Vinny’s Corner
· July 5-July 27 Tour de France[3]
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.
· Foodie: Steak Frites
§ Catholic Recipe: Ancient Roman Fava Bean Dip
· Saturday Litany of the Hours Invoking the Aid of Mother Mary
· Spirit hour: St. Vincent Rum Punch In honor of St. Vincent
· Bucket Item trip: Pilgrimage: Apt, France
· National Urban Beekeeping Day
· Don’t be a miser
o Let Freedom Ring Day 13 Freedom from Stinginess/Miserliness
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff comfort me.
Psalm 23:4 JULY 19 Saturday
Matthew, Chapter 21,
verse 46
And although they
were attempting to arrest him, they FEARED the crowds, for they regarded
him as a prophet.
This verse is referring to John the Baptist, but they, the priests and powerful, also feared the crowds because of Jesus. Fear is a natural reaction and when we fear something we naturally do one of five things, we either: fight, run away, do nothing, compromise or grow. The whole of the bible are stories of people both good and bad making choices. Some of people’s choices were good and some were evil; but it was always the spirit of God that urged men to make choices that caused growth in humankind; to create a Kingdom of God on earth. Both John the Baptist and Jesus were marked by the priests and elders for death because they threatened their power over the people which they feared. Like savage beasts they killed anything that got in their way.
According to John Maxwell[1] leaders lose their right to selfishness and must take the lives of others into account before their own. They must testify to the truth and tell people what they need to hear rather than what they want to hear. They must tell people where they have to go to grow the Kingdom and not where they desire to go.
Christ came not only to restore the
Israelites but all of mankind into His Kingdom: The Kingdom of God. Leaders in
the Kingdom must fear not and lead from principle rather than from reaction.
Copilot
From a
Catholic perspective, the verse:
“And although
they were attempting to arrest him, they feared the crowds, for they regarded
him as a prophet.” — Matthew 21:46
offers a
profound reflection on the nature of fear—particularly the contrast between
fear of man and fear of God.
🔍 Contextual
Insight
This verse
refers to the chief priests and Pharisees who, after hearing Jesus’ parables
(especially the parable of the tenants), realized He was speaking about them.
Though they wanted to arrest Him, they hesitated—not because they questioned
their motives, but because they feared public backlash. The crowd saw Jesus as
a prophet, and the religious leaders feared losing their influence and control.
✨ Catholic
Lessons on Fear from This Verse
1. Fear of Man
Can Paralyze Moral Action
·
The religious leaders knew what they wanted to do,
but fear of public opinion restrained them.
·
This reflects a spiritual danger: when fear of
others’ opinions overrides our conscience or obedience to God.
·
As David Platt notes in a reflection on this verse,
“The fear of others can drive us in so many unhealthy ways”.
2. Fear of God
Should Supersede All Other Fears
·
Scripture repeatedly teaches that “the fear of the
Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10).
·
Catholic tradition interprets this not as terror,
but as filial fear—a reverent awe of God’s majesty, justice, and love.
·
The saints feared human judgment little because they
feared God greatly. This verse invites us to examine whether we are more
concerned with pleasing people or pleasing God.
3. Fear Can
Reveal Our Attachments
·
The leaders’ fear of the crowd revealed their
attachment to power, reputation, and control.
·
In contrast, Jesus, who feared no man, was free to
speak truth, even when it led to the Cross.
·
Catholic spirituality encourages detachment from
worldly approval so we can live in the freedom of Christ.
4. Crowds Can
Be a Mirror of Conscience
·
Ironically, the crowd’s reverence for Jesus as a
prophet served as a kind of moral check on the leaders.
·
Sometimes, even secular or popular sentiment can
reflect a deeper truth that challenges institutional pride or hypocrisy.
🙏 A Catholic
Response
This verse
invites a prayerful examination of conscience:
·
Do I act out of fear of what others might think?
·
Am I silent when I should speak truth?
·
Do I seek approval from people more than from God?
A fitting
prayer might be:
“Lord, free me
from the fear of man. Teach me to fear You alone—not in dread, but in awe and
love. Help me to live boldly, speak truthfully, and follow You faithfully, no
matter the cost.”
Novena of St. Ann[2]
Daily Prayer to Saint Ann
O
glorious St. Ann, you are filled with compassion for those who invoke you and
with love for those who suffer! Heavily burdened with the weight of my
troubles, I cast myself at your feet and humbly beg of you to take the present
intention which I recommend to you in your special care.
Please recommend it to your daughter, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and place it
before the throne of Jesus, so that He may bring it to a happy issue. Continue
to intercede for me until my request is granted. But, above all, obtain for me
the grace one day to see my God face to face, and with you and Mary and all the
saints to praise and bless Him for all eternity. Amen.
Our Father, . . . Hail Mary . . .
O Jesus, Holy Mary, St. Ann, help me now and at
the hour of my death. Good St. Ann, intercede for me.
THIRD
DAY
Hail, good St. Ann, who first responded to the
needs of Mary, Mother of our Savior and Queen of Angels. Hail to you and to
your husband St. Joachim, who watched over her infancy, presented her to the
Lord in the temple and, according to your promise, consecrated her to the
service of God.
Hail St. Ann, good mother! I rejoice in the
marvels you continually perform, because they encourage all to seek your
intercession.
Good St. Ann, by the great power that God has given you, show yourself my mother, my consoler, my advocate. Reconcile me to the God I have so deeply offended. Console me in my trials; strengthen me in my struggles. Deliver me from danger in my time of need. Help me at the hour of death and open to me the gates of paradise.
Bible in a Year-Day 31
Fr. Mike points out how today's reading from Exodus can act like a mirror for
us as we continue to hear the story of Moses and Pharaoh in Exodus 8 and also
listen to Levitpticus 6 and Psalm 48.
Daily Devotions
·
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting: Conversion of Sinners
·
Litany of the Most Precious
Blood of Jesus
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Rosary
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