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 15, 2025

NIC’s Corner

And whoever enters into God’s rest, rests from his own works as God did from his. Hebrews 4:10

· Eat Fish on Fridays

o Foodie Cheat: cuisses-de-dames

§ Get spicy

· Spirit Hour: Mint Strawberry Fizz Cocktail

· Iceman’s 40 devotion

· Get an indulgence

· Operation Purity

· Use Mary’s Herbs

o 30 Days of Women and Herbs – Frauendreissiger – Nr. 1 Scarlet Pimpernel

o MEDICINAL PLANTS Day 1-Revealed by Heaven to Luz De María

o Boiled Water-Humanity has comfortable feeding habits, but which are totally harmful for the human organism, and continually destroys and makes sick. In this instant man’s organism is saturated by bad eating habits, making it a weakening organism and the new diseases causes man a lot of harm. Luz de Maria asks our Mother what we must do to make the organism more resistant against the plagues that are coming. The Blessed Mother responds: My beloved, utilize water that has been previously boiled and start now the detox of the organism drinking as much water as possible, so the organism will start to purify.” Blessed Virgin Mary, 10.13.2014 B

Bucket List trip: Rich vs Poor Tour: 10-Switzerland vs. 213- Liberia

Switzerland ranks among the top 10 countries globally in GDP per capita hovering around $90,000 to $110,000 depending on the source and year. But its wealth isn’t just about numbers—it’s deeply tied to its economic structure, cultural values, and political stability. Let’s break it down, especially with an eye toward Catholic expat life and work opportunities.

🇨🇭 Why Switzerland Ranks So High in Per Capita Wealth

🔑 Key Drivers of Wealth

Robust Financial Sector: Home to global banking giants like UBS and Credit Suisse, with strong banking secrecy laws that attract international capital.
Stable Currency: The Swiss franc (CHF) is one of the world’s strongest currencies, backed by gold reserves and low inflation.
Neutrality & Political Stability: Switzerland’s long-standing neutrality keeps military spending low and investor confidence high.
Innovation & R&D: The country invests heavily in research—about 3.4% of GDP—with strong private sector involvement.
Low Public Debt & Taxes: Public debt is around 38% of GDP, and VAT rates are among the lowest in Europe.

✝️ Quality of Life for a Catholic Expat

🕊️ Spiritual & Cultural Integration

Catholic Heritage: Catholicism is one of Switzerland’s major religions, especially in cantons like Valais, Fribourg, and Ticino. Churches are active, and liturgical life is vibrant.
Freedom of Religion: The Swiss constitution guarantees religious freedom, and Catholic expats can participate fully in parish life, retreats, and community events.
Multilingual Worship: Masses are often available in German, French, Italian, and sometimes English, depending on the region.

🏞️ Lifestyle & Wellbeing

Clean, Safe, and Scenic: Low crime rates, pristine nature, and efficient infrastructure make daily life peaceful and fulfilling.
Work-Life Balance: Average workweek is under 36 hours, with 4–5 weeks of paid vacation. Sundays are culturally reserved for rest and family.
Healthcare & Education: Universal healthcare and excellent international schools support family life and long-term settlement.

💼 Work Opportunities for Expats

📈 In-Demand Sectors

Finance & Banking: Positions in wealth management, compliance, and IT support are common.
Pharmaceuticals & Biotech: Companies like Roche and Novartis offer roles in research, marketing, and production.
Technology & Engineering: Switzerland has a thriving tech startup scene and demand for software developers, AI specialists, and engineers.
Administrative & Executive Roles: Positions like CEO assistants and process managers are available for those with strong organizational skills.

🛂 Work Permits & Residency

EU Citizens: Easier access to work permits and residency.
Non-EU Citizens: Requires a job offer and sponsorship; high-skilled professionals are prioritized.
Catholic Expats: No religious restrictions on employment; cultural integration is smooth, especially in Catholic-majority regions.

Liberia ranks 213th in the world by GDP per capita, with an estimated $846 per person in 2024. This low ranking reflects deep structural challenges, but the country also offers unique opportunities and a vibrant Catholic presence for expats willing to embrace its complexities.

🌍 Why Liberia Ranks So Low in Per Capita Income

⚠️ Key Challenges

Post-Conflict Recovery: Two civil wars (1989–1996 and 1999–2003) devastated infrastructure, institutions, and human capital.
Limited Economic Diversification: The economy relies heavily on raw exports like rubber, iron ore, and gold, with minimal value-added industries.
High Poverty & Informal Employment: Over 26% live in extreme poverty, and most jobs are informal and low-productivity.
Weak Infrastructure: Roads, electricity, and healthcare systems are underdeveloped, especially outside Monrovia.
Aid Dependency & Debt: Liberia has a high current account deficit and limited fiscal space.

✝️ Quality of Life for a Catholic Expat

🕊️ Faith & Community

Christian Majority: About 85% of Liberians identify as Christian, with Catholicism well-established through schools, parishes, and missions.
Missionary Legacy: Catholic institutions have long played a role in education, healthcare, and reconciliation efforts.
Spiritual Richness: Despite material poverty, many expats find the faith life vibrant, communal, and deeply rooted in resilience.

🧭 Daily Life Considerations

Healthcare: Public hospitals are under-resourced; private insurance and evacuation plans are essential.
Safety: Crime is a concern, especially in urban areas. Expats are advised to avoid walking alone at night and to have security plans.
Culture & Hospitality: Liberians are known for their warmth, music, and storytelling traditions. Expats often speak of strong community bonds.
Language: English is the official language, though many speak Liberian Kreyol or tribal dialects.

💼 Work Opportunities for Expats

📈 Sectors with Potential

NGOs & Development: Roles in education, health, agriculture, and governance are common through organizations like WHO, UN Women, and Partners in Health.
Mining & Natural Resources: Jobs in gold, iron ore, and rubber industries exist, though often require technical expertise.
Education & Training: Teaching roles in international schools or vocational programs are available.
Remote & Freelance Work: Some companies hire Liberia-based staff for remote roles in tech, business development, and media.

🛂 Work Permits & Entry

Visa Requirements: Expats need a work visa and residence permit, typically sponsored by an employer or NGO.
Networking: Job boards like Liberia HR Jobs Board and Liberiawork.com are useful for finding openings.

Between Switzerland and Liberia, Switzerland is unequivocally the better choice for most Catholic expats seeking a high quality of life, stable work opportunities, and robust infrastructure. Here's a side-by-side comparison to help clarify why:

🧭 Overall Comparison: Switzerland vs Liberia

Category	🇨🇭 Switzerland	🇱🇷 Liberia
GDP per capita (2024)	$104,523	$808
Life expectancy	83.6 years	63.3 years
Political stability	Very high (score: 92)	Low (score: 41)
Corruption index	Excellent (score: 18)	Very poor (score: 75)
Healthcare access	Universal, high quality	Limited, under-resourced
Internet access	96% of population	34% of population
Catholic community	Strong, multilingual, well-integrated	Vibrant but resource-constrained
Work opportunities	High-skilled, diverse sectors	Mostly NGO, education, or mining
Safety & infrastructure	Excellent roads, public transport, low crime	Poor infrastructure, higher crime risk

✝️ Catholic Expat Life

Switzerland offers a refined spiritual and liturgical experience, with access to historic churches, multilingual Masses, and a contemplative rhythm aligned with the seasons and feasts.
Liberia, while spiritually rich and welcoming, presents challenges in terms of healthcare, safety, and infrastructure. Catholic missions play a vital role, but resources are limited.

💼 Work & Vocational Opportunities

In Switzerland, expats can find work in finance, pharmaceuticals, tech, and international organizations. Salaries are high, and work-life balance is respected.
In Liberia, opportunities are concentrated in NGOs, education, and extractive industries. These roles often require a calling toward humanitarian or missionary work, rather than career advancement.

🏁 Verdict: Which Is Better?

If you're seeking:

Material stability, professional growth, and refined spiritual life → Switzerland is the clear choice.
Missionary engagement, cultural immersion, and service to the poor → Liberia offers profound spiritual rewards but demands resilience and sacrifice.

Let Freedom Ring Day 33 Freedom from Theft

Dear family, most of us - excluding the rioters, looters, burners and shooters - know that we should not steal tangible things. How about for today let us ponder how so many of us steal intangible things - like time - like God's time? As part of our next Confession - how about if we examine our consciences and ask ourselves how much time have we stolen. That is an important examination, dear family, because stealing time makes us thieves. To help with that examination - let us ask ourselves if we have made it a point to do what Jesus told us to do: spend an hour a day with our Lord in this life, so we really can spend an eternity with Him in the next. Then let us, in these troubled, troubled times, resolve to be free from our attachment to time, and start giving back the Lord one hour for every 23 other hours of the day He gives us.

AUGUST 15 Friday-Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Holy Day of Obligation-Woodstock 1969

Luke, Chapter 19, Verse 20-21

²⁰ Then the other servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your gold coin; I kept it stored away in a handkerchief, ²¹ for I was afraid of you, because you are a demanding person; you take up what you did not lay down and you harvest what you did not plant.’

When I read this verse; I thought of Mathew Kelly’s writing from his book, “Rediscovering Catholicism.” Kelly speaks about the various attitudes and philosophies which shape and define the mindset of the modern secular world. He identifies three key lifestyles: individualism, hedonism and minimalism.

First, what’s individualism? Individualism is an attitude whereby I come to see myself as the center of the universe. The individualist will typically go through the course of his or her day asking himself or herself one question: “What’s in it for me?”

Secondly, what’s hedonism? Essentially, it is an attitude whereby I come to see the pursuit of my own personal pleasure as my primary concern in life. The hedonist will typically ask himself or herself this question: “How can I maximize the amount of pleasure in my life while minimizing the amount of pain and inconvenience which I must endure?”

Thirdly, what is minimalism? This is a attitude whereby I look to put in the minimum amount of effort that I possibly can into life, while reaping the maximum amount of reward. The minimalist will typically ask himself or herself questions such as these:

· “What’s the least amount I can possibly do at the workplace and still keep my job?” Or perhaps:

· “What’s the least amount I can possibly do at school and still get a good grade?”

There are many people in the world today who might “self-identify” as being “Christian”, if not “Catholic”, who are still giving their hearts very much to the so-called “spirit of the world”; whether we’re talking about the spirit of individualism, hedonism or minimalism. For instance, we can say that there are many Catholics in the world who go to Mass, say their prayers, and perhaps even occasionally eat fish on Fridays – who still govern most of their conduct by asking themselves this one simple question: “What’s in it for me?” Many of these people might still be very “kind” and “generous” to certain persons that they happen to know. Who isn’t from time to time? But perhaps, this sense of “kindness” and “generosity” is still governed by a pervasive sense of selfishness and self-interest. In other words: “I’ll be kind to you, but only insofar as you’re being kind back onto me!” And what is that but the spirit of individualism. Let’s take a different example. Again, we can say that there are many Catholics in the world today who go to Mass, say their prayers, and perhaps belong to certain religious clubs or organizations who still govern the bulk of their conduct by asking: “How can I get through the course of my day while incurring the least amount of pain or inconvenience to myself?” Many of these people might still be saying their prayers, perhaps even every day, but what’s often the real substance behind these prayers? “O Lord give me the things that I want, the things that I desire, the things that I believe to be essential to my own sense of happiness and well-being. But Lord, whatever you do: do not make me suffer, do not give me inconvenience, and do not give me pain! In other words, do not give me the Cross!” And that is the spirit of hedonism: the relentless and almost single-minded pursuit of one’s own personal pleasure as one’s ultimate concern. This takes us to our third example. Again, there are many Catholics in the world who go to church, go to confession, and even follow the Commandments who still perhaps ask themselves this question repeatedly: “How can I get myself into the kingdom of heaven, while putting the least amount of effort into my relationship with God?” These people might try their very best to avoid all sorts of serious sin. But, as we know from personal experience, there is a huge difference between simply trying to avoid “serious sin”, and actually trying our very best to please the Lord in all things, especially in those little details which perhaps no one else would ever notice, except Christ Himself! But that’s really the difference between being a “lukewarm Catholic” (or a “minimalist”) and being a true disciple of the Lord.[1]

The Woodstock Event of 1969 is the epitome of this.

Copilot

This reflection is piercing in its clarity and conviction which draws a powerful thread from Luke 19:20–21 to Matthew Kelly’s critique of modern secular philosophies—and then to the cultural moment of Woodstock 1969. That juxtaposition between the Solemnity of the Assumption and the Woodstock festival is especially striking: one celebrates Mary’s total surrender to God’s will, the other became a symbol of self-expression, indulgence, and rebellion against traditional moral frameworks.

Let’s unpack that a little further:

🌿 Luke 19:20–21 and the Spirit of Fear

The servant’s fear leads him to bury the coin rather than invest it. His paralysis stems from a distorted view of the master—seeing him as harsh and demanding. This fear mirrors the spiritual stagnation of minimalism: doing the bare minimum to avoid punishment, rather than embracing the fullness of discipleship.

🔍 Individualism, Hedonism, Minimalism

Matthew Kelly’s framework is a helpful lens:

· Individualism asks, “What’s in it for me?”—a mindset that resists sacrificial love.

· Hedonism seeks pleasure and avoids pain—rejecting the Cross.

· Minimalism settles for spiritual mediocrity—avoiding sin but not pursuing holiness.

Each of these attitudes reflects a refusal to “invest the coin” of grace entrusted to us.

🌸 The Assumption vs. Woodstock

On August 15, 1969, while Catholics celebrated Mary’s bodily entrance into heavenly glory—a sign of hope and total surrender—Woodstock unfolded as a countercultural spectacle. Half a million people gathered in Bethel, NY, for “3 Days of Peace and Music,” but beneath the surface lay a deeper hunger: for meaning, transcendence, and community.

Mary’s Magnificat proclaims:

“He has cast down the mighty from their thrones and has lifted up the lowly…”

Her life was the antithesis of individualism, hedonism, and minimalism. She gave everything—body and soul—to God. Woodstock, for all its beauty and chaos, was a cry for something more, yet often sought it through self-indulgence rather than self-gift.

✨ A Call to Authentic Discipleship

Your reflection invites us to ask:

· Am I burying the coin out of fear?

· Do I live my faith with joyful surrender, or cautious calculation?

· Is my spiritual life shaped by convenience or by love?

Mary’s Assumption reminds us that the fullness of redemption includes the body, the soul, and the daily choices we make. She didn’t ask, “What’s in it for me?”—she said, “Let it be done to me according to your word.”

Woodstock 1969-Anti Fatima Event[2]

On August 15–17, 1969, the Woodstock Music and Art Fair was held on a 600-acre dairy farm near Bethel, New York. It helped usher in a period of moral devastation. The event enshrined free love as acceptable in the national psyche. It created the idea that life should be dominated by the maxim, “if it feels good, do it.”

However, the worst part of Woodstock was its role in creating the spiritual desolation of imagining a utopian society without religion or the Catholic Faith. Woodstock presented itself as a mystical experience with its own dark spiritual message. It was almost a liturgical act of an anti-religion of unbridled passions that denied a moral law.

Reflection About Another Field

Reflecting upon Woodstock, it is hard not to recall another event held on a large field that gathered together a huge crowd. This gathering also changed history. The two events could not be more contrary to each other, and yet the parallels and contrasts are striking. They both happened amid a terrible crisis inside society. However, each proposed a radically different solution. The second event took place in a tiny village in the backwater of Portugal called Fatima. The date was October 13, 1917. What attracted people there was no less than the Queen of Heaven. Our Lady had appeared to three young shepherd children and promised to perform a great miracle so that people might have faith and change their lives.

Contrast on the Two Fields

At both events, everything that could have gone wrong did go wrong. At Woodstock, nearly 400,000 people appeared at the farm where they crashed the gates and entered the field. The organizers were overwhelmed by the crowds. The highways were clogged with cars trying to get to the event. At Fatima, some 80,000 faithfuls came from all over Portugal. They had heard about the apparitions by word of mouth. There were no organizers since it was a spontaneous movement of grace that called people to the site. Nevertheless, they clogged the highways and byways of the small nation to get to the event. Both events prompted government action. When order broke down in Woodstock, the government stepped in by sending nearby Air Force personnel to the concert to prevent chaos and fly in stranded performers. At Fatima, the secular anti-Catholic government played an opposite role.

It sent soldiers with fixed bayonets to prevent pilgrims from entering the huge field. When the masses of pilgrims overwhelmed the small number of soldiers, people then managed to join the orderly crowd that patiently waited with great expectation, prayer and faith. Heavy rains came down in torrents at both events creating seas of mud. At Woodstock, the mud mixed with the nudity, promiscuity and drugs to the point that the crowd became one with the quagmire of immorality and muck. Singer John Fogerty described an early morning scene as “sort of like a painting of a Dante scene, just bodies from hell, all intertwined and asleep, covered with mud.” At Fatima, the rains also lashed out against the crowds and turned the field into a great muddy mess. However, the crowds accepted the rain and mire as part of the suffering and penance that would mark the Fatima Message. Many knelt in the mud in prayer.

Historical Contexts

While the circumstances of the open fields at Fatima and Woodstock are important, the context of these gatherings must also be considered. The historical context of Fatima was a world in the process of abandoning the Church and Christian civilization. Europe was engaged in the bloody World War I, which would soon end. The people still had faith but were in danger of losing it. Our Lady came to deliver a message of tragedy and hope, inviting humanity to conversion and amendment of life. Woodstock took place 52 years later in the context of a Sexual Revolution that would devastate what remained of Christian morals in society. America was divided, engaged in a brutal war against communism in Vietnam. The Church was also in a state of turmoil. Woodstock was an event that would celebrate a world without restraint that would soon become mainstream.

What Happened in Fatima

The events that took place in these two fields are what made them so important. At Fatima, the crowd gathered in an ordered fashion as they awaited the appearance of the Mother of God. They were to behold a marvelous yet terrifying scene, which was the most witnessed miracle in modern history. Some 80,000 pilgrims of every age, educational level and social class were there. Believers and non-believers vied for places to see the promised miracle. Our Lady provided it. The clouds opened up and the sun appeared as an immense silver disk. It shone with great intensity yet was not blinding. The enormous ball then started to “dance” across the sky, spinning rapidly scattering red flames. The bright light reflected on the ground, trees, bushes, clothing and faces. After going three times across sky, the globe of fire then appeared to tremble, shake and plunge toward the terrified crowd who thought the world was coming to an end. However, the sun soon zigzagged back to its place and shone benevolently upon the crowd. Many converted and believed. The people noticed that their sodden clothes were both dry and clean.

What Happened at Woodstock

The events at Woodstock stand in stark contraposition. There were no miracles there, but there was an aura that produced an eerie feeling around the event. The bad weather, food shortages and poor sanitation created a climate of generalized chaos. Witnesses reported an atmosphere of free love and nudity that shocked many unaccustomed to seeing such things in public. Drug use was also rampant, especially the use of marijuana and LSD. Thus, many were out of their minds as the music blared from the stage throughout the night. Carlos Santana later recalled how he hallucinated throughout his performance because he was high on the mescaline he obtained from Jerry Garcia. Meanwhile, backstage, The Who singer Roger Daltrey reported that “Woodstock wasn’t peace and love. There was an awful lot of shouting and screaming going on. By the time it all ended, the worst sides of our nature had come out.” The scenes of partying, chaos and sin created a surreal and bizarre spectacle. It was a whimsical space without rules or law where you could “do your own thing” without consequence or risk. Some thought a new age was dawning, both inebriating and terrifying, where the unbridled passions driven by psychedelic drugs would liberate everyone from the staid constraints of the establishment. On the trash-littered fields of Woodstock, a self-centered generation embraced an anything-goes culture of sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll. America would leave the Woodstock mud fest with sullied innocence.

Two Messages in Conflict

Both fields also produced messages that are still in conflict today. The Fatima message was very clear and precise. Our Lady said: “Let them offend Our Lord no more, for He is already much offended.” Thus, Fatima called upon the world to repent by having recourse to prayer, sacrifice and amendment of life. If humanity did not repent, Our Lady spoke of a great chastisement, symbolized by the Miracle of the Sun. The Fatima message denounced the decadence of the modern world, the sins of the flesh and the abandonment of God and the Church. Woodstock proclaimed an anti-Fatima message. It was an invitation to sin, indulge and offend God. In the name of peace and love, it called upon youth to “imagine” a perfect world where they might live together in harmony without property, Christian morals or God. Woodstock projected an empty world without meaning and purpose that seeks only extreme gratification and pleasures. The clash between Fatima and Woodstock continues. Many Catholics have remained faithful to the Fatima message despite the great pressure to conform to the culture. Others have been mugged by the terrible reality that the Woodstock dream of sexual freedom was an appalling nightmare that left behind a trail of dead, unborn babies, broken relationships and shattered communities. It is therefore not fitting to celebrate the concert’s anniversary but rather to reject all that it symbolizes and represents. Instead, let us embrace Fatima’s saving message of prayer, repentance and amendment of life as the essential solution to a world gone awry.

FEAST OF THE ASSUMPTION OF MARY[3]

AUGUST 15.

This feast is so called because on this day, according to a very old and pious belief, the Blessed Virgin was, in body and soul, taken up into heaven. This feast is of very great antiquity; it was fixed on the 15th of August at the request of the Emperor Maurice, and afterwards, by Pope Leo IV, was extended to the whole Church.

In the Introit of the Mass the Church invites us to universal joy by singing, “Let us all rejoice in the Lord, celebrating this festival in honor of the most blessed Virgin Mary, on whose assumption into heaven the angels rejoice and give praise to the Son of God. My heart hath uttered a good word; I speak my works to the King.

Pardon, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the sins of Thy servants, that we, who are not able to please Thee by our deeds, may be saved by the intercession of the Mother of Thy Son. Amen

EPISTLE. Ecclus. xxiv. 11-20.

In all things I sought rest, and I shall abide in the inheritance of the Lord. Then the Creator of all things commanded, and said to me: and He that made me rested in my tabernacle. And He said to me: Let thy dwelling be in Jacob, and thy in heritance in Israel, and take root in My elect. From the beginning, and before the world, was I created, and unto the world to come I shall not cease to be, and in the holy dwelling-place I have ministered before Him. And so was I established in Sion, and in the holy city likewise I rested, and my power was in Jerusalem. And I took root in an honorable people, and in the portion of my God His inheritance, and my abode is in the full assembly of saints. I was exalted like a cedar in Libanus, and as a cypress-tree on Mount Sion. I was exalted like a palm tree in Cades, and as a rose-plant in Jericho: as a fair olive-tree in the plains, and as a plane-tree by the water in the streets, was I exalted. I gave a sweet smell like cinnamon, and aromatical balm: I yielded a sweet odor like the best myrrh.

GOSPEL. Luke x. 38-42.

At that time Jesus entered into a certain town: and a certain woman named Martha received Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sitting also at the Lord’s feet, heard His word. But Martha was busy about much serving. Who stood and said: Lord, hast Thou no care that my sister hath left me alone to serve? speak to her therefore, that she help me. And the Lord answering, said to her: Martha, Martha, thou art careful, and art troubled about many things. But one thing is necessary. Mary hath chosen the best part, which shall not be taken away from her.

Why does the Church read this gospel to-day?

Because it readily admits of being applied to Mary, the Mother of God, since she, far more worthily and lovingly than Martha, chose the best part, and thereby obtained the most glorious reward, which no one shall ever take from her.

What is the one thing necessary?

The glory of God and the salvation of the soul. Let a man, therefore, fulfil the duties which are binding upon him; but in so doing let him look only to God, avoid all uneasiness and distraction, all extravagance and excess, all that is unjust, and sooner sacrifice everything than suffer injury to his soul.

Assumption of Mary[4] The day that the mother of God was assumed body and soul into heaven and crowned Queen.

Traditionally Roman Catholics believe Mary, the Virgin mother of Jesus, never physically died and instead ascended into heaven. Mary, as the mother of God, is believed by some Christian faiths to have lived a life without sin. Some early-church theologians believed that since she and Christ were both without sin that Mary must have raised bodily to heaven just as Christ was. This belief began the feast of the Assumption of Mary.

Assumption of Mary Facts

· The Assumption of Mary isn't in the Bible. The theology it is based upon is from several early church documents and sermons. The Orthodox Church continued the tradition, but it didn't become doctrine in the Roman Catholic Church until 1950 when Pope Pius XII declared the belief infallible.

· Thomas was the only disciple who purportedly saw Mary's ascension into heaven. In a reversal of his story in scripture, the other disciples didn't believe him at first. Mary dropped her girdle when she reached heaven, and Thomas caught it.

· The Feast of the Assumption of Mary is a high feast Day in the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church. The day venerates the assumption into heaven of Mary, the mother of Jesus. It is held on August 15. In the Orthodox tradition, the feast, called the Dormition of the Theotokos, is held the same date, although the day may be later for churches that follow the Gregorian calendar.

Assumption of Mary Top Events and Things to Do

· Attending an Orthodox Church during the Feast of the Assumption to see the blessing of flowers.

· Start an herb garden or plant some bulbs to bloom in spring in honor of Mary.

· The Assumption of Mary is a popular subject in Christian art. One of the most famous is The Assumption of the Virgin, by El Greco and available for viewing in the Art Institute of Chicago. See if your local art museum has paintings of the Assumption.

· Sing or Listen to a rendition of "Ave Maria". One of the more popular renditions is by Luciano Pavarotti.

· Many faithful in the Orthodox Church will also be breaking a two-week fast after the service honoring the Assumption of Mary. If you are fasting, attend a community meal offered by many Orthodox Churches.

· The Directory on Popular Piety talks about the deep significance of this feast day. It also refers to the custom of blessing herbs:

o In the Germanic countries, the custom of blessing herbs is associated with 15 August. This custom, received into the Rituale Romanum, represents a clear example of the genuine evangelization of pre-Christian rites and beliefs: one must turn to God, through whose word "the earth produced vegetation: plants bearing seeds in their several kinds, and trees bearing fruit with their seed inside in their several kinds" (Gen 1, 12) in order to obtain what was formerly obtained by magic rites; to stem the damages deriving from poisonous herbs, and benefit from the efficacy of curative herbs.

o This ancient use came to be associated with the Blessed Virgin Mary, in part because of the biblical images applied to her such as vine, lavender, cypress and lily, partly from seeing her in terms of a sweet-smelling flower because of her virtue, and most of all because of Isaiah 11, 1, and his reference to the "shoot springing from the side of Jesse", which would bear the blessed fruit of Jesus.

· In an age of sensuality and materialism the Assumption points out the dignity and destiny of our human body, extols the dignity of womanhood, and turns our eyes to the true life beyond the grave. At Mass today ask Mary for the grace to keep your mind fixed on things above and to aspire continually to be united with her and to be brought to the glory of the Resurrection.

Processions[5]

Most likely the oldest and certainly the highest annual feast day of Mary, the Feast of the Assumption is held in both east and west as a day of great solemnity. Processions would wind their way either through cities and towns in order to publicly honor Mary or through fields in order to pray for God's blessing upon the harvest. Marian hymns would be sung, and statues of the Blessed Virgin carried. In some places there would even be a dramatic representation of the mystery of the assumption. The statue of Mary would be carried through town to an elaborate arch of flowers symbolizing the gate of Heaven. From here another statue, a statue of Christ, would greet "her" and conduct her to the church as a symbol of her entrance into eternal glory. The procession would then conclude with Benediction.

Our Lady’s 30 Days[6]

In pre-Christian times the season from the middle of August to the middle of September was observed as a period of rejoicing and thanksgiving for the successful harvest of grains. Many symbolic rites were aimed toward assuring man of prosperous weather for the reaping of the fall fruits and for winter planting. Some elements of these ancient cults are now connected with the feast and season of the Assumption. All through the Middle Ages the days from August 15 to September 15 were called "Our Lady's Thirty Days" (Frauendreissiger) in the German-speaking sections of Europe. Many Assumption shrines even today show Mary clothed in a robe covered with ears of grain. These images (Maria im Gerteidekleid, Our Lady of Grains) are favored goals of pilgrimages during August. Popular legends ascribe a character of blessing and goodness to Our Lady's Thirty Days. Both animals and plants are said to lose their harmful traits. Poisonous snakes do not strike, poison plants are harmless, wild animals refrain from attacking humans. All food produced during this period is especially wholesome and good and will remain fresh much longer than at other times of the year. The fact that herbs picked in August were considered of great power in healing occasioned the medieval practice of the "Blessing of Herbs" on Assumption Day. The Church thus elevated a popular belief of pre-Christian times into an observance of religious import and gave it the character of a Christian rite of deep and appropriate meaning. In central Europe the feast itself was called "Our Lady's Herb Day" (Kräutertag in German, Matka Boska Zielna in Polish). In the Alpine provinces the blessing of herbs is still bestowed before the solemn service of the Assumption. The city of Wurzburg in Bavaria used to be a favored center of these blessings, and from this fact it seems to have received its very name in the twelfth century (Würz: spice herb). The Roman Ritual still provides an official blessing of herbs on Assumption Day which, among other prayers, contains the petition that God may bless the medicinal powers of these herbs and make them mercifully efficient against diseases and poisons in humans and domestic animals. The Eastern Rites have similar blessings. In fact, the Syrians celebrate a special feast of "Our Lady of Herbs" on May 15. Among the Armenians, the faithful bring the first grapes from their vineyards to church on Assumption Day to have them solemnly blessed by the priest. Before breakfast the father distributes them to his family. No one would dream of tasting the new harvest before consuming the first blessed grapes on Our Lady's Day.

Blessing of Herbs and Fruits[7] for the Feast of the Assumption

The Church "baptized" an old pre-Christian belief in the great healing power of herbs picked in August by instituting a ritual for the blessing of herbs and fruits on the Feast of the Assumption. Since that time, Christians from both East and West have blessed herbs and fruit on the Feast of the Assumption in the belief that these sacramentals provide protection against harm and danger. But this custom also hearkens back to the Hebrew observance of the harvest, and more importantly, it teaches us something about our Lady's role in the economy of salvation. Eve foolishly used herbs (fig leaves) to hide and aggravate her sin, thereby bringing about a disorder of body and soul (Gen. 3.7). By contrast, Mary, the new Eve whose soul and body are untouched by sin or the decay of death (as we celebrate on this day), foreshadows a healing of our corporeal frailties, a healing represented by herbs.

Likewise, fruits are an appropriate symbol for the new Eve because she never ate of the forbidden fruit but brought forth only the fruit of good works and, most importantly, the Fruit of her womb, Jesus Christ. The blessed fruit thus betokens the fruit of a holy and generous life which we are called to enjoy by our Lord through the patronage of His mother. In any case the solemn blessing of herbs and fruits on this day became so popular that in central Europe August 15 was simply called Our Lady's Herb Day. Usually, these blessings would take place before Mass and would involve whatever was brought by the congregation to the church. Afterwards the herbs would be kept for medicinal use while the fruit would be served at dinner. The following is one of the special blessings from the Roman ritual that is used for herbs and fruits on Assumption Day:

O God, who by Moses Thy servant didst command the children of Israel to carry their sheaves of new fruits to the priests for a blessing, to take the finest fruits of the orchards, and to make merry before Thee, the Lord their God: Kindly hear our supplications, and pour forth the abundance of Thy blessing upon us and upon these sheaves of new grain, new herbs, and assortment of fruits, which we gratefully present to Thee and which we bless on this feast in Thy name. And grant that men, cattle, sheep, and beasts of burden may find in them a remedy against sickness, pestilence, sores, injuries, spells, the poison of snakes, and the bites of other venomous and nonvenomous creatures. And may they bring protection against diabolical illusions, machinations, and deceptions wherever they are kept or carried, or with whatever arrangement is made of them: that with sheaves of good works and through the merits of the Blessed Virgin Mary whose Feast of the Assumption we celebrate, we may deserve to be lifted up to heaven. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God unto endless ages. Amen.

The blessing of herbs and fruits has also led to the lovely custom of giving and receiving baskets of fruit on the Feast of the Assumption, a custom which was especially popular in Sicily.

Blessing of Nature[8]

August 15^th is the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and just as Mary's assumption into heaven signifies her purity of body and soul, so too does it remind us of her freedom from the curses of the Fall, such as having to live by the sweat of one's brow on a land that yields only thorns and thistles (Gen. 3.18,19). It is perhaps for this reason that the Feast or the Octave of the Assumption was a favorite time for blessing the scene of man's labors, especially those related to the production of food. In Western Europe, for example, fields would often be blessed by the parish priest, while in America and Latin countries Assumption Day is traditionally the occasion for blessing the fishing fleets of coastal towns. Also tying into this theme of nature is the German and Austrian time Mary is invoked for assistance or thanked for the autumn harvest of grains. This period lasts from Assumption Day until September 15, the Feast of the Seven custom of Our Lady's Thirty Days (Frauendreissiger), during which Sorrow of the Blessed Virgin. Legend states that nature is particularly benign during this time: snakes do not bite, wild animals do not attack, and food picked within the thirty days is especially wholesome. Finally, parts of England and Ireland observe Our Lady's Health Bathing, where bathing in rivers, lakes, the ocean, or any natural body of water is considered particularly good for one's health.

St. Michael's Lent

Saint Francis of Assisi observed an annual ‘Lent of Saint Michael’, from the Feast of the Assumption of Mary (August 15) up to the Feast of Saint Michael the Archangel (September 29). Francis had a special rapport with Mary and Michael from the early days of his conversion. He went to them often, for comfort and consolation, when things got rough (and things are pretty rough right now). It was on one of these 40-day solitary retreats when, through meditating on the Passion of our Lord, Francis received the sacred stigmata, imprints of Jesus’ five wounds on his body.

*During these 40 Days, we are asking everyone to offer some kind of fasting/abstinence and/or penance, and to pray the daily deliverance prayers of the Auxilium Christianorum, which are highly recommended by exorcist, Fr. Chad Ripperger. Specifically, we are asking for protection and for reparation, particularly for the sins in our Church and in our culture.

Prayers to be said every day:

V. Our help is in the name of the Lord.

R. Who made heaven and earth.

Most gracious Virgin Mary, thou who wouldst crush the head of the serpent, protect us from the vengeance of the evil one. We offer our prayers, supplications, sufferings and good works to thee so that thou may purify them, sanctify them and present them to thy Son as a perfect offering. May this offering be given so that the demons that influence or seek to influence the members of the Auxilium Christianorum do not know the source of their expulsion and blindness. Blind them so that they know not our good works. Blind them so that they know not on whom to take vengeance. Blind them so that they may receive the just sentence for their works. Cover us with the Precious Blood of thy Son so that we may enjoy the protection which flows from His Passion and Death. We ask this through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

St. Michael Prayer. Guardian Angel Prayer. Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory Be.

Litany of the Most Precious Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ:

Lord have mercy.

Christ have mercy.

Lord have mercy.

Christ hear us.

Christ graciously hear us.

God the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.

God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.

God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.

Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.

Blood of Christ, only-begotten Son of the Eternal Father, save us.

Blood of Christ, Incarnate Word of God, save us.

Blood of Christ, of the New and Eternal Testament, save us.

Blood of Christ, falling upon the earth in the Agony, save us.

Blood of Christ, shed profusely in the Scourging, save us.

Blood of Christ, flowing forth in the Crowning with Thorns, save us.

Blood of Christ, poured out on the Cross, save us.

Blood of Christ, price of our salvation, save us.

Blood of Christ, without which there is no forgiveness, save us.

Blood of Christ, Eucharistic drink and refreshment of souls, save us.

Blood of Christ, stream of mercy, save us.

Blood of Christ, victor over demons, save us.

Blood of Christ, courage of Martyrs, save us.

Blood of Christ, strength of Confessors, save us.

Blood of Christ, bringing forth Virgins, save us.

Blood of Christ, help of those in peril, save us.

Blood of Christ, relief of the burdened, save us.

Blood of Christ, solace in sorrow, save us.

Blood of Christ, hope of the penitent, save us.

Blood of Christ, consolation of the dying, save us.

Blood of Christ, peace and tenderness of hearts, save us.

Blood of Christ, pledge of eternal life, save us.

Blood of Christ, freeing souls from purgatory, save us.

Blood of Christ, most worthy of all glory and honor, save us.

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.

V. Thou hast redeemed us with Thy Blood, O Lord.

R. And made of us a kingdom for our God.

Let us pray.

Almighty, and everlasting God, Who hast appointed Thine only-begotten Son to be the Redeemer of the world, and hast been pleased to be reconciled unto us by His Blood, grant us, we beseech Thee, so to venerate with solemn worship the price of our salvation, that the power thereof may here on earth keep us from all things hurtful, and the fruit of the same may gladden us for ever hereafter in heaven. Through the same Christ our Lord. R. Amen.

On Sundays:

O Glorious Queen of Heaven and Earth, Virgin Most Powerful, thou who hast the power to crush the head of the ancient serpent with thy heel, come and exercise this power flowing from the grace of thine Immaculate Conception. Shield us under the mantle of thy purity and love, draw us into the sweet abode of thy heart and annihilate and render impotent the forces bent on destroying us. Come Most Sovereign Mistress of the Holy Angels and Mistress of the Most Holy Rosary, thou who from the very beginning hast received from God the power and the mission to crush the head of Satan. Send forth thy holy legions, we humbly beseech thee, that under thy command and by thy power they may pursue the evil spirits, counter them on every side, resist their bold attacks and drive them far from us, harming no one on the way, binding them to the foot of the Cross to be judged and sentenced by Jesus Christ Thy Son and to be disposed of by Him as He wills.

St. Joseph, Patron of the Universal Church, come to our aid in this grave battle against the forces of darkness, repel the attacks of the devil and free the members of the Auxilium Christianorum, and those for whom the priests of the Auxilium Christianorum pray, from the strongholds of the enemy.

St. Michael, summon the entire heavenly court to engage their forces in this fierce battle against the powers of hell. Come O Prince of Heaven with thy mighty sword and thrust into hell Satan and all the other evil spirits. O Guardian Angels, guide and protect us. Amen.

On Mondays:

In Thy name, Lord Jesus Christ, we pray that Thou cover us, our families, and all of our possessions with Thy love and Thy Most Precious Blood and surround us with Thy Heavenly Angels, Saints and the mantle of Our Blessed Mother. Amen.

On Tuesdays:

Lord Jesus Christ, we beg Thee for the grace to remain guarded beneath the protective mantle of Mary, surrounded by the holy briar from which was taken the Holy Crown of Thorns, and saturated with Thy Precious Blood in the power of the Holy Spirit, with our Guardian Angels, for the greater glory of the Father. Amen.

On Wednesdays:

In the Name of Jesus Christ, Our Lord and God, we ask Thee to render all spirits impotent, paralyzed and ineffective in attempting to take revenge against anyone of the members of the Auxilium Christianorum, our families, friends, communities, those who pray for us and their family members, or anyone associated with us and for whom the priests of the Auxilium Christianorum pray. We ask Thee to bind all evil spirits, all powers in the air, the water, the ground, the fire, under ground, or wherever they exercise their powers, any satanic forces in nature and any and all emissaries of the satanic headquarters. We ask Thee to bind by Thy Precious Blood all of the attributes, aspects and characteristics, interactions, communications and deceitful games of the evil spirits. We ask Thee to break any and all bonds, ties and attachments in the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

On Thursdays:

My Lord, Thou art all powerful, Thou art God, Thou art our Father. We beg Thee through the intercession and help of the Archangels Sts. Michael, Raphael, and Gabriel for the deliverance of our brothers and sisters who are enslaved by the evil one. All Saints of Heaven, come to our aid.

From anxiety, sadness and obsessions – We implore Thee, deliver us, O Lord.

From hatred, fornication, and envy – We implore Thee, deliver us, O Lord.

From thoughts of jealousy, rage, and death – We implore Thee, deliver us, O Lord.

From every thought of suicide and abortion – We implore Thee, deliver us, O Lord.

From every form of sinful sexuality – We implore Thee, deliver us, O Lord.

From every division in our family, and every harmful friendship – We implore Thee, deliver us, O Lord.

From every sort of spell, malefice, witchcraft, and every form of the occult – We implore Thee, deliver us, O Lord.

Thou who said, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you." Grant that, through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, we may be liberated from every demonic influence and enjoy Thy peace always. In the Name of Christ, our Lord. Amen.

On Fridays:

Litany of Humility

O Jesus, meek and humble of heart, hear me.

From the desire of being esteemed, deliver me, Jesus.

From the desire of being loved, deliver me, Jesus.

From the desire of being extolled, deliver me, Jesus.

From the desire of being honored, deliver me, Jesus.

From the desire of being praised, deliver me, Jesus.

From the desire of being preferred to others, deliver me, Jesus.

From the desire of being consulted, deliver me, Jesus.

From the desire of being approved, deliver me, Jesus.

From the fear of being humiliated, deliver me, Jesus.

From the fear of being despised, deliver me, Jesus.

From the fear of suffering rebukes, deliver me, Jesus.

From the fear of being calumniated, deliver me, Jesus.

From the fear of being forgotten, deliver me, Jesus.

From the fear of being ridiculed, deliver me, Jesus.

From the fear of being wronged, deliver me, Jesus.

From the fear of being suspected, deliver me, Jesus.

That others may be loved more than I, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

That others may be esteemed more than I, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

That in the opinion of the world, others may increase and I may decrease, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

That others may be chosen and I set aside, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

That others may be praised and I unnoticed, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

That others may be preferred to me in everything, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

That others may become holier than I, provided that I become as holy as I should,Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

On Saturdays:

O God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, we call upon Thy holy Name and humbly beseech Thy clemency, that, through the intercession of the ever immaculate Virgin, our Mother Mary, and of the glorious Archangel Saint Michael, thou wouldst vouchsafe to help us against Satan and all the other unclean spirits that are prowling about the world to the great peril of the human race and the loss of souls. Amen.

Conclusion for Every Day

August Queen of the Heavens, heavenly Sovereign of the Angels, Thou who from the beginning hast received from God the power and the mission to crush the head of Satan, we humbly beseech Thee to send thy holy legions, so that under Thy command and through Thy power, they may pursue the demons and combat them everywhere, suppress their boldness, and drive them back into the abyss. O good and tender Mother, Thou wilt always be our love and hope! O Divine Mother, send Thy Holy Angels to defend us and to drive far away from us the cruel enemy. Holy Angels and Archangels, defend us, guard us. Amen.

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.

Mary, Help of Christians, pray for us.

Virgin Most Powerful, pray for us.

St. Joseph, pray for us.

St. Michael the Archangel, pray for us.

All You Holy Angels, pray for us.

In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Bible in a Year Day 57 Hear, O Israel

Fr. Mike explains the significance behind the Nazarite vow and the priestly blessing in Numbers 6. We also learn why the Great Command revealed in Deuteronomy 6 is the foundation of all other commandments. Today we pray Psalm 91.

Daily Devotions

· Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them in fasting: The Families of St. Joseph Porters

· Religion in the Home for Preschool: August

· Litany of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus

· Offering to the sacred heart of Jesus

· Drops of Christ’s Blood

· Universal Man Plan

· Rosary