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Sun, Nov 16 – Sunday Reflection
Virtue: Endurance & Light
Cigar: Balanced, resilient (Corojo)
Bourbon: Russell’s Reserve – warm, tenacious
Reflection: “What light do I carry into the dark?”
Here’s a blog-ready reflection on your prompt, “What light do I carry into the dark?”—crafted with a tone that’s accessible, poetic, and resonant for a broad audience:
What Light Do I Carry Into the Dark?
There are moments when the world feels dim. The headlines blur into a gray wash of sorrow. The to-do list grows heavy. The silence of night stretches long. And in those moments, a question rises: What light do I carry into the dark?
It’s not always a blazing torch. Sometimes it’s a flicker. A memory. A word. A hand held. A breath taken. A song hummed in the kitchen. A candle lit not to banish the dark, but to say, “I’m still here.”
We each carry something.
- The light of kindness, offered when no one’s watching.
- The light of truth, spoken gently in a world of noise.
- The light of presence, simply showing up when it’s hard.
- The light of memory, holding fast to what is good.
- The light of hope, not because we’re certain, but because we choose to believe.
This isn’t about being fearless. It’s about being faithful. It’s about tending the flame we’ve been given—however small—and trusting that it matters.
So tonight, as the sun slips behind the hills and the stars begin their quiet vigil, I ask myself again: What light do I carry into the dark?
And I remember: it’s enough to carry even a single spark.
🕊️ November Fast Schedule
Primary Rhythm: Tuesdays & Fridays
Traditional Additions: Ember Days, Vigils, and Saints’ commemorations
Symbolic Theme: Letting the leaves fall, preparing the soul for Advent’s hush
📅 Full Fast Calendar with Symbolic Cues & Meals
| Date | Day | Type | Symbolic Cue | Suggested Meal | Liturgical Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 1 | Saturday | Vigil (optional) | All Saints Vigil: candlelit humility | Broth + bread + silence | All Saints |
| Nov 4 | Tuesday | Weekly Fast | Falling leaves, hidden roots | Lentil soup + cider vinegar greens | St. Charles Borromeo |
| Nov 7 | Friday | Weekly Fast | Mercy for the forgotten | Barley risotto + roasted squash | All Souls Week |
| Nov 11 | Tuesday | Weekly Fast | Veterans of the soul | Bean stew + cornbread | St. Martin of Tours |
| Nov 14 | Friday | Weekly Fast | Civic ache, Eucharistic hope | Rice + sautéed kale + lemon | St. Josaphat |
| Nov 18 | Tuesday | Weekly Fast | Temple cleared, heart prepared | Mushroom broth + rye toast | Dedication of Basilicas |
| Nov 21 | Friday | Weekly Fast | Presentation of the soul | Sweet potato mash + greens | Presentation of Mary |
| Nov 25 | Tuesday | Weekly Fast | Christ the King’s threshold | Chickpea stew + flatbread | St. Catherine of Alexandria |
| Nov 26 | Wednesday | Ember Day | Ashes of autumn, fire of Advent | Simple grains + herbal tea | Ember Days |
| Nov 27 | Thursday | Thanksgiving | Gratitude offering before the feast | Optional fast or symbolic offering | Thanksgiving Reflection |
| Nov 28 | Friday | Ember Friday | Fasting for fire, preparing the soil | Root vegetable mash + cider vinegar | Ember Days |
| Nov 29 | Saturday | Ember Saturday | St. Andrew’s Vigil: threshold fast | Fish broth + bread + quiet reflection | St. Andrew |
| Nov 30 | Sunday | Advent Begins | Not a fast, but a hush begins | Symbolic simplicity, candlelit meal | First Sunday of Advent |
Claire’s Corner
· Today in honor of the Holy Trinity do the Divine Office giving your day to God. To honor God REST: no shopping after 6 pm Saturday till Monday. Don’t forget the internet.
· Spirit Hour:
o Ready for a whirlwind day full of unexpected fun? Start off by channeling your inner kid and celebrating Geriatric Tooth Fairy Day.
Leave a small token under your pillow for yourself or someone else, and revel in the magic of unexpected surprises. Next up, educate yourself and others about Microtia Awareness Day. Watch a documentary online, learn some sign language, or donate to a related cause.
o Feeling hungry? It’s National Fried Chicken Sandwich Day! Whip up your own version at home or explore local eateries for a tasty treat. Then, immerse yourself in creativity on Go to an Art Museum Day. Visit a virtual gallery, create your own art, or simply appreciate the beauty around you.
o Venture outdoors for National Saddle Hunting Day. Explore a nearby park or nature reserve, go birdwatching, or simply enjoy the fresh air. Keep the adventure going with Eleven09 Day. Try something new, whether it’s a new hobby, a new recipe, or a new route for your daily walk.
o Take a moment to honor the legacy of Brian Holland Legacy Day. Learn about a historical figure or local hero, share their story with others, or support a cause they believed in. Embrace the chaos on Chaos Never Dies Day. Mix up your routine, try a new workout, or engage in a spontaneous activity.
o Celebrate your culinary heritage on National Scrapple Day.
Cook up a traditional family recipe, research the origins of your favorite foods, or host a virtual potluck with friends. Reflect on the value of freedom on World Freedom Day. Educate yourself on global issues, support a human rights organization, or simply savor your own freedoms.
o Look up at the stars and honor the spirit of Carl Sagan Day. Stargaze from your backyard, watch a documentary about the cosmos, or ponder the mysteries of the universe. Indulge your sweet tooth on British Pudding Day. Bake a classic British dessert, experiment with new flavors, or treat yourself to a store-bought delight.
o End your day by celebrating the vibrant culture of Louisiana on National Louisiana Day. Listen to some jazz music, cook up a Cajun dish, or learn about the state’s rich history. Cheers to a day filled with unexpected delights and diverse experiences!
· For Nov 9–16, anchor your Las Vegas pilgrimage at the Tuscany Suites & Casino—affordable, spacious, and just off the Strip. Each day blends civic spectacle, Eucharistic rhythm, and symbolic clarity.
· 🎰 Bucket List Trip: Around the World “Perfect Weather”
o 7-day Las Vegas Stay & Reflection Itinerary, anchored at the quiet and affordable Tuscany Suites & Casino (~$77/night). Each day blends desert clarity, Eucharistic rhythm, and civic spectacle.
· 🌆 Las Vegas Stay & Reflection Itinerary
November 9–16 • Desert Clarity, Eucharistic Rhythm
Lodging: Tuscany Suites & Casino – Off the Strip
o Day 1: Arrival & Desert Benediction (Nov 9)
• Afternoon: Walk the Springs Preserve trails
or visit the Nevada State Museum, Las Vegas
• Symbolic act: Pour water on desert soil and offer a prayer for clarity and renewal
• Evening Meal: Tuscany Gardens – house-made pasta and local herbs
· Day 2: Eucharistic Anchoring & Civic Memory (Nov 10)
• Morning Mass: Guardian Angel Cathedral – 302 Cathedral Way
• Midday Visit: The Mob Museum – reflect on justice, mercy, and civic repair
• Symbolic act: Write a prayer for reconciliation and place it near a courtroom exhibit
o Day 3: Marian Listening & Neon Reverence (Nov 11)
• Church Visit: St Joan of Arc Catholic Church – Downtown
• Art Exploration: The Neon Museum Las Vegas – vintage signs and civic memory
• Symbolic act: Sketch a Marian symbol in neon style or write a prayer in light
· Day 4: Creation Prayer & Civic Wonder (Nov 12)
• Walk: Red Rock Canyon or Springs Preserve gardens
• Midday Pause: Psalm 104 reflection among desert blooms
• Symbolic act: Collect a desert stone or leaf as a token of clarity
• Evening Meal: Lotus of Siam – Northern Thai cuisine with desert herbs
o Day 5: Cultural Listening & Civic Hospitality (Nov 13)
• Morning Museum: Las Vegas Science & Natural History Museum
• Midday Visit: Discovery Children's Museum – reflect on wonder and communal learning
• Symbolic act: Leave a blessing near a children's exhibit or garden
· Day 6: Eucharistic Table & Punk Communion (Nov 14)
• Day Visit: The Punk Rock Museum
– reflect on radical joy and civic voice
• Symbolic act: Write a prayer for courage and leave it near a band poster or lyric wall
• Evening Meal: Shared supper with bread, wine, and desert fruit—sacramental and communal
o Day 7: Benediction & Sending Forth (Nov 15)
• Final Walk: Fremont Street or Springs Preserve
• Midday Reflection: Write a closing prayer of sending
• Benediction:
“May this desert remember my reverence. May my steps echo clarity and joy.”
🍽️ Seven-Course Pilgrimage Meal
“Desert Benediction to Sending Forth”
A ritual meal inspired by your week of civic reflection, desert clarity, and shared hospitality.
1. Desert Benediction – Cucumber Mint Water
Cucumber water with desert mint and a pinch of pink salt
A refreshing prelude to the journey. Echoes Day 1’s ritual of pouring water on desert soil—a prayer for clarity and renewal.
2. Justice & Mercy – Charred Artichoke Hearts with Lemon Aioli
Bittersweet layers with citrus and cream
Honors Day 2’s Mob Museum reflection—civic repair through flavor, where bitterness meets mercy.
3. Desert Listening – Roasted Carrot & Tahini Soup
Earthy, warm, and contemplative
A quiet dish for Day 3’s walk through signs and silence—rooted in humility and attentiveness.
4. Creation Wonder – Desert Greens with Prickly Pear Vinaigrette
Wild greens, desert fruit, and toasted seeds
A tribute to Day 4’s Psalm 104 walk—creation’s resilience in edible form.
5. Civic Hospitality – Northern Thai Curry with Desert Herbs
Bold, communal, and wonder-filled
Inspired by Day 5’s cultural listening and shared learning—spiced with warmth and welcome.
6. Shared Table – Sourdough with Olive Oil & Fruit Compote
Bread, oil, and desert fruit compote
A sacred echo of Day 6’s communal supper—simple, nourishing, and sacramental.
7. Sending Forth – Date Tart with Citrus Zest & Lavender Cream
A fragrant farewell for Day 7—clarity, joy, and remembrance folded into every bite.
NOVEMBER
9 -Feast of the Dedication of the
Lateran Basilica Orphan
Sunday-World Freedom Day-Carl Sagan born 1934
John, Chapter 13, Verse 1
Before the feast of Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to
pass from this world to the Father. He LOVED
his own in the world and he loved
them to the end.
Christ as man and God knowing that his
sacrifice of love was eminent rises
up empties Himself and disrobes and taking the role of a lowly servant washes
the disciple’s feet even the feet of Judas Iscariot. This is the love of Christ
displayed for us from the Father. Jesus,
servant of the Father, becomes the servant of mankind. His hour has come, and
he loves his friends “to the end” and so in turn His disciples must serve one
another. We are all called to wash one another’s feet.[1]
Jesus washing the feet of the disciples
(John 13:1–17) occurred in the upper room, just prior to the Last Supper and has significance in three ways. For Jesus, it was the display of His humility and His servanthood. For the disciples, the washing of their feet was in direct contrast to their heart attitudes at that time. For us, washing feet is symbolic of our role in the body of Christ. Walking in sandals on the filthy roads of Israel in the first century made it imperative that feet be washed before a communal meal, especially since people reclined at a low table and feet were very much in evidence.
When Jesus rose from the table and began to
wash the feet of the disciples (John 13:4), He was doing the work of the
lowliest of servants. The disciples must
have been stunned at this act of humility and condescension, that Christ, their
Lord and master, should wash the feet of His disciples, when it was their
proper work to have washed His.
But when Jesus came to earth the first time, He
came not as King and Conqueror, but as the suffering Servant of Isaiah 53.
As He revealed in Matthew 20:28, He came “not to be served but to serve,
and to give his life as a ransom for many.” The humility expressed by His act
with towel and basin foreshadowed His ultimate act of humility and love on the cross. Jesus’ attitude of
servanthood was in direct contrast to that of the disciples, who had recently
been arguing among themselves as to which of them was the greatest (Luke
22:24). Since there was no servant present to wash their feet, it would never
have occurred to them to wash one another’s feet.
When the Lord Himself stooped to this lowly
task, they were stunned into silence. To his credit, though, Peter was
profoundly uncomfortable with the Lord washing his feet, and, never being at a
loss for words, Peter protested, “You shall never wash my feet!” Then Jesus
said something that must have further
shocked Peter: “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me” (John 13:8),
prompting Peter, whose love for the Savior was genuine, to request a complete
washing. Then Jesus explained the true meaning of being washed by Him. Peter
had experienced the cleansing of salvation and did not need to be washed again
in the spiritual sense. Salvation is a one-time act of justification by faith,
but the lifelong process of sanctification is one of washing from the stain of
sin we experience as we walk through the world. Peter and the disciples—all
except Judas, who never belonged to Christ—needed only this temporal cleansing.
This truth is just one of several from this incident that Christians can apply
to their own lives.
When we come to Christ for the washing of our sins, we can be sure that is permanent and complete.
No act can cleanse us further from our sin, as our sin has been exchanged for the perfect righteousness of Christ on the cross (2 Corinthians 5:21). But we do need continual cleansing from the effects of living in the flesh in a sin-cursed world. The continual washing of sanctification is done by the power of the Holy Spirit, who lives within us, through the “washing of water by the Word” (Ephesians 5:26), given to us to equip us for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16–17).
Further, when Jesus washed the disciples’ feet,
He told them (and us), “I have given you an example, that you should do as I
have done to you” (John 13:15). As His followers, we are to emulate Him,
serving one another in lowliness of heart and mind, seeking to build one
another up in humility and love.
When we seek the preeminence, we displease the
Lord who promised that true greatness in His kingdom is attained by those with
a servant’s heart (Mark 9:35; 10:44).
When we have that servant’s heart, the Lord
promised, we will be greatly blessed (John 13:17).[2]
Copilot’s Take
On November 9, the Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica invites us to reflect on the Church as both sacred space and servant body—a temple not of stone alone, but of humility, love, and communal cleansing. In John 13:1, Jesus, knowing His hour had come, rises from the table and stoops to wash the feet of His disciples, including Judas. This act, performed just before the Last Supper, is not merely symbolic—it is a radical liturgy of servanthood. In a world where dusty roads made footwashing a necessity, Jesus transforms it into a sacrament of love, reversing roles and expectations. His gesture rebukes pride, heals division, and commissions His followers to serve one another with the same humility. As we honor Orphan Sunday and World Freedom Day, we are reminded that true greatness is found not in power but in mercy, not in status but in service. Carl Sagan’s birth
on this day adds a cosmic echo: even in the vastness of space, the Servant King kneels to wash the feet of the weary. Let us, then, take up the towel and basin—not as ritual alone, but as a way of life.
ON KEEPING THE LORD'S DAY HOLY[3]
CHAPTER I
DIES DOMINI
The Celebration of the Creator's Work
"Shabbat":
the Creator's joyful rest
11.
If the first page of the Book of Genesis presents God's "work" as an
example for man, the same is true of God's "rest”: “On the seventh day God
finished his work which he had done" (Gn 2:2). Here too we find an
anthropomorphism charged with a wealth of meaning.
It
would be banal to interpret God's "rest" as a kind of divine
"inactivity". By its nature, the creative act which founds the world
is unceasing and God is always at work, as Jesus himself declares in speaking
of the Sabbath precept: "My Father is working still, and I am
working" (Jn 5:17). The divine rest of the seventh day does not
allude to an inactive God but emphasizes the fullness of what has been
accomplished. It speaks, as it were, of God's lingering before the "very
good" work (Gn 1:31) which his hand has wrought, in order to cast
upon it a gaze full of joyous delight. This is a
"contemplative" gaze which does not look to new accomplishments but
enjoys the beauty of what has already been achieved. It is a gaze which God
casts upon all things, but in a special way upon man, the crown of creation. It
is a gaze which already discloses something of the nuptial shape of the
relationship which God wants to establish with the creature made in his own
image, by calling that creature to enter a pact of love. This is what God will
gradually accomplish, in offering salvation to all humanity through the saving
covenant made with Israel and fulfilled in Christ. It will be the Word
Incarnate, through the eschatological gift of the Holy Spirit and the
configuration of the Church as his Body and Bride, who will extend to all
humanity the offer of mercy and the call of the Father's love.
Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome
Today the
liturgy celebrates the dedication of the Lateran Basilica, called “mother and
head of all the churches of the city and the world.” In fact, this basilica was
the first to be built after Emperor Constantine’s edict, in 313, granted Christian’s
freedom to practice their religion. The emperor himself gave Pope Miltiades the
ancient palace of the Laterani family, and the basilica, the baptistery, and
the patriarchate, that is, the Bishop of Rome’s residence — where the Popes
lived until the Avignon period — were all built there. The basilica’s
dedication was celebrated by Pope Sylvester around 324 and was named Most Holy
Savior; only after the 6th century were the names of St. John the Baptist and
St. John the Evangelist added, and now is typically denominated by these
latter. Initially the observance of this feast was confined to the city of
Rome; then, beginning in 1565, it was extended to all the Churches of the Roman
rite. The honoring of this sacred edifice was a way of expressing love and veneration
for the Roman Church, which, as St. Ignatius of Antioch says, “presides in
charity” over the whole Catholic communion (Letter to the Romans, 1:1). On this solemnity the Word of God recalls an
essential truth: the temple of stones is a symbol of the living Church, the
Christian community, which in their letters the Apostles Peter and Paul already
understood as a “spiritual edifice,” built by God with “living stones,” namely,
Christians themselves, upon the one foundation of Jesus Christ, who is called
the “cornerstone” (cf. 1 Corinthians 3:9-11, 16-17; 1 Peter 2:4-8; Ephesians
2:20-22). “Brothers, you are God’s building,” St. Paul wrote, and added:
“holy is God’s temple, which you are” (1 Corinthians 3:9c, 17).
The
beauty and harmony of the churches, destined to give praise to God, also draws
us human beings, limited and sinful, to convert to form a “cosmos,” a
well-ordered structure, in intimate communion with Jesus, who is the true Saint
of saints. This happens in a culminating way in the Eucharistic liturgy, in
which the “ecclesia,” that is, the community of the baptized, come together in
a unified way to listen to the Word of God and nourish themselves with the Body
and Blood of Christ. From these two tables the Church of living stones is built
up in truth and charity and is internally formed by the Holy Spirit
transforming herself into what she receives, conforming herself more and more
to the Lord Jesus Christ. She herself, if she lives in sincere and fraternal
unity, in this way becomes the spiritual sacrifice pleasing to God.
Dear
friends, today’s feast celebrates a mystery that is always relevant: God’s
desire to build a spiritual temple in the world, a community that worships him
in spirit and truth (cf. John 4:23-24). But this observance also reminds us of
the importance of the material
buildings in which the community gathers to celebrate the praises of God. Every
community therefore has the duty to take special care of its own sacred
buildings, which are a precious religious and historical patrimony. For this we
call upon the intercession of Mary Most Holy, that she helps us to become, like
her, the “house of God,” living temple of his love.
—
Benedict XVI, Angelus Address, November 9, 2008
The focus of this Sunday is we must render to God what is God's:
meaning that we must give ourselves up entirely to Him, so that He will recognize us on the Last Day.
GOSPEL. Matt, xxii. 15-21[4]
At that time, the Pharisees going consulted among themselves how to ensnare Jesus in His speech. And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying: Master, we know that Thou art a true speaker, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest Thou for any man: for Thou dost not regard the person of men. Tell us, therefore, what dost Thou think, is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not? But Jesus, knowing their wickedness, said: Why do you tempt Me, ye hypocrites? Show Me the coin of the tribute. And they offered Him a penny. And Jesus saith to them: Whose image and inscription is this? They say to Him: Caesar’s. Then He saith to them: tender therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.
Who are hypocrites? Those who, in order to deceive their neighbors, show themselves outwardly pious, while within they are full of evil dispositions and malice; who have honey on the tongue, but gall in the heart; who, like scorpions, sting when one least expects it. Such men are cursed by God (Mai. i. 14). The Lord hateth a mouth with a double tongue (Prov. viii. 13).
See, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him, upon
those who hope for his kindness, to deliver them from death and preserve them
in spite of famine.
Things
to Do:[5]
- Learn more
about St. John Lateran;
- This basilica
represents the place of baptism, so it would be a good time to renew your
baptismal promises.
- It also represents heaven, so we can meditate on the joys of heaven and God's generosity in giving us sufficient graces to be saved.
- Since St.
John Lateran is the Pope's church, say a prayer for our Holy Father.
- From the Catholic Culture Library: Mother Church of the World.
Orphan Sunday[6]
True religion is taking care of widows and orphans.
Orphan
Sunday is a time to stand up for the orphans of the world. In truth, there are
likely no more vulnerable human beings in the entire world than those thousands
upon thousands of children in this world who have no mother or father, due to
all sorts of tragedies that have occurred in their lives, ranging from
accidents, to sicknesses, to war. Whatever the reason, orphaned children need
our help in any way we can offer it.
Over the years, many different churches and organizations have hosted events they called, “Orphan Sundays” in an effort to raise awareness of the orphans in our areas, their problems and needs. The Christian Alliance started their own version of Orphan Sunday back in, when a American visitor to Africa Gary Schneider attending a church service in Zambia was moved by the pastor’s call to care for the numerous orphans in a local community plagued by hunger bordering on starvation, poverty and AIDS. At that time especially, children who were orphans were in a particularly terrible situations, as they were often left to fend for themselves, a thing that no child is prepared to do. Because of this, many children’s entire lives became jeopardized, as they had no way to make enough money to get to school in hopes of getting an education and a decent job in the future. Even though the locals attending the service were mostly extremely poor themselves, at the end of the service, many of them stepped forward to offer their support, some even giving away their own clothes or shoes to help the children. Moved by this display of generosity, Schneider decided to help Zambian leaders take care of the Zambian orphans by getting the word out about this new practice, and it spread like wildfire. By 2003 these efforts had spread to the United States. The Christian Alliance honors the Zambian church Schneider had visited for the gift of Orphan Sunday and the inspiration they gave people all over the world to care about the orphan; in fact, Orphan Sunday is often called, “Zambia’s gift to the world”. Nowadays, the Christian Alliance includes more 150 respected ministries, and Orphan Sunday is celebrated in thousands of churches across the globe in over 50 nations.
How to Celebrate Orphan Sunday
The
best way to celebrate Orphan Sunday is find something you can do for the sadly
fatherless and motherless children the Zambians have been doing their best to
look after for all these years. And it doesn’t stop there! Though Zambia is
where the whole event started, it is definitely not the only place in the world
where we can find orphaned children—there are children who have lost their
parents in every community that could use your help. Orphan Sunday is your
opportunity to rouse church, community and friends to God’s call to care for
the orphan. Each Orphan Sunday event is different, depending on who it’s led
by—the believer in any local church, along with their priest or pastor, get
together to decide what actions they could take stand to benefit their local
orphans as well as orphans worldwide. Events range from sermons on God’s heart
for the orphan, whose plight Christians believe is especially important to, to
fundraisers, live concerts, and even to foster family recruiting.
Bible in a Year Day 127 Kindness for the House of Saul
Fr. Mike draws our attention to David's kindness towards the house of Saul, including Jonathan's lame son Mephibosheth. We learn that even though Saul persecuted David, David continued to honor his descendants. Today's readings are 2 Samuel 9, 1 Chronicles 12, and Psalm 28.
World Freedom Day[7]
In
many parts of the world, freedom is something that is taken for granted—the
freedom to choose any religion we want (or no religion at all), the freedom to
be in a relationship with the person we love, the freedom to travel…the list
goes on. Unfortunately, there are many, many places in the world where these
freedoms are not available to most people, who are forced to live empty,
unfulfilling lives so the rulers of their countries don’t have them thrown in
jail or worse. If you don’t know what it means to be afraid to voice your
opinion, then you can consider yourself very lucky to live in a place where
liberty is a priority as well as a basic human right. And like all good things,
liberty should be celebrated, and that’s what World Freedom Day is all about. The
World Freedom Day is a federal observance commemorating the fall of the Berlin
Wall. The day commemorates the end of communism in Eastern and Central Europe
and was designated in 2001 by President George W. Bush. It was created to
celebrate the reunification of loved ones separated by the Iron Curtain and
differing ideologies, and ultimately serves to acknowledge that the resolve of
the masses can shift boundaries, break unfavorable resolutions and ultimately
determine the type of leadership they desire so as to live is a freer, more
fair society.
How to Celebrate World Freedom Day
·
The day is celebrated in different ways,
depending on who’s celebrating. Conservative groups such as the College
Republicans and Young America Foundation encourage students to celebrate the
day through activism projects and flyer campaigns, while on the other hand,
political activists and commentators see the day as an occasion to recognize
President Ronald Reagan as one of the most instrumental personalities in the
collapse of the Soviet Union.
·
If you are not living in the United States and
therefore cannot be politically active in the ways described, don’t worry!
There are still plenty of ways you can celebrate this day. Doing some reading
about Ronald Reagan is a good start, regardless of your nationality, but there
are other figures that played large parts in the fall of Communism as well.
Among them are for example Margaret Thatcher, often called the “Iron Lady” due
to her determination and resolve, who personally worked with Reagan to
undermine the Communist regime.
· Yet another example of a person who was instrumental was a Pole named Karol Wojtyła, more commonly known as Pope John Paul II. The pope helped ordinary Poles and East Europeans banish their fear of Soviet Communism, convincing them that liberation was possible.
The prime minister restored her country’s failing economy by reviving the “vigorous virtues” of the British people. The president rebuilt America’s military power, its national morale, and its position as leader of the free world.
·
All three of these figures, working
together, brought down an evil empire and changed the world for the
better, and these are the people that deserve remembrance on World Freedom Day.
The Cold War was a time of tension and uncertainty for the West and misery and
destruction for the East, so taking the time to find out a bit more about the
people that helped put an end to all of this is the perfect way to celebrate
this day.
Carl Sagan born 1934[8]
One
of the most well-known gurus of scientism was the late Carl Sagan, best known
for his popular television series "Cosmos." Sagan was
unrelenting in his insistence that the methods and speculations of science are
absolutely necessary for the proper understanding of all reality. Science,
then, surpasses any other form of knowledge, including religion. In the
"religion" of scientism only matter is eternal. "Mother
Earth" was for Sagan the only god to be worshipped, as is the case for
many who espouse New Age thinking.
In
his book "Cosmos," Sagan wrote that "our ancestors worshipped
the Sun, and they were far from foolish. And yet the Sun is an ordinary, even a
mediocre star. If we must worship a power greater than ourselves, does it now
make sense to revere the Sun and stars?" (p. 243).
Put even more simply, scientism is the belief that whatever cannot be experienced by the senses, i.e., seen, touched, heard, etc., simply does not exist. First and foremost, this means that God does not exist because he cannot be subjected to scientific observation and proof.
Recently,
scientism has taken a curious turn. Last year scientists at the National
Institutes for Health in Bethesda, Md., performed experiments that convinced
them that what religion calls the moral conscience is, in fact, nothing more
than basic brain activity. Remaining true to the tenets of scientism, these
scientists would allow no explanation of moral action other than the claim that
that's the way our brains are wired.
What
is interesting, however, is that, instead of using science to discredit
religion, these scientists seem to be claiming that what people of faith have
known all along can now be substantiated by the scientific method. It's an
intriguing twist, but in the end scientism reigns supreme.
Harvard
neuroscientist and philosopher Joshua Greene, as good an example of scientism
as anyone, has stated that his goal as a scientist is "to reveal our moral
thinking for what it is: a complex hodgepodge of emotional responses and
rational (re)constructions, shaped by biological and cultural forces . .
." There it is. For Greene — as for all good proponents of scientism — not
only do conscience and morality have no objective meaning or content or even
less do they come from God, the human person is ultimately understood to be no
more than the product of cultural and biological forces.
Several
decades ago, a Russian cosmonaut returned from his first venture into space and
proudly announced that he had been into the heavens and could now verify that
God was nowhere to be seen. This finding, of course, fit nicely into the
atheistic picture of reality that prevailed in the Soviet Union of those days.
More
than simply a glib pronouncement on the non-existence of God, however, the
remark was expressive of what has come to be known as "scientism."
Michael Shermer, founder of the Skeptics Society, provides a good definition of
scientism: "Scientism is the scientific worldview that encompasses natural
explanations for all phenomena, eschews supernatural and paranormal
speculations, and embraces empiricism and reason as the twin pillars of a
philosophy of life appropriate for an Age of Science."
This way of thinking is becoming more and more acceptable in what has been called our "age of science." It has infected even people of faith. Nowhere is it more obvious than in the implicit — and even explicit at times — agreement that conscience is, in fact, nothing more than what I think and feel about a particular subject. My own personal thoughts are understood to be little other than the effects of the culture in which I live. And so, even for some Catholics, the moral conscience has little to do with God or his revelation or the natural law. Rather, conscience has everything to do with how I, as an individual, perceive reality. What else could account for the sad fact that many Catholics believe that a crime like abortion could be morally justified in certain situations?
In an age of relativism such as ours, it is vitally important that we appreciate that God is the source of all truth and meaning. He created that world and all that is in it. It is his law that governs right behavior. It is his truth that informs and binds every human conscience. It is his truth that is communicated authoritatively by the magisterium of the Catholic Church. We read in the Catechism of the Catholic Church: "A well-formed conscience is upright and truthful. It formulates its judgments according to reason, in conformity with the true good willed by the wisdom of the Creator. The education of conscience is indispensable for human beings who are subjected to negative influences and tempted by sin to prefer their own judgment and to reject authoritative teachings" (No. 1783).
Daily Devotions
·
Unite
in the work of the Porters of St.
Joseph by joining them in fasting: Today's Fast: Purity
·
Litany of the Most Precious
Blood of Jesus
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Rosary
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