Yes, if we as a people see Christ in the unborn as
Paul seen Him at his conversion, we shall again be a bless nation.
Copilot’s Take
Confronting evil in Exodus begins with a simple but
world‑shaking truth: there are moments when obedience to God requires
disobedience to power. The midwives stand at the very first moral crossroads of
the book, and they choose reverence over fear, conscience over command, life
over convenience. Their courage exposes a pattern that runs through all of
Scripture: evil often hides behind official orders, cultural norms, or systems
that claim necessity, but God measures the heart by whether it protects the vulnerable.
Exodus does not invite us to map ancient characters directly onto modern
institutions or groups; instead, it teaches that every age develops its own
Pharaohs—forces that pressure people to ignore conscience—and its own
vulnerable populations who depend on the courage of those willing to resist.
The midwives remind us that confronting evil is rarely dramatic; it is usually
quiet, costly, and rooted in a deep awareness that God sees what human power
overlooks. Their fear of God is not terror but clarity: the clarity that life
is sacred, that conscience is not for sale, and that no ruler, ideology, or
system has the right to decide who counts. In every generation, the path to
moral renewal begins the same way—with ordinary people who refuse to cooperate
with injustice and who trust that God honors those who protect life, even when
the world does not.
Saint Agnes[1]
Today we honor the martyrdom of Saint Agnes, a God-fearing child of 12, when she faced her death. Here is St. Ambrose’s account of her demise.
This treatise
has a favorable beginning, since it is the birthday of the holy Virgin Agnes,
of whose name, modesty, and martyrdom St. Ambrose speaks in commendation, but
more especially of her age, seeing that she, being but twelve years old, was
superior to terrors, promises, tortures, and death itself, with a courage
wholly worthy of a man.
And
my task begins favorably, that since today is the birthday of a virgin, I have
to speak of virgins, and the treatise has its beginning from this discourse. It
is the birthday of a martyr, let us offer the victim. It is the birthday of St.
Agnes, let men admire, let children take courage, let the married be astounded,
let the unmarried take an example.
But
what can I say worthy of her whose very name was not devoid of bright praise?
In devotion beyond her age, in virtue
above nature, she seems to me to have borne not so much a human name, as a
token of martyrdom, whereby she showed what she was to be.
But
I have that which may assist me. The name of virgin is a title of modesty. I
will call upon the martyr, I will proclaim the virgin. That panegyric is long
enough which needs no elaboration but is within our grasp. Let then labor
cease, eloquence be silent. One word is praise enough. This word old men and
young and boys chant. No one is more praiseworthy than he who can be praised by
all. There are as many heralds as there are men, who when they speak proclaim
the martyr.
She
is said to have suffered martyrdom when twelve years old. The more hateful was
the cruelty, which spared not so tender an age, the greater in truth was the
power of faith which found evidence even in that age.
Was
there room for a wound in that small body?
And she who had no room for the blow of
the steel had that wherewith to conquer the steel. But maidens of that age are
unable to bear even the angry looks of parents and are wont to cry at the
pricks of a needle as though they were wounds. She was fearless under the cruel hands of the executioners, she was unmoved
by the heavy weight of the creaking chains, offering her whole body to the
sword of the raging soldier, as yet ignorant of death, but ready for it. Or if
she were unwillingly hurried to the altars, she was ready to stretch forth her
hands to Christ at the sacrificial fires, and at the sacrilegious altars
themselves, to make the sign of the Lord the Conqueror, or again to place her
neck and both her hands in the iron bands, but no band could enclose such
slender limbs.
A
new kind of martyrdom! Not yet of fit age for punishment but already ripe for
victory, difficult to contend with but easy to be crowned, she filled the
office of teaching valor while having the disadvantage of youth. She would not
as a bride so hasten to the couch, as being a virgin, she joyfully went to the
place of punishment with hurrying step, her head not adorned with plaited hair,
but with Christ. All wept, she alone was without a tear. All wondered that she
was so readily prodigal of her life, which she had not yet enjoyed, and now
gave up as though she had gone through it. Everyone was astounded that there
was now one to bear witness to the Godhead, who as yet could not, because of
her age, dispose of herself. And she brought it to pass that she should be
believed concerning God, whose evidence concerning man would not be accepted.
For that which is beyond nature is from the Author of nature.
What
threats the executioner used to make her fear him, what allurements to persuade
her, how many desired that she would come to them in marriage! But she
answered: It would be an injury to my spouse to look on any one as likely to
please me. He who chose me first for Himself shall receive me.
Why
are you delaying, executioner?
Let this body perish which can be loved by
eyes which I would not. She stood, she prayed, she bent down her neck. You
could see the executioner tremble, as though he himself had been condemned, and
his right-hand shake, his face grow pale, as he feared the peril of another, while the maiden feared not for her own. You have then in one victim a twofold
martyrdom, of modesty and of religion. She both remained a virgin and she
obtained martyrdom.
Pray
that we may emulate Agnes who was martyred rather than forsake her betrothal to
Christ and exhibited the traits of a true marriage.
Life First[2] 9 Days for Life
Day Six:
Intercession: May all victims and survivors of human trafficking find freedom, refuge, and healing.
Prayers: Our Father, 3 Hail Mary’s, Glory Be
Reflection: Those who are vulnerable are most at risk for being lured into situations where they are trafficked. Migrants and refugees often face increased risk factors like changes to language and culture, lack of support systems, and the burden of poverty. Young people on the margins, especially runaway and homeless youth, are targeted for sex trafficking and may subsequently be forced to have abortions. Easily tempted by the false promises of traffickers, victims often find themselves enslaved with no means of escape. Christ came “to bring good news to the afflicted, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives” (Is 61:1, cf. Luke 4:18). May all who are trapped in situations of slavery be released from their chains of captivity and find freedom, refuge, safety, and healing in Christ and His Church.
Acts of Reparation (Choose one.)
· Give up sleeping on your pillow tonight. Allow this small sacrifice to remind you of the sufferings endured by those in our world who are enslaved.
·
St.
Josephine Bakhita, who was born in Sudan and sold into slavery, has become
known as the patron saint of human trafficking victims. Pray for victims and
survivors of human trafficking, asking the intercession of St. Josephine
Bakhita.
·
Offer
some other sacrifice, prayer, or act of penance that you feel called to do for
today’s intention.
Bible in a Year Day 203 Rejoice in the Lord
Fr. Mike points out God's remarkable promise of deliverance to
Israel even in the midst of their captivity and apparent hopelessness. Even
when we don't see God working in our lives, we rejoice in God because we trust
and hope in his promise of salvation. Today's readings are Isaiah 25-27,
Habakkuk 3, and Proverbs 11:5-8.
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.
·
Do the St. Joseph
Universal Man Plan.
·
Devotion to the 7 Joys and Sorrows of St. Joseph
Virtues of St. Joseph Every Man can follow[3]
St. Joseph is the model of a man with no hesitancy of mind he is the man God chose to raise his son.
Justice-One of the few descriptors of St. Joseph found in Scripture is that he was a "just man," also translated as a "righteous man" (Matthew 1:19). Justice includes the virtues of fairness, honesty, and respect for others.
Obedient to God's will-Several times, angels came to St. Joseph in dreams and directed his course of action. They told him to marry Our Lady when he had thought of a quiet divorce, to flee to Egypt, and to return to Nazareth. In all these instances, he did as they said without question, giving us a model of surrender to God's will.
A protector-When Herod threatened the infant Jesus, St. Joseph went to great lengths to guard the baby from harm. We know little of St. Joseph's daily life, but we can imagine the kind of honorable and self-sacrificing man to whom God the Father would entrust the care and upbringing of His only begotten son.
Responsible-Caring for the two holiest people who ever lived, Jesus and Mary, must have seemed an immense task, but St. Joseph undertook it bravely. He was trustworthy enough to rise to the challenge of being responsible for their livelihood and well-being.
Chaste-One of the things we know about St. Joseph is that he and Our Lady lived together without consummating their marriage. He is a model of purity and would be a fitting intercessor for any man striving to live this virtue.
Faithful-St. Luke repeatedly emphasizes in his Gospel how St. Joseph acted in compliance with "the law of the Lord," that is, the ritual requirements of an observant Jewish man. He was a devoutly religious believer, and his faithfulness is an example for all men.
Watch: St Joseph: Our
Spiritual Father
The Raccolta[4]
2-Seven
Gloria Patri's, Etc., Said By Three Persons Conjointly.
The power of a
three-strand rope
The twisting of
the three strands creates a rope that is much stronger than a single strand of
the same diameter. Another advantage of a three-strand rope is its ability to
absorb shock.
·
Pope
Pius VI., in order to sanction the devout exercise begun in France with the
approbation and under the auspices of Monsignor Beaumont, Archbishop of Paris,
of happy memory, granted, by a decree of the S. Congr. of Indulgences, dated
May 15, 1784 -
·
An
indulgence of 100 days, daily, and an indulgence of seven years and seven
quarantines every Sunday, to all the faithful who, with contrite hearts, shall
recite three several times a day (that is, morning, noon, and evening) seven Gloria
Patri’s and one Ave Maria, in honor of the Mystery of the Most Holy
Trinity, of the Incarnation of the Divine Word, and His most holy Mother Mary;
·
A
plenary indulgence to those who shall recite every day, three times a day as
above, seven Gloria Patri’s and one Ave Maria to be gained twice
a month, that is, on any two Sundays in the month, when, after Confession and
Communion, they shall visit some church, and pray according to the intention of
the Sovereign Pontiff.
·
It
is, however, requisite, in order to gain these Indulgences, that there should
be a pious union of three persons, who civilly agree amongst themselves to
recite, either together or by themselves, the said seven Gloria Patri’s
and one Ave Maria; and that, should any one of the three die, or in some
other way fail to say these prayers, then the other two should find a
substitute, so that the pious union of three persons may be always maintained.
Daily Devotions
·
Unite
in the work of the Porters of St.
Joseph
by joining them in fasting: Today's Fast: Increase
in Religious and consecrated life.
·
Offering to the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Make reparations
to the Holy Face
·
Rosary
[2]http://www.usccb.org/about/pro-life-activities/january-roe-events/nine-days-of-prayer-penance-and-pilgrimage.cfm
🎬 Indiscreet (1931)
(Classic film clarity + moral resonance + hospitality pairing)
⭐ Core Facts
- Director: Leo McCarey
- Stars: Gloria Swanson (Gerry Trent), Ben Lyon (Tony Blake), Monroe Owsley (Jim Woodward)
- Genre: Pre‑Code romantic comedy with leftover musical DNA
- Source Material: Based on the story Obey That Impulse by DeSylva, Brown & Henderson
- Runtime: 92 minutes (original release)
📘 Plot Summary (Clean, Tight, and Thematically Focused)
Act I — A New Year, A New Resolve
Gerry Trent, a successful dress designer, kicks out her unfaithful boyfriend Jim Woodward. She meets Tony Blake, an author whose philosophy—act on your impulses—she finds both amusing and attractive. Tony proposes immediately; she laughs, but the spark is real.
Theme: The tension between impulse and prudence.
Act II — The Confession
Gerry decides she must confess her past affair with Jim before marrying Tony. He’s shaken but still committed.
Moral tension: Truth told at the wrong time can wound even when it’s virtuous.
Act III — The Sister Problem
Gerry’s younger sister Joan returns from France—already secretly engaged to Jim. Gerry tries to break the engagement through comic misdirection, feigned madness, and finally pretending she still loves Jim.
Pre‑Code twist: A woman weaponizing her own reputation to protect her sister.
Act IV — The Misunderstanding
Tony arrives just in time to see Gerry in Jim’s arms (a staged moment gone wrong). Heartbroken, he leaves for Europe. Gerry races to the ship, sneaks aboard, and the lovers reunite.
Ending: A shipboard marriage—impulsive, romantic, and very McCarey.
✝️ Catholic Moral Reading (Tailored to Your Framework)
1. Truth vs. Timing
Gerry’s confession is morally correct but pastorally clumsy.
- Lesson: Truth must be paired with prudence—Aquinas’ “right reason in action.”
- Gerry’s honesty is virtuous; her impulsiveness is not.
2. Protecting the Innocent
Her fierce attempt to shield Joan from Jim’s predatory charm echoes the duty of fraternal correction.
- She risks her own reputation to save her sister—an echo of sacrificial love.
3. Impulse vs. Discernment
Tony’s philosophy (“obey that impulse”) is charming but spiritually thin.
- The film quietly critiques impulsivity by showing how easily it leads to misunderstanding and heartbreak.
- The final reconciliation works because both characters move beyond impulse into commitment.
4. Mercy in the Final Act
Tony’s return to Gerry—despite hurt and confusion—embodies mercy over suspicion.
- A small cinematic echo of the Prodigal Father’s readiness to forgive.
🍸 Hospitality Pairing (In Your Style)
Cocktail: “The Impulse”
A bright, slightly reckless pre‑Code drink that fits Gerry’s energy.
- Gin (your bar stock)
- Cointreau
- Lemon
- A dash of butterscotch schnapps (a nod to the film’s sweet‑and‑sour romantic tone)
- Shake hard; serve up.
Theme: Sweetness with a sting—just like Gerry’s honesty.
Snack Pairing: Parisian Cheese Plate
Joan returns from France; the film’s emotional hinge is her European innocence.
- Brie, grapes, baguette slices
- A small dish of honey
Symbolism: Innocence, temptation, and the sweetness of reconciliation.
