Monday, June 29, 2026
🔸Monday Night at the Movies-June 2026 – Prophets & Pilgrims
Prophecy in June is a pilgrimage through the Church’s feasts. These films follow the soul from guilt to purification, from conscience to renunciation, and finally to a vocation lived in motion. Each week’s feast sharpens the film’s meaning and reveals a different face of the prophet’s call.
Jun 1 – The Informer (1935)
St. Justin Martyr
A prophet begins in the ruins of his own failure. Gypo’s betrayal and collapse mirror Justin’s insistence on truth: falsehood destroys, repentance clarifies.
Jun 8 – Stromboli (1950)
Sacred Heart / Immaculate Heart
Karin’s volcanic exile becomes purification. As the Hearts of Jesus and Mary burn with love, Stromboli burns away pride and forces a reckoning with God.
Jun 15 – A Man for All Seasons (1966)
St. Barnabas
Barnabas stands firm in the Spirit; Thomas More does the same. Here the pilgrimage becomes confrontation — conscience refusing to bow before power.
Jun 22 – The Abdication (1974)
St. John Fisher & St. Thomas More
On their feast, Christina’s renunciation echoes their witness. The prophet is purified not only by what he defends but by what he relinquishes.
Jun 29 – Chariots of Fire (1981)
Saints Peter & Paul
The apostles ran their race to the end. Eric Liddell’s obedience in motion mirrors theirs: vocation lived cleanly, joyfully, and without compromise.
SMOKE IN THIS LIFE, NOT THE NEXT
JUNE
29 Monday-Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles
Full Strawberry Moon-Waffle Iron Day
2 Chronicles, Chapter 32, Verse 7
“Be strong and steadfast; do not be
AFRAID or dismayed because of the
king of Assyria and all the horde coming with him, for there is more with us
than with him.
Of
course, the more of us is the power of the angels of God.
Kings
come and Kings go[1]
After
taking over Israel, King Sennacherib of Assyria comes gunning for Hezekiah in
Judah.
King Hezekiah immediately got to work building up defenses
in all the most important cities in Judah. He's a good strategic thinker, but
he also has one thing that the Assyrians don't—God is on his side.
He tells the people of Judah not to worry because God will
help them out. Sure, he didn't help Israel or any of the other countless
nations the Assyrians have smashed to bits, but he's totally going to help
Judah.
King Sennacherib sends his people to Jerusalem to give the
city a message—you're going down.
He throws some shade at Hezekiah, too. Their king is lying
to them about God being able to protect them. Seriously, Hezekiah is so bad at
ruling that he actually took down all the altars in Judah and just left this
one in Jerusalem.
Look, King Sennacherib tells them, we've conquered a lot of
nations. No god has ever been able to hold us back. What makes you think your
God is different?
So, King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah start to pray and
God listens.
He sends an angel to kill a lot of people in the Assyrian
camp. With his army depleted, King Sennacherib is forced to head back home.
Later, his own sons kill him.
Hezekiah gets deathly sick and successfully prays to God for healing. He gets into some minor trouble with God, but repents and goes on to do all kinds of successful things as king.
God blesses him with immense wealth. Gold, gems, spices,
weapons, food, wine, oil, and livestock—you name it, the guy has a whole
warehouse full of it.
Finally, after a lifetime of righteousness, King Hezekiah
dies. Everyone mourns him.
Copilot’s Take
The story of Hezekiah and Sennacherib is powerful precisely because it
refuses to let any nation, ancient or modern, claim automatic righteousness. If
I were living in a country that constantly preached, “We are pure and our
enemies are evil,” I could easily twist this passage into a national anthem.
But Scripture never grants that kind of self‑absolution. The Catechism teaches
that God judges hearts, not flags, and that righteousness is measured by
humility, repentance, and fidelity, not by political slogans or military
strength. Hezekiah’s confidence came from alignment with God, not from national
pride.
Sennacherib’s arrogance shows how evil operates. He mocks faith,
belittles trust, and tries to intimidate the people into despair. His message
is the same one the enemy whispers today: “You are alone. You are outmatched.
Your God cannot save you.” The Catechism warns that fear distorts the soul and
weakens the will, which is why evil always begins with fear. But Hezekiah
answers with clarity: there is more with us than with him. Not because Judah is
superior, but because God is faithful.
Hezekiah’s strength is not in military strategy but in moral posture. He
tears down idols, restores worship, and turns the nation back toward God. His
reforms are not political maneuvers; they are acts of repentance. The Catechism
teaches that God’s providence moves most powerfully through the humble, the
obedient, and the contrite. Hezekiah’s trust is not naïve optimism. It is the
confidence of a man who knows that God honors fidelity.
When Hezekiah and Isaiah pray, heaven responds. One angel dismantles the
greatest army on earth. This is not a nationalist victory; it is a divine
intervention rooted in trust. The Catechism teaches that prayer participates in
God’s governance of the world, and this moment proves it. God does not need
numbers, weapons, or political power. He needs a heart that turns toward Him.
The victory belongs to God alone, not to Judah’s military or its national
identity.
Sennacherib’s downfall is a warning to every power that exalts itself.
His defeat comes not because he is Assyrian, but because he is arrogant,
mocking, and spiritually blind. The Catechism reminds us that pride is the root
of every fall, and that no ruler, no empire, no ideology is immune to judgment.
Kings rise and kings fall, but God’s justice remains steady. The story is not
about which nation is good or bad; it is about the fate of the proud and the
vindication of the faithful.
Hezekiah’s later illness shows that even righteous men are vulnerable. His healing shows that God’s mercy is not tied to political success but to personal repentance. The Catechism teaches that God restores the humble and strengthens the contrite. Hezekiah’s life ends in blessing not because he ruled a particular nation, but because he continually returned to God. His righteousness is personal, not geopolitical.
The lesson for today is simple and sharp: do not read Scripture as a
mirror for national pride. Read it as a mirror for the soul. God does not side
with nations; He sides with righteousness. He does not bless propaganda; He
blesses humility. The man who stands in grace stands with more than he sees,
and the man who trusts in God rather than in political identity stands on
ground that cannot be shaken.
Solemnity of Saint Peter and Paul[2]
This
is a holyday of obligation in some countries.
Today is the grand rejoicing in the two Princes of the
Apostles and founders of the Church in Rome.
PETER,
formerly called Simon, was a son of Jonas, of Bethsaida, in Galilee, and a
brother of Andrew, by whom he was brought to Christ, Who at once changed his
name and called him Peter. When, soon after, Jesus said to both of them on the
Sea of Tiberias, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men” they both left
their nets and followed Him. From this time forward Jesus was constantly giving
him particular proofs of His love. From the ship of Peter, He taught the
thronging multitude, and to him He promised that on him, as upon a rock, He
would build His Church, against which the gates of hell should not prevail. Our
Lord took Peter with Him at the raising of Jairus daughter from the dead; at
His own transfiguration on Mount Tabor; at the beginning of His passion in the
Garden of Gethsemane. To him He promised the keys of the kingdom of heaven; for
him He specially prayed that his faith might not fail; and him He commanded to
strengthen his brethren. After His resurrection He appeared particularly to Peter,
and three times commanded him to feed His flock. But Peter had, above all the
other apostles, made himself worthy of this preeminence by his living faith,
his humility, his love, and his zeal for the honor of Jesus; for he it was who,
before the other apostles, made the confession, “Thou art Christ, the Son of
the living God.” He showed his humility when, at the miraculous draught of
fishes, he said, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” Out of love
he desired to remain always with Christ on Mount Tabor to prevent Him from
suffering; and out of love he declared himself ready with Christ to live or
die; nay, he even declared most confidently that, though all should be
scandalized in Christ, yet he would not be. When Jesus was taken prisoner, Peter
showed himself to be most courageous by cutting off the ear of one of his
master’s enemies, and by following Him to the house of Caiaphas. Three times,
indeed, did he, as no one else did, deny his Lord out of fear; but the look of
forgiving love which Jesus cast upon him forced from him tears of the deepest
contrition, and three times afterwards, accordingly, he made that confession,
“Lord, Thou knowest that I love Thee.” After he had received the Holy Ghost,
full of courage, he confessed Christ crucified, and preached Him in Pontus,
Galatia, Cappadocia, Ionia, and Bithynia. At Jerusalem he was once already
condemned to death, but was set free by an angel. In the year 54 he went to
Rome, whence, after a nine years residence, he was banished, with many other
Christians. Upon returning thither again he was confined in the Mamertine
prison, and finally, on June 29, in the year A.D. 67, under the Emperor Nero,
he was crucified; his head, by his own desire, hung downwards, because he
thought himself unworthy to die like Christ.
Paul, before his conversion called Saul, was of the tribe of Benjamin, a native of Tarsus, in Cilicia, and a pupil of Gamaliel. Full of zeal for the law, he bitterly opposed the Christians. As he was travelling to Damascus to persecute them, he was, on the way, converted by Christ. How indefatigably he thenceforward worked in the vineyard of the Lord, and what dangers and persecutions he underwent, no pen can describe.
It is almost incredible with what zeal and perseverance he preached Christ, in chains and fetters, under blows and scourges, in hunger and thirst, and untold times at the peril of his life. And yet he was so humble that he counted himself the least of the apostles, and always praised God that He had thought him worthy to suffer for His name. After he had at last fought a good fight, and finished his course having everywhere zealously preached the Gospel, and still more zealously practiced it he received the crown of justice (n. Tim. iv. 6). The Emperor Nero caused him to be beheaded on the same day that Peter was crucified.
The Introit of the Mass is
in the words spoken by St. Peter after his delivery from the prison at
Jerusalem: Now I know in very deed that the Lord hath sent His angel and hath
delivered me out of the hands of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people
of the Jews (Acts xii. 11). “Lord, Thou hast proved me and known me; Thou hast
known my sitting down and my rising up” (Ps. cxxxviii. 1, 2).
Prayer. O God, Who hast consecrated this
day by the martyrdom of Thy apostles SS. Peter and Paul, grant to Thy Church,
in all things, to follow their doctrines, through whom the true faith was first
proclaimed.
EPISTLE.
Acts xii. 1-11.
In those days: Herod the
king stretched forth his hands, to afflict some of the Church. And he killed
James the brother of John with the sword. And seeing that it pleased the Jews,
he proceeded to take up Peter also. Now it was in the days of the Azymes. And
when he had apprehended him, he cast him into prison, delivering him to four
files of soldiers to be kept, intending after the Pasch to bring him forth to
the people. Peter therefore was kept in prison. But prayer was made without
ceasing by the Church unto God for him. And when Herod would have brought him
forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two
chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison. And behold, an angel
of the Lord stood by him: and a light shined in the room: and he striking Peter
on the side raised him up, saying: Arise quickly. And the chains fell off from
his hands. And the angel said to him: Gird thyself, and put on thy sandals. And
he did so. And he said to him: Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me. And
going out he followed him, and he knew not that it was true which was done by
the angel: but thought he saw a vision. And passing through the first and the
second ward, they came to the iron gate that leadeth to the city, which of
itself opened to them. And going out, they passed on through one street: and
immediately the angel departed from him. And Peter coming to himself, said: Now
I know in very deed that the Lord hath sent His angel, and hath delivered me
out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the
Jews.
GOSPEL.
Matt. xvi. 13-19.
At that time Jesus came
into the quarters of Caesarea Philippi: and He asked His disciples, saying:
Who do men say that the Son of man is?
But
they said: Some John the Baptist, and other some Elias, and others Jeremias, or
one of the prophets. Jesus saith to them:
But who do you say that
I am?
Simon
Peter answered and said: Thou art Christ the Son of the living God. And Jesus
answering, said to him: Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona: because flesh and
blood hath not revealed it to thee, but My Father Who is in heaven. And I say
to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build My Church, and
the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give to thee the
keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth it
shall be bound also in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth, it
shall be loosed also in heaven.
Why did Christ ask His
disciples, Who do men say that the Son of man is?
To
give them an opportunity to confess their belief in Him as the true Son of God,
and upon that open confession to ground a promise of the highest importance.
Why does Christ call
Himself the Son of man?
In
order that, His Godhead being veiled under the form of man, He might thus test
the faith of His disciples, and teach us that He was both true God and true
man.
What did Peter mean to
say by those words,
“Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God?”
He
thereby confesses that Christ is the Son of God, begotten from all eternity,
and therefore of the same substance with the Father; that by Him all things
were made, and that from Him comes our life in soul and body.
What reward did Peter
receive for his confession?
Christ
pronounced him blessed that God had given him such grace, conveyed to him the
highest authority in His Church, and gave him the pre-eminence above all the
apostles.
What is the meaning of
the expression “to bind and to Loose?”
According
to Isaias, it signifies to open and to shut heaven, and here consequently
denotes the power, as representative of Jesus Christ, to receive persons into
the Church, and to excommunicate them from it; to forgive sins, or to retain
them; to impose or to remit punishments for them; to establish laws and
prohibitions, to abolish them, to change them, and, in general, to govern and
direct in everything, as shall be necessary for the preservation of unity and
order in the Church, and for the good of the faithful.
Was the power to bind and to loose given to Peter only?
No,
but to the rest of the apostles also; the power of the keys, however, Jesus
gave only to Peter. Peter, therefore, and his successors, possess this supreme
power, while the other apostles and their successors, the bishops, possess the
authority entrusted to them by Christ, to be exercised by them in unity with
the rock, that is, with Peter and his successors.
Of the Pope
What is the Pope to the Catholic?
The
representative of Jesus Christ, and the visible head, appointed by Him, for the
government of His Church.
Did Christ actually appoint such a
supreme head?
Yes,
and that in the person of St. Peter. He gave him the significant name Peter the
rock, distinguished him always above the other apostles, and laid upon him the
charge to feed His lambs, that is, the faithful, and His sheep, that is, the
bishops themselves; and this power Peter uniformly exercised.
Why did Christ appoint a visible
head for the Church?
Because
the Church is an outward, visible society, united together not only by inward
faith in Christ, but also by outward, visible signs. Such a visible head is as
necessary for the Church as for a body, a family, a society, a state, to
prevent disunion, confusion, and the consequent destruction of the whole; this
supreme head is the center of the whole, the final judge, the authoritative
teacher.
Who is now this supreme head?
The Bishop of Rome, or the Pope. It is undeniable that Peter occupied the bishop’s see at Rome, and that he died there. Equally indisputable is it that the successor of St. Peter entered upon possession of his rights, and, together with the episcopal see of Rome, inherited also the office possessed by him. From the first centuries this has ever been acknowledged by the faithful, who have accordingly called the Bishop of Rome Pope that is, the father of the faithful. And how clearly does history show that Peter and his successors are the rock upon which the Lord has immovably founded His Church! What storms have not broken upon the Church!
Persecutions from without and
within, heresies and schisms without number, and infidelity in its most hideous
form, have raged against the Church, and what has been the consequence?
Nations
have often fallen away from the Church, single bishops have proved betrayers of
their flocks, the sees of the apostles themselves have been subject to the
vicissitudes of time. And amid all these storms Rome alone has, for over
eighteen hundred years, stood firm. She has come out of every contest
victorious, has remained the center of faith and discipline, and has preserved
the unbroken succession of bishops from Peter. Who does not see herein the
assistance of Him Who forever fulfills that promise of His, “Upon this rock I
will build My Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” The
Pope is, therefore, the visible supreme head of the Church, appointed by Christ
for all time; the invisible, all-governing head is Christ Himself.
Things to do[3]
Take a pilgrimage to
Rome to visit the burial places of St. Peter and Paul.
Go fishing in honor
of St. Peter. He was a fisherman before he became Jesus' disciple and is
the patron saint of fisherman and net makers.
Attend Mass and
learn how both Peter and Paul, two men with very different visions, formed the
early church and how Christianity rapidly spread.
Insalata Di Tarocci[4]
INGREDIENTS
4
blood oranges or other small, sweet oranges
1
small red onion, cut into very thin slices*
4
Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
3
Tbsp. freshly chopped Italian parsley; stems discarded
Salt
to taste
Freshly
ground pepper to taste
Details
Serves: 4
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Combine
a dozen or so men with large sackes draped over their shoulders; ox-drawn carts
bearing the image of San Paolo (himself holding a snake and a book in one hand,
a sword pointing to the heavens in the other); squads of flagbearers and
swordsmen; a cotillion of old men with black berets playing an indescribable
array of instruments (many homemade); a piazza packed with local residents
dressed in Sunday finery; and long tables filled with all manner of food and
beverage, and you have a beginner's idea of what to expect if you find yourself
in Aragona in southern Sicily on June 29, the feast of St. Paul. (If you decide
to visit the church however, you no longer have to fear the ritual called La
benedizione deglie serpe, whereby residents presented snakes to the priest
for benediction. The ritual was done away with a few years ago. If you do
venture to Aragona for this festival, the blood orange and red onion salad
presented here is one of the many foods you're likely to sample. Although any
type of orange can be substituted to following is made with tarocci or
blood oranges, which are one of Sicily's most famous products. Exceptionally
high in vitamin C, strongly fragrant, and with brilliant red peel and pulp, the
tarocci is widely used in salads, frozen ice cream desserts, and sorbets.
DIRECTIONS
Italians have become very
fond of cipolle de tropea a type of sweet red onion that comes from
Calabria and is not yet available in the US. To achieve the same sweetness,
soak the sliced red onion in water for thirty minutes before using.
1. Peel the oranges and
remove the pith. Cut horizontally into thin slices. Put in a bowl and set
aside.
2. Separate the onion
slices into individual layers and put in the bowl with the oranges. Add the oil
and half the parsley to the bowl, season with salt and pepper, and toss until
all ingredients are well coated.
3. Arrange the orange and
onion slices in a circular pattern on a round platter. Drizzle with the oil
left in the bowl, sprinkle with the remaining parsley, and serve.
Make Ahead:
The oranges can be tossed with the marinade earlier in the day.
How to Serve: On its own as a midsummer appetizer, followed by a
light pasta, or as a salad course accompanying an especially piquant entree.
Bible in a year Day 359 John's Apocalypse
As we
begin reading from Revelation, Fr. Mike makes us aware of the symbolism found
throughout this apocalyptic book and highlights its goal of strengthening the
Church through the worship that happens at Mass. He also encourages us to find
strength in God when facing challenges, just as Paul did. Today’s readings are
Revelation 1-3, 2 Timothy 3-4, and Proverbs 31:8-9.
Around the Corner
Foodie:
Waffle Iron Day[5] is the
perfect time to celebrate this delicious breakfast staple! Waffle Irons were
first found in that area of Northwestern Europe known as the Low Countries,
which includes Belgium and the Netherlands as well as other places. Originally,
they were made to be used over an open flame and were thus constructed on the
end of two long, typically wooden, handles with a clamshell system at one end,
which would be held over a fire to bake.The origin of the waffle iron can be
traced back to the Middle Ages, where they were developed from a device known
as the ‘wafer iron’. These were commonly used in the creation of the
communion wafer, but larger varieties existed, consisting of nothing more than
two flat irons often engraved with elaborate scenes. For the communion
wafer, it was depictions of the crucifixion of Christ. While the larger secular
designs varied widely, often engraved with artistic floral designs,
illumination, or just about any other form of design you could imagine.
The Belgians celebrate the feast
of St. Michael by eating waffles; perhaps we could start celebrating Mondays
with waffles in honor of the angels; remembering we too like Michael must be as
strong as iron against the enemy and we must not waffle. Sorry I couldn’t
resist.
Full Strawberry Moon-According to the almanac today we are having a Full Strawberry Moon; plan to make homemade strawberry ice cream and share with your children or grandchildren. Teach them the value of not saying a bad word about others.
Bucket List
Trip: Around the
World “Perfect Weather”
Nairobi, Kenya
Go camping in
honor of St. Paul. Before his conversion to Christianity, Paul
was a tent maker. He is the patron saint of tent makers as well as
writers. In addition to being an accomplished preacher, Paul wrote epistles
that are included in the Bible's New Testament.
Eat waffles
and Pray for the assistance of the Angels
Monday: Litany of Humility
Spirit Hour:
Gibson
Daily
Devotions
Unite
in the work of the Porters of St.
Joseph by joining them in fasting: The
Sick, afflicted, and infirmed
Litany
of the Most Precious
Blood of Jesus
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
Rosary
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