Friday, July 10, 2026
Smoke in This Life Not the Next — Fri, Jul 10 Holy Face Rosary III: The Pain of Loss & The Pain of Sense Virtue: Hope & Holy Desire
Introduction to Tobit (as a Biblical Novella)
The Book of Tobit is one of the Church’s classic biblical novellas—a compact, theologically rich story that uses imaginative narrative to teach Israel how to live faithfully in a foreign land. Though set among the exiles deported to Nineveh after the fall of the Northern Kingdom in 722/721 B.C., Tobit’s world blends historical memory with crafted storytelling, allowing the book to highlight God’s providence, the power of prayer, and the quiet heroism of ordinary believers.
Tobit, a devout and generous Israelite living in
Assyria, suffers a series of reversals that culminate in his becoming blind. In
his grief he begs God for death. At the same time in distant Media, a young
woman named Sarah also prays for death, having lost seven husbands—each slain
on his wedding night by the demon Asmodeus. The novella brings these two
households together through divine intervention: God hears their prayers and
sends the angel Raphael, disguised in human form, to guide Tobit’s son Tobiah
on a journey that will heal both families.
JULY 10 Friday Sixth
Week of Pentecost
Feast Of the Seven Holy Brothers
Tobit, Chapter 1,
Verse 18-19
Sennacherib
returned from Judea, having fled during the days of the judgment enacted
against him by the King of Heaven because of the blasphemies he had uttered;
whomever he killed I buried. For in his rage, he killed many Israelites, but I
used to take their bodies away by stealth and bury them. So, when Sennacherib
looked for them, he could not find them. But a certain Ninevite went and
informed the king about me, that I was burying them, and I went into hiding.
When I realized that the king knew about me and that I was being hunted to be
put to death, I became AFRAID and
took flight.
Tobit,
although righteous was also not stupid, even though he opposed the evil in his
neighborhood he did not like to suffer for it so he naturally kept his good
deeds secret and did not want to be found out by the evil oppressors.
Tobit[1]
Both names, Tobit and Tobias (sometimes
written Tobiah), mean “Yahweh is my good.”
Tobit was the son of Tobiel, which also
means “Yahweh is my good.”
He was a native of Thisbe in
Naphtali. Their land allotment lay NW of the Sea of Galilee. After
the division of David’s kingdom, Naphtali was one of the northern tribes.
Tobit lamented the split, but that concern
paled in contrast to his sadness over the people’s refusal to worship in the
temple in Jerusalem.
Jeroboam, the king of the northern
kingdom, had set up “golden calves” at Dan (in the north) and Bethel (in the
south) to make it easier for northern citizens not to have to go to
Jerusalem. Most were taking full advantage of that. Tobit, however,
continued to make the trek to Jerusalem to worship.
He claimed he was the only one who did
so. He obviously felt very isolated from his countrymen, though
occasionally he took his wife and relatives with him.
Tobit offered sacrifices and gave alms to
the temple, the priests, and the poor.
When it was time for him to marry, he took
a wife from his tribe.
His wife’s name was Hannah, which means
“Grace.”
According to the story, Tobit was among
those who were exiled to Nineveh during the reign of Shalmaneser (727-722
BCE). Most scholars, however, think the deportation of Naphtali occurred
under Tiglath-pileser (745-727 BCE).
Tobit was a “young man” when this
happened.
He continued to be an observant Jew while
in exile, refusing to eat Gentile food.
As an observant Jew, he followed not only
the spirit but also the letter of the law, even in Nineveh.
Because he was faithful to the covenant,
he was blessed by God.
He was in good standing with Shalmaneser
and worked in his court. It seems that his position might have been “buyer of
provisions.” This allowed him to travel frequently to Media, where he had
family.
His was an important position in
Shalmaneser’s court.
In gratitude for his services, Shalmaneser
gave him ten talents of silver. Scholars argue over the value of this
amount, but it might have been $10,000-$20,000, surely a tidy sum in antiquity.
On one of his trips to Media, he managed
to give this money to his cousins for safekeeping.
In addition to his work in the court,
Tobit gave alms to poor people in Nineveh and made sure that every dead Jew had
a proper burial.
Ironically, it would be those good deeds
that would get him into trouble.
When Sennacherib took over in 705 BCE, he
instituted a new policy that the bodies of dead Jews should be left to rot as a
message for others. Undaunted, Tobit defied this law and carried off the
bodies to bury them.
For a Jew to remain unburied and have his
body rot in the open or eaten by animals was the ultimate degradation.
Burying bodies is the main “good work” of
the book of Tobit. After the new king came to power, such actions became
very risky. Tobit was essentially risking his life each time he did it.
It was not long before his neighbors
turned him in.
When the authorities heard what Tobit was
doing, they confiscated all of his possessions and would have killed him if he
had not vanished, taking his wife and son with him.
Copilot’s Take
The Book of Tobit is one
of the Church’s classic biblical novellas, a compact and theologically rich
story crafted to teach Israel how to live faithfully in a foreign land. Though
set among the exiles deported to Nineveh after the fall of the Northern Kingdom
in 722/721 B.C., the narrative blends historical memory with imaginative
storytelling. Its aim is not strict chronology but the revelation of God’s
providence, the power of prayer, and the quiet heroism of ordinary believers
who remain faithful under pressure.
Tobit, a devout and
generous Israelite, suffers a series of reversals that culminate in his
becoming blind. In despair he begs God for death. At the same time in distant
Media, a young woman named Sarah also prays for death, having lost seven
husbands—each slain on his wedding night by the demon Asmodeus. The novella
does not treat Asmodeus as a mythic ornament but as a real spiritual threat: a
destroyer of marriages, a corrupter of intimacy, and a murderer of hope. God
hears both prayers and sends the angel Raphael, disguised in human form, to
guide Tobit’s son Tobiah on a journey that will heal both households and reveal
the hidden mercy woven through their suffering.
Tobit’s fidelity began
long before exile. A native of Thisbe in Naphtali, he refused to worship at
Jeroboam’s golden calves in Dan and Bethel, insisting instead on traveling to
Jerusalem to offer sacrifice and alms. His name, along with those of his father
Tobiel and his son Tobiah, means “Yahweh is my good,” a fitting summary of his
character. His wife Hannah—“Grace”—shared his devotion and accompanied him at
times on the long journey south. Their household was marked by covenant
loyalty, generosity, and reverence for God’s law.
In Nineveh, Tobit
remained fully observant, refusing Gentile food and keeping the law with
precision. God blessed him with a respected position in Shalmaneser’s court,
likely as a buyer of provisions, which allowed him to travel to Media and
deposit ten talents of silver with relatives. Yet his greatest work was
charity: giving alms to the poor and ensuring that every murdered Israelite
received a proper burial, even when such acts placed him in danger. Tobit’s
righteousness was not theoretical—it was embodied in costly mercy.
This final act of mercy
brought him into direct conflict with Sennacherib, who decreed that Jewish
bodies should be left to rot as a warning. Tobit defied the decree, burying the
dead in secret. Eventually a Ninevite betrayed him. His possessions were confiscated,
and he fled with Hannah and Tobiah. Tobit was righteous, but he was not
reckless; he confronted evil with courage governed by prudence, knowing that
fidelity sometimes requires discretion as well as boldness. His world was
filled with visible tyrants like Sennacherib and invisible destroyers like
Asmodeus, and he resisted both through steadfast obedience.
Asmodeus is not dead.
The Church teaches that demons do not age, weaken, or fade; they simply change
tactics. The same spirit that murdered Sarah’s husbands still attacks
marriages, purity, and hope today—through addiction, pornography, infidelity,
despair, and the corrosion of trust between men and women. Raphael’s remedy in
Tobit—prayer, fasting, right ordering of desire, and invoking God’s
protection—remains the Church’s remedy now. Fortitude enables us to resist
evil, prudence guides our choices, and charity anchors us in God’s mercy.
Tobit’s story shows that spiritual warfare is real, but so is divine help. The
novella teaches us that Asmodeus can still kill, but he cannot prevail where
God is invoked, where angels are welcomed, and where households choose fidelity
over fear.
Feast
of the Seven Holy Brothers[2]
Although there are passed
down stories about the Seven Holy Brothers and their mother, the current Roman
Martyrology only mentions the brothers by name (Felix, Philip, Vitalis,
Martialis, Alexander, Silanus, and Januarius) and where they were buried. Older
Acts include the mother named Felicitas or Felicity as also a martyr. We are
including the older version of their martyrdom here:
Saint Felicity was a noble
Roman matron, distinguished above all for her virtue. This mother of seven
children raised her sons in the fear of the Lord, and after the death of her
husband, served God in continence, concerning herself only with good works. Her
good examples and those of her children brought a number of pagans to renounce
their superstitions, and also encouraged the Christians to show themselves
worthy of their vocation. The pagan priests, furious at seeing their gods
abandoned, denounced her. She appeared with her pious sons before the prefect
of Rome, who exhorted her to sacrifice to idols, but in reply heard a generous
confession of faith.
Wretched woman, he said
to her, how can you be so barbarous as to expose your children to torments and
death?
Have
pity on these tender creatures, who are in the flower of their age and can
aspire to the highest positions in the Empire! Felicity replied, My children
will live eternally with Jesus Christ, if they are faithful; they will have
only eternal torments to await, if they sacrifice to idols. Your apparent pity
is but a cruel impiety. Then, turning to her children, she said: Look towards
heaven, where Jesus Christ is waiting for you with His Saints! Be faithful in
His love, and fight courageously for your souls.
The Judge, taking the
children one by one, tried to overcome their constancy. He began with Januarius
but received for his answer: What you advise me to do is contrary to reason;
Jesus, the Savior, will preserve me, I hope, from such impiety. Felix, the
second, was then brought in. When they urged him to sacrifice, he answered:
There is only one God, and it is to Him that we must offer the sacrifice of our
hearts. Use all artifices, every refinement of cruelty, you will not make us
betray our faith! The other brothers, when questioned, answered with the same
firmness. Martial, the youngest, who spoke last, said: All those who do not confess
that Jesus Christ is the true God, will be cast into a fire which will never be
extinguished.
When
the interrogation was finished, the Saints underwent the penalty of the lash
and then were taken to prison. Soon they completed their sacrifice in various
ways: Januarius was beaten until he died by leather straps capped with lead;
Felix and Philip were killed with bludgeons; Sylvanus was thrown headfirst from
a cliff; Alexander, Vitalis and Martial were beheaded. Felicity, the mother of
these new Maccabees, was the last to suffer martyrdom.
Let Freedom Ring-Day 4 “Freedom from Predation”
(See Character is Destiny for opposing virtue: SELF CONTROL)
My Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, at a word from you the devil and his minions flee in terror. You are the source of all truth. You are the source of all strength. By the power of your Cross and Resurrection, we beseech you, O Lord; To extend your saving arm and to send your holy angels to defend us as we do battle with Satan and his demonic forces. Exorcise, we pray, that which oppresses your Bride, The Church, so that within ourselves, our families, our parishes, our dioceses, and our nation; We may turn fully back to you in all fidelity and trust. Lord, we know if you will it, it will be done.
Give us the perseverance for this mission, we pray. Amen
Our Lady of the Immaculate
Conception ... pray for us
St. Joseph ... pray for us
St. Michael the Archangel ...
pray for us
(the patron of your parish) ...
pray for us
(your confirmation saint) ... pray for us
"Freedom from
Predation"
by Fr. Bill Peckman
The Devil is the ultimate predator. St. Peter warns his readers, "Stay sober and alert. Your opponent the devil is prowling like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." (1 Peter 5:8) The devil is always looking for any opening in which he can pounce and destroy. He uses everything from occult practices to our concupiscence (our predilection to sin) to gain a beachhead. He will also teach us how to follow him as predators ourselves.
We live in a society that encourages predation. From the mobster who shakes down the local merchant for protection to the sex trafficker and pornographer to the predatory interest charged in so many loans to the endless scams used to bilk people out of money to the common bullying (cyber and otherwise) to those engaged in domestic violence, our society is full of predators looking for their mark, looking for their next meal. Many hide behind the cover of darkness, anonymity, or even behind the law.
Our Church has been rocked over the past half century by predation. The most obvious examples have stemmed from the scandals in which clerics preyed on their own flocks for sexual gratification, heinously even preying on the lambs of their flock. Others have preyed on their flock through financial malfeasance by defrauding their parishes or dioceses of funds. Many are also complicit in withholding from their flocks the means by which to stave off predation. In abandoning their flocks to the wolves, they are every bit as guilty as the wolves they allowed access to their flocks.
Certainly, we can extend these behaviors to the most basic building block of the Church known as the domestic church or the family. In these places we can see domestic violence, molestation, and other nefarious abuses of power that have their roots in the diabolic. From all levels of the Church the demonic mimicking of the predatory behaviors of the Devil must be purged.
All predatory behavior stems from selfishness: its needs or wants are so very important that any and all means to satisfy them must be done. For a predator, its satiation is of far greater value than your happiness, security, or life. While a predator may be infatuated by their prey, they cannot love their prey for they mean to eventually destroy their prey or discard their prey when they have taken all they want.
What force could possibly stand up against such an insatiable beast?!
We look to Christ the Good Shepherd for our answer! Christ does not prey on His flock. No, He places Himself between His flock and that which would destroy His flock. He stands in that breech, sacrificing Himself for the salvation of the flock. Jesus tells us, "I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep" (John 10:11).
Why?
Because He loves them. You cannot love someone and prey on them at the same time. Hence, the virtue we cultivate to conquer any and all desires to be a predator is the theological virtue of love. Love, divine love (or agape) is completely selfless. Instead of focusing on one's own desires and satiation, one instead looks to the good of others even when in doing so incurs suffering or sacrifice. Love, because it is of God, chases away the devil and his minions. It helps us to, as St. Paul says of himself, to be 'poured out like an oblation' (II Timothy 4:6)
Prayer of Reparation
My Lord and my God, we
have allowed the temptation of the devil to move our hearts to prey on those we
deem weaker or disposable. We have stilled our tongues in the face of such
evil. We have been too fearful to stand out in our culture, allowing selfish
desires to suffocate your love that is to dwell within us. In our fear, we have
allowed the ancient foe to advance. We turn to you Lord, in our sorrow and
guilt, and beg your forgiveness for our selfishness and silence. We beg for the
grace of your goodness to teach us to shepherd rightly those you place in
our care and the courage to stand in the breech between them and the
demonic. Help us to love as you love. 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.
Amen.
Prayer of Exorcism
Lord God of Heaven
and Earth, 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 selfishness and predation. 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 predation 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.
Litany of
Humility
O Jesus, meek and humble of heart,
Hear me.
From the desire of being esteemed,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being loved,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being extolled,
From the desire of being honored,
From the desire of being praised,
From the desire of being preferred to
others,
From the desire of being consulted,
From the desire of being approved,
From the fear of being humiliated,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being despised,
From the fear of suffering rebukes,
From the fear of being calumniated,
From the fear of being forgotten,
From the fear of being ridiculed,
From the fear of being wronged,
From the fear of being suspected,
That others may be loved more than I,
Jesus, grant
me the grace to desire it.
That others may be esteemed more than
I,
Jesus, grant
me the grace to desire it.
That, in the opinion of the world, others may
increase
and I may decrease,
Jesus, grant
me the grace to desire it.
That others may be chosen, and I set aside,
Jesus, grant
me the grace to desire it.
That others may be praised, and I go
unnoticed,
Jesus, grant
me the grace to desire it.
That others may be preferred to me in
everything,
Jesus, grant
me the grace to desire it.
That others may become holier than I,
provided that I may become as holy as I
should,
Jesus, grant
me the grace to desire it.
Fitness Friday Wim Hof's Workout Routine[3]
Becoming an Iceman like
Wim Hof needs solid discipline, especially when it comes to your workout
routine. A man like him can breathe underwater for about 6 minutes and sit in
an ice bath for about 2 hours while still maintaining his normal body
temperature.
I’m pretty sure you’re all
curious as to how an extreme athlete works out:
Wake
Up and Stretch
Hof stretches his back and
tough his toes. He then reaches the sky standing on his toes, holds for three
seconds, and repeats it twice.
Power
Breathing
Next, he takes a 30-40
slow, steady breath. He then followed it with a 10-count holding on to exhale
and take a breath, and then hold a count of 10 once again. He repeats it four
times and meditates for at least five minutes.
Cold
Shower
The most important part of
his workout routine is taking a cold shower. When he doesn’t have enough time,
he sometimes combines power breathing while showering. If you want to follow a
Wim Hof method, don’t ever skip this part.
Wim
Hof's Breathing Exercise:
Looking for a quiet place
to sit or lie down is the first thing that Hof is doing. There should be no
distractions and minimal noise in that place so that he will be comfortable
while exercising. Then, he follows these four steps:
Step 1: Power Breaths
Here, Hof starts his
exercise with 30-40 breaths (inhale and exhale). It must be slow and steady,
making sure his breathing is neither deep or shallow. When performing power
breaths, you need to imagine being blowing up a balloon and need to picture it
out as if your body is being concentrated with fresh oxygen.
During this process, it is
normal if you feel tingly or lightheaded.
Step 2: Hold Your Breath
Once Hof completes the
first step, he empties his lungs and holds his breath as long as he can. To
monitor how long he can hold his breath and improvement with the time, he is
using a stopwatch to check it. If you’re in this step, don’t focus too much on
time or feel anxious if your time doesn’t increase quickly.
Step 3: Breathe In
After Hof holds his breath
until such time he feels a gasp reflex, he then inhales for about 10 seconds.
Next is, he holds his breath for about 10-15 seconds. He usually repeats this
step 1-4 rounds.
Step 4: Meditate
Once he is done with all
the rounds of power breathing, he immediately meditates for a minimum of 5
minutes. Here, it would be best if you close your eyes then focus on your
breathing. Do your very best to block out any distracting thoughts and sounds
around.
As Wim Hof said, this will
be difficult at first, but it will become easier with constant practice. He
believes that practicing his breathing and meditation techniques can help cure
and prevent more diseases. It can also help in improving the quality of life,
including having better sleep at night.
Around
the Corner
It Is
Better to Fry in This Life Then the Next
National French Fry Day[4]
Whether
you call them ‘French
Fries’, ‘Chips’, Finger Chips, or French-Fried
Potatoes, this delicious treat is loved around the world, and French Fries Day
celebrates them. Not to be confused with the American ‘Chips’, which are thinly sliced pieces of
potato fried until crisp, French Fries are the delicious result of ‘batons’ of potato cut to various
thicknesses and then fried in oil. The outside of this staple companion food to
hamburgers and other grease-ball favorites generally have a golden texture,
varying from soft to crispy, and most often served with little more than a
dusting of salt.
History
of the French Fry
French
Fries are one of many foods whose name is most misleading, as the origins of
this fat fried food seem to be in Belgium. The story of their creation can be
found in a family manuscript dated 1781, which reveals that potatoes were
originally cut into the shape of fish and served in lieu of the fish normally
caught in a series of small villages in Belgium. It seems the river had frozen
over and the fish they normally caught and fried were unable to be caught. Why
they’re
called French is often attributed to troops coming over during World War I who
got their hands-on Belgian Fries. The official language of the Belgian army at
that time was French, and as a result the men thought they were in France
rather than Belgium. Interestingly, in that region of the world, they are still
called “Flemish
Fries” to
further complicate matters. Now these treats are loved the world round, even
becoming the ‘national
snack’ of the Netherlands.
How
to Celebrate French Fries Day
With
the popularity of French Fry, it’s
not surprising that the world has come up with as many different varieties of
this delicious food as you could imagine. So, one of the best ways to celebrate
French Fries Day is to host a party dedicated to celebrating the international
menu the fried potato has created. The simplest variation is simply to put
chopped raw onions in some ketchup and eat them up like they do in the
Netherlands. For the more adventurous, try some of the varieties below!
Canadian Poutine
This
recipe is a classic way to have French Fries, originating in Canada. This dish
is incredibly decadent, combining the crispy soft texture of the French Fries
with a rich beef gravy, and topped with cheese curds.
American Bacon Cheeseburger Classic
There
is little Americans love more than to add cheese and bacon to just about
anything. French fries are no exception, there is little that is as well-loved
as a rich, greasy accompaniment to any meal. To make this classic you start
with a basic of fries, and layer on bacon, chopped onions, cheese, and ground
hamburger before tossing them in the oven just long enough for everything to
get melty. Then grab a handful and dig in!
Greek French Fries
The
Mediterranean rarely fail at making an already delicious food rich and full of
the smells of home. If you love the classic Greek flavors of
parmigiano-reggiano or romano cheese, garlic, and oregano, then these fries are
going to leave you smiling. The key ingredients here are Extra Virgin Olive Oil
to fry them in, after which you toss them in garlic salt, Greek Oregano, and
your choice of cheese such as those mentioned ahead. To get the full impact you’re going to want to stick to the
white crumbly cheese of the region, the truly adventurous might use Mazithra
cheese.
These
are a few dishes that can help enhance French Fries Day, and really bring out
the amazing versatility of this centuries old treat. So, get out your deep
fryer, chop up some potatoes, and celebrate French Fries Day by eating yourself
into a starch filled stupor!
mussels and fries[5]
Moules-frites—the
Belgians discovered a perfect marriage. They steam their mussels in simple
marinière style (flavored with a little chopped onion, celery, carrot, parsley,
bay leaf, and thyme), and then serve heaping mounds of them.
Salade niçoise
Soupe à L’oignon
Moules Marinières
Crème brûlée
Self-control[6] is
the ability to regulate
and alter your responses to avoid undesirable behaviors, increase desirable
ones, and achieve long-term goals. Research has shown that possessing
self-control can be important for health and well-being.
Psychologists typically define
self-control as:
The ability to control
behaviors to avoid temptations and achieve goals
The ability to delay
gratification and resist unwanted behaviors or urges
A limited resource
that can be depleted
People use various terms for
self-control, including discipline,
determination, grit, willpower,
and fortitude. Some researchers believe that self-control is partly determined
by genetics, but it is also a skill you can strengthen with practice.
Self-control is one aspect of
executive function, a set of abilities that helps people to plan, monitor, and
achieve their goals. People with attention-deficit attention disorder (ADHD)
often have characteristics linked to problems with executive function.
Bucket List:
Military Hop
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE PASSENGER TERMINAL
What to do
do
a personal eucharistic stations of the cross.
Foodie: German Savoy
Cabbage
Spirit hour: German Beer
It’s okay to have a Pina Colada-just keep your
self-control.
Cheat: Peri-Peri Shrimp
Stay at home: Colcannon
Get an indulgence
Daily
Devotions
Unite
in the work of the Porters of St.
Joseph by joining them in fasting: Restoring
the Constitution
Novena
to Our Lady of Mount Carmel-Day 4
Litany
of the Most Precious
Blood of Jesus
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
Rosary
[2]https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2023-07-10
[3]https://theultimateprimate.com/sports-fitness-motivation/wim-hof-the-iceman-workout-routine-diet-plan/
[5] Schultz, Patricia. 1,000 Places to See Before You Die
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