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.

Wednesday, August 13, 2025

Total dedication to the Blessed Virgin Mary Start August 13 to end on September 15,

the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows

· Total Consecration to St. Joseph Day 8

Dara’s Corner

Bucket List Trip: “The World” next port of call: Mauritius

On August 13, 2025, The World residential yacht is scheduled to be in Port Louis, Mauritius as part of its Madagascar Expedition. This leg of the journey immerses residents in the island’s extraordinary biodiversity, with opportunities to explore tropical forests, mangrove estuaries, and coral-lined beaches. Some species encountered here are found nowhere else on Earth, earning Madagascar the nickname “the eighth continent”.

Alfred Hitchcock, born on August 13, 1899
Bullying No Way Week
Foodie-magic bowl

Crayfish Party

Spirit Hour: Ti Punch

Prosecco Day

Let Freedom Ring Day 37 Freedom from Gossip

AUGUST 13 Wednesday

St. Hippoytus-Lefty Day-Filet Mignon Day

Luke, Chapter 12, Verse 32

Do not be AFRAID any longer, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.

The Kingdom is given not earned; to receive you must be open. Maybe this is why Christ chose Peter-Grace is like the wind and you must open your sail and let the father’s grace fill your sail and take you out into the deep for a big catch.

Copilot

Luke 12:32 is such a tender verse, its essence: the Kingdom is not a reward for merit but a gift of divine delight. The image of grace as wind filling the sail echoes the Spirit’s movement in John 3:8, where the wind blows where it wills, and you hear its sound but cannot tell where it comes from or where it goes.

Peter he was impulsive, flawed, and yet chosen—perhaps precisely because he was open, willing to step out of the boat, even if he faltered. That openness to grace, to being led into the deep, is the posture of the “little flock” Jesus speaks to being vulnerable, trusting, and ready to receive.

Luke 12:32— “Do not be afraid any longer, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom”—offers rich lessons on fear, especially when read through the lens of divine generosity and spiritual intimacy. Here are a few key insights drawn directly from this verse:

🐑 1. Fear dissolves in belonging

· Jesus calls us “little flock”—a term of endearment and protection. It evokes Psalm 23 and the image of the Good Shepherd. Fear loses its grip when we know we are not alone but tenderly watched over.

👑 2. The Kingdom is a gift, not a prize

· “Your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.” This isn’t transactional—it’s relational. Fear often stems from striving or feeling unworthy. But here, Jesus reminds us: the Father delights in giving. Grace is not earned; it’s received.

🌤️ 3. Fear fades when we trust the Giver

· The antidote to fear isn’t courage—it’s trust. The Father’s pleasure in giving reveals His character: generous, joyful, and intimately involved. When we trust that, fear begins to unravel.

🌱 4. Smallness is not weakness

· The “little flock” may be few, vulnerable, or overlooked—but they are chosen. Fear often whispers that we’re too small to matter. This verse counters that with divine affirmation: you are small, yes—but beloved and entrusted with the Kingdom.

The Saint of today-St. Hippoytus was a priest and a person of some importance in the Church in Rome who in his book, “The Apostolic Traditions”, displays the liturgical life of the Christian at Rome in the first centuries. Of interest is the tradition of the hours.

Christians at Rome in Post-Apostolic Times[1]

Divine Office:

6 a.m. Prime: "All the faithful, men and women, upon rising in the morning before beginning work, should wash their hands and pray to God."

9 a.m. Terce: "When you are at home, pray at the third hour and praise God. But if you are away when this hour comes, pray in your heart to God. For at this hour Christ was nailed to the Cross."

12 p.m. Sext: "In a similar way you should pray again at the sixth hour. For at the time when Christ was nailed to the Cross, there came a great darkness. Prayer should therefore be said in imitation of Him who prayed at that hour, viz., Christ before His death."

3 p.m. None: "The ninth hour too should be made perfect by prayer and praise . . . in that hour Christ was pierced by the spear."

6 p.m. Vespers: "Once more ought you to pray before you go to bed."

Matins: "At midnight rise from your bed, wash yourself and pray. If you have a wife, pray together in antiphonal fashion. If she is not yet of the faith, withdraw and pray alone and return again to your place. If you are bound by the bond of marriage duties, do not cease your prayers, for you are not stained thereby. It is necessary that we pray at that hour (i.e., Matins), for at that hour all creation is resting and praising God. Stars, trees, water are as if they were standing still; all the hosts of angels are holding divine services together with the souls of the just. They are praising almighty God at that hour." What an inspiring passage!

Sunrise-Lauds: "In like manner rise and pray at the hour at which the cock crows . . . full of hope look forward to the day of eternal light that will shine upon us eternally after the resurrection from the dead." Motivation for these "hour prayers" of the early Christians was the conviction that daily they were reliving Christ's death and resurrection. Every new day was a day of resurrection, and daily they were raised with Christ on the Cross. It is an example that should spur us on to give the Mass, the Breviary, and the Bible the place of honor in our lives.

Bible in a Year Day 55 Obedience to God

Fr. Mike underscores the importance of obeying God as he reads from Numbers 4 and Deuteronomy 4. We also read Psalm 88 and learn how it foreshadows the darkness Christ endured on the cross.

International Left-Handers Day[2]

International Left-Handers Day is a day to bring attention to the struggles which lefties face daily in a right-handed society. August 13th is observed as International Left-Handers Day.

International Left-Handers Day Facts

· 10% of people are left-handed according to a report by Scientific American.

· Geniuses are more likely to be left-handed - 20% of the top scoring SAT takers are left-handed.

· In 2013, 31% of Major League Baseball pitchers are left-handed.

· lefties: Albert Einstein, Bill Gates, Oprah Winfrey, Leonardo da Vinci

Filet Mignon Day[3]

” When you’re a failure in Hollywood, that’s like starving to death outside a banquet hall, with smells of Filet Mignon driving you crazy.”
~ Marilyn Monroe

There is a cut of meat that is the very definition of luxury and decadence, one that falls from the lips of the common people and the rich debutante royalty of Hollywood in equal measure. Filet Mignon is French for “dainty fillet” and first found its way into the world in the 1906 book,” The Four Million”. Filet Minion Day celebrates the history of this steak and the delicious role it has played in exquisite meals. Tenderloin. The very word implies a rich and succulent meal that absolutely melts on the tongue, but even in this most perfect cut of meat, there is a portion that is unquestionably the best. This portion is the fabled Filet Mignon. This delicious cut is served in 4 to 8oz portions and comes prepared in one of three varieties, seared in a pan, grilled over coals or the most famous, wrapped in bacon. The bacon is typically added to enrich the piece with fat, as Filet Mignon tends to leanness. Even though it comes from the tenderloin, there are still multiple cuts of Filet Mignon one can choose to indulge in. The prime cut is the most popular and is available from any form of cattle, the Angus Cut, however, comes specifically from vegetarian fed beef and is far and away one of the best forms of beef available. If you’re truly feeling decadent, you can purchase a 32oz whole Filet Mignon Roast. It may set you back about $65 a pound (That’s $130) but it’ll be worth every succulent bite.

How to Celebrate Filet Mignon Day

If you don’t have a talent with cooking, you can head out to your local steakhouse and enjoy an expertly prepared cut of Filet Mignon. If you’re feeling more adventurous you can head down to your local butcher and get an excellent cut of meat that you can prepare yourself! Marinate it in a wonderful sauce while you get the coals ready, wrap it in bacon, and set it upon the grill to cook. Gently though! Filet Mignon is best-served medium rare so that the soft tender nature of the meat will be preserved. This is just the first step on enjoying Filet Mignon Day, but it doesn’t have to be the last!

Carpetbag Steak[4]

Australia’s carpetbag steak combines two of the country’s most celebrated products: fresh, sea-bright oysters and (ideally) free-range, grass-fed beef. The name of this specialty derives from the shape of the finished dish. Although many recipes call for broiling the steaks or grilling them over charcoal, those methods tend to dry out the meat and prevent its beefy juices from mingling into the oozy lushness of the salty oysters. Better to sauté the steaks for a moistly tender result with maximum flavor contrast. Carpetbag Steaks

Serves 4

Necessary equipment: Kitchen string and a trussing needle or small satay-type skewers 4 filet mignon steaks, each about 2 inches thick or 7 to 8 ounces Salt and freshly ground black pepper 8 medium-size oysters, as freshly shucked as possible 6 tablespoons (¾ stick) unsalted butter 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley 2 to 3 anchovy fillets (optional), finely mashed.

1. Using a very sharp knife with a thin blade, cut a 2-inch-long horizontal slit on the edge of each steak to make a pocket about 2 inches deep.

2. Sprinkle salt and pepper onto both sides of each oyster. Slip 2 oysters, side by side, into the pocket of each steak.

3. Close the opening of each pocket, either by sewing it shut using kitchen string and a trussing needle, or by fastening it with a small skewer. Pat the steaks dry on both sides with paper towels.

4. Heat 3 tablespoons of the butter in a large, heavy skillet, preferably cast-iron or copper, over moderate heat. When the bubbling subsides, arrange the oyster-stuffed steaks in the skillet, making sure that they do not touch one another.

5. Cook the steaks on one side until lightly browned, 3 to 4 minutes, then turn them over and lightly brown them on the second side, about 3 to 4 minutes time. Reduce the heat to low and cook the steaks, turning them frequently, 7 minutes longer for very rare steak, or 9 to 10 minutes for medium-rare. Anything more cooked than that will hardly be worth eating. Transfer the steaks to individual serving plates.

6. Melt the remaining 3 tablespoons of butter in the skillet and stir in the parsley. Spoon some of the parsley butter over each steak before serving. If you like the edgy sophistication that anchovies can impart, stir the mashed fillets into the parsley butter before spooning it over the steaks.

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.