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Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde explores the duality of human nature—how good and evil coexist within us—and offers rich terrain for Catholic reflection on sin, conscience, and redemption.
🧪 Summary of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Robert Louis Stevenson’s novella follows Dr. Henry Jekyll, a respected scientist who creates a potion that transforms him into Edward Hyde, a violent and immoral alter ego. Jekyll initially enjoys the freedom Hyde offers, indulging in hidden pleasures without tarnishing his public reputation. But Hyde’s evil escalates—he tramples a child, murders Sir Danvers Carew, and becomes uncontrollable. Eventually, Jekyll loses the ability to return to his original self and dies, consumed by the darkness he unleashed.
✝️ Catholic Moral and Spiritual Lessons
The novella resonates deeply with Catholic theology and spiritual formation:
1. The Nature of Sin and the Fall
- Jekyll’s desire to separate his good and evil selves mirrors original sin—the human inclination to rebel against God’s order.
- His descent into Hyde reflects how sin, once indulged, grows and enslaves the soul.
2. Conscience and Moral Responsibility
- Jekyll’s initial guilt and attempts to suppress Hyde show the workings of conscience, a key Catholic concept.
- His failure to confess and seek grace leads to spiritual ruin, echoing the need for sacramental reconciliation.
3. Duality and the Unity of the Soul
- Catholic anthropology teaches that body and soul are united; Jekyll’s attempt to split his moral identity violates this unity.
- The story warns against moral compartmentalization—living one life in public and another in secret.
4. The Danger of Playing God
- Jekyll’s scientific ambition to control human nature critiques hubris and the temptation to usurp divine authority.
- It echoes the Catholic caution against moral relativism and unchecked technological power.
5. Redemption and the Limits of Human Will
- Jekyll’s tragic end underscores that human will alone cannot overcome sin—we need divine grace.
- The absence of sacramental or communal intervention in the story highlights the importance of Church, confession, and spiritual accountability.
Rachel’s Corner
· do a personal eucharistic stations of the cross.
Whoopi’s Birthday
· How to celebrate Nov 13th
o Start your day by embracing the spirit of kindness. Surprise someone with a heartfelt hug or a small act of generosity.
§ Show appreciation for the musicians in your life, whether it’s by listening to their music, sharing their work, or simply giving them a virtual hug.
· Bake a comforting Indian pudding to share with loved ones, celebrating traditions and flavors from around the world.
o As the day unfolds, consider arranging a musical gathering with friends.
§ Host a small roast dinner party where everyone can contribute dishes and enjoy good food and great company.
· Play symphonic metal music in the background to add a unique twist to the atmosphere.
o Encourage guests to participate in a friendly dance-off or karaoke session to up the entertainment factor.
o In the evening, channel the playful and unconventional spirit of Sadie Hawkins Day. Organize a fun event where women take the lead – whether it’s choosing activities, making decisions, or asking someone out.
Best Place to visit in November:
#15 in Best Places to Visit in November
Shenandoah National Park's stunning fall foliage and comfortable weather (think: temperatures in the low 50s to low 60s) last through mid-November, making this a great time to take in the landscape while exploring the park. Hit up the Virginia park's miles of hiking trails, including popular (albeit challenging) Old Rag Mountain and Fort Windham Rocks, which is part of the Appalachian Trail. Or, bring a bike and enjoy a scenic ride down tree-lined Skyline Drive. Read More
World: Lisbon
#1 in Best Places to Visit in November
Travelers seeking a cheap European vacation should consider a November getaway to Portugal's capital city. Temperatures remain comfortably in the 50s and 60s throughout the month, and although you can expect an increase in precipitation, the lack of crowds and inexpensive hotel prices more than make up for the rain. You'll appreciate the extra elbow room while riding Tram 28, a must-see Lisbon symbol that takes tourists past top sights like St. George's Castle and many beautiful miradouros (scenic viewpoints). What's more, the popular yellow tram provides easy access to Alfama, Lisbon's picturesque historic district. Read More
Thursday Feast
Thursday is the day of the week that our Lord gave himself up for consumption. Thursday commemorates the last supper. Some theologians believe after Sunday Thursday is the holiest day of the week. We should then try to make this day special by making a visit to the blessed sacrament chapel, Mass or even stopping by the grave of a loved one. Why not plan to count the blessing of the week and thank our Lord. Plan a special meal. Be at Peace.
Dinner Menu
- Drink: Martini
- hors d'oeuvre Garlic-Butter Steak Bites
- appetizer Air-Fryer Eggplant
- main course Sheet Pan Salmon and Bell Pepper Dinner
- Dessert: Dark Chocolate-Dipped Cherries
Here’s your Naples pilgrimage guide with numbered sections, formatted for clarity and blog-ready structure:
🇮🇹 Naples, Italy – Bread of the Deep
A week of volcanic mercy, underground witness, and Neapolitan hospitality
1. Lodging with Legacy
Stay where civic rhythm meets sacred ground
· Navy Gateway Inns – NSA Naples (Capodichino)
· NSA Naples Passenger Terminal Info
2. Bread of the Deep – Seven-Course Ritual Meal
A symbolic Neapolitan supper rooted in fire, mercy, and resurrection
1. Fried zucchini blossoms – fragile joy and hidden strength
2. Mozzarella di bufala with basil oil – Marian protection
3. Pizza fritta (fried pizza) – resurrection through fire
4. Pasta alla Genovese – slow mercy and ancestral depth
5. Eggplant parmigiana – layered witness
6. Sfogliatella – folded mystery and sweetness
7. Limoncello granita – citrus clarity and Eucharistic light
Foodie Tours & Culinary Guides
· Naples Street Food Tour – Cultured Voyages
· Ultimate Naples Food Tour – The Foodellers
· 12 Best Things To Do in Naples for Foodies – Chef Denise
3. Symbolic Adventures
1. Kayak at Posillipo – mercy on the water
2. Underground Naples tour – catacombs, aqueducts, and bomb shelters
3. Mount Vesuvius hike – ashes to ascent
4. Day trip to Pompeii – frozen witness and civic memory
4. Cultural Pilgrimage
· Naples National Archaeological Museum – Pompeii’s treasures and Roman echoes
· Teatro di San Carlo – oldest opera house in Europe
· Bourbon Tunnel – underground escape and resilience
(Local’s Guide to Naples – The Blonde Abroad)
5. Nature & Reflection
· Lungomare seafront promenade – sunset Eucharist by the bay
· Castel dell’Ovo – egg of origin and civic myth
· Villa Floridiana gardens – quiet renewal above the city
6. Sacred Anchors
· San Gennaro Catacombs – underground communion and civic intercession
· Santa Chiara Monastery – cloistered clarity and WWII mercy
· Gesù Nuovo – baroque mystery and healing witness
· San Domenico Maggiore – Dominican fire and civic courage
(Top 10 Churches in Naples – VisitNaples.eu)
7. Firelight Finale
· Bonfires not permitted in city limits, but symbolic candles or rooftop vigils are welcome
· Ritual Act: Light a candle at Gesù Nuovo, then share sfogliatella and limoncello under the stars
· Film Pairing: The Two Popes – dialogue, mercy, and transformation
NOVEMBER 13 day-Thursday-St. Frances Xavier Cabrini
Sadie Hawkins Day
John, Chapter 14, Verse 21-24
Whoever has my commandments and observes them
is the one who LOVES me. And whoever loves me will be loved
by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him.” Judas, not the Iscariot, said to him, “Master, [then] what
happened that you will reveal yourself to us and not to the world?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Whoever loves me will
keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and
make our dwelling with him. Whoever does not love
me does not keep my words; yet the word you hear is not mine but that of the
Father who sent me.
This is the indwelling of the Father and the
Son, when we have this, we reflect our own perfected beauty. Think of a beauty
queen and compare it to the face of Mother Teresa.
which portrays beauty more?
When we have the indwelling, the truth is never
far from us; think of Thomas More and when we have the indwelling, we have joy
and our earthly work is not a burden but light.
If you are not happy perhaps you should reflect,
are you observing Christ' commandments?
First seek the kingdom and all grace will be
added to you. When we have the indwelling, the spirit compels us to acts of
mercy. The traditional enumeration of the corporal works of mercy is as
follows:
·
To feed the hungry.
·
To give drink to the thirsty.
·
To clothe the naked.
·
To harbor the harbor less.
·
To visit the sick.
·
To ransom the captive.
·
To bury the dead.
The
spiritual works of mercy are:
·
To instruct the ignorant;
·
To counsel the doubtful;
·
To admonish sinners;
·
To bear wrongs patiently.
·
To forgive offences willingly.
·
To comfort the afflicted.
·
To pray for the living and the dead.
In a sense when we have the indwelling, we are
like Mary the great mother of God and are compelled to acts of mercy; they are
not just a list but a way of being.
Copilot’s Take
On November 13, the whimsical tradition of
Sadie Hawkins Day—where women take the lead in courtship—intersects with the
solemn feast of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini and the profound promise of John
14:21–24. In this Gospel, Jesus speaks of divine indwelling: a love so mutual
and obedient that the Father and Son make their home within us. This indwelling
transforms our understanding of beauty—not as outward charm, but as mercy
embodied, like the radiant humility of Mother Teresa. When we live in this
love, our burdens lighten, our joy deepens, and we are compelled to mercy—not
by obligation, but by the Spirit’s gentle insistence. Sadie’s pursuit becomes a
parable: not of romantic desperation, but of divine reversal, where God first
loved us, and now we chase mercy in return. On this day, let us reflect: are we
observing Christ’s commandments, not as rules, but as invitations to joy,
beauty, and the indwelling presence that makes all things light?
Mother Cabrini, the Saint of Italians in America[1]
Frances Xavier Cabrini, born in the province of Lodi in Lombardy,
eventually came to the United States toward the end of the nineteenth century.
It was due to total serendipity that she became the saint for Italian
immigrants in this country. It is also a sweet paradox that she, from the
north, arrived during the great wave of southern Italian emigration to the
United States. Having taken her vows in 1877, three years later she and six
other nuns founded the religious institute Missionary Sisters of the Sacred
Heart of Jesus. As we read earlier, wanting to provide help to immigrants
beginning in the U.S., Pope Leo XIII suggested instead that she go west, where,
according to him, the already thousands of Italian immigrants in the U.S. were
in great need of assistance. Mother Cabrini and six others arrived in the
United States in 1889 and hit the ground running, so to speak. As they did in
Italy, here, too, Mother Cabrini and her team founded the requisite housing, a
series of schools and orphanages, and the necessary hospitals that chiefly
served the Italian immigrant communities. Actions supported by the Church, for
sure, but actions also emblematic of what Italians can do in order to help
other Italians in need.
In all, they founded close to 70 institutions of all types in
numerous cities throughout the United States — Chicago and New York the two
principal cities associated with Mother Cabrini today, as well as Cabrini
College in Pennsylvania. Undoubtedly, Mother Cabrini was an exemplar of all
things possible and thus a symbol of hope for all. She herself had crossed the
ocean in 1889 and, in so doing, had followed the same route that thousands of
other immigrants had and were taking. Privileged as she was in her role as nun
— and let us underscore at this juncture her gender — she was a woman of great
acumen, having succeeded in overcoming great obstacles of the time and
demonstrating how all things were possible. In this sense, then, she was also
an example of how one can get things done and, more important, how we can still
today — and let us say should — open doors for all people who are in need of
such assistance.
Her legacy clearly lives on both within and beyond the Italian/
American community. Italian Americans continue to serve and donate to many
Catholic and social institutions today, at times even beyond. If there is one
thing to bemoan, it is that her medical institutions of New York — Columbus
Hospital and the Italian Hospital, which eventually became the Cabrini Medical
Center — could not be sustained and consequently closed in 2008. Nonetheless,
Mother Cabrini remains that shining light not only for all those whom she
helped, but to be sure, that exemplar par excellence that we, today, should
emulate for the dedication so necessary to get things done for the better good.
Things to Do:[2]
·
If you live in or
pass through Colorado, visit the western Mother Cabrini Shrine.
·
Read more about St. Francis Cabrini.
·
Prepare an Italian
dinner in honor of St. Francis Cabrini. For dessert make a ship cake
(symbolizing her missionary work), a heart cake (she founded the Missionary
Sisters of the Sacred Heart) or a Book Cake (symbolizing her founding a
religious order).
·
Say the Little Rosary of St. Francis Xavier
Cabrini.
·
Read the Encyclical, On Consecrated Virginity, by Pius XII and if you are single consider the
possibility of a vocation to this life.
·
Read the Pope
Benedict XVI's Address for World Day of Migrants and
Refugees, 2007.
·
If you know someone
who has immigrated to this country, try to help them feel welcome, perhaps by
inviting them over for the Italian dinner.
Bible in a Year Day 131 Hope for the Future
Fr. Mike
preaches hope for the future of those with wounded hearts as we read the
stories of Tamar, Amnon, and David. No matter what's in your past - things
you've done or things that have been done to you - there is abundant hope for
your future because God desires to make you whole. Today's readings are 2
Samuel 13, 1 Chronicles 17, and Psalm 35.
Daily Devotions
·
Unite
in the work of the Porters of St.
Joseph by joining them in fasting: Today's Fast: Victims
of clergy sexual abuse
·
Litany of the Most Precious
Blood of Jesus
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Rosary
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