Lord: To Your Right Foot, I entrust Dara Hope, whose name carries wisdom and expectation. Guide her steps in peace, and may she walk with hope through every valley and mountain.
Dara’s Corner
- Bucket List Trip: “The World” next port of call: Riga, Latvia
- Spirit Hour: Wine Cooler
- Foodie-Catholic Recipe: Swedish Meatballs
· Easy Chicken Feet Recipe (Chinese Dim Sum Style)
· Be a model of feminine Holiness
· Let Freedom Ring Day 17 Freedom from Lukewarmness
Hike of West Fork Oak Creek Sedona, Arizona
West Fork Oak Creek is a popular trail. There is a pleasant little stream that ripples along the canyon floor as you hike it where you can look up at the dizzying cliffs that tower above it.
During this hike you will meditate on each of the ways you may have been walking away from God; marking each of the meditations as you cross the stream multiple times. On the return hike, you will meditate using the walking towards God meditations as you cross the stream. Remember every journey away from something is a journey toward something—the first meditations are the seven deadly sins with fear added as an eighth; and you will be meditating on the Beatitudes of Christ on the way back in reverse order.
Walking away from GOD
(Have I been/Shown?)
1 FEAR: Terror, Dread; Horror, Fright; Panic, Alarm; Trepidation, Apprehension.
2 PRIDE/HUBRIS: Arrogant; Conceit; Smugness; Self-importance; Satisfaction; Pleasure; Delight.
3 ENVY: Jealousy, Desire; Resentment, Spite, Malice, Meanness.
4 WRATH: Anger, Annoyance, Rage; Fury, Aggravation, Frustration.
5 AVARICE: Greed; Materialism; Covetousness, Acquisitiveness.
6 SLOTH: Laziness, Idleness; Sluggishness, Inactivity; Indolence (condition that is slow to develop or be healed and causes no pain-i.e. fail to resist evil) Apathy.
7 GLUTTONY: Excess, Exclusivity; Over indulgence; Intemperance.
8 LUST: Yearn, Desire; Long for, Hanker for; Hunger for, Ache for, Crave.
Walking toward GOD
(Have I failed to be, do; or show?)
8 CHASTITY (PURITY OF HEART): Cleanliness, Wholesomeness; Spotlessness, Clarity; Transparency, Knowledge, Honesty, Wisdom.
Opposing Deadly Sin: LUST
Blessed are the clean of heart, for they shall see God. The clean of heart are those who preserve with care the innocence with which they are invested at holy Baptism, or seek to regain it, when lost, by penance; those who keep their hearts and consciences unspotted from all sinful thoughts, particularly from all unchaste thoughts, desires, words, and acts, and who endeavor in all things to have a pure intention directed to God alone. They shall see God, that is, they shall know Him even here upon earth, for as the eye that is to see must be clean, so only souls that are pure and unstained can behold God. But further, our knowledge is like our hearts; the purer the heart the clearer and greater is the knowledge of God. But in the world above they shall see, know, and possess Him as He is. What blessedness! Strive, therefore, to keep your heart clean.
7 TEMPERANCE (POOR IN SPIRIT): Sacrifice, Give Up; Forgo, Let Go; Surrender, Tithe, Self-Control, Abstention.
Opposing Deadly Sin: GLUTTONY
The poor in spirit are: 1. Those who, like the apostles, readily forsake all earthly things, and for Christ’s sake become poor. 2. Those who, happening to lose their property by misfortune or injustice, suffer the loss patiently, in resignation to the will of God. 3. Those who, like Jesus, are content with their poor and humble position, seek no higher or happier one, and would rather suffer want than enrich themselves by unlawful acts, by fraud or theft. 4. The rich and noble who set not their hearts upon the riches and greatness of the world who use their riches and influence to relieve the misery of the needy and oppressed. 5. Finally, the truly humble, who, convinced of their weakness, their helplessness and misery, think lowly of themselves, and regard themselves but as beggars, who are always in need of the grace of God. To all these, therefore, in whose hearts the world has no place, there is assured, as their inheritance, the kingdom of heaven; here the kingdom of grace there the kingdom of glory.
6 DILIGENCE (HUNGER & THRIST FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS): Fairness, Impartiality; Righteousness, Evenhandedness; Fair Dealing, Persistence, Effort, Ethics, Rectitude.
Opposing Deadly Sin: SLOTH
Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice, for they shall have their fill. Hunger and thirst denote the most ardent longing after those virtues which constitute Christian perfection, such as humility, meekness, the love of God and of our neighbor, penance. Whoever longs for these virtues as the hungry man does for food and drink, and prays to God for them with perseverance and earnestness, shall have his fill; that is, he shall be enriched with them, and one day shall be satisfied with eternal Happiness.
5 CHARITY (MERCIFUL): Compassion; Kindness, Pity; Bigheartedness, Clemency; Openhandedness, Forgiveness; Liberality, Understanding; Leniency, Will, Benevolence, Generosity. Opposing Deadly Sin: AVARICE
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. The merciful here spoken of are: 1. Those who willingly forgive the injuries done to them. 2. Those who have compassion on their poor neighbors, and, according to their ability, sustain them by alms. These shall obtain mercy; that is, God will forgive them their sins and endow them abundantly with the goods of this world and of the world to come. Thus God deals with us as we deal with others.
4 PATIENCE (PEACEMAKERS): Relations, Mediation; Negotiation—Prevents Destruction, I.E. Stem Cell/Abortion, Sufferance.
Opposing Deadly Sin: WRATH
Blessed are the peace-makers, for they shall be called the children of God. By peacemakers we are to understand those who have peace with themselves, that is, a quiet conscience, and who endeavor to maintain peace among others, or to restore it when broken. Such are called the children of God, because they follow God, Who is a God of peace, and Who even gave His only Son to reconcile the world with Him, and to bring down upon earth that peace which the world itself could not give.
3 KINDNESS (MOURNING): Grief, Sorrow; Remembrance, Respect, Loyalty, Integrity.
Opposing Deadly Sin: ENVY
Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted. By them that mourn we are not to understand such as grieve and lament over a death, a misfortune, a loss of worldly goods, or the like; but those who are grieved that God should be in so many ways offended by themselves and by others that His Church should be so heavily oppressed, and thereby so many souls lost that have been redeemed with the precious blood of Christ. The only evil really to be grieved for is sin, and the tears shed on account of sin are the only tears that are profitable, for they shall be recompensed with everlasting joy.
2 HUMILITY (MEEK): Modesty, Not Assuming, Reverence, Altruism.
Opposing Deadly Sin: PRIDE/HUBRIS
Blessed are the meek, for they shall possess the land. That man is meek who does not murmur against God for sending afflictions upon him, who is not angry at men who do him injury, but who rather suppresses impatience, anger, envy, and revenge, nay, who seeks to recompense the evil done him by his neighbor with good. Such a one is greater than he who takes by storm fortified cities (Prov. xvi. 32); he possesses an unfailing fountain of peace, quiet, and cheerfulness; by his meekness prevails over the most hostile minds, is by such means truly a ruler upon earth, and will one day, for his portion, obtain heaven, the land of the living, there to enjoy eternal peace.
1 LOVE & COURAGE (FAITH-BE NOT AFRAID): Affection, Adoration; Friendship, Confidence; Courageous, Trust; Valiant, Reliance; Heroic, Assurance; Bold, Conviction; Daring, Belief; Fearless, Devotion; Plucky, Loyalty.
Opposing Deadly Sin: FEAR
Love Brothers and sisters do not be afraid to welcome Christ and accept his power. Help the Pope and all those who wish to serve Christ and with Christ’s power to serve the human person and the whole of mankind. Do not be afraid: Open wide the doors for Christ. To his saving power open the boundaries of States, economic and political systems, the vast fields of culture, civilization and development. Do not be afraid. Christ knows “what is in man”. He alone knows it. So often today man does not know what is within him, in the depths of his mind and heart. So often he is uncertain about the meaning of his life on this earth. He is assailed by doubt, a doubt which turns into despair. We ask you therefore, we beg you with humility and trust, let Christ speak to man. He alone has words of life, yes, of eternal life.
JULY 23 Wednesday
ST. BRIDGET OF SWEDEN
Matthew,
Chapter 28, Verse 4-5
The guards were shaken with FEAR of him and became like dead men. Then the angel said to the women in reply, “Do not be afraid! I know that you are seeking Jesus the crucified.
Have you ever been so afraid that you lost consciousness?
I must admit I have not; however once when
praying intently I distinctly heard the singing of angelic voices that scared
me so bad I hid and prayed it stop, which it did. Yet is it possible for this
to happen.
Extreme pain, fear, or stress may bring on fainting. This type of fainting is caused by overstimulation of the vagus nerve, a nerve connected to the brain that helps control breathing and circulation. In addition, a person who stands still or erect for too long may faint. This type of fainting occurs because blood pools in the leg veins, reducing the amount that is available for the heart to pump to the brain. This type of fainting is quite common in older people or those taking drugs to treat high blood pressure.[1]
Copilot
Matthew 28 is a triumphant and deeply theological chapter that offers
rich lessons from a Catholic perspective. It recounts the Resurrection, the
commissioning of the disciples, and Christ’s promise to remain with His Church.
Here are some key takeaways:
✝️ The Resurrection: Triumph Over Death
- Christ’s
victory over death affirms the core of Catholic faith: that Jesus is truly
the Son of God and that eternal life is possible through Him.
- The angel’s
words, “He is not here, for He has been raised” (Mt 28:6), echo the
fulfillment of prophecy and Christ’s own promises.
- The
Resurrection is not just a historical event—it’s a living reality that
Catholics celebrate every Sunday and especially at Easter.
👩🦰 The Role of Women as First Witnesses
- Mary
Magdalene and the other Mary are the first to encounter the risen Christ.
This highlights the dignity and spiritual insight of women in salvation
history.
- Their
response—fear and great joy—mirrors the awe and hope that should
accompany every encounter with the divine.
🕊️ The Great Commission: Evangelization and Baptism
- Jesus
commands: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing
them…” (Mt 28:19). This is the foundation of the Church’s missionary
mandate.
- The
Trinitarian formula—“in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of
the Holy Spirit”—is central to Catholic sacramental theology.
- Catholics are
called not only to believe but to teach, baptize, and live out the Gospel
in communion with the Church.
🌍 Universal Mission and Apostolic Authority
- Christ gives
the apostles authority: “All power in heaven and on earth has been
given to me” (Mt 28:18). This underpins the Catholic understanding of
apostolic succession.
- The Church’s
mission is universal, extending to all peoples and cultures, guided by the
Holy Spirit and the teachings of Christ.
🛐 Christ’s Enduring Presence
- “I am with you always, until the end of
the age” (Mt 28:20) is a profound promise of Christ’s presence in the
Eucharist, the Church, and the lives of the faithful.
- This assures Catholics that they are never alone—Christ walks with His Church through every trial and triumph.
The Law of Victory[2]
Jesus raised several people from the dead, but in each case differed from His own resurrection. Those people would eventually die again. But Jesus rose from the dead, never to die again. He defeated mankind’s greatest enemy: death. All other problems are problems because they kill us. Once Jesus defeated death, His followers could operate in total security. No struggle is too big for God. No question is unanswerable. No problem is too difficult. The resurrection of Christ trumpeted good news from the graveyard! Jesus in spite of the evil influence of Satan on men practiced the Law of Victory, decisively defeating even death itself.
The Law of Victory: Leaders find a way for the team to win.
~ John C. Maxwell
Leaders make things happen. They are unwilling to accept failure as their reality and choose to do all humanly possible (and sometimes even more) to achieve victory. Not just for themselves, but for their teams. Leaders live and breathe success. Leaders are resilient. They don’t feed off of the past, but choose to move forward toward the next victory. Leaders are achievers. Leaders are winners. Leaders understand that they don’t need to win every battle to be victorious. They are patient and understand that victory sometimes takes time and often even sacrifices.[3]
Have courage He has risen, and He has sent
His Mother Mary to help us in the end times. Do not be perplexed and remember
Our Lady said, “In the end, My Immaculate Heart will triumph!”[4]
St. Bridget of Sweden[5]
Bridget was born in Sweden of noble and pious parents and
led a most holy life. While she was yet unborn, her mother was saved from
shipwreck for her sake. At ten years of age, Bridget heard a sermon on the
Passion of our Lord; and the next night she saw Jesus on the cross, covered
with fresh blood, and speaking to her about his Passion. Thenceforward
meditation on that subject affected her to such a degree, that she could never
think of our Lord's sufferings without tears. She was given in marriage to Ulfo
prince of Nericia; and won him, by example and persuasion, to a life of piety.
She devoted herself with maternal love to the education of her children. She
was most zealous in serving the poor, especially the sick; and set apart a
house for their reception, where she would often wash and kiss their feet.
Together with her husband, she went on pilgrimage to Compostela, to visit the
tomb of the apostle St. James. On their return journey, Ulfo fell dangerously
ill at Arras; but St. Dionysius, appearing to Bridget at night, foretold the
restoration of her husband's health, and other future events. Ulfo became a
Cistercian monk but died soon afterwards. Whereupon Bridget, having heard the
voice of Christ calling her in a dream, embraced a more austere manner of life.
Many secrets were then revealed to her by God. She founded the monastery of
Vadstena under the rule of our Savior, which was given her by our Lord himself.
At his command, she went to Rome, where she kindled the love of God in very
many hearts. She made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem; but on her return to Rome she
was attacked by fever and suffered severely from sickness during a whole year.
On the day she had foretold, she passed to heaven, laden with merits. Her body
was translated to her monastery of Vadstena; and becoming illustrious for
miracles, she was enrolled among the saints by Boniface IX. Excerpted from the
Liturgical Year, Abbot Gueranger O.S.B
Things to
do
·
From
the Catholic Culture Library, two articles by Pope John Paul II — St. Bridget: A Unique Model of
Feminine Holiness,
Three Co-Patronesses of Europe and Saint Birgitta.
·
St.
Bridget was a member of the Franciscan Third Order. If you have never
considered joining one of the Church's order's for lay people today might be a
good time to think about it. Learn more about becoming a secular
Franciscan.
·
You
may want to purchase a copy of which contains excerpts from her revelations.
·
You
might like to read about St. Birgitta
of Sweden's Influence in Finland.
·
The
Birgittine Order now has thirteen monasteries of contemplative nuns and a
congregation of contemplative-apostolic sisters whose motherhouse is in Rome,
in the actual former dwelling of St. Birgitta. For information about the
sisters here are some websites: About the Birgittine Nuns in
Vadstena, Birgittine Sisters and About the Brigittine sisters
·
The
Brigittine Monks existed from the 14th to the middle of the 19th century, when
they were dispersed, largely due to European wars. (In 1970, a Brigittine Monk,
Richard Reynolds, martyr, was declared a saint.) This monastery, the 1st in
over 100 years, was founded in 1976 and has the Canonical status of a Priory
“Sui Juris.” If you want to know about the monks visit Brigittine Monks of the Order of the Most Holy Savior.
·
Read
about the saints of the
Brigittine order
and more about Bl. Elizabeth Hesselblad who refounded the order.
·
The
Catholic Encyclopedia has this to say about the Brigittines.
·
You
may want to buy some delicious
fudge made by the
monks or purchase a Brigittine
Rosary.
St.
Bridget of Sweden[6]-
St. Bridget received visions
of Christ’s suffering many times throughout her life.
Book 1
The words of our Lord Jesus
Christ to His chosen and dearly beloved bride, Saint Bridget, about the
proclamation of His most holy Incarnation and the rejection, desecration and
abandonment of our faith and baptism, and how He bids His beloved bride and all
Christian people to love Him.
Chapter
1
“I am the Creator of the heavens and
the earth, one in Divinity with the Father and the Holy Spirit. I am the one
who spoke to the patriarchs and the prophets and the one whom they awaited. For
the sake of their longing and in agreement with my promise, I assumed flesh
without sin and concupiscence, by entering the womb of the Virgin like the sun
shining through the clearest gem. For just as the sun does not damage the glass
by entering it, likewise the virginity of the Virgin was not lost when I assumed
Manhood. I assumed flesh in such a way that I did not have to forsake my
Divinity, and I was no less God - with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
governing and upholding all things - although I was in the womb of the Virgin
in my human nature. Just as brightness is never separated from fire, so too, my
Divinity was never separated from my Humanity, not even in death.
Thereafter I allowed my pure and
sinless body to be wounded from the foot to the head, and to be crucified for
all the sins of mankind. That same body is now offered each day on the altar so
that mankind might love me more and remember my great deeds more often. But now
I am totally forgotten, neglected, despised, and expelled as a king is from his
own kingdom and in whose place the most wicked robber has been elected and
honored.
I have indeed wanted my kingdom to be
within man, and by right I should be King and Lord over him, for I made him and
redeemed him. However, now he has broken and desecrated the faith which he
promised me in his baptism, and he has broken and spurned my laws and
commandments which I prescribed and revealed to him. He loves his own will and
refuses to hear me. In addition, he exalts the most wicked robber, the devil,
above me and has given him his faith. The devil really is a robber, since he
steals for himself, by way of evil temptations, bad councils, and false
promises, the human soul that I redeemed with my blood. But he does not do this
because he is mightier than me; for I am so mighty that I can do all things
with a word, and so just, that even if all the saints asked me, I would not do
the least thing against justice.
But, since man, who has been given
free will, willfully rejects my commandments and obeys the devil, it is only
right that he also experiences his tyranny and malice. This devil was created
good by me, but fell by his own wicked will, and has become, so to speak, my
servant for inflicting vengeance on the workers of evil.
Yet even though I am now so despised,
I am still so merciful that whoever prays for my mercy and humbles himself in
amendment shall be forgiven his sins, and I shall save him from the evil robber
- the devil. But to those who continue despising me, I shall visit my justice
upon them, so that those hearing it will tremble, and those who feel it will
say: “Woe, that we were ever conceived or born! Woe, that we ever provoked the
Lord of majesty to wrath!”
But you, my daughter, whom I have
chosen for myself, and with whom I now speak in spirit: love me with all your
heart - not as you love your son or daughter or parents, but more than anything
in the world - since I, who created you, did not spare any of my limbs in
suffering for your sake! Yet, I love your soul so dearly that, rather than
losing you, I would let myself be crucified again, if it were possible. Imitate
my humility; for I, the King of glory and of angels, was clothed in ugly,
wretched rags and stood naked at the pillar and heard all kinds of insults and
ridicule with my own ears. Always prefer my will before your own, because my
Mother, your Lady, has, from the beginning to the end, never wanted anything
but what I wanted.
If you do this, then your heart shall
be with my heart, and it will be inflamed by my love in the same way that
anything dry becomes rapidly inflamed by fire. Your soul shall be so inflamed
and filled with me, and I will be in you, so that everything worldly becomes
bitter to you and all fleshly lusts like poison. You will rest in the arms of
my Divinity, where no fleshly desires exist, but only spiritual delight and joy
which fill the delighted soul with happiness - inwardly and outwardly - so that
it thinks of nothing and desires nothing but the joy which it possesses. So
love me alone, and you will have all the things you want, and you will have
them in abundance. Is it not written that the oil of the widow did not decrease
until the day the rain was sent to earth by God according to the words of the
prophet? I am the true prophet! If you believe my words and follow and fulfill
them, the oil - joy and jubilation - shall never decrease for you for all
eternity.”
Our Lord Jesus Christ’s words to
his daughter - whom He now had taken as His bride - about the articles of the
true faith, and about what kind of adornments, tokens and desires the bride
must have in order to please the bridegroom.
Novena
of St. Ann[7]
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.
SEVENTH DAY
Once again, Good St. Ann, I choose you for my
advocate before the throne of God. By the power and grace that God has placed
in you, extend to me your helping hand. Renew my mind and my heart.
Dear St. Ann, I have unbounded confidence in your prayers. To your blessed hands I entrust my soul, my body and all my hopes for this world and the next. Direct my actions according to your goodness and wisdom. I place myself under your motherly care. Receive me, good mother. Cover me with the mantle of your love. Look kindly on me. By your powerful intercession, may I obtain from God grace and mercy. Obtain for me remission for sin and release from the punishment my offenses have deserved. Pray that I may receive grace to lead a devout life on earth and that I may obtain the everlasting reward of heaven.
Bible in a Year-Day 35
Fr. Mike explains how all the rules of worship in Leviticus 10 point to the
reality that God is holy. We also continue journeying through Exodus 13-14 and
Psalm 53 and learn how God fought for the salvation for his people through the
crossing of the red sea.
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 6
Daily Devotions
·
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting:
·
Litany of the Most Precious
Blood of Jesus
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Rosary
[2] John Maxwell, the Maxwell
Leadership Bible.
[4] Third apparition, Fatima, July 13, 1917.
[5]https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2016-07-23
[6]http://www.saintsbooks.net/books/St.%20Bridget%20(Birgitta)%20of%20Sweden%20-%20Prophecies%20and%20Revelations.html
[7]Blessed Sacrament Fathers, ST. ANN’S SHRINE, Cleveland, Ohio
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