Saturday, September 13, 2025

- September 08, 2025

Introduction to the Epistle of James

The Epistle of James is a compact, powerful letter in the New Testament that speaks directly to the heart of Christian living. Though brief, it’s rich in moral exhortation, practical wisdom, and spiritual clarity—especially for Catholics seeking to confront fear with faith.

📜 Introduction to the Epistle of James

Authorship: Traditionally attributed to James the Just, “brother of the Lord” and bishop of Jerusalem. He was a pillar of the early Church, known for his holiness and leadership.
Audience: Addressed to the “twelve tribes in the dispersion,” meaning Jewish Christians scattered outside Palestine. It’s considered one of the Catholic Epistles, meaning it’s written to the universal Church rather than a specific community.
Tone and Style: The letter is direct, ethical, and pastoral. It reads more like a sermon or wisdom literature than a theological treatise.
Themes:

Endurance in trials
The inseparability of faith and works
Control of speech
Justice for the poor
Humility and divine wisdom
Prayer and healing

🕊️ Lessons for Catholics on Fear

James doesn’t speak of fear abstractly—he addresses the conditions that breed it: poverty, persecution, instability, and spiritual doubt. His counsel offers a roadmap for Catholics navigating fear in daily life:

1. Fear is met with endurance and joy

“Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” (James 1:2–3)

Fear is not denied—it’s transformed. Trials are not signs of abandonment but invitations to deeper trust.

2. Fear is dispelled by divine wisdom

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God... and it will be given to him.” (James 1:5)

Catholics are called to pray for wisdom, not just relief. Wisdom brings clarity, courage, and spiritual grounding.

3. Fear thrives in double-mindedness

“The one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.” (James 1:6)

James warns against spiritual instability. Fear often arises when faith is fragmented. The remedy is single-hearted trust.

4. Fear is overcome through action

“Be doers of the word, and not hearers only.” (James 1:22)

Passive faith breeds anxiety. Active discipleship—through works of mercy, justice, and prayer—anchors the soul.

5. Fear is silenced by humility

“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.” (James 4:10)

Fear often stems from control and pride. Humility opens the heart to grace and divine protection.

6. Fear finds healing in community

“Is anyone among you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone in good spirits? He should sing praise.” (James 5:13)

James ends with a vision of communal healing—prayer, anointing, confession. Fear is not a private burden but a shared journey toward restoration.

✝️ For Catholic Devotion

James offers a spirituality that is incarnational and sacramental:

He affirms the anointing of the sick (James 5:14), a sacrament that directly addresses fear in suffering.
He calls for confession and intercession, practices that root Catholics in grace and solidarity.

Introduction to 1 Peter

The First Epistle of Peter is a pastoral letter written to Christians living as spiritual exiles in a hostile world. It speaks directly to the experience of suffering, marginalization, and fear—making it profoundly relevant for Catholics today who seek courage and clarity in uncertain times.

📜 Introduction to 1 Peter

Authorship: Traditionally attributed to St. Peter the Apostle, written from “Babylon” (likely Rome), around 60–64 AD.
Audience: Addressed to the “elect exiles” in regions of Asia Minor—Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia—who were facing persecution and social alienation.
Purpose: To encourage believers to remain faithful, holy, and hopeful amid suffering. It’s a call to live as pilgrims, not settlers, in a world that often opposes the Gospel.
Tone: Tender, exhortative, and deeply rooted in the mystery of Christ’s passion and resurrection.

🕊️ Lessons on Fear for Catholics

1 Peter doesn’t dismiss fear—it transfigures it. It teaches Catholics how to live with reverent fear of God, rather than paralyzing fear of man.

1. Live in Reverent Fear, Not Cringing Terror

“Live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear.” (1 Peter 1:17)

This is not servile dread but holy awe—a posture of humility before God’s majesty.
Reverent fear anchors the soul, reminding Catholics that their true citizenship is in heaven.

2. Fear of God Cancels Fear of Man

“Do not fear what they fear, and do not be intimidated.” (1 Peter 3:14)

Peter urges believers to sanctify Christ as Lord in their hearts, which displaces worldly fear.
In a culture of intimidation, Catholics are called to gentle boldness, rooted in truth and love.

3. Fear is Transformed by Hope

“Set your hope fully on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1:13)

Hope is the antidote to fear. It lifts the gaze beyond suffering to the promise of glory.
Catholics are invited to live as Easter people, even in Good Friday circumstances.

4. Fear is Purified Through Suffering

“If you should suffer for righteousness, you are blessed.” (1 Peter 3:14)

Suffering is not a sign of divine absence—it’s a participation in Christ’s own path.
Fear loses its grip when suffering is seen as redemptive, not random.

5. Fear is Relieved by Community and Vigilance

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be sober and vigilant.” (1 Peter 5:7–8)

Catholics are called to entrust their fears to Christ, not carry them alone.
Vigilance is not paranoia—it’s spiritual attentiveness, grounded in prayer and sacramental life.

✝️ Liturgical and Devotional Resonance

1 Peter is deeply sacramental:

It speaks of baptism as salvation (1 Peter 3:21)
It calls for priestly holiness (1 Peter 2:9)
It affirms the Paschal mystery as the pattern of Christian life

For Catholics, this epistle is a guide to living courageously, reverently, and communally in a world that often misunderstands faith. It’s a call to fear rightly, and in doing so, to live freely.

Vinny’s Corner

· How to celebrate Sep 13th

· Start your day on a positive note by declaring it National Positive Thinking Day. Challenge yourself to replace any negative thoughts with upbeat affirmations.

o Later, channel your optimistic energy into celebrating National Stand Up to Cancer Day by supporting cancer research or raising awareness.

· Feeling hungry?

o Whip up a batch of chocolate treats in honor of International Chocolate Day. Get creative – even if it means raiding your pantry for ingredients. Once you’ve satisfied your sweet tooth, embrace National Fortune Cookie Day by making your own fortunes and sharing them with friends.

· As the day progresses, let loose and celebrate Supernatural Day. Binge-watch your favorite paranormal TV shows or dive into a spooky book.

· Unleash your inner chef on National Kids Take Over the Kitchen Day. Encourage children to experiment with simple recipes or assist you in meal prep.

· Celebrate National Celiac Disease Awareness Day by trying out gluten-free recipes or educating yourself on the condition.

· Wrap up your day with a hug – it’s National Hug Your Boss Day! Spread positivity by showing appreciation for your supervisor or coworkers.

o Finally, pay tribute to the literary world on Roald Dahl Day by reading your favorite Dahl book or watching a film adaptation.

· Honor Uncle Sam Day by learning about American history or engaging in a patriotic activity.

o And don’t forget to indulge in some peanuts, in celebration of National Peanut Day!

SEPTEMBER 13 Saturday-John Chrysostom, Bishop

Positive Thinking Day

1 Peter, Chapter 2, Verse 17

Give honor to all, love the community, FEAR God, honor the king.

We are to be good citizens but God’s citizens first. We are to love our community.

One recent change in the liturgy is in “Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed,” Catholics have said this for decades, but due to translation changes those words have been amended to, “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.” This expression of faith makes me think of all those who are under my roof and are under my protection but then I reflect further. I think of all those roofs I am under the church, my work, my community and family. I am humbled and ask God to bless them all not just myself. We are not alone we are a community of love.

Yes, it is true we have the freedom Christ gave us; but to be truly free we must serve and give reverence to God, esteem for everyone and committed love for our fellow Christians. We are to honor those who are under our roof and those whose roof we are under.

To honor someone means we give great attention to them and listen to them when they talk (put down the smart phone). If they make a request or suggestion, we make every effort to do it. It means you give them respect and high esteem; you treat them as being special and of great worth. For indeed they are, did not our Lord die for them. Christ asks us to go the extra mile with them; to accommodate them: out of honor. This is the noble way we are to live.

In the movie Les Misérables (1998 film), Liam Neeson plays, Jean Valjean, a man who was arrested for stealing bread and after 19 years is released on parole. However, no one is willing to allow him, a convict, to stay the night. Except for Bishop Myriel, who kindly welcomes him into his home. Valjean explains to Myriel that sleeping in a real bed will make him a new man. In the night, Valjean, interrupted by Myriel while stealing his silverware, strikes him and flees. When the police arrest Valjean, Myriel tells them that the silverware was a gift and scolds Valjean for failing to take his candlesticks as well. Myriel then reminds Valjean that he is to become a new man.^{^[1]}

Copilot’s Take

This reflection for September 13 is a masterful blend of Scripture, liturgy, and lived experience. Drawing from 1 Peter 2:17—“Give honor to all, love the community, fear God, honor the king”—it reframes reverence not as passive respect but as active, sacramental attention. The meditation on the revised liturgical phrase “under my roof” expands the Eucharistic moment into a communal invocation, reminding us that our prayers extend to all those we shelter and all those who shelter us.

The commentary challenges modern distractions and calls for a deeper ethic of honor: listening, responding, and esteeming others as sacred. The inclusion of Les Misérables offers a cinematic parable of mercy, where honor becomes the catalyst for transformation. And the nod to Fatima roots the reflection in Marian intercession, reinforcing the theme of communal love and divine reverence.

Altogether, it’s a call to live nobly—under every roof, in every relationship, with hearts attuned to grace and eyes open to the dignity of others.

The Catholic Defender: Our Lady's Words at Fatima[2]

September 13, 1917

Our Lady: Continue to pray the Rosary to obtain the end of the war. In October, Our Lord will also come, as well as Our Lady of Sorrows and Our Lady of Mount Carmel, and Saint Joseph with the Child Jesus, to bless the world. God is pleased with your sacrifices, but He does not want you to sleep with the ropes; wear them only during the day. (The children were wearing ropes around their waists as a sacrifice for sinners.)

Our Lady: Yes, I will cure some, others not. In October, I will perform a miracle for all to believe.

When looking at the above dialogue between Our Lady and Lucia, there is not a whole lot of information that is specific.

Would Lucia or Jacinta, Francisco know who Our Lady of Sorrows would be, or Our Lady of Mount Carmel?

Probably not!

But what does this tell us even though it is 100 years later?

There are some very significant points to gleam from these few words. First, Our Lord will come as the King of kings.

Why is this important?

This shows that what is happening at Fatima has the Lord's full will taking place. Hebrews 4:14-16 states, "Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sinning. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

Jesus appearance at Fatima is an important sign of His commitment to Mercy and His intention that we listen to the message which is the Gospel. Fatima is all about the Gospel Message.

Second, Mary will show herself as "Our Lady of Sorrows"! There were seven sorrows that are part of a devotion:

1. The Prophecy of Simon (Luke 2:29-35)

2. The Escape and flight to Egypt (Matthew 2:13-15)

3. Jesus lost for three days and then found in the Temple (Luke 2:41-52)

4. Jesus meets His Mother (Passion)

5. The Crucifixion (Matthew 27:32-55), (Mark 15:21-41), (Luke 23:26-49), (John 19:17-37)

6. Piercing of the side of Jesus (John 19:34-37)

7. Burial of Jesus (Matthew 27:57-61), (Mark 15:42-47), (Luke 23:50-56), (John 19:38-42)

Through this devotion we walk with the Virgin Mary in these seven sorrows. Suffering has a very important lesson for growing in our faith. As Our Lord suffered, and as a result, Our Lady suffered, we unite our suffering with our Lord. We offer it up.

Third, Mary will show herself again as "Our Lady of Mount Carmel" which I find this one to have deep meaning identifying who this Lady truly is. 1 Kings 18: 20-39 tells the story of Elijah's triumph over the priests of Baal. At this time there had been a serious drought for three years because of the sin of the nation. The drought ends with a very interesting sign.

1 Kings 18:41-45 states, "And Elijah said to Ahab, go up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of the rushing of rain. So, Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he bowed himself down upon the earth and put his face between his knees. And he said to his servant, go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up and looked, and said, there is nothing. And Elijah said, Go again seven times. And at the seventh time, he said, Behold, a little cloud like a man's (foot) hand is rising out of the sea. And Elijah said, go up, say to Ahab, Prepare your chariot and go down, lest the rain stop you. And in a little while the heavens grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain."

You might be wondering what this has to do with anything I am about to tell you! Remember 1 Kings 18:44 specifically here, "Go again seven times. And at the seventh time, he said, Behold, a little cloud like a man's (foot) hand is rising out of the sea." The Douay-Rheims version of the bible says foot while many others say hand, obviously the image of the cloud held the vision of an extremity.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel connects 1 Kings 18:44 with the prophetic sign given to Isaiah 7:14, "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, a young virgin (woman) shall conceive and bear a son and shall call his name Immanuel.

Both signs uniquely point to Our Lady identifying her as the Virgin Mary. The cloud rising up from the sea is a symbol relating to Our Lady as Mary is recognized as a fulfillment that the cloud represents rain. But this is not a waterfall rain, but something much more important.

From the Carmel story, the seven tries of Elijah's servant to go see the sign of Elijah becomes a spiritual typology representing the seven ages of the world. What are the seven ages of the world you might be asking:

1. Adam to Noah

2. Noah to Abraham

3. Abraham to David

4. David to the Babylonian Captivity

5. Return of Israel to Jesus

6. Jesus to present

7. Present to Parousia.

This is where it gets really interesting! The seventh age represents the Salvation of the world. Jesus refers to the coming of this age Matthew 28:19-20, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age."

How does this fit into the Prophetic sign of Isaiah?

Here we go:

There is four Marian identifiers embodied in the sign of Elijah and revealed by Isaiah.

1. THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION - Because the Virgin would arise as a cloud out of the salty sea water saturated with the guilt of humanity, having the same nature of the water but without it's bitterness. Our Lady was conceived without Original Sin and not marred by sin.

2. THE VIRGINITY OF MARY - Because Mary arose out of Mount Carmel and like a man's foot (Douay-Rheims), this means Mary would follow the path of Elijah who ascended Carmel through voluntary virginity as Elijah and completed the pure works (hands).

3. THE TIME OF THE VIRGIN BIRTH - Because Elijah's servant saw the cloud on his seventh try so would the world witness the advent of the Virgin preparing for the Seventh Age.

4. THE VIRGINAL MATERNITY - Because in the little cloud, God would come down like a sweet rain, without noise of human collaboration (except Mother Mary), that is, without violating Mary's purity.

The sign of the cloud revealed rain, the sign of the Virgin with child revealed grace.

Do you really think the Children of Fatima understood all this with the Virgin Mary's words?

Not likely,

but does this have relevance for us today, 100 years later?

Most certainly. This is the Gospel message, "For God so loved the world that He gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life." John 3:16

Finally, Saint Joseph with the Child Jesus, blessing the world offers great hope! As Christians, we are to lift up our heads in confidence when we see what is taking place in the world. "And there will be signs in the sun and the moon and stars, and upon the earth distress of nations in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves, men fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, look up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." (Luke 21:25-28)

The last words of Our Lady, "Yes, I will cure some, others not. In October, I will perform a miracle for all to believe." I find this very interesting as well. Remember St. Paul's request of Our Lord, "And to keep me from being too elated by the abundance of revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to harass me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times I besought the Lord about this, that it should leave me; but he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." (2 Corinthians 12:7-8)

I recall the Prophet Elisha instructing Namaan to dip himself seven times in the Jordan River and on the seventh try was healed of leprosy. Seven represents wholeness, completeness, and perfection. It represents Christ. We also see this in the seven Sacraments of the Church.

Sometimes Our Lord takes away an affliction, sometimes He shares His suffering with us. It's not because He loves some more than others, His compassion is limitless. We see this more regarding the great miracle of Fatima, October 13, 1917.

Memorial of St. John Chrysostom (347-407)[3]. St. John was born in Antioch. His powerful eloquence earned him the surname of Chrysostom, or golden mouthed. With St. Athanasius, St. Gregory Nazianzen and St. Basil, he forms the group of the four great doctors of the Eastern Church. As Archbishop of Constantinople, his courageous stance against the vices of even the wealthy caused him to be exiled several times. As a result, he died in 407, still in exile. In 1204 his relics were brought to St. Peter's in Rome. Some of the relics were returned to the Orthodox on November 27, 2004, by Pope Saint John Paul II. His silver and jewel-encrusted skull is now kept in the Vatopedi Monastery on Mount Athos in northern Greece and is credited by Christians with miraculous healings. His right hand is also preserved on Mount Athos, and numerous smaller relics are scattered throughout the world.

Positive Thinking Day[4]

Positive Thinking Day is a time set aside each year to concentrate on all things positive. An American entrepreneur started this day in 2003 so that people could commemorate the many rewards that can be found in thinking positively.

How to Celebrate Positive Thinking Day

If you are not sure what to do to celebrate, here are a few suggestions. Start the day positively by saying “Today is going to be a good day!” This will set the tone for the day ahead of you.

Say some affirmations. These are positive sentences about you or your circumstances that can give you boldness, confidence and self-esteem.

· Hang around with positive people.

· Show gratitude for the simple things in life.

· Read or watch positive, motivational books and movies.

· Be kind to someone today.

· Finally, the best thing you can do for yourself and others, today and every day is to simply smile.

Daily Devotions

· Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them in fasting: Today's Fast: Victims of clergy sexual abuse

· Religion in the Home for Preschool: September

· Litany of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus

· Offering to the sacred heart of Jesus

· Drops of Christ’s Blood