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.

Friday, August 1, 2025

NIC’s Corner

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, on your own intelligence do not rely; In all your ways be mindful of him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

· Bucket List trip: Rich vs Poor Tour: 8-Norway vs. 215-Malawi

o Norway ranks 8th in GDP per capita thanks to its vast oil and gas reserves, a massive sovereign wealth fund, and a small population that benefits from strategic economic policies. The quality of life is exceptionally high, with universal healthcare, free education, low crime, and a strong emphasis on nature, work-life balance, and sustainability. Though living costs are steep, generous wages and robust social support make it a rewarding place to call home.

o Malawi’s low GDP per capita stems from rapid population growth, reliance on subsistence farming, limited industrial development, and economic instability marked by inflation and debt. Quality of life is challenged by short life expectancy, healthcare gaps, inconsistent education, and widespread poverty—though the nation is celebrated for its warmth and resilience. Efforts are underway to transform its future through ambitious development goal

🇳🇴 Norway and 🇲🇼 Malawi offer vastly different experiences for expats, shaped by their economies, infrastructure, and cultural rhythms. Here's a side-by-side look:

Feature	Norway	Malawi
Healthcare	Universal, high-quality, with low wait times in urban areas	Free in principle, but rural access is limited; private care often needed
Safety	Very safe, low crime, strong rule of law	Generally peaceful, but petty crime and political unrest can occur
Cost of Living	High, but offset by strong wages and social benefits	Low, though imported goods can be expensive
Housing	Modern, clean, but expensive	Affordable, often spacious, but infrastructure may be unreliable
Work-Life Balance	Excellent; short workdays, generous leave	Slower pace; limited formal employment opportunities
Education	Free public education, high standards	International schools available but costly
Environment	Pristine nature, clean air, strong sustainability culture	Beautiful landscapes, but frequent power and water outages
Language	Norwegian widely spoken; English proficiency is high	English is official and widely used
Social Integration	Reserved culture, but inclusive and egalitarian	Warm, welcoming people; strong community spirit
Expat Community	Well-established, especially in cities like Oslo and Bergen	Smaller but tight-knit, especially in Lilongwe and Blantyre

🧭 Summary

Norway offers a polished, structured lifestyle with exceptional public services, ideal for expats seeking stability, nature, and work-life harmony.

Malawi provides a more rustic, community-driven experience with lower costs and a slower pace, appealing to those drawn to grassroots development or conservation work.

Norway and Malawi with all costs converted to U.S. dollars, tailored for an expat lifestyle:

✝️ Catholic Perspective

Norway:

· Catholics make up about 5% of the population, mostly immigrants and expats.

· The Church operates in a secular society, focusing on ecumenical dialogue and social justice.

· Organizations like Caritas Norway support migrant communities and global aid efforts.

Malawi:

· Catholicism is deeply rooted, with the Church playing a major role in education, healthcare, and civic life.

· The 1992 Lenten Pastoral Letter is a landmark moment in Church-led political reform.

· The Church partners with international Catholic organizations, including Norwegian groups, for development and theological exchange.

💰 Cost of Living for Expats (in USD)

Category	Norway 🇳🇴	Malawi 🇲🇼
Monthly cost (single)	~$2,210–$2,850	~$550–$580
Rent (1BR city center)	~$1,190–$1,477	~$200–$295
Utilities (monthly)	~$144–$238	~$29–$45
Groceries (monthly)	~$725–$875	~$220–$250
Healthcare	Universal, subsidized	Private care recommended
Lifestyle	High salaries, high taxes	Low wages, affordable services

🧭 Key Takeaways

· Norway offers exceptional infrastructure, safety, and public services—but at a premium. Expats benefit from high salaries and efficient systems.

· Malawi provides a low-cost lifestyle, especially for those earning foreign income. Expats often enjoy spacious homes, domestic help, and a slower pace of life.

· Spiritually, Norway invites quiet contemplation in a secular context, while Malawi pulses with communal faith and liturgical vibrancy.

· Eat Fish on Fridays

o Have pie for dessert: Today is Braham Pie day

· National Mountain Climbing Day

· Spirit Hour: Albariño Day

o National Spritz Day

o Today is international beer day so it is ok to have only one angels envy shot in only one beer. Believe me, only one will do; it’s called a boilermaker.

· National Spider-Man Day

· Today is “Lammas” Day

· Iceman’s 40 devotion

· Get an indulgence

· Operation Purity

Let Freedom Ring Day 26 Freedom from Pride

o Humility opposes pride. Not that we are called to let ourselves be a "whipping boy" to bolster others' lust for superiority. Humility is a reverence for the truth; a reverence for who we are and what we are called to be; a reverence for the reason we even exist - God. Humility opens the door to the spirit of "gratitude." In our abundant gratitude for all God has done (beginning with setting us into existence) and is doing, we say "YES" to God, and a big fat "NO" to the incessant propaganda of a "new normal" of lies that directly oppose the will of God.

o God help the USA. Some people have the vocabulary to sum up things in a way that you can quickly understand them. This quote came from the Czech Republic. Someone over there has it figured out. It was translated into English from an article in a Prague newspaper.

§ "The danger to America is not Joe Biden, but a citizenry capable of entrusting a man like him with the Presidency. It will be far easier to limit and undo the follies of a Biden presidency than to restore the necessary common sense and good judgment to a depraved electorate willing to have such a man for their president. The problem is much deeper and far more serious than Mr. Biden, who is a mere symptom of what ails America. Blaming the prince of the fools should not blind anyone to the vast confederacy of fools that made him their prince. The Republic can survive a Biden, who is, after all, merely a fool. It is less likely to survive a multitude of fools, such as those who made him their president."

AUGUST

August--We may come to appreciate more deeply the various landforms (mountains, deserts, rock formations, valleys, and plains) during vacation time. They give us bearing, direction, and the geological history of our lives. This is the beginning of awareness of the "here" in our lives. The Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord shows us the "hereness" of the risen Lord, and the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary speaks of God's power to the blessed. While we can choose to extend the Savior's redeeming power to our wounded earth, we also can choose to withdraw from this awesome challenge.

Overview of August[1]

August is often considered the transitional month in our seasonal calendar. It is the time of the year we begin to wind-down from our summer travels and vacations and prepare for Autumn — back to school, fall festivals, harvest time, etc. The Church in her holy wisdom has provided a cycle of events in its liturgical year which allow the faithful to celebrate the major feasts in the life of Christ and Mary. Most notably, during August, we celebrate the feast of the Transfiguration (August 6) and the feast of the Assumption (August 15).

The days of summer have provided a welcome change of pace. However, while vacations afford us the time to relax and refresh, the change of habits and routines can also have a negative impact on our spiritual lives. As if to re-ignite us, the Church offers us in the plethora of August feasts vivid examples of the virtue of perseverance: six martyrs — two who are named in Canon I of the Mass and two who were martyred during World War II; seven founders of religious congregations, as well as three popes and two kings; the apostle, St. Bartholomew; the great Doctor of the Church, St. Augustine and St. Monica, his mother; the humble patron saint of parish priests, St. John Vianney, and the patron of deacons, St. Lawrence, who joked with his executioners while being roasted alive.

It is never too late to begin — as the life of the reformed sinner, St. Augustine teaches us — nor too difficult to begin again, as demonstrated by the conversion of the martyr, St. Teresa Benedicta (Edith Stein). We present-day members of the Mystical Body are certain of the reward to which we are called, for Christ's Transfigured body (August 6) is a preview of that glory. Moreover, in the Assumption of his Mother (August 15), Our Lord has demonstrated his fidelity to his promise. Her privilege is "the highest fruit of the Redemption" and "our consoling assurance of the coming of our final hope — the glorification which is Christ's" (Enchiridion on Indulgences).

The Blessed Virgin Mary is the most perfect example of Christian perseverance, but she is also our advocate in heaven where she is crowned Queen of Heaven and Earth (August 22). Mary is the "Mother of Perpetual Help", the patroness of the Congregation founded by St. Alphonsus Liguori (August 1). "No one who has fled to her protection is left unaided" is the claim of the Memorare of St. Bernard (August 20). Heretics have returned to the faith by the prayers of her Rosary, first preached by St. Dominic (August 8) in the twelfth Century, and hearts have been converted by the graces received while wearing her Miraculous Medal, promoted by St. Maximillian Kolbe (August 14) and adopted as the "badge" for the Pious Union he founded. Hail, holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope!

August Travel[2]

· State Fair Season

State fair season kicks off in August; see the stars of the season like the Orange County Fair, which draws more than 1.5 million fairgoers, or the Minnesota State Fair, which Andrew Zimmern calls his own slice of heavenly obsession. With state fair staples like ice-cold lemonade and fried treats, we can see why.

· 127 Corridor

Technically the world's largest yard sale, the flea market known as the 127 Corridor is certainly the LONGEST outdoor market. Beginning on a highway in Jamestown, TN, this flea stretches hundreds of miles through North Covington, Kentucky, and continues all the way to Gadsden, Alabama. There are more than 2,000 vendors along this tour who clear their schedules for 3 weeks every August. One can imagine the caravan of Winnabagos that make this annual pilgrimage. Countless treasures and billions of collectibles hide among bric-a-brac and junk, but the people-watching and Southern hospitality alone are worth the trip.

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.

· July 30-Aug 3^rd -Maine Lobster Festival (Rockland, ME)

The annual Maine Lobster Festival kicks off this month, and you won't want to miss a moment of it! Over the course of the 5-day festival, more than 20,000 lbs. of lobster will be served -- lobster rolls, lobster wraps, lobster Caesar salad. Did we say lobster? Plus, see the annual Lobster Crate Race, cooking contest and the Maine Sea Goddess coronation!

· August 8-16-Elvis Week (Memphis, TN)

Shake, rattle and roll! Memphis, TN, marks its annual Elvis Week celebration each August. There's always something for Elvis fans, including the big draw each year, the annual Elvis Tribute Artists contest. Who will be crowned the King?

· August 13-16 August Doins Rodeo (Payson, AZ)

Slip on a pair of boots, and head to the World’s Oldest Continuous Rodeo. First held in 1884, the August Doins Rodeo takes place each August in Arizona’s cool mountain town of Payson. Hold on to your hats, you’re in for some heart-stopping action!

· August 21-Happy Birthday, Hawaii!

· August 28-30-Cowal Highland Gathering (Dunoon, Scotland)

Nice legs! See big, brawny men in flowing Scottish skirts compete in the largest Highland games in the world -- the Cowal Highland Gathering. Also known as the Cowal Games, the annual event is held in the Scottish town of Dunoon, attracting more than 23,000 spectators to celebrate Scottish and Celtic culture.

Iceman’s Calendar

· August 1^st Fri. MASS First Friday

· August 2^nd Sat. MASS First Saturday

· August 3^rd Sun. Eight Sunday after Pentecost

· August 4^th Mon. Feast of St. John Vianney

· August 6^th Wed. Feast of the Transfiguration

o MASS First Wednesday

· August 9^th Sat. Full Sturgeon Moon

· August 10^th Sun. Ninth Sunday after Pentecost

o Feast of St. Lawrence

· August 11^th Mon. Feast of St. Claire

· August 15^th Fri. Assumption Blessed Virgin Mary

· August 17^th Sun. Tenth Sunday after Pentecost

· August 22^nd Fri. Queenship of Mary

· August 24^th Sun. Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost

· August 25^th Mon. St. Bartholomew, Apostle

· August 29^th Fri. Passion of John the Baptist

· August 31^st Sun. Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost

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

✨ Feast Days & Suggested Fast Schedule – August 2025

Feast Day	Date	Suggested Fast Day(s)	Spiritual Focus
St. John Vianney	Aug 4 (Mon)	Aug 2 (Sat)	Pastoral zeal, confession, and humility
Transfiguration of the Lord	Aug 6 (Wed)	Aug 5 (Tue)	Divine glory, transformation, and hope
St. Dominic	Aug 8 (Fri)	Aug 7 (Thu)	Preaching, truth, and Marian devotion
St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross	Aug 9 (Sat)	Aug 8 (Fri)	Martyrdom, intellect, and spiritual courage
St. Clare of Assisi	Aug 11 (Mon)	Aug 10 (Sun)	Simplicity, poverty, and contemplative prayer
St. Maximilian Kolbe	Aug 14 (Thu)	Aug 13 (Wed)	Sacrifice, charity, and Marian consecration
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary	Aug 15 (Fri)	Aug 14 (Thu)	Heavenly hope, purity, and Marian glory
St. Bernard of Clairvaux	Aug 20 (Wed)	Aug 19 (Tue)	Mysticism, love of God, and monastic wisdom
Queenship of Mary	Aug 22 (Fri)	Aug 21 (Thu)	Marian royalty, intercession, and peace
St. Monica	Aug 27 (Wed)	Aug 26 (Tue)	Perseverance, motherhood, and prayer
St. Augustine	Aug 28 (Thu)	Aug 27 (Wed)	Conversion, theology, and divine mercy
Beheading of St. John the Baptist	Aug 29 (Fri)	Aug 28 (Thu)	Prophetic witness, truth, and martyrdom

🕊️ 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.

AUGUST 1 First Friday-Saint Alphonsus Liguori

Saint Peter in Chains

Luke, Chapter 7, Verse 16

FEAR seized them all, and they glorified God, exclaiming, “A great prophet has arisen in our midst,” and “God has visited his people.”

This was said after Jesus had raised the widow’s son in Nain. There exists no better model for Godly leadership than our Lord. Everything he spoke he did. He had compassion on the high and the low. He had compassion on this poor widow. He looked around him and where he saw misery; he acted. He healed the sick, cast out evil spirits and raised the dead. They came to Him broken and empty, and He filled them with faith, hope and love as well as taking physical action to help with their suffering. His focus was to restore the widow her son: to restore the family which is the true tabernacle of the Holy Spirit.

Copilot

Luke 7:16 captures a stunning moment—not only the miracle itself, but the response: a holy fear, a reverent awe that recognizes the presence of divine intervention. It’s as if the veil between heaven and earth briefly lifted, and the crowd could glimpse God’s mercy moving among them.

Christ’s leadership so radical and transformative. He didn’t just speak truth—He embodied it. His compassion wasn’t abstract; it was tangible, decisive, and restorative. To look upon suffering and respond with healing is to participate in the divine rhythm of creation and redemption.

And the idea of the family as the “true tabernacle of the Holy Spirit”—that’s a sacred insight. In restoring the widow’s son, Christ wasn’t merely performing a miracle, He was reweaving the spiritual fabric of a broken household, anchoring divine grace in the intimacy of family life.

Luke 7:16 offers a rich tapestry of lessons on holy fear—a reverent awe that awakens the soul rather than paralyzes it. Let’s draw out some key insights:

🌌 1. Fear as Recognition of Divine Presence

· The crowd’s fear wasn’t terror—it was awe in the face of divine power. Jesus had just raised the dead. Their response— “God has visited His people”—shows that fear can be a gateway to recognizing God’s nearness.

o This kind of fear is the soul’s instinctive response when eternity touches time.

🔥 2. Fear That Leads to Worship

· The people didn’t run—they glorified God. Holy fear doesn’t drive us away; it draws us into praise.

o It’s the trembling joy of knowing we’re in the presence of something far greater than ourselves.

🕊️ 3. Fear That Awakens Hope

· “A great prophet has arisen among us”—this fear wasn’t just about power; it was about hope. The people saw in Jesus a sign that God was restoring what was broken.

o Fear, in this sense, is the soul’s gasp before grace.

🛐 4. Fear That Transforms Perspective

· The miracle reframed their understanding of suffering, death, and divine mercy. Fear became a lens through which they saw God’s compassion, not just His might.

o It teaches us that fear rightly ordered leads to deeper faith, not despair.

🕊️ Who Was Saint Alphonsus Liguori?

Born: 1696 in Marianella, near Naples, Italy
Died: 1787 at age 90
Roles: Lawyer, priest, bishop, theologian, composer, artist, and founder of the Redemptorists
Canonized: 1839; declared a Doctor of the Church in 1871
Legacy:

Founded the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (Redemptorists) to preach missions among the poor and abandoned
Authored over 100 works, including Moral Theology, The Glories of Mary, and The Way of the Cross
Patron saint of confessors, moral theologians, and those suffering from arthritis

🔍 His Theology on Fear

Saint Alphonsus had a nuanced and pastoral approach to fear, especially in contrast to the rigorism of Jansenism, which emphasized harsh moral judgment and fear of damnation:

Fear as a Starting Point:

He acknowledged that fear of hell or punishment can initiate conversion, especially for those steeped in sin
But he insisted this fear must evolve into love-based reverence for God

Holy Fear vs. Servile Fear:

True fear of the Lord, for Alphonsus, is not terror but a loving dread of being separated from God
It’s rooted in love, not self-preservation: “One fears sin not because of punishment, but because it wounds the One we love”

Scrupulosity and Mercy:

Alphonsus himself suffered from scruples and wrote extensively to help others overcome them
He taught that freedom and rational consent are necessary for sin—bad thoughts alone do not condemn a soul
He emphasized obedience to a wise confessor as a remedy for scrupulous minds

Pastoral Gentleness:

He famously said he never preached a sermon that “the poorest old woman could not understand”
He rejected fear-based preaching and urged confessors to treat penitents as souls to be saved, not criminals to be punished

Saint Alphonsus’ theology invites us to move from fear to love, from scrupulous anxiety to confident trust in divine mercy. His writings remain a balm for those navigating moral complexity with trembling hearts.

Saint Peter in Chains[4]

Today commemorates St. Peter’s miraculous escape from prison by the hand of an angel. He had been incarcerated by Herod Agrippa, who had already killed St. James the Greater and intended to bring St. Peter before the people also after Easter. But, as the Acts of the Apostles tells us, “Prayer was made without ceasing by the church unto God for him”, and he was delivered by an angel who awoke him in the night, led him past the guards and out of prison.

The chains of St. Peter in Rome

Though no longer included in the general liturgical calendar, the feast of St. Peter in Chains is nonetheless an important day for the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter. The pilgrims who joined the Fraternity on our 30th Anniversary Pilgrimage to Rome last October visited the Basilica of St. Peter in Chains, where they were able to venerate the chains of St. Peter.

Also commemorated today are the seven Maccabees, the holy brothers who were tortured and killed before the eyes of their mother in the 2nd century before Christ for refusing to abandon the Jewish faith. Please pray today for the priests of our Fraternity, that, through the intercession of our patron St. Peter and the holy Maccabees, we may ever possess the same fortitude and love for the Faith that enabled them to endure all things for its sake. “And Peter coming to himself, said: Now I know in very deed, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.”

Portiuncula Indulgence[5]

This is an extraordinary demonstration of God’s mercy in removing the chains of sin from those who devoutly and faithfully seek to gain the indulgence by completing its requirements. It is said that St. Francis was given this day by Our Lord because the Feast of the Chains of St. Peter celebrated on August first is the day Peter was released from prison and his chains removed.

Conditions

The conditions to obtain the Plenary Indulgence of the Forgiveness of Assisi is (for oneself or for a departed soul) is as follows:

· Sacramental Confession to be in God’s grace (during eight days before or after.)

· Participation in the Holy Mass and Eucharist

· Recitation of The Apostles Creed, Our Father and also a prayer for the Pope’s Intention (such as an Our Father, Hail Mary, etc.).

The Portiuncula Indulgence is a grace not to be missed—not only for yourself but for the many suffering souls in Purgatory. Mark your calendar for the Feast of Our Lady of the Angels beginning at Vespers (Noon) on the First of August to August 2nd at Midnight.

Baked Rockfish for St. Peter in Chains (feast Aug. 1^st)[6]

o Ingredients:

§ 5 cups fresh spinach

§ 2 (6 ounce) fillets rockfish

§ 10 cherry tomatoes, halved

§ 1/2 cup vegetable broth

§ 2 tablespoons minced fresh dill

§ 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

§ 1/2 teaspoon lemon pepper

§ 1/4 teaspoon onion powder

§ salt and ground black pepper to taste

§ 2 lemon slices

§ 2 onion slices

§ 1 teaspoon butter

§ Directions:

§ 1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).

§ 2. Layer the spinach in the bottom of a 2 quart baking dish. Lay the rockfish atop the spinach. Scatter the tomatoes around the fish. Pour the broth into the dish. Season the fillet with the dill, garlic powder, lemon pepper, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Place the lemon, onion, and butter on the rockfish. Cover the entire dish with aluminum foil.

§ 3. Bake in preheated oven until the fish flakes easily, 20 to 25 minutes.

Novena in Honor of Saint John Marie Vianney[7]

Dispeller of Satan

O Holy Priest of Ars, the infamous attacks of the devil which you had to suffer and the trials which disheartened you by fatigue would not make you give up the sublime task of converting souls. The devil came to you for many years to disturb your short rest, but you won because of mortification and prayers. Powerful protector, you know the tempter’s desire to harm my baptized and believing soul. He would have me sin, by rejecting the Holy Sacraments and the life of virtue. But good Saint of Ars dispel from me the traces of the enemy. Holy Priest of Ars, I have confidence in your intercession. Pray for me during this novena especially for ... (mention silently your special intentions).

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.

Our first path to holiness is through the Eucharist! Yes, prayers, confessions, the rosary and the saints, angels and our Lady help us in that path to holiness, but when we receive honorably, we become the resurrected Christ to others and us radiant His presence. Today make the Eucharistic Stations of the Cross.

Bible in a Year-Day 44 Priestly Garments

Fr. Mike provides us with a mental picture of the ark of the covenant and reminds that the small details of worship matter as we read Exodus 25-26, Leviticus 19, and Psalm 119:1-56

International Beer Day[8] another hedonistic holiday but even the saint enjoyed a beer-check out “Pints with Aquinas”. International Beer Day celebrates the taste of beer and the achievement of beer brewers. Beer is an ancient alcoholic drink brewed mainly from malted barley, hops, yeast and water although it is possible to brew it from other grains such as maize, wheat and rice. Records of beer date back to 4000 BC, making it one of the oldest alcoholic beverages in the world. The three stated goals of the International Beer Day are to: appreciate brewers and servers, enjoy the taste of all beers from around the world, and to unite the world under the banner of beer. Founded in 2007 by the Association of California Brewers, International Beer Day has become an international event that is observed in more than 50 countries worldwide. It is held annually on the first Friday of August.

International Beer Day Facts & Quotes

· International Beer Day began in Santa Cruz, California, in 2007. It was founded by beer enthusiasts, Jesse Avshalomov and Evan Hamilton.

· As far back as ancient Egypt, beer was a staple food. Known as Hqt, heqet or heket, beer was a thick and sweet source of nutrition including vitamins, minerals and protein that was consumed daily by adults and children.

· On average, a can of beer contains 100-150 calories and 10-15g carbohydrates.

· I work until beer o'clock - Stephen King

International Beer Day Top Events and Things to Do

· Visit your local watering hole and try a new beer that you have never had.

· Attending a beer festival to taste beer from around the world and learn more about brewing and craft beers.

· Visit a local craft brewery in your state.

· Try a Orval beer or a Chimay.

Today is my deceased father’s birthday.

My father was not always a blameless and upright man, but he had a great devotion to St. Jude. He always swore it was St. Jude’s prayers and intercession that brought him home from the war in the pacific and maybe it was. He got my grandmother to sign the papers and he was in combat before his 18th birthday. He was a ghost diver during WWII; his job was to scuba dive in before invasions and set up radio beacons for the invasion and avoid detection or capture. He went on 26 missions with 11 others in frogman teams. The normal mortality rate for these teams was 50%.

After the war, my father drank a lot to forget. As his disease of alcoholism ramped up, he stopped going to church refusing to go to church drunk. I don’t know if my father was aware St. Jude admonishes false teachers who used the church as a sort of country club and caroused fearlessly looking after themselves. My father did not see the church as a social institution but as a place where one encounters our Holy God, our Holy mighty one; our Holy immortal one.

My father knew he was a sinner. He always said that St. Jude was his patron saint because; St. Jude is the patron saint of lost causes, and my father swore that’s what he was. As his disease progressed, he stopped going to church but built a shrine to our Mother Mary. Every day he would cut fresh roses for the shrine and sit at twilight, with beer and cigarette in hand; silently staring at the shrine.

In the end my father did receive his last rights and was ushered into our Lord by our Lady and St. Jude.

Prayer of St. Alphonsus Dc Liguori to the Sacred Heart.

O adorable heart of my Jesus, heart created expressly for the love of men, until now I have shown towards Thee only ingratitude. Pardon me, O my Jesus. Heart of my Jesus, abyss of love and of mercy, how is it possible that I do not die of sorrow when I reflect on Thy goodness to me and my ingratitude to Thee? Thou, my Creator, after having created me, hast given Thy blood and Thy life for me and, not content with this, Thou hast invented a means of offering Thyself up every day for me in the Holy Eucharist, exposing Thyself to a thousand insults and outrages. Ah, Jesus, do Thou wound my heart with a great contrition for my sins, and a lively love for Thee. Through Thy tears and Thy blood give me the grace of perseverance in Thy fervent love until I breathe my last sigh. Amen.

Fitness Friday-The 5 Switches of Manliness: Providing[9]

In case you haven’t noticed men and women are different both physically and mentally. Men’s brains are constructed by our creator differently than women. Men’s brains are uniquely suited for survival and providing for the tribe. If we wish to provide for the tribe we must make use of the male body and mind.

The Providing Brain

The male brain is particularly adept at visual-spatial skills. Men tend to be better than women at rotating objects in their minds to gain a 3-D view and are better able to track moving objects, gauge how fast they’re going, and determine the objects’ proportions and location. Men also have keener long-range vision than women, are more sensitive to objects entering their field of vision, and are better at noticing the small movements of those objects. In fact, there is a correlation between higher testosterone levels and visual-processing speeds. Men’s visual and spatial abilities give them a leg up when it comes to geography, orientation, and navigation–skills that come in handy when out on the hunt or engaging in battle. The male brain is also built with a larger dorsal premammillary nucleus, also called the “defend-your-turf” part of the brain. The circuity of this part of the brain is designed to detect territorial challenges by other males. Men’s brains also include a larger amygdala than women, which can be thought of as an alarm system for possible danger. Thus, men are especially alert to potential threats to themselves and their loved ones.

These inborn proclivities not only helped men in their roles as searchers and scouts, but they may also have been used in ways that then strengthened their ability to envision the future; giving us an ability to track animals or have better math skills.

Men have an innate need to look ahead, to plan, to prepare, to strategize. Or in other words, men have an innate need for vision, for providing.

While we’re no longer hunting antelopes, our brains are still primed to engage in searching, scanning, recognition, and long-term planning. These activities are carried out in the left side of the brain and are fueled by dopamine, the neurotransmitter which neuroscientists have shown motivates the male brain to a greater extent than the female brain.

Flipping the Provider Switch

If you’re a single man, you need to have a vision for your own life. If you’re a married man, you need to have a vision for your own life and for your family. Women don’t want a man who’s a domineering oaf, but they also don’t want to feel like they’re always pulling and dragging their husband along. They want a man who’s personally motivated, takes initiative, makes decisions, and has a discernible sense of direction and purpose. A man who is always scouting the way to take care of his family and lead them through the storms of life. I’ve sometimes had that conversation with my wife where I tell her that I feel unhappy, and she asks me what I want out of life and what would make me happy, and all I can answer is, “I don’t know.” That’s a failure of vision. And a failure in being a provider.

Having a vision involves growing in self-awareness and awareness of the world around you. The man of vision understands his own strengths and weaknesses, how the world works, and what makes people tick. He looks out from a high point in the landscape, takes in the lay of the land, fixes his sights on where he wants to go, and figures out how to get there. And then he leads and navigates, watching for and surmounting obstacles, until the destination is reached.

Here are some suggestions for harnessing your inner-Scout and flipping the Provider Switch:

· Find your core values

· Create a blueprint for your life.

· Keep a journal.

· Spend some time in solitude. Hike, camp overnight or even rent a hotel room.

· Find your vocation.

· Create a daily schedule.

· Work on becoming fully present in your life.

· Meditate or pray.

· Write down your goals each night.

· Unplug and take periodic technology “fasts” to recharge and clear your mind.

· Read biographies–by taking in the sweep of another man’s life you can really gain perspective on your own life, what a man is capable of accomplishing, and insight on the paths other men took.

· Create a morning routine that pumps you up for the coming day.

· Turn off the radio on the way to work and think about what you want to accomplish that day.

· Carry a pocket notebook so you can capture your ideas and make to-do lists to keep track of what needs to get done.

· Practice memorization–memorize a poem or work on remembering names.

· Keep track of data in your life–when you work out, record how much weight you’re lifting. Write down what you eat. Keep track of your goals or new habits with something like Joe’s Goals.

· Read up on human psychology, relationships, body language, etc.

· Educate yourself on things like health insurance and retirement plans (stay-tuned for a post on this).

· Create a budget and understand exactly what’s going on with your finances.

· Start an emergency fund.

· Be prepared for disaster and learn survival skills–like how to handle a weapon, pack a bug-out bag, and forage for food.

· If you have a family, hold a regular family council. We’ll do a post on this in the future.

· Talk with your kids one on one to find out what is going on in their lives. Make it casual–like when you’re driving around together.

· Stay up on politics, news, and current events.

Daily Devotions

· Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them in fasting: End to abortion

· Religion in the Home for Preschool: August

· Litany of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus