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)
· Spirit Hour: Trifon’s Day, is a lively celebration deeply rooted in Bulgarian culture, honoring the patron saint of winegrowers and vineyards.
· Saturday Litany of the Hours Invoking the Aid of Mother Mary
· Carnival Time begins in Catholic Countries.
· Carnival: Part Two, the Final Countdown
· Bucket List trip: Bloco da Lama
· Try Real Bread
o International Snowmobile Ride Day
o National Call in Single Day
o World Sound Healing Day
o Statehood Day in Arizona
o Global Movie Day
o Lamproba
The Conquerors PilgrimageπΏ February 14-21, 2026
πΏ February 14–21, 2026
Nazareth — The School of Hidden Strength
Theme: Learning Obedience, Work, and Interior Mastery in the Home of the Holy Family
After dwelling with Mary in Ephesus, the Conqueror now enters the quiet world that shaped Christ Himself.
Nazareth is the school of hiddenness, craftsmanship, obedience, and interior strength — the virtues that forged the Savior long before His public ministry.
π¨ Where We Stay
Casa Nova Franciscan Guest House (Cheap, clean, and steps from the Basilica)
Website: https://www.custodia.org/en/casa-nova
Best location in Nazareth for pilgrims
Simple, quiet, and spiritually grounded
Ideal for daily Mass at the Basilica of the Annunciation
✝️ Where We Attend Mass
Basilica of the Annunciation
Website: https://www.basilicanazareth.org
Secondary options if needed:
St. Joseph’s Church
Search: Church of St. Joseph Nazareth (bing.com in Bing) (bing.com in Bing)
Greek Catholic Church of the Annunciation
Search: Greek Catholic Annunciation Nazareth (bing.com in Bing) (bing.com in Bing)
π️ Daily Itinerary & Symbolic Acts
Feb 14 – Arrival in Nazareth
π️ Symbolic Act: “Entering the Workshop of the Heart”
Arrive in Nazareth and settle into Casa Nova.
Walk the Old City near Mary’s Well.
Offer the day for purity of heart and clarity of purpose.
Mass: Basilica of the Annunciation
Stay: Casa Nova
Feb 15 – Basilica of the Annunciation
π Symbolic Act: “Let It Be Done Unto Me”
Attend Mass at the Basilica of the Annunciation.
Pray at the Grotto where the Word became flesh.
Ask for Mary’s courage to say yes to God.
Mass: Basilica of the Annunciation
Stay: Casa Nova
Feb 16 – St. Joseph’s Workshop
π ️ Symbolic Act: “Learning the Strength of Quiet Men”
Visit the Church of St. Joseph
Search: Church of St. Joseph Nazareth (bing.com in Bing) (bing.com in Bing)
Reflect on the dignity of labor and the masculine virtue of steady responsibility.
Offer your work, your craft, and your legacy to God.
Mass: Basilica or St. Joseph’s
Stay: Casa Nova
Feb 17 – Nazareth Village
πΏ Symbolic Act: “Walking in the Hidden Years”
Explore Nazareth Village, a reconstructed first‑century town.
Watch the rhythms of daily life that shaped Jesus.
Meditate on the holiness of ordinary days.
Mass: Basilica of the Annunciation
Stay: Casa Nova
Feb 18 – Mount Precipice
⛰️ Symbolic Act: “Standing Firm When Rejected”
Hike to Mount Precipice
Search: Mount Precipice Nazareth (bing.com in Bing) (bing.com in Bing)
Pray for the strength to endure misunderstanding, rejection, and spiritual resistance.
Offer forgiveness for those who have wounded you.
Mass: Basilica of the Annunciation
Stay: Casa Nova
Feb 19 – Mary’s Well & Old Nazareth
π§ Symbolic Act: “Drawing Water With the Mother”
Visit Mary’s Well.
Walk the old streets surrounding the Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation
Search: Greek Orthodox Annunciation Nazareth (bing.com in Bing) (bing.com in Bing)
Pray the Joyful Mysteries as you walk.
Mass: Basilica of the Annunciation
Stay: Casa Nova
Feb 20 – Day of Silence & Hiddenness
π️ Symbolic Act: “Becoming Small Before God”
Keep a half‑day of silence.
Journal on the virtues of Nazareth: humility, obedience, patience, purity, steady work.
Offer your hidden sacrifices for your family and for the salvation of souls.
Mass: Basilica of the Annunciation
Stay: Casa Nova
Feb 21 – Departure & Sending Forth
π Symbolic Act: “Go Home by Another Way”
Return to the Basilica of the Annunciation.
Whisper a final prayer:
“Jesus of Nazareth, make my home like Yours.”
Depart strengthened for the next stage of the pilgrimage.
Mass: Basilica of the Annunciation
Stay: Casa Nova (checkout)
πΆ Cost Snapshot (Per Person)
Lodging (7 nights): $280–$420
Meals: $175–$245
Transport: $70–$130
Entrance Fees: $20–$40
Total: $545–$835
Introduction
to Numbers[1]
The Book of Numbers isn't just some super ancient story with weird laws and tips for which offerings make the most pleasing odor for the Lord. Well, it is all those things. But Numbers is also about one of the most epic road trips ever taken. The story starts out where Exodus left the Israelites—in the middle of the desert after having escaped from slavery in Egypt. Once they set out on the road, the Israelites' story pretty quickly turns to shambles when they start breaking the law. God's law. And then God forces them to wander around in the desert for forty years until all the old sinners have died off.
Why
Should I Care?
When the Israelites commit the ultimate sin—doubting God—the Almighty Father breaks out his worst punishment yet. Remember that time you got grounded for the weekend and missed that awesome party? Well, the Israelites got grounded for forty years and weren't allowed to set foot in the Promised Land until half the community had died off. But even though God can dole out consequences with the best of them, it's also clear that he loves his little rugrats to pieces. He sets limits for them because they're his chosen people and he wants them to be the best they can be. Aww. Sniff. Honestly, Israelites, God only sends poisonous snakes to bite you because he loves you. So next time your parents aren't acting as cool as you know they could be, just remember, it could be way worse. At least when you get a little sassy, they don't send you to your room without dinner for the next forty years.
[1]https://www.shmoop.com/book-of-numbers/
February 14 Saturday-Saints Cyril & Methodius
Total Consecration to St.
Joseph-Valentine’s Day
Then the LORD came down in a column
of cloud, and standing at the entrance of the tent, called, “Aaron and Miriam.”
When both came forward, the LORD said: Now
listen to my words: If there are prophets among you, in visions I reveal myself
to them, in dreams I speak to them; Not so with my servant Moses! Throughout my house he is worthy of trust: face
to face I speak to him, plainly and not in riddles. The likeness of
the LORD he beholds. Why, then, do you not FEAR
to speak against my servant Moses?
Moses was 100 percent for God and God had Moses back; protecting him from the spin (media/backbiters) of his time. Moses was humbled before God, while at the same time confident. Moses lived the Shema Yisrael which is the same prayer the Christ most likely prayed every morning Himself and is still prayed by pious Jews today.
Rabbi Yisrael Kaniel says
of Moses:
God by referring to
Moses in terms of “In all My House he is trusted,” we understand that G-d has
no reservations at all about Moses’ trustworthiness. G-d has absolutely
no qualms about providing Moses with all the information about His business, as
it were. Moses was deemed worthy of such immense trust because “The man
Moses was the most humble person who ever walked the face of the earth”
(Bamidbar 12:3). Relative to G-d, Moses totally nullified himself.
He had no ego when it came to the Master of the world. His interests were
100% the interests of the Al-Mighty; consequently, G-d had no reason to
withhold any secrets from him. As a result, as R. Moshe Chaim Luzzato
writes, every secret of creation was open to him. May we even remotely approach
the level of Moses in reducing our egos to the minimum in order to reap the
benefits of enjoying G-d’s secrets, and may we, thereby, enjoy the maximum
happiness and satisfaction for the rest of our lives – in this world and in the
world to come.[1]
Remember
to always reverence and respect those who have dedicated their lives to the
service of God; for when you do, you do it, for God.
Fear is one of Scripture’s most persistent antagonists. It shadows Israel through the desert, whispers at the edges of every miracle, and disguises itself as “realism” whenever God asks for trust. But fear is never passive. It either becomes the doorway to deeper obedience or the excuse that keeps a man wandering in circles for forty years.
Moses stands before God with no
ego. Cyril and Methodius walk into foreign lands with no guarantee of success.
St. Joseph rises in the night, again and again, obeying before he understands.
Fear loses its grip the moment
obedience becomes more important than certainty.
33 days to the Feast of St. Joseph
I did not understand St. Joseph
well enough, but that will change.
— St. John of the Cross
In the 16th century, St. John of the Cross humbly acknowledged that he lacked a proper understanding of the greatness of St. Joseph. Inspired by the tremendous love that his friend, St. Teresa of Avila, had for St. Joseph, St. John of the Cross made a firm resolution to get to know and love St. Joseph better.
What
about you?
Do you know St.
Joseph?
Do you feel you understand his greatness and
love for you?
Saint JosΓ© Manyanet, a priest in 19th-century Spain, fervently
promoted devotion to St. Joseph and the Holy Family. He prophesied that a “time
of St. Joseph” would soon arrive in the life of the Church. He wrote:
I believe that the true time of Saint Joseph has not arrived yet: after two thousand years we started only now to glimpse something of the mystery in which he is immersed.
Well,
my friends, I firmly believe that in our day the Lord wants to direct our
hearts, families, parishes, dioceses, and Church to St. Joseph in a major way.
In 1961, St. Pope John XXIII made a profound statement about St. Joseph. He
wrote:
In the Holy Church’s worship, right from the beginning, Jesus, the Word of God made man, has enjoyed the adoration that belongs to him, incommunicable as the splendor of the substance of his Father, a splendor reflected in the glory of his saints. From the earliest times, Mary, his mother, was close behind him, in the pictures in the catacombs and the basilicas, where she was devoutly venerated as “Holy Mother of God.” But Joseph, except for some slight sprinkling of references to him here and there in the writings of the Fathers [of the Church], for long centuries remained in the background, in his characteristic concealment, almost as a decorative figure in the overall picture of the Savior’s life. It took time for devotion to him to go beyond those passing glances and take root in the hearts of the faithful, and then surge forth in the form of special prayers and of a profound sense of trusting abandonment. The fervent joy of pouring forth these deepest feelings of the heart in so many impressive ways has been saved for modern times!
What the Vicar of Christ clearly
stated is that now is the time of St. Joseph. We are living
in modern times, the time in which the Church is witnessing an unprecedented
era of devotion to St. Joseph. According to St. Pope John XXIII, God desires
devotion to St. Joseph to surge forth in our day in the form of special prayers
of “trusting abandonment.” This means one thing in particular:
It’s
time for total consecration to St. Joseph!
Here is a list a list of remarkable events
that have taken place over the past 150 years that show St. Joseph’s increasing
importance in the life of the Church. They clearly indicate that we are living
in an unprecedented time of St. Joseph.
·
1868 — Blessed
Jean-Joseph Lataste, OP, writes a letter to Blessed Pope Pius IX asking him to
declare St. Joseph the “Patron of the Universal Church.”
·
1870 — Blessed Pope
Pius IX declares St. Joseph the “Patron of the Universal Church.”
·
1871 — Founding of the
Josephites by Cardinal Herbert A. Vaughan
·
1873 — Founding of the
Congregation of St. Joseph by St. Leonardo Murialdo
·
1878 — Founding of the
Oblates of St. Joseph by St. Joseph Marello
·
1879 — Apparitions at
Knock, Ireland. Saint Joseph appears with the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. John the
Apostle, and Jesus (appearing as the Lamb of God).
·
1889 — Pope Leo XIII
writes Quamquam Pluries, an encyclical letter on St. Joseph.
·
1895 — Blessed Petra
of St. Joseph begins construction on a shrine to St. Joseph in Barcelona,
Spain. It is consecrated in 1901. At her beatification in 1994, St. John Paul
II calls Blessed Petra the “apostle of St. Joseph of the 19th century.”
·
1904 — Saint AndrΓ©
Bessette constructs an oratory dedicated to St. Joseph in Montreal, Canada. It
expands, is declared a minor basilica, and finally is completed in 1967. Today,
it is known as St. Joseph’s Oratory and is considered by many to be the preeminent
international center of devotion to St. Joseph.
·
1908 — Saint Luigi
Guanella begins constructing a church dedicated to St. Joseph in Rome. It is
completed and consecrated as a basilica in 1912.
·
1909 — Saint Pope Pius
X officially approves the Litany of St. Joseph.
·
1914 — Saint Luigi
Guanella founds the Pious Union of St. Joseph for the Salvation of the Dying.
·
1917 — Apparitions at
Fatima, Portugal. During the last apparition on October 13, St. Joseph appears
holding the Child Jesus and blessing the world.
·
1921 — Pope Benedict
XV inserts the phrase “Blessed be St. Joseph, her most chaste spouse” into the
Divine Praises.
·
1947 — Spanish
Discalced Carmelites found Estudios Josefinos, the first
theological journal devoted to St. Joseph.
·
1950s — The alleged
apparitions of Our Lady of America given to Sr. Mary Ephrem emphasize a renewed
devotion to St. Joseph, and St. Joseph himself speaks to the visionary about
this devotion.
·
1955 — Venerable Pope
Pius XII establishes the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker, to be celebrated on
May 1.
·
1962 — Saint Pope John
XXIII inserts St. Joseph’s name into the Canon of the Mass (Eucharistic Prayer
I).
·
1989 — Saint Pope John
Paul II writes Redemptoris Custos, an apostolic exhortation on
St. Joseph.
Whoa! Did you know all that?
Most people are unaware of these remarkable events. Without exaggeration, the Church has done more to promote St. Joseph in the last 150 years than in the previous 1,800 years of Christianity!
But why now?
Why St. Joseph?
There are many reasons, but I believe there are two that are especially
important.
First, we need the spiritual fatherhood of St. Joseph to help us protect
marriage and the family. Marriage and the family have always been under attack,
but in modern times, the threats have reached extraordinary heights. Many
people no longer know what it means to be a man or a woman, let alone what
constitutes a marriage and a family. Many countries even claim to have
redefined marriage and the family. There is great confusion on these matters,
greater confusion than in any previous era of human history. The Servant of God
Sr. Lucia dos Santos, the longest-lived visionary of the Fatima apparitions,
knew the seriousness of the times and made a powerful statement about this
issue. She wrote:
The final battle between the Lord and the kingdom of Satan will be about marriage and the family.
To
combat and overcome Satan’s deceptions, the Church needs St. Joseph. His
example and protection are the only way out of the confusing mess we are in.
Who
else can we turn to who can help us understand what marriage and the family are
all about if not to the Head of the Holy Family and our spiritual father?
Second, the entire world needs to be re-evangelized, including the vast
majority of baptized Christians. Saint Joseph was the first missionary. Today,
he desires again to bring Jesus to the nations. Many nations and cultures that
were previously Christian have fallen away from their Christian roots and are
on a path of self-destruction. Countries once established on Judeo-Christian
principles have become overrun by ideologies and organizations that seek to
strip society of all that is sacred. Without a major turnaround, civilization
itself is going to self-destruct.
In an apostolic exhortation on St. Joseph in 1989, St. John Paul II reminded us
of the necessity of invoking St. Joseph in the work of re-evangelizing the
world. He wrote:
This
patronage [of St. Joseph] must be invoked as ever necessary for the Church, not
only as a defense against all dangers, but also, and indeed primarily, as an
impetus for her renewed commitment to evangelization in the world and to
re-evangelization in those lands and nations where religion and the Christian
life were formerly flourishing and are now put to a hard test.
Now is the time to consecrate yourself to St. Joseph!
God is telling his Church that, in
order to defend marriage and the family, elevate morals, recover lost ground,
and win souls for Jesus Christ, we need to bring St. Joseph onto the
battlefield. He is the Terror of Demons! With his powerful spiritual fatherhood,
incredible love for his spiritual children, and constant intercession, the
Church can be renewed as a light to the nations!
What exactly is consecration to St. Joseph? In other words, what does it mean
for a person to be consecrated to St. Joseph? Well, it basically means that you
acknowledge that he is your spiritual father, and you want to be like him. To
show it, you entrust yourself entirely to his paternal care so that he can help
you acquire his virtues and become holy. Total consecration to St. Joseph means
you make a formal act of filial entrustment to your spiritual father so that he
can take care of your spiritual well-being and lead you to God. The person who
consecrates himself to St. Joseph wants to be as close to their spiritual father
as possible, to the point of resembling him in virtue and holiness. Saint
Joseph, in turn, will give those consecrated to him his loving attention,
protection, and guidance.
Perhaps someone reading this has already consecrated themselves entirely to the
Blessed Virgin Mary, and is wondering if they can consecrate themselves to St.
Joseph and entrust everything to him, as well. The answer is a resounding “Yes!”
God desires that all children be committed to the love and care of a mother and
a father. You are not a member of a single-parent spiritual family. Mary is
your spiritual mother, and St. Joseph is your spiritual father. The spiritual
fatherhood of St. Joseph is extremely important for your spiritual growth.
Total consecration to Mary is not diminished by total consecration to St.
Joseph. Mary wants you to consecrate yourself to St. Joseph! Jesus wants you to
consecrate yourself to St. Joseph! Everything you have given to Jesus and Mary
can also be given to St. Joseph. The hearts of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph are one.
So, is there a book that offers a method of consecration to St. Joseph? Yes,
there is! It’s called Consecration
to St. Joseph: The Wonders of our Spiritual Father and it follows
a method similar to the tried-and-true 33-day preparation method employed by
St. Louis de Montfort in his Marian consecration. The 33-day program can be
done by individuals, parishes, and entire diocese. Through this program, I hope
to spark the first worldwide movement of consecration to St. Joseph!
Consecration to St. Joseph has endorsements from Cardinal Raymond
Burke, Bishop Athanasius Schneider, Jim Caviezel, Scott Hahn, and many others.
Get your copy of Consecration to St. Joseph and be part of
the movement! Go to www.consecrationtostjoseph.org to find out more!
Veni Sancte Spiritus[3]
Holy
Spirit, God of light, fill us with your radiance bright;
Gentle
father of the poor, make us, by your help, secure;
Come,
your boundless grace impart, bring your love to every heart.
Lord of consolation, come, warm us
when our hearts are numb;
Great consoler, come and heal, to
our souls your strength reveal;
Cool, refreshing comfort pour, and
our peace of mind restore.
Light immortal, fire divine, with
your love our hearts refine;
Come, our inmost being fill, make
us all to do your will;
Goodness you alone can give, grant
that in your grace we live.
Come, our lukewarm hearts inspire,
mold our wills to your desire;
In our weakness make us strong,
and amend our every wrong;
Guide us when we go astray, wash
our stain of guilt away.
Give to every faithful soul, gifts
of grace to make us whole;
Help us when we come to die, so
that we may live on high;
Ever let your love descend, give
us joys that never end.
|
Litany of St. Joseph |
|
|
Lord, have mercy on us |
Christ, have mercy on us. |
|
Lord, have mercy on us. |
|
|
Jesus, hear us, |
Jesus, graciously hear us. |
|
God the Father of heaven, |
have mercy on us. |
|
God the Son, Redeemer of the World, |
have mercy on us. |
|
God the Holy Spirit, |
have mercy on us. |
|
Holy Trinity, one God, |
have mercy on us. |
|
Holy Mary, |
pray for us. |
|
St. Joseph, |
pray for us. |
|
Renowned offspring of David, |
pray for us. |
|
Light of Patriarchs, |
pray for us. |
|
Spouse of the Mother of God, |
pray for us. |
|
Chaste guardian of the Virgin, |
pray for us. |
|
Foster father of the Son of God, |
pray for us. |
|
Diligent protector of Christ, |
pray for us. |
|
Head of the Holy Family, |
pray for us. |
|
Joseph most just, |
pray for us. |
|
Joseph most chaste, |
pray for us. |
|
Joseph most prudent, |
pray for us. |
|
Joseph most strong, |
pray for us. |
|
Joseph most obedient, |
pray for us. |
|
Joseph most faithful, |
pray for us. |
|
Mirror of patience, |
pray for us. |
|
Lover of poverty, |
pray for us. |
|
Model of artisans, |
pray for us. |
|
Glory of home life, |
pray for us. |
|
Guardian of virgins, |
pray for us. |
|
Pillar of families, |
pray for us. |
|
Solace of the wretched, |
pray for us. |
|
Hope of the sick, |
pray for us. |
|
Patron of the dying, |
pray for us. |
|
Terror of demons, |
pray for us. |
|
Protector of Holy Church, |
pray for us. |
|
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, |
spare us, O Jesus. |
|
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, |
graciously hear us, O Jesus. |
|
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, |
have mercy on us, O Jesus. |
|
He made him the lord of his household |
And prince over all his possessions. |
Let us pray:
O God, in your ineffable
providence you were pleased to choose Blessed Joseph to be the spouse of your
most holy Mother; grant, we beg you, that we may be worthy to have him for our
intercessor in heaven whom on earth we venerate as our Protector: You who live
and reign forever and ever.
Saint
Joseph, pray for us.
Valentine's Day[4]
Valentine's
Day is a celebration of love and friendship.
The holiday derived its name from two Roman martyrs for love, both named
Valentine. The first Valentine was beheaded on February 14th, but not
before leaving a note signed from your Valentine for his lady. The second
Valentine was supposedly a bishop who secretly married young couples, an act
that was forbidden by the Roman Emperor who wanted young men to first serve as
soldiers before marrying. Valentine ignored the law and was beheaded on
February 14. An ancient Roman festival called Lupercalia, a celebration for
which young men randomly chose the name of a young girl
to escort to the festivities, has also been linked to the origins of
Valentine's Day.
Since
then, the custom of selecting a sweetheart on February 14th has spread through
Europe and its colonies and transformed itself into the celebration of love and
friendship that we know today.
Valentine's
Day Facts & Quotes
·
Symbols
for Valentine’s Day include hearts, chocolate, flowers, and Cupid - the Roman
God of Love.
·
52%
of US consumers will send out at least 1 Valentine's Day card, 47% will send
candy, and 34% will send flowers.
·
Love
looks not with the eyes but with the mind. And therefore, is winged Cupid
painted blind. - William Shakespeare (A Midsummer Night's Dream)
Valentine's
Day Top Events and Things to Do
·
Send
someone you care for a Valentine's Day card. Take the time to write a small
note or love poem inside. Sign it, from your Valentine.
·
Go
to a special romantic dinner with your sweetheart. Tip: Book early as
this is one of the busiest days of the year for restaurants.
·
Watch
the movie Valentine's Day (2010) or the Notebook (2004). Both are
romance movies with star casts.
·
Send
a Secret Valentine to someone several days before, and then reveal your
identity on February 14th.
·
Remember
other important people in your life, such as your parents, grandparents and old
friends. Send them a small card or gift to remind them of how much you care.
Catholic
Things to Do[5]
·
Read the Golden
Legend account of St. Valentine's life.
·
Pray to St. Valentine for an increase of true,
sacrificial love within marriages.
·
Make Valentines for those closest to you — your
family and friends. If you have children, teach them to make valentines from
red construction paper and doilies.
·
Begin to read and discuss some of St. John Paul
II's works on marriage; for example, Love and Responsibility or his The Theology of the Body Human Love in the Divine Plan (Parish
Resources).
We practice these small works of love on St.
Valentine’s Day — reading the life of the saint, praying for marriages,
teaching our children to give handmade valentines, and returning to St. John
Paul II’s vision of self‑giving love — because each of these gestures points
beyond itself. They train the heart to recognize what real love looks like.
And real love always leads us back to the Cross.
For if Valentine’s teaches us anything, it is that
love is proven not by sentiment but by sacrifice. Which is why, on this day
dedicated to love, the Church invites us to contemplate the greatest act of
love ever shown: the shedding of Christ’s Precious Blood for the redemption of
His beloved.
It is in that spirit that we now turn to the
remarkable revelation given to St. Elizabeth of Hungary, St. Matilda, and St.
Bridget — a reminder that even the smallest drop of Christ’s Blood carries
redemptive power reaching to the fourth generation.
Drops of Christ’s Blood[6]
St. Elizabeth,
Queen of Hungary, with St. Matilda and St. Bridget, wishing to know something
of the Passion of Jesus Christ, offered fervent and special prayers. Upon which
Our Lord revealed to them:
To all the
faithful who shall recite for 3 years, each day, 2 Our Fathers,
2 Hail Mary’s and 2 Glory Be’s in honor of the drops of Blood I lost,
I will concede the following 5 graces:
1.
The
plenary indulgence and remittance of your sins.
2.
You
will be free from the pains of Purgatory.
3.
If
you should die before completing the said 3 years, for you it will be the same
as if you had completed them.
4.
It
will be upon your death the same as if you had shed all your blood for the Holy
Faith.
5.
I
will descend from Heaven to take your soul and that of your relatives, until
the fourth generation.
Blessed by His Holiness Pope Leo
XIII in Rome, April 5, 1890
The
thought of saving souls should always be on our mind. St. John Bosco stated it
well. "There is nothing more holy in this world than to work for the good
of souls, for whose salvation Jesus Christ poured out the last drops of His
blood." St. Vincent de Paul tells us that: "The salvation of men and
our own are so great a good that they merit to be obtained at any
price."
Sad to say, the great majority of Catholics put forth little or no effort in
promoting the greater honor and glory of God and the salvation of souls. Let us
keep in mind that if we manage to save one soul, we also ensure the salvation
of our own. The Holy Ghost reveals this to us in the Holy Bible. [St. James 5:
19-20] This little practice gives us a very easy way to save our own soul as
well as the ones dearest to us------our family.
Bible in a Year Day 227 The Towering Cedar
Fr.
Mike highlights the people of Israel's flaw in trusting in the strength and
power of Egypt, not realizing that although Egypt is like a towering cedar
tree, the nation will eventually collapse. Fr. Mike also points out Jeremiah's
vehement message to Israel to brace themselves for God's judgment. Today we
read Jeremiah 4, Ezekiel 31-32, and Proverbs 14:17-20.
Daily Devotions
·
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting: Today's Fast: Catholic
Politian’s and Leaders.
·
Rosary
[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veni_Sancte_Spiritus
[5]https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2017-02-14
[6]http://www.catholictradition.org/Christ/holy-wounds2.htm
Night Life in Reno (1931)—a compact, fascinating slice of Pre‑Code Hollywood that promises sin in the desert but delivers something more ironic, more domestic, and more revealing about American marriage culture in the early ’30s.
Night Life in Reno (1931) — Pre‑Code Hollywood Spotlight
1. What the Film Is
A 1931 American pre‑Code romantic‑crime drama directed by Raymond Cannon, running just under an hour. It was produced on the Poverty Row circuit (Weiss Bros./Artclass Pictures), yet surprisingly polished in its interiors and costuming.
The film stars:
- Virginia Valli as June Wyatt
- Jameson Thomas as John Wyatt
- Dixie Lee as Dorothy (the “other woman”)
- Dorothy Christy, Arthur Housman, Clarence Wilson, Carmelita Geraghty
2. Plot in a Tight Frame
The story begins with an interrupted indiscretion: John Wyatt is caught with a blonde floozy (Dixie Lee). His wife June, wounded and humiliated, heads to Reno, then the divorce capital of America, to begin the six‑week residency required for a quick dissolution of marriage.
John follows her, repentant—but not before the film indulges in:
- flirtation,
- drunken antics,
- a double date where June unknowingly ends up paired with her own husband,
- and the kind of breezy sexual freedom that marks the Pre‑Code era.
Then, in classic Poverty Row fashion, a late‑film murder abruptly shifts the tone, giving John a chance to prove his devotion and win June back.
3. Why It’s Pre‑Code (Even If Mildly)
While some reviewers note the film doesn’t fully deliver the “sin city” promise of its title, it does contain unmistakable Pre‑Code elements:
- Adultery as the inciting incident
- Women seeking autonomy through divorce
- A brassy female mentor encouraging reinvention
- Casual drinking and flirtation
- A comedic, almost celebratory tone around marital misbehavior
It’s not salacious, but it’s unmistakably from that brief window when Hollywood could wink at adult realities without punishment.
**4. Catholic & Moral-Thematic Reading
Even though the film is light and sometimes uneven, it offers rich angles for spiritual reflection—especially in your ongoing project of extracting virtue, vice, and formation themes from early cinema.
A. The Wound of Betrayal
June’s departure is not vindictive—it’s protective. She refuses to live in a lie.
Moral lens: The dignity of the betrayed spouse; the right to truth; the refusal to normalize sin.
B. Reno as a Symbol
Reno represents:
- escape,
- reinvention,
- the illusion that geography can solve moral disorder.
Catholic counterpoint: True reconciliation requires conversion, not relocation.
C. The Husband’s Repentance
John’s repentance is imperfect—motivated partly by being caught—but it grows into genuine devotion when tested by crisis.
Moral lens:
- imperfect contrition → perfect contrition
- grace working through humiliation
- the slow re‑knitting of trust
D. The Murder as Deus ex Morality
The sudden crime forces clarity: life is fragile, and love must be chosen, not assumed.
Spiritual insight:
Crisis often reveals the truth of a relationship and the sincerity of repentance.
5. Hospitality Pairing (Era‑Accurate & Thematically On‑Point)
Cocktail: The “Reno Residency”
A 1930s‑style highball:
- Rye whiskey
- Ginger ale
- Dash of lemon
- Served tall, clean, no garnish
Symbolism:
- Rye = the bite of betrayal
- Ginger = the spark of reinvention
- Lemon = the sourness that must be faced before sweetness returns
Snack: Salted Mixed Nuts
A staple of 1930s hotel lounges and casinos.
Symbolism: The “mixed” nature of marriage—sweet, salty, bitter, and nourishing when taken together.
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