Monday Night at the Movies
Strange Cargo
🎬 Strange Cargo (1940), directed by Frank Borzage, is a hauntingly allegorical film that blends prison escape drama with spiritual parable. From a Catholic perspective, it offers a rich meditation on grace, redemption, and the mystery of Christ’s presence among sinners.
🕊️ Summary Through a Catholic Lens
- The story follows a group of convicts escaping Devil’s Island, including Verne (Clark Gable), a cynical thief, and Julie (Joan Crawford), a disillusioned saloon girl.
- Among them is Cambreau (Ian Hunter), a mysterious, serene figure who gradually reveals himself as a Christ-like presence—calm, compassionate, and seemingly omniscient.
- Cambreau doesn’t preach but quietly offers each character a chance at transformation. His presence unsettles the hardened men, yet draws them toward introspection and, for some, repentance.
- The journey becomes less about physical escape and more about spiritual reckoning. Cambreau’s final moments—adrift in cruciform pose—evoke Christ’s sacrifice and the offer of salvation.
✨ Catholic Themes & Lessons
- Christ Among Sinners: Cambreau embodies Christ’s willingness to walk among the broken, offering grace without coercion. His quiet companionship mirrors Luke 24’s Emmaus moment—recognition dawning slowly.
- Free Will & Redemption: Each convict must choose whether to accept Cambreau’s guidance. Some do, some reject it—echoing the Catholic understanding of free will and the personal nature of salvation.
- Sacramental Imagery: Water, light, and bread appear throughout the film, subtly evoking baptism, divine illumination, and Eucharistic echoes.
- The Power of Love: Julie’s transformation from bitterness to tenderness reflects the healing power of love—human and divine. Her final union with Verne hints at the sanctification of even the most wounded relationships.
🧭 Spiritual Takeaways
- Christ doesn’t force—He invites. Cambreau’s gentle presence reminds us that grace is offered, not imposed.
- Redemption is possible, even in the darkest places. Devil’s Island becomes a metaphor for spiritual exile, and the journey out mirrors the path of conversion.
- We are never too far gone. Verne’s hardened heart softens, not through punishment, but through encounter—an echo of the prodigal son.
Christopher’s Corner
· Beans Month bursts into July with a celebration of one of the world’s favorite and most versatile ingredient—beans!
· Eat waffles and Pray for the assistance of the Angels
· Bucket List trip[2]: USA 70-degree year trip:
· Spirit Hour: Dark and Stormy Cocktail
· Foodie-Pacific NW Clam Chowder
· Monday: Litany of Humility
· Don’t be full of yourself
o Let Freedom Ring Day 22 Freedom from Narcissism
§ In Greek mythology, we find the rather tragic figure of Narcissus. As the story goes, he is an extraordinary young man in every possible way. But, he is aloof and rather full of himself. Anyone who falls in love with him pays a steep price because he will not love them back. Eventually, while hunting, Narcissus stoops down to the water to get a drink. He sees his own reflection and falls madly in love with it. He reaches out to grab the reflection and drowns, suffering the abysmal fate others who tried to love him did. In psychology, narcissism is described as "selfishness, involving a sense of entitlement, a lack of empathy, and a need for admiration, as characterizing a personality type." My brothers and sisters, does not this word describe our society to a T?
JULY 28 Monday
Luke,
Chapter 1, verse 30
Then
the angel said to her, “Do not be AFRAID, Mary, for you have found favor
with God.
Mary had no fear of the world or
man, yet, when the angel appeared she was immersed in holy fear. Let us follow
Mary’s example and bravely face the day saying YES to God.
Copilot
Luke 1:30 is such a tender
moment—Gabriel’s words pierce through the mystery and awe with reassurance: “Do
not be afraid.” It’s not just comfort; it’s a divine invitation to trust.
Mary’s fear wasn’t worldly—it was
the trembling awe that comes from encountering the holy. She didn’t cower; she
listened. And then she said yes. That “yes” wasn’t passive—it was courageous,
active, and transformative. She became the first disciple of Christ before He
was even born.
Holy fear isn’t about shrinking
back—it’s about standing in reverence and stepping forward in faith.
It’s the kind of fear that leads to surrender, not paralysis.
There are some rich lessons drawn
from Luke 1:30,—each one echoing Mary’s encounter with the divine and her
courageous “yes”:
🌟
Lessons from Luke 1:30
·
God’s
favor is unearned grace
Mary didn’t earn her role through merit; she was chosen by grace. This reminds
us that divine favor often comes as a gift, not a reward.
·
Holy
fear is not worldly fear
Mary’s fear wasn’t of danger—it was awe in the presence of the sacred. It
teaches us to distinguish between fear that paralyzes and reverence that
awakens.
·
God
calls us by name
Gabriel addresses Mary personally. This shows that God’s invitations are
intimate and specific—He knows us deeply and calls us uniquely.
·
Fear
is often the first reaction to divine calling
Even the most faithful may tremble when God interrupts their plans. But the
angel’s words—“Do not be afraid”—are a divine refrain throughout scripture,
urging trust over terror.
·
Saying
“yes” to God requires courage
Mary’s assent wasn’t passive. It was a bold step into mystery, risk, and
transformation. Her “yes” is a model of active faith.
·
Favor
doesn’t mean ease
Mary’s path was filled with uncertainty and sacrifice. God’s favor equips us
for purpose, not comfort.
·
God’s
plans often begin in obscurity
Mary was a young woman in a small town, yet she became the vessel of salvation.
This reminds us that greatness often begins in hidden places.
Novena
in Honor of Saint John Marie Vianney[1]
Complete
Trust in God
Saint John Marie Baptist
Vianney, what confidence the people had in your prayers! You could not leave
your old rectory or your humble church without being surrounded by imploring
souls, who appealed to you as they would have appealed to Jesus Himself during
His earthly life. And you, O good Saint, gave them hope by your words, which
were full of love for God. You, who had always counted entirely on the heart of
God, obtain for me a deep filial trust in His Providence. As the hope of divine
goods fills my heart, give me courage and help me to always obey the
Commandments of God. 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.
Bible in a Year-Day 39
Today, Fr. Mike explains how God's heart is revealed through his
commandments, and how we are all called to a life of justice, as we read from
Exodus 22, Leviticus 15, and Psalm 76.
Daily
Devotions
·
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting: Binding
and suppressing the Devils Evil Works
·
Litany of the Most Precious
Blood of Jesus
·
Religion
in the Home for Preschool: July
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Rosary
[2] Schultz, Patricia. 1,000 Places to See Before You
Die: A Traveler's Life List Workman Publishing Company. Kindle Edition.
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