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Introduction
Today begins a quiet but decisive pivot in my spiritual calendar. Earlier this week I set the long arc for next year: in 2027 I will walk the full 40 Days to Freedom from the Devil as my Easter‑to‑Ascension ascent — a structured march with the Risen Christ, day by day, all forty steps in order. That will be the year I take the entire sequence as it was designed: from the empty tomb to the threshold of the Ascension, forty days of training under the resurrected King.
But this year, the rhythm is different — and deliberately so.
Today I will take up Days 36 through 40 as a concentrated, five‑day ascent toward the Ascension. Not the full journey, but the summit push. These final days are the most demanding in the entire sequence: the days of renunciation, clarity, obedience, readiness, and mission. They are the days when Christ finishes His formation of the apostles and prepares them to stand without Him in the flesh.
By praying these final five days now — in the week leading into the Ascension — I am choosing to live in anticipation. I am choosing to stand where the apostles stood: trained, purified, and waiting for the moment when Christ hands the Kingdom to His men.
This year I climb the last five steps.
Next year I climb all forty.
Day 36-Let Freedom Ring: Freedom from Avarice
Whatever level our income might be, we long for more. And what's even worse about all this, is that we even will blow off the 3rd Commandment so - really, how many times have we heard this? - "I'm working or putting in some overtime on Sunday."
We even justify leaving God out of our very budgets because we just cannot afford it!
So often we just do not recognize our Avarice. We turn to You Lord, in our weakness, and beg Your forgiveness for our Avarice, and especially for all the times we have forfeited time with You for time to labor so we may indeed "live large." We love You, Lord, and we beg for the wisdom and strength to love You more. We know, Lord, if You will it, it will be done.
Trusting in You, we offer our prayer to You who live and reign forever and ever.
Amen.
In Your power and goodness, You created all things.
You set a path for us to walk on and a way to an eternal relationship.
By the strength of Your arm and Word of Your mouth
Cast from Your Holy Church every fearful deceit of the Devil
Drive from us manifestations of the demonic that oppress us and beckon us to faithlessness and fear.
Still the lying tongue of the devil and his forces so that we may act freely and faithfully to Your will.
Send Your holy angels to cast out all influence that the demonic entities in charge of fear have planted in Your church.
Free us, our families, our parish, our diocese, and our country from all trickery and deceit perpetrated by the Devil and his hellish legions.
Trusting in Your goodness Lord,
We know if You will it, it will be done in unity with Your Son and the Holy Spirit, One God for ever and ever.
Amen.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy, etc.
God the Holy Ghost,
Holy Trinity, one God,
Holy Mary, Queen of the Angels, pray for us, etc.
St. Michael, the Archangel,
Most glorious attendant of the Triune Divinity,
Standing at the right of the altar of Incense,
Ambassador of Paradise,
Glorious Prince of the Heavenly armies,
Leader of the Angelic hosts,
The standard-bearer of God's armies,
Defender of Divine glory,
First defender of the Kingship of Christ,
Strength of God,
Invincible Prince and warrior,
Angel of Peace,
Guide of Christ,
Guardian of the Catholic Faith,
Champion of God's people,
Guardian Angel of the Eucharist,
Defender of the Church,
Protector of the Sovereign Pontiff,
Angel of Catholic action,
Powerful intercessor of Christians,
Bravest defender of those who hope in God,Guardian of our souls and bodies,
Healer of the sick,
Help of those in their agony,
Consoler of the Souls in Purgatory,
God's messenger for the souls of the just,
Terror of the evil spirits,
Victorious in battle against evil,
Guardian and Patron of the universal Church,
spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us.
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Relying, O Lord, upon the intercession of Thy blessed Archangel Michael, we humbly beg of Thee, that the Sacrament of the Eucharist which we have received may make our souls holy and pleasing to Thee. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Smoke in This Life and Not the Next
Theme: Bottom Shelf Purgation
Cigar: A cheap, uneven bundle stick—harsh draw, stubborn burn
Drink: Well bourbon poured from the rail—no nuance, just heat and correction
Virtue: Humility through Menial Repetition
Reflection:
Paschasius is the perfect patron of the bottom shelf. Not because he lacked sanctity—St. Gregory is explicit that he was eminent in charity and forgetful of self—but because his purification required something brutally simple: menial labor repeated without complaint. No flames, no visions, no dramatic punishments. Just the baths of St. Angelo and the lowliest tasks, carried out until the soul’s crooked discernment was straightened.
This is the purgation of the bottom shelf:
- not exquisite suffering,
- not refined spiritual correction,
- but the slow sanding-down of pride through ordinary work.
The cheap cigar and the well bourbon match the lesson. They’re not meant to impress. They’re meant to remind. The bottom shelf is where you go when you’ve chosen the wrong party—not out of malice, but out of stubbornness, misplaced loyalty, or the refusal to read the room of Providence. Paschasius wasn’t wicked; he was wrong. And wrongness, when held tightly, must be worked out through humble repetition.
So the smoke is rough. The drink is blunt. The lesson is clear:
God purifies many souls not with fire, but with chores.
And like Paschasius told Germain, the sign of completion is simple:
when the work no longer needs to be done, the worker disappears.
MAY 9 Saturday of the Fifth Week of Easter
Train Day
1 Samuel, Chapter 23, Verse 1-4
David was informed that the Philistines were attacking
Keilah and plundering the threshing floors. So he consulted the LORD, asking,
“Shall I go and attack these Philistines?” The LORD answered, Go, attack them,
and free Keilah. But David’s men said to him: “Even in Judah we have reason to
FEAR. How much more so if we go to Keilah against the forces of the
Philistines!” Again David consulted the LORD, who answered: Go down to Keilah,
for I will deliver the Philistines into your power.
Again, we see David protecting the people; even the
people who are friends of Saul. Saul, who, out of his envy, is seeking David
and his follower’s deaths. David’s faith makes his actions beyond those of
rational fairness; and David’s action show the very mercy of God.
Copilot’s
Take
David’s men
look at Keilah and see only danger. They see Philistine forces, political
instability, and the very real possibility that Saul—who already wants them
dead—will use this moment to crush them. Their fear is not irrational; it is
simply human. Yet Scripture shows that fear, when left unexamined, becomes a
spiritual force that distorts judgment. The Catechism warns that fear becomes
morally dangerous when it causes us to shrink from the good we are called to
do, because fortitude requires “firmness in difficulties and constancy in the
pursuit of the good” (CCC 1808). David’s men calculate the risk. David consults
the Lord.
David’s
double consultation is not hesitation but obedience. He refuses to act from
impulse, bravado, or panic. He wants to move only with God’s clarity. And when
the Lord confirms the command, David steps forward into danger not because he
is fearless, but because he is faithful. This is the pattern of every righteous
leader in Scripture: they do not deny the threat, but they refuse to let the
threat define their actions. Their courage is not self-generated; it is
received.
What makes David’s decision even more striking is that Keilah is a Judean town loyal to Saul. These are the very people whose king is hunting David like an animal. Yet David protects them anyway.
His mercy is not political strategy; it is a revelation of God’s own heart. The Catechism insists that every person—even an adversary—possesses inviolable dignity (CCC 1930–1931). David lives this truth before it is ever written. He refuses to let Saul’s hatred shape his own soul.
This is
where the passage touches modern life. You noted that the rhetoric of some
political actors today “tastes like” the same spirit that animated Saul—leaders
who speak as though their opponents must be destroyed, not debated. That
instinct is spiritually perceptive. Across history, whenever fear becomes a
political tool, the pattern repeats: dehumanize the opponent, inflame the
crowd, justify extreme measures, and claim righteousness while acting unjustly.
This is not tied to any one party or nation. It is simply how evil behaves when
it gains momentum.
The Church
warns against this dynamic. CCC 2303 teaches that hatred, the desire for
another’s harm, and the rhetoric that stokes such passions violate the Fifth
Commandment. When leaders—religious, political, or cultural—speak in ways that
imply opponents are existential threats who must be eliminated, they are
walking Saul’s path. And when ordinary people absorb that rhetoric, fear
becomes the lens through which they interpret the world. Fear becomes
contagious. Fear becomes justification. Fear becomes a moral fog.
David shows
the antidote. He acts from obedience, not fear. He protects even those who
would not protect him. He refuses to mirror the violence aimed at him. He
confronts evil without becoming evil. In a world where many voices urge us to
destroy our adversaries, David reminds us that the righteous fight evil, not
people; confront lies, not souls; defend the innocent, not their own egos. His
question remains the only question that gives clarity: “Lord, shall I go?”
And the
Lord’s answer remains the only answer that gives courage: “Go. I will deliver.”
Train Day[1]
They cross thousands of
miles across the countryside all over the world, transporting goods and
passengers to places far-flung, and bringing back the same to their point of
origin. Two gleaming lines of silver lay their path, as they move through
cities and forests, mountains and plains to bring everything to those who need
it, whether it’s
cargo or people. Of course, we’re
talking about trains, those powerful machines that inspired so much of history
and have done amazing things for economies and industry all over the world.
Train Day commemorates these wonderful machines and the role they play in our
lives.
History of Train Day
The history of Train Day
is the history of trains, and that history goes back farther than you might
suspect. Railroads were actually a progression from wagonways, which were
essentially railroads powered by horse, and have a history going back over 2000
years. The reason wagonways (and of course railways) came into existence was
one of simple practicality, you could transport larger loads over a greater
distance with prepared paths! The first ‘ways’ weren’t even created with metal rails,
they were instead created with wooden rails, and in the distance, path even
cut-stone tracks. By being carefully prepared you could increase the amount a
single horse could haul from one ton to nearly 13 tons! That’s a huge improvement in cargo
capacity and a huge boon to those who have to move a lot of it a goodly
distance. Of course, with wooden rails they had to be often replaced and so it
became common practice to cover them with a thin metal plate to help the wood
last. The industrial revolution changed all that, and metal rails are here to
stay! And then in 2008 Amtrak established Train Day to help celebrate the
history of the locomotive.
How to Celebrate Train Day
The best way to celebrate
train day is to go out and take a ride on a train! It doesn’t matter where it’s going, riding a train can be a
fantastic and relaxing experience. Some towns have steam trains that are part
of their history and still in operation, and dinner trains are always a nice
experience. Or, if you’re
planning on taking a trip, rather than taking a car or plane, take a train for
a relaxing ride across the country. Train Day is a great chance to go out and
see the world and experience these amazing vehicles.
Must Take Train Trips[2]top ten count down
1. The Canadian operated by VIA Rail is considered one of the finest
trains in Canada, offering a panoramic window into the vastness of the nation.
Running between Toronto and Vancouver, this 4,466‑km journey unfolds over four
nights and five days, carrying travelers past waterfalls, golden prairie
fields, and the towering Canadian Rockies. With Prestige, Sleeper Plus, and
Economy classes, along with elegant lounges and spacious compartments, the train
provides comfort for every budget.
2. The Rocky Mountaineer, following the historic
Canadian Pacific route, is another Canadian masterpiece of rail travel. Its
journeys through the Canadian Rockies into Western Canada are filled with
unforgettable scenery—from lava cliffs to deep canyons and glacier‑fed rivers.
Wildlife sightings are common, including bighorn sheep and the occasional bear.
The best views are found in the Gold Leaf dome‑car service, where passengers
sit beneath a sweeping glass canopy. More information is available at the
official Rocky Mountaineer site.
3. In the United States, the Durango & Silverton
Narrow Gauge Railroad remains one of the world’s best‑preserved heritage
railways. Operating continuously since 1881, this steam‑driven train runs on a
three‑foot narrow‑gauge track for 45.2 miles between Durango and Silverton in
Colorado. Originally built to transport gold and silver from the San Juan
Mountains, it now offers travelers a historic and scenic ride through rugged
wilderness. Details can be found at the Durango
Train website.
4. The California Zephyr, operated by Amtrak, is one
of the longest and most scenic rail journeys in the United States. Running
between Chicago and the San Francisco Bay Area, it crosses seven states and
passes through the Rockies, the Sierra Nevada, Glenwood Canyon, Winter Park,
and the Moffat Tunnel. Many consider it the most beautiful long‑distance train
ride in North America. Schedules and information are available at the California
Zephyr page.
5. Another American classic is the Coast Starlight,
connecting Los Angeles and Seattle along a route that hugs the Pacific
coastline for long stretches. Passing through Santa Barbara, Sacramento, and
the Bay Area, the train offers views of snow‑capped mountains, lush forests,
and serene ocean vistas. While not the most luxurious train on this list, the
scenery more than compensates. More details are available at the Coast
Starlight page.
6. Arizona’s own Grand Canyon Railway provides a unique and nostalgic journey from Williams to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Featuring vintage 1920s Pullman cars and a 1950s‑era café car, this 130‑mile route offers sweeping views of high desert, pine forest, and the canyon’s iconic cliffs. It remains one of the most memorable ways to approach the Grand Canyon. Information is available at The Train.
7. Farther north, the Denali Star of the Alaska
Railroad carries passengers between Anchorage and Fairbanks along one of the
most dramatic wilderness routes in the world. Double‑deck dome cars offer
unmatched views of Denali, braided rivers, tundra, and abundant wildlife
including moose and grizzly bears. This journey is a highlight of any Alaskan
adventure. Details can be found at the Alaska
Railroad.
8. In Peru, the Hiram Bingham luxury train operated by
Belmond carries travelers from Cusco to Machu Picchu in 1920s‑style elegance.
The journey follows the Urubamba River through high plains and agricultural
terraces before reaching the Inca citadel. At 7,500 feet above sea level,
altitude can be a factor, and oxygen is available onboard. More information is
available at the Hiram
Bingham page.
9. Germany’s Rhine Valley Line, operated by Deutsche
Bahn, offers one of Europe’s most picturesque short rail journeys. Running from
Mainz to Koblenz in under three hours, the route follows the Rhine River past
medieval castles, vineyards, and fortress‑crowned hills. Though only 62 miles
long, it delivers postcard‑worthy scenery at every turn. Schedules can be found
at Deutsche Bahn.
10. Finally, the legendary Venice Simplon‑Orient‑Express,
operated by Belmond, remains the most glamorous train in the world. Running
between Venice, Paris, London, and seasonal European destinations, it features
Art Deco interiors designed by masters such as René Lalique. With gourmet meals
and meticulously restored carriages, it offers a timeless pre‑modern travel
experience through Europe’s most beautiful landscapes. More information is
available at the Venice
Simplon‑Orient‑Express page.
Bible in a
year Day 308 Little
by Little
Fr. Mike highlights how God fights as a heavenly ally with the people of Israel in 2 Maccabees 11, and encourages us to actively fight alongside God in our daily battles. In our reading of Wisdom, Father points out how God corrects us little by little so we can learn to trust him. Today’s readings are 2 Maccabees 11, Wisdom 11-12, and Proverbs 25:8-10.
PRAYERS AND TEACHINGS OF THE CATHOLIC
CHURCH
Prayer before Mass
Lord, Jesus Christ, I approach your banquet table in
fear and trembling, for I am a sinner, and dare not rely on my own worth but
only on your goodness and mercy. I am defiled by many sins in body and soul,
and by my unguarded thoughts and words. Gracious God of majesty and awe, I seek
your protection, I look for your healing, poor troubled sinner that I am, I
appeal to you, the fountain of all mercy. I cannot bear your judgment, but I
trust in your salvation. Lord, I show my wounds to you and uncover my shame
before you. I know my sins are many and great, and they fill me with fear, but
I hope in your mercies, for they cannot be numbered. Lord Jesus Christ, eternal
King, God and man, crucified for mankind, look upon me with mercy and hear my
prayer, for I trust in you. Have mercy on me, full of sorrow and sin, for the
depth of your compassion never ends. Praise to you, saving sacrifice, offered
on the wood of the cross for me and for all mankind. Praise to the noble and
precious blood, flowing from the wounds of my crucified Lord Jesus Christ and
washing away the sins of the whole world. Remember, Lord, your creature, whom
you have redeemed with your blood. I repent my sins, and I long to put right
what I have done. Merciful Father, take away all my offenses and sins; purify
me in body and soul, and make me worthy to taste the holy of holies. May your
body and blood, which I intend to receive, although I am unworthy, be for me
the remission of my sins, the washing away of my guilt, the end of my evil
thoughts, and the rebirth of my better instincts. May it incite me to do the
works pleasing to you and profitable to my health in body and soul, and be a
firm defense against the wiles of my enemies. Amen.
Around the Corner
Blessed
be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits, the Food of our Salvation (Psalm
68:19)
· desert ridge marketplace is pleased to present villa fleur: a lavish pop-up experience specially crafted to celebrate spring.
· Catholic Activity: Religion in the Home for Preschool: May
·
Bucket List trip: Copenhagen
·
Spirit Hour: Moscato Wine
·
Foodie: Chicken
Kiev
Fun
things to do.
Beware
of others’ butts when in the water!
Wine. Dine. Unwind. Retail therapy and aromatherapy are both on the
agenda during this circuit of Greater Phoenix’s plentiful people pleasures.
Day 1: Phoenix spa day
Rejuvenate after your travels with a day at one of Phoenix’s premier
destination spas, such as the Alvadora Spa or the Joya Spa .
Let the elements of the desert heal and rejuvenate with a spa treatment
inspired by the local landscape.
Day 2: Retail therapy
Stroll beneath the palms in a sprawling shopper’s paradise at Biltmore Fashion
Park or Kierland Commons,
and splurge on couture at Scottsdale
Fashion Square.
Take home a thoughtful gift from a local boutique such as MADE Art Boutique, downtown’s Bunky Boutique or one of these other shops selling local goods.
Day 3: Wine tours, scotch tastings, craft beer
Tour and taste your way through Arizona’s wineries on a short-day trip
from Phoenix.
If you’re not a fan of reds and whites, just browse the shelves of Westin
Kierland’s extensive Scotch Library, or hop on a ride with Arizona Brewery
Tours to explore Phoenix's craft beer scene.
The Scotch Library at The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa
Day 4: A day by the pool and fine dining
Don’t leave America’s sunniest metropolis without spending a little time
poolside. From serene settings to wild water parks, we've got a resort pool to
fit your style.
Cap your getaway with fine fare just steps away from your pool chair at
Phoenix resort restaurants such as Prado Restaurant and Mbar at the Omni
Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Montelucia and elements at Sanctuary Camelback
Mountain, A Gurney's Resort & Spa.
Daily Devotions
·
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting: Today's Fast: Purity
·
Litany of the Most Precious
Blood of Jesus
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Make
reparations to the Holy Face
SABOTAGE (1936)
Sylvia Sidney • Oscar Homolka • Desmond Tester
A London‑set thriller where domestic innocence collides with ideological violence. Adapted from Joseph Conrad’s The Secret Agent, the film marks Hitchcock’s first fully mature confrontation with terror hidden inside the ordinary. No glamour. No espionage chic. Just the moral corrosion of a man who brings danger into his own home—and the woman who slowly sees the truth.
1. Production & Historical Setting
Released in 1936 by Gaumont‑British and directed by Alfred Hitchcock, Sabotage stands at the crossroads of:
- Pre‑war anxiety — Europe simmering with political extremism and shadow networks
- Hitchcock’s early psychological realism — domestic spaces as pressure chambers
- Sylvia Sidney’s American emotional clarity — luminous, wounded, morally awake
- Oscar Homolka’s European menace — a villain built on secrecy, cowardice, and ideological rot
The film’s world is tight: a small London cinema, crowded streets, a kitchen table, a bus route. But the moral terrain is vast—trust, betrayal, culpability, and the cost of refusing to confront evil.
The cultural backdrop:
- A continent drifting toward conflict
- Terrorism as bureaucracy rather than spectacle
- Women carrying the emotional weight of men’s compromises
- Ordinary life constantly interrupted by political violence
The film’s power lies in its restraint: a wife, a husband, a boy with a package, and the dread that grows as the clock runs down.
2. Story Summary
Karl Verloc (Oscar Homolka), owner of a small London cinema, is secretly working for a foreign sabotage ring. His wife (Sylvia Sidney) senses something wrong—late nights, evasions, unexplained money, a spiritual heaviness in the home.
A bomb is placed in the hands of her young brother, Stevie (Desmond Tester), who unknowingly carries it across London.
Delays pile up.
Crowds slow him.
The city’s ordinary life becomes a gauntlet.
The bomb explodes.
The boy dies.
The marriage collapses under the weight of truth.
Sidney’s grief becomes moral clarity.
Verloc’s cowardice becomes unmistakable.
Hitchcock refuses melodrama.
He lets the domestic sphere bear the full moral cost.
3. Spiritual & Moral Resonances
A. Evil Hides in the Ordinary
Verloc is not a mastermind—he is a small man doing the bidding of larger forces.
Evil often enters the home through compromise, secrecy, and passivity.
B. Innocence as Collateral
Stevie’s death is Hitchcock’s most ruthless early statement:
the innocent often carry the consequences of another man’s moral weakness.
C. The Awakening of the Righteous
Sylvia Sidney’s character becomes the film’s conscience.
Her grief clarifies what her loyalty had blurred.
D. Cowardice as a Spiritual Disease
Verloc’s sin is not ideology—it is refusal to take responsibility.
His sabotage is simply the outward form of an inward collapse.
E. Justice Without Triumph
There is no heroic ending.
Only the sober recognition that evil must be confronted, not tolerated.
4. Hospitality Pairing — The London Cinema Counter
A cup of strong English tea — the drink of shock, steadiness, and moral awakening
A paper‑wrapped fish‑and‑chips parcel — ordinary London life interrupted
A nip of gin — sharp, medicinal, the taste of bracing truth
A wooden cinema seat — cramped, worn, the setting of Verloc’s double life
A setting for nights when you want to reflect on vigilance, domestic courage, and the cost of ignoring what you already know.
5. Reflection Prompts
- Where am I tolerating a small compromise that could grow into real harm?
- What signs of moral danger have I been slow to acknowledge?
- Who bears the cost when I avoid difficult truths?
- How do I cultivate the courage to confront evil early, before it reaches my home?
- What does justice look like when the damage cannot be undone?
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