Friday, January 31, 2025
NIC’s Corner
Be strong and steadfast; have no fear or dread of them, for it is the LORD, your God, who marches with you; he will never fail you or forsake you.
(Deuteronomy 31:6)
· Carnival: Part Two, the Final Countdown
· Carnival Time begins in Catholic Countries.
· Get creative “International Creative Month”
· Spirit Hour: Brandy Alexander
· Try “West African Gumbo”
· Bucket List trip: Jasper
· Get an indulgence
· Start your day by enjoying a hot cup of hot chocolate, embodying coziness and warmth. Dive into an art project inspired by your favorite zebra pattern, embracing creativity. Plan a future trip while savoring some Brussels sprouts, amplifying your wanderlust. Get a head start on holiday gift wrapping with Scotch tape, adding a touch of fun to your day.
· Challenge yourself by doing tasks backward, from brushing your teeth to writing, adding a whimsical twist. Savor a Brandy Alexander cocktail, reveling in its rich flavor. Release your inner child by donning a gorilla suit and spreading cheer. Embrace the cold with a frosty treat, celebrating unusual occurrences.
· Reflect on the value of social security while expressing gratitude for what you have. Lastly, commemorate independence with a traditional Nauruan dish, fostering appreciation for different cultures. As the day comes to a close, gather loved ones for a bonfire, symbolizing unity and warmth.
JANUARY 31 Friday-SAINT JOHN BOSCO
Psalm 103, Verse 13
As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who FEAR him.
Does God derive anything from having us fear Him?
His only wish is to see us truly growing and fruitful. He made us and as a loving father, he knows our needs both physical and spiritual. If we have a loving fear of our father we are compelled by the Holy Spirit into spiritual leadership, avoiding sloth which often comes as a result of being stuck in a victim mentality or not letting go of rage by forgiving the offender.
Today seek the Father’s compassion by going to confession then arise and grow in spiritual leadership.
As we grow in our spiritual leadership[1] we tend to be:
·
Confident in God
·
Know God
·
Seek God’s will
·
Self-sacrifice
·
Serve all
·
Motivated by love
·
Trust the Holy Spirit
·
Lead others
St.
John Bosco was the founder of the Salesian Society, named in honor of St.
Francis de Sales, and of the Daughters of Mary, Help of Christians. His
lifework was the welfare of young boys and girls, hence his title,
"Apostle of Youth." He had no formal system or theory of education.
His methods centered on persuasion, authentic religiosity, and love for young
people. He was an enlightened educator and innovator. Don Bosco decided to go
ahead fearlessly with his educational mission stating,” “Timid souls refrained
from making any kind of fresh start for fear of the coming storm.”
Things to
Do
·
St. John Bosco at a young age learned how to
juggle and do other tricks to attract children to him. This provided
opportunities for him to give catechesis to these children. Think of different
activities that you could do to attract children—perhaps juggling, putting on
puppet shows, storybook time—and use that opportunity to teach a virtue,
catechism lesson, or just to be a good example. Good clean fun or a wholesome
activity is a lesson in itself in a world where there is so much corruption.
·
If you feel brave, try cooking the stuffed raw
peppers suggested for today. Mama Margaret probably cooked Peperoni farciti
à la Piemontaise (peppers stuffed with boiled rice), a speciality from
Turin, for St. John Bosco's boys.
·
Read this article from Catholic Culture's
library, Don Bosco, Seeker of Souls.
Catechism
of the Catholic Church
Day
234 1730-1738
PART THREE: LIFE IN CHRIST
SECTION ONE-MAN'S VOCATION LIFE IN THE
SPIRIT
CHAPTER
ONE-THE DIGNITY OF THE HUMAN PERSON
Article 3-MAN'S FREEDOM
1730 God
created man a rational being, conferring on him the dignity of a person who can
initiate and control his own actions. "God willed that man should be 'left
in the hand of his own counsel,' so that he might of his own accord seek his
Creator and freely attain his full and blessed perfection by cleaving to
him." Man is rational and therefore like God; he is created with free will
and is master over his acts.
I. Freedom and
Responsibility
1731 Freedom
is the power, rooted in reason and will, to act or not to act, to do this or
that, and so to perform deliberate actions on one's own responsibility. By free
will one shapes one's own life. Human freedom is a force for growth and
maturity in truth and goodness; it attains its perfection when directed toward
God, our beatitude.
1732 As long
as freedom has not bound itself definitively to its ultimate good which is God,
there is the possibility of choosing between good and evil, and thus of growing
in perfection or of failing and sinning. This freedom characterizes properly
human acts. It is the basis of praise or blame, merit or reproach.
1733 The more
one does what is good, the freer one becomes. There is no true freedom except
in the service of what is good and just. the choice to disobey and do evil is
an abuse of freedom and leads to "the slavery of sin."
1734 Freedom
makes man responsible for his acts to the extent that they are voluntary.
Progress in virtue, knowledge of the good, and ascesis enhance the mastery of
the will over its acts.
1735
Imputability and responsibility for an action can be diminished or even
nullified by ignorance, inadvertence, duress, fear, habit, inordinate
attachments, and other psychological or social factors.
1736 Every act
directly willed is imputable to its author:
Thus the
Lord asked Eve after the sin in the garden: "What is this that you have
done?" He asked Cain the same question. The prophet Nathan
questioned David in the same way after he committed adultery with the wife of
Uriah and had him murdered.
An action can be indirectly voluntary when it results from negligence regarding
something one should have known or done: for example, an accident arising from
ignorance of traffic laws.
1737 An effect
can be tolerated without being willed by its agent; for instance, a mother's
exhaustion from tending her sick child. A bad effect is not imputable if it was
not willed either as an end or as a means of an action, e.g., a death a person
incurs in aiding someone in danger. For a bad effect to be imputable it must be
foreseeable, and the agent must have the possibility of avoiding it, as in the
case of manslaughter caused by a drunken driver.
1738 Freedom
is exercised in relationships between human beings. Every human person, created
in the image of God, has the natural right to be recognized as a free and
responsible being. All owe to each other this duty of respect. The right to the
exercise of freedom, especially in moral and religious matters, is an
inalienable requirement of the dignity of the human person. This right must be
recognized and protected by civil authority within the limits of the common
good and public order.
Fitness Friday[3]
Is Chocolate Good for You?
The Health Benefits of Chocolate
Theobroma Cacao, the Latin name for chocolate, means “Food of the Gods”
for a reason. It’s a heavenly way to lift your performance. There are also some
major health benefits of chocolate.
We’re not talking about junk chocolate in candy bars and sweet desserts;
dark chocolate has a long history as a healing plant, a mood enhancer, and even
an aphrodisiac. So, you’re in luck: you can indeed use high-quality chocolate
to take delicious control of your biology.
7 health benefits of
chocolate
You’ve probably read that chocolate affects your brain by causing the
release of the “happiness neurotransmitters” serotonin, dopamine, and
endorphins. Like coffee, chocolate is also a potent source of polyphenol
antioxidants, which can fight damaging free radicals and protect your
mitochondria.
But experienced chocolate hackers also know chocolate to be a useful tool
for improving performance in lesser-known ways. In fact, cacao exerts a
systemic effect on the body, with benefits ranging from improved blood flow and
cognition to beneficial alterations in gut bacteria! Here are some of the most
important benefits of chocolate (besides taste…).
1. Chocolate
for a better mood
Chocolate can improve your mood, especially in high-pressure or stressful
situations. Participants were asked to complete serial subtraction tasks of
threes and sevens (counting down by 3s and 7s), and a rapid visual
information-processing task to test sustained attention. Those who consumed
cocoa flavanol drinks prior to the trial had overall better cognitive
performance and reported less mental fatigue than the control group.
2. Chocolate
makes you eat less
One of my favorite effects of chocolate consumption is a reduction in
appetite. One study quantified this by giving participants a 100 g serving of
either milk or dark chocolate two hours before being served an all-you-can-eat
lunch. Ingestion of dark chocolate was correlated with a 17% lower calorie
intake at the following meal, compared to the milk chocolate group. (I’d
imagine that it’s because the casein in milk binds to the polyphenols in
chocolate, making them unavailable to your body.)
Chocolate may also have a significant effect on mood, as one double-blind
study recorded that subjects were able to subjectively discriminate the effects
of theobromine at doses as low as 100-560 mg.
3. Chocolate
for a healthy heart
Regular chocolate consumption can improve your cardiovascular health.
Notably, the polyphenols in cacao increase HDL cholesterol (often thought of as
the protective kind of cholesterol), which in turns leads to decreased oxidized
LDL cholesterol. Other effects include higher levels of circulating nitric
oxide, and reduced platelet adhesion,, resulting in improved circulation benefits
of chocolate
One study even found the cacao flavanol epicatechin to be responsible for
the rise in nitric oxide, which is essential for vascular health. Bioavailability
of nitric oxide is an essential determinate of vascular health as it regulates
dilation tone, signals cell growth and inflammatory response, and protects
blood vessels from clotting.
Vascular function is also really important for insulin-regulated glucose
uptake. That’s why dark chocolate can also improve/ “Healthy levels of insulin
sensitivity.
4. Chocolate
for glowing skin and sun protection
Chocolate can help you maintain healthy skin by modulating healthy blood
flow. In one study, two groups of women consumed either a high flavanol or low
flavanol cocoa powder for a period of 12 weeks. While the low flavanol group
showed no change in markers of skin health, subjects in the high flavanol group
had on average 25% reduction in UV-induced erythema (sunburn) after exposure to
a solar simulator.
The high flavanol group also recorded increased skin density and
thickness, as well as better hydration and less transepidermal water loss.
5. Chocolate
may lower inflammation
Chocolate has inflammation-modulating properties. In one study, obese
mice supplemented with cocoa powder had healthier levels of inflammation and
insulin. These mice also had a 30% reduction in plasma levels of the major
pro-inflammatory mediator interleukin 6. Additionally, a cross-sectional study
of an Italian cohort discovered an inverse relationship between dark chocolate
consumption and serum C-reactive protein.
6. Chocolate
is a prebiotic
While many studies assume that it is the cacao polyphenols acting
directly to modulate biomarkers, it is most likely the case that at least some
of the effect is indirect, and works through interaction with our gut
microbiome. Research suggests that low molecular weight cocoa flavanols such as
epicatechin and catechin can be absorbed directly into blood circulation,
(unless you mix them with milk) but this is not so for the larger polyphenols.
In this case, microflora in the colon work to break down high molecular weight
polyphenols, so that the smaller secondary metabolites may circulate throughout
the body. Cocoa flavanols are processed by gut microbiota, and secondary
metabolites can enter circulation.
benefits of chocolate and effects of cocoa on the immune system
If gut bacteria are feeding on the larger cocoa polyphenols, then it
follows that they can also change the composition of the intestinal microbiome.
In fact, one study did discover a beneficial prebiotic effect of high flavanol
chocolate consumption. After a period of 4 weeks of consuming a high flavanol
cocoa powder, subjects had a significant increase in bifidobacteria and
lactobacilli populations, as well as significantly decreased clostridia levels.
This was accompanied by significantly decreased C-reactive protein (which
correlates to inflammation reduction in the body), which was associated
particularly with changes in lactobacilli.
7. Chocolate
for anti-aging
Last, but certainly not least, cacao can enhance mitochondrial
biogenesis, or, the creation of new mitochondria! If you’ve read about Unfair
Advantage, you know how important it is to have healthy mitochondria, and more
of them. It is the flavanol epicatechin in chocolate which is responsible for
mitogenesis. In one study, oral administration of epicatechin to senile mice
shifted numerous biomarkers towards those of young mice, including sirtuin 1, a
well-recognized regulator of mitochondrial biogenesis. In another mouse study,
treatment with epicatechin improved exercise performance by ~50% compared to
controls, and enhanced muscle fatigue resistance by ~30%. The epicatechin group
also recorded significant increases in mitochondrial volume in hindlimb and
cardiac muscles.
Does chocolate have caffeine?
Yes, but in much smaller amounts than coffee. So
much less, you could probably eat a square or two of dark chocolate before bed
without any trouble falling asleep. The really cool energy-giving molecule in
coffee is called theobromine. Theobromin is the primary alkaloid found in cocoa
that is responsible for multiple positive effects, one of which is similar to
the effects of caffeine. Although theobromine is present in other plants,
there’s a high contentration in dark chocolate, with measures between 237-519
mg per 50g.
The benefits of theobromine
Promotes steady energy: Due to the molecular makeup of theobromine, while
it promotes energy in the body, it doesn’t exert its effects on the central
nervous system – so its effects are a more gentle, feel-good type of energy.
Also, due to its molecular makeup, theobromine takes longer to clear from your
body, which means this calm energy lasts longer.
Better cognitive function: The immediate cognitive effects of chocolate
are primarily accounted for by caffeine and theobromine. A study comparing the
effects of cocoa powder versus an equivalent caffeine and theobromine powder
found equivalent improvements in cognitive and mood assessments.
Addictive taste: It is said that dark chocolate is an “acquired taste,”
and research suggests that theobromine may be the component responsible for our
attraction to dark chocolate. One study demonstrated an increased liking for a
‘novel’ drink when it was mixed with theobromine.
The pitfalls of chocolate
Most chocolate contains sugar
By now you may be interested in picking up some chocolate, but be sure to
choose one with as little sugar as possible or even none.
While research shows that cocoa can have a beneficial effect with regards
to maintaining healthy vascular tone and insulin sensitivity, the reverse is
true for sugar. Eating sweetened chocolate is still not good for you. Beware of
chocolate marketed as “sugar-free” that may contain unhealthy artificial
sweeteners, which are found in the “kryptonite” zone of the Bulletproof Diet
Roadmap. The only recommended sweeteners are Stevia, erythritol from non-GMO
corn, and xylitol from hardwood.
In one study, rats fed a high-fat, high-sucrose diet for 4 weeks
displayed insulin resistance, and decreased endothelial nitric oxide synthase
(eNOS), which is responsible for creating nitric oxide in blood vessels. Other
studies have demonstrated that the detrimental effect of sugar on vascular
function is independent of obesity and insulin resistance, so sugar is bad for
you even if you are in otherwise good health.
Chocolate can contain mold
Unfortunately, due to intensive farming techniques and poor agricultural,
processing, and storage practices, much of the world’s chocolate supply is
contaminated with meaningful levels of mold toxins. One of the more insidious
and dangerous forms of mycotoxin, ochratoxin A, was present in 98% of samples
tested in one study. Of those contaminated with ochratoxin, the study found an
80% co-occurrence of aflatoxin as well. Mycotoxins amplify each other when more
than one is present.
Cacao trees are a tropical crop, making them highly susceptible to fungus
and mold. Roasting moldy beans destroys the actual fungi, but it doesn’t
destroy the fungi’s byproduct: harmful mold toxins. Beans aren’t just
susceptible when they’re on the tree. They can become host to mold and fungi
during pre-processing, so it’s important not to let them sit for long periods
of time. The good news is that one study found that the processing of cocoa
beans into a finished product resulted in a 93.6% decrease in ochratoxin A. My
experience is that mold toxins vary greatly from batch to batch and from brand
to brand, and a brand with “clean” chocolate this month may not be clean the
following month.
Keep the following in mind while selecting and eating chocolate:
Make sure your chocolate is at
least 85 percent dark chocolate.
European chocolate tends to be
lower in mold toxins, as they have stricter government limits than the US.
Take activated coconut charcoal
with chocolate to bind some of the mold toxins like I always do.
How to get more chocolate into your day
Your options are almost limitless. Try these unique options to get more
chocolate into your diet:
Drink cacao tea
Make a Bulletproof Mocha: add
some high-quality chocolate powder to your morning BP coffee.
Make Bulletproof Get Some Ice
Cream
Check out The Bulletproof Diet
book for Bulletproof dessert AND dinner recipes that use high-quality
chocolate.
Thru January 31
The Canadian Rockies is
the place for adventure in January. Besides the predictable winter activities —
skiing, snowshoeing, skating — Jasper in January hosts fat bike snow races, sleigh riding, dog
sledding and ice climbing. And that’s just during the day, Jasper’s evenings
offer wine and whiskey tasting, food-a-paloolza, live music, entertainment,
kids’ scavenger hunts, plus stargazing and northern-light viewing with s’mores.
Daily Devotions
·
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting: Today's Fast: An End to Addictions
·
Rosary
FEBRUARY
Soil under our feet goes unnoticed, though this first foot of soil is where most living organisms’ dwell. The health of the fragile skin of our earth is of utmost importance. Humility comes from the Latin word for soil, "humus." From and unto dust is the humbling message to each of us. Soil is rich and fertile but also prone to erosion and pollution.
Overview of February[5]
Highlights of the Month
The month of February is traditionally dedicated to the Holy Family. Between the events which marked Christmas and the beginning of Christ's public life the Church has seen fit to recall the example of the Holy Family for the emulation of the Christian family.
The Feast of the Presentation (February 2) or Candlemas forms a fitting transition from Christmas to Easter. The small Christ-Child is still in His Mother's arms, but already she is offering Him in sacrifice. February 21, Shrove Tuesday, will find us preparing for Ash Wednesday. The middle of the month will find us on Ash Wednesday accepting the ashes that remind us of our mortality and our need for penance.
Though the shortest month of the year, February is rich in Liturgical activity. It contains a feast (Presentation of our Lord) that bridges two other seasons (Christmas and Easter)! The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord on February 2nd harkens back to the Christmas mystery of Light except that now, Christ, the helpless babe, is “the Light of Revelation to the Gentiles who will save his people from their sins.” Candles, symbolizing Christ our Light, will be carried in procession this day, as will be the Paschal candle during the Easter Vigil Liturgy. In addition, the faithful may receive in February three of the four major public sacramentals that the Church confers during the liturgical year: blessed candles and the blessing of throats and blessed ashes.
"The Light of Revelation" shines more brightly with each successive Sunday of Ordinary Time, until its magnificence–exposing our sinfulness and need for conversion–propels us into the penitential Season of Lent. We prepare to accept the cross of blessed ashes on Ash Wednesday (February 14) and plunge ourselves into anticipating the major exercises of Lent–fasting, prayer, almsgiving–laying our thoughts and prayers on the heart of our Mother Mary. She, who offered her Son in the temple and on the Cross, will teach us how to deny ourselves, take up our cross daily, and follow after her Son.
Members of each family or domestic church have the opportunity to have the candles for their home altar blessed on Candlemas Day (February 2nd); and the next morning, on the Feast of St. Blaise, all might receive the Blessing of the Throats. Always a solicitous Mother, the Church offers this sacramental during the wintry month of February and also sets aside the World Day of Prayer for the Sick on February 11, the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes.
February Travel?[6]
· Take a Horse-Drawn Sleigh Ride (All Month)
Enjoy a gorgeous winter wonderland in Yellowstone and the surrounding areas. National Elk Refuge is closed to vehicle traffic but not to horse-drawn sleighs. The open-air rides offer a unique and amazing way to see elk, bison, eagles, foxes and other wildlife species. Yellowstone and the Jackson Hole area offer a variety of other family activities including snow tubing, skiing, snowmobiles and a year-round roller coaster.
·
Chill Out at Saranac Lake Winter
Carnival
o
January
31-February 9 Party
Adirondack style. Since its start back in 1897, the Saranac Lake
Winter Carnival has grown into one of the oldest winter carnivals in
America. The 10-day event showcases plenty of winter magic, from an ice palace
made from blocks of ice to the coronation of a winter carnival king and queen
·
See Punxsutawney
Phil's Prediction
o
February 2
Bundle up, grab some hot coffee and bring your lawn chair to Gobbler’s Knob
before dawn on Groundhog Day. Then watch as Punxsutawney Phil, the Seer of
Seers, the Prognosticator of Prognosticators reveals his end-of-winter
prediction.
·
Party in Quebec City February7-11
For fabulous winter fun, head to the annual Winter Festival in Quebec City. Snow
rafting, ice canoe racing, a bartending competition, snow baths (clothing
optional), a snow sculpture competition and a masquerade ball are among the
many activities.
·
February
11-Watch the Big Game
o
Welcome to Super Bowl LIX!
·
Smell the Flowers at Tulipmania
Head to San Francisco’s iconic Pier 39 for Tulipmania.
You’ll see over 39,000 blooming tulips and other garden favorites. Guided tours
and gardening tips are provided by Pier 39’s landscaping experts. The tours
start at 10 a.m. daily at the Crab Statue in the Entrance Plaza and end with a
special treat from Trish’s Mini Donuts. The tulips typically begin blooming in
early February and last through mid-March.
·
Celebrate Valentine’s Day International Style
o February 14
Many cultures celebrate Valentine’s Day, but they do it in a variety of ways.
In Germany, not only do people exchange chocolate and flowers, they also give
pigs (toy ones mostly) because they symbolize luck and lust. In Denmark, people
send one another poems and rhymes on stationery cut into the shapes of flowers
and snowdrops.
o
February
13-23
Visit the annual Arabian Horse Show in Scottsdale, Arizona to watch over
2,400 horses compete for a chance at winning the coveted gold title. In between
the competitions, there are plenty of kids’ activities like an ice cream
social, pony painting (ceramic ponies, not real ones), and art contests. And
the best part, kids 17 and under are free.
·
This month and next month: carnival
o
Fat Tuesday — the day before Ash Wednesday — is
the biggest party of the year in cities like New Orleans
and Rio de Janeiro.
o
If you can’t make it to one of those places, try
Mobile, Alabama; Nice, France; Venice Italy or Binche, Belgium.
Iceman’s Calendar-February
·
Arizona
Renaissance Festival February 1-March 30
·
Go Back in Time
to The Old West in Tombstone
o Just like the Arizona Renaissance Festival, Tombstone, Arizona, beckons visitors to step back in time during February. However, instead of transporting you back to a mystical medieval era, Tombstone brings visitors to the rough and tumbling times of the Old West.
o For those seeking a reprieve from the cold and yearning for breathtaking hikes, Saguaro National Park is an excellent choice. With average winter temperatures soaring into the high 60s, it stands out as a premier destination to thaw out and partake in outdoor adventures in February. Upon entering the vast 143-square-mile park, you’ll be captivated by the towering saguaros. Some of these cacti reach an impressive 50 feet and live a lifespan of up to 125 years. The park is divided into two distinct sections: East Saguaro, characterized by its mountainous terrain and abundant hiking and backpacking trails, and the West side, home to a denser Saguaro Forest.
· Wickenburg, Arizona
o
76th
Annual Gold Rush Days & Senior Pro Rodeo
§
FEBRUARY 13-16
·
Check
out Yarnell-St. Joseph of the mountains.
Iceman’s Calendar
·
Sat-Feb. 1-First
Saturday
·
Sun-Feb. 2-Fourth
Sunday after Epiphany
·
Mon-Feb. 3-St.
Blasé Blessing of throats
·
Wed-Feb 5-First
Wednesday
·
Thu-Feb 6th Thursday Feast
·
Fri-Feb 7-First
Friday
·
Sun-Feb 9-Fifth
Sunday after Epiphany
·
Tue-Feb 11-Our
Lady of Lourdes
·
Wed-Feb 12-Lincoln’s
Birthday
·
Thu-Feb 13th-Thursday Feast
·
Fri-Feb 14-St.
Valentines
·
Sun-February 16 Septuagesima
·
Mon-February 17-Presidents
Day
·
Sat-Feb 22 Washington’s
Birthday
·
Sun-Feb 23 Sexagesima
o
Start Novena
to Holy Face to end on Shrove Tuesday Mar 3rd
·
Mon-Feb 24 St.
Matthias
·
Thu-Feb 27-Carnival
Thursday
·
Fri-Feb 28-Carnival
Friday
o
Ramadan Begins
[1] John Maxwell, The Maxwell Leadership
Bible.
[3]https://www.bulletproof.com/diet/superfoods/is-chocolate-good-for-you-health-benefits/
[5]https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/overviews/months/02.cfm
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