Posts
Rachel’s Corner
· do a personal eucharistic stations of the cross.
· Bucket List: Military Hop
o Naval Station Norfolk Amc Air Passenger Terminal
o 🌊 Norfolk’s “Tide of Mercy” Adventure Guide
o A week of symbolic joy, civic renewal, and coastal hospitality
o 1. 🛏️ “Anchor Down” – Lodging with Purpose
§ Stay where comfort meets mission:
§ Navy Lodge Norfolk – family suites and free breakfast
🔗 navy-lodge.com/Norfolk
§ Gateway Inns – civic proximity and quiet rhythm
🔗 ngis.dodlodging.net/propertys/Norfolk-NS
§ Little Creek Cottages – beachside retreat with BBQs and sunset views
🔗 militarycampgrounds.us
o 2. 🍽️ “Feast by the Bay” – Seven-Course Ritual Meal
§ A symbolic supper choreographed for mercy and reflection:
§ Oyster with pickled watermelon – clarity and courage
§ Garden chowder – Marian protection
§ Blue crab cake – fire and water
§ Saffron fideo – golden hour reflection
§ Shenandoah lamb – civic fruitfulness
§ Virginia cheeses – monastic strength
§ Lemon olive oil cake – crown of light
o 3. ⚓ “Sail & Soar” – MWR Adventures
§ Zipline at Adventure Park – rites of ascent
§ Kayak the Elizabeth River – mercy in motion
§ Sail the harbor – navigating grace
§ Picnic rentals – shared renewal
§ Auto Skills – repair and stewardship
🔗 navymwrmidlant.com
o 4. 🎟️ “Tickets to Wonder” – MWR Travel & Leisure
§ Discounted access to concerts, museums, and parks
§ Plan symbolic journeys with MWR’s travel desk
🔗 navymwr.org
o 5. 🌿 “Walk the Mercy Trail” – Nature & Reflection
§ Norfolk Botanical Garden – Marian groves and seasonal prayer
§ Elizabeth River Trail – walking meditation and grounding
§ Sunset cruises – Eucharistic reflection on water
🔗 norfolk.gov/Beaches
o 6. 🕊️ “Saints of the Shore” – Local Anchors
§ St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception – mercy and legacy
§ St. Patrick’s Church – Irish renewal and civic courage
§ Film pairing: The Finest Hours – rescue, sacrifice, and Eucharistic witness
o 7. 🔥 “Firelight Finale” – Bonfires & Boldness
· Bonfires: Allowed by permit in Virginia Beach (not on Norfolk beaches). Fires must be 50 ft from structures and no larger than 5x5x5 ft.
🔗 Virginia Beach Fire Regulations
§ Skinny Dipping: Not permitted on public beaches in Norfolk or Virginia Beach. For wild water rituals, consider symbolic immersion at dawn or a private retreat inland.
§ Alternative: Host a candlelit beach picnic or fire pit gathering at Community Beach Park (grilling allowed on grass).
🔗 Norfolk Beach Rules
Foodie:
o Here are recipe and pairing links for each course in “Norfolk’s Tide of Mercy”:
§ To deepen the communal and symbolic experience, I’ve curated links that reflect the spirit and ingredients of each dish, drawing from Chesapeake traditions and Virginia’s culinary heritage.
o 🦪 1. Amuse-Bouche: “Elizabeth River Whisper”
§ Chesapeake oyster inspiration: Oysters Two Ways – Chesapeake Bay Magazine
o 🍅 2. Starter: “Marian Garden Chowder”
§ Garden chowder inspiration: Maryland Oyster Recipes – The Maryland Store
o 🦀 3. Seafood Course: “Harbor Flame”
§ Virginia crab cake recipe: Chesapeake Bay Blue Crab Cakes – Virginia Seafood
o 🍝 4. Pasta Course: “Golden Hour Fideo”
§ Saffron fideo with clams: Fideos with Clams and Saffron – BigOven
o 🐑 5. Main Course: “Civic Grove Lamb”
§ Garlic rosemary lamb chops: Garlic Rosemary Lamb Chops – Damn Delicious
o 🧀 6. Cheese Course: “Monastery Board”
§ Virginia cheese board with fig jam and pecans: Autumn Cheeseboard – Roth Cheese
o 🍰 7. Dessert: “Crown of Light”
§ Lemon olive oil cake with lavender glaze: Lemon Olive Oil Cake – Food52
§ Virginia dessert wine pairing: Pearmund Late Harvest Viognier – Vivino
o Spirit Hour: Wheel of Fortune cocktail
Fear has no understanding (Farmer’s Almanac)
· John Adams birthday 1735-He was fearless
o Adams' favorite drink was hard cider, which he drank every morning before breakfast. He preferred ciders that were aged for at least a year. Adams believed that cider was good for his health and that it helped him digest his food. He also wrote that he believed cider contributed to the good health of Harvard students when he attended, and that the school's poor health was due to a lack of cider. Adams lived to 90
§ Here are some details about John Adams' health routine:
· Exercise: Adams walked every day, sometimes 3–4 miles. He also took long walks in Paris with his son, John Quincy Adams.
· Diet: Adams maintained a moderate diet.
· Learning: Adams was a voracious reader who learned from Greek, Roman, and English philosophers.
· Mental health: Adams took charge of his mental health through his daily routine.
· How to celebrate Oct 30th
o Next, navigate the murky waters of past relationships on National Text Your Ex Day. Decide whether it’s worth the potential awkwardness, but remember, it’s all in good fun.
o As the sun sets, embrace the spooky vibes of Haunted Refrigerator Night by concocting bizarre meals from random leftovers or testing your bravery by playing “What’s in the Fridge?”
Not able to get to Norfolk-Best Place to visit in October:
I can’t get enough of this breathtaking stretch of coastline along the iconic Highway One, renowned for offering one of the most scenic road trips in the world.
I personally think the scenery here is seriously jaw-dropping and is home to twisty roads, stunning cliffs, rocky shores, a handful of gorgeous sandy beaches and superb ocean views all backed by thick redwood forests.
Big Sur is very crowded in the summer, so I personally prefer to visit this month instead. There are far fewer tourists, better rates on accommodation and the weather is still warm and pleasant.
I really enjoyed the Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park for Instagram-worthy views and the Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery to watch the cute and entertaining (but noisy!) elephant seals!
- Visitors Center Address: 47555 CA-1, Big Sur, CA 93920
- Location: between Carmel in the north and San Simeon in the south (90 miles).
- Map Location
- Average temperatures – 64 to 75
My highlights…
- Spotting the cute sea lions at Point Lobos Natural Reserve.
- Taking a gorgeous shot of the Instagram-worthy Keyhole Arch which is located on the magnificent Pfeiffer Beach.
- Driving over the iconic Bixby Creek Bridge and admiring the breathtaking views! It’s honestly one of the those trip of a lifetime kind of moments!
Day 30: St. Thomas More — Honesty as Conscience and Crown, choreographed to complete the ascent through Character of Destiny in your Leafing the World Behind devotional rhythm. This entry honors More’s witness as the final threshold—where truth becomes testimony, and character becomes crown.
🌊 Leafing the World Behind: Day 31
Witness: St. Thomas More
Theme: Honesty as Conscience and Crown
Virtue: Honesty
Virtue Connection: Truth Without Compromise
Symbolic Act: Speak one truth today that could cost you something—status, comfort, or silence. Let it be gentle, but firm.
Location: A courtroom, a vineyard gate, a family table—any place where conscience meets courage.
🕊️ Introduction: On Honesty
Honesty is not harshness—it is holiness.
It is not bluntness—it is bravery.
To leaf the world behind is to speak truth not for victory, but for virtue.
To let conscience be crown, and clarity be communion.
Today, we do not flatter—we testify.
Honesty, in this rhythm, is not exposure—it is Eucharist.
It is the courage to say: “I die the King’s good servant, but God’s first.”
🌺 Witness of the Day: St. Thomas More
More was a lawyer, scholar, and Lord Chancellor of England.
He served with brilliance, humor, and integrity.
When King Henry VIII demanded allegiance to a false oath, More refused.
He resigned, was imprisoned, and eventually executed.
He said:
“What does it avail a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul?”
More reminds us:
Honesty is not convenience—it is conscience.
It is not strategy—it is sanctity.
It is not survival—it is surrender.
🛡️ Virtue Connection: Truth Without Compromise
Honesty becomes virtue when it is rooted in love, not leverage.
When it does not bend to power.
When it does not betray the soul.
More did not speak to win.
He spoke to witness.
He reminds us:
Honesty without conscience becomes cruelty.
But honesty with conscience becomes crown.
🕯️ Symbolic Act: Speak the Costly Truth
Speak one truth today that could cost you something.
Let it be gentle.
Let it be firm.
Let it be holy.
As you speak, say:
“Lord, let my honesty be conscience.
Let my conscience be crown.
Let my crown be communion.”
If no truth arises, pray for those silenced by fear or power.
Let your prayer be a courtroom of grace.
🔥 Reflection Prompt
Where have you compromised truth for comfort?
What truth still waits to be spoken?
Can you name one moment when honesty became your altar?
Write, walk, or pray with these questions.
Let St. Thomas More remind you:
Honesty is not weakness—it is witness.
It is the strength to speak, the grace to lose, the love to remain true.
OCTOBER 30 Thursday
Saint Marcellus
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our
brother, to the church of God that is in Corinth, with all the holy ones
throughout Achaia: a grace to you and PEACE
from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Here Paul is joining the Greek meaning of “grace”
to the Jewish meaning of “Peace.”[1]
THE MEANING OF GRACE The word 'grace' (CHEN in Hebrew, CHARIS in Greek), as it is used in the scriptures, literally means' favour', to bend or stoop in kindness to another as a
superior to an inferior. It has the idea of graciousness in manner or action.
(Wikibooks)
Shalom (Hebrew: שָׁלוֹם
shalom; also spelled as sholom, sholem, sholoim, shulem) is a Hebrew word
meaning peace, harmony, wholeness, completeness, prosperity, welfare and
tranquility and can be used idiomatically to mean both hello and
goodbye. (Wikipedia)
Again, Paul is writing to the Corinthian’s about
even in times of trouble God’s grace and peace will be there. John Maxwell
states that Paul is using the Law of Empowerment in his leadership.
The Law of
Empowerment:
Our Comfort Allows
Us to Comfort Others[2]
God promises to comfort us in our troubles and then
asks us to comfort others. I can imagine that is exactly what Mary did with the
apostles after Christ’s death on the cross. We are to pass on what God gives to
us. We are empowered to empower others. Leaders who empower are:
1. Accountable-They help others keep their commitment to God.
2. Affirming-They offer words of support and encouragement.
3. Objective when they evaluate progress.
4. Advise and offer direction and counsel.
5. Admonish others when they stray by words of caution, rebuke or
correction.
6. Generous and give tangible resources to help their people reach goals.
7. Accepting in that they provide unconditional love.
8. Teachers helping others find places to apply and practice what they
learn.
Who
may dwell on His Holy Mountain?
Whoever
walks without blame, doing what is right, speaking truth from the heart; who
does not slander with his tongue, does no harm to a friend, never defames a
neighbor; who disdains the wicked, but honors those who fear the LORD; Who
keeps an oath despite the cost, lends no money at interest, accepts no bribe
against the innocent.
Copilot’s
Take
On
October 30, as we honor Saint Marcellus, Paul’s greeting in 2 Corinthians 1:1–2
becomes a profound invocation: “Grace to you and peace.” This pairing of charis
and shalom is more than linguistic—it’s a spiritual bridge between Greek
favor and Hebrew wholeness. Grace, the divine stooping in kindness, meets
peace, the fullness of harmony and completeness. Paul, writing to a troubled
Corinth, reminds them that even in affliction, God’s grace and peace remain
steadfast. Leadership, as John Maxwell notes, is not about control but
empowerment—comfort received becomes comfort shared. Like Mary consoling the
apostles after the crucifixion, we are called to pass on what we’ve been given.
True spiritual leaders are accountable, affirming, generous, and wise guides
who help others dwell on God’s holy mountain by walking blamelessly, speaking
truth, and honoring the Lord.
St.
Marcellus
It is
believed that St. Marcellus was born in Arzas of Galicia. A brave pagan, he
entered the military, hoping to gain a large fortune. He married a young lady
named Nona and they were blessed with twelve children. Saint Marcellus was a
valorous soldier and was promoted to the charge of centurion; he had no thought
for any advancement except the sort pertaining to his military life when he
heard the fervent preaching of a holy bishop of the church of Leon. He was
converted with his entire family to the Christian religion. All of them except
his wife would soon give their blood in honor of their Faith.
The
birthday of Emperor Maximian Herculeus was celebrated in the year 298 with
extraordinary feasting and solemn rites. Marcellus, as a centurion of the army,
a captain in the legion of Trajan then posted in Mauritania or Spain, in order
not to defile himself in these impious sacrifices, left his company, throwing
down his cincture and his arms and declaring aloud that he was a soldier of
Jesus Christ, the eternal King. He was at once committed to prison. When the
festival was over, he was brought before a judge, and having reiterated his
faith, was sent under a strong guard to a prefect, Aurelian Agricolaus. This
Roman officer passed upon him a sentence of death by the sword. Marcellus was
immediately led to execution and beheaded on the 30th of October of the year
298. Cassian, the secretary or notary of the court, refused to record the
sentence pronounced against the martyr, because of its injustice. He was
immediately taken to prison and was beheaded in his turn on the 3rd of
December.
The
children of Saint Marcellus imitated his constancy, and all lost their lives
for the defense of the Gospel; three of the boys were hanged and then
decapitated at Leon. Their pious mother bought back their bodies for money and
buried them secretly; they were later transferred to a church built in their
honor in the city of Leon.
Patronage: conscientious
objectors; city of León, Spain; Province of León, Spain
Highlights and Things To Do:
- Read more
about St. Marcellus:
- St.
Marcellus' relics were later brought to and enshrined at the Church of San
Marcelo in León, Spain (dating from the 10th century), and he became a
patron saint of the city. The Plaza de San Marcelo in this city is named
for him.
Bible in a Year Day 117 Reverence and Faithfulness
Fr. Mike reveals how David exemplifies the virtues of reverence and faithfulness. David walks both as a man of faith and as a fallen son of God, but we continue to walk with him because we too are striving for a life with Christ. Today's readings are 1 Samuel 26 and Psalm 56.
Daily Devotions
·
Unite
in the work of the Porters of St.
Joseph by joining them in fasting: Today's Fast: The
lonely and destitute.
·
Humility
was Basis of Mary's Holiness | Pope Saint John Paul II
·
Religion
in the Home for Preschool: October
·
Litany of the Most Precious
Blood of Jesus
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Rosary
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