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NIC’s Corner
Consider this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. Moreover, God is able to make every grace abundant for you, so that in all things, always having all you need, you may have an abundance for every good work. (2 Cor. 9:6-8)
· Iceman’s 40 devotion
· Operation Purity
· Black Friday
· How to celebrate Nov 28th
o Wake up on a chilly morning and start your day by creating a delicious French toast breakfast.
§ Spend some quality time with your furry friend – take your dog out for a long walk or cozy up for some cuddles.
· Look through old photo albums and trace your family health history to gain insight into your roots. Reflect on what you’re thankful for, jotting down a few notes or sharing your thoughts around the dinner table.
o If you’re feeling adventurous, try cooking up a traditional Albanian dish to honor their Independence Day.
§ Watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
for a burst of entertainment and grab a warm pumpkin spice latte while you enjoy the show.
· Later, engage in a friendly game of touch football in the backyard or park. Unwind with a good book or movie, letting the day’s festivities settle in.
o As the night winds down, step outside and gaze up at the stars to celebrate Red Planet Day. Learn a little more about our neighboring planet Mars and its mysteries.
🇭🇰 Hong Kong vs 🇪🇹 Ethiopia — Skyscraper Sanctuaries and Highland Saints
Two More Stops on the Rich vs Poor Tour: A Catholic Contrast in Empire’s Wake
This pairing invites pilgrims to reflect on how Catholicism adapts in the shadows of empire: Hong Kong, a hyper-modern financial hub with a complex religious identity, and Ethiopia, an ancient Christian land where Catholicism is a minority amid Orthodox majesty and economic struggle. Together, they extend NIC’s Corner’s journey into the tensions of wealth, worship, and witness.
· 🇭🇰 Hong Kong — Affluent, Anxious, and Politically Catholic
o GDP per capita (PPP): ~$66,200 USD (2024)
o 🧮 Why Hong Kong Ranks High
• Global Finance: A major banking and trade hub.
• Dense Prosperity: High GDP concentrated in a small, urban population.
• Service Economy: Finance, logistics, and tourism dominate.
• Low Taxes: Business-friendly policies attract global capital.
• Infrastructure: World-class transport, healthcare, and education.
o ✝️ Catholic Landscape
• ~5% Catholic: ~400,000 faithful in a city of 7.5 million.
• One Diocese: The Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong,
directly under the Vatican.
• Education Network: Over 250 Catholic schools and institutions.
• Political Witness: Clergy and laity have been active in pro-democracy movements.
• Cardinal Zen: A vocal advocate for religious freedom, arrested in 2022.
o ⚠️ Challenges
• Political Pressure: Beijing’s influence threatens religious autonomy.
• Youth Disengagement: Secularism and stress affect faith formation.
• Cultural Tension: Catholicism must navigate Chinese tradition and colonial memory.
o 🌿 Pilgrimage Cue
Hong Kong is a journey of tension and testimony—where the Eucharist is celebrated in skyscraper sanctuaries, and the Church walks a tightrope between prophetic courage and political constraint.
· 🇪🇹 Ethiopia — Poor, Ancient, and Liturgically Rich
o GDP per capita (PPP): ~$2,900 USD (2024)
o 🧮 Why Ethiopia Ranks Low
• Landlocked Geography: Trade and transport are limited.
• Political Instability: Civil conflict and ethnic tensions persist.
• Drought and Famine: Recurring climate crises affect agriculture.
• Infrastructure Gaps: Rural areas lack roads, electricity, and healthcare.
• Debt and Inflation: Economic growth is uneven and fragile.
o ✝️ Catholic Landscape
• ~1% Catholic: ~700,000 faithful in a nation of 126 million.
• Eastern Rite: The Ethiopian Catholic Church follows the Ge’ez Rite,
in full communion with Rome.
• Ancient Roots: Christianity arrived in the 4th century; Catholicism emerged in the 17th.
• Interfaith Dialogue: Catholics coexist with Orthodox Christians and Muslims.
• Missionary Outreach: Catholic schools, clinics, and peacebuilding efforts are vital in rural areas.
o ⚠️ Challenges
• Religious Minority: Catholics are often misunderstood or marginalized.
• Conflict Zones: War in Tigray and other regions disrupts Church life.
• Resource Scarcity: Many parishes lack books, electricity, or trained catechists.
• Cultural Complexity: Catholicism must honor ancient traditions while remaining distinct.
o 🌿 Pilgrimage Cue
Ethiopia is a journey of liturgical depth and hidden fidelity—where incense rises from stone chapels, and the Eucharist is offered in Ge’ez chant and desert silence.
· 🕊️ Editorial Reflection
o Hong Kong and Ethiopia reveal two faces of Catholic endurance: one urban, anxious, and politically charged; the other rural, ancient, and quietly faithful. In Hong Kong, the Church is a voice in the crowd. In Ethiopia, it is a whisper in the highlands. Both ache. Both shine.
o What does it mean to be Catholic in the empire’s shadow—whether colonial, communist, or Orthodox?
Where does the Gospel find deeper roots—in skyscraper tension or highland tradition?
NOVEMBER 28 Friday in the Octave of Christ the King
French Toast Day-Blue Christmas
If
your brother is being hurt by what you eat, your conduct is no longer in accord
with LOVE. Do not because of your
food destroy him for whom Christ died.
Adjust
your habits and traditions remembering that the mind like the body can be
demanding of its own way and must be
brought under the control of the Holy Spirit. Contemplate you do not have to
believe or act on all the things the mind tells you of the things/pleasures and
entertainments it wants.
Copilot’s Take
Blue Christmas on November 28 becomes a moment of
gratitude for those who serve while others celebrate, especially police and
first responders whose duty keeps communities safe even as families gather
around tables and traditions. Romans 14:15 reminds us that love must govern our
choices, and honoring those who sacrifice their comfort for ours is part of
that love. Just as French Toast Day symbolizes warmth and indulgence, Blue
Christmas calls us to temper joy with remembrance, offering prayers, hospitality,
and small acts of kindness for those who patrol the streets, guard the peace,
and carry burdens unseen. In this way, the feast and the vigil meet: our
celebrations are deepened by awareness, and our gratitude becomes a form of
Eucharistic hospitality.
Friday in the Octave of Christ
the King
·
Meditate on the virtues of Mary (Humility, Generosity,
Chastity, Patience, Temperance, Understanding/love and Wisdom. One for
each day.
·
attend Mass daily or via EWTN or the internet
·
Fast doing the Daniel fast (Monday-Saturday).
·
Exercise-Universal Man Plan.
God’s Handiwork[1]
Every
Christmas although the same in many ways is always new for each Christmas
expresses a hope learned from a lifetime of praising God. For every Christmas
if we open our eyes to truth we will see the handiwork of God; the rock of our
salvation. Perhaps in these final days of anticipation it would do us well to
reflect on the virtues of Mary Christ’s very own mother and in these final days
in some way reflect them in our own lives.
Temperance the power of the soul
The virtue of temperance is necessary to
the Christian who would live according to the law of God. When this virtue is
wanting, the spirit becomes the slave of the flesh. It can no longer relish
things divine; for, says St. Paul, "the sensual man perceiveth not the
things that are of the Spirit of God." (1 Cor. ii, 14.) In fact, gluttony
and gross living naturally tend to the obscuring of the intellect and to the
quenching of spiritual light. It is vain, therefore, to look for wisdom among
those that live in luxury and abundance: "Wisdom is not found in the land
of them that live in delight." (Job, xxviii, 18.) Moreover intemperance,
by exciting a wild gaiety, often provokes bickering and dissensions, and it is
a known fact that gluttony takes a greater toll of human lives than does
disease. But what is still worse, intemperance excites in man all kinds of
impure thoughts, which find vent in words, gestures and actions contrary to
holy modesty; it hardens the heart and prepares the way to eternal perdition.
THE Church teaches
us that the Christian must all
submit in expiation of our sins. Our divine Redeemer Himself impressed upon us
this great truth when He said: "Unless you shall do penance, you shall all
likewise perish." (Luke xiii. 3.)
The object of
penance is, in the first place, to lead us to refrain ourselves, in so far as
reason and faith demand, from the inordinate desire of sensual pleasure to
which our fallen nature is inclined. So strong is this inclination that we are
ever in danger of falling into the slough of vice. How many Christians, alas,
by following their unbridled imagination, lose both soul and body together!
Wherefore, Holy
Church imposes upon us the obligation of fasting, putting us in mind of the
advantages which accrue from this salutary penance to which
we practice. Fasting, in effect, "represses vices, raises our
thoughts heavenward, makes easy the practice of virtue, and is a constant
source of merit." (Preface for Lent.)
As Mary was not
tainted with original sin, she did not experience in herself this disorderly
proneness to the pleasures of sense, the baneful consequence of the sin of our
first parents. Being full of grace, she maintained always the just balance of
the powers of her soul. She performed all her actions with ease and delight,
not having to use violence with herself, in order to preserve that even poise
of the faculties, which reason arid the law of God demand. Nevertheless, Mary
subjected herself willingly to the law of penance and mortification, denying
herself those. Her life was one long series of privations and self-denials. Her
fasting and abstinence was continual. She only allowed herself what was
necessary to maintain life. She mortified all her senses, so that it was hard
to say in what particular kind of mortification she excelled, in modesty
of the eyes, in lowliness of demeanor, in the sparingness of her words or in
the dignity of her gestures. It was natural, then, that her Heavenly Bridegroom
should find in her all His delight. And as the fruit of this temperance, Mary
acquired an extraordinary facility in conversing familiarly with her
Well-Beloved, a heavenly joy which was depicted on her countenance, a virginal
beauty which radiated from her whole presence, a something so indescribably
sweet and majestic, that it gave to her an aspect rather divine than human:
"How beautiful art thou my love, how beautiful art thou! Thine eyes are as
doves' eyes, besides what is hid within!" (Cant. iv, 1.)
33 days to Christmas-Start the 33 days to
Eucharistic Glory[2]
Want to start a small group? Download our 33 Days to Eucharistic Glory Study Guide
📖 Day 7 – Hope in Christ’s Intercession
On this seventh day,
seek with all your soul to hope in Christ’s intercession on behalf of your
weakness in the flesh. Placing your hope in Christ’s intercession is a powerful
act of faith, acknowledging His role as our advocate and mediator before the Father.
This hope is not wishful thinking—it is rooted in the certainty that Christ
continually pleads for us, even in our frailty.
🌟 Deepen Your Understanding
Scripture: Let Hebrews
7:25 and Romans 8:34 remind you that Christ lives to intercede for you.
Wisdom of the Saints:
Read reflections that highlight the strength found in Christ’s advocacy,
allowing their words to deepen your trust.
🙏 Prayer and Reflection
Daily Prayer: Ask Christ
to intercede for your weaknesses, naming them honestly before Him.
Meditation: Rest in His
mercy, letting His love quiet the demands of the flesh and strengthen your
spirit.
✝️
Participate in the Sacraments
Eucharist: Receive the
Eucharist as the living sign of His intercession, uniting you to His sacrifice.
Confession: Approach
reconciliation with confidence, trusting that Christ’s intercession secures
your forgiveness.
🤝 Community and Support
Fellowship: Share your
journey with others, encouraging one another to lean on Christ’s strength.
Mentorship: Seek
guidance from a spiritual mentor who can help you recognize Christ’s
intercession at work in your life.
Bible in a Year Day 150 The Dedication of the Temple
Fr. Mike explains the details of Solomon's dedication of the
Temple, and the power of God's presence dwelling in it. In Ecclesiastes, we
continue to learn more nuggets of wisdom about friendship, prudence, and money.
Today we read 1 Kings 8, Ecclesiastes 3-5, and Psalm 6.
French Toast Day[3]
There’s a blend that just makes our morning fantastic, and it’s
a blending of eggs, milk, and cinnamon with bread dipped in. There’s something
about the savory sweet smell of it, and the anticipation of having it painted
with butter and drizzled with syrup, with a side of breakfast sausage and a
tall glass of orange juice that’ll get us out of bed on even the worst of days.
French Toast Day is honoring this amazing breakfast delight and encourages you
to enjoy it for breakfast with a few friends. The breakfast favorite French
toast goes by many names depending on where it’s being served up – eggy bread,
German toast, poor knights’ pudding, Bombay toast – but it’s always made of the
same key ingredients. Egg, milk – or cream – and bread. This delicious, sweet
snack is often served with sugar or syrup and fruit and consists of bread
slices fried in a mixture of milk and egg. In France, its name is ‘pain perdu’,
which literally means ‘lost bread’, because it would often be made with stale
or old bread. Although we tend to call it French Bread, the dish isn’t known to
have come from France. Some ancient Latin recipes from the 4th century mention
soaking bread in milk before frying, and in fourteenth Century Germany the term
‘poor knights’ pudding’ was coined for the sweet treat because it was seen as
an affordable meal for those without too much money to spend. Today, it’s eaten
across the world as a breakfast meal or a sweet snack. In Italy, there’s a
savory version, called ‘mozzarella en carrozza’, which sees the egg-soaked
bread sandwiching slices of mozzarella cheese before it is fried. Its name
literally means ‘mozzarella in a carriage’. So you can have eggy bread for your
main meal, and your pudding!
How to Celebrate French Toast Day
So how can you celebrate French Toast Day? If you’ve got any
stale bread in the kitchen, this is a great way to use it up. The recipe tends
to call for bread that’s at least a day old because older slices will be able
to soak up the tasty egg and milk mixture without falling apart. Then, once
you’ve fried it up, you can slather on as much jam, syrup, fruit or honey as
you like. If you’re feeling extra indulgent, why not pop a swirl of cream on
top?
Blue Christmas[4]
Christmas
normally is a time for joy. Decorations are set up, parties ensue, presents are
given, and laughter commences. Not many people realize that those in law
enforcement work tirelessly during the holiday season to keep people safe. Blue
Christmas is a holiday dedicated to those who work in that field, giving them
an opportunity to be thanked for their services and celebrate Christmas their
own way. While Elvis made the term “A Blue Christmas” popular to describe
Christmas blues, this holiday is for those who work in law enforcement, such as
police, firefighters, EMTs, and 911 dispatchers. For them, it is rough. Long
nights in the wet, cold snow or long nights in the office can be particularly
dangerous, especially for those who have the potential factor of being shot at,
having emotional trauma from an emergency situation, and so forth. Because of
their job, they keep people safe and save lives, but it comes at a cost. They
miss out on spending time with their families and lose out on enjoying what Christmas
is all about. That’s why when it comes to the holiday season, Blue Christmas
gives people a chance to give to others by giving gifts and thanking them for
their services. While some may be cheerful doing their job, because they know
that Christmas is about helping others, Blue Christmas helps raise awareness
for the behind-the-scenes action that the people working in law enforcement and
the medical field are the ones truly making the holiday seasons special. With
the potential dangers involved, they deserved their thanks and gifts the most.
How to celebrate Blue Christmas
To take
part in a Blue Christmas, you can easily do so by displaying a blue light
throughout the winter holidays. It can be a single porch light, blue candles in
the window, or blue Christmas lights as part of the display. If you know
someone who works in law enforcement or the medical industry, buy or make them
a gift and take the time out to thank them for what they do to keep society and
the holidays going. Share this holiday on social media using the hashtag
#bluechristmas and let everyone know how important it is to see those who don’t
ask for much in return.
Fitness Friday
In
the movie “Christmas.” we witnessed the day “Ralphie” pronounced the big F word
and as a result his mother in loving correction immediately inserted a bar of
soap in “Ralphie’s” nasty mouth. Today let us look at our own nasty mouths.
Caring for our teeth may improve your fitness more than we realize.
Clean
Mouth-Ralphie![5]
Taking
care of your teeth is important for all ages, but it’s especially important for
older adults who may be at greater risk of oral health problems. Adults 65 and
older are at an increased risk for oral cancer, gum disease and cavities.
Luckily, it’s never too late to start taking better care of your teeth. With
proper care, you can maintain — or even improve — your oral health as you age.
Here are six things that help improve senior oral hygiene.
·
Cut
Out Bad Habits-There are dozens of reasons to quit smoking or chewing tobacco,
and the health of your entire mouth is no exception. If you’re currently using
tobacco products, talk to your doctor about healthy methods for quitting. And
as you likely remember from childhood, sugary foods like candy and soda can
increase your risk for cavities. Committing to healthy
eating isn’t just good for your heart and waistline — it’s great for
your teeth, too.
·
Increase
Your Fluoride Intake-Many municipalities have fluoride added to their drinking
water, but you can also incorporate a fluoride toothpaste or fluoride rinse
into your daily care routine, too. If necessary, you can even talk to your
dentist about regular fluoride treatments.
·
Be
Diligent About Your Teeth Cleaning Routine-It isn’t enough to simply brush your
teeth twice a day, every day. Additionally, you should floss at least once per
day and consider rinsing with an antibacterial mouthwash. Make sure to replace
your toothbrush or brush head every three months.
·
If
You Have Dentures, Clean Them Daily-Denture-wearers may have a different
routine, but good oral hygiene is still a priority. Follow your dentist’s
instructions for keeping your dentures clean so the rest of your mouth also
stays clean and healthy.
·
Keep
Your Mouth Hydrated-If you’re prescribed a medication that causes dry mouth,
make sure you’re taking extra steps to keep your mouth hydrated. Drink lots of
water and switch to sugar-free gum, if you’re a gum chewer. (Bonus: Sugar-free
gum is better for your teeth, too!)
· Go to the Dentist-regular checkups with your primary care physician, going to the dentist is the single best thing you can do for your oral health. Not only can your dentist give your teeth a good cleaning, but they’ll also be able to identify oral health problems before they progress and give you tips for taking care of your teeth. While the minimum recommendation is once per year, many older adults prefer to see their dentist every six months just to make sure everything is going well.
Daily Devotions
·
Unite
in the work of the Porters of St.
Joseph by joining them in fasting: Today's Fast: Binding
and suppressing the Devils Evil works.
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Go
to MASS
·
Rosary
[1] Goffine’s
Devout Instructions, 1896.
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