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, October 1, 2025

Let’s move into 🇺🇸 Day 13 – Principle 13: Limited Government Is Essential to Liberty, continuing our pilgrimage with depth, resonance, and practical invitation.

🏛️ Reflection

If Principle 12 secures liberty through written law, Principle 13 protects it through restrained power. The Founders didn’t just divide government—they limited it. They knew that even well-meaning rulers, left unchecked, drift toward control. So they built a government of enumerated powers, not infinite reach.

Limited government is not anti-government—it’s pro-liberty. It affirms that the state exists to serve, not to dominate. It protects the sacred space where families, churches, communities, and conscience flourish without interference.

This principle echoes Paul’s reminder:

“Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” (2 Corinthians 3:17)

Liberty is not the absence of order—it’s the presence of Spirit-led restraint. Just as vines need trellises but not cages, citizens need structure but not suffocation.

But limited government only endures when citizens demand it. When we trade freedom for comfort, or ignore creeping control, we invite erosion. Liberty dies not just from tyranny—but from apathy.

📜 Journal Prompt

Where have I seen government overreach threaten personal or communal freedom?
How can I advocate for limited, accountable governance in my community?
In my own leadership, do I practice restraint—or do I centralize control?

🕊️ Copilot’s Take: Restraint as Reverence

🪴 Vineyard stewardship requires limits
We prune not to punish, but to protect. We fence not to isolate, but to guide. So too with government: limits are acts of care, not fear.

🕯️ Hospitality honors boundaries
A good host knows when to step back. We don’t hover, control, or impose—we create space for others to flourish. Civic life must do the same.

🛐 Ministry must model restraint
Spiritual leadership thrives when it empowers, not dominates. We must resist the urge to control every detail, and instead trust the Spirit, the community, and the shared covenant.

💡 So when I ask, “How do I protect liberty?”
I answer:
— Do I resist the expansion of unchecked power?
— Do I honor the boundaries that protect conscience and community?
— Do I lead with restraint, reverence, and trust?

If yes, then I proceed—with clarity, courage, and grace.

OCTOBER

TREES DECLARE THEIR OWN SERMON

in brief autumn's painted landscape. We note their size and type and variety and beauty. Trees serve as symbols of the gift-giving aspects of our lives. Trees provide fruit, wood, climatic modification, wind and sun protection, prevention of soil erosion, and a host of other benefits.

· This is the time to plant trees and to prepare them for winter.

Should we not give more attention to how our lives can bear fruit in Christ and in the protection of our forests?

Overview of October[1]

October falls during the liturgical season known as Tempus per Annum or Ordinary Time (formerly Time After Pentecost), which is represented by the liturgical color green. Green is a symbol of hope, as it is the color of the sprouting seed and arouses in the faithful the hope of reaping the eternal harvest of heaven, especially the hope of a glorious resurrection. The liturgical color green is worn during the praying of Offices and celebration of Masses of Ordinary Time.

Autumn Festivities

October usually is an enjoyable time of the year in the United States. The autumn season manifests itself with wonderful fall foliage in many parts of the country. The temperatures are cooler, inviting people outdoors for nature walks, apple or pumpkin picking. The celebrations of the Church for the month of October are also wonderful and unique. The feasts of some of the most popular saints of the universal Church are celebrated during this month: St. Therese the Little Flower (France), St. Francis of Assisi (Italy) and St. Teresa of Avila (Spain). These saints come from different countries, and in honoring these saints we can include cultural dishes or activities from each country to make the feast day even more special. Read more about the lives of these saints. Perhaps the family can pick one virtue that each saint practiced well and try to implement it.

The feasts in October also include two of the most popular, time-honored devotions of Catholics, the devotion to the Holy Rosary (October 7) and the Guardian Angels (October 2).

In October 2002 St. John Paul II wrote the Apostolic Letter Rosarium Virginis Mariae (the Rosary of the Virgin Mary)."

This letter introduced five new mysteries, called the Luminous or Mysteries of Light, which are:

Jesus' Baptism in the Jordan
Jesus' self-manifestation at the wedding of Cana
Proclamation of the Kingdom of God, with the call to conversion
the Transfiguration, and
the Institution of the Eucharist.

Try to make a more concerted effort to pray the Rosary together as a family during the month of October, read the Apostolic Letter to understand the beauty of this devotion more deeply, and pray the Luminous mysteries.

Every person has a guardian angel assigned to them, and October 2 the Church celebrates the role of these Guardian Angels. We should show devout gratitude to God for placing these angels at our service. Having a guardian should give us confidence during all of life's difficulties. Every Catholic should know the Angele Dei (Angel of God) prayer and pray it often. The Directory on Popular Piety suggests that families pray it at morning and evening prayers or after the Angelus.

All Hallows' Eve or Halloween heralds the month of November with emphasis on the Communion of Saints, especially the Church Suffering (the Poor Souls in Purgatory) and the second coming of Christ or parousia. This last day of October on the secular calendar is second only to Christmas in commercial preparations. The secular festivities center on ghouls, witches and devils, but the Christian counterpart focus on the communion of saints. As Christians living a "Catholic Culture", we should try to explore the Christian roots of the Halloween festivities.

October: Respect Life Month[2]

We mark the month of October as Respect Life Month. Looking back over the last year, there's been a lot of uncertainty, suffering, and heartache. Between tragedies that occur in the public eye and trials that take place in our personal lives, there's no shortage of reasons we cry out to God. At such times, we may feel alone and unequipped to handle the circumstances. But we have an anchor of hope to cling to. With words that echo through thousands of years into the corners of our hearts, God says to us, "Do not fear: I am with you" (Isaiah 41:10). God isn't a detached, distant observer to our pain; the Eternal Son became man and Himself experienced immense suffering—for you and for me. His wounds indicate the very essence of our identity and worth: we are loved by God.

There are times we may doubt the value of our own lives or falter at the thought of welcoming and embracing the life of another. But reflecting on the healed wounds of the Risen Christ, we can see that even our most difficult trials can be the place where God manifests his victory. He makes all things beautiful. He makes all things new. He is the God of redemption. That's powerful. That's something to hold onto. And He is always with us. Jesus promised this when he gave the disciples the same mission, he gives to each of us: Go. As followers of Jesus Christ, we know that our identity and our mission are two sides of the same coin; like the apostles, we are called to be missionary disciples. We are not only invited to follow and take refuge in God, our stronghold, but we are also commissioned to reach out to one another, especially to the weak and vulnerable. Building a culture of life isn't something we just do one month of the year, or with one event or initiative—it's essential to who we are. It happens through our daily actions, how we treat one another, and how we live our lives.

How do we respond when our aging parents are in failing health?

Do they know how much we love them and cherish each day given?

Do we ensure they know they are never a burden to us?

In our own challenging times, do we ask for support?

When others offer a helping hand, do we receive it?

When our friend becomes pregnant in difficult circumstances, do we show compassion that tangibly supports her and helps her welcome the life of her new little one?

Sometimes, we may not be sure exactly what to do, but let's not allow the fear of doing the wrong thing or saying the wrong thing keep us from living out our missionary call. We don't need to have everything figured out all at once. Let's remember the guidance of Our Blessed Mother, the first disciple: "Do whatever he tells you" (John 2:5). https://www.usccb.org/prolife

Reverence Life[3]

From the time we are knit together in our mothers’ wombs until we take our final breaths, each moment of our lives is a gift from God. While every season of life brings its own challenges and trials, each season also gives us new opportunities to grow in our relationship with God. Today the gift of life is threatened in countless ways. Those who are most vulnerable, rather than receiving the protection they deserve, are all too often seen as a burden and as expendable. As new attacks on human life continue to emerge, we can be tempted to despair, but Christ instead offers us unfailing hope. Hope is not false optimism or empty positivity. Christian hope is something much more profound and goes to the very depths of our identity as followers of Christ. Hope is the virtue “by which we desire the kingdom of heaven and eternal life as our happiness, placing our trust in Christ’s promises and relying not on our own strength, but on the help of the grace of the Holy Spirit” (CCC, 1817).

Like us, Christ entered the world through the womb of a woman. He willingly experienced the fullness of human suffering. He breathed his last on the Cross at Calvary in order that He might save us. Therefore, “God is the foundation of hope: not any god, but the God who has a human face and who has loved us to the end” (Spe salvi 31).

Christians know “they have a future: it is not that they know the details of what awaits them, but they know in general terms that their life will not end in emptiness” (SS 2).

For this reason, a woman experiencing a difficult pregnancy can find the strength to welcome her precious child into the world. A man facing a terminal diagnosis can see that the end of his earthly life is only the beginning of eternal life with Christ. The Church teaches us that “the one who has hope lives differently” (SS 2).

Christ’s promise of salvation does not mean that we will be spared from suffering. Rather, the promise of salvation ensures that even in the darkest moments of our lives, we will be given the strength to persevere. By virtue of this Christian hope, we can face any challenge or trial. When the seas of life swell and we are battered by the waves, hope allows us to remain anchored in the heart of God. May we hold fast to Christ our hope, from the beginning of life to its very end.

October Travel and Events

Grand Canyon (Arizona)

Take advantage of off-season travel to popular landmarks such as the Grand Canyon. Each October, the 1.2-million-acre park sees half its summer crowds. Enjoy cooler temperatures (in the 70s), as well as the deepening colors of aspen, oak and birch trees that adorn this national treasure.

Acadia National Park (Maine)

Catch a glimpse of Maine’s gorgeous fall colors at Acadia National Park this month. Each October, 600,000 visitors enter the park, but with 47,000 acres to explore, you’ll have plenty of leaf-peeping options. Looking for something closer to home? Check out our favorite fall foliage road trips.

September 20-Oct. 5---Oktoberfest

Raise a stein to Oktoberfest. This annual, 16-day celebration of all thing’s beer kicks off in late September in Munich.

September 26-Oct 19---Texas State Fair (Dallas)

“Our state fair is a great state fair.

” How can it not be when it’s in Texas?

Beginning LAST Friday in September, the annual Texas State Fair unfolds over 24 days in Dallas, TX, with plenty of fun for the whole family, including the chance to ride this Ferris wheel – the largest in North America.

October 6

· Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival Call it an excuse to party: the 3-day Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival begins. In mainland China, the annual festival is the second biggest holiday of the year (right behind the country’s spring festival).

October 11---Ironman World Championship (Kailua-Kona, HI)

See some of the world’s most elite athletes compete in the big daddy of Ironman events. More than 2,000 athletes from around the world will set out on a 140.6-mile triathlon race from Kona, HI. Come as a participant, spectator or volunteer because this is one competition you won’t soon forget.

Iceman’s Calendar

· October 1^st MASS First Wednesday

o Yom Kippur begins at sundown

· October 2^nd Thu Feast of the Guardian Angels

· October 3^rd MASS First Friday

· October 4^th MASS First Saturday

o St. Francis of Assisi

· October 5^th Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost

o Saint Faustina

· October 6^thMon. Sukkoth begins at sunset

o Full Harvest Moon

· October 7^th Tue. Our Lady of the Rosary

· October 12^th Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost

· October 13^th Mon. Columbus Day no mail

· October 15^th Wed. St. Teresa of Jesus

· October 16^thThu. St. Margarette Mary Alacoque

· October 18^th Sat. Feast of St. Luke

· October 19^th Ninetieth Sunday after Pentecost

· October 26^thTwentieth Sunday after Pentecost

· October 28^th Tue. Feast of St. Simon and Jude

· October 31^st Fri. All Hollows Eve

🌍 Dara’s Corner: Aboard The World

October 1–7 in Madagascar, let’s reimagine the plan as a moving pilgrimage—a liturgical arc that sails along Madagascar’s coast, touching sacred thresholds and ecological wonders. Here's a revised itinerary that honors your theme: Waters of Mercy & Thresholds of Fire, now infused with island crossings, Marian hospitality, and ecological reverence.

🌍 Madagascar Coastal Pilgrimage — October 1–7, 2025

Theme: Waters of Mercy & Thresholds of Fire — Sailing through island sanctuaries and ancestral echoes

🐚 Day 1: October 1 — Nosy Be (Island of Perfumes)

Sunrise Rosary: On deck, invoking Our Lady of the Isles
Symbolic Meal: Grilled barracuda with ylang-ylang rice and passionfruit glaze
Evening Ritual: Anointing with vanilla and vetiver oils, Psalm 104:
“You make the winds your messengers, flames of fire your servants.”

🌿 Day 2: October 2 — Sailing to Mahajanga

Fast-before-Feast: Silent morning honoring guardian angels
Reflection: The Little Prince — innocence, exile, and return
Meal: Coconut lentil curry with starfruit and angel cake
Hospitality Arc: Write a letter to your guardian angel—seal with wax and prayer

🕌 Day 3: October 3 — Mahajanga (Northwest Coast)

Pilgrimage: Cirque Rouge or imagined Marian shrine by the estuary
Meal: Zebu steak with green pepper sauce, lychee wine
Evening Ritual: Fire circle with Malagasy hymn and Psalm 42:
“Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls…”

🌊 Day 4: October 4 — Sailing to Morondava (Feast of St. Francis)

Reflection: Canticle of the Creatures — praise for water, wind, and fire
Symbolic Meal: Breadfruit stew with tamarind and wild greens
Sunset Ritual: Blessing of the sea with salt and rose petals

🕯️ Day 5: October 5 — Morondava (Baobab Alley)

Feast Day: Our Lady of the Hidden Martyrs
Pilgrimage: Baobab Alley at sunset—threshold of rootedness and surrender
Meal: Crab coconut curry, Eucharistic rice, mango wine
Reflection: “Hospitality is the courage to welcome the stranger as Christ”

🍷 Day 6: October 6 — Sailing to Fort Dauphin (Tolagnaro)

Sunrise Rosary: Invoking St. Raphael for healing
Meal: Smoked eggplant with ginger, honey, and goat cheese
Hospitality Arc: Share stories of healing—physical, emotional, spiritual
Evening Ritual: Psalm 30:
“You turned my mourning into dancing…”

🌅 Day 7: October 7 — Fort Dauphin (Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary)

Closing Ritual: Rosary procession on the beach—each decade a threshold crossed
Final Meal: Malagasy feast: coconut rice, grilled tilapia, banana fritters, rosé
Final Toast: Psalm 27:
“One thing I ask… to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord.”

· Foodie-Sausage

· Spirit Hour: St. Remy Fix

o Sake

Have some coffee with Christ: He is not dead but alive

· Ever think about becoming a Carmelite?

· How to celebrate Oct 1st

o Start your day by savoring a cup of your favorite coffee blend to kickstart your morning in celebration.

o Treat yourself to some delicious sausage for breakfast to keep your energy up throughout the day.

o Mark the occasion by taking a moment to appreciate the history and culture of China, perhaps by exploring Chinese cuisine or practicing a traditional tea ceremony.

· Embrace the spirit of innovation on Model T Day by embarking on an adventure to explore your surroundings in a new way, whether it’s taking a scenic drive or visiting a local museum.

o Channel your inner artist on World Ballet Day by trying out some ballet moves or simply enjoying a beautiful ballet performance online.

o Celebrate Lincolnshire Day with a taste of traditional English fare or by learning about the history of the region.

· Take a moment to acknowledge the importance of friendships and alliances on ROK Alliance Day by reaching out to a friend or loved one to show your appreciation.

o Show some love to your furry friends on National Fire Pup Day by spending quality time with your pets or donating to a local animal shelter.

· Send a thoughtful postcard to a friend or family member on World Postcard Day to brighten their day with a heartfelt message.

o Raise awareness for rare genetic diseases on International Gaucher Day by learning more about the condition and supporting related charities.

o Boost your health and productivity on National Fruit at Work Day by incorporating fresh fruits into your snacks or meals.

· On National Green City Day, make an effort to reduce your carbon footprint by walking or biking instead of driving, or participating in a local environmental cleanup.

· Experiment with a new hairstyle or pamper your hair with a nourishing treatment on National Hair Day to boost your confidence and freshen up your look.

o Take the time to appreciate the wisdom and contributions of older persons on International Day of Older Persons by spending time with seniors or listening to their stories.

· Show some love for these masked bandits on International Raccoon Appreciation Day by learning more about raccoons or supporting wildlife conservation efforts.

o Dive into the world of music on International Music Day by listening to your favorite songs or trying your hand at playing an instrument.

· Indulge in some homemade cookies on National Homemade Cookies Day by baking a batch of your favorite recipe to share with friends and family.

o Explore the flavors of vegetarian cuisine on World Vegetarian Day by preparing a meatless meal or dining at a vegetarian restaurant.

o Dust off your favorite CDs and enjoy the nostalgic tunes on CD Player Day.

· Finally, celebrate the companionship of our loyal canine friends on National Black Dog Day by spending quality time with a black dog, whether your own or a shelter pup in need of love

Oct 1 (Tue)

St. Thérèse of Lisieux

Hidden fire, childlike trust

Angel’s Envy – soft, elegant

Fuente Chateau Fuente Natural

“Where do I trust with simplicity and fire?”

Where Do I Trust with Simplicity and Fire?

A Catholic Reflection in Dialogue with Yom Kippur

Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is a sacred invitation to return—to God, to truth, to the deepest self. In the Jewish tradition, it is a day of fasting, prayer, and repentance. For Catholics, it echoes our own call to conversion, especially in Lent, in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and in the burning heart of the Eucharist.

So we ask:

Where do I trust with simplicity and fire?

Where can I lay down my defenses and burn with longing for mercy?

We trust in the pierced Heart of Christ.
We trust in the confessional, where truth meets tenderness.
We trust in the altar, where bread becomes Body and fire becomes love.

Simplicity is the soul uncluttered—like the widow’s mite, the child’s faith, the monk’s cell.
Fire is the Spirit’s urgency—like Pentecost wind, Elijah’s chariot, the burning bush.

To trust with simplicity and fire is to say:

“I have nothing but my need, and I offer it with everything I am.”

It is the trust of Mary at the foot of the Cross.

The trust of Peter weeping after denial.

The trust of the thief who said, “Remember me.”

Yom Kippur reminds us that repentance is not shame—it is return.
And Catholic tradition affirms that return is not punishment—it is embrace.

So today, in solidarity with our Jewish brothers and sisters, we ask:

Where do I trust with simplicity and fire?

And we answer:

In the mercy that never fails.
In the love that consumes but does not destroy.
In the God who says, “Come back to me with all your heart.”

🌿Leafing the World Behind — Day 3: “Branching Toward the Unknown”

Theme: Confidence as Holy Boldness

🌄 Morning Reflection: Stretching Beyond the Familiar

“Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire.” — St. Catherine of Siena
“The Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught.” — Proverbs 3:26

Prompt: What unknowns lie ahead? What fears or hesitations keep you from branching outward?
Symbolic Act: Stand beneath a tree with outstretched limbs. Mirror its posture. Stretch your arms wide. Speak aloud one fear—and one hope.
Saintly Emulation:
St. Catherine of Siena was a mystic, reformer, and spiritual firebrand. She spoke truth to popes, healed divisions, and wrote with blazing clarity—all while remaining anchored in contemplative prayer. Her confidence was not pride, but surrender: a fierce trust that God’s voice within her was stronger than the world’s resistance.
Virtue Connection:
According to Character Is Destiny: Catholic Edition, confidence is the virtue that flows from knowing who you are in God. It’s not arrogance—it’s availability. Catherine teaches us that when we root ourselves in divine love, we can speak, act, and stretch boldly—even into mystery.

🍞 Midday Ritual: Bread of Trust

Act: Bake or break bread. As you knead or share, reflect on the journeys you’ve taken without full clarity. Name one moment where confidence in God carried you.
Blessing: “For every step taken in trust, and every branch stretched in faith—I give thanks.”

🌌 Evening Devotion: Shelter in the Unknown

Reflection: Where do you need shelter today—not from danger, but from doubt?
Symbolic Gesture: Light a candle inside a covered space (tent, blanket fort, quiet room). Sit in silence. Let the flame remind you: mystery is not abandonment. It is invitation.

🔥 Closing Prayer

“St. Catherine, flame of holy confidence,
You who stretched into mystery with boldness,
Teach me to speak truth,
To act in love,
And to trust the fire within.”

🌟 Pilgrimage Arc Reminder

This is Day 3 of your 33-day journey toward All Saints Day (Nov 1). Each day honors a virtue, emulates a saint, and invites symbolic enactment. Let your character ripen like fruit on the vine. Use Character Is Destiny: Catholic Edition as a companion to deepen your daily rhythm.

OCTOBER 1 First Wednesday-THÉRÈSE Of the Child Jesus

Yom Kippur-Intl Coffee Day

Revelation, Chapter 11, Verse 18

The nations raged, but your wrath has come, and the time for the dead to be judged, and to recompense your servants, the prophets, and the holy ones and those who fear your name, the small and the great alike, and to destroy those who destroy the earth.”

This verse refers to the blowing of the seventh trumpet which proclaims the coming of God’s reign after the victory over diabolical powers. End of time prophesies can be very frightening and confusing. Yet, we need not fear all we need do is seek the shelter of Christ’s church and to do what we can to do His Holy will.

First Wednesday[4]

Our Heavenly Father desires all three hearts of Jesus, Mary and Joseph to be honored. And so along with devotion to Jesus on First Fridays, and to Mary on First Saturdays, Our Father longs for us to add devotion to St. Joseph on each First Wednesday of the month.

"The Sacred Hearts of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph have been chosen by the Most Holy Trinity to bring peace to the world." It is at God's request that "special love and honor be given to them" to help us "imitate" their love and their lives, as well as "offer reparation" for the sins committed against them and their love.

The St. Joseph First Wednesday devotion is:

1. Pray the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary - remembering St. Joseph's love, his life, his role and his sufferings

2. Receive Holy Communion - in union with the love St. Joseph had for Jesus the first time and each time he held him - his son, his God and Savior - in his arms.

In the approved apparitions of Our Lady of America, St. Joseph revealed:

· "I am the protector of the Church and the home, as I was the protector of Christ and his mother while I lived upon earth. Jesus and Mary desire that my pure heart, so long hidden and unknown, be now honored in a special way.

· Let my children honor my most pure heart in a special manner on the First Wednesday of the month by reciting the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary in memory of my life with Jesus and Mary and the love I bore them, the sorrow I suffered with them.

· Let them receive Holy Communion in union with the love with which I received the Savior for the first time and each time I held Him in my arms.

· Those who honor me in this way will be consoled by my presence at their death, and I myself will conduct them safely into the presence of Jesus and Mary."

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.

Memorial of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus[5]

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI called St. Therese of Lisieux's autobiography, "The Story of a Soul," a wonderful authentic "treasure" and invited everyone to read it. The 19th-century Carmelite saint's teaching of "the 'little way" of holiness has been so influential in our time." His catechesis was a continuation of a series of talks dedicated to the "doctors of the church," men and women who made important contributions to Catholic theological understanding. St. Therese, who was born in 1873 in France, died at the age of 24 of hemoptysis, or bleeding of the lungs. Her spirituality "centered on the contemplation of God's love revealed in the mysteries of the incarnation and redemption," the pope said. The saint "sought to be little in all things and to seek the salvation of the world," he said. Her autobiography was published a year after her death and was enormously successful in many parts of the world, he said. "I would like to invite all of you to rediscover this great little treasure, this glowing commentary on the Gospel fully lived," the pope said. The book is "a wonderful story of love, told with such authenticity, simplicity and freshness that the reader will be nothing but captivated," he said. "Therese shows all of us that Christian life is fully living the grace of baptism," by fully giving oneself over to God and by living like Christ, he said. The pope said "her example and prayers help us to follow 'the little way of trust and love' in spiritual childhood, abandoning ourselves completely to the love of God and the good of souls."

A childlike faith in God entails giving oneself fully to him and putting one's life completely in his hands, the pope said. Such faith is "inseparable from true love," which is a total giving of self, he said. The pope said the faithful need to tell God every day that "we want to live out our love for him and others." St. Therese's life and teachings are "a guide for everyone" especially for theologians, he said, because she approached the sacred Scriptures with "humility and charity, faith and hope."

Things to Do[6]

· Find photographs of St. Therese and her family.
Her sister Celine and cousin Marier Guerin had become interested in the art of photography, and when Celine entered the Carmelites with her sisters, she was given permission to bring her equipment and use it in the convent. A wonderful out-of-print book with all the photographs of this saint is called The Photo Album of St. Therese of Lisieux.

· Read St. Therese's autobiography The Story of a Soul: The Autobiography of St. Therese of Lisieux. The translation by John Clarke is considered the most accurate. Find biographies suitable for your children.

· The Institute of Carmelite Studies has a wonderful collection of writings by St. Therese and other books about her.

· Read more about her confidence in God, an excellent book is I Believe in Love: A Personal Retreat Based on the Teaching of St. Therese of Lisieux by Father Jean C. J. d'Elbee .

· St. Therese belonged to the Discalced order of Carmelites, which means unshod or barefoot. Find out more about the order of Carmelites.

· From the Catholic Culture Library:

o Pope Saint John Paul II from 1997 Divini Amoris Scientia (Apostolic Letter Proclaiming St. Therese of Lisieux a Doctor of the Church)

o Pope Saint John Paul II from 1997 Homily at Mass proclaiming Therese to be Doctor of the Church

o Apostolic Exhortation of Paul VI from 1975 On Christian Joy (Gaudete in Domino). He speaks of St. Therese:

In more recent times, St. Therese of Lisieux shows us the courageous way of abandonment into the hands of God to whom she entrusts her littleness. And yet it is not that she has no experience of the feeling of God's absence, a feeling which our century is harshly experiencing: "Sometimes it seems that the little bird (to which she compared herself) cannot believe that anything else exists except the clouds that envelop it.... This is the moment of perfect joy for the poor, weak little thing.... What happiness for it to remain there nevertheless, and to gaze at the invisible light that hides from its faith."

o Short Autobiography of St. Therese

o Therese of Liseiux — No Plaster Saint

o Saint Therese of Lisieux

· Learn about the Society of the Little Flower.

· There is the historic National Shrine of the Little Flower in Royal Oak, Michigan, a Basilica of the National Shrine of the Little Flower in San Antonio, Texas.

· Bake a cake or brownies and frost. Decorate with roses, either real, artificial, marzipan, icing, candy or other. Let your imagination go! See top bar for marzipan suggestions.

· Learn about St. Therese's sacrifice beads, purchase or learn to make them.

· Do some rose crafts or recipes today. St. Therese's dying words were: "I will let fall a shower of roses after my death." Catholic Culture has some wonderful old-fashioned rose recipes.

Bible in a Year Day 87 God Keeps His Promises

Fr. Mike reminds us that God keeps his promises, even if it takes a little longer than we thought. Just like the people of Israel received everything the Lord had promised them, we too will receive everything the Lord has promised us, even in the midst of hardship and temptation. Today's readings are Joshua 19-21 and Psalm 131.

Yom Kippur[7]

Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) is the last day to atone our sins of the Ten Days of Repentance, which start on the New Year (Rosh Hashanah). This is a fast mentioned in the Bible and the punishment mentioned for not keeping this fast is excommunication. Jews seek to 'purify their souls' on this day, by abstaining from common pleasures. Yom Kippur is celebrated by most all Jewish denominations. It is a fast day from the eve until the next day nightfall (twenty-five hours). No food or drink is permissible. It is a day on which Jews 'afflict the soul', which includes wearing only non-leather shoes, not combing one's hair and no marital relations. For many Orthodox Jews, most of Yom Kippur is spent in prayer in the Synagogue. Five prayer services are held (as opposed to the normal three daily prayers).

Yom Kippur Facts

It is customary to eat a festive meal on the Eve of Yom Kippur with round challah bread, a meat meal and sustaining foods. One is not allowed to risk one's life and thus anyone in danger of life from fasting, including the young and sick are not allowed to fast. Yom Kippur is the only Jewish fast observed on a Sabbath, due to its importance.

It is customary to wear white on the holiday, which symbolizes purity and calls to mind the promise that our sins shall be made as white as snow (Isaiah 1:18). Some people wear a Kittel, the white robe in which the dead are buried.

Yom Kippur Liturgy in Orthodox and most Traditional communities include Kol Nidre prayer in which Jews annul all their vows and Avinu Malkeinu, 'Our father our King'.

The last of the Orthodox and traditional five Synagogue services for Yom Kippur is the Neilah service (final 'closing of the gates'). It is considered particularly heart-rendering and people often cry during the service. At the end of the service, a Shofar (ram's horn) is blown and the end of the day is pronounced.

Jews ask the Lord to be considered both as a child and as a servant. They request from God that as a father of a child, God have mercy as a father does over his child.

Rest[8]

On Yom Kippur, I’ll skip my physical workout for a spiritual one instead. In fact, Yom Kippur is all about getting beyond our physical selves, so we can focus solely on doing the difficult, sacred work the High Holidays demand of us, free from the distractions of our bodies and their needs. “When we refrain from indulging our physical appetites for a limited period, in order to devote ourselves for a time more exclusively to demands that rank higher in our hierarchy of values, we are not denying the physical appetites their just place in life; we are simply recognizing the need of putting them in their place.” Although many Jews expect to fast on Yom Kippur, to help ensure we devote ourselves to a most accurate cheshbon hanefesh (accounting of the soul), it is customary to refrain from five specific activities related to our bodies throughout the holiest day of the Jewish year:

1. Eating and drinking: The majority of our lives take place in our physical selves, which require sustenance to function optimally. In an effort to get beyond our corporeal body on this day, we forego food and drink. Of course, you should only do what your body can manage in a healthy way. Those who are sick, pregnant, elderly, or otherwise unable to fast should not do so or should do so only in a modified way.

2. Wearing leather: In an earlier era, leather shoes often were among our most comfortable. If we’re focused on our personal comfort, we can’t also be fully attentive to our spiritual selves. For this reason, you may notice clergy or other worshippers sporting canvas sneakers in lieu of leather shoes on Yom Kippur.

3. Bathing and shaving: Because we are engaging with our souls on this day, cleaning and grooming our bodies can take a backseat on Yom Kippur.

4. Anointing ourselves with oil, cream, cologne, perfume, or other balms and salves for physical pleasure diverts our attention from the spiritual reckoning for which Yom Kippur is intended. Thus, using lotions and the like also is an activity from which we abstain on this sacred day.

5. Sexual relations: For all the reasons noted above, refraining from sexual relations on Yom Kippur turns our attention away from our bodies, centering it instead on our actions and misdeeds of the past year.

By abstaining from these activities for the day, we set ourselves up to truly examine our innermost, intimate beings in a most meaningful way, giving ourselves an opportunity to explore what we can do differently in the coming year to tip the balance toward good. When the sun sets on the Sabbath of Sabbaths, we slowly ease back into our physical selves – returned, revived, refreshed. Mishkan HaNefesh, the new Reform machzor (High Holiday prayer book), eloquently petitions:

May this long day of fasting and self-denial
inspire acts of creativity, generosity, and joy.
May we go from strength to strength.

Yes, throughout the coming year and beyond, may it be our bodies that feed the hungry, comfort the bereaved, clothe the naked, and bring justice and humanity to the places they are needed most.

International Coffee Day[9]

International Coffee Day seeks to celebrate coffee from around the world while honoring the farmers, traders, roasters and baristas responsible for creating the coffees that are enjoyed by so many people worldwide. According to an Ethiopian legend, coffee, a black bean enclosed in red berry, was discovered by a goat herder in the Ethiopian highlands when he noticed that his goats had become overly energetic after eating the berries. Slowly, the herder's discovery spread throughout the Arabian Peninsula, into Europe and finally to the New World, increasing the demand for coffee and making it the second most sought after commodity in the world today (crude oil being the first). Organized by the International Coffee Organization and its 75 Member States, International Coffee Day was first celebrated on October 1, 2015 in Milan, Italy at Expo 2015. The International Coffee Organization is an intergovernmental organization that unifies coffee exporting and importing governments through international cooperation with the aim of creating a sustainable coffee market and lowering poverty levels in developing countries that harvest coffee.

International Coffee Day Facts & Quotes

· Based on the Food Regulation Standing Committee and Caffeine Working Group, Red bull has an average caffeine content of 32.0 mg/100ml, compared to a cappuccino which has caffeine content of 101.9 mg/100ml. Espresso style coffee made from ground coffee beans has 194.0 mg/ml of caffeine content. According to the Mayo Clinic, up to 400mg of caffeine is the safe limit for most adults

· Kopi Luwak is one of the most expensive coffees brewed in the world. Kopi Luwak it is made with digested coffee beans that had been eaten and defecated by an Asian toddy cat (Asian palm civet). This rare coffee can cost between $35-80 US dollars for a single cup.

· Long-term caffeine intake can lead to a caffeine addiction/dependence, which has been medically recognized as a disorder. When individuals with a caffeine addiction abstain from caffeine, they may experience withdrawal symptoms including headache, fatigue, difficulty concentrating and mood changes.

· According to the Coffee Organization, 143 million 60kg bags of coffee were produced in 2015 and Brazil was the leading exporter of coffee, with more than 18,953 60kg bags of coffee exported between August 2015 and January 2016.

· I am a coffee fanatic. Once you go to proper coffee, you can't go back. You cannot go back. - Hugh Laurie, Dr. House actor

Coffee with Christ[10]

The idea of this book is to seek friendship with God through Christ, the Holy Spirit and His mother-Mary. Prayer is, in its purest sense, a personal journey or intimacy with Our Lord. There is no greater help in our life’s journey in this world than through friendship with Jesus Christ and His mother. The imaginary premise of this book is to have a regular “Coffee Clutch” with Christ and gather for coffee and conversation through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Ideally this book will serve as encouragement for you to enter into your own “coffee clutch” with Christ. Having a regular or daily set time or appointment to meet and discuss with Him your hopes, dreams, plans and goals. To bear your heart to Him. To just sit down with Christ and talk, laugh, and enjoy each other’s company, over a cup of coffee. The goal is to make the common Holy and grow in the love and likeness to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Daily Devotions

· Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them in fasting: Today's Fast: End to abortion

· Religion in the Home for Preschool: October

· Litany of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus

· Offering to the sacred heart of Jesus

· Drops of Christ’s Blood

· Universal Man Plan

· Rosary