NIC’s Corner
· Bucket List trip: Rich vs Poor Tour: Monaco vs.
Congo
o Monaco: Monaco's wealth stems from its status as a tax haven—there's no personal income tax—which attracts wealthy residents worldwide. Combined with limited land driving up real estate value, thriving luxury tourism, and a strong financial services sector, Monaco has built a reputation as a playground for the ultra-rich. Its political stability and glamorous lifestyle add to its exclusive allure.
o Congo: Despite being incredibly rich in natural resources, the Democratic Republic of the Congo remains poor due to a history of colonial exploitation, political instability, and ongoing conflict. Corruption, weak infrastructure, and health crises have further undermined development and kept much of the population in poverty. It’s a classic case of the “resource curse,” where wealth fuels instability instead of prosperity.
o Cheat: National Barbecued Spareribs Day
§ Stay at home: Caesar salad
· Spirit Hour: Monaco Cocktail
· Get an indulgence
· Writer Nathaniel Hawthorne born, 1804
JULY 4 First Friday
Independence
Day
They
were seeking to arrest him, but they FEARED the crowd, for they realized
that he had addressed the parable to them. So they left him and went away.
It
is natural to fear something you cannot control.
Christ
could not be controlled by the men in charge of the Temple system; so, they feared
Him and they feared the crowd that followed Him. Christ’s message was good news
to the crowd who were but pawns in the Jewish Temple system of wealth and
power. We in times of trouble should be like Tobit and seek to walk all the
days of our lives in paths of truth and righteousness. It was Tobit who defied
those in power to do an act of mercy by burying the dead. While his neighbors
mocked him and saying to one another: “He is still not afraid! Once before he
was hunted down for execution because of this very thing; yet now that he has
scarcely escaped, here he is again burying the dead!” (Tobit 2:8) Love makes
sacrifices. He (Christ) laid down His life for us. We should also lay down our
life for our brothers. (1 John 3:16) Most of us by the grace of God are never
confronted with such terrors of evil. Yet, we too in our quiet lives can lay
down ourselves in service to our brothers.
Copilot
Mark 12 offers several layered insights into fear, especially when viewed
through a Catholic lens. The chapter is filled with parables, confrontations,
and teachings that reveal how fear can either distort truth or lead to
reverence. Here are the key lessons:
1. Fear
Rooted in Pride Resists Truth – In the Parable of the Tenants, the
religious leaders realize Jesus is speaking about them, and they seek to arrest
Him—but they don’t, because “they feared the crowd” (Mark 12:12). This
fear is not holy—it’s political. Catholic teaching warns that fear driven by
pride or self-preservation can blind us to God’s voice.
2. Fear of
Losing Power Can Lead to Hypocrisy – When the Pharisees and Herodians try to
trap Jesus with the question about paying taxes, their flattery masks their
fear of His influence. Jesus sees through it and responds with divine wisdom.
Catholics are reminded that fear of losing control can lead to manipulation,
but God’s truth cannot be cornered.
3. Holy Fear
Leads to Wisdom – When Jesus praises the scribe who understands that love of
God and neighbor is greater than all burnt offerings, He tells him, “You are
not far from the kingdom of God” (Mark 12:34). This moment reflects holy
fear—a reverent awe that opens the heart to divine truth. In Catholic
spirituality, this is a gift of the Holy Spirit.
4. Fear of
Public Opinion vs. Fear of God – The religious leaders are repeatedly shown to
fear the people more than they fear God. This inversion is a cautionary tale:
true discipleship requires fearing God above all else, not bowing to social
pressure or political convenience.
In sum, Mark 12 contrasts fear that corrupts with fear that sanctifies.
The Catholic path invites us to examine which kind of fear shapes our
choices—and to let holy fear draw us closer to Christ.
First Friday[1]
"On Friday during Holy Communion,
He said these words to His unworthy slave, if I mistake not: I promise you in
the excessive mercy of my Heart that its all-powerful love will grant to all
those who receive Holy Communion on nine first Fridays of consecutive months
the grace of final repentance; they will not die under my displeasure or
without receiving their sacraments, my divine Heart making itself their assured
refuge at the last moment."
With regard to this promise it may be
remarked:
(1) that our Lord
required Communion to be received on a particular day chosen by Him.
(2) that the nine
Fridays must be consecutive.
(3) that they must be
made in honor of His Sacred Heart, which means that those who make the nine
Fridays must practice the devotion and must have a great love for our Lord.
(4) that our Lord
does not say that those who make the nine Fridays will be dispensed from any of
their obligations or from exercising the vigilance necessary to lead a good
life and overcome temptation; rather He implicitly promises abundant graces to
those who make the nine Fridays to help them to carry out these obligations and
persevere to the end.
(5) that perseverance
in receiving Holy Communion for nine consecutive First Fridays helps the
faithful to acquire the habit of frequent Communion, which our Lord eagerly
desires: and
(6) that the practice
of the nine Fridays is very pleasing to our Lord since He promises such great
reward, and that all Catholics should endeavor to make the nine Fridays.
Party all Night
All-Night
Eucharistic First Friday Vigils to Help Save America
In
the wee hours of the morning, while most people are sleeping, a growing number
of people are praying in a monthly powerhouse Eucharistic all-night Vigil every
First Friday in the Church of Santa Maria del Popolo in Mundelein, Illinois.
The Vigil, which is intended to draw worshippers from all over the Archdiocese
of Chicago, begins Friday at 9 p.m. with Confessions and Mass at 10 p.m. After
the Mass, the Blessed Sacrament is exposed and devotional prayers are prayed
throughout the evening, but allowing enough quiet and reflection time, and
concluding with Benediction shortly before 7 a.m. on the First Saturday.
The
purpose of the Vigil is to pray for LIFE, MARRIAGE, FAMILY and for
PRIESTS/RELIGIOUS, important elements which form the essence of civilization
and fruitfulness. From conception until natural death, LIFE is sacred. Those
who attend the Vigil pray for an end to all actions against life: abortion,
euthanasia, human cloning, embryonic stem cell research, and even In-Vitro
Fertilization procedures. They pray for the sanctity of MARRIAGE as a permanent
covenant between one man and one woman committed to each other for life, which
is chaste, open to life and lived according to God's plans. They pray to
promote the building up of strong, loving, holy and heroic FAMILIES. They pray
for the renewal of the vocation of PRIESTS AND RELIGIOUS, so that they may be faithful
to their vows and the teachings of the Catholic Church, and for the increase of
holy vocations to the priesthood and religious life. Additionally, they pray in
reparation against sins committed against LIFE, MARRIAGE, FAMILY and the
PRIESTLY and CONSECRATED VOCATIONS. Also, they give Jesus truly and really
present in the Holy Eucharist praise and honor because He wants it and deserves
it. Finally, they seek the transformation of hearts so that society can be
transformed.
This
Vigil is part of the St. Therese Marian Vigil Society (STMVS), an emerging
Catholic apostolate that helps get started and promotes all-night Eucharistic
Vigils nationwide aimed at renewing society and the Church through the
restoration of the four root pillars--life, marriage, family and
priests/religious vocations. These elements are essential in the cultivating of
a culture of life and the restoration of Church and society on various levels.
The STMVS has developed a model to help others start their own Vigil, which can
be found on the Website of the STMVS: www.vigilsociety.org. There is no need to
re-invent the wheel since everything one would need to accomplish this, such as
prayers, schedule and more, is on the Website.
The
Mundelein Vigil and the St. Therese Marian Vigil Society Apostolate were both
founded by a concerned young wife and mother of 5, in response to a feeling
that something must be done to combat the attacks on the very essence of our
Church and society. The Apostolate is named after St. Therese of Lisieux, the
Patroness of the Foundress of the STMVS, and the Blessed Mother to whom the
Foundress is consecrated and has a strong devotion. The STMVS is rooted in the
observable fact, supported by Church teaching, that an increase in holiness of
our shepherds--bishops, priests and religious--leads directly to an increase of
holiness among the laity they guide, just as growth in holiness of parents
leads to an increase in holiness of children. In addition, to the degree that
life and the Church are placed in danger, so is American society at large in
danger. To secure the outpouring of divine grace for the strengthening of these
four essentials and so help save America from suffering further moral decay,
the concerned mother started the first Vicariate/Diocese-wide all-night Vigil
and then Apostolate soon after. The first Vigil began on February 6, 2004, with
permission from her pastor in Mundelein, Illinois. Both the Vigil and the
Apostolate have been endorsed by the local vicariate bishop. The hope, vision
and prayer of the Foundress are to spread more Vigils like this based on these
four key pillars of LIFE, MARRIAGE, FAMILY, and PRIESTS/RELIGIOUS.
"The
nighttime hours were chosen for good reason," says the Foundress.
"Giving up sleep is hard, and the greatest sacrifice brings great graces.
This is the time of the day when Jesus prayed at Gethsemane. It is also a time
when most people are available to pray as the hours don't conflict with their
schedules, just their sleep."
"Eucharistic
adoration transforms hearts, no doubt about it," she says. "The more
people that join us, the more hearts will be transformed. An entire culture can
be transformed if only people will hear and respond to 'His voice' and not continue
in the hardness of their hearts."
We
are all called to be saints, and attending this Vigil is a good start towards
that end! DON'T MISS THE OPPORTUNITY!
For
more information to help you start your own Vigil in your area modeled after
that of the STMVS, go to (www.vigilsociety.org).
You may also contact Nancy Martin at
(847) 566-7711 or email her info@vigilsociety.org.
Independence Day[2]
Independence Day commemorates the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. Independence Day is the most important secular holiday held in the United States. Americans take this day to celebrate all that is American, remembering the great sacrifices of our forefathers as they fought and won our independence from Great Britain. The holiday is also referred to as 4th of July, named after the date on which it is celebrated each year.
Independence Day
Facts & Quotes
·
In
July 1776, there were approximately 2.5 million people living in the new
nation.
·
The
first public reading of the Declaration of Independence didn't occur until July
8, 1776. It was sent to the printers on July 4th.
·
The
original Declaration of Independence can be viewed by visiting the National
Archives, Washington D.C. The original copy is severely faded and sits
under special glass in the Rotunda for the Chambers of Freedom.
·
The
Statue of Liberty is a great symbol of American Freedom. It was given to the US
by France in 1886. It was delivered in 214 crates and assembled on what
is known as Liberty Island, in New York Harbor.
· Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival and success of liberty. - John F. Kennedy
Independence Day Top
Events and Things to Do
·
Attend
or host a Barbeque.
·
Watch
Fireworks. Large cities such as New York, Miami, Chicago and Los Angeles all
have large firework displays.
·
Read
or recite the Preamble to the Declaration of Independence.
·
Watch
or attend Nathan's famous Hot
Dog eating contest
in Coney Island.
·
Watch
a Parade. Most local cities host parades to celebrate Independence Day.
·
Contribute
to the independence of a veteran
Catholic
Culture Library Related Articles[3]
·
First Centenary of First American Bishops
·
How Birth Control Changed America — For the Worse
·
The Philosophy of American Patriotism in the Present
Crisis
·
The Relevance of Thomas Jefferson
·
·
Thomas Jefferson and Freedom of Religion
·
Sapientiae Christianae—On Christians as Citizens
Declaration of
Independence; 1776.
We hold these truths to be self-evident:
That all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; that, to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed; that whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security.
Prayer[4]
Almighty God, Father of
all nations, for freedom you have set us free in Christ Jesus (Gal 5:1). We
praise and bless you for the gift of religious liberty, the foundation of human
rights, justice, and the common good. Grant to our leaders the wisdom to protect
and promote our liberties; by your grace may we have the courage to defend
them, for ourselves and for all those who live in this blessed land. We ask
this through the intercession of Mary Immaculate, our patroness, and in the
name of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, with
whom you live and reign, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Render unto Caesar[5]
This country cannot afford
to be materially rich and spiritually poor.
John F. Kennedy
Have
we become a soulless Nation?
Have we in the pursuit of happiness; ignored the
Gospel of Life. Realizing that if we put success or liberty as greater values
than life that we are serving Caesar and not God. To understand this, we need
to review the US Bishops “The Gospel of Life”.
The Gospel of Life[6]
Brothers and sisters in the Lord:
At the conclusion of the 1998 ad limina visits of the bishops of the United
States, our Holy Father Pope John Paul II spoke these words:
Today I believe the Lord is saying to us all: do not hesitate, do not be afraid to engage the good fight of the faith (cf. I Tim 6:12). When we preach the liberating message of Jesus Christ, we are offering the words of life to the world. Our prophetic witness is an urgent and essential service not just to the Catholic community but to the whole human family.
In this statement we attempt to fulfill our role as teachers
and pastors in proclaiming the Gospel of Life. We are confident that the
proclamation of the truth in love is an indispensable way for us to exercise
our pastoral responsibility.
"Your
country stands upon the world scene as a model of a democratic society at an
advanced stage of development. Your power of example carries with it
heavy responsibilities. Use it well, America!"
--Pope John Paul II, Newark, 1995
When
Henry Luce published his appeal for an "American century" in 1941, he
could not have known how the coming reality would dwarf his dream. Luce
hoped that the "engineers, scientists, doctors . . . builders of roads
[and] teachers" of the United States would spread across the globe to
promote economic success and American ideals: "a love of freedom, a
feeling for the quality of opportunity, a tradition of self-reliance and
independence and also cooperation." Exactly this, and much
more, has happened in the decades since. U.S. economic success has
reshaped the world. But the nobility of the American experiment flows
from its founding principles, not from its commercial power. In this
century alone, hundreds of thousands of Americans have died defending those
principles. Hundreds of thousands more have lived lives of service to
those principles -- both at home and on other continents -- teaching, advising
and providing humanitarian assistance to people in need. As Pope John Paul
has observed, "At the center of the moral vision of [the American]
founding documents is the recognition of the rights of the human person . .
." The greatness of the United States lies "especially [in its]
respect for the dignity and sanctity of human life in all conditions and at all
stages of development."
Now
the word of the Lord came to me saying: Before I formed you in the womb I knew
you, before you were born, I consecrated you; a prophet to the nations I
appointed you.
--Jeremiah 1:5
The Patriotic Rosary[7] is prayed everywhere from within cloistered convents, to inside the Pentagon; from dangerous military fields around the globe to the quietness of the Bedroom of Apparitons and the Field of Apparitions at Caritas, which is the home of the Patriotic Rosary. The Patriotic Rosary quickly captured the hearts and attention of millions when first heard and prayed. Inspired by Our Lady of Medjugorje, the Patriotic Rosary is a powerful prayer for divine protection and mercy for our Nation and its rebirth. The history of the writing of the Patriotic Rosary origins back to 1995 at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, where the first promptings of Our Lady was felt and the impulse to form the Patriotic Rosary was given. The Patriotic Rosary, the Prayer to Heal Our Land, and the “Seven Novenas for the Reconciling of Ourselves, our Families and our Nation Back to God,” all for the rebirth of America, have the grounds at Caritas of Birmingham as their home. It is Caritas of Birmingham, whose founder, known as A Friend of Medjugorje, wrote the Patriotic Rosary, and that also operates the Official Medjugorje Site. It was a surprise in 1988, after many prayers near the Pine Tree for the healing of our Nation that Our Lady began to write a beautiful story, through Her Medjugorje apparitions at Caritas, telling us that a Nation and its healing, represented by the Pine in the Field, would come only through the individual, represented by the family bed. In those first apparitions, Our Lady appeared in the Bedroom over the family bed, then on Thanksgiving Day, November 24, 1988, She appeared near the Pine, then back to the Bedroom for the remaining two months of daily apparitions. This spoke clearly that our Nation would be healed through strong marriages forming strong holy families raising strong individuals which will heal and make a strong nation. Our Nation’s future depends on the healing of the family.
Bible in a Year-Day 16
Fr. Mike highlights the mysterious role suffering in Job's life as we continue
journeying through Genesis 31-32, Job 21-22, and Proverbs 3:9-12.
Fitness
Friday Wim Hof's Workout Routine[8]
Becoming an Iceman like Wim Hof
needs a solid discipline, especially when it comes to your workout routine. A
man like him can breathe underwater for about 6 minutes and sit in an ice bath
for about 2 hours while still maintaining his normal body temperature.
I’m
pretty sure you’re all curious as to how an extreme athlete works out:
Wake Up and Stretch
Hof
stretches his back and tough his toes. He then reaches the sky standing on his
toes, holds for three seconds, and repeats it twice.
Power Breathing
Next,
he takes a 30-40 slow, steady breath. He then followed it with a 10-count
holding on to exhale and take a breath, and then hold a count of 10 once again.
He repeats it four times and meditates for at least five minutes.
Cold Shower
The
most important part of his workout routine is taking a cold shower. When he
doesn’t have enough time, he sometimes combines power breathing while
showering. If you want to follow a Wim Hof method, don’t ever skip this part.
Wim Hof's Breathing Exercise:
Looking
for a quiet place to sit or lie down is the first thing that Hof is doing.
There should be no distractions and minimal noise in that place so that he will
be comfortable while exercising. Then, he follows these four steps:
·
Step
1: Power Breaths
Here,
Hof starts his exercise with 30-40 breaths (inhale and exhale). It must be slow
and steady, making sure his breathing is neither deep or shallow. When
performing power breaths, you need to imagine being blowing up a balloon and
need to picture it out as if your body is being concentrated with fresh oxygen.
During
this process, it is normal if you feel tingly or lightheaded.
·
Step
2: Hold Your Breath
Once
Hof completes the first step, he empties his lungs and holds his breath as long
as he can. To monitor how long he can hold his breath and improvement with the
time, he is using a stopwatch to check it. If you’re in this step, don’t focus
too much on time or feel anxious if your time doesn’t increase quickly.
·
Step
3: Breathe In
After
Hof holds his breath until such time he feels a gasp reflex, he then inhales
for about 10 seconds. Next is, he holds his breath for about 10-15 seconds. He
usually repeats this step 1-4 rounds.
·
Step
4: Meditate
Once
he is done with all the rounds of power breathing, he immediately meditates for
a minimum of 5 minutes. Here, it would be best if you close your eyes then
focus on your breathing. Do your very best to block out any distracting
thoughts and sounds around.
As
Wim Hof said, this will be difficult at first, but it will become easier with
constant practice. He believes that practicing his breathing and meditation
techniques can help cure and prevent more diseases. It can also help in
improving the quality of life, including having better sleep at night.
Daily Devotions
·
Unite in the work of the Porters
of St. Joseph by joining them in fasting: An increase of the faithful
·
Litany of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus
·
Offering to the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Rosary
[1]https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/prayers/view.cfm?id=876&repos=3&subrepos=3&searchid=2158533
[3]https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2019-07-04
[5] Render unto Caesar, Charles J. Chaput
[6]http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/abortion/living-the-gospel-of-life.cfm
[8]https://theultimateprimate.com/sports-fitness-motivation/wim-hof-the-iceman-workout-routine-diet-plan/
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