Posts
Smoke Night
St. Mary Magdalene de’ Pazzi walked her convent garden and saw what most men spend their whole lives refusing to see: the true shape of their sins. Not abstractions, not metaphors—consequences. Hypocrisy pierced like swords.
Impatience crushed like stone. Ingratitude burned like molten metal. Her ecstasy revealed that every “small” sin has a temperature, a weight, a texture. Nothing disappears. Everything becomes itself. Purgatory is simply the soul finally experiencing the truth it tried to ignore.
So today’s smoke becomes a discipline of clarity. I let the burn remind me that purification is unavoidable—either embraced now or endured later. The saint’s vision is not meant to terrify but to sober. It tells me to stop negotiating with my vices and start interceding for the dead who can no longer choose. A man who purifies himself in this life walks lighter. A man who delays carries his own future fire.
APRIL 24 Friday of the Third Week of Easter
Feast of Saint Fidelis-Arbor Day
1 Samuel, Chapter 12, Verse 20
“Do not FEAR,” Samuel answered them. “You
have indeed committed all this evil! Yet do not turn from the LORD, but serve
him with your whole heart.
Jesus
was fearless. He is the model of a true Israelite. He as a man was fearless. He
as a man was sinless yet He associated with the sinful: Judas who betrayed;
Peter who denied, Nicodemus who was silent; Herod who mocked, Pilate who washed
his hands, and all the people who preferred Barabbas and cried for Christ’s
torture and death on the cross. Yet He did not turn from his Father but served
Him with his whole heart; which was pierced for our sins. We have indeed
committed all this evil—yet because of Him we can serve with our whole heart.
Now
our goal is to be God’s sons and daughters-Saints of God. To fear the Lord and
serve Him faithfully you must live the Beatitudes of Christ. I recently revised
my book on the Divine Mercy Hikes. Perhaps today would be a good day to hike
and meditate on Christ’s beatitudes.
Hike of West Fork Oak Creek Sedona,
Arizona
West Fork Oak Creek is a popular trail. There is a pleasant little stream that ripples along the canyon floor as you hike it where you can look up at the dizzying cliffs that tower above it.
During this
hike you will meditate on each of the ways you may have been walking away from
God; marking each of the meditations as you cross the stream multiple times. On
the return hike, you will meditate using the walking towards God meditations as
you cross the stream. Remember every journey away from something is a journey
toward something—the first meditations are the seven deadly sins with fear
added as an eighth; and you will be meditating on the Beatitudes of Christ on
the way back in reverse order.
Walking away from GOD
(Have I been/Shown?)
1 FEAR:
Terror, Dread; Horror, Fright; Panic, Alarm; Trepidation, Apprehension.
2 PRIDE/HUBRIS: Arrogant; Conceit; Smugness; Self-importance;
Satisfaction; Pleasure; Delight.
3 ENVY:
Jealousy, Desire; Resentment, Spite, Malice, Meanness.
4 WRATH:
Anger, Annoyance, Rage; Fury, Aggravation, Frustration.
5 AVARICE: Greed; Materialism; Covetousness,
Acquisitiveness.
6 SLOTH:
Laziness, Idleness; Sluggishness, Inactivity; Indolence (condition that
is slow to develop or be healed and causes no pain-i.e. fail to resist evil)
Apathy.
7 GLUTTONY: Excess, Exclusivity; Over indulgence;
Intemperance.
8 LUST: Yearn, Desire; Long for, Hanker for; Hunger for, Ache for, Crave.
Walking toward GOD
(Have I failed to be, do; or show?)
8 CHASTITY (PURITY OF HEART):
Cleanliness, Wholesomeness; Spotlessness, Clarity; Transparency,
Knowledge, Honesty, Wisdom. Opposing Deadly Sin: LUST
Blessed are
the clean of heart, for they shall see God. The clean of heart are those who
preserve with care the innocence with which they are invested at holy Baptism,
or seek to regain it, when lost, by penance; those who keep their hearts and
consciences unspotted from all sinful thoughts, particularly from all unchaste
thoughts, desires, words, and acts, and who endeavor in all things to have a
pure intention directed to God alone. They shall see God, that is, they shall
know Him even here upon earth, for as the eye that is to see must be clean, so
only souls that are pure and unstained can behold God. But further, our
knowledge is like our hearts; the purer the heart the clearer and greater is
the knowledge of God. But in the world above they shall see, know, and possess
Him as He is. What blessedness! Strive, therefore, to keep your heart clean.
7 TEMPERANCE (POOR IN SPIRIT):
Sacrifice, Give Up; Forgo, Let Go; Surrender, Tithe, Self-Control,
Abstention. Opposing Deadly Sin: GLUTTONY
The poor in spirit are: 1. Those who, like the apostles, readily forsake all earthly things, and for Christ’s sake become poor. 2. Those who, happening to lose their property by misfortune or injustice, suffer the loss patiently, in resignation to the will of God. 3. Those who, like Jesus, are content with their poor and humble position, seek no higher or happier one, and would rather suffer want than enrich themselves by unlawful acts, by fraud or theft. 4. The rich and noble who set not their hearts upon the riches and greatness of the world who use their riches and influence to relieve the misery of the needy and oppressed. 5. Finally, the truly humble, who, convinced of their weakness, their helplessness and misery, think lowly of themselves, and regard themselves but as beggars, who are always in need of the grace of God. To all these, therefore, in whose hearts the world has no place, there is assured, as their inheritance, the kingdom of heaven; here the kingdom of grace there the kingdom of glory.
6 DILIGENCE (HUNGER & THRIST
FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS): Fairness, Impartiality; Righteousness,
Evenhandedness; Fair Dealing, Persistence, Effort, Ethics, Rectitude. Opposing
Deadly Sin: SLOTH
Blessed are
they that hunger and thirst after justice, for they shall have their fill.
Hunger and thirst denote the most ardent longing after those virtues which
constitute Christian perfection, such as humility, meekness, the love of God
and of our neighbor, penance. Whoever longs for these virtues as the hungry man
does for food and drink, and prays to God for them with perseverance and
earnestness, shall have his fill; that is, he shall be enriched with them, and
one day shall be satisfied with eternal Happiness.
5 CHARITY (MERCIFUL):
Compassion; Kindness, Pity; Bigheartedness, Clemency; Openhandedness,
Forgiveness; Liberality, Understanding; Leniency, Will, Benevolence,
Generosity. Opposing Deadly Sin: AVARICE
Blessed are
the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. The merciful here spoken of are: 1.
Those who willingly forgive the injuries done to them. 2. Those who have
compassion on their poor neighbors, and, according to their ability, sustain
them by alms. These shall obtain mercy; that is, God will forgive them their
sins and endow them abundantly with the goods of this world and of the world to
come. Thus God deals with us as we deal
with others.
4 PATIENCE (PEACEMAKERS):
Relations, Mediation; Negotiation—Prevents Destruction, I.E. Stem
Cell/Abortion, Sufferance. Opposing Deadly Sin: WRATH
Blessed are the peace-makers, for they shall be called the children of God. By peacemakers we are to understand those who have peace with themselves, that is, a quiet conscience, and who endeavor to maintain peace among others, or to restore it when broken. Such are called the children of God, because they follow God, Who is a God of peace, and Who even gave His only Son to reconcile the world with Him, and to bring down upon earth that peace which the world itself could not give.
3 KINDNESS (MOURNING):
Grief, Sorrow; Remembrance, Respect, Loyalty, Integrity. Opposing Deadly
Sin: ENVY
Blessed are
they that mourn, for they shall be comforted. By them that mourn we are not to
understand such as grieve and lament over a death, a misfortune, a loss of
worldly goods, or the like; but those who are grieved that God should be in so
many ways offended by themselves and by others that His Church should be so
heavily oppressed, and thereby so many souls lost that have been redeemed with
the precious blood of Christ. The only evil really to be grieved for is sin,
and the tears shed on account of sin are the only tears that are profitable,
for they shall be recompensed with everlasting joy.
2 HUMILITY (MEEK): Modesty, Not Assuming, Reverence,
Altruism. Opposing Deadly Sin: PRIDE/HUBRIS
Blessed are
the meek, for they shall possess the land. That man is meek who does not murmur
against God for sending afflictions upon him, who is not angry at men who do
him injury, but who rather suppresses impatience, anger, envy, and revenge,
nay, who seeks to recompense the evil done him by his neighbor with good. Such
a one is greater than he who takes by storm fortified cities (Prov. xvi. 32);
he possesses an unfailing fountain of peace, quiet, and cheerfulness; by his
meekness prevails over the most hostile minds, is by such means truly a ruler
upon earth, and will one day, for his portion, obtain heaven, the land of the
living, there to enjoy eternal peace.
1 LOVE & COURAGE (FAITH-BE NOT
AFRAID): Affection, Adoration; Friendship, Confidence;
Courageous, Trust; Valiant, Reliance; Heroic, Assurance; Bold, Conviction;
Daring, Belief; Fearless, Devotion; Plucky, Loyalty. Opposing Deadly Sin: FEAR
Love Brothers and sisters do not be afraid to welcome Christ and accept his power. Help the Pope and all those who wish to serve Christ and with Christ’s power to serve the human person and the whole of mankind.
Do not be afraid: Open wide the doors for Christ. To his saving power open the boundaries of States, economic and political systems, the vast fields of culture, civilization and development. Do not be afraid. Christ knows “what is in man”. He alone knows it. So often today man does not know what is within him, in the depths of his mind and heart. So often he is uncertain about the meaning of his life on this earth. He is assailed by doubt, a doubt which turns into despair. We ask you therefore, we beg you with humility and trust, let Christ speak to man. He alone has words of life, yes, of eternal life.
Copilot’s Take
The Catechism speaks plainly about evil: it is real, it
is active, and it is always parasitic. Evil has no substance of its own; it
feeds on fear, confusion, and the refusal to trust God. CCC 409 describes human
history as “a dramatic struggle between good and evil,” a struggle that touches
every person. Yet the Church never instructs the faithful to panic. It
instructs them to stand.
Evil is not confronted by matching its rage or its
noise. Evil is confronted by refusing fear. Fear is the crack in the armor—the
place where the enemy whispers, distorts, and divides. CCC 1808 defines
fortitude as the virtue that “ensures firmness in difficulties and constancy in
the pursuit of the good.” Courage, in the Christian sense, is fidelity under
pressure.
Christ embodies this perfectly. He does not confront
evil with theatrics or retaliation. He confronts it with fearless obedience. He
stands before betrayal, denial, political cowardice, public violence, and the
cross itself without ever turning from His Father. He is the model of the true
Israelite because He is the model of the fearless Son.
The Catechism also teaches that evil is defeated not
only by courage, but by purity of intention. CCC 2518 explains that the pure of
heart “see according to God,” because their hearts are not divided. This is why
the spiritual life begins with the renunciation of fear and ends with purity of
heart: the journey is a movement from fragmentation to clarity, from panic to
peace, from self‑protection to self‑gift.
The Beatitudes are not gentle suggestions. They are the
Church’s battle plan. CCC 1717 calls them “paradoxical promises that sustain
hope in tribulations.” They are the weapons Christ places in the hands of His
disciples.
Meekness disarms wrath.
Mercy disarms greed.
Purity disarms lust.
Poverty of spirit disarms excess.
Hunger for righteousness disarms apathy.
Mourning disarms envy.
Peacemaking disarms violence.
Courage disarms fear.
Every vice has a corresponding virtue that breaks its
power. Every step away from sin is a step toward God. Every movement of the
heart is either a retreat into fear or an advance into fidelity.
The Catechism concludes this teaching with a promise:
God does not leave His children alone in the struggle. Grace is not an idea; it
is strength. CCC 2847 assures that God “never permits us to be tempted beyond
our strength,” and always provides “the grace of victory.” Not escape—victory.
So when Samuel says, “Do not fear… you have indeed
committed all this evil,” he is not minimizing sin. He is minimizing fear. Evil
is real, but it is not ultimate. Fear is loud, but it is not sovereign. The
heart that serves God with its whole strength is the heart that refuses to run,
refuses to hide, and refuses to surrender its peace.
This is the heart Christ forms in His disciples.
This is the heart the Beatitudes build.
This is the heart that confronts evil—not with panic, but with fearless
fidelity.
Saint Fidelis[1]
Saint Fidelis became a martyr and was murdered for his faith in 1622, while traveling back to his home church after preaching in Seewis, Switzerland to former Catholics who had converted to Calvinism.
Saint Fidelis on the day of his martyrdom preached with great energy, he exhorted the Catholics to constancy in the faith.
After a Calvinist had discharged his musket at him in the Church, the Catholics entreated him to leave the place. He answered that death was his gain and his joy, and that he was ready to lay down his life in God's cause. On his road back to Grüsch, he met twenty Calvinist soldiers with a minister at their head. They called him a false prophet, and urged him to embrace their sect. He answered: "I am sent to you to confute, not to embrace your heresy. The Catholic religion is the faith of all ages, I fear not death." One of them beat him down to the ground by a stroke on the head with his backsword. Fidelis rose again on his knees and stretching forth his arms in the form of a cross, said with a feeble voice "Pardon my enemies, O Lord: blinded by passion they know not what they do. Lord Jesus, have mercy on me. Mary, Mother of God, succor me!"
Another sword stroke clove his skull, and he fell to the ground and lay in a pool of his own blood. The soldiers, not content with this, added many stab wounds to his body with their long knives, and hacked-off his left leg, as they said, to punish him for his many journeys into those parts to preach to them.
Men Seek Heroes[2]
God has created men by nature and vocation with a natural desire for Himself and men can only find happiness in God. But men become lost as they seek God due to ignorance and sin. Realizing real dangers in the world and the God-implanted understanding of the need for salvation, men aspire to heroic deeds and seek courageous heroes to protect and lead them through the challenges of life. The desire and need for true heroes is perennial in the hearts of men across time and cultures. From an early age, boys naturally seek heroes. They look up to their fathers, older boys and other men as role models and as defenders/protectors. Boys are intrigued by the heroic deeds of fictional characters (e.g. Superheroes in movies, TV and books, videogame heroes, sports heroes, etc.). Boys admire and seek those with heroic virtues. When grown, men continue to seek heroes. Some continue on with the fictional heroes of youth, trading comic books for the action/superheroes and celebrities in the media. Most men also look up to heroes in real life.
Many follow and celebrate sports teams and athletes. Others admire and follow politicians, social activists or business leaders. Still others look up to and follow real life heroes in the military (Medal of Honor winners), religion (saints) and people who perform extraordinary deeds in the face of tough challenges (911 responders, those who battle life-challenging illnesses). All men, in some way, desire to be heroes and to associate themselves with heroic leaders.
From the catechism:
27 The desire for God is written in the human heart,
because man is created by God and for God; and God never ceases to draw man to
himself. Only in God will he find the truth and happiness he never stops
searching for:
44 Man is by nature
and vocation a religious being. Coming from God, going toward God, man lives a
fully human life only if he freely lives by his bond with God.
397 Man, tempted by
the devil, let his trust in his Creator die in his heart and, abusing his
freedom, disobeyed God's command. This is what man's first sin consisted of.
All subsequent sin would be disobedience toward God and lack of trust in his
goodness.
Men fall for false heroes.
Many men are confused about the definition and true nature of heroism. Heroism is confused with celebrity. Heroism is confused with self-serving athleticism, political opportunists, charlatans who deceive, “anti-heroes” or outright scoundrels. The meaning of the word “hero” has been dumbed down to the point of being almost meaningless. Doing an Internet search for websites, news articles or images provides ample evidence of the misuse of the word “hero”. Heroism is associated with movie stardom, video games (Guitar Hero), relatively routine athletic accomplishments and even a sandwich. Sadly, many of the real-life men who masquerade as heroes, fail, and fail spectacularly.
The Definition of “Hero”
The word “hero” comes from
the Latin, hero, meaning,
“defender, protector” and “to save, deliver, preserve, protect.”
Closely related is the word, “Savior” which comes from the Latin, salvatorem, meaning “one who delivers or rescues from peril”
or “heals.” Modern
definitions of the word “hero” provide other characteristics of a hero. A
hero: faces danger or
adversity with courage; sacrifices
self for the greater good of humanity; displays moral excellence”; “is placed high above his fellows.”
Jesus – The True Hero
·
Jesus is infinitely higher above all other
heroes – He is the
Son of God; there can be no hero that compares. Heroes come and go, but
only Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah. No hero, except Jesus, was
anticipated for thousands of years before His birth and remains a hero two
millennia after His death (and Resurrection).
·
He physically protects people on earth – He saves the Disciples who
are in fear of drowning. He stands up to the bloodthirsty mob that is
going to stone the adulterous woman. He protects the disciples from the violent
legion when He is taken in the Garden. He is the ultimate protector.
·
Jesus is the perfect demonstration of virtue – He demonstrates prudence,
temperance, justice and fortitude and charity with perfection that no man has
met, or can ever, match.
·
He heals people from sickness, madness and
death – Jesus
healed the multitudes of every illness and raises them from the dead.
·
He stands for Truth against falsehood – Repeatedly, He confronts
the Pharisees and the Sadducees and corrects their falsehoods, despite their
collusion to kill Him. He refuses to yield to Pilate, even as Pilate
threatens Him with death. Jesus is Truth itself.
· Jesus defeats man’s greatest foe, Satan – There is no greater enemy of man than Satan. Jesus defeats Satan when tempted in the Wilderness, by casting out demons, and by using the Satan-inspired evil of Judas for the Glory of the Cross and Resurrection (CCC 2853). He defeats Satan on his home turf (Hell) when Jesus descends to offer His “redemptive works to all men of all times and all places…” (CCC 634). Only Jesus delivers us from evil.
2853 Victory over the
"prince of this world" was won once for all at the Hour when Jesus
freely gave himself up to death to give us his life. This is the judgment of
this world, and the prince of this world is "cast out." "He
pursued the woman" but had no hold on her: the new Eve, "full of
grace" of the Holy Spirit, is preserved from sin and the corruption of
death (the Immaculate Conception and the Assumption of the Most Holy Mother of
God, Mary, ever virgin). "Then the dragon was angry with the woman, and
went off to make war on the rest of her offspring." Therefore, the Spirit
and the Church pray: "Come, Lord Jesus," since his coming will
deliver us from the Evil One.
634 "The gospel
was preached even to the dead." The descent into hell brings the Gospel
message of salvation to complete fulfillment. This is the last phase of Jesus'
messianic mission, a phase which is condensed in time but vast in its real
significance: the spread of Christ's redemptive work to all men of all times
and all places, for all who are saved have been made sharers in the redemption.
·
He defeats man’s greatest scourge, Sin – He saves people from sin
(CCC 2854). For example, He tells the sinful woman at Simon the
Pharisee’s house, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace”.
2854 When we ask to be delivered from the Evil One,
we pray as well to be freed from all evils, present, past, and future, of which
he is the author or instigator. In this final petition, the Church brings
before the Father all the distress of the world. Along with deliverance from
the evils that overwhelm humanity, she implores the precious gift of peace and
the grace of perseverance in expectation of Christ's return By praying in this
way, she anticipates in humility of faith the gathering together of everyone
and everything in him who has "the keys of Death and Hades," who
"is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."
·
Deliver us, Lord, we beseech you, from every
evil and grant us peace in our day, so that aided by your mercy we might be
ever free from sin and protected from all anxiety, as we await the blessed hope
and the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
· He sacrifices Himself for others – Jesus makes an infinite sacrifice, for His life is of infinite value and he gives it for the sins of all mankind. He chooses a horrible death freely, saying, “Greater love has no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
·
He offers salvation for all mankind – His Name means “God saves” (CCC
430) and it is only the name of Jesus that can actually save. “Christ’s
whole life is a mystery of redemption. Redemption comes to us above
all through the blood of His cross…” (CCC 517). “He who believes and is
baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be
condemned”. “For the Son of man came to seek and to save the
lost.” “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever
believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
430 Jesus means in
Hebrew: "God saves." At the annunciation, the angel Gabriel gave him
the name Jesus as his proper name, which expresses both his identity and his
mission. Since God alone can forgive sins, it is God who, in Jesus his eternal
Son made man, "will save his people from their sins". In Jesus, God
recapitulates all of his history of salvation on behalf of men.
517 Christ's whole life is a mystery of redemption.
Redemption comes to us above all through the blood of his cross, but this
mystery is at work throughout Christ's entire life:
- Already in his Incarnation through which by becoming
poor he enriches us with his poverty.
- In his hidden life which by his submission atones for
our disobedience.
- In his word which purifies its hearers.
- In his healings and exorcisms by which "he took
our infirmities and bore our diseases”.
- And in his Resurrection by which he justifies us.
·
He is recognized as a Savior during His life
on earth – The
Samaritans profess, “It is no longer because of your words that we believe, for
we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed
the Savior of the world.”
Bible in a
year Day 294 Judea
Gains Independence
In our reading of 1 Maccabees today, Fr. Mike highlights the the establishment of the new independent sovereign nation of Israel in the land of Judah. We learn how Simon takes command and enforces the law all around the land. Fr. Mike reminds us that even today, Christians are governed by Jesus himself and ultimately to belong to him.
Today's readings are 1 Maccabees 13, Sirach 32-33, and Proverbs 23:17-21.16.
Arbor Day[3]
Arbor
Day is a celebration of trees and their importance to providing shelter,
stabilization for the ground, and beauty to the beholder. While Arbor Day is a
US holiday, several other countries have adopted similar observances including
Japan, Australia, Korea and Yugoslavia. In 1970, President Richard Nixon
declared Arbor Day a federal holiday and it is observed the last Friday in
April each year.
Arbor
Day Facts & Quotes
·
The
first Arbor Day was celebrated April 10, 1872, in the State of Nebraska. More
than 1 million trees were planted in Nebraska as they celebrated the first
Arbor Day.
·
A
single tree can absorb as much as 48 pounds of carbon dioxide per year and can
sequester 1 ton of carbon dioxide by the time it reaches 40 years old.
·
Newspaper
editor, Julius Sterling Morton began Arbor Day to help bring attention to the
importance of trees.
·
Since
the Yellowstone Fires of 1988, the Arbor Day Foundation has partnered with the
US Forest Service. Through this partnership, over 25 million Arbor Day
Foundation trees have been planted.
·
The
best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago. The second-best time is now.
–Proverb
Arbor
Day Top Events and Things to Do
·
Plant
a tree.
·
Visit
a nursery and consider buying some plants.
·
Organize
a neighborhood beautification project.
· Hold a paper drive. Use the recycling proceeds to purchase a special tree.
THIS WE BELIEVE
PRAYERS AND TEACHINGS OF THE CATHOLIC
CHURCH
The Angelus[4]
V/. The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary,
R/. And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you;
blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners
now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.
V/. Behold the handmaid of the Lord,
R/. Be it done unto me according to your Word.
Hail Mary…
V/. And the Word was made flesh,
R/. And dwelt among us.
Hail Mary…
V/. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God,
R/. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray. Pour forth, we beseech you, O Lord, your grace into our hearts: that we, to whom the Incarnation of Christ your Son was made known by the message of an Angel, may by his Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of his Resurrection.
Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
Fitness Friday
Modern populations
are increasingly overfed, malnourished, sedentary, sunlight-deficient,
sleep-deprived, and socially isolated.[5]
Q.
What is the relationship between sunlight and depression?
Sunlight has a complex relationship with
depression. On the one hand, sunlight can help to improve mood and reduce
symptoms of depression. On the other hand, too much sunlight exposure can also
have negative consequences for mental health. One of the most well-known
effects of sunlight on mood is its ability to increase levels of serotonin.
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that plays a role in regulating mood, sleep,
and appetite. When serotonin levels are low, people may experience symptoms of
depression, such as sadness, fatigue, and loss of interest in activities.
Importance of Sunlight for Mind,
Body, and Soul[6]
By Lizzie Streit, MS, RDN, LD
A sunny day can be the ultimate mood-booster, especially after a long,
cold winter. Many people notice a shift in mood and energy when the color
outside turns from dreary to bright but may not know just how many benefits
sunshine provides.
From impacts on vitamin D levels, circadian rhythms, and even weight
management, the many benefits of sunlight are explored in this post.
How Sunlight Affects Vitamin D
· Basking in the sunshine can have physiological effects in your body. In fact, the best way to get adequate vitamin D is from sun exposure. When sun hits your skin, it triggers a series of events that lead to vitamin D production. There’s a reason vitamin D is nicknamed the “sunshine vitamin” after all!
·
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that’s
essential for many bodily functions, including maintaining healthy bones and
regulating calcium status. A deficiency of this nutrient may lead to bone
diseases, such as rickets in children, or contribute to osteoporosis in adults.
Other Impacts of Sunlight
·
Exposure to sunlight also impacts circadian
rhythm by helping your body reset its internal clock and distinguish day from
night. Getting sunlight about an hour after you wake up in the morning will
help you feel alert during the day and fall asleep more easily at night.
·
Finally, sunshine may have a significant
influence on mood. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD), marked by depression,
sleep problems, and low energy, is thought to be related to lack of sun
exposure. Sunlight helps regulate the production of serotonin, a hormone tied
to mood. Plus, sun exposure is necessary for vitamin D production, which may
promote serotonin activity. Getting sunlight may therefore help boost mood and
possibly improve symptoms of SAD.
Sunlight and Weight
·
Due to the number of benefits sun exposure
provides for the mind and body, it can have positive effects on weight control.
When you have sufficient levels of nutrients, sleep well, and feel happy, your
weight loss efforts tend to be more successful than when you feel off in any of
these areas.
·
In addition, research has linked light exposure
in the morning to reductions in body fat and levels of hormones that increase
appetite. One study in 54 adults found that those who were exposed to bright
light early in the morning were slimmer than those who were not.
Safe Sun Exposure
·
It’s clear that getting sunlight can have
numerous health benefits. However, it’s important to also protect the skin from
sun damage.
· Current recommendations suggest that about 15 minutes of daily sun exposure on your hands, arm, and face during the middle of the day is sufficient for vitamin D production in light-skinned people. You can certainly stay in the sun for longer to reap other benefits, but remember to take precautions.
·
Apply sunscreen and/or wear protective clothing
after getting your 15 minutes of daily sun exposure to maintain vitamin D
levels. If you have dark skin or are at a high risk of skin cancer, speak with
your doctor about the best course of action, what you should wear in the sun,
and whether you should take a vitamin D supplement instead.
·
Note from Healthy For Life Meals: You take care
of getting sunshine, and we’ll take care of your meals! Our diet meal delivery
provides done-for-you meals that are nutritionally balanced and taste
delicious, so you can spend less time in the kitchen and more time outside.
Check out our menus and order today.
Daily Devotions
·
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting: Today's Fast: An end
to the use of contraceptives.
·
Litany of the Most Precious
Blood of Jesus
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Make
reparations to the Holy Face
·
Bucket List trip: Switzerland
·
Spirit Hour: Up In Smoke
·
Try “Pigs in a blanket[7]”
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fidelis_of_Sigmaringen
[7] Sheraton, Mimi. 1,000 Foods
To Eat Before You Die: A Food Lover's Life List (p. 892). Workman Publishing
Company. Kindle Edition.
SHE COULDN’T TAKE IT (1935)
George Raft, Joan Bennett
A sharp, fast‑moving romantic comedy where a hardened man and a high‑society woman collide—and discover that character, not comfort, is what makes a life worth living.
1. Production & Historical Setting
Released by Columbia Pictures in 1935, She Couldn’t Take It sits squarely in the Depression‑era trend of “madcap wealth meets streetwise grit.” Director Tay Garnett blends screwball energy with moral undercurrents about entitlement, responsibility, and the dignity of work.
- George Raft plays the tough, principled ex‑convict who refuses to be bought.
- Joan Bennett plays the spoiled heiress whose world collapses when her family’s fortune is seized.
- The supporting cast leans into caricature—eccentric millionaires, scheming relatives, and opportunists—highlighting the emptiness of privilege without virtue.
The film’s world is one where money can buy everything except backbone—and backbone is the only thing that survives the fall.
2. Story Summary
When the wealthy Van Dyke family loses their fortune, their pampered daughter Carol (Joan Bennett) is forced into real life for the first time. She crosses paths with Bill Reardon (George Raft), a man who has survived prison, poverty, and betrayal—and who refuses to pity her.
What follows is a collision of worlds:
- Carol’s entitlement meets Bill’s blunt realism.
- Her dependency meets his self‑command.
- Her illusions meet his hard‑earned clarity.
As they navigate schemes, setbacks, and the unraveling of her family’s pretenses, Carol begins to shed her vanity. Bill, in turn, discovers that compassion doesn’t weaken a man—it strengthens him. Their romance emerges not from charm but from conversion: she becomes more grounded, he becomes more open, and both learn that dignity is worth more than wealth.
3. Spiritual & Moral Resonances
A. Wealth Without Virtue Collapses
Carol’s world falls apart because it was built on comfort, not character. The film exposes how fragile a life becomes when it depends on circumstances instead of discipline.
B. Hardship as Formation
Bill’s strength comes from suffering rightly endured. His past—unwanted, unjust, and painful—has forged him into a man who cannot be bribed or flattered.
C. Humility as the Doorway to Love
Carol’s transformation begins only when she stops demanding rescue and starts accepting reality. Humility makes her lovable.
D. Integrity as Masculine Gravity
Bill’s refusal to compromise—financially, morally, or emotionally—creates the gravitational pull that stabilizes everyone around him.
E. Redemption Through Responsibility
Both characters grow when they take responsibility for their lives. Love becomes possible only after truth is embraced.
4. Hospitality Pairing — The Depression Table
- Black coffee — unadorned, honest, nothing to hide behind.
- A slice of buttered toast — simple sustenance, the dignity of enough.
- A single silver coin on the table — reminder that wealth is a tool, not a foundation.
- A sprig of thyme — symbol of courage in small, daily acts.
A setting for evenings when you need to remember that strength is not luxury—it is discipline.
5. Reflection Prompts
- Where have I confused comfort with strength in my own life.
- What hardships have shaped me into someone more grounded and honest.
- Where do I still expect others to rescue me instead of taking responsibility.
- Which relationships in my life sharpen my integrity rather than soften it.
- What part of my character needs to be rebuilt on something firmer than circumstance.
No comments:
Post a Comment