Posts
Candace’s Corner
· Patrick’s Day March 17th Don your friendliest green for St. Patrick’s Day. Boston is the place to be, with the city’s official St. Patrick’s Day Parade drawing anywhere from 600,000 to 1 million people every year.
· Evacuation Day in Boston marks the moment when the city was freed from British military control during the early days of the American Revolutionary War.
· Pray Day 6 of the Novena for our Pope and Bishops
· Tuesday: Litany of St. Michael the Archangel
· Spirit hour[11] Irish Whiskey of course
o Not too much take care of your liver
· National Corned Beef and Cabbage Day
· Bucket List trip[12]: Holocaust Museum
Candace’s Worldwide Vineyard Tour — Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Theme: Ascent, Clarity, and the Courage to Rise With Christ
🗓️ LITURGICAL CALENDAR
Tue Mar 17 — St. Patrick
Wed Mar 18 — Wednesday of the 4th Week of Lent
Thu Mar 19 — St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Fri Mar 20 — Friday of the 4th Week of Lent
Sat Mar 21 — Lenten Weekday
Sun Mar 22 — 4th Sunday of Lent (Laetare Sunday)
Mon Mar 23 — Lenten Weekday
🌿 OVERVIEW
The Okanagan Valley
is a landscape of ascent—long lakes, rising slopes, and vineyards terraced toward the sky.
It is a natural setting for the Lenten movement from fear to courage, from darkness to clarity, from the valley floor to the high places where God reveals Himself.
This week is about rising: letting the Father lift you as He lifted Christ, letting truth elevate your vision, and letting courage take root in the places where fear once ruled.
The wines here—Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, ice wine, and cool‑climate blends—carry that same upward energy: bright, lifted, crystalline.
🍇 DAILY OUTLINE
TUESDAY • MAR 17 — ST. PATRICK
Location: Mission Hill Family Estate
(missionhillwinery.com)
Focus: Courage in the shaking
Act: Stand at the bell tower overlook and breathe deeply.
Prompt: Where is Christ lifting me above the fears that once held me down?
WEDNESDAY • MAR 18
Location: Quails’ Gate Winery
(quailsgate.com)
Focus: Honesty that clarifies
Act: Taste a single‑vineyard Pinot and sit with its purity.
Prompt: What truth is God clarifying in me right now?
THURSDAY • MAR 19 — ST. JOSEPH
Location: St. Charles Garnier Catholic Parish, Kelowna
(stcharlesgarnier.ca)
Vineyard: CedarCreek Estate Winery
(cedarcreek.bc.ca)
Focus: Hidden strength and faithful obedience
Act: Offer a quiet prayer for the work God has entrusted to you.
Prompt: Where is God asking me to obey without applause?
FRIDAY • MAR 20
Location: Summerhill Pyramid Winery
(summerhill.bc.ca)
Focus: Reparation and alignment
Act: Walk the vineyard rows slowly, matching your breath to your steps.
Prompt: What part of my life needs to be realigned with Christ’s heart?
SATURDAY • MAR 21
Location: Tantalus Vineyards
(tantalus.ca)
Focus: Precision and purity
Act: Taste their Riesling and note its clean, lifted structure.
Prompt: What is God refining in me with precision?
SUNDAY • MAR 22 — LAETARE SUNDAY
Mass: Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Kelowna
(icckelowna.ca)
Vineyard: Liquidity Wines
(liquiditywines.com)
Focus: Joy in the ascent
Act: Write one place where God is restoring joy in you.
Word: Rise.
MONDAY • MAR 23
Location: Painted Rock Estate Winery
(paintedrock.ca)
Focus: Identity and elevation
Act: Taste their structured reds and reflect on your God‑given dignity.
Prompt: What part of my identity is God lifting into clearer light?
MARCH
17 Tuesday of the Fourth
Week of Lent
St. Patrick’s Day
Psalm 46, Verse 3-4
Thus we do not FEAR, though earth be shaken and
mountains quake to the depths of the sea, though its waters rage and foam and mountains totter at its
surging.
The Roman soldiers guarding His tomb did not fear
God even though the earth did shake and having witnessed His resurrection for
they did not confess with their lips that Jesus is Lord; yet they did fear the
Jews and took their money which they died with. Today confess Him with your
lips knowing that Christ is the conqueror of the Nations for He is our refuge
and our strength, an ever-present help in distress.
Come and see the
works of the LORD, who has done fearsome deeds on earth; Who stops wars to the
ends of the earth, breaks the bow, splinters the spear, and burns the shields
with fire; “Be still and know that I am God! (Psalm 46:9-11)[1]
Copilot’s Take
Fear is finally confronted not just by remembering God’s nearness, but by remembering the direction of Christ’s Resurrection. The early Church Fathers often spoke of the Resurrection as a vertical act—the Father lifting the Son from the depths of death and exalting Him above every earthly and demonic power. St. Paul echoes this when he writes that the Father “raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above every principality and power” (Eph 1:20–21). Christ is not merely revived; He is raised, lifted, exalted—His Resurrection is an upward movement that pulls the whole human race with Him. Fear collapses when we remember that the One who stands with us is the One whom the Father has lifted above every force that threatens us.
Tuesday Of the Fourth Week of Lent[2]
Prayer. WE beseech Thee, O Lord,
that the fasts of this holy observance may procure us an increase of piety in
our lives, and the continual help of Thy mercy.
EPISTLE. Exodus xxxii. 7-14.
In those days the Lord
spoke to Moses, saying: Go, get thee down: thy people, which thou hast brought
out of the land of Egypt, hath sinned. They have quickly strayed from the way
which thou didst show them: and they have made to themselves a molten calf, and
have adored it, and sacrificing victims to it, have said: These are thy gods, O
Israel, that have brought thee out of the land of Egypt. And again, the Lord
said to Moses: I see that this people are stiff-necked: let Me alone, that My
wrath may be kindled against them, and that I may destroy them, and I will make
of thee a great nation. But Moses besought the Lord his God, saying: Why, O
Lord, is Thy indignation enkindled against Thy people, whom Thou hast brought
out of the land of Egypt, with great power, and with a mighty hand?
Let not the Egyptians say,
I beseech Thee: He craftily brought them out, that He might kill them in the
mountains, and destroy them from the earth: let Thy anger cease and be appeased
upon the wickedness of Thy people. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy
servants, to whom Thou sworest by Thy own self, saying: I will multiply your
seed as the stars of heaven: and this whole land that I have spoken of, I will
give to your seed, and you shall possess it forever. And the Lord was appeased
from doing the evil which He had spoken against His people.
GOSPEL. John vii. 14-31.
At that time: About the
midst of the feast, Jesus went up into the temple, and taught. And the Jews
wondered, saying: How doth this man know letters, having never learned?
Jesus answered them and
said: My doctrine is not Mine, but His that sent Me. If any man will do the
will of Him: he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I
speak of Myself. He that speaketh of himself, seeketh his own glory: but he
that seeketh the glory of him that sent him, he is true, and there is no
injustice in him. Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth
the law? Why seek you to kill Me? The multitude answered, and said: Thou hast a
devil; who seeketh to kill Thee?
Jesus answered and said to
them: One work I have done; and you all wonder: therefore, Moses gave you
circumcision (not because it is of Moses, but of the fathers); and on the
Sabbath-day you circumcise a man. If a man receive circumcision on the Sabbath-day,
that the law of Moses may not be broken; are you angry at Me because I have
healed the whole man on the Sabbath-day?
Judge not according to the
appearance but judge just judgment. Some therefore of Jerusalem said: Is not
this He Whom they seek to kill?
And behold He speaketh
openly, and they say nothing to Him. Have the rulers known for a truth that
this is the Christ?
But we know this man
whence He is but when the Christ cometh, no man knoweth whence He is. Jesus
therefore cried out in the temple, teaching and saying: You both know Me, and
you know whence I am, and I am not come of Myself; but He that sent Me is true,
Whom you know not. I know Him, because I am from Him, and He hath sent Me. They
sought therefore to apprehend Him: and no man laid hands on Him, because His
hour was not yet come. But of the people many believed in Him.
Lenten Calendar[3]
Read:
The Seven
Penitential Psalms, Day Seven:
(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 from 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 143.
Reflect: Read a reflection of Psalm 143—A
Prayer in Distress.
Pray:
“Hasten to answer me,
LORD; for my spirit fails me. Do not hide your face from me, lest I become like
those descending to the pit. In the morning let me hear of your mercy, for
in you I trust. Show me the path I should walk, for I entrust my life to
you.” (Ps
143:7-8)
Act: The psalmist pleads his case before
the Lord: he is surrounded by enemies, his spirit is faint, and he has nothing
left to withstand them. And so, he begs for mercy, that the Lord would show his
face and be his refuge in his time of great need.
The Church’s Calendar[4]
We often learn our doctrine much more deeply and effectively simply by
celebrating the feasts and fasts of the Church.
In fact in Orthodox Judaism the calendar is the catechism of Israel.
According to Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch, “On
the pinions of time which bear us through life, God has inscribed the eternal
words of His soul-inspiring doctrine, making days and weeks, months and years
the heralds to proclaim His truths. Nothing would seem more fleeting than these
elements of time, but to them God has entrusted the care of His holy things,
thereby rendering them more imperishable and more accessible.”
CCC2698.
The Tradition of the Church proposes to the faithful certain rhythms of praying
intended to nourish continual prayer. Some are daily, such as morning and
evening prayer, grace before and after meals, the Liturgy of the Hours.
Sundays, centered on the Eucharist, are kept holy primarily by prayer. The
cycle of the liturgical year and its great feasts are also basic rhythms of the
Christian's life of prayer.
No one knows human nature better than the God who created it. The book of
Genesis tells us that the Lord God made the world in six days and rested on the
seventh. He rested not because he was weary-God does not tire-but because He
wanted to provide a model for human labor and rest. The Church calendar
coincides with the cosmic rhythms of God. The Church calendar reflects this
fact: That Christ rose from the dead in
payment for our sins and is the Jewish Messiah that was hoped for.
Stations of the Cross[5]
Though technically only the last fourteen days of Lent explicitly consider the sufferings of our Lord, the Stations of the Cross (a.k.a. the Way of the Cross) have long been a popular Lenten devotion for any or all of the forty days (though they tend to be done on Fridays). These fourteen scenes from the via dolorosa, the sorrowful path that Christ took while carrying His cross to Golgotha, help direct one's heart to the mysterium fidei of our Lord's selfless sacrifice.
ST. PATRICK[6] was born towards the close of the
fourth century, but the place of his birth is not positively known. Britain and
Scotland both claim the honor, but the best authorities seem to agree upon
Brittany, in France. In his sixteenth year he was carried into captivity by
certain barbarians, who took him into Ireland, where he was obliged to keep
cattle on the mountains and in the forests, in hunger and nakedness, amidst
snows, rain, and ice. The young man had recourse to God with his whole heart in
fervent prayer and fasting and from that time faith and the love of God
acquired continually new strength in his tender soul. After six months spent in
slavery under the same master St. Patrick was admonished by God in a dream to
return to his own country, and informed that a ship was then ready to sail
thither. He went at once to the seacoast, though at a great distance, and found
the vessel. After three days sail, they made land, but wandered twenty-seven
days through deserts, and were a long while distressed for want of provisions.
Patrick assured the company that if they would address themselves with their
whole hearts to the true God He would hear and succor them. They did so, and on
the same day met with a herd of swine. From that time provisions never failed
them, till on the twenty-seventh day they came into a country that was
cultivated and inhabited. Some years afterwards he was again led captive but
recovered his liberty after two months. When he was at home with his parents,
God manifested to him, by divers’ visions, that He destined him to the great
work of the conversion of Ireland. The writers of his life say that after his
second captivity he travelled into Gaul and Italy, and saw St. Martin, St.
Germanus of Auxerre, and Pope Celestine, and that he received his mission and
the apostolical benediction from this Pope, who died in 432. Great opposition
was made to his episcopal consecration and mission, both by his own relations
and by the clergy; but the Lord, whose will he consulted by earnest prayer,
supported him, and he persevered in his resolution. He forsook his family, sold
his birthright and dignity to serve strangers, and consecrated his soul to God,
to carry His name to the ends of the earth. In this disposition he passed into
Ireland to preach the Gospel, penetrating into the remotest corners; and such
was the fruit of his preaching’s and sufferings that he baptized an infinite
number of people. He ordained everywhere clergymen, induced women to live in
holy widowhood and continence, consecrated virgins to Christ, and instituted
monks. He took nothing from the many thousands whom he baptized, but gave
freely of his own, both to pagans and Christians, distributed large alms to the
poor in the provinces where he passed, and maintained and educated many children,
whom he trained to serve at the altar. The happy success of his labors cost him
many persecutions. He died and was buried at Down, in Ulster. His body was
found there in a church of his name in 1185 and translated to another part of
the same church.
A WARRIOR’S BREASTPLATE[7]
I
bind unto myself today the power of God to hold and lead, His eye to watch, his
might to stay, His ear to hearken to my need; the wisdom of my God to teach,
his hand to guide, his shield to ward; the word of God to give me speech, his
heavenly host to be my guard. Christ be with me, Christ within me, Christ
behind me, Christ before me, Christ beside me, Christ to win me, Christ to
comfort and restore me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ in quiet,
Christ in danger, Christ in the hearts of all that love me, Christ in the mouth
of friend and stranger. Amen
Things to Do[8]
·
This
is a good day to honor St. Patrick by trying typical Irish fare: corned beef
and cabbage, soda bread, scones, stew, Shepherd's pie, potatoes in various
forms and the famous beer and spirits of Ireland. For dessert, try making the
Irish Porter Cake.
·
Read
the Lorica (Breastplate) of St. Patrick. Here is an older translation — pray it with your family after your rosary tonight.
·
From
the Catholic Culture library: The Conversion of Ireland by Warren Carroll, The Irish Soldiers of Mexico by Michael Hogan, The Irish Madonna of Hungary by Zsolt Aradi and Our Lady in Old Irish Folklore and Hymns by James F. Cassidy.
·
Don
your friendliest green for St. Patrick’s Day. Boston is the place to be, with the city’s official
St. Patrick’s Day Parade drawing anywhere from 600,000 to 1 million people
every year.
Saint
Patrick's Day Facts & Quotes[9]
·
St.
Patrick used the three-leaf shamrock to explain the Trinity to non-Christians.
The leaves stood for the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
·
Approximately
5.5 million pints of Irish Guinness stout are consumed on an average day. On
St. Patrick's Day, nearly 13 million are consumed.
·
Wearing
the shamrock, a three-leaf clover is a St. Patrick's Day tradition. The
official three-leaf clover is known scientifically as Trifolium dubium however
clovers can also have more leaves. Four-leaf clovers are said to be lucky,
however the odds of finding one are about 1 to 10,000.
·
The
love of God and his fear grew in me more and more, as did the faith, and my
soul was roused, so that, in a single day, I have said as many as a hundred
prayers and in the night, nearly the same. - St. Patrick
·
Sláinte!
- used when clinking glasses with friends at a bar (equivalent of Cheers or
Health!)
Saint
Patrick's Day Top Events and Things to Do
·
Wear
green! In some parts of the world, the custom is to pinch people who aren't
wearing the color of shamrocks.
·
Attend
a St. Patrick's Day parade. Major cities like Chicago, New York, San
Francisco, Dallas, and Boston host marching bands and floats.
·
The
heart of any Irish neighborhood is its local pub. Share a couple of green
Guinness beers
with friends at a local Irish pub or try Magner's (Bulmer's) apple cider as an
alternative.
·
St.
Patrick was a brave and humble man. Have you been putting off something
because you are afraid to do it? Do it today in honor of St. Patrick's
Day.
Ireland has a long tradition of holy pilgrimages, dating
back to St. Patrick’s
fast on what is now known as Croagh Patrick in 441. In the pasts few years, the
Pilgrim Paths foundation has been restoring the ancient penitential paths and
has so far created five guided walks. After pilgrims get their “passports” stamped after completing
each of the five routes, they receive an Irish Pilgrim Paths completion
certificate from Ballintubber Abbey in County Mayo.
Gaelic
Prayers
Almsgiving[10]
When we consider God valued the human person as so precious enough to die for, we should make a concerted effort to aid others.
Mormons in their almsgiving, for
example, do fast offerings in addition to tithing. This offering accompanies a
monthly 24-hour fast. All the money that would have been spent to buy food
during those 24 hours is donated to the Church for the purpose of feeding the
hungry and caring for the needy.
Bible in a
year Day 258 The
Kingdom is here
Fr. Mike introduces us to the Gospel of Matthew, including his
genealogy, nativity, and the first days of his ministry. He pulls it all
together to show that not only is Jesus reconstituting the kingdom in his
ministry, but he's inviting us to join him in this kingdom. Today’s readings
are Matthew 1-4, and Proverbs 18:17-20.
Litany of Trust — Tuesday,
March 17
From
the fear that the world’s shaking will undo me,
deliver
me, Jesus.
Reflection
There are seasons when the world
feels unstable—when nations rage, foundations tremble, and the future seems to
tilt beneath our feet. Psalm 46 names this shaking honestly, yet answers it
with a deeper truth: God is not distant from the turmoil; He is in the midst
of His people. Fear gains power when we imagine ourselves standing alone, but
it collapses when we remember that the One who holds the earth together holds
us as well.
The early Church understood the
Resurrection not only as victory over death but as an ascent—Christ lifted by
the Father into a place no earthly power can reach. That upward movement
becomes the pattern of Christian courage. St. Patrick lived from this reality.
He entered a land ruled by fear, yet he walked with the confidence of one who
knew that Christ had already been raised above every spirit, curse, and threat.
The soldiers at the tomb trembled at the earthquake but remained bound to
earthly fear; Patrick stood firm because his life was anchored in the risen,
exalted Christ. To confront fear is to let that same upward pull steady your
heart—to stand because He stands, to rise because He has been raised, and to
trust that no shaking can overturn the one whom the Father lifts.
Scripture
“God is our refuge and our
strength, an ever‑present help in distress. Therefore we do not fear, though
earth be shaken and mountains quake to the depths of the sea.”
— Psalm 46:2–3
Prayer
Jesus, when the world trembles
and fear presses close, lift my eyes to Your risen life. Let the strength of
Your exaltation become the strength of my heart. Teach me to stand in Your
victory and to trust that the Father who raised You will hold me fast.
Reflection Question
Where do you feel the ground shifting beneath you—and what would it look like to let the risen Christ lift your courage above the fear?
Daily Devotions
·
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting: Today's Fast: Individuals
with Mental Illness note: We pray for
Politian’s separately
·
Litany of the Most Precious
Blood of Jesus
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Make
reparations to the Holy Face
[1]Notice 9-11 patriot day
[2]Goffine’s Devout Instructions, 1896
[4] Hahn, Scott, Signs of Life; 40 Catholic Customs and
their biblical roots. Chap. 6. The Church Calendar.
[6] Goffine’s Divine Instructions, 1896.
[7] St. Patrick
[10] Hahn, Scott, Signs of Life; 40 Catholic Customs
and their biblical roots. Chap. 33. Almsgiving.
[11]Foley, Michael P... Drinking with the Saints: The
Sinner's Guide to a Holy Happy Hour (p. 370). Regnery History. Kindle Edition.
[12] Schultz, Patricia. 1,000 Places to See Before You
Die: A Traveler's Life List Workman Publishing Company. Kindle Edition.
[13] Sheraton, Mimi. 1,000 Foods To Eat Before You Die: A
Food Lover's Life List (p. 800). Workman Publishing Company. Kindle Edition.
It Happens Every Spring (1949)
Production Details
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Director: Lloyd Bacon
Release: May 26, 1949
Source Material: Original story by Shirley W. Smith
Genre: Comedy / Sports / Light Fantasy
Runtime: 87 minutes
Cast: Ray Milland, Jean Peters, Paul Douglas, Ed Begley, Alan Hale Sr., Ted de Corsia
Story Summary
Professor Vernon K. Simpson (Ray Milland), a gentle, underpaid chemistry instructor, dreams of marrying Deborah Greenleaf (Jean Peters), the dean’s daughter. But with no money and no prospects, he feels trapped in a life too small for the hopes he carries.
Then an accident in his laboratory produces a strange compound—methylethylpropylbutyl—that repels wood. When it touches a baseball, bats cannot make contact. Suddenly, Simpson sees a way out: take a secret advantage, become a star pitcher, earn enough money to marry Deborah, and return to teaching.
Under the alias “King Kelly,” he becomes a sensation for the St. Louis team, baffling hitters and thrilling fans. But the deeper he goes into the deception, the more he feels the strain of living a double life. His conscience, his vocation, and his love for Deborah all begin to pull him back toward the truth.
The climax arrives when Simpson must choose between worldly success built on a lie and the quiet, honest life he was made for. His return to integrity restores his peace—and his future.
Historical and Cultural Influences
Postwar American Optimism
Released in 1949, the film reflects a nation eager for lightness after the war. Baseball—America’s pastime—became a symbol of renewal, normalcy, and communal joy. The film’s tone mirrors that cultural longing for innocence regained.
The Scientist as Folk Hero
The late 1940s saw a fascination with scientific breakthroughs, from atomic power to plastics. Simpson represents the “everyman scientist”—brilliant but humble—whose discovery disrupts the world in a comic rather than catastrophic way.
Baseball as Moral Arena
Baseball films of the era often used the sport as a stage for character formation. Here, the diamond becomes a place where temptation, ambition, and integrity collide.
Catholic Themes and Moral Resonances
Integrity Over Advantage
Simpson’s chemical discovery is a metaphor for the shortcuts we justify when we feel unseen or undervalued. The film gently exposes how even “harmless” deception erodes the soul.
Vocation as Anchor
Simpson is a teacher at heart. His detour into fame reveals the spiritual truth that vocation is not merely what we do—it is who we are. Returning to teaching is his return to himself.
Love as Moral Compass
Deborah’s steady, luminous presence embodies the virtue of constancy. She does not push, manipulate, or demand. Her quiet goodness becomes the gravitational pull that draws Simpson back to honesty.
Springtime as Spiritual Symbol
Spring is the season of renewal, repentance, and restored beginnings. Simpson’s journey mirrors the Christian rhythm of falling, awakening, and returning.
Hospitality Pairing
Drink
Spring Shandy — half crisp pilsner, half fresh lemonade, garnished with a thin lemon wheel. Light, refreshing, and honest—no tricks, no shortcuts.
Snack/Meal
Ballpark Board — grilled brats, soft pretzels, mustard trio (yellow, spicy brown, honey), and a bowl of spring pickles. A playful nod to baseball culture with a touch of refinement.
Atmosphere
Open windows, fresh air, and the faint sound of a ballgame on the radio before the film begins. Use simple, clean tableware—nothing fancy—to reinforce the theme of returning to what is true and unpretentious.
Reflection Prompt
Where in your life are you tempted to use a “secret advantage” to get ahead—and what would it look like to lay it down and return to the vocation that actually gives you peace?
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