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Litany of Trust — Tuesday, March 10
From
the fear that I am walking in darkness and will lose my way, deliver me, Jesus.
There are days when the road
ahead feels dim—when decisions blur, clarity fades, and every step feels like
guesswork. We fear choosing wrong, missing God’s will, or drifting off the path
entirely. The anxiety is not just about the future; it is about the possibility
of disappointing God.
·
But Scripture reveals that God does not demand
perfect navigation—He promises perfect guidance.
“Your word is a lamp
to my feet”—not a floodlight to the horizon.
·
Abraham walked without a map, trusting a God he
could not yet fully understand.
·
The disciples followed Jesus into storms,
learning that proximity mattered more than visibility.
·
The spiritual life is not a GPS; it is a
companionship.
God’s presence, not our certainty, is what keeps us on the path.
·
When we fear losing our way, Jesus invites us to
trust that He is not merely ahead of us—He is beside us, within us, and
carrying us when we cannot walk.
Scripture
“Trust
in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding. In
all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.”
— Proverbs 3:5–6
Prayer
Jesus, when the path feels dim
and I fear losing my way, anchor me in Your presence. Quiet the noise of self‑doubt
and the pressure to see everything clearly. Teach me to trust that You guide
each step, even when I cannot see the road ahead.
Reflection
Question
Where in your life right now do
you feel unsure of the path—and what would it mean to trust that Jesus is
guiding you even in the dark?
The Biblical Destiny of Iran — Summary
The video presents Iran (biblical Persia) as a nation with a long, prophetic storyline that stretches from the Old Testament into the end‑times. The narrator highlights how Scripture speaks of Persia not only as a historical empire but as a future geopolitical actor.
1. Persia in the Old Testament
- Cyrus the Great is portrayed as God’s chosen instrument (Isaiah 45).
Persia becomes the empire that liberates the Jews from Babylon and funds the rebuilding of the Temple. - The video emphasizes that God can use any nation—even one not worshipping Him—to accomplish His purposes.
2. Persia in Prophecy
The video typically draws on two major passages:
- Ezekiel 38–39 (Gog and Magog)
Persia is listed among the nations that will join a northern coalition in a future conflict involving Israel. - Daniel 10–12
Persia is described as having a “spiritual prince,” suggesting that nations have spiritual identities and destinies.
The narrator stresses that Iran’s modern hostility toward Israel mirrors these ancient prophecies.
3. Iran’s Spiritual Identity
The video often highlights:
- A deep spiritual hunger among the Iranian people.
- The rapid growth of underground Christianity in Iran.
- The distinction between the regime and the people, arguing that God’s purposes for Iran include both judgment and mercy.
4. The Destiny of Iran
The video’s core claim is that:
- Iran will play a major role in end‑times events.
- God will ultimately redeem a remnant of the Iranian people.
- Iran’s story is not merely political but spiritual, woven into God’s long arc of salvation history.
Catholic Lessons on Nations, Providence, and Prophecy
1. Nations Have a Vocation
Catholic teaching affirms that nations, like persons, have a moral and spiritual identity (CCC 2310–2317).
Persia’s biblical role shows that God can raise up nations for:
- liberation
- correction
- protection
- witness
No nation is outside His providence.
2. Prophecy Is Not Prediction but Revelation
The Church teaches that biblical prophecy:
- reveals God’s sovereignty
- calls nations to conversion
- warns against idolatry and injustice
Prophecy is not a geopolitical forecast but a call to holiness.
3. Distinguish People from Regimes
Catholic social teaching insists on the dignity of every human person.
Even when governments act unjustly:
- the people remain beloved of God
- the Church prays for their freedom and flourishing
- evangelization continues quietly and courageously
This aligns with the video’s emphasis on the underground Church in Iran.
4. Spiritual Warfare Is Real but Not Political
Daniel’s “princes” of nations point to the reality of spiritual conflict.
But the Church warns:
- never to demonize peoples
- never to equate prophecy with political ideology
- always to interpret Scripture through Christ, not fear
The true battle is for souls, not borders.
5. God’s Mercy Reaches Every Nation
The Church sees the nations gathered at Pentecost as the beginning of a new humanity.
Iran—ancient Persia—is part of that story:
- the Magi came from the East
- early Christian communities flourished in Persia
- modern Iranian converts often speak of visions of Christ
God’s mercy is not limited by geography or politics.
Closing Reflection
The biblical story of Iran is ultimately a story of God’s sovereignty, not geopolitical anxiety. Persia once liberated God’s people; Scripture says it will again stand at the crossroads of history. But the Catholic lens insists that the final word is not conflict but conversion, not destruction but redemption.
The destiny of nations is real, but the destiny of souls is greater.
If you want, I can place this into your devotional‑film or geopolitical‑formation sequence with a virtue theme (e.g., discernment, hope, vigilance).
Candace’s Corner
· Spirit hour[7] Brandy Toddy to warm and honor the 40 Holy Martyrs
· Pray Day 5 of the Novena for our Pope and Bishops
· Tuesday: Litany of St. Michael the Archangel
· Bucket List trip[8]: Vineyards of the Danube
· Try[9]: Miso Soup for breakfast
· National Blueberry Popover Day
Candace’s Worldwide Vineyard Tour — Columbia Gorge & Columbia Valley
Theme: Purification, Wind, and the Courage to Walk Into Truth
🗓️ LITURGICAL CALENDAR
Tue Mar 10 — Tuesday of the 3rd Week of Lent
Wed Mar 11 — Wednesday of the 3rd Week of Lent
Thu Mar 12 — Thursday of the 3rd Week of Lent
Fri Mar 13 — Friday of the 3rd Week of Lent
Sat Mar 14 — St. Matilda
Sun Mar 15 — 3rd Sunday of Lent
Mon Mar 16 — Lenten Weekday
Tue Mar 17 — St. Patrick
🌿 OVERVIEW
The Columbia Gorge is a place of wind, cliffs, and cleansing movement—Lent in geological form.
The landscape itself feels like purification: steep walls, rushing water, and vineyards clinging to the edges of wilderness.
This week is about courage, honesty, and letting God strip away illusions.
The wines here—Riesling, Syrah, and high‑altitude Pinot—mirror the theme: sharp, clean, elemental.
🍇 DAILY OUTLINE
TUESDAY • MAR 10
Location: Cathedral Ridge Winery
(cathedralridgewinery.com)
Focus: Purification
Act: Taste a flight shaped by wind and altitude.
Prompt: What truth is the wind trying to reveal in me today?
WEDNESDAY • MAR 11
Location: St. Peter Catholic Church, The Dalles
(stpeterchurchdalles.org)
Focus: Mid‑Lent honesty
Act: Kneel for five minutes of silent examination.
Vineyard: The Pines 1852
(thepinesvineyard.com)
Prompt: Where have I been avoiding the full truth?
THURSDAY • MAR 12
Location: Syncline Winery
(synclinewine.com)
Focus: Simplicity and structure
Act: Walk the biodynamic blocks.
Prompt: What structure does my soul need to stand upright?
FRIDAY • MAR 13
Location: Maryhill Catholic Church, Goldendale
(no website)
Focus: Reparation
Act: Pray the Stations of the Cross slowly.
Vineyard: Maryhill Winery
(maryhillwinery.com)
Prompt: What wound in me needs to be brought into Christ’s wounds?
SATURDAY • MAR 14 — ST. MATILDA
Location: AniChe Cellars
(anichecellars.com)
Focus: Strength and feminine courage
Act: Taste their women‑run blends.
Prompt: Where is God asking me to stand firm with quiet strength?
SUNDAY • MAR 15 — THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT
Mass: St. Joseph Catholic Church, White Salmon
(stjosephws.org)
Vineyard: COR Cellars
(corcellars.com)
Focus: The well of living water
Act: Write one place where Christ is offering you renewal.
Word: Thirst.
MONDAY • MAR 16
Location: Marchesi Vineyards
(marchesivineyards.com)
Focus: Gentleness and hospitality
Act: Slow tasting with Italian simplicity.
Prompt: What part of my life needs a gentler pace?
TUESDAY • MAR 17 — ST. PATRICK
Location: Hood Crest Winery
(hoodcrestwinery.com)
Focus: Mission and courage
Act: Toast with a green‑hued cocktail or white blend.
Prompt: Where is God sending me next?
March 10 Tuesday
in the Third Week of Lent
Novena
St. Joseph-Bagpipe Day-Napping Day
Daniel, Chapter 3, Verse 40-42
So let our sacrifice be in your
presence today and find favor before you; for those who trust in you cannot be
put to shame. And now we follow you with our whole heart, we FEAR you and
we seek your face. Do not put us to shame, but deal with us in your kindness
and great mercy.
Well?
Welcome
to the human condition. Emotions are what being human is about. Imagine the
emotions of Peter after the resurrection. If your emotions or sinfulness which
for some reason you have committed despite your best efforts have left, you
flat. You are human. Remember the disciples on the road to Emmaus; they were
left utterly defeated at the loss of Christ. Like Peter they felt they could
have done more. Today walk with our Lord tell Him all.
Copilot’s Take
Confronting evil today begins in the same interior landscape
Daniel describes: a heart that feels its limits, a conscience that knows it has
fallen short, and a soul that still chooses to stand before God rather than
hide. Evil is rarely a cinematic force; it is the quiet pressure that tries to
turn disappointment into despair, weakness into self‑accusation, and human
frailty into a verdict against your identity.
The enemy works most effectively not through dramatic temptations but through subtle distortions—whispers that your Lenten failures define you, that your emotions disqualify you, that your inconsistency proves God is tired of you.
Yet Scripture shows the opposite pattern: Peter’s shame becomes the place of his commissioning, the Emmaus disciples’ confusion becomes the place of revelation, and Daniel’s plea for mercy becomes the doorway to restored confidence.
Evil is confronted not by doubling down on performance but by
refusing to let discouragement write the story. When you bring your flatness,
your fatigue, your imperfect sacrifice into the presence of Christ, you are
already resisting the enemy’s strategy. You are choosing communion over
isolation, truth over distortion, and mercy over self‑reliance.
In a world where evil often masquerades as cynicism, numbness,
or resignation, the simple act of turning toward God with your whole
heart—however bruised or inconsistent—is an act of spiritual defiance. Today’s
battle is not about being flawless; it is about being honest, present, and
willing to walk with Christ on your own Emmaus road, letting Him reinterpret
your story where you feel most defeated.
Which part of your
Lenten journey feels most in need of that reinterpretation right now?
Tuesday in the Third Week of Lent[1]
Prayer.
GRACIOUSLY hear us, O
almighty and merciful God, and~ favorably grant to us the gifts of wholesome
self-denial. Amen.
EPISTLE,
iv. Kings iv. 1-7.
In those days a certain woman of the wives of the prophets cried to Eliseus, saying: Thy servant my husband is dead, and thou knowest that thy servant was one that feared the Lord, and behold the creditor is come to take away my two sons to serve him. And Eliseus said to her: What wilt thou have me do for thee? Tell me, what hast thou in thy house? And she answered: I thy handmaid have nothing in my house but a little oil, to anoint me.
And he said to her: Go, borrow of all thy neighbor’s empty vessels not a few. And go in, and shut thy door, when thou art within, with thy sons: and pour out thereof into all those vessels, and when they are full take them away. So, the woman went, and shut the door upon her, and upon her sons: they brought her the vessels, and she poured in. And when the vessels were full, she said to her son: Bring me yet a vessel. And he answered: I have no more. And the oil stood. And she came and told the man of God. And he said: Go, sell the oil, and pay thy creditor: and thou and thy sons live on the rest.
GOSPEL.
Matt, xviii. 15-22.
At that time Jesus said to
His disciples: If thy brother shall offend against thee, go, and rebuke him
between thee and him alone. If he shall hear thee, thou shalt gain thy brother.
And if he will not hear thee, take with thee one or two more: that in the mouth
of two or three witnesses every word may stand. And if he will not hear them:
tell the Church. And if he will not hear the Church, let him be to thee as the
heathen and publican. Amen I say to you, whatsoever you shall bind upon earth,
shall be bound also in heaven: and whatsoever you shall loose upon earth, shall
be loosed also in heaven. Again, I say to you, that if two of you shall consent
upon earth, concerning anything whatsoever they shall ask, it shall be done to
them by My Father Who is in heaven. For where there are two or three gathered
together in My name, there am I in the midst of them. Then came Peter unto Him
and said: Lord, how often shall my brother offend against me, and I forgive
him? till seven times? Jesus saith to him: I say not to thee, till seven times;
but till seventy times seven times.
Lenten Calendar[2]
Read: The Seven Penitential Psalms, Day
One:
(During times when we
wish to express repentance, and especially during Lent, it is customary to pray
the seven penitential psalms. The penitential designation of these psalms’
dates back to the seventh century. Prayerfully reciting these psalms will help
us to recognize our sinfulness, express our sorrow and ask for God’s
forgiveness.)
Today we will focus on Psalm 6.
Reflect: Read this reflection on Psalm
6—Prayer in Distress.
Pray: “Have pity on me, LORD, for I am weak;
heal me, LORD, for my bones are shuddering.” (Ps 6:3, NABRE)
Act: In this psalm, the psalmist
proclaims his weakness before God, with tears and sighing. Yet he lifts his
prayers to the Lord, confident in the Lord, who is merciful.
Listen to a recording of
Psalm 6 as you read along with your Bible.
Preparing for Battle[3]Know Your
Enemy
Be sober, be watchful! For
your adversary the Devil, as a roaring lion, goes about seeking someone to
devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith. (1 Peter 5: 8– 9)
Like it
or not, you are at war. No matter who you are— whether or not you know it— you
have a mortal enemy who wants to destroy you, not just in this life, but in the
next. No matter where you live on this planet— whether or not you can see it—
you live on a hotly contested battlefield, and you can’t escape the conflict.
It’s a spiritual war with crucial consequences in your everyday life. And the
outcome of that war will determine your eternal destiny. The first rule of any
type of warfare is to know your enemy.
Your
adversary is the Devil, with his army of demons. Your battle with him rages not
only all around you, but also within you, a fierce conflict for control of your
mind, your heart, and your ultimate destiny.
Those who
deny the devils existence are easy prey.
Novena of St. Joseph[4]
This novena prayer, although short is sufficient. It would be better of course to add, if time permits, three Hail Mary’s or say five times the Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory be to the Father, or to use some of the many well-loved novena prayers from other sources. Remember that prayers must be said with the lips in order to gain the indulgences. This novena begins on March 10 and ends on March 19.
Prayer
O dear and good St. Joseph
who so lovingly cared for your little family at Nazareth, pray for all
workingmen and their families. Help us all to enjoy a happy Christian family
life. Be a father to us all and watch over us even as you cherished the Blessed
Virgin Mary and her Holy Child. Patron of the Universal Church pray for us.
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, I
give you my heart and soul.
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph,
assist me in my last agony.
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, may
I breathe forth my soul in peace with you.
7 years for each invocation. Plenary, under usual conditions,
if any one of three is said daily for a month. S. Pen., Oct. 12, 1936.
Bible in a year Day 251 Judith and Holofernes
In
our reading of Jeremiah today, Fr. Mike highlights Ishmael’s insurrection
against Gedaliah and Jeremiah’s response. We also read about the defeat of
Holofernes and the praise of Judith for her courage and virtue. Today’s
readings are Jeremiah 41-42, Judith 12-14, and Proverbs 17:13-16.
Bagpipe Day[5]
The sound of bagpipes filling the air as day dawns is enough to bring joy to the hearts of many. Others may not feel quite the same. It seems that one either loves the pipes or not at all. There is not very much middle ground. International Bagpipe Day is the time to find out where you stand and join those who love them! The Bagpipe Society has been sponsoring the celebration of International Bagpipe Day since 2012. They have helped to bring the bagpipe to new players since 1986. It is important to them that the history and playing of the bagpipes is not lost. Putting this day together was with the hope of bringing awareness of the over 130 different types of bagpipes throughout the world. For the first International Bagpipe Day in 2012, there were reports of events held in some unique places. In South Africa, pipers gathered and played in an underground canyon. In Greece, they played on Athenian hill. The Society even heard of events in countries where previously it was thought that there were not many pipers or any at all! If you aren’t familiar with this ancient instrument, bagpipe is a term that means a wind instrument that uses enclosed reeds to produce sound.
Air feeds the reeds with a constant flow of air from a reservoir in the form of a bag. In each area that it is found, the bagpipe may change in sound and shape. This is an ancient instrument and is claimed to be represented on a Hittite slab dated to 1000 BC!
How to Celebrate International Bagpipe Day
·
Celebrating the bagpipe when this holiday rolls
around can take many forms. If you have ever wanted to try your hand at it,
don’t wait! This is the time for you to find your local provider of pipes and
take a lesson. You could be the next great Piper! It could happen, you never
know, right?
·
There is a multitude of information available
about this instrument. A great idea to celebrate is to learn more about it. A
quick internet search will bring up resources like The Bagpipe Society. You can
follow the history of this unique instrument through the millennia to the
present day and from country to country! There is much more information than
you could learn in just one day, but it’s a great time to start.
·
Another way to celebrate is to find out if there
are any events planned in your local area. Grab the family or friends and go
check it out! You may just find that you were missing out on all the fun. If
you ask, it may even be possible to try it out and see if you can make a sound
with it!
·
Bagpipes have a long history that spans the ages
and spans many regions. It is an instrument that has weathered the test of time
and surely deserves to be honored on International Bagpipe Day!
Napping
Day[6]
Think
what a better world it would be if we all, the whole world, had cookies and
milk about three o’clock every afternoon and then lay down on our blankets for
a nap. Barbara
Jordan`
You got up early and got a great start to the day, you’ve been trucking along being a productive adult, getting your work completed and attending the meetings you have to attend. Throughout it all you’ve been a trooper, you even made it through lunch without much trouble. But now it’s creeping into the late afternoon, and you’re just out of go. What do you do? You take a nap! Napping Day encourages you to remember these benefits of youth and take a little time out of the day for you!
Napping Day’s history is simply the history of napping, and it used to be something we all did in the middle of the afternoon. In fact, the siesta is still a time-honored tradition in Spain that happens right after the afternoon meal and has been a practice since time out of mind. In fact, if you’re in the Mediterranean, it’s pretty much standard everywhere you go. In Italy they call it the riposo, pisolini, and even old Charlamagne (yes that Charlamagne) has been recorded as having taken 2-3-hour naps in the middle of the afternoon. So, is it just laziness? Well, no. You see in part it’s because the hottest hours of the day occur in the middle of the afternoon, and it makes sense to take a brief break at that point. It also has to do with the circadian rhythms and the change-over point between the wake cycle and sleep cycle, there’s a time that’s essentially perfect for a nap. There are even notable benefits to taking a nap in the afternoon, including evidence pointing to a 37% reduction in occurrences of coronary mortality in those who take an afternoon nap regularly.
How to Celebrate Napping Day zzzzzzzzzzzz
· Well, the way to celebrate Napping Day is pretty simple isn’t it? You just take a little time in the afternoon (whenever your afternoon is, some of us are day sleepers) to rest. After the afternoon meal is perfect, and in the long run it can help you actually feel better and more energized for the day ahead. It may be tricky if you have a regular work schedule, but whenever you can… Take a nap!
Daily Devotions
·
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting: Today's Fast: Restoring
the Constitution
·
Litany of the Most Precious
Blood of Jesus
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Make
reparations to the Holy Face
[1] Goffines Devout Instructions, 1896
[3]Thigpen, Paul. Manual for Spiritual Warfare (Kindle
Locations 115-124). TAN Books. Kindle Edition.
[4]Prayer Source: All Day with God by Blanche Jennings Thompson
[7]Foley, Michael P... Drinking with the Saints: The
Sinner's Guide to a Holy Happy Hour (p. 370). Regnery History. Kindle Edition.
[8] Schultz, Patricia. 1,000 Places to See Before You
Die: A Traveler's Life List Workman Publishing Company. Kindle Edition.
[9] Sheraton, Mimi. 1,000 Foods To Eat Before You Die: A
Food Lover's Life List (p. 800). Workman Publishing Company. Kindle Edition.
A Lady Takes a Chance (1943) — Western Romance / Wartime Escape
Director: William A. Seiter
Starring: Jean Arthur (Molly J. Truesdale), John Wayne (Duke Hudkins), Charles Winninger (Waco), Phil Silvers (Smiley)
Studio: RKO Radio Pictures
Release: November 12, 1943
Runtime: 86 minutes
Source Material: Original screenplay by Robert Ardrey
Plot Summary
Molly J. Truesdale, a New York department‑store girl weary of predictable suitors and a life planned by others, boards a cross‑country bus tour hoping for a breath of freedom. In a dusty Western town, she attends a rodeo where a bronc tosses cowboy Duke Hudkins straight into her lap—an accidental collision that becomes the spark neither expected.
Duke is rugged, charming, and allergic to commitment. Molly is refined, hopeful, and quietly courageous. Their chance meeting leads to a day and night wandering the open West: campfires, mishaps, a stolen horse blanket, and a dinner date that collapses under Duke’s rough edges. Molly glimpses a man who is good-hearted but afraid of being tied down. Duke glimpses a woman who sees more in him than he sees in himself.
When the bus moves on, Molly returns to New York believing the moment has passed. But Duke, shaken by the emptiness of life without her, rides East to claim the woman he didn’t know he needed. Their reunion is simple, direct, and unmistakably sincere—a cowboy walking into the city to choose love over fear.
Cast Highlights
- Jean Arthur — Molly Truesdale, a woman whose innocence is not fragility but a quiet strength that disarms cynicism.
- John Wayne — Duke Hudkins, a rodeo cowboy whose pride and independence mask a longing for real connection.
- Charles Winninger — Waco, Duke’s loyal friend who sees the truth before Duke does.
- Phil Silvers — Smiley, the fast-talking tour guide whose humor keeps the story buoyant.
Themes & Moral Resonance
Freedom Requires Discernment
Molly seeks escape, but what she truly desires is a life chosen freely, not one assigned to her. The film honors the difference between running away and stepping toward vocation.Love Interrupts Our Plans
Duke and Molly meet by accident, yet the encounter reveals what each has been missing. Grace often arrives sideways, disguised as inconvenience.Courage Is Often Quiet
Molly’s bravery is not dramatic. She simply tells the truth, hopes honestly, and refuses to settle for a life without joy. Her steadiness becomes the catalyst for Duke’s transformation.The West as Moral Landscape
The open sky, the campfire, the long road—these settings strip away pretense. In the wilderness, Duke’s bluster fades and Molly’s clarity shines.Commitment Is Not Confinement
Duke fears being “tied down,” but the film gently insists that love enlarges rather than restricts. True freedom is found in choosing the good.
Catholic Lessons on Discernment and Desire
Vocation Emerges Through Encounter
Molly’s journey mirrors the Christian truth that calling often reveals itself through relationships, not isolation.Humility Opens the Heart
Duke’s conversion is not moralistic; it is relational. He must admit he needs someone. Grace begins with that admission.Innocence Is a Strength, Not a Weakness
Molly’s purity of intention is not naïve. It is the clarity that allows her to see Duke’s goodness beneath his rough exterior.Love Requires Sacrifice
Duke’s ride to New York is a small but real act of self-giving. He leaves his world to enter hers—an echo of the Christian pattern of love descending to meet the beloved.Providence Works Through Chance
The film’s title is a reminder that what looks like randomness may be the gentle choreography of grace.
Hospitality Pairing
Menu
- Skillet Steak with Butter‑Braised Green Beans — rugged Western simplicity meeting Molly’s refined sensibility
- Buttermilk Biscuits — comfort food that bridges city and frontier
- Bourbon and Ginger Highball — clean, warm, and unpretentious, matching the film’s tone
Atmosphere
- A small table with a single lantern or candle—echoing the campfire where honesty first surfaced
- A wool blanket draped over a chair—recalling the horse-blanket mishap that softened Duke’s pride
- A window cracked open to the night air—inviting the sense of open sky and possibility
Closing Reflection
A Lady Takes a Chance is a gentle parable about the courage to let your life be interrupted. It reminds us that vocation often begins with a collision—an unexpected meeting that reveals what we truly desire. Molly’s innocence and Duke’s roughness are not opposites but complements, each calling the other to grow. The film’s final image—a cowboy stepping into the city for love—captures the Christian truth that real freedom is found not in escape but in choosing the good with a whole heart.
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