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Tue, Nov 25 – Holy Face Rosary IV: Way of the Cross
Virtue: Compassion & Endurance
Cigar: Corojo – earthy, steady, warm
Bourbon: Bardstown Fusion – rich, communal
Reflection: “Who walks with us in suffering?”
Here’s a devotional entry for November 25 in your 33 Days to Eucharistic Glory journey, aligned with your themes of suffering, companionship, and symbolic hospitality:
Who Walks With Us in Suffering?
π―️ Opening Reflection
When suffering arrives—quietly or with force—it often isolates. Yet Scripture insists: we are never alone. Christ walks with us, not as a distant observer but as one who has tasted sorrow, betrayal, and death. The Eucharist is His enduring presence, a table set in the valley of shadows.
π Scriptural Lens
This passage is not just moral instruction—it’s a map for walking with others in suffering. Love that anticipates, that honors, that stays.
π¬ Symbolic Companion
π΄ Witness of Reckless
Staff Sergeant Reckless, the Korean War horse, carried ammunition and wounded soldiers through fire. She did not speak, but she walked with them. Her story reminds us that companionship in suffering is often silent, symbolic, and deeply Eucharistic.
πΏ Jesse Tree Overlay
π· Hospitality Cue
π Closing Prayer
Candace’s Corner-St. Christopher is still a saint.
· Make reparations to the Holy Face-Tuesday Devotion
· Pray Day 3 of the Novena for our Pope and Bishops
· Tuesday: Litany of St. Michael the Archangel
· Andrew Carnegie, born on November 25, 1835
· How to celebrate Nov 25th
o Wake up feeling blasΓ©? It’s time to kickstart your day with a parfait for breakfast. Create your own unique combo of yogurt, granola, and fruit.
o It’s Statehood Day, celebrate the rich heritage of Bosnia and Herzegovina in your own way.
o Feeling empowered? Support your favorite brands online or in-store. Grab a coffee and revel in the joy of shopping. Find those special deals or treat yourself to something small.
o While you’re at it, don’t forget to join the fight against violence towards women. Educate yourself and raise awareness on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
o Make a difference. End your day on a flavorful note. Whip up a cool gazpacho soup – no cooking required. Enjoy the medley of fresh veggies and herbs in every spoonful. As the day winds down, set a reminder for important tasks. It’s Shopping Reminder Day after all. Plan your week, jot down lists, and stay organized. Cheers to a fulfilling day, however motley it may seem.
π Candace’s Worldwide Vineyard Tour
Week 5: Catalonia, Spain
Theme: “Pilgrim Flame, Vineyard Joy”
Dates: November 26–December 2, 2025
Base: Priorat Region – Gratallops, Porrera, and Falset
π️ Wednesday, November 26 – Arrival and Pilgrim Welcome
· Travel from Sicily to Barcelona ($85 USD flight), then train to Falset ($18 USD).
· Lodging at 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.
π️ Thursday, November 27 – Gratallops & Vineyard Blessing
· Morning visit to Clos Mogador (~$35 USD tasting).
· Walk the vineyard paths and bless one vine with a pilgrim’s prayer.
· Lunch at Celler de Gratallops (~$28 USD).
Symbolic Act: “Joy in the Soil”—pour a drop of wine at the roots and speak a blessing.
π️ Friday, November 28 – Porrera & Pilgrim’s Table
· Visit to Vall Llach Winery (~$32 USD tasting).
· Afternoon journaling at the village overlook.
· Prepare a shared meal: bread, cheese, olives, and local wine.
Symbolic Act: “Table of Flame”—name one joy that has endured and one that has surprised.
π️ Saturday, November 29 – Vineyard Walk & Marian Pause
· Morning walk through the terraced vineyards of Porrera.
· Pause at a Marian shrine and offer a silent prayer.
· Picnic with local produce from Falset market (~$12 USD).
Symbolic Act: “Pilgrim’s Pause”—leave a flower or stone at the shrine.
π️ Sunday, November 30 – Montsant Day Trip: Joy and Ascent
· Day trip to Serra de Montsant Natural Park (~$15 USD transit).
· Optional hike and reflection at the hermitage of Sant Bartomeu.
· Tasting at Cellers Scala Dei (~$30 USD).
Symbolic Act: “Ascent of Joy”—write a psalm or poem at the summit.
Mass Option:
Attend Sunday Mass at Church of Santa Maria, Falset
Address: Plaça de la Quartera, 43730 Falset, Tarragona, Spain
Typical Sunday Mass: 11:00 AM
π️ Monday, December 1 – Vineyard Benediction
· Final tasting at Bodega Mas Martinet (~$28 USD).
· Write a vineyard blessing for the next traveler.
· Evening toast with Priorat Reserva.
Symbolic Act: “Catalan Benediction”—bless the hills, send forth the joy.
π️ Tuesday, December 2 – Travel Day
· Depart Catalonia for your next vineyard destination.
π° Estimated Total Cost: $535 USD
Includes 7 nights lodging, 4 vineyard tastings, 2 symbolic meals, and 1 day trip with transit and picnic.
π½️ Seven-Course Ritual Meal: Pilgrim Flame, Vineyard Joy
Theme: Priorat warmth, Marian reverence, and vineyard celebration
π₯ 1. Aperitivo – “Flame of Welcome”
Dish: Priorat Garnacha Spritz with Roasted Red Pepper Romesco on Crostini
· Symbolic Arc: Light the flame, name your joy
π 2. Antipasto – “Joy in the Soil”
Dish: Wild Mushroom Croquettes with Black Garlic Aioli
· Symbolic Arc: Taste what roots have endured
π₯ 3. Primo – “Table of Flame”
Dish: Catalan Escudella-Inspired Pasta with Chickpeas and Greens
· Symbolic Arc: Share what has nourished you
π 4. Secondo – “Marian Pause”
Dish: Grilled Lamb Chops with Rosemary and Orange Zest
· Symbolic Arc: Rest in the presence of the holy
π 5. Contorno – “Ascent of Joy”
Dish: Olive and Herb Focaccia with Montsant Garnatxa Blanca
· Symbolic Arc: Rise with gratitude
π§ 6. Dolce – “Catalan Benediction”
Dish: Crema Catalana with Burnt Sugar Crust
· Symbolic Arc: Let joy break open
π· 7. Digestivo – “Sending Forth”
Dish: Fig-Stuffed Chocolate Truffles with Priorat Reserva
· Symbolic Arc: Carry sweetness into the next vineyard
NOVEMBER 25 Tuesday-Saint Catherine of Alexandria
Tuesday Octave of the King- Catherine of Alexandria-33 days
Romans, Chapter 8, Verse 35-39
What will separate us from the love of Christ?
Will anguish, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness,
or peril, or the sword?
As it is
written: “For your sake we are being slain all the day; we are looked upon
as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we
conquer overwhelmingly through him who LOVED
us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor
angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor
powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will
be able to separate us from the love
of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
This is God’s
everlasting love for us. He desires that we seek Him for He never stops seeking
us. God created the heavens and the earth in seven days but at Christ
resurrection He recreated the heavens and the earth in His blood. This is the
new creation in Him, Christ our Lord and all who seek His love and mercy shall
receive it.
The day of
the Resurrection: the new creation[1]
2174 Jesus rose
from the dead "on the first day of the week." Because it is the
"first day," the day of Christ's Resurrection recalls the first
creation. Because it is the "eighth day" following the Sabbath, it
symbolizes the new creation ushered in by Christ's Resurrection. For Christians
it has become the first of all days, the first of all feasts, the Lord's Day
Sunday:
We all gather on the day of the sun, for it is the first day [after the Jewish Sabbath, but also the first day] when God, separating matter from darkness, made the world; and on this same day Jesus Christ our Savior rose from the dead.
Sunday - fulfillment
of the Sabbath
2175 Sunday is
expressly distinguished from the Sabbath which it follows chronologically every
week; for Christians its ceremonial observance replaces that of the Sabbath. In
Christ's Passover, Sunday fulfills the spiritual truth of the Jewish Sabbath
and announces man's eternal rest in God. For worship under the Law prepared for
the mystery of Christ, and what was done there prefigured some aspects of
Christ:
Those
who lived according to the old order of things have come to a new hope, no
longer keeping the Sabbath, but the Lord's Day, in which our life is blessed by
him and by his death.
2176 The
celebration of Sunday observes the moral commandment inscribed by nature in the
human heart to render to God an outward, visible, public, and regular worship
"as a sign of his universal beneficence to all." Sunday worship
fulfills the moral command of the Old Covenant, taking up its rhythm and spirit
in the weekly celebration of the Creator and Redeemer of his people.
Copilot’s Take
Romans 8:35–39 proclaims the unshakable truth that nothing—no suffering, no power, no force in heaven or on earth—can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. This divine love is not passive or distant; it is active, pursuing, and victorious, even in the face of death and despair. Through Christ’s Resurrection, God not only conquered sin and death but ushered in a new creation—what the Church calls the “eighth day,” the dawn of eternal life. Sunday, the Lord’s Day, becomes the weekly celebration of this new beginning, fulfilling the Sabbath and inviting us into the rhythm of redemption. In this sacred rhythm, we are reminded that God’s love is not bound by time, suffering, or circumstance. It is a love that recreates, renews, and restores—calling us to live as people of the Resurrection, anchored in hope and destined for glory.
π Tuesday – Octave of Christ the King
Virtue Focus: Generosity
Theme: Giving as a Free Act of Goodness
I. Daily Commitments
- Attend Mass:
In person or via EWTN or online stream
- Meditate on
Marian Virtue: Generosity, as modeled by Mary
- Fast: Daniel
Fast (Monday–Saturday)
- Exercise:
Universal Man Plan – Phase 1
II. Generosity as Marian Virtue
Generosity is the virtue of giving—not taking. It is
the free act of offering something of your own to another, without obligation,
reward, or self-interest. True generosity requires awareness of your own
freedom: I choose to give this gift, and the decision to use that
freedom for good: I choose to do good. Mary’s generosity was not
transactional, it was transformational. She gave her fiat, her presence, her
intercession, and her quiet strength, elevating others through her self-giving
love.
III. Jewish Insight: Maimonides’ Ladder of Giving
In Jewish tradition, Maimonides outlines eight levels
of charity (Tzedakah), with the highest being the gift that prevents poverty
before it begins—empowering others through employment, partnership, or support
that preserves dignity. This deepens our understanding of generosity: it is not
merely giving what is asked, but anticipating what is needed and giving in a
way that uplifts.
IV. What Generosity Is Not
- Giving to
right a wrong is justice
- Giving out of obligation is reciprocity
- Giving out of
loyalty is solidarity
- Giving for
personal gain is selfishness
- Giving to
someone you love is love
- Generosity
stands apart, it is a free, intentional act of goodness
V. Generosity as Opposition
Generosity actively resists:
·
Hate
·
Contempt
·
Envy
·
Anger
·
Indifference
It restores dignity, builds communion, and reflects
the heart of Christ the King.
VI. Generosity in Virtue Pairings
- Generosity
with courage becomes heroism
- Generosity
with justice becomes equity
- Generosity
with compassion becomes benevolence
- Generosity
with mercy becomes leniency
- Generosity with gentleness becomes kindness
VII. Practical Expressions
- Help when you
can
- Perform
random acts of kindness
- Give without
hope of reward or anticipation of gratitude
- Enjoy the
virtue of generosity as its own reward
VIII. Closing Reflection
As we fast in the spirit of Daniel, move through the Universal Man Plan, and attend daily Mass, let us give freely—time, encouragement, hospitality, forgiveness—without expectation. Let our generosity echo the King who gave everything without condition, and the Mother who gave herself without hesitation. In this rhythm of giving, we participate in the new creation, the eighth day, and the everlasting love that nothing can separate us from.
St. Catherine of
Alexandria
St. Catherine of Alexandria (November 25th), virgin
and martyr. Invoked against diseases of the tongue, protection against a sudden
and unprovided death. Patroness of Christian philosophers, of maidens,
preachers, wheelwrights and mechanics. She is also invoked by students,
orators, and barristers as "the wise counselor."
The account of her martyrdom is legendary and defies every attempt to cull out the historical kernel. Old Oriental sources make no mention of her. In the West her cult does not appear before the eleventh century, when the crusaders made it popular. She became the patroness of philosophical faculties; she is one of the "Fourteen Holy Helpers." The breviary offers the following:
Catherine, virgin of Alexandria, devoted herself to the pursuit of knowledge; at the age of eighteen, she surpassed all her contemporaries in science. Upon seeing how the Christians were being tortured, she went before Emperor Maximin (311-313), upbraided him for his cruelty, and with convincing reasons demonstrated the need of Christian faith in order to be saved. Astounded by her wisdom, the Emperor ordered her to be kept confined, and having summoned the most learned philosophers, promised them magnificent rewards if they could confound the virgin and turn her from belief in Christ. Far from being successful, a considerable number of the philosophers were inflamed by the sound reasons and persuasiveness of Catherine's speech with such a love for Jesus Christ that they declared themselves willing to offer their lives for the Gospel.
Then the Emperor attempted to win her by flattery and by promises, but his efforts proved equally fruitless. He ordered her whipped with rods, scourged with leaden nodules, and then left to languish eleven days without food in prison. The Emperor's wife and Porphyrius, general of the army, visited Catherine in prison; her words brought both to Christ and later they too proved their love in blood. Catherine's next torture consisted of being placed upon a wheel with sharp and pointed knives; from her lacerated body prayers ascended to heaven and the infernal machine fell to pieces. Many who witnessed the miracle embraced the faith. Finally, on November 25 Christ's servant was beheaded (307 or 312). By the hands of angels her body was carried to Mt. Sinai, where it was interred in the convent which bears her name.
Excerpted from The Church's Year of Grace, Pius Parsch.
Patron: Apologists; craftsmen who work with a wheel (potters; spinners; etc.); archivists; attorneys; barristers; dying people; educators; girls; jurists; knife grinders; knife sharpeners; lawyers; librarians; libraries; maidens; mechanics; millers; nurses; old maids; philosophers; potters; preachers; scholars; schoolchildren; scribes; secretaries; spinners; spinsters; stenographers; students; tanners; teachers; theologians; turners; unmarried girls; wheelwrights.
Things to Do:
- St. Catherine was invoked by young
girls seeking husbands. If you have children, you could use this feast to
discuss the qualities of a good spouse. You could bake St.
Catherine's wigs
and have your discussion as part of the fun (a spoon full of sugar).
- Read more about St. Catherine.
- St. Catherine's remains are in St.
Katherine's Monastery on Mt. Sinai. The Monastery, a 1,600-year-old
fortress at the base of Mt. Sinai, is inhabited by Coptic monks (not in
union with Rome). Inside the chapel is believed to be the Burning Bush,
through which God first appeared to Moses. Read more about the history of
the Church
of Alexandria
and the
Council of Chalcedon where the Coptic Church broke from the bark of
Peter and pray for the reunion of all Eastern Churches under the Pope.
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
4
On this 4th
day seek with all your heart to
be grateful for the Faith of the Roman Catholic Church.
Copilot:
Embracing and being grateful for the faith of the Roman Catholic Church can be a profound and enriching spiritual practice. The Church offers a deep well of traditions, teachings, and community support that can help guide and sustain your faith journey. Here are some ways to cultivate gratitude for this faith:
Reflect on the
Sacraments
- Eucharist: Appreciate the
profound significance of receiving the Body and Blood of Christ.
- Confession: Be thankful for the
opportunity to seek forgiveness and start anew.
Engage with the
Community
- Fellowship: Participate in
parish activities and build connections with fellow believers.
- Service: Volunteer for church
ministries and outreach programs, embodying the spirit of service.
Deepen Your
Understanding
- Scripture and Catechism:
Regularly read and reflect on the Bible and the Catechism of the Catholic
Church.
- Spiritual Writings: Explore
works by saints and theologians for inspiration and guidance.
Prayer and Meditation
- Daily Prayer: Develop a routine
of daily prayer, offering thanks for the blessings and challenges in your
life.
- Meditation: Spend quiet time in
meditation, focusing on gratitude and the presence of God.
Celebrating the
Liturgical Seasons
- Advent and Christmas: Reflect
on the anticipation and joy of Christ’s birth.
- Lent and Easter: Contemplate the themes of repentance, sacrifice,
and resurrection.
Bible in a Year Day 145 The Universal Church
Fr. Mike reveals Solomon's plan of leadership, and how he is aiming to unite the people. He also foreshadows the importance of the temple as a place where Israel can go to worship God as one people. Today's readings are 1 Kings 4, 2 Chronicles 6, and Psalm 65.
Daily
Devotions/Practice
·
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting: Today's Fast: The
sanctification of the Church Militant.
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Rosary
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