Monday, February 23, 2026

🔸 February 2026 – Mercy & Hidden Grace

Feb 2 – Black Narcissus (1947)
Feb 9 – The Fugitive (1947)
Feb 16 – Au Hasard Balthasar (1966)
Feb 23 – The Lady’s Not for Burning (1974)

The Lady’s Not for Burning (1974)

Director: Joseph Hardy
Writer: Christopher Fry (play)
Starring: Richard Chamberlain, Eileen Atkins, John Carradine, Jacques Aubuchon

Plot Summary

Set in a medieval town around 1400, the story follows Thomas Mendip (Richard Chamberlain), a war-weary soldier who wants nothing more than to die. He arrives at the mayor’s house insisting he be hanged for murder—though he hasn’t committed one.

At the same time, Jennet Jourdemayne (Eileen Atkins) is brought in under accusation of witchcraft, though she is innocent and very much wants to live.

The household becomes a swirl of:

bumbling civic officials
lovestruck young people
a mother confused by her sons’ romantic entanglements
and a town eager to burn someone, anyone, to restore “order.”

Through lyrical, witty, and deeply humane dialogue, Thomas and Jennet discover in each other a reason to reverse their desires:

the man who wants death begins to choose life
the woman condemned to death begins to hope

The film ends with a gentle, luminous affirmation: mercy triumphs over fear, and love over despair.

Cast Highlights

Actor	Role	Notes
Richard Chamberlain	Thomas Mendip	Critics praise his command of Fry’s poetic language and emotional depth.
Eileen Atkins	Jennet Jourdemayne	Wry, grounded, and quietly radiant.
John Carradine	Old Matthew Skipps	Adds gravitas and eccentric charm.
Jacques Aubuchon	Edward Tappercoom	The flustered civic official trying to keep order.

Thematic & Moral Reflection

1. The Dignity of Life

Thomas’s desire for death is not suicidal despair but moral exhaustion. Yet the film gently insists:
Life is not ours to discard.
Jennet’s innocence and courage become a mirror in which Thomas sees the possibility of redemption.

2. False Accusation & Scapegoating

The town’s eagerness to burn a “witch” echoes every age’s temptation to purify itself by destroying the vulnerable.
This resonates with:

the Passion narratives
the Church’s teaching on justice
the perennial need for discernment over hysteria

3. Mercy as Conversion

Jennet’s mercy toward Thomas awakens his desire to live.
Thomas’s honesty and courage strengthen Jennet’s hope.
Their mutual conversion is a beautiful image of grace working through human encounter.

4. Poetic Language as Revelation

Christopher Fry wrote the play in the aftermath of WWII, and this 1974 adaptation aired as the U.S. was leaving Vietnam. The film’s lyrical language becomes a counterweight to violence and cynicism—an act of cultural healing.

Hospitality Pairing

Cocktail: “The Mendip Mercy”

A medieval-inspired, warming drink:

Hot spiced cider
A splash of brandy
Honey
A twist of lemon
Garnish with a cinnamon stick

Warm, comforting, and a reminder that even the weary can be revived.

Meal: Rustic Hearth Supper

Herb-roasted chicken
Root vegetables
Dark bread with butter
A simple berry tart

A meal that feels like a return to the hearth after a long exile.

Devotional

Suggested reflection themes:

“Choosing Life When You’re Tired of Living”
“Mercy That Interrupts the Mob”
“Seeing the Image of God in the Accused”
“Poetry as a Path to Healing”

It would pair well with:

Sirach 4: “Do not grieve the desperate in spirit.”
John 8: The woman accused
Psalm 34: “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.”

🕯️ Christopher’s Corner

· Bucket List trip[10]: White water rafting in Madagascar

· Spirit hour[11] Whiskey Neat in honor of St. Matthias

· Eat waffles and Pray for the assistance of the Angels

· Monday: Litany of Humility

· Try[12]: Callebaut Chocolate

· Drops of Christ’s Blood

· How to celebrate Feb 23^rd

Bucket List Trip [3] – Part 18: USA 70 Degree Year Journey

Dates: February 23 – March 1, 2026
Theme: Florida Keys Ordinary Time – Simplicity, Surrender & the Slow Work of God
Route: Jekyll Island → Jacksonville → Key Largo → Islamorada → Key West
Style: Island‑chain pilgrimage, uncluttered spirituality, Eucharistic simplicity
Climate Alignment: Daily highs 72–75°F (Upper & Lower Keys)

💰 Estimated Cost Overview

Category	Estimated Cost
Lodging (6 nights)	~$880 (Keys mid‑range)
Food (daily meals)	~$280
Transit (flight + rental car)	~$360 (JAX → EYW + rental)
Symbolic extras	~$80
Total Estimate	~$1,600

🛏️ Lodging Options

Key Largo: Hampton Inn Key Largo

Key West: The Marker Key West Harbor Resort

🌠 Day 1 – Monday, February 23

Location: Jacksonville – Basilica of the Immaculate Conception
Symbol: New Beginning
Ritual Prompt: “Let grace reset your pace for the week.”
Morning visit + quiet prayer before flying to the Keys.
🥗 Foodie Stop: The Bread & Board (~$22)

🌴 Day 2 – Tuesday, February 24

Location: Key Largo – John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park
Symbol: Clarity
Ritual Prompt: “Let the clear water teach you to see clearly.”
Glass‑bottom boat or shoreline walk; journal on interior clarity.
🍲 Foodie Stop: The Fish House (~$28)

🌊 Day 3 – Wednesday, February 25

Location: Islamorada – Anne’s Beach
Symbol: Simplicity
Ritual Prompt: “Walk slowly—God is found in the simple things.”
Shallow‑water walk; reflect on what can be simplified this season.
🥘 Foodie Stop: Morada Bay Beach Café (~$30)

🐬 Day 4 – Thursday, February 26

Location: Marathon – Seven Mile Bridge
Symbol: Trust
Ritual Prompt: “Cross the long bridge—trust the path beneath your feet.”
Walk a portion of the pedestrian span; pray for perseverance.
🍷 Foodie Stop: Island Fish Company (~$25)

🕊️ Day 5 – Friday, February 27

Location: Key West – Basilica of St. Mary Star of the Sea

Symbol: Guiding Star
Ritual Prompt: “Let Mary guide you through the ordinary days.”
Holy Hour + rosary in the basilica’s quiet garden.
🧺 Foodie Stop: Blue Heaven (~$22)

🌅 Day 6 – Saturday, February 28

Location: Key West – Fort Zachary Taylor State Park
Symbol: Stillness
Ritual Prompt: “Sit with God in the quiet places.”
Beach solitude; reflect on February’s arc of grace.
🍽️ Foodie Stop: Salute! On The Beach (~$28)

🌠 Day 7 – Sunday, March 1 (Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time)

Location: Key West – St. Mary Star of the Sea (Sunday Mass)
Symbol: Providence
Ritual Prompt: “Trust that God provides what you truly need.”
Sunday Mass + blog reflection: “Keys Simplicity & the Slow Work of God.”
🍷 Foodie Stop: Louie’s Backyard (~$35)

February 23 Monday in the First Week of Lent

St. Polycarp

Deuteronomy, Chapter 2, Verse 4

Command the people: You are now about to pass through the territory of your relatives, the descendants of Esau, who live in Seir. Though they are AFRAID of you, be very careful.

Those that are beloved by God are those who revere and follow His commandments. When we are infused with the Spirit of God others can see it because the spirit within us is reflected in our physical presence. When we receive the blessing of God; those who are not in the spirit can become afraid of you. Our Lord wants to remind us even those who are close to us, even those who are relatives will be afraid of us and we must be very vigilant and be able to see in them simultaneously the humanity of Christ; to have peace while waging a war with evil. This peace comes because while in the presence of the Holy Spirit we have heard things that cannot be put into words and we have experienced the truth mystically. By this truth we are compelled to follow Christ and at times we too must pass through the territory of our relatives; yet ever continuing our journey with Him. For in truth those who do His Fathers will are His brothers and sisters.

All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen. (Ralph Waldo Emerson)

Copilot’s Take

When we walk in the Spirit, we carry a presence that unsettles what is false, distorted, or fearful in others. Deuteronomy’s warning to Israel—they are afraid of you, so be very careful—reveals that holiness itself can provoke anxiety in those who have not yet surrendered to God. The danger is not their fear but the temptation to let it shape our response. True confrontation of evil begins with clarity: refusing to mirror the fear, aggression, or confusion around us. Instead, we move through these territories—family systems, old wounds, spiritual deserts—with the steady peace that comes from having heard the quiet, unutterable truth of God. That mystical certainty becomes our shield.

Evil is ultimately confronted not by force but by fidelity. We keep walking, as Israel did, without settling in the places where fear tries to trap us. We see the humanity of those who resist us, even as we refuse to be drawn into their distortions. Christ redefines our kinship—those who do the Father’s will are our true brothers and sisters—and that frees us to love without being entangled. The Spirit grants a peace that evil cannot imitate and a clarity it cannot withstand. Everything we have seen of God teaches us to trust Him for all we have not yet seen, and that trust becomes the quiet courage by which evil is unmasked and overcome.

The Practices of a Committed Catholic Man[1]

Given these reflections on Catholic manhood, we move to the practical, that is, how to live like a Catholic man. What practices can help us to take up our cross and follow our King?

If we think of soldiers who do not remain in strong physical and mental shape and who fail to practice the essential combat arts, we know they will not be ready for battle and will be a danger to themselves and their comrades in arms. The same is true for Catholic men; those who do not prepare and strengthen themselves for spiritual combat are incapable of filling the breach for Christ.

While there are many habits and devotions that a Catholic man can form, I charge you with keeping these seven basic practices on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. If these practices are not (yet) part of your life, start now!

Daily

Pray every day. Each Catholic man must start his day with prayer. It is said, “Until you realize that prayer is the most important thing in life, you will never have time for prayer.” Without prayer, a man is like a soldier who lacks food, water, and ammunition. Set aside some time to speak with God first thing each morning. Pray the three prayers essential to the Catholic faith: the Our Father, the Hail Mary, and the Glory Be. Pray also at every meal. Before food or drink touches your lips, make the Sign of the Cross, say the “Bless us, O Lord” prayer, and end with the Sign of the Cross. Do this no matter where you are, with whom or how much you are eating. Never be shy or ashamed about praying over meals. Never deny Christ the gratitude that is due to Him. Praying as a Catholic man before every meal is a simple but powerful way to keep strong and fill the breach.

Examine your conscience before going to sleep. Take a few moments to review the day, including both your blessings and sins. Give God thanks for blessings and ask forgiveness for sins. Say an Act of Contrition.

Go to Mass. Despite the fact that attending weekly Mass is a Precept of the Church, only about one in three Catholic men attend Sunday Mass. For large numbers of Catholic men, their neglect to attend Mass is a grave sin, a sin that puts them in mortal danger. The Mass is a refuge in the Spiritual Battle, where Catholic men meet their King, hear His commands, and become strengthened with the Bread of Life. Every Mass is a miracle where Jesus Christ is fully present, a miracle that is the high point not only of the week, but of our entire lives on Earth. In the Mass, a man gives thanks to God for his many blessings and hears Christ send him again into the world to build the Kingdom of God. Fathers who lead their children to Mass are helping in a very real way to ensure their eternal salvation.

Read the Bible. As St. Jerome so clearly tells us, “Ignorance of the Sacred Scriptures is ignorance of Christ.” When we read God’s word, Jesus is present. Married men, read with your wife and your children. If a man’s children see him read the Scriptures, they are more likely to remain in the Faith. My brothers in Christ, this I can assure you: men who read the Bible grow in grace, wisdom, and peace.

Keep the Sabbath. From the creation of Adam and Eve, God the Father established a weekly cycle ending with the Sabbath. He gave us the Sabbath to ensure that one day out of seven we will give thanks to God, rest, and be refreshed. In the Ten Commandments, God asserts anew the importance of keeping the Sabbath. With today’s constant barrage of buying and selling and the cacophony of noisy media, the Sabbath is God’s respite from the storm. As Catholic men, you must begin, or deepen, keeping the holiness of the Sabbath. If you are married, you must lead your wives and children to do the same. Dedicate the day to rest and true recreation, and avoid work that is not necessary. Spend time with family, attend Mass, and enjoy the gift of the day.

Monthly

Go to Confession. At the very start of Christ’s public ministry, Jesus calls on all men to repent. Without repentance from sin, there can be no healing or forgiveness, and there will be no Heaven. Large numbers of Catholic men are in grave mortal danger, particularly given the epidemic levels of pornography consumption and the sin of masturbation. My brothers, get to Confession now! Our Lord Jesus Christ is a merciful King who will forgive those who humbly confess their sins. He will not forgive those who refuse. Open your soul to the gift of our Lord’s mercy!

Build fraternity with other Catholic men. Catholic friendship among men has a dramatic impact on their faith lives. Men who have bonds of brotherhood with other Catholic men pray more, go to Mass and Confession more frequently, read the Scriptures more often, and are more active in the Faith. Proverbs tells us: “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another” (27:17). I call on each of our priests and deacons to draw men together in their parishes and to begin to rebuild a vibrant and transforming Catholic fraternity. I call on laymen to form small fellowship groups for mutual support and growth in the faith. There is no friendship like having a friend in Christ.

Bible Study[2]

The Bible is a weapon and in the hands of the untrained, “You could shoot your eye out kid”. Therefore, the Bible should be handled with care. We should approach scripture reading in light of the liturgy and church Dogmas. “Dogma is by definition nothing other than an interpretation of Scripture.” (Pope Benedict XVI) Dogmas are the Church’s infallible interpretation of Scripture. In the 1970’s the Catholic Church revised its lectionary—the order of scriptural readings for the Mass. The readings now unfold in a three-year cycle and include almost all the books of both testaments of the Bible. The great thing about lectionary is that it presents the scriptures and also teaches us a method of understanding the Scriptures: Showing us a consistent pattern of promise and fulfillment. The New Testament is concealed in the Old, and the Old is revealed the New. Perhaps a good practice would be for us to read the daily scripture in the lectionary, maybe even before Mass.

Lectio Divina[3]

"Lectio Divina", a Latin term, means "divine reading" and describes a way of reading the Scriptures whereby we gradually let go of our own agenda and open ourselves to what God wants to say to us. In the 12th century, a Carthusian monk called Guigo, described the stages which he saw as essential to the practice of Lectio Divina. There are various ways of practicing Lectio Divina either individually or in groups, but Guigo's description remains fundamental.

He said that the first stage is lectio (reading) where we read the Word of God, slowly and reflectively so that it sinks into us. Any passage of Scripture can be used for this way of prayer but the passage should not be too long.

The second stage is meditatio (reflection) where we think about the text we have chosen and ruminate upon it so that we take from it what God wants to give us.

The third stage is oratio (response) where we leave our thinking aside and simply let our hearts speak to God. This response is inspired by our reflection on the Word of God.

The final stage of Lectio Divina is contemplatio (rest) where we let go not only of our own ideas, plans and meditations but also of our holy words and thoughts. We simply rest in the Word of God. We listen at the deepest level of our being to God who speaks within us with a still small voice. As we listen, we are gradually transformed from within. Obviously this transformation will have a profound effect on the way we actually live and the way we live is the test of the authenticity of our prayer. We must take what we read in the Word of God into our daily lives.

These stages of Lectio Divina are not fixed rules of procedure but simply guidelines as to how the prayer normally develops. Its natural movement is towards greater simplicity, with less and less talking and more listening. Gradually the words of Scripture begin to dissolve, and the Word is revealed before the eyes of our heart. How much time should be given to each stage depends very much on whether it is used individually or in a group.

The practice of Lectio Divina as a way of praying the Scriptures has been a fruitful source of growing in relationship with Christ for many centuries and in our own day is being rediscovered by many individuals and groups. The Word of God is alive and active and will transform each of us if we open ourselves to receive what God wants to give us.

Monday in the First Week of Lent

EPISTLE. Ezech. xxxiv. 11-16.

THUS, saith the Lord God: Behold I Myself will seek My sheep and will visit them. As the shepherd visiteth his flock in the day when he shall be in the midst of his sheep that were scattered, so will I visit My sheep, and will deliver them out of all the places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day. And I will bring them out from the peoples, and will gather them out of the countries, and will bring them to their own land: and I will feed them in the mountains of Israel, by the rivers, and in all the habitations of the land. I will feed them in the most fruitful pastures, and their pastures shall be in the high mountains of Israel: there shall they rest on the green grass and be fed in fat pastures upon the mountains of Israel. I will feed My sheep: and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord God. I will seek that which was lost: and that which was driven away I will bring again: and I will bind up that which was broken, and I will strengthen that which was weak, and that which was fat and strong I will preserve: and I will feed them in judgment, saith the Lord Almighty.

GOSPEL. Matt. xxv. 31-46.

At that time Jesus said to His disciples: When the Son of man shall come in His majesty, and all the angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the seat of His majesty. And all nations shall be gathered together before Him, and He shall separate them one from another, as the shepherd separateth the sheep from the goats: and He shall set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on His left. Then shall the King say to them that shall be on His right hand: Come, ye blessed of My Father, possess you the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave Me to eat I was thirsty, and you gave Me to drink: I was a stranger, and you took Me in naked, and you covered Me: sick, and you visited Me: I was in prison, and you came to Me. Then shall the just answer Him, saying: Lord, when did we see Thee hungry, and fed Thee; thirsty, and gave Thee drink? and when did we see Thee a stranger, and took Thee in? or naked, and covered Thee? or when did we see Thee sick or in prison, and came to Thee? And the King answering, shall say to them: Amen I say to you, as long as you did it to one of these My least brethren, you did it to Me. Then He shall say to them also that shall be on His left hand: Depart from Me, yon cursed, into everlasting fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry, and you gave Me not to eat I was thirsty, and you gave Me not to drink I was a stranger, and you took Me not in naked, and you covered Me not: sick and in prison, and you did not visit Me. Then they also shall answer Him, saying: Lord, when did we see Thee hungry or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister to Thee? Then He shall answer them, saying: Amen I say to you, as long as you did it not to one of these least, neither did you do it to Me. And these shall go into everlasting punishment, but the just into life everlasting.

Prayer.

Convert us, O God, our salvation; and, that the fast of Lent may benefit us, instruct our minds with heavenly discipline.

Lenten Calendar[4]

· Read: Lent is a special time for those preparing to be baptized through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA). RCIA is a period of learning and discernment for those seeking to become Catholic.

· Reflect; Take time to reflect on your own decision to become a member of the Church.

· Reflect 2: On February 22, 1931, Jesus appeared to Faustina as the King of Divine Mercy. He asked her to have a picture painted of him as she saw him — clothed in white, with red and white rays of light streaming from his heart. The rays represent the blood and water that flowed from the side of Jesus on the cross. Under the image are the words, "Jesus, I trust in you." Many people did not believe Faustina at first. The sisters in her own convent thought that Jesus could not possibly have selected her for this great favor. After all, she was an uneducated peasant girl. Her superiors often refused to give her permission to carry out Jesus' requests. Church theologians, too, doubted her word. Jesus told Faustina that he loved her obedience and that his will would be done in the end.

· Pray: Keep the elect, candidates, and their sponsors in your prayers this Lent.

· Act: Download the CRS Rice Bowl App. . . today and try a new way of tracking your Lenten journey, while also receiving daily reflections and meatless recipes.

Preparing for Battle[5] Know Your Weapons

The weapon of Sacred Scripture

· Each time the Devil attacked with the temptation to doubt or disobey God, Jesus quoted Scripture to throw him back.

· Scripture is our sword against Satan!

· We must listen carefully to the scriptural readings in Mass and meditate on them deeply.

· We must read Scripture on our own.

· We must also memorize scriptural texts that we can use against temptation. Then, when the Enemy assaults us, we can imitate Our Lord by the effective counterassault of quoting the word of God.

This is also the Ember week of Lent:[6] the spring Embertide. The first week of Lent continues the subject introduced on Sunday: temptation. The lessons of the principal and most ancient Masses this week show that every Lenten effort brings results from the Lord: healing, strengthening, conversion. But the effort itself is not the most important thing; it is God's reaction and acceptance. We are like the grain of wheat which must die to become productive. We must die before we grow into glory.

Catholic Fighting Men-Call to Lenten Boot Camp[7]

Matthew Reid

As we, the heirs of the great jewel that is our traditional Catholic faith, handed down to us through the martyrdom and struggle of untold numbers of faithful, navigate the vast spiritual wasteland of these United States, we must again realize the absolute necessity of arming ourselves in the timeless ascetical practices of our forefathers. These rigorous and sacrificial practices helped prepare prior generations of heroic Catholics for both physical and spiritual battle; a battle they won, earning their heavenly reward.

Mindful of the ever-present distractions and temptations to live a life of ease that sucks the vibrancy and urgency out of our Christian lives, there must be a realization, and therefore determination to be set apart to a healthy degree from a culture that celebrates debauchery, profanity, immodestly, idleness and effeminacy. These are not the way that a Catholic man must exist. As our late Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI once opined, “the world offers you comfort, but you were not made for comfort, you were made for greatness.”

I ask you, dear faithful Catholics, is there anything more de-motivating and less inspiring than the contemporary Church’s Lenten regulations, not to mention the virtually non-existent Eucharistic fast?

As a retired NYC Police Sergeant who worked in Intelligence and supervised a good number of practicing Muslim investigators along the way, I can tell you without hesitation that my least favorite time of year in this capacity was Lent. It was at times, to be blunt, a wholly embarrassing situation; please let me explain. Whereas during the Muslim cops’ observation of their holy month of Ramadan, they would go, many times in the long summer months, from sunup to sundown without a drop of water, never mind food each day for a month. This contrasted with the rest of the personnel in my workplace, made up very likely of a majority of K-12 Catholic school products, who would often be heard complaining about not being able to have a cheeseburger six Fridays out of the year. This lamentation would usually be followed by a gluttonous feast on pizza from one of the premier pizzerias in the city; so much for denying oneself and sacrificing.

This was also contrasted throughout the year by the prayer lives of the Muslim cops, most of whom faithfully observed their prayer times in a secluded place, while the majority of Catholics observed exactly what the culture observes; absolutely nothing.

Is it any wonder that we see happening in western civilization what we do?

It shouldn’t be a mystery to anyone. While the Mohammedans have kept their discipline and ascetism, we have been given the green light to live lives of ease and indulgence, often resulting in outright rebellion even at the thought of no meat six Fridays out of the year.

I point this out to say that, while I find Islam to be, as St. John Bosco observed, a “monstrous mixture of Judaism, Paganism and Christianity” etc, therefore leading innumerable souls to perdition, I also have respect for these men, as at least they were sincere and faithful to what they believed in and would sacrifice for it. They also understood the reverence and obedience due to God, however different their concept of God is, which is another discussion.

How, I ask, does this compare to the average contemporary Catholic?

The sad fact of the matter is that we have been allowed to grow soft, weak, and effeminate, like a fighter who goes into a match in which he is completely physically and mentally unprepared, where he is summarily quite easily disposed of by a better trained and more serious adversary. While there is no doubt that we have been let down by a Church hierarchy – who many themselves are also soft, weak, and effeminate – we cannot allow this to deter us. It has always been the laity that resists corrupt, sycophantic, and worldly prelates; now should not be any different.

We must prepare ourselves for battle.

For sake of our souls and those of our friends and family, enough already with this emasculating, insultingly weak and failed version of Catholicism, which sends any red-blooded man running for the border. It’s time to take off the damned training wheels and let’s get serious. I’m not sure about you, but I’ve had enough.

I do not mince words on purpose. There is a great upheaval all around us. Our families and children’s innocence are under assault. As it is said, “where sin abounds, grace abounds all the more.” We will be given strength if we just cooperate and avail ourselves to the grace of the good Lord, observing the ascetical practices that shaped our forefathers into vessels that could truly be called “Soldiers of Christ.” Furthermore, as I write this, a recently leaked memo from the FBI, Richmond Field Office revealed that traditional Catholics are being labeled as holding “anti-Semitic, anti-immigrant, anti-LGBT and white supremac(ists)” ideology, while also preferring the “traditional Latin mass.” Having worked in Intelligence for the last decade of my police career, I can say without hesitation that based upon many things that I observed along the way, this does not surprise me in the least. I will most likely further elaborate in a future article.

The point I am driving home here is, the long knives are out, and we are encircled by the enemy; so, what are we to do?

What follows is a Lenten prayer and ascetical regimen that I have done with several cops and others over the last few years. We kicked it up a few notches last year and to a man, it resulted in a much deeper, more sacrificial, and charitable faith. I pray that many of you join us, the Patrolman’s Fraternity of St. Michael, and be the men that our Lord created us to be.

I would also like to humbly ask that if any readers know of any Catholics in law enforcement that would be interested in our apostolate, to please alert them to our Lenten Regimen and website, where they can inquire further about our mission, or email us at patrolmansfraternitySM@gmail.com. In short, we are a Catholic lay apostolate for active and retired law enforcements professionals, formed for the sanctification of our members, and therefore our families and society at large.

Here is the routine, which will commence on Ash Wednesday and conclude on Holy Saturday at dusk.

· Morning Offering,

· Angelus (Morning, Noon and Evening)

· Daily Mass

· Daily Rosary

· 15 minutes daily mental prayer

· Daily Fast (except Sunday) (1) full meal along with (2) small snacks in morning and evening to maintain strength. Meat only at the principal meal. No meat on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Ember Days.

· Daily Cold Shower

· Stations of the Cross on Wednesday and Fridays

· Fast from alcohol and dessert

· 15 minutes of daily spiritual reading

· Complete social media fast

· Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy-Choose one (1) to focus on each week.

We at the Patrolman’s Fraternity of St. Michael look forward to uniting with many of you in prayer on the great triumph of Our Blessed Lord’s Resurrection on Easter. Please join us and get holy!

In the immortal words of the hymn written to commemorate the English Martyrs who refused to give up their faith in the face of the Protestant revolt, “Faith of our Fathers! Holy Faith! We will be true to thee till death.”

St. Polycarp

St. Polycarp was a second‑century bishop and one of the most important figures of the early Church. A direct disciple of St. John the Apostle, he served as the shepherd of Smyrna and became a crucial link between the Apostles and the next generation of Christians. Known for his clarity of doctrine, his steady leadership, and his refusal to compromise with heresy or worldly pressure, he helped preserve the faith at a time when persecution and false teaching threatened to tear the Church apart. His martyrdom—calm, resolute, and rooted in decades of disciplined fidelity—became one of the most celebrated in early Christian history.

St. Polycarp shows us what a lifetime of disciplined fidelity produces: a man who cannot be intimidated, manipulated, or worn down by the world. His strength didn’t come from theatrics or bravado but from decades of prayer, fasting, obedience, and interior training. When the authorities demanded he deny Christ, he didn’t negotiate or soften his witness. He simply stood firm, rooted in the quiet certainty of a man who had already surrendered everything to God. His martyrdom wasn’t a sudden act of courage—it was the natural conclusion of a life forged in ascetical fire.

His example exposes the weakness of a faith lived on comfort and convenience. Polycarp reminds us that spiritual toughness is not inherited; it is built. He calls Catholic men back to the ancient disciplines that formed the early Church into a force the world could not break. As we enter Lent, his witness stands as a challenge: to train our souls with the same seriousness, to reject the softness that has crept into modern Catholic life, and to become men who can stand firm when the world demands surrender. St. Polycarp, steadfast and unshakable, pray for us.

Aids in Battle[8] Demons are not a figment of your imagination.

The Devil and other demons would like us to believe that they are outdated, unenlightened superstitions, but the Catholic Church remains firm, clear, and consistent in her teaching about this reality.

· Our heavenly Father has placed over each of us an angel under whose protection and vigilance we may be enabled to escape the snares secretly prepared by our enemy, repel the dreadful attacks he makes on us.

· Never was anyone, conceived been liberated from the Devil’s dominion except by faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the mediator between God and humanity, who was conceived without sin, was born and died. He alone by His death overthrew the enemy of the human race, cancelling our sins, and unlocked the entrance to the heavenly kingdom, which the first man by his sin had locked against himself and all his posterity. COUNCIL OF FLORENCE (ECUMENICAL, 1431– 1445), SESSION 2

· Men are separated into two diverse and opposite parts, of which the one steadfastly contends for truth and virtue, the other of those things which are contrary to virtue and to truth. The one is the kingdom of God on earth, namely, the true Church of Jesus Christ; and those who desire from their heart to be united with it, so as to gain salvation, must of necessity serve God and His only begotten Son with their whole mind and with an entire will. The other is the kingdom of Satan, in whose possession and control are all who follow the fatal example of their leader and of our first parents, those who refuse to obey the divine and eternal law, and who have many aims of their own in contempt of God, and many aims also against God. POPE LEO XIII, HUMANUM GENUS (PAPAL ENCYCLICAL, 1884), 1

· Satan manages to sow in man’s soul the seed of opposition to the one who “from the beginning” would be considered as man’s enemy— and not as Father. Man is challenged to become the adversary of God! The analysis of sin in its original dimension indicates that, through the influence of the “father of lies,” throughout the history of humanity there will be a constant pressure on man to reject God, even to the point of hating Him: “Love of self to the point of contempt for God,” as St. Augustine puts it. POPE JOHN PAUL II, DOMINUM ET VIVIFICANTEM (PAPAL ENCYCLICAL, 1986), 38

Thanks to Fear of the Lord, there is no Fear of Evil[9]

History, in fact, is not alone in the hands of dark powers, chance or human choices. Over the unleashing of evil energies, the vehement irruption of Satan, and the emergence of so many scourges and evils, the Lord rises, supreme arbiter of historical events. He leads history wisely towards the dawn of the new heavens and the new earth, sung in the final part of the book under the image of the new Jerusalem (cf. Revelation 21-22).

· It must be reaffirmed, therefore, that God is not indifferent to human events, but penetrates them realizing his "ways," namely his plans and his efficacious "deeds."

· According to our hymn, this divine intervention has a very specific purpose: to be a sign that invites all the peoples of the earth to conversion. Nations must learn to "read" in history a message of God. Humanity's history is not confused and without meaning, nor is it given over, without appeal, to the malfeasance of the arrogant and perverse. There is the possibility to recognize divine action hidden in it. In the pastoral constitution "Gaudium et Spes," Vatican Council II also invites the believer to scrutinize, in the light of the Gospel, the signs of the times to see in them the manifestation of the very action of God (cf. n. 4 and 11). This attitude of faith leads man to recognize the power of God operating in history, and thus to open himself to fear of the name of the Lord. In biblical language, in fact, this "fear" does not coincide with dread, but is the recognition of the mystery of the divine transcendence. Because of this, it is the basis of faith and is joined with love: "the Lord your God requires of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul" (cf. Deuteronomy 10:12).

· Following this line, in our brief hymn, taken from Revelation, fear and glorification of God are united: "Who will not fear you, Lord, or glorify your name" (15:4)? Thanks to fear of the Lord there is no fear of the evil that rages in history and one takes up again with vigor the journey of life, as the prophet Isaiah declared: "Strengthen the hands that are feeble, make firm the knees that are weak, say to those whose hearts are frightened: ‘Be strong, fear not!’" (Isaiah 35: 3-4).

Bible in a Year Day 236 Rich in Love

Fr. Mike focuses on the concept of being rich in love instead of rich in wealth today, as we read about the heart of a mother and father in our verse from Proverbs. He also emphasizes the presence of sacrificial love in the vocation of marriage and family through God's decision to keep Jeremiah single, saving him from more suffering. Today's readings are Jeremiah 16-17, Ezekiel 45-46, and Proverbs 15:17-20.

Daily Devotions

· Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them in fasting: Today's Fast: An end to the use of contraceptives.

· Litany of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus

· Offering to the sacred heart of Jesus

· Drops of Christ’s Blood

· Universal Man Plan

[1] http://www.intothebreach.net/into-the-breach/

[2] Hahn, Scott, Signs of Life; 40 Catholic Customs and their biblical roots. Chap. 16. Bible Study.

[3] http://ocarm.org/en/content/lectio/what-lectio-divina

[4]http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/liturgical-year/lent/march-11.cfm

[5]Thigpen, Paul. Manual for Spiritual Warfare. TAN Books.

[6]https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2024-02-19