Saturday, February 7, 2026

Vinny’s Corner

Be strong and steadfast; have no fear or dread of them, for it is the LORD, your God, who marches with you; he will never fail you or forsake you.

(Deuteronomy 31:6)

· Saturday Litany of the Hours Invoking the Aid of Mother Mary

· Carnival Time begins in Catholic Countries.

· Carnival: Part Two, the Final Countdown

· Try “Cinnamon”

· Bucket List trip:

· How to celebrate Feb 7

o Start your day by enjoying a delicious bowl of ice cream for breakfast..

o Celebrate National Ballet Day by immersing yourself in the beauty and grace of dance.

o Indulge in a plate of creamy fettuccine Alfredo to honor National Fettuccine Alfredo Day.

· Spirit Hour:

o End your day with a refreshing Pisco Sour to celebrate International Pisco Sour Day.

🌿 February 7–13, 2026

Ephesus — Home of Mary & the Birthplace of Christian Community
Theme: Dwelling With Mary, Listening to the Word, and Learning the Rhythm of Early Church Life

Ephesus is where Mary lived with St. John after the Resurrection.
It is where the early Church learned how to love one another, how to forgive, how to endure persecution, and how to build a community rooted in Christ.

🗓️ Daily Itinerary & Symbolic Acts

Feb 7 – Arrival in Ephesus (Kuşadası)

🕊️ Symbolic Act: “Entering the Home of the Heart”
Arrive in Kuşadası and travel to the hillside near Ephesus.
Stand before the House of the Virgin Mary (Meryem Ana Evi).

Pray for the grace to dwell with God—not just visit Him.

Stay: Cella Boutique Hotel or a simple guesthouse near the ruins

Feb 8 – House of Mary (Meryem Ana Evi)

🕍 Symbolic Act: “Mother, Behold Your Son”
Attend Mass at the House of Mary.
Light a candle and place a written intention in the prayer wall.
Ask Mary to teach you how to live the Gospel quietly and faithfully.

Feb 9 – Ancient Ephesus & the Early Church

🏛️ Symbolic Act: “Walking the First Streets of Faith”
Explore the ruins of Ephesus:

Library of Celsus

Marble Road

Terrace Houses

The Great Theatre where Paul preached
Reflect on how the Gospel took root in real streets, real homes, real lives.

Feb 10 – Basilica of St. John

🕊️ Symbolic Act: “Beloved Disciple, Teach Me Love”
Visit the basilica built over St. John’s tomb.
Pray for the grace to love Christ with the same intimacy John had.

Feb 11 – Cave of the Seven Sleepers

🌿 Symbolic Act: “Rest in God’s Time”
Visit the legendary cave where early Christians sought refuge.
Reflect on the mystery of God’s timing—slow, patient, and faithful.

Feb 12 – Coastal Silence & Marian Reflection

🕊️ Symbolic Act: “Mother of the Way”
Walk the quiet coastline near Kuşadası.

Pray the Rosary slowly, letting each mystery become a step.
Ask Mary to shape your interior life with her steadiness.

Feb 13 – Departure & Sending Forth

🕍 Symbolic Act: “Behold, Your Mother”
Before leaving, return once more to the House of Mary.
Whisper a simple prayer:
“Mother, stay with me.”

💶 Cost Snapshot (Per Person)

Lodging (6 nights): $300–$450

Meals: $150–$210

Transport (local taxis, shuttles): $60–$120

Entrance Fees: $30–$50

Total: $540–$830

February 7 First Saturday

Marriage Week-Ballet

Exodus, Chapter 34, Verse 30

When Aaron, then, and the other Israelites saw Moses and noticed how radiant the skin of his face had become, they were AFRAID to come near him.

Moses after experiencing the presence of God while receiving the 10 commandments came down from the mountain and he glowed with God’s glory. We too can glow with the glory of God by being in His presence.

The Radiant Person[1]

The Four Dimensions of Life

Beyond the laws of radiant health are some broader principles that include the whole person. Human beings are made up of more than just a body. The World Health Organization defines health as "a state of complete physical, mental, and social wellbeing, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity." This definition is incomplete as it leaves out one significant aspect of life and health—the spiritual. This understanding is illustrated clearly in Luke 2:52 which tells us that, "Jesus increased in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man." A rough paraphrase would state that Jesus grew mentally, physically, spiritually and socially.

Health for the whole person

We cannot be totally well unless every part of us is healthy. In fact the mental, social, and spiritual factors may be even more involved in causing or fighting many diseases than are the physical factors. Many of the laws that we listed as governing physical health apply equally well to the other facets of life.

1. Nutrition-It is necessary to eat to live, not only physically, but also in the other three dimensions.

Mentally: If new information and ideas are not fed into the mind on a regular basis the intellect ceases to grow and develop, becoming weak and stunted. Don't dwell on the trivial, degrading, or useless; these things can be considered mental junk food. I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble ... my loving God. PSALM 59:16

Socially: If love, respect, and companionship are not a regular part of your life, your social capabilities become weak and dwarfed.

Spiritually: Christians nourish themselves spiritually through Bible study, prayer, fellowship, and service to others.

2. Exercise

—Activity is a law of life that is often phrased this way, "Use it or lose it."

Mentally: Intellect, memory, wisdom, attitude, and willpower need to be exercised.

Socially: Love, tact, the social graces, communication, and core values grow when they are practiced.

Spiritually: The exercise of faith, prayer, love, and perseverance are essential for spiritual strength and growth.

3. Rest—We need to relax and regenerate after activity.

Mentally: The mind needs to rest after periods of intense mental activity in order to recuperate. In addition, a good night's sleep gives the mind a chance to reorganize and start afresh.

Socially: A time away in privacy and solitude is necessary after periods of heavy social interaction.

Spiritually: After intense periods of ministry Christ's servants need to "Come apart and rest awhile" by spending time with Him. Time with Christ is spiritual rejuvenation. (See Mark 6:30,31).

4. Temperance—The basic definition of this law of life and health is to avoid that which is harmful and practice moderation in that which is healthful.

First, do no harm.

Mentally: Don't do anything that would destroy or pollute your mental faculties.

Socially: Don't acquire harmful habits or friends, or engage in socially destructive behaviors like gossip, criticism, breaking civil laws, or engaging in risky, degrading, sexual behaviors.

Spiritually: Don't destroy your spiritual sensibilities by dwelling on spiritually destructive emotions such as hatred, anger, or revenge. Avoid putting yourself under Satan's power through occult practices or the rejection of the Spirit of God.

Second, practice moderation and balance in things that are good.

This involves more than just a balance between such things as activity and rest, logic and emotion, solitude and the multitude. It also consists of keeping a healthy balance between the four dimensions (mentally, physically spiritually and socially). When one of these areas of life becomes all encompassing or is neglected, the result is an unbalanced and unhealthy individual.

Finally, part of being in balance is knowing what is most valuable and important. There will be times when you will have to choose between what is best for one element at the expense of the others. A young person might have to choose between a career in sports or science. You might have time to get either physical exercise or spiritual nourishment but not both. You make choices based on what you value most. Why not make your spiritual dimension the top priority, and base each decision on how it will affect your spiritual life and health? It would be a terrible waste to make physical health your highest priority only to miss out completely on eternal life and the associated radiant health Christ promises. "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matt. 6:33).

5. Water, fresh air, and sunshine—These are all useful for cleanliness, which is a principle that applies equally to all segments of life.

Spiritually: We need to open our hearts daily to the sunshine of God's love, let the pure air of the Spirit flow into our lives, and be washed in the cleansing blood of Jesus, accepting His forgiveness.

Mentally: Likewise, when the mind is polluted and degraded there is help in the principle, "By beholding we become changed?" But ultimately, only by accepting Christ's offer to create in us a new life can the mind be completely cleansed.

Socially: As Christ changes the life and the person sincerely repents, confesses, apologizes, and makes amends, others will realize that this is a new and clean person.

Christ knows and loves each of us as if there was no one else.

He longs for us to accept His offer of salvation. He desires to cleanse us, and make us whole, so that we might achieve the happiness and abundant life for which we were created.

The Inseparable Four Dimensions

The four dimensions of life are inseparable and so interrelated that what affects one part of us affects every other part as well.

Physically: Poor physical health can cloud the mind, depress the attitudes, and make it more difficult to keep spiritually healthy. Conversely, good health can clear the mind and improve the mental outlook, promoting enriched spiritual strength and health.

Mentally: Willpower, attitude, and intellect have a decided influence on how we live our lives and apply or reject the various laws of health.

Socially: Both the attitudes that permeate our homes, and the relationships we form, have the power to affect our health

Spiritually: The exercise of faith, love, hope, prayer, perseverance, and dedication to God will bring peace of mind, character growth, and increased physical health.

The study and practice of these extended health principles will make a difference in the usefulness and quality of life. Each of these laws with which we cooperate brings a benefit, but when we cooperate with all of them the rewards are multiplied!

Copilot’s Take

Confronting evil is not primarily a matter of force but of formation, and the radiant person—integrated in mind, body, spirit, and relationships—meets darkness the way Moses met the Israelites: not with argument, but with a presence shaped by God. Evil feeds on fragmentation, on the exhausted body, the unfed mind, the isolated heart, and the neglected soul,

but it loses its footing when a person is whole and ordered under grace. Holiness exposes what is false simply by being itself. This is why the saints, like disciplined dancers, moved with a strength that appeared effortless: their balance came from interior alignment, their beauty from obedience, their power from the One who dwelt within them. In marriage, in community, and in the quiet routines of daily life, the radiant person confronts evil not by matching its aggression but by carrying a light it cannot imitate. To live mentally nourished, physically stewarded, socially connected, and spiritually anchored is to become the kind of person whose very presence unsettles darkness. Radiance is not a performance; it is the natural glow of a life ordered toward God, and it remains the most enduring way to confront the shadows of the world.

Marriage Week[2] February 7-14

Simon Peter and the other fishermen are astonished at the catch that reveals Jesus as Lord. Jesus’ response to Simon Peter is reassuring: “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men”. Once again, the fisherman of Galilee places his trust in the words of Jesus and leaves everything to follow Him. James and John also do the same; from now on, they will be ‘fishers of men’. Jesus invites them to share in His mission, the mission of the Church. As baptized, we all partake in the mission of Jesus Christ, priest, prophet, and king. As married men and women, the calling is lived out in a concrete home and family. How does your life as a couple, as parents, as godparents, or in another way, touch the lives of your family? How are you witnesses and bearers of the Gospel?

What Is Marriage?[3]

Marriage is a lifelong partnership of the whole of life, of mutual and exclusive fidelity, established by mutual consent between a man and a woman, and ordered towards the good of the spouses and the procreation of offspring. As the Second Vatican Council reminds us, marriage is not a purely human institution: the intimate partnership of life and the love which constitutes the married state has been established by the creator and endowed by him with its own proper laws. . .. For God himself is the author of marriage. Moreover, God has endowed marriage with certain essential attributes, without which marriage cannot exist as he intends.

The Church has taught through the ages that marriage is an exclusive relationship between one man and one woman. This union, once validly entered and consummated, gives rise to a bond that cannot be dissolved by the will of the spouses. Marriage thus created is a faithful, privileged sphere of intimacy between the spouses that lasts until death.

Marriage is not merely a private institution, however. It is the foundation for the family, where children learn the values and virtues that will make good Christians as well as good citizens. The importance of marriage for children and for the upbringing of the next generation highlights the importance of marriage for all society.

Conjugal love, the love proper to marriage, is present in the commitment to the complete and total gift of self between husband and wife. Conjugal love establishes a unique communion of persons through the relationship of mutual self-giving and receiving between husband and wife, a relationship by which ―a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and the two of them become one body [flesh]‖(Gn 2:24).The Second Vatican Council speaks about conjugal love in words of great beauty: The Lord, wishing to bestow special gifts of grace and divine love on married love, has restored, perfected, and elevated it. A love like that, bringing together the human and the divine, leads the partners to a free and mutual self-giving, experienced in tenderness and action, and permeating their entire lives; this love is actually developed and increased by its generous exercise in conjugal love one can see something of how Christ loves his Church (Eph 5:25).

Resources

· On marriages in crisis –For Your Marriage list of ministries that help married couples in difficulty or crisis.

· On healthy sexuality within marriage –Paul VI, Encyclical Letter Humanae Vitae,1968.

· On divorce –USCCB, Divorce and the Church’s Healing Ministry, 2010.

· On lust and pornography –USCCB: Create in Me a Clean Heart: A Pastoral Response to Pornography, 2015 and Clean Heart series of pamphlets, 2016.

· USCCB, Pastoral Letter Marriage: Love and Life in the Divine Plan, 2009.

· USCCB, For Your Marriage website: foryourmarriage.org.

· USCCB, Por Tu Matrimonio website: portumatrimonio.org.

Great relationships don’t happen by accident[4]

Just like that sweet little vegetable patch in your backyard, the more you nurture and nourish your relationship the happier you’ll both be. And what does that look like? Quality nourishment requires pausing, listening, and paying attention to your partner. It requires that you learn to love people in ways that are meaningful to them and listen when they tell you what their needs are.

Here are 10 ways you can nudge your relationship into a happier, healthier, more fulfilling version of itself.

1. Stop pretending to be someone you’re not and just be yourself instead.

When we are who we really truly are – weird hobbies and all – magic happens. Being true to ourselves allows us to navigate life and relationships free of hang-ups, emotional baggage, or expectations. In the beginning stages of relationships, many of us focus on showcasing our best selves in an attempt to garner love and affection. We become ridiculously, painfully focused on making a good impression. But being who you really are and being who you think someone wants you to be – it’s hard to do those two things simultaneously. Take a deep breath, release those shoulders, and stop pretending and polishing yourself. Just be right here, who you are, today.

2. Smile at your loved one

To the best of your ability, greet your partner with a smile when you see each other for the first time that day. Imagine how good that would feel – after a tough day at work and sitting in traffic, you walk through the door and are greeted with a smile and a kiss from the person you love most. Wouldn’t that be an amazing way to start your evening? This is not to say you’re never allowed to share the low points of your day, but maybe save them for dinner – rather than the first five minutes that you see your sweetie. Other great times to smile at your partner: across a crowded party, before you part ways for the day, when you know they need encouragement.

3. Realize things change.

We’re living, breathing organisms – subject to the changing tides of emotion and circumstance. It can be emotionally crippling to get too attached to the “status quo” – not just in your romantic relationships but in life. Change is inevitable. Next week your partner might wake up and want to change careers, move to the east coast, or have kids (like, soon). Can you allow space for that? Could you create a new life with him while he pursued something new? And, of course, things will change for you – your passions, your career, your family, your health. When your partner tells you that they’ve got some big changes in mind – a new workout plan, a move to the country, no more dairy – do your best to listen with an open mind and heart.

4. Work out together.

Exercise gives you energy and is a wonderful way to show your partner that you’re interested in your health and you want to stay healthy for them. Trying new workouts together also helps you bond! Take a couple’s yoga class, a hip-hop dance class, or try rock climbing. Even if you’re terrible, later you’ll be able to laugh together about his terrible downward dog or your total failure to pop ‘n lock.

5. If you want quality time with your significant other, plan it.

You’ve heard this advice before and that’s because it works! Make time for thrilling exciting things – not just birthdays and anniversaries. As your weekend winds down, take a few minutes to schedule at least one fun date each week – whether that’s trying a new restaurant, going for a hike, or catching a movie at the second-run theater. Fun things happen when you make time and space for them.

6. Express your needs.

Some people like to text every day. Some people need a lot of alone time. Some people want their partner to plan exciting dates. All of these needs are equally legitimate. But your partner will never know what your needs are if you don’t tell them. You don’t need to open a first date with a checklist, but once things are clicking along, it’s okay to say, “I want you to feel loved and appreciated. How can I do that?” and when you’ve heard their suggestions, you can share yours. When they do what you asked? Offer lots and lots of acknowledgement and appreciation.

7. Give without any expectations.

I know it’s incredibly tempting (so tempting!) to keep a mental list of all the nice things you’ve done for your sweetie.

· Picked up a new yoga mat because I saw hers was deteriorating.

· Made a reservation for dinner Friday.

· Bought his mom’s birthday present.

This mentality will only end in tears and resentment. We can nourish our relationships by removing the expectation that they to do the same things that we have done for them. Let your partner give to you because they want to, not because they feel as though they owe you.

8. Don’t stop caring about how you look!

Male or female, we’ve all done this, right? Constantly hanging out in our old gym clothes and dirty hair, eating pizza for dinner three times a week. You want to find your partner attractive and – not surprisingly – they want to find you attractive. Help them do that by keeping up with your workouts and saving sweatpants for alone time.

9. Cultivate intimacy and independence.

It might sound counterintuitive, but you can connect while also retaining autonomy. Don’t stop doing the things that filled you up now that you’ve found a partner. Keep attending those pottery classes, keep working on your novel – and keep telling your partner all about it and why you love it. Just as important? Give them the space to pursue a few passions without you. You’ll both be that much more excited to come home and tell each other about your adventures.

10. Inspire your partner by loving yourself fiercely.

The more you love yourself; the more others will follow your lead.

We’ve all witnessed it: the confident woman who maintains healthy boundaries always seems to attract amazing partners. Do your best to identify your needs and meet those needs yourself. Need creative inspiration? Rather than trying to date an artist or force your accountant boyfriend to take drawing classes, buy a DSLR and get to shooting. Crave a more active social life? Don’t hassle your introverted girlfriend into house parties and nights out. Call up your most outgoing friends and schedule a night out, complete with cute shoes and cocktails. We teach people how to treat us and when you nourish yourself with love and respect, the world – and your partner – take notice.

Ballet Day[5]Beauty is the Foretaste of Heaven

When life takes me on a new journey, I simply remember the smile my first ballet recital put on my face, and I move forward.
– Andrea Thompson

There’s something magical about going to ballet. The music, the outfits, the utter passion of the dance as the ballet artists lose themselves to the performance, all of it comes together to create a beautiful, otherworldly experience for those in attendance. There is an almost magical power in their graceful movements across the stage, like flower petals on a stiffening breeze. Ballet Day encourages you to get out and see the ballet again, or for the first time if you haven’t already. Ballet found its origins during the Renaissance throughout Italy and France, though it had yet to evolve into the form we know it today. There were no tutus, no ballet slippers, and the iconic pointe work of ballet were all things to come in the future. It found roots in court dances, and thus incorporated the proper dance dress of women at the time, formal gowns that descended to the ankle. Unlike modern performances, the audience would join the dance as it came to a close. Later, it would come to take influences from the French ballet de cour, a form of performance which were performed strictly by the nobility, and would blend dance with speech, music, verse, song, and a great amount of pageantry. Ballet was beginning to take the shape we know of today, and it was here that it developed into a true art form. Since then, it has spread throughout the world, from Russia to Germany, and is loved everywhere for its intrinsic beauty. Since then, it has been driven to new artistic heights and embraced multiple cultures, and Ballet Day

encourages you to get out and experience its beauty for yourself.

How to celebrate Ballet Day

Go to the ballet! That’s the first and best way. World Ballet Day is a yearly organized event that celebrates the beauty of ballet and what it’s become in the world today. Events are held all over the world, and videos are taken, so don’t think you have to miss out on this beautiful expression of the arts simply because you aren’t able to get out to see them. Ballet will come home to you! So, get out there and get yourself some culture!

Bible in a Year Day 220 Prophesy Fullfilled

Fr. Mike points out that the prophecy from Isaiah 61 is fulfilled by Jesus (as described in Luke 4). In Ezekiel, Fr. Mike draws our attention to the importance of the Sabbath as the sign of the covenant with God. The readings are Isaiah 61-62, Ezekiel 20, and Proverbs 13:13-16.

Daily Devotions

· Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them in fasting: Today's Fast: Holy Bishops and Cardinals

· Religion in the Home for Preschool: February

· Enjoy a hot chocolate today

· Drops of Christ’s Blood

· Universal Man Plan

· Make Minestrone

· Rosary

[1]http://projectrestore.com/library/radiant_living/05_the_radiant_person.htm

[2]http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/marriage-and-family/upload/preaching-resource-nmw-2019.pdf

[3]http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/marriage-and-family/marriage/love-and-life/upload/pastoral-letter-marriage-love-and-life-in-the-divine-plan.pdf

[4]https://www.movenourishbelieve.com/believe/10-things-can-today-nourish-relationship-danielle-dowling/

[5]https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/ballet-day/

Girl in the Case (1944)

Starring: Edmund Lowe, Janis Carter, Robert B. Williams
Director: William Berke (with uncredited work by Budd Boetticher)
Genre: Mystery / Comedy
Runtime: ~65 minutes

Plot Summary

William Warner (Edmund Lowe) is a sharp defense attorney with an unusual hobby: he collects locks and can open almost any of them. This eccentric skill becomes the hinge of the story. When a mysterious man arrives with a locked chest containing a secret chemical formula, Warner is unwittingly drawn into a Nazi spy ring’s scheme. His wife Myra (Janis Carter), already exasperated by his obsession with locks, becomes entangled in the escalating danger.

The film blends light comedy with wartime intrigue—very much a “programmer” picture of the era: brisk, unpretentious, and built around a single clever gimmick.

Cast

Edmund Lowe — William Warner
Janis Carter — Myra Warner
Robert B. Williams — Malloy
Richard Hale — John Heyser
Stanley Clements, Tom Kennedy, and others in supporting roles

Production Notes

Originally directed by William Berke, but Budd Boetticher stepped in uncredited after Berke was removed.
Boetticher later recalled it as a quick, short‑schedule assignment—typical of Columbia’s B‑unit output during the war years.

Catholic & Moral Themes

Even though this is a light mystery-comedy, it still offers material for your devotional and moral‑reading lens:

1. The Danger of Harmless Obsessions

Warner’s lock‑picking hobby seems trivial, even charming—but it blinds him to real danger.
Moral angle: Small habits, when unexamined, can become vulnerabilities. This aligns with the Ignatian call to daily examen and custody of the senses.

2. Marriage, Patience, and Mutual Correction

Myra’s frustration with her husband’s compulsions reflects the tension between personal quirks and marital unity.
Moral angle: Charity in marriage includes honest correction, perseverance, and the willingness to sacrifice personal preferences for the good of the other.

3. Truth vs. Deception in Wartime

The Nazi spy subplot—though played lightly—still underscores the moral clarity of resisting evil and protecting the innocent.
Moral angle: Even in comedic settings, the film affirms the duty to stand against falsehood and manipulation.