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

Overview of July[1]

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[2]

· Alaska Cruise Season [3]

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)[4]

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[5]

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)[6]

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)[7]

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

· Sun. July 20^th Sixth Sunday after Pentecost

· Tue. July 22^nd St. Mary Magdalene

· Fri. July 25^th St. James, Apostle

· Sat. July 26^th St. Anne

· Sun. July 27^th Seventh Sunday after Pentecost

· Tue. July 29^th St. Martha

· Thu. July 31^st St. Ignatius

Feasting/Fasting

Here’s a Catholic fast-before-feast schedule for July 2025, pairing key feast days with suggested fast days to help you spiritually prepare:

✨ Feast Days & Suggested Fast Schedule – July 2025

Feast Day	Date	Suggested Fast Day(s)	Spiritual Focus
St. Thomas the Apostle	July 3 (Thu)	July 2 (Wed)	Faith in doubt; missionary zeal
St. Maria Goretti	July 6 (Sun)	July 4 (Fri)	Purity, forgiveness, and martyrdom
St. Benedict	July 11 (Fri)	July 9 (Wed)	Order, humility, and spiritual discipline
St. Kateri Tekakwitha	July 14 (Mon)	July 12 (Sat)	Simplicity, nature, and holiness in suffering
St. Bonaventure	July 15 (Tue)	July 14 (Mon)	Wisdom, theology, and love of Christ
Our Lady of Mount Carmel	July 16 (Wed)	July 15 (Tue)	Marian devotion, protection, and contemplation
St. Mary Magdalene	July 22 (Tue)	July 21 (Mon)	Conversion, love, and witness to the Resurrection
St. James the Greater (Apostle)	July 25 (Fri)	July 23 (Wed) or July 24 (Thu)	Apostolic courage, pilgrimage, and evangelization
Sts. Joachim and Anne	July 26 (Sat)	July 25 (Fri)	Family, legacy, and trust in God’s timing
St. Ignatius of Loyola	July 31 (Thu)	July 30 (Wed)	Discernment, surrender, and mission

🕊️ 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.

[1]https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=12555

[2]https://www.travelchannel.com/interests/summer/photos/jubilant-july-travel-ideas

[3]https://www.cntraveler.com/story/is-alaskas-summer-cruise-season-still-happening?verso=true

[4]https://www.silverdollarcity.com/theme-park/Festivals/Moonlight-Madness

[5] https://www.letour.fr/en/

[6]https://www.californiawinefestival.com/santa-barbara

[7]https://www.historichideaways.com/events/key-west-hemingway-days-2020

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.