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✝️ Good Friday Addition: Living a Catholic Bipolar Life
Fully Alive in Mind, Body, Spirit, and HeartGood Friday is the day Christ enters every human darkness — not just the darkness of sin, but the darkness of fear, confusion, and interior storms. The Catechism teaches that the human person is a unity of body, soul, and spirit (CCC 362–368), and bipolar disorder touches all three. It does not make a person less Catholic, less beloved, or less capable of holiness. It simply means the path to sanctity will be forged through a different rhythm — one that requires courage, structure, and mercy.
๐ง The Mind: Where Fear Is Faced, Not DeniedBipolar disorder brings seasons of intensity and seasons of heaviness. The mind becomes a battlefield where fear whispers: You are unstable. You are unpredictable. You are alone.But Isaiah 12 speaks directly into that fear:“God indeed is my salvation; I am confident and unafraid.”Confidence is not a mood. It is a stance.The Catholic bipolar life begins with this truth: your mind is not your enemy. Christ descended into the realm of the dead to break the prison of fear (CCC 635). He enters the realm of your thoughts with the same authority. He is not ashamed of your mind. He walks into it.
๐ช The Body: Where Order Becomes StrengthThe body becomes a stabilizing anchor when the mind is turbulent. Movement, routine, sleep, and rhythm are not merely “healthy habits” — they are acts of stewardship. They are the way a Catholic man says: My body belongs to God, not to chaos.Strength training, walking, breathwork, and predictable routines become a form of prayer. They teach the body what the soul is learning: how to stand upright when the inner weather changes.
๐ฅ The Spirit: Where Identity Is ReclaimedBipolar disorder often tempts a man to believe he is defined by instability. But the Resurrection reveals the opposite: identity is defined by the One who rises.This is where the Upright Man of the Shroud becomes the model.The Shroud does not show a collapsed corpse.It shows a man already rising — straight, composed, unbroken.The Resurrection is the promise that fear does not get the last word in your story.The Catholic bipolar life is not about suppressing emotion; it is about letting Christ straighten what fear bends.
❤️ The Heart: Where Mercy Becomes the RuleThe heart of the bipolar Catholic life is mercy — mercy toward oneself, mercy toward others, mercy toward the days that feel heavy or chaotic. The Catechism teaches that holiness grows through perseverance, humility, and trust (CCC 2015).Some days will be bright.Some days will be dim.But every day can be holy.Every day can be offered.Every day can be lived in the shadow of the Cross and the light of the empty tomb.
✝️ Good Friday’s Gift to the Bipolar SoulGood Friday reveals a Savior who enters the deepest darkness without fear.Holy Saturday reveals a Savior who breaks the gates of death.Easter reveals a Savior who stands upright in glory.To live a Catholic bipolar life is to follow Him through all three:
✝️ Good Friday Addition: Living a Catholic Bipolar Life
Through the darkness without shame
Through the waiting without despairThrough the rising without fearThe Upright Man of the Shroud is the blueprint.The Resurrection is the promise.Isaiah is the anthem:“God indeed is my salvation; I am confident and unafraid.”
Better to Smoke in This Life Than the Next
Fri, Apr 3 – Good Friday Reflection
๐ฉธ Virtue: Surrender & Conversion
Conversion is not a gentle thing.
It is not a warm breeze or a soft awakening.
Conversion is a kind of dying —
the death of illusions,
the death of self‑protection,
the death of the man you were trying to be without God.
Only after that death does resurrection begin its slow work.
Good Friday is the day a man admits:
“Something in me must die if something truer is going to live.”
๐จ Cigar: A Dark, Uneven Maduro
A Maduro belongs to a day like this.
It burns hot, bitter, stubborn.
It refuses to be elegant.
It forces you to sit with the taste of sacrifice.
This is not a cigar for celebration.
It is a cigar for honesty.
๐ฅ Bourbon: The Heavy Pour
Tonight calls for weight —
oak, char, fire in the chest.
A bourbon that doesn’t comfort but clarifies.
A bourbon that reminds you that strength is not the absence of pain,
but the willingness to walk through it without running.
๐ฅ Purgatory Story: The Man Who Tried to Rise Without Dying
There was a man in Purgatory who kept trying to climb upward.
He pushed, strained, reached —
but every time he rose a little, he fell back again.
Frustrated, he cried out,
“Why can’t I ascend? I’m trying with everything I have!”
An angel appeared and said,
“You are trying to rise without letting go of what is weighing you down.”
The man looked at his hands.
He was gripping old fears, old sins, old identities —
the very things he thought he needed to survive.
The angel continued,
“Resurrection is not achieved by effort.
It begins with surrender.
You cannot rise until you allow something in you to die.”
The man closed his eyes, opened his hands,
and let the old burdens fall.
Only then did he feel himself lifted —
not by his strength,
but by grace.
๐ Reflection: “What in me must die so that I can rise?”
Good Friday is not about guilt.
It is about truth.
It is the day you stop pretending you can resurrect yourself.
It is the day you let God dismantle what cannot enter Easter with you.
Conversion often feels like death before it feels like resurrection —
but every man who has walked through the shadows knows:
the dying is real,
but so is the rising.
Dinkwad’s Corner
His dominion is vast and forever peaceful,
Upon David’s throne, and over his kingdom,
which he confirms and sustains by judgment and justice,
both now and forever.
(Isaiah 9:6)
· National Cherry Blossom Festival in D.C. till April 13
o The nation’s capital comes abloom every spring with the annual National Cherry Blossom Festival. See the famed cherry blossom trees, lining the Tidal Basin, while strolling by iconic sites like the Jefferson and Martin Luther King memorials.
- National Burrito Day
- Have a Dirty Maria cocktail with it in honor of St. Maria of Egypt
- Marlon Brando, born on April 3, 1924, was a remarkable actor known worldwide.
· Spirit Hour: Black Maria Cocktail in honor of St. Maria of Egypt
- As the weather gives warmer plan to go an outdoor theater
- Check out countries that will pay you to move there
· Bucket List trip: Nile River Cruise
· 30 Days with St. Joseph Day 16
- Try “Sopa de Ajo[15]”
· Get an indulgence
Rich vs. Poor Tour
๐ Montenegro
vs Philippines
Mountain Citadel / Archipelago of Faith
Montenegro and the Philippines open the first ring beyond the global middle — the place where contrasts sharpen and the world’s story widens. Montenegro is a rugged Adriatic citadel shaped by mountains, monasteries, and centuries of shifting empires. The Philippines is a sprawling archipelago where Catholicism is not a minority flame but a cultural heartbeat. One is small, guarded, and carved by stone; the other is vast, scattered, and carried by song. Together they reveal the world where identity and devotion take radically different forms.
๐ฒ๐ช Montenegro — Rugged, Rooted, and Quietly Faithful
GDP per capita (PPP): ~$23,000 (2024)
๐งฎ Why Montenegro Sits Just Above This Ring
Tourism-driven coastal economy
Maritime trade and port access
High remittances from diaspora
Strategic position between EU and Balkans
Small population amplifying per‑capita wealth
✝️ Catholic Landscape
Small Catholic minority (mostly Albanian and Croat communities)
Coastal parishes with centuries-old heritage
Strong Orthodox majority shaping national identity
Catholic presence expressed through fidelity, not visibility
Monasteries and shrines tied to mountain pilgrimage routes
⚠️ Challenges
Depopulation and youth emigration
Political instability and corruption concerns
Economic dependence on tourism
Tension between tradition and modernization
๐ฟ Pilgrimage Cue
Montenegro is a mountain citadel — a land where faith endures through rooted identity, quiet perseverance, and the strength of small communities holding ancient ground.
๐ต๐ญ Philippines — Devout, Dynamic, and Overflowing with Faith
GDP per capita (PPP): ~$10,000 (2024)
๐งฎ Why the Philippines Sits Just Below This Ring
Rapid growth diluted by massive population
Large service and BPO sectors
Persistent rural poverty
Vulnerability to natural disasters
Heavy reliance on overseas workers
✝️ Catholic Landscape
~85% Catholic — one of the largest Catholic nations on earth
Deep Marian devotion (Our Lady of Peรฑafrancia, Antipolo, Manaoag)
Vibrant parish life, youth movements, and charismatic renewal
Strong missionary presence across Asia and the Middle East
Faith expressed through fiestas, processions, and public devotion
⚠️ Challenges
Inequality and urban overcrowding
Typhoons, earthquakes, and climate vulnerability
Political volatility and corruption
Social strain from massive diaspora labor
๐ฟ Pilgrimage Cue
The Philippines is an archipelago of faith — a Church that sings, gathers, and carries hope across islands and oceans, witnessing through joy, resilience, and Marian tenderness.
๐️ Editorial Reflection
Montenegro and the Philippines reveal the first truth of the outer ring: as we move away from the global middle, the contrasts grow sharper, but the Church’s mission becomes clearer. Montenegro shows the strength of rooted identity — a faith preserved in stone, memory, and mountain fidelity. The Philippines shows the strength of lived devotion — a faith carried in song, procession, and the daily courage of millions. One guards; the other gathers. One endures in stillness; the other flourishes in celebration.
Both nations remind us that the Church thrives not only in wealth or poverty, but in the spaces where identity is tested and hope is needed. Montenegro teaches the beauty of holding the line. The Philippines teaches the beauty of expanding the circle. Together they mark the first step outward — where the pilgrimage begins to stretch toward the world’s edges, and where grace adapts to radically different landscapes.
APRIL 3 Good Friday of the Lord’s
Passion
John, Chapter 19, verse 38
After this, Joseph of
Arimathea, secretly a disciple of Jesus for FEAR of the Jews, asked
Pilate if he could remove the body of Jesus. And Pilate permitted it. So he
came and took his body.
Where is Jesus’ body?
If Christ did not resurrect where are the remains of his body?
We have the nails, we have the shroud, we have the wood of the cross, and the crown of thorns, but we do not have His body. Why, because he has resurrected and in due time so will we.
Faith is the answer to fear. Deep down we are all afraid: of suffering, or of dying, or of God’s judgment, or of the unknown, or of weakness, or of our live’ slipping out of control, or of not being understood and loved. We sin because we fear.
We bully because we are cowards.[1]
“Faith casts our fear, as light casts out darkness. God has shone his light into our world, and it is stronger than darkness. (John 1:50)
Copilot’s Take
The
question “Where is His body?” stands at the center of Christian faith. Good
Friday gives us every instrument of death—the nails, the thorns, the cross, the
shroud—yet not the body itself. The Catechism teaches that the Resurrection is
both a historical event and a mystery that transcends history (CCC 639–647).
The missing body is not an absence to explain away; it is the first
proclamation of victory. Death kept everything except the One thing it was
supposed to hold.
Joseph
of Arimathea moves “secretly… for fear,” and that single word exposes the
deeper battlefield. Fear is the oldest wound of the Fall, the interior fracture
that sin exploits (CCC 400). We fear suffering, judgment, weakness,
abandonment, and the loss of control. We sin because we fear. We bully because
we are cowards. Evil always begins by whispering to our fears and ends by
weaponizing them against others. Good Friday unmasks this dynamic with painful
clarity.
Yet the
Passion also reveals that faith is the only force capable of disarming fear.
The Catechism calls faith both a grace and a human act (CCC 153–155)—a
supernatural courage that allows a person to stand in the presence of evil
without collapsing. “Faith casts out fear, as light casts out darkness.” Christ
does not confront evil with retaliation but with truth, obedience, and self‑gift
(CCC 609). He enters the territory of fear—death itself—and breaks it open from
within.
Good
Friday is the decisive confrontation between divine love and the powers of
darkness (CCC 571–572). Evil exhausts itself in violence; love exhausts itself
in offering. The Cross shows that courage is not the absence of fear but the
refusal to let fear dictate the terms of one’s obedience. Christ’s silence
before His accusers is not weakness—it is mastery. His surrender is not
defeat—it is the moment evil overreaches and collapses.
And so
the missing body becomes the final word on fear. It is God’s declaration that
suffering does not have the last claim, death does not have the last
jurisdiction, and fear does not have the last sentence in your story. The empty
tomb is the promise that what happened to Him will happen to you. Good Friday
is the day fear screams; Easter is the day fear is silenced. The absence of His
body is the presence of your hope.
Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion[2]
WHAT does the Church commemorate on this day?
According to St. John
xviii. and xix.
They answered Him: Jesus of
Nazareth. Jesus saith to them: I am He. And Judas also who betrayed Him, stood
with Him. As soon therefore as He had said to them: I am He: they went backward
and fell to the ground. Again, therefore He asked them:
And they said, Jesus of Nazareth.
Jesus answered: I have told you, that I am He. If therefore you seek Me, let
these go their way. That the word might be fulfilled which He said: Of them
whom Thou hast given Me I have not lost anyone. Then Simon Peter having a
sword, drew it, and struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his
right ear. And the name of the servant was Malchus. Jesus therefore said to
Peter:
ask them who have heard what I have spoken to them: behold
they know what things I have said. And when He had said these things, one of
the servants standing by, gave Jesus a blow, saying:
Jesus answered him: If I have
spoken evil, give testimony of the evil: but if well,
Why strikest thou Me?
Art not thou also one of His disciples?
He denied it, and said: I am not
One of the servants of the high priest, a kinsman to him whose ear Peter cut
off, saith to him:
What hast Thou done?
Jesus answered: Thou sayest that I
am a king. For this was I born, and for this came I into the world, that I
should give testimony to the truth. Every one that is of the truth, heareth My
voice. Pilate said to Him:
What is truth?
[Here all kneel, and pause a little, to meditate on the redemption of mankind. ~\ Then the Jews (because it was the Parasceve), that the bodies might not remain upon the cross on the Sabbath-day (for that was a great Sabbath-day), besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. The soldiers, therefore, came and they broke the legs of the first, and of the other that was crucified with Him. But after they were come to Jesus, when they saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. But one of the soldiers with a spear opened His side, and immediately there came out blood and water. And he that saw it hath given testimony, and his testimony is true. And he knoweth that he saith true, that you also may believe. For these things were done that the Scripture might be fulfilled: You shall not break a bone of him. And again, another Scripture saith: They shall look on Him Whom they pierced. And after these things, Joseph of Arimathea (because he was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly lor fear of the Jews) besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus. And Pilate gave leave. He came therefore and took away the body of Jesus. And Nicodemus also came, he who at the first came to Jesus by night, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred-pound weight. They took therefore the body of Jesus, and bound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury. Now there was in the place where He was crucified a garden: and in the garden a new sepulcher, wherein no man yet had been laid. There, therefore, because of the Parasceve of the Jews, they laid Jesus; because the sepulcher was nigh at hand.
When the Passion is finished the Priest prays first:
1, for the Church.
2, for the pope.
3, for the bishops, priests,
deacons and the body of the faithful.
4, for the civil rulers and the
catechumens.
5, for preservation from famine
and sickness.
6, for heretics and schismatics.
7, for Jews and heathen.
After the prayers the priest, from the epistle side of the
altar, extends towards the people the veiled crucifix, uncovered at the top,
and sings with a loud voice, Behold the
wood of the cross, whereon hung the
Saviour of the world. This elevation of the crucifix refers to Jesus, Who
delivers us from everlasting death. After the response of the choir the priest
advances to the corner of the altar, uncovers the right arm of the crucifix,
and sings in a higher tone than before, Behold
the wood of the cross. The choir again answers. Then at the middle of the
altar he uncovers the whole crucifix, and, elevating it, sings in a still
higher tone, Behold the wood of the cross,
to which the answer is given as at first. The covering of the crucifix
signifies that the crucified Savior was at first unknown and despised by the
world; the gradual uncovering of it represents the gradual propagation of the
knowledge and adoration of Jesus among mankind. The uncovered crucifix is then
laid upon a cushion in front of the altar, and the priest puts off his shoes
and proceeds to kiss the cross, kneeling three times to remind the faithful
that Christ crucified, the Fountain of life, the Centre of the Church, is in
her midst, and will remain with her to the end of time. When the adoration is
ended, the cross is replaced on the middle of the altar, the candles are
lighted, and the Blessed Sacrament is brought in procession from the place
where it was deposited the day before. There is no Mass said to-day. For there
is no consecration either of bread or wine, but the priest receives one of the
hosts consecrated the day before.
Why is there no Mass said?
By contemplating His passion, we ought to become like Him. As often, therefore, as you think on the passion of Christ, whether in making the Stations of the Cross, or in reciting the Rosary, or before an image of the suffering Redeemer, endeavor not only to have pity for His sufferings, not only to give Him assurance of your love, but also to impress upon your heart the virtues practiced by Him in His passion, and to imitate them.
Lenten Calendar[3]
Read:
Lent is over. The
joy of Easter is almost here, but today we still must journey with the Cross.
Many of us have chosen to sacrifice something during Lent. However, there are
those in the world that do not have that choice; many struggle to put food on
the table, give their children an education, take care of ailing parents, and
much more. Through our own sacrifices we stand in solidarity with those who
struggle as we work to ease their suffering.
Reflect:
One thing we can
take away from this Lent and from our encounter with the Passion of Christ is
that at the heart of every sacrifice is love. When we freely sacrifice
something during Lent, the goal is to do it for the love of God. How can we
continue to lovingly sacrifice once Lent is over?
One way is to pay
attention to the people in your life, while another way is to stand in
solidarity with those who suffer while working to ease their burden.
Pray:
Pray the Stations of the Cross today.
Act:
Attend the Good
Friday liturgy in your parish today. (No Mass is celebrated on Good
Friday.)
Timeline of Holy Week[4]
· Good Friday: Preparation Day for Passover (Jn 19:14)
·
Early
in the morning, the Sanhedrin meets, they lead Jesus to Pilate. (Mk 15:1; Mt
27:1-2; Lk 23:1; Jn 18:28)
·
Pilate
sends Jesus to Herod (Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee) (Lk 23:6-7)
· Herod mocks Jesus and then clothes him in gorgeous apparel, and sends Jesus back to Pilate (Lk 23:6-12)
·
Pilate
examines Jesus and finds him not guilty of the Jew’s charges against him.
Pilate has Jesus flogged and plans to release him. (Lk 23:13-16; Jn 19:1-13)
·
Jesus
is crowned with thorns. (Jn 19:1-6)
·
Jesus
is sentenced to death and is crucified at 12:00 noon.
·
Jesus
dies at 3:00 and is buried in the tomb. (Mt 27:46; Mk 15:34; Lk 23:44)
Good Friday is the most difficult day of Passion Week. Christ's journey turned treacherous and acutely painful in these final hours leading to his death. According to Scripture, Judas Iscariot, the disciple who had betrayed Jesus, was overcome with remorse and hanged himself early Friday morning. Meanwhile, before the third hour (9 a.m.), Jesus endured the shame of false accusations, condemnation, mockery, beatings, and abandonment. After multiple unlawful trials, he was sentenced to death by crucifixion, one of the most horrible and disgraceful methods of capital punishment known at the time. Before Christ was led away, soldiers spit on him, tormented and mocked him, and pierced him with a crown of thorns. Then Jesus carried his own cross to Calvary where, again, he was mocked and insulted as Roman soldiers nailed him to the wooden cross. Jesus spoke seven final statements from the cross. His first words were, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." His last words were, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." Then, about the ninth hour (3 p.m.), Jesus breathed his last breath and died. By 6 p.m. Friday evening, Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea took Jesus' body down from the cross and lay it in a tomb.[5]
· Hypocrisy: To be a hypocrite is to give others the impression that we are holier than we actually are. It is the same as being false or telling a lie. Jesus pronounced a curse on hypocrites seven times in Mt. 23:13-29. Jesus told the Pharisees that their inner life was ""full of self-indulgence"" (Mt. 23:25) - which meant that they lived only to please themselves. God looks at our hearts. (Sorrowful mystery: agony in the garden)
·
Impurity: Impurity enters into our hearts mainly through our
eyes and our ears. Anyone who seeks to be pure must therefore be especially
careful about what he sees and what he hears. Jesus hated impurity so much that
He told His disciples that they should be willing to pluck out their right eye
and cut off their right hand rather than sin with those members (Mt. 5:27-29).
When do doctors recommend the amputation of the right hand or the surgical
removal of an eye? Only when things have become so bad that without the removal
of these organs, the whole body would die. This is what we need to understand
in relation to sin as well. Sin is so serious that it can imperil our very
life. Most believers have not realized this and that is why they are careless
in the way they use their tongues and their eyes. (Sorrowful mystery: scourging at the pillar)
·
Spiritual
Pride: We all know
the parable of the self-righteous Pharisee who despised others even in his
prayer (Lk. 18:9-14)! Jesus hated the pride with which he thought of his
spiritual activities and with which he despised makes believers constantly
judge other believers. Jesus taught that the greatest person in heaven would be
the humblest (Mt. 18:4). The greatest virtue found in heaven is humility. This
is why it is the first of the seven virtues (Humility, Generosity, Chastity,
Patience, Temperance, Understanding and Wisdom) of Mary Christ’s mother. (Sorrowful mystery: crowning of the thorns)
·
Indifference
to Human Need: Jesus was angry when the leaders of
the synagogue did not want Him to heal a man, just because it was the Sabbath
day ""He was deeply disturbed by their indifference to human
need"" (Mk. 3:5 - Living). We are commanded to do good to all men,
especially to the children of God (Gal. 6: 10). Jesus taught that those who did
nothing to help their brothers who were in need of the basic necessities of
life, would be cast out of His presence in the final day (Mt. 25:41-46). Those
who do not help their brothers in need cannot possibly have the love of God
dwelling in their hearts (1Jn. 3:17). Jesus spoke out strongly on such matters
because He hated the attitude that many religious people had who were concerned
only with religious activities but not with helping their needy brothers. (Sorrowful mystery: carrying of the cross)
·
Unbelief: Bible speaks of an unbelieving heart as an EVIL heart
(He. 3: 12) Jesus rebuked His disciples seven times for unbelief. (See Mt.
6:30; 8:26; 14:31; 16:8; 17:17-20; Mk.16:14; Lk.24:25). It seems that He almost
never rebuked His disciples for anything else!! Unbelief is an insult to God,
because it implies that God does not care or provide for His children even as
much as evil fathers on earth care and provide for their children. (Sorrowful mystery: the crucifixion)
Good Friday Service.[7]
The sacrifice of the altar is not offered on the day commemorating the sacrifice of the cross, and though communion may be distributed, the faithful are discouraged from receiving it without good reason. Instead, a mournful service is conducted. The priest, vested in black, reads several passages from the Bible, including the Passion account from the Gospel of John. Afterwards, the "Solemn Prayers" or "Collects" are offered on behalf of all classes of men, from the Church to the heathen. This is followed by the veneration of the cross, during which time the dolorous "Reproaches" are chanted. The service concludes with the "Mass of the Presanctified," a solemn communion rite.
Forty
Hours' Devotion
It is traditionally
believed that the duration of time from Christ's death until His Resurrection
is forty hours, from 3 p.m. on Good Friday until 7 a.m. Easter Sunday. As early
as the 100s it was customary for some of the faithful to fast and keep vigil
during this entire period.
Other Good Friday Customs
If a devotion of forty hours could not be
done, many Catholics observed Good Friday as a day of austerity as best they
could. Fasting more than was required was common. Attending the Three
Hours' Devotion, or Seven Last
Words of Christ, from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. (the hours our Lord hung
upon the cross), has also been popular. Liturgically speaking, this is a
relatively new observance, begun in Peru in the early 1700s, but it is a very
effective one. An older tradition that has lamentably been forgotten, on the
other hand, is that of the Holy Sepulcher, a special
shrine set up to house either the Blessed Sacrament or a crucifix which the
faithful could visit on Good Friday and Holy Saturday.
The Divine Mercy Novena Between 1930
and 1938 Christ appeared to Sister Faustina, a Sister of Mercy in Poland who
initiated the Divine Mercy devotion. She was canonized on April 30, 2000, the
Sunday after Easter, the Feast of Divine Mercy. On Good Friday, 1937, Jesus
requested that Blessed Faustina make a special novena before the Feast of
Mercy, from Good Friday through the following Saturday. Jesus also asked that a
picture be painted according to the vision of Himself as the fountain of mercy.
He gave her a chaplet to be recited and said that it was appropriate to pray
the chaplet at three o'clock each afternoon (the Hour of Great Mercy).
Good Friday-Start Divine Mercy Novena[8]
Unlike other novenas, where people ask for
something from God through the intercession of His Holy Saints, Divine Mercy
Novena is intended to be prayed for graces and/or salvation to be given to
other people. Jesus asked that this novena be prayed prior to the Feast of
Divine Mercy (the Sunday after Easter), beginning on Good Friday. He gave Sr.
Faustina an intention to pray for on each day of the Novena, saving for the
last day the most difficult intention of all, the lukewarm and indifferent of
whom He said: "These souls cause Me more suffering than any others; it was
from such souls that My soul felt the most revulsion in the Garden of Olives.
It was on their account that I said: 'My Father, if it is possible, let this
cup pass Me by.' The last hope of salvation for them is to flee to My
Mercy." In her diary, Faustina wrote that Jesus told her: "On each
day of the novena you will bring to My heart a different group of souls and you
will immerse them in this ocean of My mercy ... On each day you will beg My
Father, on the strength of My passion, for the graces for these souls."
Prayer:
The
different souls prayed for on each day of the novena are:
All
mankind, especially sinners; The souls of priests and religious; All devout and
faithful souls; Those who do not believe in Jesus and those who do not yet know
Him; The souls of separated brethren; The meek and humble souls and the souls
of children; The souls who especially venerate and glorify Jesus' mercy; The
souls who are detained in purgatory; and The souls who have become lukewarm.
This
is prayed along with the Divine Mercy Chaplet.
·
First Day - Today bring Me all mankind,
especially all sinners.
Most Merciful Jesus, whose very nature it is to have
compassion on us and to forgive us, do not look upon our sins, but upon our
trust which we place in Your infinite goodness. Receive us all into the abode
of Your Most Compassionate Heart, and never let us escape from It. We beg this
of You by Your love which unites You to the Father and the Holy Spirit.
Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon all mankind
and especially upon poor sinners, all enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart
of Jesus. For the sake of His Sorrowful Passion show us Your mercy, that we may
praise the omnipotence of Your mercy for ever and ever. Amen.
· Second Day - Today Bring Me the Souls of Priests and Religious.
Most Merciful Jesus, from whom comes all that is good,
increase Your grace in us, that we may perform worthy works of mercy, and that
all who see us may glorify the Father of Mercy who is in heaven.
Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the company
[of chosen souls] in Your vineyard - upon the souls of priests and religious;
and endow them with the strength of Your blessing. For the love of the Heart of
Your Son in which they are enfolded, impart to them Your power and light, that
they may be able to guide others in the way of salvation, and with one voice
sing praise to Your boundless mercy for ages without end. Amen.
·
Third Day - Today Bring Me All Devout and
Faithful Souls.
Most Merciful Jesus, from the treasury of Your mercy,
You impart Your graces in the great abundance to each and all. Receive us into
the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart and never let us escape from It. We
beg this of You by that most wondrous love for the heavenly Father with which
Your Heart burns so fiercely.
Eternal Father, turn Your Merciful gaze upon faithful
souls, as upon the inheritance of Your Son. For the sake of His Sorrowful
Passion, grant them Your blessing and surround them with Your constant
protection. Thus may they never fail in love or lost the treasure of the holy
faith, but rather, with all the hosts of Angels and Saints, may they glorify
Your boundless mercy for endless ages. Amen.
·
Fourth Day - Today Bring Me The Pagans and
Those Who Do Not Know Me.
Most Compassionate Jesus, You are the Light of the whole
world. Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of
pagans who as yet do not know You. Let the rays of Your grace enlighten them
that they, too, together with us, may extol Your wonderful mercy; and do not
let them escape from the abode which is Your Most Compassionate Heart.
Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls
of pagans and of those who as yet do not know You, but who are enclosed in the
Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. Draw them to the light of the Gospel. These
souls do not know what great happiness it is to love You. Grant that they, too,
may extol the generosity of Your mercy for endless ages. Amen.
· Fifth Day - Today Bring to Me the Souls of Heretics and Schismatics.
Most Merciful Jesus, Goodness Itself, You do not refuse
light to those who seek it of You. Receive into the abode of Your Most
Compassionate Heart the souls of heretics and schismatics. Draw them by Your
light into the unity of the Church, and do not let them escape from the abode
of Your Most Compassionate Heart; but bring it about that they, too, come to
glorify the generosity of Your mercy.
Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls
of heretics, and schismatics, who have squandered Your blessings and misused
Your graces obstinately persisting in their errors. Do not look upon their
errors, but upon the love of Your Own Son and upon His bitter Passion, which He
underwent for their sake, since they, too, are enclosed in the Most
Compassionate Heart of Jesus. Bring it about that they also may glorify Your
great mercy for endless ages. Amen.
·
Sixth Day - Today Bring Me The Meek and
Humble Souls and the Souls of Little Children.
Most Merciful Jesus, You Yourself have said, "Learn
from Me for I am meek and humble of heart." Receive into the abode of Your
Most Compassionate Heart all meek and humble souls and the souls of little
children. These souls send all heaven into ecstasy, and they are the heavenly
Father's favorites. They are a sweet-smelling bouquet before the throne of God;
God Himself takes delight in their fragrance. These souls have a permanent
abode in Your Most Compassionate Heart, O Jesus, and they unceasingly sing out
a hymn of love and mercy.
Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon meek and
humble souls, and upon the souls of little children, who are enfolded in the
abode of the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. These souls bear the closest
resemblance to Your Son. Their fragrance rises from the earth and reaches Your
very throne. Father of mercy and of all goodness, I beg You by the love You
bear these souls and by the delight you take in them: bless the whole world,
that all souls together may sing out the praises of Your mercy for endless
ages. Amen.
·
Seventh Day - Today Bring Me The Souls Who
Especially Venerate and Glorify My Mercy.
Most Merciful Jesus, whose Heart is Love Itself, receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of those who particularly extol and venerate the greatness of Your Mercy. These souls are mighty with the very power of God Himself. In the midst of all afflictions and adversities they go forward, confident in Your Mercy. These souls are united to Jesus and carry all mankind on their shoulders. These souls will not be judged severely, but Your mercy will embrace them as they depart from this life.
Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls
who glorify and venerate Your greatest attribute, that of Your fathomless
mercy, and who are enclosed in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. These
souls are a living Gospel; their hands are full of deeds of mercy and their
spirit, overflowing with joy, sings a canticle of mercy to You, O Most High! I
beg You O God: Show them Your mercy according to the hope and trust they have
placed in You. Let there be accomplished in them the promise of Jesus, who said
to them, "I Myself will defend as My own glory, during their lifetime, and
especially at the hour of their death, those souls who will venerate My
fathomless mercy."
·
Eighth Day - Today Bring Me The Souls Who Are
In the Prison Of Purgatory.
Most Merciful Jesus, You Yourself have said that You
desire mercy; so I bring into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the
souls in Purgatory, souls who are very dear to You, and yet who must make
retribution to Your justice. May the streams of Blood and Water which gushed
forth from Your Heart put out the flames of purifying fire, that in that place,
too, the power of Your mercy may be praised.
Eternal Father, turn Your most merciful gaze upon the
souls suffering in Purgatory, who are enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart
of Jesus. I beg You, by the sorrowful Passion of Jesus Your Son, and by all the
bitterness with which His most sacred Soul was flooded, manifest Your mercy to
the souls who are under Your just scrutiny. Look upon them in no other way than
through the Wounds of Jesus, Your dearly beloved Son; for we firmly believe
that there is no limit to Your goodness and compassion. Amen.
·
Ninth Day - Today Bring Me The Souls Who Have
Become Lukewarm.
Most Compassionate Jesus, You are Compassion Itself. I
bring lukewarm souls into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart. In this
fire of Your pure love let these tepid souls, who, like corpses, filled You
with such deep loathing, be once again set aflame. O Most Compassionate Jesus,
exercise the omnipotence of Your mercy and draw them into the very ardor of
Your love; and bestow upon them the gift of holy love, for nothing is beyond
Your power.
Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon lukewarm souls who are nonetheless enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. Father of Mercy, I beg You by the bitter Passion of Your Son and by His three-hour agony on the Cross: let them, too, glorify the abyss of Your mercy. Amen
Jesus,
I trust in You.
The Sign of the Cross[9]
The most basic Christian gesture in prayer is and always will be the Sign of the Cross. (Pope Benedict XVI) “…by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” (Gal 6:14) Martyrs made the Sign as they were taken to their deaths.
1.
"The
sign of the cross is a symbolic expression of the principal mysteries of
Christianity, a confession of the Catholic faith. It reminds us of the
Crucified, of the price of our redemption, and of the value of our soul; it
enkindles love of God, strengthens hope, and animates us to follow Christ on
the way of the Cross. It indicates that in the cross we are to find our honor,
our salvation, and our life; that we should prefer the folly and weakness of
the cross to all the wisdom and power of the world, that, as disciples of the
Crucified, we should combat under the banner of the cross and by this sign
triumph over all our enemies."
2.
St.
Francis de Sales: "We raise the hand first to the forehead, saying, 'In
the name of the Father,' to signify that the Father is the First Person of the
Most Holy Trinity, of whom the Son is begotten and from whom the Holy Ghost
proceeds. Then saying, 'and the Son,' the hand is lowered to the breast, to
express that the Son proceeds from the Father, who sent Him down to the womb of
the Virgin. Then the hand is moved from the left shoulder or side to the right,
while saying, 'and of the Holy Ghost,' thereby signifying that the Holy Ghost,
as the Third Person of the Holy Trinity, proceeds from the Father and the Son,
that He is the Love that unites both, and that we, through His grace, partake
of the fruits of the passion. Accordingly, the sign of the cross is a brief
declaration of our faith in the three great mysteries: of our faith in the
Blessed Trinity, in the passion of Christ, and in the forgiveness of sin, by
which we pass from the left side of curse to the right of blessing."
3. The Sign of the Cross is likened by the Fathers to the true cross of Christ.
4.
The
Sign of the Cross is source of all blessings and graces, the weapon and armor
of our defense against the evil spirit... as sign of Christ's victory over sin,
death, and hell.
5.
God
has imparted to the sign of the cross an efficacy, because of honors and merits
of the Crucified. This efficacy is greater if sign of cross made with devout
and believing disposition, recollection of mind, devotion of heart, love
towards the Crucified.
Meditation[11]
As Jesus neared the end of
His public life, the opposition of the Jewish leaders became more violent and
their desire to kill Him more determined. Our Lord, however, continued to teach
in the temple, where large crowds came to hear Him. The admiration of the
people intensified the hatred of the priests, and they planned to ensnare Jesus
in His speech that they might have grounds for condemnation. While His enemies
plotted His downfall, Our Lord spent the night in prayer on the Mount of
Olives. The contrast between the character of Christ and that of His enemies
could not be more pronounced. Yielding to base passion, they were openly
seeking the death of the Messiah. Jesus, on the contrary, in the spirit of
generous charity, was spending His days in teaching and His nights in prayer. Does our conduct in difficult circumstances
resemble that of Christ? When we are unjustly accused, criticized, or
condemned, do we calmly continue our work and have recourse to God in prayer?
Perhaps we seek vengeance upon those who oppose us by wishing them evil or
persuading others to despise and condemn them. Let us leave our reputation in
the hands of God and imitate Christ's efforts to benefit those who hated and
condemned Him.
"The Lord is the protector of
my life: of whom shall I be afraid?"
Things to
Do: If you wish to
gain the courage to embrace the small crosses in your life with joy, pray the
Stations of the Cross. This is an excellent practice that should not only be
confined to Lent but ought to be prayed on Fridays throughout the year. An
excellent version with beautiful meditations composed by Pope John Paul II is
his Stations
of the Cross at the Colosseum.
Some recommended versions are: Eucharistic
Stations of the Cross,
and the more traditional Stations of the Cross written by Saint Alphonsus
Liguori can be found in most Catholic bookstores. Here are some guidelines for praying the Stations of the Cross
in your home.
Novena for the Poor Souls[12]
O Mother most
merciful, pray for the souls in Purgatory!
PRAYER OF ST.
GERTRUDE THE GREAT O Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of
Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world
today, for all the holy souls in Purgatory and for sinners everywhere— for
sinners in the Universal Church, for those in my own home and for those within
my family. Amen.
PRAYER FOR THE
DYING O Most Merciful Jesus, lover of souls, I pray Thee, by the agony of Thy
most Sacred Heart, and by the sorrows of Thine Immaculate Mother, to wash in
Thy Most Precious Blood the sinners of the whole world who are now in their
agony and who will die today. Heart of Jesus, once in agony, have mercy on the
dying! Amen.
ON EVERY DAY OF
THE NOVENA V. O Lord, hear my prayer, R. And let my cry come unto Thee. O God,
the Creator and Redeemer of all the faithful, grant unto the souls of Thy
servants and handmaids the remission of all their sins, that through our devout
supplications they may obtain the pardon they have always desired, Who livest
and reignest world without end. Amen.
FRIDAY O Lord
God Almighty, I beseech Thee by the Precious Blood which Jesus Thy divine Son
did shed this day upon the tree of the Cross, especially from His sacred hands
and feet, deliver the souls in Purgatory, and particularly that soul for whom I
am most bound to pray, in order that I may not be the cause which hinders Thee
from admitting it quickly to the possession of Thy glory, where it may praise
Thee and bless Thee for evermore. Amen. Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory Be.
Bible in a
year Day 275 Esther
Becomes Queen
Fr. Mike continues reading from the book of Nehemiah
as we read of the many attempts to prevent Nehemiah from doing the great work
of God. We also see the events that lead to Esther being chosen as queen and
the goodness she will bring even in the midst of a broken system. Today’s
readings are Nehemiah 6-7, Esther 1-2, and Proverbs 21:1-4.
PRAYERS AND TEACHINGS OF THE CATHOLIC
CHURCH
The Theological Virtues[13]
The
theological virtues are the foundation of Christian moral activity; they
animate it and give it its special character. They inform and give life to all
the moral virtues. They are infused by God into the souls of the faithful to
make them capable of acting as his children and of meriting eternal life. They
are the pledge of the presence and action of the Holy Spirit in the faculties
of the human being. They dispose Christians to live in a relationship with the
Holy Trinity. They have the One and Triune God for their origin, motive, and
object. There are three theological virtues: faith, hope, and charity. By
faith, we believe in God and believe all that he has revealed to us and that
Holy Church proposes for our belief. By hope we desire, and with steadfast
trust await from God, eternal life and the graces to merit it. By charity, we
love God above all things and our neighbor as ourselves for love of God.
Charity, the form of all the virtues, "binds everything together in
perfect harmony" (Col 3:14).
Faith
Faith is the theological virtue by which we believe in God and believe all that
he has said and revealed to us, and that Holy Church proposes for our belief,
because he is truth itself. By faith "man freely commits his entire self
to God." For this reason the believer seeks to know and do God's will.
"The righteous shall live by faith." Living faith "work[s]
through charity."
The gift of faith remains in one who has not sinned against it. But "faith
apart from works is dead": when it is deprived of hope and love, faith
does not fully unite the believer to Christ and does not make him a living
member of his Body.
The disciple of Christ must not only keep the faith and live on it, but also
profess it, confidently bear witness to it, and spread it: "All however
must be prepared to confess Christ before men and to follow him along the way
of the Cross, amidst the persecutions which the Church never lacks."
Service of and witness to the faith are necessary for salvation: "So every
one who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father
who is in heaven; but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my
Father who is in heaven."
The theological virtues are the foundation of Christian moral activity; they
animate it and give it its special character. They inform and give life to all
the moral virtues. They are infused by God into the souls of the faithful to
make them capable of acting as his children and of meriting eternal life. They
are the pledge of the presence and action of the Holy Spirit in the faculties
of the human being. There are three theological virtues: faith, hope, and
charity.
Hope
Hope is the theological virtue by which we desire the kingdom of heaven and eternal life as our happiness, placing our trust in Christ's promises and relying not on our own strength, but on the help of the grace of the Holy Spirit.
The virtue of hope responds to the aspiration to happiness which God has placed in the heart of every man; it takes up the hopes that inspire men's activities and purifies them so as to order them to the Kingdom of heaven; it keeps man from discouragement; it sustains him during times of abandonment; it opens up his heart in expectation of eternal beatitude. Buoyed up by hope, he is preserved from selfishness and led to the happiness that flows from charity.
Christian hope takes up and fulfills the hope of the chosen people, which has its origin and model in the hope of Abraham, who was blessed abundantly by the promises of God fulfilled in Isaac, and who was purified by the test of the sacrifice. "Hoping against hope, he believed, and thus became the father of many nations."
Christian hope unfolds from the beginning of Jesus' preaching in the proclamation of the beatitudes; they trace the path that leads through the trials that await the disciples of Jesus. Hope is expressed and nourished in prayer, especially in the Our Father, the summary of everything that hope leads us to desire.
We can therefore hope in the glory of heaven promised by God to those who love him and do his will. In every circumstance, each one of us should hope, with the grace of God, to persevere "to the end" and to obtain the joy of heaven, as God's eternal reward for the good works accomplished with the grace of Christ. In hope, the Church prays for "all men to be saved."
Charity
Charity is the theological virtue by which we love God above all things for his own sake, and our neighbor as ourselves for the love of God.
Jesus makes charity the new commandment. Whence Jesus says: "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you; abide in my love." And again: "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you."
Fruit of the Spirit and fullness of the Law, charity keeps the commandments of God and his Christ: "Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love."
Christ died out of love for us, while we were still "enemies." The Lord asks us to love as he does, even our enemies, to make ourselves the neighbor of those farthest away, and to love children and the poor as Christ himself.
The Apostle Paul says: "charity is patient and kind, charity is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Charity does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. Charity bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." "If I . . . have not charity," says the Apostle, "I am nothing." Whatever my privilege, service, or even virtue, "if I . . . have not charity, I gain nothing." Charity is superior to all the virtues. It is the first of the theological virtues: "So faith, hope, charity abide, these three. But the greatest of these is charity."
The practice of all the virtues is animated and inspired by charity, which "binds everything together in perfect harmony. Charity upholds and purifies our human ability to love, and raises it to the supernatural perfection of divine love.
The fruits of charity are joy, peace, and mercy; charity demands beneficence and fraternal correction; it is benevolence; it fosters reciprocity and remains disinterested and generous; it is friendship and communion. Love is itself the fulfillment of all our works.
Fitness Friday-Start the
Universal Man Plan
Recognizing that God the Father created man on Friday the 6th day I propose in this blog to have an entry that shares on how to recreate and renew yourself in strength, mind, soul and heart.
The
Radiant Person[14]
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!
Nicole Havermale
Goal: $500
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Diane's
Defenders (Captain)
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Purple Stride 2026
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Daily Devotions
·
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting: Today's Fast: The
Pope
·
Litany of the Most Precious
Blood of Jesus
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Make
reparations to the Holy Face
[1] Peter Kreeft, Knight of Columbus, Luke E. Hart
Series, Part I Faith.
[2] Goffine’s Devout Instructions, 1896.
[3] http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/liturgical-year/lent/april-19.cfm
[8]https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/prayers/view.cfm?id=1032
[9] Hahn, Scott, Signs of Life; 40 Catholic Customs and
their biblical roots. Chap. 2. The Sign of the Cross.
[10]http://www.stjosephstoledo.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=96:october-18-2009-homily-the-sign-of-the-cross&catid=14:homilies&Itemid=13
[12]Schouppe S.J., Rev. Fr. F. X.. Purgatory Explained
[13]http://www.legionofmarytidewater.com/news/news07/april/divinemysteries.htm
[15] Sheraton, Mimi. 1,000 Foods
To Eat Before You Die: A Food Lover's Life List (p. 892). Workman Publishing
Company. Kindle Edition.
People Will Talk (1951)
A romantic‑philosophical drama where compassion, courage, and moral imagination confront the smallness of gossip and the cruelty of institutional judgment.
Sources: imdb.com
๐ฌ Production Snapshot
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Director: Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Release: 1951
Screenplay: Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Stars: Cary Grant (Dr. Noah Praetorius), Jeanne Crain (Deborah Higgins), Finlay Currie (Shunderson), Hume Cronyn (Prof. Elwell)
Genre: Romantic drama / social satire
Notable: One of Grant’s most unusual roles—gentle, principled, almost pastoral. Mankiewicz blends romance, ethics, and satire into a film that feels startlingly modern in its defense of human dignity.
๐งญ Story Summary
The film begins with a crisis of fear and shame:
Deborah Higgins, a young student, collapses under the weight of an unplanned pregnancy and the terror of public disgrace.
Enter Dr. Noah Praetorius—Cary Grant at his warmest.
He treats her not as a scandal but as a soul.
What follows is a quiet, luminous drama:
- a doctor who refuses to humiliate the vulnerable
- a woman learning to trust again
- a mysterious guardian (Shunderson) whose silence carries the weight of a redeemed past
- an academic rival, Prof. Elwell, determined to destroy Praetorius through rumor, suspicion, and bureaucratic cruelty
The investigation into Praetorius’s life becomes a moral trial:
Is compassion itself suspicious?
Is mercy a threat to the system?
The climax is not explosive but revelatory:
Praetorius dismantles his accuser not with anger but with truth, humor, and a disarming gentleness that exposes the poverty of Elwell’s soul.
The film ends in hope—marriage, new life, and the triumph of dignity over gossip.
๐ฐ Historical & Cultural Context
Released in post‑war America, the film pushes against the era’s moral rigidity:
- It treats unwed pregnancy with tenderness rather than condemnation.
- It critiques institutions that value rules over persons.
- It elevates compassion as a form of intellectual and moral courage.
Mankiewicz, fresh from All About Eve, uses his trademark wit to expose the absurdity of judgmental systems.
Grant, meanwhile, plays Praetorius almost like a secular saint—calm, humorous, unflappable.
The film anticipates later debates about medical ethics, privacy, and the dignity of the patient.
✝️ Catholic Moral Resonances
1. Mercy as the Highest Form of Truth
Praetorius embodies the Gospel’s moral imagination:
truth without cruelty, clarity without condemnation.
He sees Deborah not as a “case” but as a daughter of God.
His mercy is not indulgence—it is justice rightly ordered.
2. Gossip as a Spiritual Disease
The title is a warning:
“People will talk.”
Gossip becomes the film’s antagonist—
a force that wounds reputations, distorts truth, and replaces charity with suspicion.
Catholic tradition names this sin clearly: detraction and calumny.
3. The Dignity of the Wounded
Deborah’s fear is not of her condition but of judgment.
The film insists that dignity is not lost through weakness;
it is lost when others refuse to see Christ in the vulnerable.
4. The Mystery of Shunderson: Redemption in Silence
Shunderson is a living parable:
a man with a dark past who has become a guardian of life.
His loyalty echoes the Church’s teaching that grace can transform even the most wounded histories.
5. The Physician as Moral Steward
Praetorius models the vocation of healing as a spiritual calling:
to protect, to uplift, to restore.
He is a physician of bodies and souls.
๐ท Hospitality Pairing
Drink
Chamomile‑Lavender Tea
Gentle, calming, quietly restorative—like Praetorius himself.
Snack
Honey‑Butter Scones
Warm, comforting, simple—echoing the film’s insistence that kindness is never complicated.
Atmosphere
- Soft lamplight
- A tidy room with a single vase of flowers
- Light classical strings or a quiet jazz trio
- A sense of calm clarity:
a space where no one is judged and everyone is seen
๐ช Reflection Prompt
Where in your life are you tempted to let “what people will say” shape your decisions?
Who in your orbit needs the kind of mercy that restores dignity rather than measures fault?
And what would it look like, today, to practice Praetorius’s gentle courage—
to defend the vulnerable,
to silence gossip with truth,
and to let compassion become your most persuasive argument?
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