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.

Monday, June 30, 2025

Monday Night at the Movies

1974 movie the abdication

Christopher’s Corner

· Please pray the Stations of the Cross for our firefighters from 911 and The Yarnell Hill Firefighters; which were lost in a wildfire near Yarnell, Arizona, ignited by lightning on June 28, 2013. On June 30, it overran and killed 19 City of Prescott firefighters, members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots. It was the third deadliest U.S. wildfire since the 1991 East Bay Hills fire, which killed 25 people; and the 2017 Northern California wildfires, which killed over 40, the deadliest wildland fire for U.S. firefighters since the 1933 Griffith Park Fire, which killed 29; and the deadliest incident of any kind for U.S. firefighters since the September 11, 2001, attacks, which killed 343. It is the sixth-deadliest American firefighter disaster overall and the deadliest wildfire ever in Arizona.

· June 30-4 Gettysburg’s 161st Anniversary Retrace one of America’s biggest moments. This July the Battle of Gettysburg marks its 157th anniversary. Tour Gettysburg and its historic town, and take in battle reenactments of events that culminated in more than 51,000 casualties and the setting for President Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address

· Bartholomew is celebrated in the Orthodox Church on June 30. In the Roman Catholic tradition, his feast day is August 24

· Last day of the month but let’s not forget June is National Country Cooking Month.

· Bucket List trip[2]: USA 70-degree year trip: Detroit

o Mackinac Island

· Eat waffles and Pray for the assistance of the Angels

· Spirit Hour: TRE FONTANE beer

· Monday: Litany of Humility

· Foodie- Detroit-Style Pizza

· Celebrate Log Cabin Day

· Drops of Christ’s Blood

· July

o Enjoy the 4th

o Beans Month bursts into July with a celebration of one of the world’s favorite and most versatile ingredients—beans!

JUNE 30 Monday

First Martyrs of the Church of Rome

Mark, Chapter 6, Verse 20

Herod FEARED John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man, and kept him in custody. When he heard him speak he was very much perplexed, yet he liked to listen to him.

Christ asks us to not be afraid; remember that those who are controlled by the devil are always deathly afraid. Therefore, trust in Him and remember that according to the Talmud God says to us: With thy very wounds I will heal thee. If you are unhappy it is because of sin, therefore seek the healing that Christ gives in the sacrament of confession and receive joyfully the Holy Eucharist.

Copilot:

Mark 6 offers several powerful lessons about fear when viewed through a Catholic lens, especially as it unfolds in the context of faith, rejection, and divine presence:

1. Fear of Rejection Doesn’t Excuse Silence – Jesus is rejected in His hometown, and the people are “offended” by Him (Mark 6:3). From a Catholic perspective, this teaches that fear of being misunderstood or dismissed must not prevent us from witnessing to the truth. Like Christ, we are called to speak and live the Gospel, even when it’s unpopular.

2. Fear Can Be Transformed by Trust – When the disciples are caught in a storm and see Jesus walking on water, they are terrified, thinking He’s a ghost. But Jesus says, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid” (Mark 6:50). This moment echoes the Catholic understanding that Christ is present in our storms, and fear is overcome not by our strength, but by recognizing His presence.

3. Fear Should Not Hinder Mission – Jesus sends out the Twelve with minimal provisions, instructing them to rely on God’s providence (Mark 6:7–13). This challenges Catholics to step out in faith, trusting that God equips those He sends—even when fear of inadequacy or uncertainty looms.

4. Fear of Earthly Power vs. Fear of God – Herod fears John the Baptist, yet still has him executed to save face (Mark 6:17–29). This tragic episode highlights the danger of fearing human opinion more than divine judgment, a theme echoed in Catholic moral teaching.

In all these moments, fear is not ignored—it’s acknowledged but then redirected. The Catholic tradition invites us to move from fear rooted in self-preservation to holy fear, which is reverence for God and trust in His will.

First Martyrs of the Church of Rome[1]

This memorial is in honor of the nameless followers of Christ brutally killed by the mad Emperor Nero as scapegoats for the fire in Rome. The pagan historian Tacitus and St. Clement of Rome tell of a night of horror (August 15, 64 A.D.) when in the imperial parks Christians were put into animal skins and hunted, were brutally attacked, and were made into living torches to light the road for Nero's chariot. From 64 to 314 "Christian" was synonymous with "execution victim."

Things to Do:

· St. Augustine gives us thoughts on why we celebrate the martyrs:

· Christians celebrate the memory of the martyrs with religious ceremony in order to arouse emulation and in order that they may be associated with their merits and helped by their prayers. But to none of the martyrs do we erect altars as we do to the God of martyrs; we erect altars at their shrines. For what bishop standing at the altars over the bodies of martyrs ever said: We offer to Peter or Paul or Cyprian? Mass is offered to God who crowned the martyrs, at the shrine of the martyrs, so that the very spot may remind us to arouse in ourselves a more fervent charity toward those whom we imitate and toward Him who gives us the power to do so.

· Bake a special dessert, some recipe originating from Rome.

· This feast was created with the reform of the General Calendar in 1969. This feast celebrates the nameless men and women who were martyred in Nero's Circus in the year 64 AD.

· Watch this video on the First Holy Martyrs of the Roman Church

· Visit Saints, Feast, Family for pictures and a couple of recipes.

· Visit Catholic Ireland for an outline of this feast.

Bible in a Year-Day 12

Today we read about story of Isaac and Rebekah's marriage and Fr. Mike reflects on God's constant providence in our lives, even when we don't see it. Today's readings are Genesis 24, Job 13-14, and Proverbs 2:16-19.

Daily Devotions

· Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them in fasting: The lonely and destitute

· Litany of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus

· Offering to the sacred heart of Jesus

· Drops of Christ’s Blood

· Universal Man Plan

· Rosary

Overview of July[3]

The entire month falls within the liturgical season of Ordinary Time, which is represented by the liturgical color green. This symbol of hope is the color of the sprouting seed and arouses in the faithful the hope of reaping the eternal harvest of heaven, especially the hope of a glorious resurrection. It is used in the offices and Masses of Ordinary Time.

Time of Regeneration. The Blood that coursed through the veins of Christ was a part of that Sacred Humanity made possible by the maternity of Mary, whose parents, St. Joachim and St. Anne are honored this month. (July 26). Our Lord's blood poured out on the Cross purchased our salvation, washed clean the robes of the martyrs, and gave birth to the Church as it flowed from his wounded side. The Precious Blood of Christ — now pulsing through his Mystical Body — continues its salvific work, preserving and purifying, repairing and providing nourishment for regeneration and renewal of its members.

July’s longer and warmer days also provide us with the opportunity for renewal, both interior and exterior. Schedules relax and pressures ease, inviting travel. But whether we travel or not, like the missionary, St. Junipero Serra (July 1), we preach to others — by our conduct, our speech, even the clothes we wear. May we be modest in everything we do, imitating St. Maria Goretti, the young martyr for purity (July 6), and “preaching” Christ to everyone we meet.

The summer Readings of Ordinary Time remind us that our earthly pilgrimage is also a journey, a great adventure towards union with Christ, the Beginning and the End of our journey. Each Sunday with its Easter renewal becomes a mile marker along the way, linking where we have been with where we are going. May the Precious Blood of Jesus sustain us as we journey to our true home, with Mary and the angels as our companions on the way.

July Travel[4]

· Alaska Cruise Season [5]

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.

· National Ice Cream Month

This July we all scream for ice cream. Celebrate National Ice Cream Month — designated a national holiday by President Ronald Reagan in 1984 — with a trip to America’s coolest ice cream shops. And why not head to the granddaddy of them all — Bassett’s Ice Cream in Philadelphia — the oldest ice cream company in the U.S., founded in 1861!

· Outlaw Run (Branson, Missouri)[6]

Ready for a 68-mph adrenaline rush? Kick off July on the only wooden coaster to twist upside down with a record-breaking three versions — and a stomach-in-your-mouth 81-degree drop. Take advantage of Outlaw Run’s extended hours this month at Silver Dollar City.

Can’t make it to Branson this July?

Check out our complete guide to US amusement parks.

· July 5-July 27 Tour de France[7]

Celebrate France’s biggest sporting event this month — the Tour de France. The official kick-off takes place on the island of Corsica then crosses onto France’s mainland. Cruise the French countryside as you follow the grand event. Or if you can’t make it abroad, head to one of America’s top bicycling cities.

· June 30-4 Gettysburg’s 162 Anniversary

Retrace one of America’s biggest moments. This July the Battle of Gettysburg marks its 157th anniversary. Tour Gettysburg and its historic town and take in battle reenactments of events that culminated in more than 51,000 casualties and the setting for President Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address.

· Macy's 4th of July Fireworks

Pop! Boom! Bang! July spells independence, with glorious fireworks nationwide. Celebrate Independence Day with a visit to the annual Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks display over the Hudson River. And if N.Y.C.’s not on your itinerary, check out more of America’s best fireworks displays — in St. Louis, Addison, Texas and Chicago’s Navy Pier.

· July 4-13 Calgary Stampede

Our "Neighbor to the North" marks its birthday this month. Get in on the festivities during the Calgary Stampede! This 10-day event is Canada’s largest annual rodeo, and one of its largest festivals to boot. Billed as the "Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth," the rodeo draws more than 1 million visitors each year.

· July 6-14 San Fermin Festival (Pamplona, Spain)

Run for your life! Join hundreds of thousands of locals and tourists who flock to the northern Spanish city of Pamplona for the annual San Fermin Festival. At 8 a.m. on July 7, the celebration unfolds with six bulls and another six steers running down a half-mile stretch of narrow streets. The week-long event culminates in a final, grand fight in a bullring.

· July 18-19 California Wine Festival (Santa Barbara, California)[8]

Head to one of the biggest wine festivals under the sun! Celebrate wine harvest season this July with a visit to California wine country. Held this year in Santa Barbara, the annual California Wine Festival showcases vintage wines, along with gourmet appetizers including artisan breads and cheeses. Cheers!

· July 23-27 Hemingway Days Festival (Key West, Florida)[9]

Can’t make it to Pamplona this month? Head to Key West instead! Hemingway Days Festival honors the late author, who lived and worked on the southern coast of the island. The annual event includes its own "Running of the Bulls" — this one with Ernest Hemingway lookalikes pushing fake bulls on Key West’s famed Duval Street.

Iceman’s Calendar

· Tue. July 1^st Feast of the Most Precious Blood

· Wed. July 2^nd MASS First Wednesday

· Thu. July 3^rd Dog Days begin

· Fri. July 4^th Independence Day

o MASS First Friday

· Sat. July 5^th MASS First Saturday

· Sun. July 6^thFourth Sunday after Pentecost

· Thu. July 10^th Full Buck Moon

· Sun. July 13^th Fifth Sunday after Pentecost

· Mon. July 14^th Bastille Day

· Wed. July 16^th Our Lady of Mount Carmel