Vinny’s Corner
They that hope in the LORD will renew their strength, they will soar on eagles’ wings; They will run and not grow weary, walk and not grow faint. Isaiah 40:31
· Saturday Litany of the Hours Invoking the Aid of Mother Mary
· Foodie National Panini Month
§ Catholic Recipe: Scalloped Salmon
· Spirit hour: Żubrówka Vodka – Infused with bison grass, this iconic Polish vodka is smooth and aromatic. Best sipped slowly or in cocktails.
· Today is the feast of St. Rose of Lima
· Bucket Item trip: Czestochowa Pilgrimage
A week-long pilgrimage to Jasna Góra Monastery in Częstochowa, Poland—the spiritual heart of the country—is a profound journey into Marian devotion, Polish heritage, and contemplative renewal. Here's a thoughtfully crafted itinerary:
🇵🇱 Jasna Góra Pilgrimage Itinerary (7 Days)
Location: Częstochowa, Poland | Focus: Black Madonna, Pauline spirituality, Polish Catholic tradition
🛬 Day 1: Arrival in Częstochowa
- Evening: Walk the monastery grounds, pray at the Chapel of the Black Madonna
🕊️ Day 2: Jasna Góra Monastery Immersion
- Morning Mass at the Basilica of the Assumption
- Tour: Monastery museum, treasury, and the miraculous icon of Our Lady of Częstochowa
- Afternoon: Visit the defensive walls and learn about the 1655 Swedish siege
- Evening: Attend Vespers with the Pauline monks
🌿 Day 3: Contemplation & Nature
- Morning: Silent prayer in the monastery gardens
- Afternoon: Visit nearby Lisiniec Park or Warta River trails for reflection
- Evening: Light a candle and offer personal intentions at the shrine
🧎 Day 4: Polish Catholic Heritage
- Explore: Local churches, including St. Barbara’s and St. Sigismund’s
- Cultural immersion: Try traditional Polish dishes like żurek or pierogi
- Evening: Attend a Marian procession or rosary service
🛐 Day 5: Pilgrimage History & Devotion
- Learn: About the monastery’s founding in 1382 and the icon’s mysterious origins
- Reflect: On the miraculous preservation of the Black Madonna during attacks
- Evening: Write a prayer or blog post honoring the legacy of Polish faith
🌌 Day 6: Vigil & Spiritual Offering
- Daytime: Fast or engage in quiet retreat
- Evening: Participate in a night vigil or Eucharistic Adoration
- Optional: Craft a devotional item or consecrate oil in honor of Our Lady
✈️ Day 7: Departure & Sending Forth
- Final Mass and blessing at Jasna Góra
- Closing Ritual: Leave a written prayer or token at the shrine
· How to celebrate Aug 23rd
o As the afternoon progresses, indulge in a bit of luxury inspired by Valentino Day. Treat yourself to a small indulgence, like a fancy coffee or a scented candle. Then, embrace the wind in your hair on National Ride the Wind Day. Take a walk, ride a bike, or simply sit outside and feel the breeze against your skin.
· 30 DAY TRIBUTE TO MARY 9th ROSE: Nativity: Jealousy, Murder, Abortion
o 30 Days of Women and Herbs – Frauendreissiger
§ Vervain (Verbena officinalis)
MEDICINAL PLANTS Day 9 EPIDEMICS AND PANDEMICS-Revealed by Heaven to Luz De María
USE OF SACRAMENTALS, HOLY OIL AND HOLY WATER I invite you not to forget the use of sacramentals. In case of contagious diseases (pestilences, plagues, others) anoint the doors and windows with holy oil.
If you find yourselves sick, sprinkle the food with holy water and keep in mind the use of the medicinal plants My Mother has indicated you use for these unexpected circumstances. Be creatures’ firm in faith, knowing that being endowed with reason and intelligence, you consciously obey the guidelines that the leaders of your countries indicate to you. My call is to remain alert. In this moment, humanity is threatened by illness. So at this time, you should protect and help one another with authentic love and with mercy, caring for your brothers/sisters as much as is possible, in the same way that you care for yourselves, and remain in your homes when your countries are being threatened by some epidemic. If, at this moment, you are not suffering from nature’s attacks, from diseases, or from hunger, do not be indifferent toward those that are suffering, since no nation can assure it will not suffer these calamities at some moment. The cold-heartedness and indifference before suffering is an example of the estrangement that man maintains with My House. The Christian accompanies, suffers, and rejoices with his /her neighbor, because he/she knows that a neighbor is the image and likeness of his /her Creator. Our Lord Jesus Christ, 05.2009
A Prayer Before Mass (Saturday) (by Saint Ambrose)
I entreat Thee also, O Lord, by this most holy mystery of Thy Body and Blood, wherewith we are daily fed, and cleansed, and sanctified in Thy Church, and are made partakers of the one Supreme Divinity, grant unto me Thy holy virtues, that filled therewith I may with a good conscience draw near unto Thy holy Altar, so that these heavenly mysteries may be made unto me salvation and life; for Thou hast said with Thy holy and blessed lips: The Bread which I will give is My Flesh, for the life of the world. I am the living Bread which came down from heaven. If any man eats of this Bread, he shall live forever. O most sweet Bread, heal the palate of my heart, that I may taste the sweetness of Thy love. Heal it of all infirmities, that I may find sweetness in nothing out of Thee. O most pure Bread, having all delight and all savor, which ever refreshest us, and never failest, let my heart feed on Thee, and may my inmost soul be filled with the sweetness of Thy savor. The Angels feed on Thee fully; let pilgrim man feed on Thee after his measure, so that, refreshed by this nourishment, he may not faint by the way. Holy Bread! Living Bread! Pure Bread! Who didst come down from heaven, and who givest life to the world, enter into my heart and cleanse me from all impurity of flesh and spirit. Come into my soul; heal and cleanse me within and without; be the protection and continual health of my soul and body. Drive far from me all foes that lie in wait: let them flee afar off at the presence of Thy power; that, strengthened by Thee without and within, I may by a straight way arrive at Thy kingdom, where, not as now in mysteries, but face to face, we shall behold Thee; when Thou shalt have delivered up the kingdom to God Thy Father, and shalt be God All in all. Then shalt Thou satisfy me with Thyself by a wondrous fullness, so that I shall never hunger nor thirst any more forever. Who with the same God the Father, and the Holy Ghost, ever livest and reignest world without end.
Vigil Of St Bartholomew, Apostle
Then the captain and the court officers went and brought them in, but without force, because they were AFRAID of being stoned by the people.
The apostles were brought before the Sanhedrin for trial. These temple priests which were instrumental in causing the crucifixion of Christ were now enflamed with jealousy over the apostles, who by the resurrection of Christ no longer feared death or taxes. The people began to believe, and the world was never the same.
The apostles after their release immediately resumed public teaching, they rendered unto God what was God’s.
The apostles filled with the Holy Spirit were not afraid anymore. They practiced obedience, commitment, healthy relationships, and faith. They had generous hearts.
Copilot Take
This reflection is rich with spiritual insight
and practical wisdom—like a quiet flame illuminating the path of discipleship.
The connection between the apostles’ fearless witness and the call to
generosity is especially poignant. Here is woven together Scripture, historical
context, and personal challenge in a way that invites contemplation and action.
Here’s a way to deepen and share this
reflection:
🔥 Vigil of St. Bartholomew: Generosity in the
Face of Fear
Scripture: Acts 5:26
"Then the captain and the court officers went and brought them in, but
without force, because they were afraid of being stoned by the people."
The apostles stood before the same powers that condemned Christ, yet
they did not flinch. Their courage was not born of defiance, but of
resurrection. They had seen death undone. Fear no longer ruled them—nor did
greed, self-preservation, or silence.
💡 Fearless Generosity: A Spiritual Economy
The apostles gave freely: their time, their words, their lives. They
understood that in God’s economy, the greatest leaders are not collectors but
conduits. They gather only to give. They possess only to release. They live not
for accumulation, but for communion.
To live generously is to live resurrected.
🌱 Five Seeds of Generosity
1. Gratitude –
Recognize the abundance already present.
2. People
First – Value relationships over riches.
3. Freedom
from Greed – Let go of the need for more.
4. Money as
Mission – Use resources to bless, not bind.
5. Giving as
Habit – Make generosity a rhythm, not a rarity.
“I now
pray, not for more of this world’s goods and greater blessings, but to be
worthy of that which I already have.”
— Napoleon Hill[1]
🙏 A Prayer for the Vigil
Lord, on this vigil of St. Bartholomew, teach me to live with open
hands and a fearless heart. May I give as the apostles gave—without hesitation,
without calculation, and without fear. Let generosity be my testimony, and love
my legacy. Amen.
Vigil of St Bartholomew, Apostle
INTROIT. Ego autem. Ps. 52
AS for me I am like a green olive tree in the house off the Lord; by trust hath been in the tender mercy of my God: and I will hope in thy Name for thy Saints like it well. Ps. ibid. Why boastest thou thyself, thou tyrant: that thou canst do mischief? V. Glory be.
GRANT, we beseech thee, Almighty God: that as we do prevent the festival of thy holy Apostle Saint Bartholomew so he may implore thy mercy for us; that we being delivered from all our iniquities, may likewise be defended against all adversities.
Epistle. Ecclesiasticus 44:22-45:5, 7
THE blessing of
the Lord was upon the head of the righteous. Therefore, the Lord gave him a
heritage; and divided his portion among the twelve tribes. And he found favor
in the sight of all fleshy. And the Lord magnified him so that his enemies
stood in fear of him. By his words he caused the wonders to cease he made him
glorious in the sight of kings, and gave him a commandment for his people, and
shewed him his glory. He sanctified him in his faithfulness and meekness and
chose him out of all men. He gave him commandments before his face, even
the law of life and knowledge, and exalted him. An everlasting covenant he made
with him: the Lord beautified him with ornaments of righteousness: and clothed
him with a robe of glory.
GOSPEL. St John 15:12-16
This is my
commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath
no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my
friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. 15 Henceforth I
call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I
have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have
made known unto you. Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained
you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should
remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it
you.
Rule of Traditional Catholic Fasting[2]
All members of this sodality agree to On Vigil of St. Bartholomew (August 23)
ABSTINENCE No flesh meat (i.e., meat from mammals or fowl) is to be consumed on any Friday in the year with no exceptions.
FASTING One meal only a day that may not be consumed earlier than noon but
preferably is consumed after 3 PM or even after sunset. If necessary, an
optional evening collation and an optional morning frustulum is allowed.
Bible in a Year
Day 65 Revolt against Moses
Fr. Mike dives into the
recurring issue of the Israelites rebelling against God and remaining stuck in
their past as we read about the revolt of Korah, Dathan and Abiram against
Moses and Aaron. Today's readings are Numbers 16, Deuteronomy 15-16, and Psalm
97.
Daily Devotions
·
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting: An end
to the use of contraceptives.
·
Religion
in the Home for Preschool: August
·
Litany of the Most Precious
Blood of Jesus
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Rosary