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
- 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
- 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
Featured Post
Thursday, July 24, 2025
0 LEAGUE OF ST. MARTIN MISSION AIMS BOOKS BY FR. LAWRENCE CARNEY ECCLESIASTICAL ENROLLMENTS ARCHCONFRATERNITY OF THE HOLY FACE CONFRATER...

Thursday, July 31, 2025
Rachel’s Corner
For thus said the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel: By waiting and by calm you shall be saved, in quiet and in trust shall be your strength. Isaiah 30:15
Places to Visit in July[2]
Finger Lakes, NY
· I took a break to this peaceful and scenic region this month and found the weather warm and sunny – perfect for all the outdoor activities on offer, from swimming in the lakes to hiking through lush greenery, with pretty summer flowers blooming everywhere and a laid-back vacation vibe all around!
· I also loved that the region was buzzing with events – the toe-tapping Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival, the family-friendly Corn Hill Arts Festival, the craft-focused Finger Lakes Wine Festival, and the creative Canandaigua Art & Music Festival all took place this month!
· I drove five hours from New York and stayed at the charming 4-star Mirbeau Inn & Spa for a week. I spent my vacation swimming and kayaked on Seneca Lake, hiking the gorge trails at Watkins Glen State Park, sampling wine along the Seneca Lake Wine Trail, dining in farm-to-table restaurants, and discovering the historic brownstone buildings in the quaint town of Ithaca.
· Visitor’s Centre Address: 35 Lake Front Dr, Geneva, NY 14456
· Location: Upstate New York, northeastern United States
· Vibe: Laid-back, scenic, and artsy with a rustic wine country feel
· Average daytime temperatures – 64.4 to 84.2
My favorite highlights…
- Sampling the peppery Cabernet Franc and zesty Semi-Dry Riesling at the rustic-chic Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard – the surroundings were also stunning!
- Dining at the award-winning F.L.X. Table – I adored the cozy vibe, the open kitchen, their unique air purification system and the heavenly Apple Dessert, a creative dish made form apples, tahini, eggplant, caramel, and almonds!
· Bucket List: Military Hop
· Foodie: Italian Stuffed Calamari (Stuffed Squid Recipe)
· do a personal eucharistic stations of the cross.
· Spirit Hour: Original Hurricane Recipe
A PRAYER BEFORE MASS (THURSDAY)
(By Saint Ambrose)
For Thou hast mercy upon all, O Lord, and hatest nothing that Thou hast made. Remember how frail our nature is, and that Thou art our Father and our God. Be not angry with us forever and shut not up Thy tender mercies in displeasure. For it is not for our just works that we present our prayers before Thy face, but for the multitude of Thy tender mercies. Take away from us, O Lord, our iniquities, and mercifully kindle in us the fire of Thy Holy Spirit. Take away from us the heart of stone, and give us a heart of flesh, a heart to love and adore Thee, a heart to delight in, to follow, and to enjoy Thee. And we entreat Thy mercy, O Lord, that Thou wouldst look down graciously upon Thy family, as it pays its vows to Thy most holy name; and that the desire of none may be in vain, and the petitions of none unfulfilled, do Thou inspire our prayers, that they may be such as Thou delightest to hear and answer.
· Let Freedom Ring Day 25 Freedom from Wrath
Anger signals that something is wrong and can motivate us to take constructive action or address the source of our frustration. In contrast, wrath goes beyond ordinary anger. It is a more intense and prolonged form of anger fueled by a strong desire for revenge or harm toward others.
Do you think some of our media personalities are wrathful
and fuel hate? Pray for your enemies.
The Wisdom of Aristotle on Anger Management
o Anger can be a destructive power, and it can be a positive force of change.
o For anger to be valuable and effective, it must be balanced.
o By cultivating mindfulness, compassion and wisdom, we can use anger constructively.
JULY 31 Thursday-Saint Ignatius of
Loyola, priest
Luke, Chapter 5,
verse 9-10:
For astonishment at
the catch of fish they had made seized him and all those with him, and likewise
James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners of Simon. Jesus said to
Simon, “Do not be AFRAID; from now on you will be catching men.”
When
the boat came to shore these men these fishermen; forsook everything. They gave
up their careers, businesses, families and were committed 100 percent to the
mission of Christ and they followed Him.
Is
there anything or anyone in this world that you would give up everything to
follow?
These
men were not perfect specimens as disciples; yet; our Lord chose them: and
through them as imperfect as they were, He created His bride the Holy Roman
Catholic church; which is still ran by far from perfect men. If today, you hear
his voice saying do not be afraid; follow Him!
Copilot
Luke
5:9–10 is such a powerful moment: the awe of the miraculous catch, the
trembling humility of Simon Peter, and then that divine reassurance—“Do not
be afraid.” It’s the kind of call that doesn’t just invite—it pierces.
What’s
remarkable is how Jesus doesn’t wait for perfection. He chooses men in the
middle of their ordinary lives, flaws and all, and transforms them into
apostles. As one commentary puts it, Peter’s astonishment wasn’t just at the
fish—it was at the realization of who Jesus was, and who he himself was in
light of that. And yet, Jesus doesn’t reject him. He commissions him.
The
Church was built on these imperfect men. And it continues to be led by
imperfect men. But the Bride of Christ is sustained not by human perfection,
but by divine grace. That tension—between holiness and humanity—is part of the
Church’s mystery. As one bishop said, “To love the Church with its warts
means you have accepted Christ’s risk—to hand that Church over to human beings”.
Luke 5:9–10 offers a rich tapestry of spiritual
lessons—each thread woven with awe, surrender, and divine calling. Here are
some key takeaways:
🐟 Lessons
from Luke 5:9–10
·
Astonishment Leads to Awakening
Peter’s shock at the miraculous catch wasn’t just about fish—it was a
revelation of Jesus’ divine authority. Sometimes, it’s in the unexpected
abundance that we recognize the presence of God.
·
Humility Precedes Calling
Peter’s response—“Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man”—shows
that true discipleship begins with recognizing our own unworthiness. Yet Jesus
doesn’t reject him; He commissions him.
·
Fear Is Not a Barrier
Jesus says, “Do not be afraid.” This echoes throughout scripture as a
divine refrain. Fear may be natural, but it’s not meant to paralyze—it’s meant
to be transformed into trust.
·
Calling Transforms Identity
“From now on you will be catching men.” Jesus doesn’t just invite Peter
to follow; He redefines his purpose. The fisherman becomes an apostle. The nets
become the Gospel.
·
Radical Surrender Is the Response
The disciples “left everything and followed Him.” Their boats, their
catch, their livelihoods—all forsaken for a greater mission. It’s a reminder
that the call of Christ often asks for everything, but offers more than we can
imagine.
·
Imperfect Vessels, Divine Mission
Jesus chose flawed men to build His Church. That’s not a concession—it’s a
declaration that grace works through imperfection. The Church is holy not
because its leaders are perfect, but because its foundation is Christ.
Feast of St.
Ignatius[1]
Ignatius, by nation a
Spaniard, was born of a noble family at Loyola, in Cantabria. At first, he
attended the court of the Catholic king, and later on embraced a military
career. Having been wounded at the siege of Pampeluna, he chanced in his
illness to read some pious books, which kindled in his soul a wonderful
eagerness to follow in the footsteps of Christ and the saints. He went to
Montserrat and hung up his arms before the altar of the Blessed Virgin; he then
watched the whole night in prayer, and thus entered upon his knighthood in the
army of Christ. St. Ignatius strongly recommends making a daily examination of
conscience.
Examination
of Conscience
Prayer
before Examination:
I am perfectly sensible, O
my God, that I have in many ways offended Thy divine majesty and provoked Thy
wrath by my sins; and that if I obtain not pardon, I shall be cast out of thy
sight forever. I desire, therefore, at present to call myself to an account,
and look into all the sins whereby I have displeased Thee; but O my God, how
miserably shall I deceive myself if Thou assist me not in this work by Thy
heavenly light. Grant me, therefore, at present, thy grace, whereby I may
discover all my imperfections, see all my failings, and duly call to mind all
my sins: for I know that nothing is hidden from Thy sight. But I confess myself
in the dark as to my own failings: my passions blind me, self-love flatters me,
presumption deludes me, and though I have many sins which stare me in the face,
and cannot be hidden, yet how many, too, are there quite concealed from me! But
discover even those to me, O Lord! enlighten my darkness, cure my blindness,
and remove every veil that hides my sins from me, that I may be no longer a
secret to myself, nor a stranger to my own failings, not ever flatter myself
with the thoughts of having repented, an at the same time nourish folly and
vice within my breast. Come, Holy Ghost, and by a beam of Thy divine light
illumine my understanding, that I may have a perfect view of all my sins and
iniquities, and that, sincerely repenting of them, I may know Thee, and be
again received into Thy favor.
A Method of Examination of
Conscience, according to the threefold Duty we owe: (I) To God (II) To our
Neighbor (III) To ourselves.
I-In Relation to God:
·
Have
you omitted morning or evening prayer, or neglected to make your daily
examination of conscience?
·
Have
you prayed negligently, and with willful distraction?
·
Have
you spent your time, especially on Sundays and holidays, not in sluggishly
lying abed, or in any sort of idle entertainment, but in reading, praying, or
other pious exercises; and taken care that those under your charge have done
the like, and not wanted the instructions necessary for their condition, nor
time for prayer, or to prepare for the sacraments?
·
Have
you spoken irreverently of God and holy things?
·
Have
you taken his name in vain, or told untruths?
·
Have
you omitted your duty through human respect, interest, compliance, etc.?
·
Have
you been zealous for God's honor, for justice, virtue and truth, and reproved
such as act otherwise?
·
Have
you resigned your will to God in troubles necessities, sickness, etc.?
·
Have
you faithfully resisted thoughts of infidelity, distrust, presumption,
impurity, etc.?
II-In Relation to Your
Neighbor
·
Have
you disobeyed your superiors, murmured against their commands, or spoken of
them contemptuously?
·
Have
you been troubled, peevish, or impatient, when told of your faults, and not
corrected them?
·
Have
you scorned the good advice of others, or censured their proceedings?
·
Have
you offended any one by injurious threatening words or actions? Or lessened
their reputation by any sort of detractions, or in any matter of importance?
·
Or
spread any report, true or false, that exposed your neighbor to contempt, or
made him undervalued?
·
Have
you been carrying stories backward and forward, created discord and
misunderstanding between neighbors?
·
Have
you been forward or peevish towards any one in your carriage, speech, or
conversation?
·
Or
taken pleasure to vex, mortify, or provoke them to swear, curse, or any ways
offend God?.
·
Have
you mocked or reproached them for their corporal or spiritual imperfections?
·
Have
you been excessive in reprehending those under your care, or been wanting in
giving them just reproof?
·
Have
you borne with their oversights and imperfections, and given them good counsel?
·
Have
you been solicitous for such as are under your charge, and provided for their
souls and bodies?
III-In Relation to
Yourself
·
Have
you been obstinate in following your own will, or in defending your own
opinion, in things either indifferent, dangerous or scandalous?
·
Have
you taken pleasure in hearing yourself praised, or yielded to thoughts of
vanity?
·
Have
you indulged yourself in overmuch ease, or any ways yielded to sensuality?
·
Has
your conversation been edifying and moderate; or have you been forward, proud,
or troublesome to others?
·
Have
you spent too much time in play, or useless employments, and thereby omitted,
or put off your devotions to unseasonable times? If such as confess often fall
into any of the more grievous sins not here mentioned, their own memory will
easily suggest them, since it is impossible for a tender soul to forget any
mortal offense, which must of necessity afflict her; and therefore, it may not
be necessary for them to turn over the following table of sins, which is
chiefly intended for general confessions.
An Examination for Confession
The First Commandment
is Broken
First, by Sins against Faith
·
To
be ignorant of the principal mysteries of Christianity; of the Creed, of the
Commandments of God and his Church, or of the Sacraments.
·
To
give God's honor to any created being or thing whatsoever; to pay divine
worship, or to ascribe God's exclusive powers or attributes, to any being
except God himself.
·
Willfully
to doubt, or obstinately to err, in any point of faith, or of human respect,
interest, fear etc.
·
To
favor heretics or wicked men, in supporting or approving their opinions or
actions.
·
To
endanger our faith by reading their books with pleasure.
·
To
examine divine mysteries with curiosity, and secrets of Providence by pure
human reason.
·
To
disrespect or deride holy things.
·
To
abuse the words of the Holy Scripture, by perverting them to a wicked or
profane sense, making them subservient to jests, or other ill purposes.
·
To
desire to know things to come, which belong to God alone, or things past or
present, which are hid from us, and for this end to employ unlawful means, as
fortune tellers, or other superstitious inventions.
·
To
give credit to dreams, or make superstitious observations; to employ prayers or
sacred names to ill uses; to use charms etc.
Secondly, by Sins against Hope
·
By
distrusting the mercies of God and despairing of the pardon of our sins.
·
By
presuming on God's goodness, without the least concern of amendment.
·
By
deferring our conversion or repentance till the end of life.
·
By
exposing ourselves to the danger of offending God either by company, reading,
or otherwise, which is called tempting God.
·
By
exposing ourselves, without necessity, to some corporal danger; as sickness,
wounds or death.
·
By
neglecting the remedies which God has appointed in these dangers, as physic for
the body, or prayer and the sacraments for the soul.
Thirdly, by Sins against Charity
·
By
not loving God above all things, but rather choosing willfully to offend him,
than suffer any loss of honor, riches, etc.
·
By
preferring the love of man before the love of God; or offending him through
fear of being jeered or slighted.
·
By
omitting our duty through shame, or human respect.
·
By
thinking seldom of God or being ashamed to speak of him; or by not hearkening
to his inspirations, by forgetting his benefits, or neglecting to give him
thanks.
Fourthly, by Sin against Religion
·
By
not adoring God or praying to him but seldom.
·
By
praying without attention, and with willful distractions.
·
By
a want of respect to God in time of prayer; or by talking or being present in
holy places without a becoming modesty and gravity in our looks, words and
actions.
Fifthly, by Sins against the Care we ought
to have of our Salvation.
·
By
a love of idleness.
·
By
being too solicitous in temporal concerns and neglecting the means of
salvation.
·
By
deferring amendment of life, or immediately desisting, after having begun it.
·
By
neglecting the means of salvation; as the sacraments, prayer, good works, or
performing them without devotion.
The Second Commandment
is Broken
·
By
taking the name of God in vain.
·
By
swearing to what one knows or doubts to be false.
·
By
swearing to what is unjust, or prejudicial to others.
·
By
swearing without necessity, though the thing itself be true and just.
·
By
blaspheming God or holy things.
·
By
cursing one's self or others or taking pleasure in hearing others swear or
curse; or by provoking them to it.
·
By
not reprehending them when one could and ought.
·
By
making a vow to do what is impossible to fulfill; or to do what is evil and
displeasing to God; or to do what one never intends to perform.
·
By
breaking lawful vows or deferring to fulfill them without just cause.
The Third Commandment
is Broken.
·
By
doing servile works on Sunday or causing others to do the like without
necessity.
·
By
employing a considerable part of Sundays or holidays in temporal affairs, as is
often the case with merchants, advocates, solicitors, etc.
·
By
omitting to hear Mass, or not hearing it with due attention and reverence.
·
By
spending Sundays and holidays in idleness, gaming, dancing, feasting, and other
recreations.
·
By
not dedicating a considerable part of those days to reading and praying, and by
not taking care that those under your charge to the like.
The Fourth Commandment
is Broken
I. By children:
·
Not
paying due respect to their parents, or by despising them either in their
hearts or actions.
·
By
not loving them, but wishing their death, or some misfortune; or by forsaking
them in their necessities.
·
By
not cheerfully obeying them; or by obeying them in things unlawful.
·
By
slighting their representations and resisting their corrections.
·
By
putting them into a passion, and not taking care to pacify them.
·
By
not executing their last will and testament, or by delaying doing so.
II. By parents not
discharging their duty towards their children.
·
In
not loving them and supplying their corporal necessities.
·
In
not being careful of their salvation.
·
In
not correcting them when it is necessary; in flattering their passions or
indulging their evil inclinations.
·
In
treating them with too much severity.
·
In
not setting them good example.
·
In
forcing them in the choice of their state in life.
The Fifth Commandment
is Broken
·
By
anger, quarreling, or threatening, or by injurious or reproachful words, or
actions against our neighbors.
·
By
revenge, or deliberate thoughts or desires of revenge.
·
By
provoking, striking, challenging, wounding, or being the cause of another's
death.
·
By
bearing malice, refusing to salute or speak to any neighbor out of hatred or
aversion, or refusing to be reconciled to him.
The Sixth Commandment
is Broken
I. By the hearing.
·
In
willingly giving ear to immodest words, discourses, songs, etc.
II. By the sight.
·
In
looking on immodest objects,
·
In
reading or keeping immodest books; lending them to others; or neglecting to
suppress them when we may.
III. By the tongue.
·
In
speaking immodest words.
·
In
relating improper stories or wicked actions of ourselves or others.
IV. By the touch.
·
In
using indecent actions.
V. By thoughts.
·
By
entertaining impure thoughts willfully and with delight.
VI. By immodest actions.
·
In
committing the sin of impurity, and whether effected by soliciting, seducing
with promises, or forcing, whether it be fornication, adultery, or incest.
·
In
sins against nature.
The Seventh Commandment
is Broken.
·
By
taking another's goods, and to what value.
·
By
retaining what we know belongs to another.
·
By
denying our debts, or willfully delaying payment, to the prejudice of our
neighbors.
·
By
making unjust bargains or contracts, into which every trade or profession ought
to make a strict inquiry.
·
By
causing any damage to our neighbors.
·
By
putting off false and counterfeit money.
·
By
desiring another's property.
·
By
not giving alms when necessity requires.
·
By
not paying dues to our pastors, or by not contributing to the decent support of
religious worship.
·
By
simony.
The Eighth Commandment
is Broken
·
By
witnessing what is false, or defending a false accusation, as in lawyers and
solicitors; or condemning the innocent, or discharging the guilty, as judges
and arbitrators.
·
By
detraction, either in laying something false to another's charge, or reporting
for truth what is merely doubtful; or in revealing something as yet secret and
unknown, though true, to the prejudice of some third person; with a
declaration, whether it be done out of levity and indiscretion, or out of
malice or ill-will; whether in the presence of many, or in a matter of
importance.
·
By
lying or speaking what we judge to be otherwise than we say, whether out of
custom, or to the considerable prejudice of others.
·
By
hypocrisy, which is a lie in action.
The
Ninth and Tenth are Broken
·
By
all unlawful and willful desires of impurity and theft, which have been already
mentioned in the sixth and seventh commandment.
The Precepts of the Church
I.
To keep certain appointed days holy, with the obligation of hearing Mass, and
resting from servile works.
II. To observe the days of abstinence and fasting.
III. To confess our sins to our pastors, at least once a year.
IV. To receive the Blessed Sacrament at Easter, or thereabouts.
V. To contribute to the support of our pastors.
VI. To obey the laws of the Church concerning Matrimony.
VII. To participate in the Church's mission of Evangelization of Souls.
The Seven Deadly Sins
(The sins of covetousness,
luxury, and sloth have been already examined in the first, sixth, and seventh
commandments.)
The
Sin of Pride consists:
·
In
entertaining too great and opinion of ourselves, or in valuing others less than
ourselves and maintaining a just and noble self-love.
·
In
publishing what we think good in ourselves, that we may be esteemed by others.
·
In
arrogance, by attributing to ourselves the good we have not.
·
In
presumption and ambition, by confiding too much in our own strength, conceiving
ourselves capable of accomplishing things above our abilities, and in rashly
attempting them.
·
In
contempt of others, on account of the good opinions we have of ourselves, and
when this contempt is manifested by words or actions or by being severe and
exacting on inferiors.
·
In
want of submission to our superiors, by disobeying them, blaming their conduct,
or murmuring against them.
·
In
not acknowledging our faults, or when, in confessing the facts, we maintain we
have done well, or at least allege false excuses.
·
In
contempt of admonitions and corrections.
·
In
discord.
·
In
hypocrisy.
·
In
curiosity, which inclines us to know things prejudicial to our salvation.
·
By
ingratitude for God's benefits.
The Sin of Gluttony
·
In
eating or drinking to excess, as far as they are prejudicial, either to our
health or our reason, or any ways scandalous, or of ill example to others.
The Sin of Envy
·
Trouble
at the good success of our neighbor, or when we endeavor to do him an
unkindness, or speak often against him, or create an ill opinion of him in the
mind of another.
·
When
we rejoice at our neighbor's harm.
The Sin
of Anger
·
Not
to endure anything contrary to our inclinations.
·
To
suffer ourselves to be hurried away by the emotions of wrath against those that
give us any trouble.
·
To
proceed to quarrels, injurious language, oaths, curses, threats; to take
revenge, or to desire and wish to be in a capacity of exercising it.
·
To
refuse to pardon injuries, or to be reconciled to our enemies, or to such of
our neighbors with whom we have had some misunderstanding or falling out.
A Prayer for
Obtaining Contrition
I have
now here before me, O Lord, a sad prospect of the manifold offenses whereby I
have displeased thy divine Majesty, and which I am assured will appear in
judgment against me if, by repentance and a hearty sorrow, my soul be not
prepared to receive thy pardon. But this sorrow and this repentance, O Lord,
must be the free gift of thy mercy, without which all my endeavors will be in
vain, and I shall be forever miserable. Have pity, therefore, on me, O merciful
Father, and pour forth into my heart thy grace, whereby I may sincerely repent
of all my sins; grant me true contrition, that I may bewail my base
ingratitude, and grieve from my heart for having offended so good a God. Permit
me not to be deluded by a false sorrow, as I fear I have been too often,
through my own weakness and neglect; but let it now be thy gift, descending
from thee, the Father of Lights, that so my repentance may be accompanied by an
amendment and a change of life, that being thus acquitted from the guilt of my
sins, I may once more be received into the number of thy servants. Amen.
Novena
in Honor of Saint John Marie Vianney
Confessor of Souls
O Holy Priest of Ars, you
knew how important was a good confession for the Christian life. It was to
procure the happy fruits of millions of souls that you agreed to be in an
uncomfortable confessional, which was like a prison, up to 15 to 16 hours on certain
days. I will try to develop the habit of frequent confession, to prepare
properly each time and to have always regret for my sins, so that the grace of
final perseverance but also the sanctification of my soul will be assured. Ask
this grace for me. 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 43 Ark of the Covenant
Fr. Mike provides us with a mental picture of the ark of the covenant and
reminds that the small details of worship matter as we read Exodus 25-26,
Leviticus 19, and Psalm 119:1-56
Daily Devotions
·
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting:
·
Litany of the Most Precious
Blood of Jesus
·
Religion
in the Home for Preschool: July
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
· Rosary
AUGUST
August--We may come to appreciate more deeply the various landforms (mountains, deserts, rock formations, valleys, and plains) during vacation time. They give us bearing, direction, and the geological history of our lives. This is the beginning of awareness of the "here" in our lives. The Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord shows us the "hereness" of the risen Lord, and the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary speaks of God's power to the blessed. While we can choose to extend the Savior's redeeming power to our wounded earth, we also can choose to withdraw from this awesome challenge.
Overview of August[3]
August is often considered the transitional month in our seasonal calendar. It is the time of the year we begin to wind-down from our summer travels and vacations and prepare for Autumn — back to school, fall festivals, harvest time, etc. The Church in her holy wisdom has provided a cycle of events in its liturgical year which allow the faithful to celebrate the major feasts in the life of Christ and Mary. Most notably, during August, we celebrate the feast of the Transfiguration (August 6) and the feast of the Assumption (August 15).
The days of summer have provided a welcome change of pace. However, while vacations afford us the time to relax and refresh, the change of habits and routines can also have a negative impact on our spiritual lives. As if to re-ignite us, the Church offers us in the plethora of August feasts vivid examples of the virtue of perseverance: six martyrs — two who are named in Canon I of the Mass and two who were martyred during World War II; seven founders of religious congregations, as well as three popes and two kings; the apostle, St. Bartholomew; the great Doctor of the Church, St. Augustine and St. Monica, his mother; the humble patron saint of parish priests, St. John Vianney, and the patron of deacons, St. Lawrence, who joked with his executioners while being roasted alive.
It is never too late to begin — as the life of the reformed sinner, St. Augustine teaches us — nor too difficult to begin again, as demonstrated by the conversion of the martyr, St. Teresa Benedicta (Edith Stein). We present-day members of the Mystical Body are certain of the reward to which we are called, for Christ's Transfigured body (August 6) is a preview of that glory. Moreover, in the Assumption of his Mother (August 15), Our Lord has demonstrated his fidelity to his promise. Her privilege is "the highest fruit of the Redemption" and "our consoling assurance of the coming of our final hope — the glorification which is Christ's" (Enchiridion on Indulgences).
The Blessed Virgin Mary is the most perfect example of Christian perseverance, but she is also our advocate in heaven where she is crowned Queen of Heaven and Earth (August 22). Mary is the "Mother of Perpetual Help", the patroness of the Congregation founded by St. Alphonsus Liguori (August 1). "No one who has fled to her protection is left unaided" is the claim of the Memorare of St. Bernard (August 20). Heretics have returned to the faith by the prayers of her Rosary, first preached by St. Dominic (August 8) in the twelfth Century, and hearts have been converted by the graces received while wearing her Miraculous Medal, promoted by St. Maximillian Kolbe (August 14) and adopted as the "badge" for the Pious Union he founded. Hail, holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope!
August Travel[4]
· State Fair Season
State
fair season kicks off in August; see the stars of the season like the
Orange County Fair, which draws more than 1.5 million fairgoers, or the
Minnesota State Fair, which Andrew Zimmern calls his own slice of heavenly
obsession. With state fair staples like ice-cold lemonade and fried treats, we
can see why.
Technically the world's largest
yard sale, the flea market known as the 127 Corridor is certainly the LONGEST
outdoor market. Beginning on a highway in Jamestown, TN, this flea stretches
hundreds of miles through North Covington, Kentucky, and continues all the way
to Gadsden, Alabama. There are more than 2,000 vendors along this tour who
clear their schedules for 3 weeks every August. One can imagine the caravan of
Winnabagos that make this annual pilgrimage. Countless treasures and billions
of collectibles hide among bric-a-brac and junk, but the people-watching and
Southern hospitality alone are worth the trip.
Escape
the heat, and take in awe-inspiring glacial views, with a cruise to Alaska.
Cruise ships dock alongside towns from Seward, along Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula,
to Ketchikan, in the Alexander Archipelago. Cruise ships also dock near Katmai
National Park, where July is prime time to see bears gulp up Atlantic salmon on
their run. And if cruise prices prove too high in July, fret not: Alaska’s
prime cruise season stretches through September.
·
July
30-Aug 3rd -Maine
Lobster Festival (Rockland, ME)
The annual Maine Lobster
Festival kicks off this month, and you won't want to miss a moment of it! Over
the course of the 5-day festival, more than 20,000 lbs. of lobster will be
served -- lobster rolls, lobster wraps, lobster Caesar salad. Did we say lobster?
Plus, see the annual Lobster Crate Race, cooking contest and the Maine Sea
Goddess coronation!
·
August 8-16-Elvis
Week (Memphis, TN)
Shake, rattle and roll! Memphis,
TN, marks its annual Elvis Week
celebration each August. There's always something for Elvis fans, including the
big draw each year, the annual Elvis Tribute Artists contest. Who will be
crowned the King?
·
August
13-16 August Doins Rodeo (Payson, AZ)
Slip on a pair of boots, and
head to the World’s Oldest Continuous Rodeo. First held in 1884, the August
Doins Rodeo takes place each August in Arizona’s cool mountain town of Payson.
Hold on to your hats, you’re in for some heart-stopping action!
·
August 21-Happy Birthday, Hawaii!
·
August
28-30-Cowal
Highland Gathering (Dunoon, Scotland)
Nice legs! See big, brawny men
in flowing Scottish skirts compete in the largest Highland games in the world
-- the Cowal Highland Gathering. Also known as the Cowal Games, the annual
event is held in the Scottish town of Dunoon, attracting more than 23,000
spectators to celebrate Scottish and Celtic culture.
Iceman’s Calendar
·
August 1st Fri. MASS First
Friday
·
August 2nd Sat. MASS First
Saturday
·
August 3rd Sun. Eight
Sunday after Pentecost
·
August 4th Mon. Feast
of St. John Vianney
·
August 6th Wed. Feast
of the Transfiguration
o
MASS First
Wednesday
·
August 9th Sat. Full
Sturgeon Moon
·
August 10th Sun. Ninth
Sunday after Pentecost
·
August 11th Mon. Feast
of St. Claire
·
August 15th Fri. Assumption
Blessed Virgin Mary
·
August 17th Sun. Tenth
Sunday after Pentecost
·
August 22nd Fri. Queenship
of Mary
·
August 24th Sun. Eleventh
Sunday after Pentecost
·
August 25th Mon. St.
Bartholomew, Apostle
·
August 29th Fri. Passion
of John the Baptist
·
August 31st Sun. Twelfth
Sunday after Pentecost
Here's a Catholic fast-before-feast schedule
for August 2025, pairing key feast days with suggested fast days to help you
spiritually prepare:
✨ Feast Days & Suggested Fast Schedule –
August 2025
Feast Day |
Date |
Suggested Fast Day(s) |
Spiritual Focus |
St. John Vianney |
Aug 4 (Mon) |
Aug 2 (Sat) |
Pastoral zeal,
confession, and humility |
Transfiguration
of the Lord |
Aug 6 (Wed) |
Aug 5 (Tue) |
Divine glory,
transformation, and hope |
St. Dominic |
Aug 8 (Fri) |
Aug 7 (Thu) |
Preaching, truth,
and Marian devotion |
St. Teresa
Benedicta of the Cross |
Aug 9 (Sat) |
Aug 8 (Fri) |
Martyrdom,
intellect, and spiritual courage |
St. Clare of
Assisi |
Aug 11 (Mon) |
Aug 10 (Sun) |
Simplicity,
poverty, and contemplative prayer |
St. Maximilian
Kolbe |
Aug 14 (Thu) |
Aug 13 (Wed) |
Sacrifice,
charity, and Marian consecration |
Assumption of the
Blessed Virgin Mary |
Aug 15 (Fri) |
Aug 14 (Thu) |
Heavenly hope,
purity, and Marian glory |
St. Bernard of
Clairvaux |
Aug 20 (Wed) |
Aug 19 (Tue) |
Mysticism, love
of God, and monastic wisdom |
Queenship of Mary |
Aug 22 (Fri) |
Aug 21 (Thu) |
Marian royalty,
intercession, and peace |
St. Monica |
Aug 27 (Wed) |
Aug 26 (Tue) |
Perseverance,
motherhood, and prayer |
St. Augustine |
Aug 28 (Thu) |
Aug 27 (Wed) |
Conversion,
theology, and divine mercy |
Beheading of St.
John the Baptist |
Aug 29 (Fri) |
Aug 28 (Thu) |
Prophetic
witness, truth, and martyrdom |
🕊️ Tips for Fasting
- Traditional fast: One full meal, two
smaller meals, no snacks.
- Spiritual fast: Abstain from media,
comfort foods, or distractions.
- Pair with prayer: Consider the Rosary,
Lectio Divina, or a novena leading up to the feast.
[2]https://globalgrasshopper.com/destinations/north-america/20-of-the-best-places-to-visit-in-july-in-the-usa/
[5]https://www.cntraveler.com/story/is-alaskas-summer-cruise-season-still-happening?verso=true
-
Vinny’s Corner · Saturday Litany of the Hours Invoking the Aid of Mother Mary · Bucket Item trip: Pilgrimage- National...
-
Best Beaches in Sicily NIC’s Corner · Bucket List trip: Rich vs Poor Tour: Monaco vs. Congo o Monaco : Monaco's weal...
-
Dara’s Corner · I will not delude you with prospects of peace and consolations; on the contrary, prepare for great battles. Be v...
-
Candace’s Corner · 10 coolest summer getaways in Arizona: Mountains, lakes and a chilly cave trek · St. Anthony Noven...
-
To Your Precious Blood , I entrust Vincent Michael , my conqueror and defender. Clothe him in Your strength, that he may stand firm in tr...
-
Switch of Manliness Legacy OUR LADY OF CZESTOCHOWA Acts, Chapter 10, verse 1-4 1 Now in Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a cent...
-
30 Days of Women and Herbs – Frauendreissiger Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) 2 Maccabees, Chapter 15, Verse 8 He urged his men not to f...
-
entrusting your five daughters to the Five Wounds of Christ is a deeply symbolic and spiritually rich gesture. In Catholic tradition, the Fi...
-
World UFO day Disco day Killed two birds with one disco ball Dara’s Corner Foodie- Bouillabaisse Bucket List Trip: “ The World ” next ...
-
Monday Night at the Movies Luis Bunuel, Simon of the Desert, 1965 SAINT MOTHER THEODORE GUERIN Hebrews, Chapter 12, Verse 21 Indeed, so F...