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.

Tuesday, July 1, 2025

Candace’s Corner

· 10 coolest summer getaways in Arizona: Mountains, lakes and a chilly cave trek

Bucket List: Vineyard World Tour: Youngblood Vineyard, Ray, Michigan

· Foodie: National Eggplant Month

o Pizza alla Norma

§ Catholic Recipe: Bean Filling for Empanadas

· St. Anthony Novena 3-on thirteen consecutive Tuesdays.

· Spirit Hour: Sangria (for feast of the precious blood)

· Pray Day 5 of the Novena for our Pope and Bishops

· Olivia de Havilland, born on July 1, 1916

Second Half of the Year Day

· Wild About Wildlife Month

JULY 1 Tuesday

Feast of the Precious Blood-Junipero Serra

Mark, Chapter 10, Verse 32

They were on the way, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus went ahead of them. They were amazed, and those who followed were AFRAID. Taking the Twelve aside again, he began to tell them what was going to happen to him.

Let us go up to Jerusalem daily with Him by striving to attend a Mass.

Why were the apostles amazed?[1]

Christ's going on with his undertaking for the salvation of mankind, was, is, and will be, the wonder of all his disciples. Worldly honor is a glittering thing, with which the eyes of Christ's own disciples have many times been dazzled. Our care must be, that we may have wisdom and grace to know how to suffer with him; and we may trust him to provide what the degrees of our glory shall be. Christ shows them that dominion was generally abused in the world. If Jesus would gratify all our desires, it would soon appear that we desire fame or authority, and are unwilling to taste of his cup, or to have his baptism; and should often be ruined by having our prayers answered. But he loves us and will only give his people what is good for them. After His death and resurrection, Christ gave His apostles the power to dispel fear via the influence of the Holy Spirit through the imposition of hands on the elect.

Mark 10 offers subtle but profound lessons about fear when viewed through a Catholic lens—especially as it relates to discipleship, detachment, and trust in God’s providence. Here are some key takeaways:

1. Fear of Letting Go – The rich young man walks away sorrowful when Jesus invites him to give up his possessions and follow Him (Mark 10:21–22). His fear of losing wealth and comfort prevents him from embracing a deeper relationship with Christ. Catholics see this as a cautionary tale: fear of sacrifice can block the path to holiness.

2. Fear of the Cost of Discipleship – Jesus tells His disciples that those who leave everything for His sake will receive blessings, but also “persecutions” (Mark 10:30). This acknowledges that following Christ involves risk and suffering. Yet, Catholics are reminded that fear of suffering must be overcome by trust in God’s promises.

3. Fear of the Unknown Future – As Jesus predicts His Passion (Mark 10:32–34), the disciples are described as “amazed” and “afraid.” This fear is natural, but Jesus doesn’t rebuke them—instead, He continues to teach and prepare them. The Catholic tradition sees this as a model of pastoral patience: God walks with us even when we’re afraid of what lies ahead.

4. Fear and Ambition – James and John ask for places of honor, perhaps out of fear of being left behind or forgotten (Mark 10:35–37). Jesus redirects their ambition, teaching that true greatness lies in humble service, not power. Fear of insignificance is answered with a call to self-giving love.

In all these moments, fear is not condemned—it’s acknowledged and gently transformed. The Catholic view encourages us to bring our fears to Christ, who doesn’t shame us for them but invites us to deeper trust, surrender, and love.

Feast of the Precious Blood^{^[2]}

Copilot:

The Feast of the Most Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ is a Catholic celebration that honors the redemptive power of Christ’s blood, shed during His Passion. Though it was officially added to the General Roman Calendar in 1849 by Pope Pius IX, its roots stretch back much further, tied deeply to devotion to the Passion itself.

Originally celebrated on the first Sunday of July, it was later fixed to July 1st by Pope Pius X. In 1933, Pope Pius XI elevated it to a major feast to mark the 1,900th anniversary of Christ’s death. However, in 1969, it was removed from the universal calendar after Vatican II reforms, as its themes were seen as already present in other major feasts like Corpus Christi and the Sacred Heart.

Still, many religious communities—like the Missionaries of the Precious Blood—continue to observe it with deep reverence. It’s a powerful reminder of the belief that, as Scripture says, “the blood of Jesus Christ… cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).

July first is the Feast of the Precious Blood. This is a feast that does not exist in the new Roman Calendar of Pope Paul VI. It is still, however, in the traditional Roman calendar of 1962 usage. Both halves of the year, in January and July, begin with the commemoration of the Precious Blood of Jesus. January 1 is the feast of the Circumcision, when the Precious Blood of Jesus was first shed. July 1 is the commemoration of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus as it is preserved in all Catholic churches at the hour of Mass. The Precious Blood of Jesus was given to Him to divinize by Mary, the Mother of God. Between Jesus and Mary there was a perpetual interflow of blood for nine months when He was a Child in her womb. Anyone can see how divinized Mary became by this interchange of blood for nearly a year. Everyone who wishes to become a son of God the Father, as he becomes by Sanctifying Grace, must also become a child of Mary the Virgin, by receiving in his mouth the Blessed Eucharist which is the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. All the saints of the Old Testament, when their bodies rise from the grave on the Last Day, will receive the Precious Blood of Jesus. Our Lord said of the chalice which contained His Precious Blood at the Last Supper, “I will not drink of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I shall drink it with you new in the Kingdom of My Father.” The Kingdom of God the Father, whose sons we divinely by adoption, is also the Queendom of Mary the Virgin, whose children we must incarnately become in order to enjoy the happiness of Heaven forever.

St. Junipero Serra[3]

California might not have any Confederate statues, but we do have plenty of monuments to Junipero Serra, widely known as the "father" of the California Missions. The story of the mass destruction of the Native population in California is less prevalent in the history books. The statue was torn down with a rope around the neck, its head splashed with blood-red paint. As the statue lay on the ground, Native children used it as a bench. Activists tore down a Serra statue in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park last week, as well as a statue of Francis Scott Key, author of the American anthem, "The Star Spangled Banner," who was a known slave owner. Serra was a Spanish priest, who came to what was then Alta California (part of Mexico), to spread Catholicism to the indigenous population. (Here in L.A. that was mostly people from the Tongva tribe. And by "spread" Catholicism, we mean force it upon them. Serra eventually spearheaded 21 missions on the coast, from San Diego to San Francisco. The missionaries were responsible for the ultimate destruction of Tongva culture. Tongva people who joined the missions in California essentially became slaves, forced to do manual labor. They suffered from disease, many of the women were raped, and thousands died or were killed. Those who resisted and remained in the countryside often starved, as their hunting grounds were turned into farms by the colonizers. This is according to BLM (communist organization) supporters.

St. Junipero Serra

In 1776, when the American revolution was beginning in the east, another part of the future United States was being born in California. That year a gray-robed Franciscan founded Mission San Juan Capistrano, now famous for its annually returning swallows. San Juan was the seventh of nine missions established under the direction of this indomitable Spaniard. Born on Spain's island of Mallorca, Serra entered the Franciscan Order, taking the name of Saint Francis' childlike companion, Brother Juniper. Until he was thirty-five, he spent most of his time in the classroom-first as a student of theology and then as a professor. He also became famous for his preaching. Suddenly he gave it all up and followed the yearning that had begun years before when he heard about the missionary work of Saint Francis Solanus in South America. Junipero's desire was to convert native peoples in the New World.

Arriving by ship at Vera Cruz, Mexico, he and a companion walked the 250 miles to Mexico City. On the way Junipero's left leg became infected by an insect bite and would remain a cross, often life-threatening, for the rest of his life. For eighteen years he worked in central Mexico and in the Baja Peninsula. He became president of the missions there.

Enter politics: the threat of a Russian invasion south from Alaska. Charles III of Spain ordered an expedition to beat Russia to the territory. So the last two conquistadores-one military, one spiritual-began their quest. Jose de Galvez persuaded Junipero to set out with him for present-day Monterey, California. The first mission founded after the nine-hundred-mile journey north was San Diego (1769). That year a shortage of food almost canceled the expedition. Vowing to stay with the local people, Junipero and another friar began a novena in preparation for Saint Joseph’s Day, March 19, the scheduled day of departure. On that day, the relief ship arrived.

Other missions followed: Monterey/Carmel (1770); San Antonio and San Gabriel (1771); San Luis Obispo (1772); San Francisco and San Juan Capistrano (1776); Santa Clara (1777); San Buenaventura (1782). Twelve more were founded after Serra's death.

Junipero made the long trip to Mexico City to settle great differences with the military commander. He arrived at the point of death. The outcome was substantially what Junipero sought: the famous "Regulation" protecting the Indians and the missions. It was the basis for the first significant legislation in California, a "Bill of Rights" for Native Americans.

Because the Native Americans were living a nonhuman life from the Spanish point of view, the friars were made their legal guardians. The Native Americans were kept at the mission after Baptism lest they be corrupted in their former haunts — a move that has brought cries of "injustice" from some moderns.

Junipero's missionary life was a long battle with cold and hunger, with unsympathetic military commanders and even with danger of death from non-Christian native peoples. Through it all his unquenchable zeal was fed by prayer each night, often from midnight until dawn. He baptized over six thousand people and confirmed five thousand. His travels would have circled the globe. He brought the Native Americans not only the gift of faith but also a decent standard of living. He won their love, as witnessed especially by their grief at his death. He is buried at Mission San Carlo Borromeo, Carmel, and was beatified in 1988.

Excerpted from Saint of the Day, Leonard Foley, O.F.M.

Things to Do:

· Read about St. Junipero Serra and the California Missions here and here.

· Read this excellent article at Catholicism.org.

· Send someone an e-card for St. Junipero's feast.

· Purchase a copy of The Man Who Founded California: The Life of Blessed Junipero Serra from Amazon.com.

Bible in a Year-Day 13

Fr. Mike highlights the mystery of our brokenness and habitual sin as he unpacks the story of Esau selling his birthright. Today's readings are Genesis 25-26, Job 15-16, and Proverbs 2:20-22.