- Bucket List Trip: “The World” next port of call: La Valletta, Malta
- Spirit Hour: Today is National Cherry Day-have a Kirshwasser
- Foodie-Maltese Bragioli
- Eat it while watching the “Maltese Falcon” and a red wine
Meekness is stronger than Belligerence
· Let Freedom Ring Day 10
o In common usage, a belligerent person is one who looks for and pursues reasons to stir trouble and engage in violent revenge. The father of belligerence is none other than he who fomented the first ever revolution against God: the devil.
· Eat your Spinach-National Spinach Day
· Watch Oppenheimer-National Atomic Veterans Day
JULY 16 Wednesday
Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Matthew,
Chapter 15, verse 32
Jesus summoned his disciples and said, “My heart is moved with pity for the crowd, for they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, for FEAR they may collapse on the way.”
This chapter of Matthew records the feeding of the four thousand. Some would say that God has no fear but here we see that Christ was afraid for the welfare of the multitude. He knows our needs and is concerned for them. After all, “I am the good shepherd… I know my sheep, and mine know me.” (John 10:14)
Christ knows that even if our hearts desires are in the right place and we have perfect self-control we must acknowledge the legitimate needs of the body. We are both spirit and body; the perfection of the creator, which the fallen angels despise. We must care for because; both are the gift of God.
Christ says, “They have been with me now for three days and have had nothing to eat”. I suggest that we follow His advice starting this week if we can participate in Mass sometime during our midweek so we may not collapse along the way.
I also suggest now would
be a good time to look for a retreat of three days in which you can be with the
Lord knowing He will not send you away hungry.
Copilot
Matthew 15 offers
profound lessons on fear when read through a Catholic lens—especially in the
encounter between Jesus and the Canaanite woman (verses 21–28). While the
chapter begins with a confrontation over ritual purity, it crescendos into a
deeply human and theological moment that reveals how fear, faith, and
persistence intersect.
Here are the key
lessons on fear from this chapter:
🙏 1. Fear Can Drive Us to Faith
The Canaanite woman’s
plea—“Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a
demon”—is born of desperation and fear. But instead of paralyzing her, fear
propels her toward Christ.
·
Catholic
insight: Fear,
when rightly ordered, can be a holy fear—a recognition of our need for God’s
mercy. The Catechism speaks of “filial fear,” not servile dread, as a gift of
the Holy Spirit (CCC 1831).
·
Her
fear for her daughter’s well-being becomes a channel for grace, not a barrier
to it.
🕊️
2. Fear Is Transformed by Humility and Persistence
Jesus initially appears
to ignore her, then rebuffs her with a harsh metaphor. Yet she persists,
humbling herself: “Even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from their masters’
table” (v. 27).
·
Lesson: Fear of rejection or humiliation
doesn’t deter her. She models the kind of bold humility that Catholic tradition
sees in the saints—those who trust in God’s mercy more than they fear human
judgment.
·
St.
John Chrysostom
noted that her persistence was not prideful but reverent, a form of “reverent
boldness” that pleases God.
🧎
3. Fear Is Not the Final Word—Faith Is
Jesus ultimately
praises her: “O woman, great is your faith!” (v. 28). Her fear gave way to
faith, and her faith led to healing.
·
Catholic
reflection: This
moment echoes the teaching that faith is perfected in love (cf. 1 John 4:18:
“Perfect love casts out fear”). The woman’s love for her daughter and trust in
Jesus overcame her fear of being an outsider.
·
Her
story is a foretaste of the Church’s universal mission—extending salvation
beyond Israel to all nations.
🧠
4. Fear of the “Other” Is Challenged
The disciples want to
send her away. Jesus’ initial silence and the metaphor of “dogs” reflect the
cultural and religious boundaries of the time.
·
Catholic
interpretation:
This scene challenges the fear of the outsider. Jesus’ eventual response shows
that divine mercy transcends human prejudice.
·
As
Fr. John Bartunek writes, “Love, faith, and humility: these are the secret
ingredients for prayer that moves the heart of God—even a prayer as simple as,
‘Lord, help me’”.
🕯️
5. Fear of Silence Is Met with Divine Presence
Jesus’ silence is
striking: “He answered her not a word” (v. 23). In Catholic spirituality,
silence is not absence—it’s invitation.
·
Lesson: Fear of divine silence is real,
but it can be a test of faith. The woman doesn’t interpret silence as
rejection. She stays.
·
This
echoes the experience of many saints—St. Teresa of Calcutta, for example—who
endured long periods of spiritual dryness yet remained faithful.
✝️
Summary Table
|
Fear
Experienced |
Response
Modeled by the Woman |
Catholic
Insight |
|
Fear
for her child |
Persistent
intercession |
Holy
fear leads to deeper faith |
|
Fear
of rejection |
Humble
boldness |
Faith
is perfected in love |
|
Fear
of silence |
Continued
pleading |
Silence
can be a test of trust |
|
Fear
of being an outsider |
Acceptance
of her place |
God’s
mercy transcends boundaries |
Catholic Retreats[1]
To drop everything for a
weekend and spend time in solitude (and maybe silence!), prayer and reflection
is the perfect antidote to our busy, distracted lives. As we look forward to a
frenetic holiday season, with Thanksgiving around the corner, this may be the
perfect time for a spiritual retreat. If things are a little too busy now,
consider scheduling a retreat after Christmas, when you are ready to make the
most of it.
Spiritual retreats are not
just for priest and religious. In fact, the United States
Council of Catholic Bishops
urges lay people to take advantage of opportunities to go on a retreat: “In the
midst of your busy lives, a retreat opportunity affords you time of silence and
clarity that cannot be found in the world.”
These 12 Catholic retreat
centers offer all that, and more – each is a beautiful setting that will
inspire you and put you in the perfect frame of mind a fruitful spiritual
repose.
1. The Eastern Point Retreat House in Gloucester, Massachusetts
Eastern Point Retreat House
Located in an old stone
mansion overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, the Eastern Point Retreat House offers
Jesuit retreats based on the exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola.
2. New Camaldoli Hermitage in Big Sur, California
Courtesy of New Camaldoli Hermitage
Since 1958, the monks of
New Camaldoli Hermitage, have welcomed guests to experience the peace their
location, overlooking the Pacific Ocean affords their Benedictine community
every day. [Note: Due to extensive repairs to Highway 1 necessitated
by a major rockslide, access to the Hermitage is currently somewhat limited,
but they are welcoming guests again.]
3. The Shrine of Saint Therese of
Lisieux in Juneau,
Alaska
Courtesy of The Shrine of Saint Therese of Lisieux
At this national
shrine operated by
the Catholic Diocese of Alaska, retreatants come to enjoy the natural beauty of
the oceanside location, and the freedom from modern distractions. Depending on
their preference, guests can stay in log cabins or a small hermitage with no
running water or electricity.
4. The Monastery of Bethlehem in Sullivan County, New York
Courtesy of Monastery of Bethlehem
Located in the Catskill
Mountains two and a half hours from New York City, the Monastery of Bethlehem
offers beauty, silence and solitude from its location amidst acres of forest.
“The colors of the hills and the stillness of the lakes offer rest and relief
to weary spirits,” promise the monastic sisters who operated the retreat
center.
5. St. Joseph’s Abbey in Spencer, Massachusetts
Courtesy
of Saint Joseph's Abbey
The community of Trappist monks at St. Joseph’s Abbey
invites guests to get a taste of the monastic life at this beautiful bucolic
setting. Retreatants are welcome to join the monks for the Liturgy of the Hours
and for Mass, and at conferences given by the monks.
6. Cormaria in Sag Harbor, New York
Courtesy of Cormaria
Cormaria is a Catholic
Retreat House set on 18 waterfront acres in the historic whaling village of Sag
Harbor, New York. The Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary consider
inclusive hospitality their vocation and invite guests of all denominations to
“come away and rest a while.”
7. Villa Maria del Mar in Santa Cruz, California
Courtesy of Villa Maria del Mar
Villa Maria del Mar, a
beachfront property overlooking Monterey Bay in the Pacific Ocean, is owned and
operated by the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary.
8. Serra Retreat in Malibu, California
Courtesy of Serra Retreat
Located on top of a
26-acre knoll in Malibu, overlooking the Pacific Ocean, and with views of the
Santa Monica Mountains, the Serra Retreat is a place of uncommon beauty.
Operated by the Franciscan Friars, the retreat center offers private retreats
and themed retreats, including those based on the 12-step recovery program.
9. Loyola on the Potomac in Faulkner, Maryland
Courtesy
of Loyola on The Potomac
This Jesuit retreat house overlooks the Potomac River and is
surrounded by 235 acres of rolling woodland. Ignatian weekend retreats are
available.
10. Our Lady of the Oaks Retreat
House in Grand
Coteau, Louisiana
Courtesy
of Our Lady of the Oaks
Guests at the Jesuit-run Our Lady of Oaks Retreat House
enjoy sitting in the shade provided by old oak trees in the central courtyard
of the beautiful Spanish mission style estate. Retreats are based on St.
Ignatius’ spiritual exercises.
11. Saint Meinrad Archabbey in St. Meinrad, Indiana
Founded by monks from
Einsiedeln Abbey in Switzerland in 1854, Saint Meinrad Archabbey offers a
beautiful and tranquil spot for prayer and spiritual growth. Benedictine monks
lead three-day retreats during the weekends and during the week.
12. Longlea
Conference Center
in Boston, Virginia
Located on 843 acres next
to the scenic Blue Hills of Virginia, Longlea offers silent retreats conducted
by priests of Opus Dei for either men or women. Mothers with young babies are
welcome — each year two retreats are designated to accommodate infants.
Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel[2]
THE Church celebrates on this day the feast of the Scapular of Mount Carmel. The scapular, which derives its name from the Latin word scapula’s, meaning shoulders, is a dress which covers the shoulders. It is mentioned in the rule of St. Benedict as worn by monks over their other dress when they were at work, and it now forms a regular part of the religious dress in the old Orders. But it is best known among Catholics as the name of two little pieces of cloth worn out of devotion to the Blessed Virgin over the shoulders, under the ordinary garb, and connected by strings. The devotion of the scapular, now almost universal in the Catholic Church, began with the Carmelites. The history of its origin is as follows: During the thirteenth century the Carmelite Order suffered great persecution, and on July 16, 1251, while St. Simon Stock, then general of the Order, was at prayer, the Blessed Virgin appeared to him, holding in her hand a scapular. Giving it to the saint, she said,” Receive, my dear son, this scapular of thy Order, as the distinctive sign of my confraternity, and the mark of the privilege which I have obtained for thee and the children of Carmel. It is a sign of salvation, a safeguard in danger, and a special pledge of peace and protection till the end of time.” “Whosoever dies wearing this shall be preserved from eternal flames.” It is much to be wished that people should everywhere join this confraternity, for the honor of Mary and for the salvation of souls, by a life fitted to that end. In order to have a share in the merits of the sodality every member must:
·
Shun
sin, and, according to his state of life, lives chastely.
·
Say
every day, if possible, seven times, Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be to the
Father.
·
Strive
to serve God by venerating Mary and imitating her virtues. These rules, it is true, are not
binding under penalty of sin, but the breach of them deprives us of all merit;
and is not this something to be taken into account? “He who soweth sparingly
shall also reap sparingly.” (n. Cor. ix. 6).
Things to
Do[3]
·
If you have not already done so, have a priest enroll
you in the Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, or popularly known as the
"Brown Scapular" and begin wearing it as a sign of your love for Our
Lady.
·
Wearing the Brown Scapular is not an automatic
guarantee of salvation. It is not a magical charm, nor is it an excuse to live
in a way contrary to the teachings of the Church. (see Catechism,
no. 1670.)
·
See the Directory
on Popular Piety the
Brown Scapular is included in the document as a wonderful pious practice.
The history of Marian piety also includes "devotion" to various
scapulars, the most common of which is devotion to the Scapular of Our Lady of
Mount Carmel. Its use is truly universal and, undoubtedly, it is one of those
pious practices which the Council described as "recommended by the
Magisterium throughout the centuries."
·
Pope John Paul II has worn the scapular for a
long time. See the Holy Father's talk on the Scapular
of Carmel, A Treasure for the Church.
·
For the definitive treatment on the brown
scapular, read The Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel: Catechesis and Ritual.
·
The Blessed Virgin's scapular should remind us
that Christians have an apostolate against current extremes and extravagances
in modes of dress. Clothes are a symbol of the person. Like the Christian
heart, dress must be chaste and simple, for one judges the interior from the
exterior. It should not be necessary to add that special attention be given
this matter when preparing for church attendance. Examine yourself on how well
you reflect Christian modesty in your dress and if you are a parent, how well
you ensure that your children are modestly dressed.
·
In New York City in East
Harlem is one of the oldest festivals in America for Our Lady of Mount
Carmel. See Our
Lady of Mount Carmel Shrine of East Harlem – since 1881. Also Williamsburg in Brooklyn, NY
annually holds the Festival of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel and St. Paulinus of Nola
(Festa Del Giglio). It is unique to see a scene that one would expect in Europe
unfolding on the street of a major East coast city. You can view a You Tube
clip right here. Also look around your area for Italian
parishes, maybe one named after Our Lady of Mount Carmel? Many times, the
parish will host wonderful festivals in her honor.
·
Watch this You Tube
video to learn more about devotion to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel.
·
From the Catholic Culture library, the
Scapular Devotion, a description of Different
Kinds of Scapulars, The
Brown Scapular and information on the
Scapular Medal.
·
Learn more about St.
Simon Stock and the Brown Scapular.
Scapulars and Medals[4]
Medals
have been part of Catholic life since the early centuries of the Church. The
most popular is the cross; even Protestants wear crosses minus the corpus while
Catholics wear a crucifix. It is also noted that in the miraculous image of Our
Lady of Guadalupe she is wearing a cross about her neck. We wear scapulars,
too, which are mini habits of the religious orders. Pope John Paul II said that
the scapular is a powerful precisely because it is a “habit” in every sense of
the word, both a uniform and a pattern of good belief and good behavior. Since
1910, Catholics have been permitted to wear a scapular medal in place of a
cloth scapular.
Mount
Carmel Coffee[5]
This coffee ice is cool
and refreshing for this summer feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
Stir the sugar into the
warm water until it is melted and add the lemon juice, stirring for about five
minutes. Add the coffee, strain, place in a freezing tray, and freeze, stirring
frequently, until it becomes a mush.
- 3/4
cup sugar
- 2
cups warm water
- 1/2
cup lemon juice
- 2
cups strong coffee
Serve the ice slush in
glasses, topping the glasses of ice with any of the following:
- whipped cream (add vanilla, sugar, almond extract, etc.)
- liqueurs (Amaretto, Kahlua, Baileys, etc.)
- chocolate curls or small pieces
- candied citrus peel
Bible in a
Year-Day 27
Today we begin our journey in Egypt and Exodus as Fr. Mike reads about the
birth of Moses, and the connection between burnt offerings and the sacrifice of
the mass. Today's readings are Exodus 1-2, Leviticus 1, and Psalm 44.
Today
is National Hot Dog Day[6]
National Hot Dog Day seeks
to appreciate hotdogs. The National Hot Dog and Sausage Council created
the National Hot Dog Day to honor the all-American hot dog. The first
National Hot Dog Day was held in 1991, where a hot dog luncheon was served on
Capitol Hill. Since then, it has become tradition to serve hot dogs to
Capitol Hill staffers, lawmakers, agency officials and baseball legends.
Frankfurters, which are very similar to hot dogs, originated in Frankfurt,
Germany. In the 1880s, Antonoine Feuchtwanger began to sell hot dogs in
St. Louis, Missouri. Eventually by the 1890s, it is believed that Chris
von der Ahe, a German immigrant who owned the St. Louis Browns, began to sell
hotdogs at baseball games. Since then, hotdogs have been deeply rooted in
American baseball culture. To honor the association between baseball and
hotdogs, the American Meat Institute invites baseball players to attend the
annual hotdog luncheon on Capitol Hill during National Hot Dog Day on July
23rd.
National Hot Dog Day
Facts & Quotes
·
The
Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine has stated that hotdogs contain
carcinogenic (cancer
causing) compounds, are high in fat, cholesterol and salt.
·
In
fact, a recent study by the Harvard School of Public Health has
found that a single daily serving of processed meat can increase the risk of
colorectal cancer by 21%. These will kill you quicker than Covid 19!
Note: Los Angeles residents consume more hotdogs than any
other city. You are what you eat. Need we say more!
·
According
to the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council, the proper etiquette required to
eat a hotdog is finish the hot dog in five bites. In the case of a
foot-long wiener, only seven bites are appropriate.
·
Across
the United States, consumers spent more than $2.5 billion on hot dogs in 2014.
In 2014, Los Angeles consumed more than 39 million hotdogs.
·
Every
year on July 4th, Nathan's Famous Hot Dogs hosts a hot dog eating contest in
which contestants must consume as many hot dogs as possible in 10 minutes. The
current male record holder ate 69 hot dogs while the female record holder
inhaled 45 hot dogs in only 10 minutes.
·
A
hot dog at the ball game beats a roast beef at the Ritz. - Humphrey Bogart,
Famous 1940s actor.
Every Wednesday is
Dedicated to St. Joseph
The Italian culture has
always had a close association with St. Joseph perhaps you could make
Wednesdays centered around Jesus’s Papa. Plan an Italian dinner of pizza or
spaghetti after attending Mass as most parishes have a Wednesday evening Mass.
You could even do carry out to help restaurants. If you are adventurous, you
could do the Universal Man Plan: St. Joseph style. Make the evening a family
night perhaps it could be a game night. Whatever you do make the day special.
·
Devotion to the 7 Joys and Sorrows of St.
Joseph
·
Do the St.
Joseph Universal Man Plan.
·
Total Consecration
to St. Joseph Day 7
A
Prayer Before Mass (Wednesday) (by Saint Ambrose)
Catholic
Online Prayers
Mindful then, O Lord, of Thy worshipful Passion, I approach Thine Altar, sinner though I am, to join in the offering unto Thee that Sacrifice which Thou hast instituted and commanded to be offered in remembrance of Thee for our well-being. Receive it, I beseech Thee, O God most High, for Thy holy Church, and for the people whom Thou hast purchased with Thine own Blood. Let not, through my unworthiness, the price of their salvation be wasted, whose saving Victim and Redemption Thou didst Thyself vouchsafe to be. Also behold in pity, O Lord, the sorrows of Thy people, which I bring before Thee; the perils of Thy servants; the sorrowful sighing of prisoners; the miseries of widows and orphans, and all that are desolate and bereaved; the necessities of strangers and travellers; the helplessness and sadness of the weak and sickly; the depressions of the languishing; the weakness of the aged and of children; the trials and aspirations of young men; and the vows of virgins.
Daily
Devotions
·
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting: For
the Poor and Suffering
·
Litany of the Most Precious
Blood of Jesus
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Rosary
[1]https://aleteia.org/2017/09/15/10-breathtakingly-beautiful-catholic-retreats/#:~:text=12%20Catholic%20retreats%20held%20in%20the%20most%20beautiful,Serra%20Retreat%20in%20Malibu%2C%20California%20...%20More%20items
[2] Goffine’s Devout Instructions,
1896
[4] Hahn, Scott, Signs of Life; 40
Catholic Customs and their biblical roots. Chap. 36 Scapulars and
Medals.
[5]https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/recipes/view.cfm?id=91
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