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Smoke in This Life and Not the Next
Saturday, May 2
Kentucky Derby Day
Virtue Under the Knife: Temperance & Clarity
Tonight’s Pairing
Cigar: a cheap, honest yard‑gar — rough, unpolished, a reminder of what’s at stake
Drink: bottom‑shelf bourbon — sharp, thin, the taste of unserious living
Reason: tonight is about refusing the drift that Derby Day normalizes
The Reflection
St. Lidwina was shown prisons that dwarfed every earthly fortress — black walls, roaring fires, and the cries of souls who had treated life lightly. These were not the monstrous sinners. They were the casual ones. The drifters. The men who lived by mood, appetite, and impulse. The ones who never meant to offend God, but never meant to serve Him either.
Her angel led her past chambers of fire and pits of ice, but the most terrible place was reserved for the inattentive — souls who had floated through life the way men float through Derby Day: laughing, drinking, wagering, drifting. Not wicked. Just unguarded. And unguarded souls pay in slow fire.
They had touched every fault lightly, so they tasted every chastisement lightly — a little darkness, a little flame, a little regret. No single chain, just a thousand small cords tightening at once. Lidwina saw what happens when a man refuses to master his appetites: the appetites master him.
Derby Day is America’s annual permission slip for drift — a day when men pretend that excess is culture and indulgence is tradition. But the saint’s vision cuts through the noise. She saw the cost of unserious living. She saw the weight of “harmless fun.” She saw the danger of a life where pleasure is taken but never offered.
Her angel did not show her these prisons to frighten her.
He showed them so she would detest the small stains that men excuse.
Tonight’s smoke is not about the Derby.
It is about the man holding the match.
Temperance is not abstinence — it is mastery.
Clarity is not sobriety — it is purpose.
Holiness is not spectacle — it is refusal to drift.
Guard the appetite.
Guard the mind.
Guard the day.
Purgatory Note
The souls Lidwina saw were purified not by a single fire but by many small ones, because their faults were scattered across the whole field of life. Their purification was not violent, but it was relentless — the slow correction of men who never learned to say no to themselves.
Better to take the cheap smoke now.
Better to taste the thin bourbon now.
Better to practice mastery now — and not the next.
MAY 2 First Saturday-Saint Athanasius, Bishop
Kentucky
Derby
1 Samuel, Chapter 18, Verse 12
Saul then began to FEAR David because the LORD was with him
but had turned away from Saul.
To
this David writes psalm 27:
The LORD
is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear?
The LORD
is my life’s refuge; of whom should I be afraid?
When
evildoers come at me to devour my flesh, these my enemies and foes themselves
stumble and fall. Though an army encamp against me, my heart does not fear;
though war be waged against me, even then do I trust.
One thing I ask of the LORD; this I seek: to dwell in the LORD’s house all the days of my life, to gaze on the LORD’s beauty, to visit his temple. For God will hide me in his shelter in time of trouble, He will conceal me in the cover of his tent; and set me high upon a rock. Even now my head is held high above my enemies on every side!
I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and chant praise to the LORD. Hear my voice, LORD, when I call; have mercy on me and answer me. “Come,” says my heart, “seek his face”; your face, LORD, do I seek! Do not hide your face from me; do not repel your servant in anger. You are my salvation; do not cast me off; do not forsake me, God my savior! Even if my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will take me in.
LORD, show
me your way; lead me on a level path because of my enemies. Do not abandon me
to the desire of my foes; malicious and lying witnesses have risen against me.
I believe I shall see the LORD’s goodness in the land of the living. Wait for
the LORD, take courage; be stouthearted, wait for the LORD!
Copilot’s Take
David and Saul stand as two opposing spiritual
trajectories. Saul fears David because the presence of the Lord has departed
from him; David fears nothing because the presence of the Lord is his strength.
The Catechism teaches that sin darkens the intellect and weakens the will,
leaving a man exposed to the dominion of evil. That is Saul’s condition: a man
who once walked in anointing now trembles before shadows of his own making.
When a man loses the fear of God, he begins fearing everything else.
David answers Saul’s collapse with Psalm 27—a
declaration of ordered courage. “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom
should I fear?” This is not bravado but hierarchy. The fear of the Lord, a gift
of the Holy Spirit, restores clarity, identity, and stability. It is the fear
that makes a man unbreakable. The Catechism calls this holy fear the beginning
of wisdom, the virtue that steadies a man when enemies rise, when lies
circulate, when the world turns hostile. David’s heart is not fearless by temperament;
it is fearless by alignment.
The Catechism is blunt about the reality of evil:
humanity lives in a dramatic situation of spiritual combat. Evil is not
theoretical; it is organized, persistent, and opportunistic. Yet it is also
limited—Satan’s power is not infinite and operates only within the boundaries
of divine providence. David knows this. Saul forgets it. The difference between
them is not skill or strength but the presence of God. David confronts evil
without frenzy, without paranoia, without adopting the enemy’s methods. He stands,
prays, obeys, and waits.
Sometimes the threat comes not from foreign enemies but from one’s own house, one’s own leadership, one’s own circle. David endures betrayal, slander, and unjust authority without surrendering his conscience.
The Catechism affirms that Christians may and must resist unjust commands; obedience ends where sin begins. David refuses to harm Saul, refuses to obey Saul’s wickedness, and refuses to fear Saul’s rage. This is the balance the modern world has forgotten: fidelity without servility, courage without rebellion, endurance without corruption.
Psalm 27 gives the tactical sequence for confronting
evil without losing one’s soul: seek God’s face, stand firm, stay clean, and
wait with courage. God hides the righteous in His shelter, lifts their heads
above their enemies, and sets them high upon a rock. The man who fears God
rightly becomes immovable before men. The man who waits on the Lord becomes
stronger than the one who schemes. The man who keeps his heart clean becomes a
weapon God can trust.
On this feast of St. Athanasius, the Church gives us
the man who stood contra mundum—against the world—when the world had
lost its mind. He confronted corrupt bishops, imperial pressure, and cultural
heresy with the same posture as David: fear of the Lord, not fear of men. His
life proves the psalm’s final command: “Wait for the Lord, take courage; be
stouthearted, wait for the Lord.” This is the path of the righteous in every
age.
First Saturday[1]
When Sister Lúcia experienced the Pontevedra apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary, she heard her promise to grant great graces, especially at the hour of death, in particular the salvation of the soul, for the believer who for Five Consecutive First Saturdays of Month (5 Saturdays in 5 months) receives Holy Communion and practices the following exercises as an Act of Reparation to the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God and Queen of Heaven:
· Sacramental confession
The confession can take place within eight days before or even after the Holy Communion is received, but the Holy Communion shall be received with dignity, in a state of Grace, keeping in mind that Jesus is physically present in the Eucharist (Transubstantiation). The Intention of making reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary may be kept to oneself; it is not necessary to notify the confessor priest.
· To receive Holy Communion
The Holy Communion has to be received within the 24 hours of the first Saturday of the Month. Attendance to Holy Mass is optional. Receiving Holy Communion as part of this devotion must be consciously intended as an Act of Reparation to the Immaculate Heart. The devotee need not tell anyone else, but keep it in mind. To avoid omitting the Intention every Saturday, the General Intention for the devotion of the Act of Reparation can be mentally or outspokenly stated before starting the First Saturdays (or in between).
If a person has a valid reason not to attend Mass (Masses not available on Saturdays, difficult mobilization, other major event), the devotee may consult a priest about receiving Communion privately or on another day with the intention of making this Communion as part of the devotion.
·
A 5-Decade Rosary
is recited
Bible in a
year Day 302 The
Pursuit of Wisdom
Fr. Mike concludes the book of
Sirach today and encourages us to continue the pursuit of wisdom. In our
reading of 2 Maccabees, we see again the pillage of the Temple and we are re-
introduced to Judas Maccabeus. Lastly, in Proverbs Fr. Mike encourages us to
resist the temptation to rejoice when our enemies fall. Today’s readings are 2
Maccabees 5, Sirach 50-51, and Proverbs 24:17-20.
Kentucky Derby[2]
The Kentucky Derby is the most popular and oldest horse race in the world. The race is a 1.25-mile long, Grade 1 stakes horse race for three-year-old thoroughbreds on a dirt track. It is held annually at Churchill Downs racetrack in Louisville, Kentucky. The Kentucky Derby, run on the first Saturday in May of every year, is the first leg of the elusive Triple Crown races. It is followed by the Preakness Stakes two weeks later in Baltimore, Maryland and the Belmont Stakes, 3 weeks after the Preakness in Elmont, New York. Meriweather Clark founded the Kentucky Derby, which was first held in 1875. Since then, the Derby has become a day of luxury and fashion and celebrities are often in attendance.
Kentucky Derby Facts & Quotes
· Over 160,000 spectators come to see the Kentucky Derby every year while millions of others watch it on TV.
·
In
Kentucky, the equine industry generated 3 billion dollars annually and creates
55,000 jobs.
·
As
of 2015, no woman trainer or jockey has won the Kentucky Derby. Many have run
horses and ridden them, but none have won.
·
Only
12 horses have ever been able to win the Triple Crown. The most recent was
American Pharaoh in 2015. Prior to 2015, the Triple Crown hadn't been won since
1978.
Kentucky Derby Top Events and Things to Do
· Attend the Kentucky Derby in Louisville, Kentucky. Be careful though, tickets are very expensive and must be purchased far in advance for the event.
·
Enjoy
a good movie about horses and horse racing. Some of our picks are: The
Cup (2011), The
First Saturday in May
(2007), Racing Stripes (2005), Seabiscuit (2003), The
Derby Stallion
(2005), Secretariat
(2010) and Dreamer
(2005).
·
Book
a horseback riding class at a local stable. Try to get a feel for what it would
be like to race that fast.
·
Plan
a Triple Crown Party. Be sure to send out invitations for the Derby, the
Preakness and the Belmont. Pick favorite horses and see who wins the home
derby. During the celebration it would be a good idea to also pray for the
pope who wears the triple crown of the church. The
Triple Crown (the tiara) represents the pope's three functions as "supreme
pastor", "supreme teacher" and "supreme priest". The
gold cross on monde (globe) surmounting the tiara symbolizes the sovereignty of
Jesus.[3]
Bless the Animals and the Simple[4]
One day while, Mitch, a Protestant was at the track playing the ponies and all but losing his shirt noticed a Catholic priest who stepped out onto the track and blessed the forehead of one of the horses lining up for the 4th race. Lo and behold, that horse – a very long shot – won the race.
Before the next race, as the horses began lining up, Mitch watched with interest the old priest step onto the track. Sure enough, before the 5th race the horses came to the starting gate. The priest made a blessing on the forehead of one of the horses. Mitch made a beeline for a betting window and placed a small bet on the horse blessed by the priest. Again, even though it was another long shot, the horse the priest had blessed won the race. Mitch collected his winnings, and anxiously waited to see which horse the priest would bless for the 6th race.
The priest again blessed a horse. Mitch bet big on it, and it won. Mitch was elated. As the races continued the priest kept blessing long shot horses, and each one ended up coming in first. By and by, Mitch was pulling in some serious money. By the last race, he knew his wildest dreams were going to come true. He made a quick dash to the ATM, withdrew all his savings, and awaited the priest's blessing that would tell him which horse to bet on. True to his pattern, the priest stepped onto the track for the last race and blessed the forehead of an old nag that was the longest shot of the day. Mitch also observed the priest blessing the eyes, ears, and hooves of the old nag. Mitch knew he had a winner and bet every cent he owned on the old nag. He then watched dumbfounded as the old nag come in dead last and then dropped dead. Mitch, in a state of shock, made his way down to the track area where the priest was. Confronting the old priest, he demanded, 'Father! What happened? All day long you blessed horses and they all won. Then in the last race, the horse you blessed lost by a Kentucky mile. Now, thanks to you I've lost every cent of my savings – all of it!'. The priest nodded wisely and with sympathy. 'Son,' he said, 'that's one of the problems with you Protestants; you can't tell the difference between a simple blessing and the Sacrament of Last Rites.'
PRAYERS AND TEACHINGS OF THE CATHOLIC
CHURCH
Prayer to Saint
Joseph
St. Joseph, you are the chaste and loving spouse of the Virgin Mary, the foster father of Jesus, the protector and provider of the Holy family and all families. We have complete confidence in your loving care for new life and in your fidelity to the family. We commend our efforts to your prayers and protection. Help us always to defend the gift of human life that it may grow to the abundance of eternal life promised and bestowed on us by your son, our brother, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Around the Corner
God
is our refuge and our strength,
an
ever-present help in distress.
(Psalm
46:2)
·
desert ridge
marketplace is
pleased to present villa fleur: a lavish pop-up experience
specially crafted to celebrate spring.
o
villa
fleur will captivate guests transcending them into an eclectic atmosphere of
rich prints and bold textures, striking visuals and lush florals. set under
romantic lighting, guests will settle into parlor-style seating designed to
ignite the senses while enjoying chef-driven fare and elixirs and a
state-of-the-art projection show designed exclusively for villa fleur. this
rare journey is available for a limited time from March 14 – May 11.
·
Saturday Litany of the Hours Invoking the Aid of
Mother Mary
·
Catholic Activity: Religion in the
Home for Preschool: May
·
Bucket List trip: Vallenato
Legend Festival-Columbia
·
Bucket Item trip: Kentucky Derby
·
Try Kentucky
Derby Pie
·
Spirit Hour: Zombie
· Foodie: Asparagus
·
Get an indulgence
Fun
things to do.
Beware
of others’ butts when in the water!
·
New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival--
Love jazz? Join fellow music lovers at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Held every year since
1970, the annual Jazz Fest, as it’s called, showcases nearly every music genre,
from blues to R&B, and everything else in between. It’s all performed
across 12 stages during the last weekend in April.
·
Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival—Take
in the small-town charm of Winchester, VA, in this 6-day celebration of spring.
First held in 1924, the annual festival packs a wallop of more than 30 events
into its lineup: band competitions, dances, parades, carnival, a 10K race, the
coronation of Queen Shenandoah and so much more, attracting crowds in excess of
250,000.
Daily Devotions
·
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting: Today's Fast: Restoring
the Church
·
Litany of the Most Precious
Blood of Jesus
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Make
reparations to the Holy Face
THE TRAIL BEYOND (1934)
John Wayne • Noah Beery Sr. • Noah Beery Jr.
A fast, rugged Poverty Row Western where wilderness, loyalty, and frontier justice collide — carried by a young John Wayne moving through mountains, rivers, and moral pressure.
Sources: bing.com Wikipedia
1. Production & Historical Setting
Released October 22, 1934, directed by Robert N. Bradbury, and distributed by Monogram Pictures, this film sits squarely in Wayne’s “Lone Star” era — low‑budget, high‑energy Westerns shot fast and lean.
Sources: bing.com Wikipedia
It is based on James Oliver Curwood’s novel The Wolf Hunters, previously adapted in 1926 and 1949.
Sources: bing.com Wikipedia
Distinctives of this production:
- Poverty Row constraints sharpen the film’s rawness.
- Location shooting around Mammoth Lakes, CA gives it a visual edge over other 1930s B‑Westerns.
- Wayne between failures and masterpieces — trapped between The Big Trail (1930) and Stagecoach (1939), yet already carrying the physical authority that would define him.
- Noah Beery Sr. and Jr. add generational grit and frontier credibility.
The result is a compact, 55‑minute frontier chase that feels more like a wilderness pulp novel than a studio Western.
Sources: Wikipedia
2. Story Summary
Rod Drew (John Wayne) is sent to locate a missing girl in the Canadian wilderness. On the way he reunites with his friend Wabi (Noah Beery Jr.), rescues him from card‑cheats, and becomes entangled in a murder accusation.
Their flight north pulls them into:
- a feud involving the Hudson Bay trading post
- a hidden gold‑mine map
- kidnappings, impostors, and double‑crosses
- Mounties in pursuit
- renegades hunting the same treasure
Rod and Wabi discover a cabin with two skeletons and a map, survive ambushes, rescue Felice, and eventually uncover both the gold and Felice’s true identity — the missing girl Rod was sent to find.
Sources: Wikipedia
3. Spiritual & Moral Resonances
A. Wilderness Reveals Character
The frontier strips away pretense — only loyalty and courage remain.
B. Friendship as Moral Anchor
Rod and Wabi’s bond is the film’s spine: steadfast, unembellished, masculine fidelity.
C. Greed Distorts Judgment
Every villain is driven by the same hunger: possession without responsibility.
D. Providence in Rough Places
The wilderness becomes the stage where hidden identities and buried truths surface.
E. Justice Requires Pursuit
Rod does not drift — he moves with purpose, even when hunted.
4. Hospitality Pairing — The Frontier Table
- Salted jerky — the ration of men who travel light
- Tin cup of black coffee — bitter, hot, frontier‑honest
- Cast‑iron skillet bread — dense, practical, sustaining
- Lantern light on rough timber — the moral clarity of a hard landscape
- A wool blanket thrown over a chair — the minimal comfort of men on the move
A setting for nights when you want to contemplate loyalty, endurance, and the discipline of staying on mission.
5. Reflection Prompts
- Where am I being pursued — and am I running with purpose or panic?
- Which friendships in my life function like Rod and Wabi — anchors, not distractions?
- What “gold‑mine maps” tempt me to compromise?
- Where do I need frontier clarity instead of civilized excuses?
- What wilderness is God using to reveal my true identity?
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