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Christopher’s Corner-John Voight born 1938
· 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.
· How to celebrate Dec 29th
o It’s time for a day filled with productivity, music, flavorful dishes, and time management. Begin by creating a to-do list for” Still Need To Do Day.” Prioritize tasks, set achievable goals, and reward yourself along the way. Incorporate the soothing sounds of a cello to add elegance and inspiration to your day. Play classical music in the background or even try your hand at playing a few notes yourself.
o For lunch, celebrate” National Pepper Pot Day” by cooking a warm and spicy pepper pot soup. Use basic ingredients like broth, meat, vegetables, and of course, peppers to create a hearty meal.
o As the day winds down, embrace the importance of time with” Tick Tock Day.” Reflect on how you’ve spent your hours, organize your space, and plan for tomorrow. Remember, it’s not about the quantity of time but the quality of how you use it. End the day feeling accomplished, nourished, and mindful of the moments that make up your life.
🕯️ Bucket List Trip [3] – Part 10: USA 70-Degree Year Journey
Dates: December 29, 2025 – January 5, 2026
Theme: Caribbean Light – New Year Pilgrimage
Route: San Juan → Old San Juan → El Yunque Rainforest → Caguas → Ponce
Style: Island pilgrimage, New Year reflection, Eucharistic hospitality
Climate Alignment: Daily highs 79–81°F
💰 Estimated Cost Overview
Category | Estimated Cost |
Lodging (7 nights) | $720 (civilian mid‑range) OR ~$490 (military lodging at Fort Buchanan) |
Food (daily meals) | $245 |
Fuel/Transit | $90 (local drives, rainforest excursion) |
Symbolic extras | $100 |
Total Estimate | $1,155 (civilian) / $925 (military) |
🛏️ Lodging Options
Civilian: Hotel El Convento (Old San Juan), Caribe Hilton
Military: Fort Buchanan Lodging
🌠 Day 1 – Monday, December 29
Location: San Juan Cathedral – Catedral de San Juan Bautista
Symbol: Baptismal Light
Ritual Prompt: “Begin anew in the waters of John.”
Evening Mass at the Cathedral
🥗 Foodie Stop: Raíces Restaurant (~$25)
🏞️ Day 2 – Tuesday, December 30
Location: Old San Juan
Symbol: Walls of Memory
Ritual Prompt: “Memory guards the pilgrim’s path.”
Walk Castillo San Felipe del Morro
Journal: “What walls protect my spirit?”
🍲 Foodie Stop: Princesa Gastrobar (~$30)
🎆 Day 3 – Wednesday, December 31 (New Year’s Eve)
Location: Condado Beach
Symbol: Threshold of Time
Ritual Prompt: “Time turns—grace remains.”
Sunset vigil at the beach
Attend New Year’s Eve Mass at San Juan Cathedral
🥘 Foodie Stop: Santaella Restaurant (~$40)
🎉 Day 4 – Thursday, January 1 (Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God)
Location: Our Lady of Providence Cathedral, San Juan
Symbol: Marian Beginning
Ritual Prompt: “Mary mothers the year into being.”
Mass for the Solemnity of Mary
🍷 Foodie Stop: Jose Enrique Restaurant (~$35)
🌌 Day 5 – Friday, January 2
Location: El Yunque Rainforest
Symbol: River of Renewal
Ritual Prompt: “Renewal flows where waters meet.”
Hike to La Mina Falls
🧺 Foodie Stop: roadside lechoneras (roast pork stands) (~$20)
🌲 Day 6 – Saturday, January 3
Location: Caguas
Symbol: Town of Tradition
Ritual Prompt: “Tradition roots the pilgrim’s joy.”
Visit local markets and plazas
🍽️ Foodie Stop: El Mesón Sandwiches (~$15)
🎶 Day 7 – Sunday, January 4 (Epiphany Vigil)
Location: Ponce Cathedral – Catedral de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe
Symbol: Star of the Magi
Ritual Prompt: “The star guides pilgrims to Christ.”
Mass at Ponce Cathedral
Blog reflection: “Epiphany Light in Puerto Rico”
🍷 Foodie Stop: Lola Eclectic Cuisine (~$35)
✨ This leg gives you New Year’s Eve in San Juan, Marian devotion on Jan 1, rainforest renewal, and Epiphany light—all within the 70‑degree rhythm.
December 29
Monday in the Octave of Christmas
St. Thomas
Becket-Pepper Pot Day
Genesis, Chapter 21, Verse 14-18
Early the next morning Abraham got some bread and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar. Then, placing the child on her back, he sent her away. As she roamed aimlessly in the wilderness of Beer-sheba, the water in the skin was used up. So she put the child down under one of the bushes, and then went and sat down opposite him, about a bowshot away; for she said to herself, “I cannot watch the child die.” As she sat opposite him, she wept aloud. God heard the boy’s voice, and God’s angel called to Hagar from heaven: “What is the matter, Hagar? Do not FEAR; God has heard the boy’s voice in this plight of his. Get up, lift up the boy and hold him by the hand; for I will make of him a great nation.”
Hagar was the servant of Sarah. Hagar was also the mother of Abraham’s firstborn illegitimate son Ishmael. The situation here was horrendous, due to Sarah’s practical nature; she gave her slave to Abraham to raise as a son to give his inheritance, too. According to Islamic sources it was Ishmael that Abraham tried to offer as a sacrifice to God at the Dome of the rock in Jerusalem. A war ensued between the mother of Ishmael and the mother of Isaac. Now that Sarah had her own son--Hagar and her son was a threat to Sarah and Sarah wanted her and her son dead. Fear is the root of the evil between Sarah and Hagar. Sarah and Hagar feared the loss of life and property for their son’s; and unfortunately this in-house squabble continues today with the descendants of Abraham (The Jews and the Arabs). Here we see God sends his angel to pronounce to Hagar, dying of thirst and having to watch her son die of thirst, to not be afraid. Legend has it that the angel produced life giving water for Hagar and Ishmael and the courage to continue. Blood feuds are the worst and are usually caused by fear which leads to puffed up pride and envy. Pride and envy are a slow poison to avoid. Today would be a good day to reflect if we have given in to this type of poison.
Copilot’s Take
Hagar’s moment in the wilderness is not the story of a child dying but of a mother who has already surrendered to fear, convinced that loss is inevitable until God interrupts her despair and reveals that Ishmael’s life and future are secure. That same fear-driven imagination — the belief that something precious must be taken from us — fuels every human feud, from Sarah’s anxiety over inheritance to the political collision between Henry II and Thomas Becket, where fear of losing authority or integrity hardened into rivalry and violence. Scripture shows that God steps in before tragedy becomes destiny, preserving Ishmael, lifting Hagar, and even transforming Becket’s martyrdom into a king’s repentance. The pattern is clear: fear writes false endings, pride defends them, and God keeps breaking the cycle.
St. Thomas Becket
St. Thomas Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury, suffered
martyrdom by the king's men in 1170 on this day. There is an excellent
movie about his life “Becket” if you have time to watch tonight which stars
Richard Burton and Peter O'Toole. Becket was a man of strength.
Things to Do[1]
·
Read
more about this historical event. For some web sources see The Murder of Thomas Becket, 1170, and more
information on Henry II. Watch this You
Tube video of Canterbury Cathedral.
·
Some
wonderful literature is based on this saint. Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey
Chaucer (1342 - 1400) follows a group of 30 pilgrims traveling to the
Canterbury Cathedral, the pilgrimage spot of St. Thomas Becket. T. S. Eliot
wrote a play called Murder in the Cathedral based on St. Thomas' murder.
·
See
Catholic Cuisine for
other recipes ideas for St. Thomas Becket.
·
Today
would be a good time to gather with family and friends enjoy some Christmas
goodies and spend an evening singing Christmas carols.
o The saints who are
assigned immediately following Christmas are honored because of their special
connection with Christ. December 29, the Feast of Saint Thomas Becket,
Archbishop of Canterbury, who was martyred in his cathedral by the soldiers of
Henry II in 1170, is the true anniversary date of his death. Because of the
great shock and sensation that this martyrdom caused at a time when all of
Europe was Catholic, the Roman authorities, in the thirteenth century, deemed
it appropriate to assign the celebration of his feast within the privileged
days of Christmas week, thus adding him to the group of "Christ's
nobility."
o In the Middle
Ages, Christmas week also assumed the note of a hallowed time within the homes
of the faithful. Many observances of a religious character were introduced
locally and spread over large sections of the Christian population of Europe.
For the farmers and their animals, it was a time of rest and relaxation from
laborious work; only the necessary chores were done in a stable and barn. Thus,
the whole week became a series of holidays. More time than usual was spent on
prayer and religious exercises. It is still the custom in many sections of
Europe to light the candles of the Christmas tree every night while the whole
family says the rosary or performs some other devotion, followed by the singing
of carols.
o Carol singing from
house to house is an ancient tradition in central Europe on the twelve nights
between Christmas and Epiphany. The Poles call these nights the "Holy
Evenings" (Stoiete Wieczory). Another widespread practice is the
performance of religious plays portraying events of the Christmas story (such
as the Nativity, the visit of the Magi, the flight into Egypt, and the massacre
of Bethlehem). In southern Germany and Austria many such plays are still
performed in rural communities. Among the northern Slavs (Poles, Ukrainians,
Czechs, Slovaks) a puppet theater (szopka) is in vogue; its religious
scenes alternate with secular dramatic exhibits. In the cities of Poland
children put on Christmas dramas (jaselka). A similar performance (Bethlehemes
jatek) is done by children in Hungary; a representation of the manger is
carried from house to house, little dramatic plays are enacted, and carols
sung.
Christmas Calendar[2]
Read about St. Thomas Becket, once a royal chancellor of England. He was slain in his own cathedral for defending the Church from interference by King Henry II.
Reflect: Christ's kingdom is already present, but it is not yet fulfilled. The destruction of the last enemy, death, is still to come, and then, says St. Paul, God will "be all in all." This is why we pray "Thy kingdom come." When we pray "Thy kingdom come," we are praying for a kingdom of truth, life, holiness, grace, justice, love, and peace. Yet, let us also remember that for the sake of this kingdom many of our sisters and brothers are suffering persecution.
Pray: Becket gave up his life for the sake of justice. Pray today for the many Christians who still face persecution and death because of their faith.
Act:
Take
time to pray the
Rosary for justice and peace today.
Fifth Day in the Octave of Christmas - Day
Five[3]
Given the
tempo of the liturgical season with its feasts it is easy to overlook that one
saint who for many centuries was, after Mary and Joseph, the most venerated
person in European Christendom.
Devotion
to him spread like wildfire. He was enshrined in the hearts of men, and in
their arts. In statues and stained glass, in song and story this good bishop
was everywhere to be found France, Italy, Spain, Sweden. Many miracles were
attributed to his heavenly advocacy. — Excerpted from Days of the Lord
- Day
Five activity (Caroling)
- Day
Five recipe (Popcorn Balls)
Five Golden Rings
Today is the 5th day of Christmas the Five Golden
Rings representing the five books of the "Pentateuch" [Genesis,
Exodus, Numbers, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy].
Pepper Pot Day[4]
Pepper
Pot, a thick and spicy soup that is an American staple dish, especially in the
southern regions of the United States. What is Pepper Pot? Well, it’s a soup
that contains twelve different ingredients. Now that we know the ingredients
for the Pepper Pot, let us look into the history of the day named for it,
Pepper Pot Day, shall we? In the modern world of today, Pepper Pot Soup has
many, many variations to it. But the soup’s true origins began on December 29th
of 1777 during the Revolutionary War, the Continental Army had been
experiencing an exceptionally harsh winter during the battle of Valley Forge.
The soldiers were low on food because the farmers in the area had gone and sold
all their supplies to the British Army for cash rather than the weak currency
that the Continental soldiers could offer them for their crops. Christopher
Ludwick, a baker general of the Continental Army, gathered whatever food he
could scrounge together to feed the cold and frail soldiers. The chef was able
to find scraps of tripe, meat, and some peppercorn. He then mixed the
ingredients together with some other seasonings and created the hot, thick, and
spicy soup we now know as pepper pot soup. It quickly became known as “the
soup that won the war.” The soup gave the soldiers the warmth and
strength that they needed to push the enemies back through the harsh winter
weather.
How to celebrate Pepper Pot Day
To
celebrate this holiday, all we have to do is gather the necessary ingredients
to make our own Pepper Pot Soup and share it amongst our friends and family.
Pepper Pot soup is a great way to warm up on a cold and dark winter’s night,
huddled around the fireplace and listening to stories narrated by family
members who always have interesting stories to be told to everyone they can
tell them to. Want to make your own? The ingredients are four cups of water,
four tablespoons of chicken bouillon powder, two medium grated potatoes, two
medium sized carrots which are also grated, two finely chopped celery stalks,
one finely chopped onion, one and a half cups of finely chopped green, red, or
yellow peppers, one half cup of all-purpose flour, two teaspoons of salt, one
teaspoon of pepper, one more cup of water, and finally, six cups of milk.
Bible in a
Year Day 181 Jonah and the Whale
Today, we hear the story of the prophet Jonah, who, unlike Amos, does not want the people to repent. The readings are 2 Kings 15, Jonah 1-4, and Psalm 138.
Daily Devotions
·
Today's
Fast: Unite in the work of the Porters of St.
Joseph
by joining them in fasting: The Sick Afflicted
and Infirmed.
·
Offering to the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Rosary
🎬 Beautiful but Broke (1944) — Summary
A wartime musical‑comedy about resourcefulness, integrity, and unexpected vocation
Beautiful but Broke (1944) is an American musical‑comedy directed by Charles Barton and starring Joan Davis, Jane Frazee, and John Hubbard. The film follows Dottie Duncan, secretary to theatrical agent Waldo Main. When Waldo is drafted into the Marines, he hands the failing agency over to Dottie, who suddenly finds herself responsible for keeping the business alive.
With most male musicians away at war, Dottie recruits her office neighbors—Sally and Sue—and organizes an all‑girl orchestra to fulfill a big contract. But everything goes wrong at once:
- The railroad gives their seats to military personnel.
- Dottie misplaces her purse containing the tickets.
- The group becomes stranded in a small town.
Instead of giving up, the women adapt. They work at a daycare center supporting mothers engaged in wartime labor, and they perform at charity events to boost morale. Eventually, Dottie discovers that Bill Drake, who has been arranging their local activities, had her purse the whole time—keeping the tickets so the band wouldn’t leave.
The film blends slapstick comedy, wartime patriotism, and musical numbers, offering a light but meaningful story about perseverance and purpose.
✝️ Catholic Lessons & Reflections
Even though Beautiful but Broke is a breezy wartime comedy, it carries several themes that resonate deeply with Catholic social teaching—especially around vocation, solidarity, and the dignity of work.
1. Vocation Often Emerges Through Disruption
Dottie never planned to run an agency or lead a band.
- Her calling emerges only when her world is upended.
- Catholic spirituality teaches that God often reveals vocation through unexpected responsibility.
Lesson: When life shifts suddenly, grace often hides inside the new duty.
2. Solidarity in Times of Hardship
The women support one another, share burdens, and adapt together.
- This mirrors the Catholic principle of solidarity, especially in wartime or crisis.
- Their cooperation becomes a witness to communal resilience.
Lesson: Hardship becomes holy when borne together.
3. The Dignity of Work—Even Humble Work
Stranded and broke, the women take jobs at a daycare center and perform at charity events.
- Catholic teaching affirms that all honest work—especially work that serves families—is dignified.
- Their labor becomes an act of service to mothers supporting the war effort.
Lesson: Work offered for the good of others becomes a form of love.
4. Integrity vs. Manipulation
Bill Drake’s decision to hide Dottie’s purse is played for comedy, but it raises a moral tension.
- Catholic teaching emphasizes truthfulness and respect for others’ freedom.
- Even well‑intentioned manipulation undermines trust.
Lesson: Good ends never justify deceptive means.
5. Women as Agents of Renewal
The film highlights women stepping into leadership roles during wartime.
- Catholic tradition honors the unique genius of women—creativity, relational strength, and moral clarity.
- The all‑girl band becomes a symbol of feminine resilience and contribution.
Lesson: Women’s gifts are essential to the flourishing of community and culture.
6. Joy as a Spiritual Weapon
The musical numbers, humor, and camaraderie are not escapism—they are morale‑building.
- Catholic tradition sees joy as a fruit of the Spirit and a force against despair.
- Their performances lift the spirits of a weary community.
Lesson: Joy offered to others is a form of charity.
🌿 A Closing Reflection
Beautiful but Broke is more than a wartime musical—it’s a portrait of ordinary people discovering purpose through service, creativity, and perseverance. It affirms the Catholic conviction that God works through small acts, humble work, and unexpected responsibilities.
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