Posts
Candace’s Corner
· Make reparations to the Holy Face-Tuesday Devotion
· Pray Day 4 of the Novena for our Pope and Bishops
· Tuesday: Litany of St. Michael the Archangel
o Start your day by shooting some hoops. Grab a basketball and head to a nearby court for some Play Basketball Day fun.
§ After breaking a sweat, let your inner child out to play and watch some classic Disney movies. Walt Disney Day is the perfect excuse to lose yourself in the magic of animated films.
· Feeling charitable? Volunteer at a local animal shelter on National Mutt Day. Give those furry friends some love.
o Next, educate yourself and others on important global issues like the abolition of slavery.
§ Use the power of the internet on World Computer Literacy Day to spread awareness. Celebrate the achievements of individuals with special needs on Special Education Day by supporting inclusive programs in your community. Feeling international? Slip on some jandals for National Jandal Day in New Zealand and learn about a new culture.
o Spread joy by engaging in acts of kindness on National Build Joy Day.
§ Pop some corn and enjoy a movie marathon for Business of Popping Corn Day. Treat yourself to some delicious fritters on National Fritters Day.
🍇 Candace’s Worldwide Vineyard Tour
Week 5: Catalonia, Spain
Theme: Pilgrim Flame, Vineyard Joy
Dates: December 2 – December 9, 2025
Base: Priorat Region – Gratallops, Porrera, and Falset
Seasonal Note: Warm winter tastings in Priorat – garnet wines, terraced hills, and pilgrim joy by the flame.
🗓️ Tuesday, December 2 – Arrival and Pilgrim Welcome
· ✈️ Travel: Sicily → Barcelona ($85 USD flight), train to Falset ($18 USD)
· 🏨 Lodging: Hotel-Hostal Sport Falset (~$82 USD/night)
· 🌙 Evening walk through Falset’s old town, toast with Priorat Garnacha
· 🔥 Symbolic Act: “Flame of Welcome” — light a candle at the town chapel and name your joy
🗓️ Wednesday, December 3 – Gratallops & Vineyard Blessing
· 🍷 Morning visit: Clos Mogador (~$35 USD tasting)
· 🚶 Walk vineyard paths, bless one vine with a pilgrim’s prayer
· 🍽️ Lunch: Celler de Gratallops Restaurant (~$28 USD)
· 🌱 Symbolic Act: “Joy in the Soil” — pour a drop of wine at the roots and speak a blessing
🗓️ Thursday, December 4 – Porrera & Pilgrim’s Table
· 🍷 Visit: Celler Vall Llach (~$32 USD tasting)
· 📖 Afternoon journaling at the village overlook
· 🥖 Shared meal: bread, cheese, olives, and local wine
· ✨ Symbolic Act: “Table of Flame” — name one joy that has endured and one that has surprised
🗓️ Friday, December 5 – Vineyard Walk & Marian Pause
· 🚶 Morning walk through terraced vineyards of Porrera
· 🙏 Pause at Marian shrine, offer silent prayer
· 🧺 Picnic: local produce from Falset market (~$12 USD)
· 🌸 Symbolic Act: “Pilgrim’s Pause” — leave a flower or stone at the shrine
🗓️ Saturday, December 6 – Montsant Day Trip: Joy and Ascent
· 🚌 Day trip: Serra de Montsant Natural Park (~$15 USD transit)
· ⛰️ Optional hike & reflection at hermitage of Sant Bartomeu
· 🍷 Tasting: Cellers Scala Dei (~$30 USD)
· ✍️ Symbolic Act: “Ascent of Joy” — write a psalm or poem at the summit
🗓️ Sunday, December 7 – Vineyard Benediction & Mass
· 🍷 Final tasting: Mas Martinet Viticultors (~$28 USD)
🥂 1. Aperitivo – Flame of Welcome
Anchovy-Stuffed Olives: Excited Food – Anchovy-Stuffed Olives
Alternative stuffed olive ideas: Natasha’s Kitchen – Stuffed Olives
🍜 2. Antipasto – Joy in the Soil
Chargrilled Artichokes with Lemon Garlic Aioli: Meghan It Up – Chargrilled Artichokes
Variation: Food & Wine – Grilled Artichokes with Herby Lemon Aioli
🥗 3. Primo – Table of Flame
Spanish Lentil Stew with Chorizo: Spain on a Fork – Lentejas con Chorizo
Another version: Tastes Better From Scratch – Spanish Lentil Stew
🍖 4. Secondo – Marian Pause
Pomegranate-Glazed Roasted Quail: Food Gal – Pomegranate-Glazed Quail
Alternative: The Splendid Table – Pomegranate-Glazed Quail
🍞 5. Contorno – Ascent of Joy
Thyme-Roasted Vegetables: Taste of Home – Thyme-Roasted Vegetables
Variation: Primavera Kitchen – Roasted Root Vegetables with Thyme
🍧 6. Dolce – Catalan Benediction
Turrón de Alicante (Spanish Almond Nougat): Varga Savour Recipes – Almond Nougat
Authentic guide: Food in Spanish – How to Make Authentic Turrón
🍷 7. Digestivo – Sending Forth
Chestnut Liqueur: Cocktails & Bars – How to Make Chestnut Liqueur
Dark Chocolate Bark with Dried Figs: Valley Fig Growers – Chocolate Bark with Figs & Nuts
DECEMBER
2 Tuesday in the First week of Advent
International Day for the Abolition of Slavery
Isaiah, Chapter 11, Verse 2-4
The spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him: a spirit
of wisdom and of understanding, a spirit of counsel and of strength, a spirit
of knowledge and of FEAR of the LORD, and his delight shall be the fear of the LORD. Not by appearance
shall he judge, nor by hearsay shall he decide, but he shall judge the poor with justice
and decide fairly for the land’s afflicted. He shall strike the ruthless with
the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked.
This is the source
of the traditional names of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The Septuagint and
the Vulgate read “piety” for “fear of the Lord” in its first occurrence, thus
listing seven gifts.[1]
Copilot’s Take
On December 2, Tuesday in the First Week of
Advent, the Church proclaims Isaiah 11:2–4, a vision of the Spirit resting upon
the promised Messiah with gifts of wisdom, understanding, counsel, strength,
knowledge, and fear—or piety—of the Lord. These gifts, later named in tradition
as the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit, reveal a ruler who judges not by
appearances or hearsay but with justice for the poor and fairness for the
afflicted. This day also coincides with the International Day for the Abolition
of Slavery, a civic reminder that Christ’s Spirit of truth and liberation calls
humanity to dismantle oppression and affirm the dignity of every person. Advent
thus becomes both a spiritual waiting and a moral summons: to welcome the
Spirit’s gifts into our lives, to speak words that breathe justice, and to
prepare a communal table where freedom and reverence for God translate into
hospitality and equality for all.
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
11
On
this 11th day, find purpose via a soul filled with the gifts of the Holy Spirit
Copilot:
Finding purpose through
a soul filled with the gifts of the Holy Spirit is a deeply enriching and
transformative journey. Here are some ways to cultivate and embrace these gifts
to discover your purpose:
Understanding the Gifts
of the Holy Spirit
The traditional seven
gifts of the Holy Spirit, as described in Christian theology, are:
1.
Wisdom: Enables us to
see things from God’s perspective and make decisions based on divine truth.
2.
Understanding: Helps us
grasp the deeper meanings of the faith and the divine mysteries.
3.
Counsel (Right
Judgment): Guides us to make correct decisions in accordance with God’s will.
4.
Fortitude (Courage):
Provides us with the strength to stand up for our beliefs and endure
challenges.
5.
Knowledge: Helps us to
understand God’s plan and the path to follow.
6.
Piety (Reverence):
Instills in us a deep respect and love for God and all His creations.
7.
Fear of the Lord (Wonder
and Awe): Fosters a profound respect and awe for the majesty of God.
Ways to Cultivate These
Gifts
1.
Prayer and Reflection:
Regularly pray for the Holy Spirit to fill you with these gifts. Spend time in
reflection to understand how they manifest in your life.
2.
Scripture Study: Read
and meditate on passages that speak about the Holy Spirit and His gifts.
Passages like Isaiah 11:2-3 and 1 Corinthians 12:7-11 can be particularly
enlightening.
3.
Sacraments: Participate
in the sacraments, especially Confirmation, which is traditionally associated
with the bestowal of the Holy Spirit’s gifts.
Live Out the Gifts
1.
Wisdom and
Understanding: Seek to apply these gifts in your daily decisions and
interactions. Use your insights to guide others and yourself towards a more
faithful life.
2.
Counsel and Fortitude:
Use these gifts to make just decisions and to stand firm in your beliefs, even
in the face of adversity.
3.
Knowledge and Piety:
Deepen your knowledge of the faith and let your reverence for God influence
your actions and attitudes.
4.
Fear
of the Lord: Let your awe and respect for God’s greatness inspire you to live a
life that honors Him.
Bible in a Year Day 154 The Baptism of Jesus
As we begin reading the Gospel of Mark, Fr. Mike points out several amazing
details about the baptism of Jesus, as well as some important points about the
healing of the paralytic. The readings are Mark 1-2 and Psalm 11.
International
Day for the Abolition of Slavery[3]
The International Day for the Abolition of Slavery
aims to end slavery in the world. Contemporary forms of slavery include sexual
exploitation, forced marriage, trafficking
of persons and recruitment of children
for armed conflict. The International Labor Organization estimates that there
are currently 21 million people enslaved in the world, a business that
generates around 150 billion US dollars in illegal profits every year. The
International Day for the Abolition of Slavery was designated by the United Nations General
Assembly as a day to be celebrated every December 2nd. The day marks the 1949
adoption of the UN Convention for the Suppression of Traffic in Persons and of
the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others.
International
Day for the Abolition of Slavery Facts & Quotes
·
The average cost of a slave globally is
$90.
·
Human trafficking is the third largest
international crime industry after illegal drugs
and arms trafficking. It generates a profit of approximately 32 billion every
year.
·
1 million children
are enslaved worldwide.
·
Child slavery is a crime against humanity.
Humanity itself is at stake here. A lot of work still remains, but I will see
the end of child labor in my lifetime. – Kailash Satyarthi, Indian children’s
rights advocate and founder of Bachpan Bachao Andolan.
International
Day for the Abolition of Slavery Top Events and Things to Do
·
Watch a movie about the horrors of
slavery. Some suggestions are: 12 Years a Slave (2014), Django Unchained (2014)
and Amistad (1997)
·
Donate to a charity
fighting to end slavery.
·
Spread awareness by using the hashtags
#InternationalDayforAbolitionofSlavery, #EndSlavery and #HumanRightsMatter.
·
Volunteer your time at a local rescue
center for victims of human
trafficking. These centers assist victims in sharing their stories,
regaining their lives and dignity, and helping to reduce this problem.
· Read a book about the horrors of slavery. Some suggestions are Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Beloved and Chains.
Daily Devotions
·
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting: Today's Fast: Restoring
the Church
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Make reparations to the Holy Face
·
Rosary
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