SMOKE IN THIS LIFE, NOT THE NEXT
June 16 — Relief of the Souls in Purgatory
Choose a cheap, honest night‑smoke — the kind that burns quick and sharp, like the valley Drithelm saw where the late‑repentant are purified.
They died confessing, not defiant — saved, but unfinished.
Better to burn now in mercy than later in justice.
Prayer
O my God, we beg of Thee in union with the Immaculate Heart of Mary, through the merits of the Precious Blood offered in every Mass throughout the world, to grant conversion to sinners and to all who will die this day the grace of repentance and a happy death.
If it be Your Will, accept this offering to console the Heart of Jesus in agony for souls who delayed repentance until the end.
Have mercy on the holy souls in Purgatory, especially the forgotten. Do not delay their deliverance, but let the purifying flame consume their defects so they may stand in Your divine presence.
Amen.
The late‑repentant suffer now so they may shine later.
Offer your smoke tonight to lift one soul out of the valley.
JUNE 16 Tuesday Third Week after
Pentecost
First of Muharram
2 Chronicles, Chapter 17, Verse 10
Now the FEAR of the LORD was upon all the kingdoms of the countries
surrounding Judah, so that they did not war against Jehoshaphat.
Jehoshaphat was zealous for God and
as a result peace comes to the land. Seek first the Kingdom of God.
Making Holy Place and Time with Christ, Our Redeemer[1]
January--Creeks, rivers, and other forms of moving water, including ice, manifest the flow of life itself. A gurgling stream or rushing river, even in midwinter's rest, is the sign that new life is coming forth, even when it is not yet perceptible in a snow-covered landscape. Our life in Christ begins through the saving water of Baptism; since this is so, we have an obligation to protect and save the water. Water pollution is widespread, denying safe drinking water to millions of people.
February--Soil under our feet goes unnoticed, though this first foot of soil is where most living organisms’ dwell. The health of the fragile skin of our earth is of utmost importance. Humility comes from the Latin word for soil, "humus." From and unto dust is the humbling message to each of us touched by the dust of Ash Wednesday. Soil is rich and fertile but also prone to erosion and pollution.
March--The winds of March point to the power of God's Spirit working in us. We need to listen and respond to the gentle breezes of the Spirit; but will we, or will we be too distracted? The rebirth of spring reminds us of the energy of nature so that we ask ourselves whether we waste or wisely use energy –electricity, oil, gas, etc. Can we and should we continue to use nonrenewable fossil fuels, often with accompanying air pollution, at the rate we do? Or will the environmental ills we cause today call us in the future as a society to use wind and solar energy?
April--Lush and blooming vistas beckon us to take to the road and to explore. As we itch to go out and travel more in springtime, let us reflect on the mixed blessings. Interconnected communities and beautiful scenery are often coupled with air pollution, consumption of scarce petroleum, congestion, excessive mobility, and noise.
May--Flowers in Mary's month tie us closely to the reawakening earth. The time of Resurrection and expectant Pentecost is one of buds, blossoms, wildflowers, and greening of meadows and lawns. Days lengthen and we welcome the warmth of the sun after the long winter. Jesus is risen and is present in our midst, and so we rise and ascend with him.
June--Wildlife fills our life with joy and refreshment. Songbirds and birds of prey, squirrels and rabbits, butterflies and lightning bugs all carry a message worth discovering in early summer. Do we see and hear them, or do we overlook them, even despise them? Are they simply an annoyance, or have we come to know, love, and even serve these fellow creatures by providing protection and habitat?
July--We may be more aware of community relations in this month of Independence Day, visits, festivals, communal celebrations, and family reunions. Do our community and home exude hospitality and welcome? Are we able to welcome strangers into our community and open our social circles wider? Do we see connections between hospitality to people and to other creatures? Is there a connection between community relations and environmental concerns?
August--We may come to appreciate more deeply the various landforms (mountains, deserts, rock formations, valleys, and plains) during vacation time. They give us bearing, direction, and the geological history of our lives. This is the beginning of awareness of the "here" in our lives. The Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord shows us the "hereness" of the risen Lord, and the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary speaks of God's power to the blessed. While we can choose to extend the Savior's redeeming power to our wounded earth, we also can choose to withdraw from this awesome challenge.
September--Our buildings need to be winterized. Now is the time to think of energy conservation measures, adding caulking and painting, completing needed repairs, composting yard waste, and protecting garden plants for late fall and winter. Do we regard our abodes as God's dwelling space, a sacred trust and healthy place? Do we cherish the abundance of space and use it properly as good stewards?
November--The Thanksgiving meal is a ritual. Whether we are from rural or urban backgrounds, we know the harvest time passes and the year draws to an end. Giving thanks to God is Eucharist, a heavenly banquet and the foretaste of things to come. We are not worthy receivers of this sacrament without the haunting knowledge of the poor nutrition for many in our country and famine in other countries. How can we respond to homelessness and hunger here in our own land and share our bounty with those who are poor in other countries (lands)?
December--We turn our attention indoors with Advent prayers and
preparations for the birth of Christ. For most of us, the indoors makes up the
part of our environment in which we spend the most time. It is also the most
unregulated and can be the most polluted part of the total environment –due to
new home cleaning products and tighter ventilation. Consider a simpler home
environment, where houseplants purify the air, where fresh air is plentiful,
and where chemical products are limited and controlled. The yearly cycle of
twelve months can make us more aware of our human environment and should help
us as individuals and as a community to conduct a monthly examination of
conscience.
The fear of the
Lord that settled over the nations in Jehoshaphat’s day was not terror but
recognition — the recognition that a people aligned with God cannot be
manipulated or conquered. When a ruler stands under God, the surrounding
kingdoms instinctively sense the boundary. This is peace born not of diplomacy
but of holiness. Jehoshaphat’s greatness was moral before it was political, and
his fidelity created an atmosphere where evil lost its appetite for conflict.
As the Islamic New
Year begins, Muharram becomes a mirror for this same truth. It is a month of
sobriety, remembrance, and moral accounting — a time when a community looks
back at its wounds and forward to its responsibilities. The Hijra was not
merely a migration; it was a civilizational reset. Every nation and every
person faces a similar moment: the point where corruption must be left behind
and life rebuilt on truth. Renewal is never automatic; it is chosen.
The suffering of places like the Congo reveals what happens when that choice is refused. Evil thrives where no one names it, where greed is unrestrained, where the weak are disposable, and where truth is treated as a threat. The pattern is ancient: when moral authority collapses, exploitation rushes in. This is why confronting evil is not optional; it is the only way to prevent the machinery of destruction from taking root.
A nation becomes
great — Iran included — not through power projection but through moral
reconstruction. Greatness begins with repentance, the willingness to tell the
truth about one’s failures. It grows through the protection of the weak, the
elevation of human dignity, and the rejection of ideological lies. It matures
when beauty, learning, and stewardship are restored as national virtues. And it
becomes enduring only when men of integrity rise — fathers, teachers, judges,
and leaders who fear God more than they fear losing control.
Pentecost and
Muharram meet on this point: the world is renewed only when the heart is
renewed. Pentecost proclaims that the Spirit recreates the face of the earth;
Muharram calls a community to begin again with God. Together they form a single
command: do not waste your new year. Do not waste your season. Renewal is
offered, but it must be chosen.
The twelve‑month
cycle of creation — water, soil, wind, wildlife, community, landforms, harvest,
and home — becomes a yearly examen of stewardship. Each month reminds us that
holiness is not an idea but a responsibility. A people who destroy their land
destroy their soul; a people who honor creation honor the Creator. The cycle of
months becomes a cycle of accountability, a way of keeping the heart awake.
The question that
remains is simple and unavoidable: which pillar of renewal must be built first
— in the home, in the community, in the land, and in the soul.
Moharram (Islamic New Year)[2]
Muharram (1st first month of the
Islamic calendar) is the holiest month after Ramadan. This month is most
recommended by Muhammad to fast and worship in.
The Islamic method of dating was
invented by Umar ibn Al-Khattab, a close friend of Muhammad. He was the
second Islamic Caliph (rulers) and in the year 638 he standardized the many
calendars of the Arabian Peninsula.
The Islamic calendar is lunar cycle
based and contains twelve months that make up a total of 354.36 days together.
There are parallels between this
holiday and the day of Ashura. Ashura commemorates what
Muslims believe is Moses crossing the Red Sea to escape the oppressive Pharaoh
on Ashura. Similarly, the Islamic New Year marks Muhammad's crossing the
desert between Mecca and Medina to escape the oppressive Quraish nobles.
For both observances, Muhammad recommended Muslims to fast.
The Islamic calendar is abbreviated
A.H. or Anno Hegirae in Western languages. The first date on the Islamic
calendar, 1,1 Muharram A.H. corresponds to July 16, year 622.
Top
Events and Things to Do
Muslim parents traditionally tell their children of Muhammad's escape from Mecca to Medina on this night.
Read more about Muhammad's journey
from Mecca to Medina by reading his biography, The Sealed Nectar
Apostolic
Exhortation[3]
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,
Conclusion
110. I wish to conclude this exhortation
by turning to Mary, Our Mother, whom Saint John Paul II called “‘a woman of
the Eucharist’ in her whole life” (Ecclesia de Eucharistia, no. 53).
Let us entrust our Eucharistic life of her Son’s gift of Himself to her
solicitude and care. She lived her faith at the moment of the Annunciation when
she was asked to believe that the One whom she conceived through the Holy
Spirit was the Son of God. For us, before the Eucharistic mystery we are also
asked to believe that the same Jesus Christ, the Son of God and Son of Mary,
becomes present in His full humanity and divinity under the appearances of
bread and wine. Her faith-filled consent allowed God to be born in her, making
her the Ark of the New Covenant. “With her ‘yes’ she opened the door of our
world to God Himself; she became the living Ark of the Covenant, in whom God
took flesh, became one of us, and pitched His tent among us” (cf. John
1:14). (Spe Salvi, no. 49). She was the first to receive Jesus in her
heart. She became the first tabernacle where God dwells in the fullest possible
sense. After Pentecost but before her Assumption into heaven, surely she
regularly received the Eucharist from the hands of the Apostles.
111. Who more than Mary is a star of hope
for us so that we can see the way to go as followers of Jesus Christ, since we
have never been this way before? Who more than Mary can help us renew our faith
and fortify our love and devotion to Jesus in the Eucharist? Confident in her
maternal care and intercession, let us invoke and imitate Our Lady, woman of
the Eucharist:
Blessed Mother, who with your generous “Fiat”
unleashed the Fountain of all graces in our world, intercede for us who desire
ever greater faith and devotion in your Divine Son that we might cooperate with
His work of Redemption.
May the Eucharistic Lord always find in our
hearts a welcome dwelling as He did in yours.
Be our refuge and companion on our pilgrim way to the heavenly home where with you and all the Saints we enjoy eternal communion with your Son who is our rock of refuge in all of life’s storms.
Amen.
Promulgated on Holy Thursday of the Lord’s
Supper, April 1, 2021.
+Thomas J. Olmsted
Bishop of Phoenix
Epistle of Barnabas[4]
CHAP. IV.
— ANTICHRIST IS AT HAND: LET US THEREFORE AVOID JEWISH ERRORS.
It therefore behooves us, who inquire much concerning events at hand, to search diligently into those things which are able to save us. Let us then utterly flee from all the works of iniquity, lest these should take hold of us; and let us hate the error of the present time, that we may set our love on the world to come let us not give loose reins to our soul, that it should have power to run with sinners and the wicked, lest we become like them. The final stumbling-block (or source of danger) approaches, concerning which it is written, as Enoch says, "For for this end the Lord has cut short the times and the days, that His Beloved may hasten; and He will come to the inheritance." And the prophet also speaks thus: "Ten kingdoms shall reign upon the earth, and a little king shall rise up after them, who shall subdue under one three of the kings. In like manner Daniel says concerning the same, "And I beheld the fourth beast, wicked and powerful, and more savage than all the beasts of the earth, and how from it sprang up ten horns, and out of them a little budding horn, and how it subdued under one three of the great horns." Ye ought therefore to understand. And this also I further beg of you, as being one of you, and loving you both individually and collectively more than my own soul, to take heed now to yourselves, and not to be like some, adding largely to your sins, and saying, "The covenant is both theirs and ours." But they thus finally lost it, after Moses had already received it. For the Scripture saith, "And Moses was fasting in the mount forty days and forty nights, and received the covenant from the Lord, tables of stone written with the finger of the hand of the Lord;" but turning away to idols, they lost it. For the Lord speaks thus to Moses: "Moses go down quickly; for the people whom thou hast brought out of the land of Egypt have transgressed." And Moses understood [the meaning of God], and cast the two tables out of his hands; and their covenant was broken, in order that the covenant of the beloved Jesus might be sealed upon our heart, in the hope which flows from believing in Him. Now, being desirous to write many things to you, not as your teacher, but as becometh one who loves you, I have taken care not to fail to write to you from what I myself possess, with a view to your purification. We take earnest heed in these last days; for the whole [past] time of your faith will profit you nothing, unless now in this wicked time we also withstand coming sources of danger, as becometh the sons of God. That the Black One may find no means of entrance, let us flee from every vanity, let us utterly hate the works of the way of wickedness. Do not, by retiring apart, live a solitary life, as if you were already [fully] justified; but coming together in one place, make common inquiry concerning what tends to your general welfare. For the Scripture saith, "Woe to them who are wise to themselves, and prudent in their own sight!"
Let us be spiritually minded: let us be a perfect temple to God. As much as in us lies, let us meditate upon the fear of God, and let us keep His commandments, that we may rejoice in His ordinances. The Lord will judge the world without respect of persons. Each will receive as he has done: if he is righteous, his righteousness will precede him; if he is wicked, the reward of wickedness is before him. Take heed, lest resting at our ease, as those who are the called [of God], we should fall asleep in our sins, and the wicked prince, acquiring power over us, should thrust us away from the kingdom of the Lord. And all the more attend to this, my brethren, when ye reflect and behold, that after so great signs and wonders were wrought in Israel, they were thus [at length] abandoned. Let us beware lest we be found [fulfilling that saying], as it is written, "Many are called, but few are chosen."
Bible in a year Day 346 Fruits of the
Spirit
Fr. Mike reminds us of
the context of Galatians and reiterates Paul’s admonition not to revert to our
previous ways of life now that we have been freed from the yoke of slavery. He
also discusses the works of the flesh which separate us from Christ and the
fruits of the spirit which result from a life lived in God, reminding us that
we will reap what we sow in due season. Today’s readings are Acts 25, Galatians
4-6, and Proverbs 29:15-17.
June 16 — Litany of Trust
“From the fear that
my new beginning depends on my perfection, deliver me, Jesus.”
The Islamic New Year arrives quietly, not with
fireworks but with reflection. Muharram marks the Hijra — the moment when a
community stepped out of what was familiar and into what was faithful. It was a
beginning born not of strength but of obedience, not of certainty but of trust.
And yet every new beginning carries a hidden fear: the fear that we must get it
right this time, that renewal depends on flawless execution, that God’s
blessing rests on our performance. This lie is subtle because it disguises itself
as seriousness. It convinces a man that holiness is earned, that renewal is
self‑manufactured, that God waits for perfection before He gives grace.
But Scripture reveals a different pattern. Every new
beginning God initiates — Noah after the flood, Abraham leaving his homeland,
Israel stepping out of Egypt, the disciples after the Resurrection — begins
with God’s initiative, not man’s mastery. Renewal is always God’s work before
it is ours. The Hijra was not a display of human perfection; it was a surrender
to divine direction. Pentecost was not the result of the apostles’ competence;
it was the result of God’s Spirit descending on their weakness. New years, new
seasons, new chapters — none of them depend on flawless men, only willing ones.
In my own life, Lord, I confess how often I fear beginning again. I worry that I will fail as I have failed before. I imagine that You expect me to rise without stumbling, to change without struggle, to walk without wavering. I fear that if I am not perfect, the new beginning will collapse. But this is not Your way. You are the God who writes straight with crooked lines, who builds with imperfect men, who renews what we cannot repair. Deliver me from the fear that my renewal depends on my perfection.
Jesus, teach me the courage to begin again without
fear. Teach me to trust that You bless the step, not the certainty. Teach me to
believe that You are more committed to my transformation than I am. Teach me to
see that every new year — Christian or Islamic — is an invitation to surrender,
not to perform. Teach me to walk into the future with confidence because You
walk before me.
From the fear that my new beginning depends on my
perfection, deliver me, Jesus.
From the lie that renewal is earned rather than received, deliver me, Jesus.
From the belief that You only bless what is flawless, deliver me, Jesus.
From the anxiety that rises when I face another beginning, deliver me, Jesus.
From the temptation to rely on myself instead of Your mercy, deliver me, Jesus.
Jesus, I trust that You begin the work before I do.
Jesus, I trust that You bless imperfect steps.
Jesus, I trust that Your mercy is stronger than my weakness.
Jesus, I trust that every new year is held in Your hands.
Jesus, I trust that You make all things new — including me.
Around the Corner
Have a healthy
Brain
An Overview of The Brain Warrior’s Way
Who
it’s for…
The Brain Warrior’s Way
is for those feeling overwhelmed by the fog of mental fatigue, the weight of
depression, or the struggle of attention disorders. Daniel Amen reaches out to
anyone yearning for a sharper, more resilient mind and a fortified body.
Within its pages, The
Brain Warrior’s Way acknowledges the battles many faces: anxiety, depression,
obesity, and memory problems. Daniel Amen understands these are not mere
inconveniences but profound challenges that can dictate the quality of one’s
life. He offers strategies to confront these conditions head-on.
Health
Goals The Brain Warrior’s Way Champions
Readers of The Brain
Warrior’s Way are seeking transformation. They crave mental clarity, sustained
energy, and an invigorated spirit. The book promises a blueprint to achieve
optimal brain health, which in turn, catalyzes a ripple effect, enhancing overall
well-being.
Path to
Health
The Brain Warrior’s Way illuminates a path through the wilderness of misinformation and quick fixes. Daniel Amen equips readers with knowledge and tools, inspiring them to take control of their brain health and, by extension, their lives.
Central
Themes of The Brain Warrior’s Way
At the heart of The Brain
Warrior’s Way are empowerment and education. Daniel Amen emphasizes the
interconnectedness of brain health with every aspect of our existence. He
advocates for a proactive stance against the onslaught of brain-damaging
influences in our modern world.
Key
Takeaways to Achieve Health Goals
Daniel Amen stresses the
importance of consistency and commitment. The Brain Warrior’s Way is not a
fleeting fad diet or a temporary fix; it’s a lifelong journey towards vitality.
He encourages readers to embrace a warrior mindset, one that is disciplined,
focused, and relentless in the pursuit of health.
Do
not ask everyone’s opinion, but only the opinion of your confessor; be as frank
and simple as a child with him. Simplicity of life can drive out demons.
Honesty is a weapon to defeat Satan, the Liar. When we lie, we put a foot in
his camp, and he will try to seduce us all the more.
Bucket List trip[5]: USA 70-degree year trip: Niagara
Falls
St. Anthony Novena 2-on thirteen consecutive Tuesday's
Pray Day 3 of the Novena for our Pope and Bishops
Spirit
Hour: Wine from Niagara Falls vineyard
Eat your vegetables! It is fresh vegetable day
Foodie-Spaghetti Parm
today is Bloomsday
Daily
Devotions
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting: For
the Poor and Suffering
Litany
of the Most Precious
Blood of Jesus
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
Rosary
[1]http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/environment/upload/ecology-resource-preaching.pdf
[5] Schultz, Patricia. 1,000 Places to See Before You
Die: A Traveler's Life List Workman Publishing Company. Kindle Edition.
LADY AND GENT (1932)
George Bancroft • Wynne Gibson • Charles Starrett
Directed by Stephen Roberts
A bruised little pre‑Code morality play,
Lady and Gent lives in the blue‑collar shadows —
a world of prizefighters, cheap rooms,
and the kind of loyalty that costs a man something.
It is not a boxing picture so much as a study
of the moment a man realizes
he has one last chance to do right
before life counts him out.
A washed‑up fighter.
A hard‑edged woman with a soft center.
A boy who still believes in honor.
And the quiet, dangerous truth
that sometimes the only way to save a life
is to spend your own.
There is no glamour here —
just sweat, sacrifice, and the stubborn dignity
of people trying to rise above the world
that keeps swinging at them.
And then the reckoning comes —
not with triumph,
but with a man choosing to fall
so someone younger can stand.
1. Production & Historical Setting
Pre‑Code America Before the Muzzle Fell
Released in 1932, the film stands in that brief, electric window
before Hollywood’s moral handcuffs snapped shut.
Stories could still be rough, adult, unvarnished.
Working‑class characters weren’t symbols —
they were people.
George Bancroft: The Spent Fighter
Bancroft plays the kind of man he understood instinctively —
big, bruised, decent,
a heavyweight whose heart is heavier than his fists.
Wynne Gibson: The Woman Who Stays
Gibson gives the film its backbone.
Tough enough to survive the world,
tender enough to redeem a man who’s nearly lost.
Charles Starrett: The Boy Worth Saving
Before his cowboy years,
Starrett plays the clean slate —
the future that needs protecting
from the mistakes of the past.
2. Story Summary
A Fighter on His Last Legs
Bancroft’s character is aging, broke, and nearly finished.
One bad decision could ruin the boy he’s taken under his wing.
A Woman Who Sees the Truth
Gibson knows the man’s flaws,
but she also knows the goodness buried under the bruises.
A Sacrifice in the Dark
When a killing blow lands in the ring,
the man takes the blame
to spare the boy’s future.
A Quiet, Uncelebrated Redemption
No applause.
No parade.
Just a man walking into punishment
so someone else can walk free.
3. Spiritual & Moral Resonances
A. The Cost of Protecting the Innocent
Sometimes the righteous act is the one no one sees.
B. The Redemption Hidden in Hard Lives
Grace often enters through the back door —
through failure, regret, and the long road back.
C. Masculine Sacrifice as Vocation
A man’s strength is measured
not by what he wins
but by what he is willing to lose for another.
D. The Woman Who Holds the Line
Gibson’s character is the moral ballast —
the one who keeps the man from sinking.
E. The Ring as Judgment
Every man eventually faces the fight
that reveals who he truly is.
4. Hospitality Pairing — A Pre‑Code Nightcap
Drink: A rye whiskey — unrefined, honest, with a little burn.
Plate: Salted peanuts and a cold slice of pie — diner fare with heart.
Atmosphere: A dim lamp, a worn chair, the hum of a distant radio.
Symbol: A pair of old boxing gloves —
not trophies, but reminders of battles fought for someone else.
5. Reflection Prompts
What younger soul has God placed in my care.
Where am I being asked to take the blow instead of throw it.
What sacrifice is mine to make quietly, without applause.
Who is the woman in my life who steadies my conscience.
Where is God calling me to step into the ring one more time.
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