Thursday, June 4, 2026-Corpus Christi-Today if you can't make it to Mass or Confession-consider prayer to the sacred shoulder-an hours adoration-and spiritual Mass in honor of Corpus Christi
Corpus Christi, CCC, and Confronting Evil
Corpus Christi is placed on Thursday because it recalls Holy Thursday, the night Christ instituted the Eucharist. Many countries move it to Sunday so the whole Church can participate, but the meaning remains the same: the Eucharist is Christ’s living presence among His people.
The Catechism teaches that the Eucharist is the “source and summit of the Christian life” (CCC 1324) and that Christ’s sacrifice becomes present in every Mass (CCC 1366). Corpus Christi exists to proclaim this truth publicly—especially through Eucharistic processions.
The feast confronts one of the oldest evils: the denial of the Real Presence. The video emphasizes that Christ remains with His people in the tabernacle and in Communion. The Church responds to unbelief not with argument but with adoration—carrying Christ into the streets as a declaration of His kingship.
The CCC says evil is defeated by union with Christ’s sacrifice (CCC 618). Corpus Christi is that union made visible. The Eucharist is Christ’s victory over sin and death placed into our hands. The procession is spiritual warfare: Christ walking through the territory claimed by darkness.
In a culture marked by indifference and forgetfulness of God, Corpus Christi forces the question:
If Christ is truly present, how can we live as if He is not?
The Eucharist demands reverence, conversion, and courage.
Whether Thursday or Sunday, the message is the same: Christ is with us in the battle. His Body strengthens us, His Blood protects us, and His Presence drives back the enemy.
Corpus Christi is the Church’s yearly reminder that the Light still walks among us—and the darkness cannot overcome it.
Prayer Intention
On this June 4, please pray for the soul of Senator John McCain, for Arizona, and for our nation—asking Our Lady of Beauraing to intercede for the conversion of hearts, the protection of families, and the purification of a country increasingly shaped by global forces that often serve confusion rather than truth. May her intercession draw America back to justice, moral clarity, and the peace that comes only from God.
The video explains the material object of devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus—meaning the visible, physical symbols (the Heart itself, the flames, the wound, the crown of thorns) that express Christ’s burning love, His suffering, and His desire for the salvation of souls. Fr. Bing teaches that these symbols are not decorations but theological realities meant to draw the faithful into deeper love, reparation, and union with the Heart of Christ.
Smoke in this Life not the Next
Corpus Christi — Actual Feast
Virtue: Communion & Radiance
Cigar: Candela
Bourbon: Angel’s Envy
Line: Where does heaven meet my hunger.
A soul once appeared each November, kneeling before the tabernacle with a reverence that outshone the living. She could not yet see God face‑to‑face, so she clung to Him under the Host. On Corpus Christi, that image returns: even the purified burn for the Presence we take for granted. Tonight’s smoke and pour are simple—just a reminder that heaven bends low, and only hunger sees it.
Thursday is Confession Day — Today I lay down the weight so the Eucharist can lift me.
JUNE 4 Thursday- Traditional Corpus
Christi
Cognac Day
1 Kings, Chapter 17, Verse 13
Elijah said to her, “Do not be AFRAID. Go and do as you have said. But
first make me a little cake and bring it to me. Afterwards you can prepare
something for yourself and your son.
Anyone
can be for the Lord during the good times; but can you still have a heart of
faith and love during the worst of times. Here Elijah asked the widow of
Zarephath not to be afraid and to make a cake for him from the last of her food
during the worst famine in her lifetime. What she did was just that and by her
faith Elijah was able to multiply the oil and flour and later even raise her
son back to life. The lesson here is sin brings suffering and fidelity brings
nourishment. The power of Yahweh to take away life and to restore it is here
demonstrated, as is Elijah’s confidence in the Lord.[1]
The Widow’s Generosity[2]
The widow of Zarephath was challenged by the prophet Elijah to share what little she had, despite her desperate circumstances. Because of this poor woman’s generosity and goodness, and Elijah’s faithfulness, God strengthened the prophet’s faith and renewed his capacity for ministry. The Lord used the prophet to bring consolation and peace of mind and heart to the widow and her son. Authentic ministry is always mutual: we set out to help others and we end up being helped and blessed by the very people we set out to help! The Lord will provide for us, beyond outward appearances of weakness, failure, fatigue, trepidation, and fear. God always does far more than we can ever ask for or imagine! This striking Old Testament story forces us to ask some serious questions of our own lives.
How have I responded to the needs of those around us when we've felt that we’ve got little or nothing to give?
Do we worry that there will not be enough for us if we give away our money or our time?
Elijah exhorted the widow with the words, "Do not be afraid." This same admonition is repeated in the Gospels and was also the refrain of St. John Paul II's long, fruitful, prophetic Petrine ministry: "Be not afraid!"
How does fear affect our lives and keep us from obeying the spirit of the Lord?
Do we cling to those things that cannot help us, forgetting to trust in the goodness of God?
The widow of Zarephath was generous to Elijah. She gave to the limit of her resources, and God rewarded both the widow and her son.
Do we have that same radical faith and trust?
Do we behave as if we are owners of our talents and resources or simply as if we are God's steward?
This reading causes us to make some firm resolves with our own lives. Let me suggest a few concrete actions based on this story from the First Book of Kings. It is important to consider our own willingness to be generous with both material goods and with our very being. Perhaps this week we can ask God for the grace to respond charitably to those who ask of us, whether it is a worthwhile charity or the neighbor, friend or colleague who simply needs to talk and to be heard. The well-to-do who put money in the treasury were never condemned by Jesus; he simply pointed out the nature of their contribution. They gave from their surplus, and thus it did not "cost" them as much to give.
Do we have a surplus from which to contribute?
If so, do we use this money in the best way possible?
How do we consider our charitable giving?
Are we concerned with the poor, the sick, the homeless, refugees and those on the peripheries of society?
Do we use our wealth to help create a culture of life?
Or are we more interested in building up our personal security?
Perhaps we can pray this week for wisdom and a spirit of generosity so that we will use our money to help further the kingdom of God.
The Mighty Men of David[3]
Then the three mighty men broke through the camp of the
Philistines and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate
and carried it to David. But he would not drink of it. He poured it out to the
LORD. – 2 Samuel 23:16
The Old Testament contains
some of the most remarkable stories. Many of these tales revolve around a young
shepherd boy named David who grew up to become the great King of Israel. His
ascension to the throne was not without difficulties. Shortly after he was
anointed by the prophet Samuel, David fell out of favor with the establishment
and had to flee for his life. He hid out in the wilderness outside of Jerusalem
with a group of his loyal followers. The Bible calls this group “David’s mighty
warriors.” C. David Jones, in his book David’s Mighty Men,
describes David’s entourage as a magnificent, special elite force of fearless
warriors. They were extraordinarily strong, courageous, unflinchingly brave,
and completely committed to David. They were thirty-seven of the most fierce
and dedicated warriors that ever lived. Jones writes,
They were a combination of
combat commandos, stealth rangers, navy seals, green beret, special ops, and
Delta forces who had acquired the skills of battle demanded to survive and
conquer in hand-to-hand warfare. They engaged in clandestine operations and
were often outnumbered by staggering odds pitted against them, yet they stood
their ground. Time after time on fields of battle they were the last men
standing.
One story in 2 Samuel
recounts a time when David’s mighty men overheard King David say, “Oh that
someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem which is by the
gate!” (2 Samuel 23:15). At this point in time, Israel’s hated enemies, the Philistines,
had taken control of the city of Bethlehem. It was heavily guarded. The three
mighty men, on their own, went down and fought their way through the lines of
the Philistines. They made their way to the well in Bethlehem, where they drew
water to take back to the young King. They eluded the pursuing Philistines,
returned to their hideout, and presented the water to David. To their surprise,
David would not drink the water they had risked their lives to retrieve. He
poured it on the ground instead. David was not rejecting the sacrifice of the
men who had gotten water for him. Rather, he was pronouncing their sacrifice
too holy for him to selfishly consume. What an inspiring picture of the way
Christians are called to live their lives. The Apostle Paul tells us in 2
Corinthians 5:15 that because Christ died for us, “…those who live might no
longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.”
This Old Testament story vibrantly illustrates the fact that we should not
selfishly live our lives for ourselves. David poured the water out on the
ground as a sacrifice to the Lord. Likewise, we are to take the priceless gifts
that God has given us and pour them out as a sacrifice in service to Him and to
our fellow man. This is what the Bible calls stewardship.
Stewardship is one of the
most important and practical themes laid out in the Bible, and yet is often
overlooked or minimized by Christians today. The Bible says a great deal about
stewardship because this concept touches every area of our lives.
The Disciple’s Study Bible defines stewardship as, a way of living that involves one’s daily activities, values and goals for life, and the use of all possessions. It begins with God and His plans for creation and purposes for humankind. The steward is God’s responsible representative and manager of all creation.
Copilot’s
Take
The command
Elijah gives the widow—“Do not be afraid”—is the first blow struck against the
darkness. Fear is always the opening the enemy seeks, the crack in the armor
where doubt, scarcity, and self‑protection slip in. Yet the widow, standing at
the edge of starvation, obeys. Her obedience in fear becomes the doorway for
God’s abundance. This is the Catechism’s teaching on fortitude lived in flesh
and blood: the courage to remain firm in difficulty and constant in the pursuit
of the good. Evil is confronted not by bravado but by obedience under pressure.
The widow’s
temptation is the same as ours: to believe there will not be enough. Scarcity
thinking is the soil in which idolatry grows. When we cling to our resources,
our time, our security, or our reputation as if they belong to us, we behave as
owners rather than stewards. The Catechism calls this idolatry—trusting
something more than God. The widow breaks idolatry by giving the little she
has, and her surrender becomes the seed of God’s multiplication. Fidelity
becomes nourishment; fear becomes the place where grace enters.
David’s
mighty men reveal the same pattern in a different key. They risk their lives to
bring their king a drink of water, and David refuses to consume it because it
is too holy. Their sacrifice is not wasted—it is consecrated. This is the heart
of biblical stewardship: what costs us becomes sacred; what we hoard becomes
corrupted. Evil wants men who cling. God wants men who pour out. The mighty men
show that courage, loyalty, and sacrifice are not merely battlefield
virtues—they are spiritual weapons.
The
Catechism teaches that every Christian participates in Christ’s sacrifice by
uniting his daily duties, sufferings, and offerings to the Cross. Elijah, the
widow, David, and the mighty men all reveal the same truth: holiness is not
passive. Holiness is costly. Holiness is confrontational—not in the worldly
sense, but in the spiritual sense. It confronts fear with obedience, scarcity
with generosity, despair with hope, and evil with sacrificial love. This is the
warfare of the saints, the quiet heroism of those who refuse to bend to the
darkness.
The real
battlefield is not “out there.” It is the heart. The text forces a man to ask:
What am I afraid to give? Where do I cling instead of trust? What part of my
life is God asking me to pour out? Where is my stewardship too safe, too
calculated, too self‑protective? The Catechism says every Christian is enlisted
in a real conflict, and the enemy is subtle. He whispers scarcity, fear, and
self‑preservation. God whispers trust, courage, and surrender.
The widow’s
cooking, the mighty men’s courage, David’s refusal to consume what was
holy—these are not religious gestures. They are acts of spiritual warfare. Evil
is not defeated by dramatic gestures but by ordinary fidelity under pressure.
The pattern is always the same: hear the command, act before you feel secure,
give what costs you, consecrate the sacrifice, stand firm in your duties, and
let God multiply what you surrendered. This is how a man becomes dangerous to
the darkness.
In the end, both stories teach the same truth: God does not ask for what we do not have—He asks for what we are afraid to give. And when we give it, He turns it into something holy.
Corpus Christi-Thursdays
are Special[4]
Traditional Feast
of Corpus Christi
The
Feast of Corpus Christi (Ecclesiastical Latin: Dies Sanctissimi Corporis et
Sanguinis Domini Iesu Christi, lit. 'Day of the Most Holy Body and Blood of
Jesus Christ the Lord'), also known as the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and
Blood of Christ, is a Roman Catholic, Anglican, and Western Orthodox liturgical
solemnity celebrating the Real Presence of the Body and Blood, Soul and
Divinity of Jesus Christ in the elements of the Eucharist. Two months earlier,
the institution of the Eucharist at the Last Supper is observed on Maundy
Thursday in a sombre atmosphere leading to Good Friday. The liturgy on that day
also commemorates Christ's washing of the disciples' feet, the institution of
the priesthood and the agony in the Garden of Gethsemane.
The
feast of Corpus Christi was proposed by Saint Thomas Aquinas, Doctor of the
Church, to Pope Urban IV, in order to create a feast focused solely on the Holy
Eucharist, emphasizing the joy of the Eucharist being the Body and Blood, Soul
and Divinity of Jesus Christ. Having recognized the authenticity of the
Eucharistic Miracle of Bolsena on input of Aquinas, in 1264, the
pontiff, then living in Orvieto, established the feast of Corpus Christi as a
Solemnity and extended it to the whole Roman Catholic Church.
The
feast is liturgically celebrated on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday or,
"where the Solemnity of The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ is not a
holy day of obligation, it is assigned to the Sunday after the Most Holy
Trinity as its proper day".
At
the end of Holy Mass, there is often a procession of the Blessed Sacrament,
generally displayed in a monstrance. The procession is followed by Benediction
of the Blessed Sacrament. A notable Eucharistic procession is that presided
over by the Pope each year in Rome, where it begins at the Archbasilica of St.
John Lateran and passes to the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, where it concludes
with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.
The celebration of the feast was suppressed in
Protestant churches during the Reformation for theological reasons: outside
Lutheranism, which maintained the confession of the Real Presence, many
Protestants denied the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist other than as a
merely symbolic or spiritual presence. Today, most Protestant denominations do
not recognize the feast day. The Church of England abolished it in 1548 as the
English Reformation progressed, but later reintroduced it. Most Anglican churches
now observe Corpus Christi, sometimes under the name "Thanksgiving for
Holy Communion".
A Eucharistic miracle inspired the Feast of Corpus Christi[5]
Q: I recently learned that the feast of Corpus Christi was inspired by a
Eucharistic miracle. Can you please give more details about this? — A reader in
Springfield
A:
In the year 1263, a German priest, Peter of Prague, stopped at the town of
Bolsena, north of Rome, while he was on a pilgrimage to Rome. Records indicate
that Peter was a good, pious priest who strived for holiness. He was troubled
by the apathy of many of the faithful; clerical immorality and laxity; and a
lack of reverence at Mass. Worse, he was afflicted with doubt about the holy
Eucharist. Like those in the Gospel, he asked himself,
“How could this be?
How can Jesus share with us His Body and Blood?”
He agonized over whether at the words of
consecration the bread and wine became the Body and Blood of Our Savior and
whether Christ actually was present in the consecrated host. He knew well that
the church believed and taught that the bread and wine were transformed into
the Body and Blood of Our Lord at the consecration during the holy sacrifice of
the Mass. Moreover, the Fourth Lateran Council in 1215 had solemnly used the
word “transubstantiation.” Yet, he had trouble believing and prayed that the Lord
would increase his faith.
Father
Peter placed the host in the corporal and then wrapped both in another linen.
Arriving at Orvieto, Peter told the Holy Father what had happened. Urban IV
then ordered an investigation. After all of the facts had been ascertained, the
Holy Father declared a miracle had occurred. He ordered the relics to be
brought to the Cathedral of Orvieto, which they were with a procession of great
pomp and ceremony. The pope met the procession, and the relics were placed in
the cathedral, where they are still be venerated today.
One
year later, in1264, Pope Urban IV instituted the feast of Corpus Christi, a
special feast day to recognize and to promote the great gift of the Blessed
Sacrament. He commissioned St. Thomas Aquinas to compose a Mass and an office
for the Liturgy of the Hours honoring the holy Eucharist. St. Thomas Aquinas
also composed the beautiful Eucharistic hymns “Panis Angelicus,” “Pange
Lingua,” “O Salutaris Hostia” and “Tantum Ergo.”
Today,
at the Church of St. Christina in Bolsena, one finds the altar where the
miracle took place, and the blood-stained stones of the miracle are preserved.
The Cathedral of Orvieto possesses the blood-stained corporal as well as
fragments of the miraculous host.
In 1964, to commemorate the 700th anniversary of the institution of the feast of Corpus Christi, Pope Paul VI celebrated the holy sacrifice of the Mass at the altar where the holy corporal is kept in the Cathedral of Orvieto. Then in 1976, Pope Paul VI visited Bolsena and spoke from there via television to the 41st International Eucharistic Congress meeting in Philadelphia, whose theme was “Jesus the Bread of Life.” In his address, the Holy Father said the holy Eucharist is “a mystery, great and inexhaustible.” How true, indeed.
Corpus Christi[6]
WHY is this
day called Corpus Christi?
Because
on this day the Catholic Church solemnly celebrates the institution of the Holy
Sacrament of the Altar. The name, which is Latin, signifies the body of Christ.
Why is this
feast not celebrated on Maundy Thursday?
Because
on Maundy Thursday, the day of the institution of this sacrament, the Church is
occupied with the passion and death of Christ, and has no thought of joy, but
gives herself up to grief.
By whom was
this feast established?
It
was instituted by Pope Urban IV. Persuaded by a devout nun of Liege, who
believed herself to be divinely encouraged to introduce this feast, Robert,
Bishop of Liege, determined, in the year 1247 to celebrate this feast in his
diocese. This intention he was prevented from carrying out by death. In the
year 1264 Pope Urban IV commanded this feast to be solemnly celebrated
throughout the whole Church. Clement V confirms the order, at the Council of
Vienne, 1311, and fixed the feast on the first Thursday after Trinity Sunday.
For what
purpose was this feast instituted, and why are processions so solemnly held on
this day?
1.
To declare, openly, to the faithful the real and substantial presence of Jesus
in the Holy Sacrament of the Altar.
2.
In order to manifest, in the sight of heaven and earth, honor and adoration for
Him before Whom every knee shall bow.
3.
To give public thanks for the institution of this holy sacrament, and for all
the graces thereby conferred upon the faithful.
4.
To repair, in some measure, by solemn adoration, the wrongs done to Christ, in
this sacrament.
5.
To bring down God’s blessing upon the land and upon the people.
6.
To show that Jesus, as true God, dwells not only in temples built by hands, but
that He has heaven for His throne, the earth for His foot stool, and the whole
world for His temple.
The Church sings at the Introit of the Mass: He fed them with the fat of wheat, alleluia; and filled them with honey out of the rock, alleluia, alleluia. Rejoice to God our helper, sing aloud to the God of Jacob” (Ps. Ixxx.).
Prayer.
O God, Who in this wonderful sacrament hast left us a
memorial of Thy passion, grant us, we beseech Thee, so to reverence the sacred
mysteries of Thy body and blood, that we may ever perceive within us the fruit
of Thy redemption. Amen.
EPISTLE, i. COR. xi. 23-29.
Brethren: For I have received of the Lord
that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus, the same night in
which He was betrayed, took bread, and giving thanks, broke and said: Take ye
and eat: This is My body, which shall be delivered for you: this do for the
commemoration of Me. In like manner also the chalice, after He had supped,
saying: This chalice is the New Testament in My blood, this do ye as often as
you shall drink, for the commemoration of Me. For as often as you shall eat
this bread, and drink the chalice, you shall show the death of the Lord until
He come: therefore, whosoever shall eat this bread, or drink the chalice of the
Lord unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and of the blood of the Lord. But
let a man prove himself: and so, let him eat of that bread and drink of the
chalice. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh
judgment to himself: not discerning the body of the Lord.
GOSPEL. John vi. 56-59.
At
that time Jesus said to the multitudes of the Jews: My flesh is meat indeed and
My blood is drink; indeed, he that eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood,
abideth in Me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent Me, and I live by
the Father so he that eateth Me, the same also shall live by Me. This is the
bread that came down from heaven. Not as your fathers did eat manna and are
dead. He that eateth this bread shall live forever.
Why did Jesus say, this is the
bread that came down from heaven?
He wished thereby to teach the Jews that the bread
which He would give them, like the manna, came down from heaven, and was,
indeed, the only true bread from heaven. The manna was but a type and could
only prolong the life of the body. The type was now to be fulfilled; the bread
that He was about to give them would impart to them eternal life, and this
bread would be His flesh, Himself, Who truly came from heaven, to redeem
mankind, and to bring them to life everlasting. Jesus calls His flesh bread,
partly on account of its likeness to the manna, partly on account of its
effect; for as bread nourishes the body, and sustains the earthly life, so the
body of Christ, in the Holy Sacrament, nourishes the soul, and imparts to it,
continually, a new, divine, and everlasting life.
What is the Holy Sacrament of the
Altar?
It is that sacrament in which, after the words of its institution have been spoken by the priest, Jesus Christ is present, whole and entire, in His Godhead and in His manhood, under the appearance of bread and wine.
When and how did Jesus institute
this sacrament?
At the Last Supper, In the night, before He was
betrayed, He took bread, and, giving thanks, broke it, and gave it to His
disciples saying, Take and eat, for this is My body which will be given for
you. In the same manner, He took the chalice and said, Take and drink, for this
chalice is the new covenant in My blood. Do this as often as you drink from it
in commemoration of Me.
What did Jesus affect by these
words?
He changed bread and wine into His most precious body
and blood.
Has He given to others the power to
do the same?
Yes, He gave this power to His apostles and their
successors, the bishops and priests, in these words: Do this in commemoration
of Me.
What takes place at the words of
consecration?
Bread and wine are changed into the body and blood of
Jesus Christ, and only the outward appearances of bread and wine remain.
How is Jesus present in the Most
Holy Sacrament?
He is present, truly, really, and substantially, in
His divinity and humanity, in flesh and blood, in body and soul, under the
appearances of bread and wine.
Why do we believe this?
1. Because
the words of Jesus do not reasonably admit of any other meaning: since by them
we see
(a)
that Jesus gave His disciples a certain nourishment which they were to eat.
(b)
that this nourishment was bread and wine to all appearances, but Jesus called
the bread His body, which was afterwards to be sacrificed for us, and the wine
His blood, which was to be shed for us: this food consequently was not bread
and wine, but, under the appearance of bread and wine, was indeed His body and
blood; since what He gave for our redemption was not bread and wine, but His
true body and His true blood;
(c)
that as the body and blood of Jesus were inseparable from His soul and
divinity, He gave Himself up for our nourishment, whole and undivided, as He
hung, bled, and died upon the cross.
(d) that He commanded what He had done to be continued until He should come again (1 Cor. xi. 26), that is, until the end of the world; and that He,
(e)
on account of this being His testament, and the New Law, was not at liberty to
speak figuratively, but plainly and distinctly.
2. Because
the apostles preached this very doctrine.
3. Because
the Catholic Church, the pillar and foundation of truth, has thus constantly
taught, from the apostle’s times down to the present day, as the oldest
Councils and the Holy Fathers unanimously testify
Plenary Indulgences for the Feast
of Corpus Christi [The Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ]
Apostolic
Exhortation[7]
Veneremur Cernui
– Down in Adoration Falling
of
The Most Reverend Thomas J. Olmsted, Bishop of Phoenix,
to Priests, Deacons, Religious and the Lay Faithful of the Diocese of Phoenix
on the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist
My beloved Brothers and
Sisters in Christ,
Part III
Loving and Adoring the Eucharistic Lord
I.
Make every Sunday the “Day of the Lord.”
73.
Brothers and sisters in Christ, examine your experience of Sunday.
Have
you allowed Sunday to be like the other days of the week? Is the whole day set
aside for your rejuvenation in God, or have you reduced the holiness of the day
to an hour or two?
Some persons are indeed required to work on Sunday, which of
course is permitted. But for so many of us, Sunday could be more effectively
“kept holy” with even minimal preparation and foresight.
74. The Saints always love Sunday and keep it holy. As a young girl, Saint Maria Goretti walked fifteen miles back and forth to Sunday Mass. Saint Lawrence of Brindisi once walked forty miles for Mass. In parts of Africa today, for example, some of our Catholic brothers and sisters walk for long hours to attend Mass. Families, individuals, and small communities who attempt to be good stewards of the Lord’s Day quickly discover a treasure which changes their whole experience of the week. Sunday is no longer just another day. It becomes the day of the Eucharist. It is the day of encountering the joy of the Risen Lord, who strengthens, nourishes, and sends them, together, on mission the rest of the week.
75.
Think of the Sunday Eucharist as the sun which emits rays of warmth and light.
If
no rays shined forth, what good would the sun be for life on the earth?
Similarly, if no good effects from Mass are perceptible on
Sunday, our eyes become blind to the goodness and power of the Eucharist. I
invite you: be bold in allowing rays of freedom, joy, and life to burst forth
from Mass into the rest of your Sunday!
How
might the Lord desire that you allow these rays to shine forth precisely on
Sunday?
Here are some simple ideas for you to consider:
Choose a set time when you will go to
Mass on Sunday and stick to it.
Find ways to make the experience of
Sunday Mass truly joyful and festive, e.g., wear your best clothes, have a
wonderful meal with loved ones afterward, have great music playing at home
throughout day, telephone loved ones, enjoy a clean and renewed home – which
means finishing domestic duties and chores on Saturday, spend time enjoying the
Bible, savor something truly beautiful in nature or art, and perform simple
works of charity.
Try to live the Lord’s Day from sunset on
Saturday through Sunday evening.
Turn off your phone for extended periods
of Sunday, if not the whole day.
If outside obligations threaten your
Sunday, consider talking with your boss, family, or friends to find ways to
move those commitments elsewhere.
To
be continued…
Which are the fruits of the Holy Ghost? They are the twelve following:
1. Charity.
2.
Joy.
3. Peace.
4. Patience.
5. Benignity.
6. Goodness.
7. Longsuffering.
8. Mildness.
9. Faith.
10. Modesty.
11.
Continency.
12.
Chastity.
These fruits
should be visible in the Christian, for thereby men shall know that the Holy
Ghost dwells in him, as the tree is known by its fruit.
Notice I have placed
the Fruits of the Holy Spirit in stairstep fashion so we may reflect on
them seeing that by concentrating on each step of our growth in the spirit we
may progress closer and closer to our heavenly Father. Today we will be
focusing on the eleventh step which is Joy.
Bible in a
year Day 334 The
Meaning of Fasting
Fr. Mike highlights the
importance of prayer and fasting, instructing us how to fast and empty
ourselves to feel our spiritual need for Christ. He also discusses faithfulness
in vocations and living out the life God has called you to. Today’s readings are
from Acts 13, 1 Corinthians 7-8, and Proverbs 28:4-6.
Cognac
Day[8]
There are many forms of
distilled alcohol that carry a distinct nobility to them, a bit of culture and
of social grandeur that just can’t
be claimed by other alcohols. When you think of beer, the concepts that arrive
in your mind are often cheap bars and backyard BBQ’s, with wine the themes are the
same but generally of a higher social class. Mention Bourbon, Scotch, and
Cognac, however, and suddenly the rich red of mahogany and distinguished
gentlemen in high-class studies and dens come to mind. Cognac Day is dedicated
to one of these rich beverages, and perhaps one of the most distinguished.
History of Cognac Day
To begin with, let’s talk about what Cognac actually is. Cognac, in a way, is what happens when wine grows up and develops character, though we may be biased. Cognac begins with a white wine produced in one of six designated growing regions, and it’s worth noting that if it wasn’t produced from a white wine grown in those regions, it’s not considered a real Cognac. The white wine from which it starts is considered by most connoisseurs to be entirely undrinkable. There’s a further distinction in which a Cognac
must be produced from 90% Ugni Blanc, a form of white wine grape, to have a specific designation. It all starts with the grapes being pressed and left to ferment for three weeks in the wild yeasts that grow naturally in those regions without the addition of sugar or sulfur. This wine is then distilled in alembic stills and placed into Limousin oak casks for two years where it goes from being nearly 70% alcohol to 40% alcohol. There are multiple grades of Cognac, and exploring them can be a great way to spend Cognac Day.
How to celebrate Cognac Day
Ahhh, this is certainly
one of the grandest celebrations. Cognac Day can be celebrated by taking a trip
to your local liquor store and selecting a few varieties to try out. Get
together a few friends and you can have a positively thrilling taste test with
dozens of varieties to choose from. Cognac is far and away an improvement over
the simply fermented grape, distilled and cultivated down to its ultimate final
form. While you’re
sampling this drink, you should look into the various forms of glassware that are
specially designed for serving Cognac. Fill a glass, take a sip, and savor the
luxuriousness that is Cognac, you won’t
regret it!
Around
the Corner
When
they had departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream
and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt,*
and stay there until I tell you. Herod is going to search for the child to
destroy him.”.
(Matthew 2:10-13)
Spirit:
German Beer orAsbach
do
a personal eucharistic stations of the cross.
Bucket List:
Military Hop-Rota,
Spain
Thursday
Feast
Thursday
is the day of the week that our Lord gave himself up for consumption. Thursday
commemorates the last supper. Some theologians believe after Sunday Thursday is
the holiest day of the week. We should then try to make this day special by
making a visit to the blessed sacrament chapel, Mass or even stopping by the
grave of a loved one. Why not plan to count the blessing of the week and thank
our Lord. Plan a special meal. Be at Peace. According to Mary Agreda[9] in
her visions it was on a Thursday at six o'clock in the evening and at the
approach of night that the Angel Gabriel approached and announced her as Mother
of God and she gave her fiat.
Menu for Feast of St. Boniface: German
Meat Balls with Sour Cream Gravy
Best Places to Visit in June
See
London Bridge in honor of the American and British fallen during D-Day June 6th.
The bridge was relocated in 1968 from London to Lake Havasu,
Arizona. On day 2 then go to Santa Barbara, California for the Beach and fun.
Santa
Barbara, California
Nestled
in the foothills of the Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, Santa
Barbara has a Mediterranean-like climate throughout the year, and I love its
dreamy, elegant vibe!
With
about 300 days of sunshine, remarkably consistent weather, and warm currents,
Santa Barbara offers a relaxing day at the beach with pristine Pacific Ocean
waters and excellent dining and shopping.
June
temperatures average around 22 degrees, and if you visit towards the beginning
of this month, you’ll see fewer crowds alongside the stable weather conditions.
Visitor’s Center
Address: State Street Visitors Center 120 State Street, Santa Barbara,
CA 93101
Average temperature –
71.6 degrees
My
favorite highlights…
Exploring the gorgeous
shoreline with a sunset kayak tour.
Checking out the State
Street Promenade Market filled with artisan stalls, performers, and non-profit
organizations.
Going on the fabulous
Santa Ynez Wine Tour.
Dining on tasty veggie
tacos at La Super-Rica.
Daily
Devotions
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting:
Tuesday: Litany of St. Michael the Archangel
Litany of the Most Precious
Blood of Jesus
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
Rosary
[1]The Collegeville Bible Commentary, 1986.
[4]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feast_of_Corpus_Christi#:~:text=The%20celebration%20of%20the%20feast%20was%20suppressed%20in,than%20as%20a%20merely%20symbolic%20or%20spiritual%20presence.
[5]https://catholicstraightanswers.com/what-eucharistic-miracle-inspired-the-feast-of-corpus-christi/
[6] Goffine’s Devout Instructions, 1896
[8] https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/cognac-day/
[9] Venerable Mary of Agreda. The Mystical City of God:
Complete Edition Containing all Four Volumes with Illustrations (p. 770).
Veritatis Splendor Publications. Kindle Edition
TOPPER RETURNS (1941)
1. Production & Historical Setting
A Wartime Audience Hungry for Escape
Joan Blondell: The Irrepressible Truth‑Teller
Roland Young: The Reluctant Hero
Carole Landis: The Glamour with a Shadow
2. Story Summary
A Murder, a Ghost, and a Gentleman in Over His Head
A House Where Every Door Leads to a Lie
A Ghost Who Sees What the Living Refuse to Admit
Justice Arrives Through the Unlikely
3. Spiritual & Moral Resonances
A. The Dead See Clearly What the Living Avoid
Gail’s ghost is a reminder thattruth does not die with the body.It becomes sharper.B. Cowardice Is a Habit — So Is Courage
Topper’s transformation is small but real:a man who stops running from responsibility.C. Hidden Sin Always Finds a Corridor to the Light
The mansion’s secret passagesmirror the hidden motives of the heart.Both eventually open.D. Justice Often Arrives Through the Unlikely Messenger
A ghost becomes the moral compass.A timid man becomes the instrument of truth.E. Humor Can Be a Vehicle for Revelation
The film uses laughterto smuggle in clarity.
4. Hospitality Pairing — A Table of Midnight Mischief
5. Reflection Prompts
- Where am I avoiding a truth that keeps knocking on my door.
- What hidden corridors in my life need light.
- Who has been a “ghost” to me — a voice I ignored until it returned with clarity.
- Where is courage asking me to step forward, even reluctantly.
- What justice am I being asked to assist, even if I feel unqualified.
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