The Iceman Story

The Iceman Story
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Thursday, July 23, 2026



SMOKE IN THIS LIFE NOT THE NEXT

Thu, Jul 23 — Bottom Shelf Day Virtue: Intercession & Fidelity

Cigar: Bottom‑shelf Dominican — humble, honest, the quiet leaf of hidden labor 

Bourbon: Evan Williams Black — simple, steady, the drink of those who keep vigil

Reflection: “Help me, dear sister… pray.”

If last night’s Cameroon carried the warmth of recognition, today’s bottom‑shelf smoke carries the weight of responsibility — the sober knowledge that love does not end at death, and charity does not cease when a soul crosses the threshold of judgment.

Blessed Stephana Quinziani knew this truth in her bones. Kneeling beside the bier of Sister Paula, she prayed with the tenderness of one who refuses to abandon a friend. And then the impossible happened: the crucifix fell, the dead hand rose, and the living were summoned into the suffering of the departed. A grip, a plea, a revelation — the hidden architecture of Purgatory laid bare in a single gesture.

“Help me… pray… do penance for me.” It is the cry of every soul who loved well yet imperfectly, who served faithfully yet not fully, who now longs for the final polishing fire that precedes glory.

Tonight’s humble Dominican smoke drifts upward like Stephana’s penances — small, steady offerings that become ladders for the waiting. Evan Williams follows with its quiet honesty, the taste of fidelity without flourish.

And so the question returns, sharpened by Sister Paula’s grasp:

Whose purification is God asking me to assist — and what small sacrifice today might loosen a hand reaching from the shadows toward the light?



JULY 23 Thursday Eight Week of Pentecost

St. Bridget Of Sweden

 

Tobit, Chapter 12, Verse 16-17

Greatly shaken, the two of them fell prostrate in FEAR. But Raphael said to them: “Do not fear; peace be with you! Bless God now and forever.

 

In June 2017 through a horrible act of violence our congress fell prostrate in fear as a shooter was taking aim on them playing baseball in a Washington, D.C. park. Men when confronted with the terrible power of man and nature instinctively fall flat. Yet, imagine if you suddenly were confronted with the power of an angel of God. You like a soldier would seek the ground.

 

Tobit[1]

After all the festivities, Tobit wanted to settle up with Azariah, which included paying him for his work during the journey.

At this point, Azariah told them who he really was – an angel sent by God.  Both Tobit and Tobias were shocked and a bit fearful.  Yet, Azariah assured them of God’s providence and care for them.  His job was to bring the healing God had decreed.  Their job was to proclaim God’s great mercy.  They were supposed to write everything down that had happened.  Then Azariah simply disappeared.

Overcoming Fear[2]

David shows us how to overcome fear, whether it be the fear of death, the fear of speaking in public (which surveys show to be greater than the fear of death!), fear of losing your children, fear of the future, or whatever. He says:

To overcome fear, seek the Lord!

David knew what he was talking about! He had evildoers coming at him to devour his flesh (27:2). They were breathing out violence (27:12). Nothing would have made them happier than to see David’s head removed from his body. He had an entire army encamped against him. The soldiers had probably been told, “Whoever comes back with David’s head gets an instant promotion to general and a fat reward!” And yet David could say, “My heart will not fear; though war arise against me, in spite of this I am confident” (27:3)! The man knows his subject! He can teach us about overcoming fear. David isn’t dispensing a formula that’s easy or simple to apply. God isn’t a good-luck charm which you can pull out when you’re in a jam and rub the right way. David is talking about a total way of life that is focused on God and which clings to God with naked faith in desperately overwhelming situations where there is no other source of help.

May this Nation prostrate itself not before men or nature but seek the Lord as David did.

Psalm 27

The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear? The LORD is my life’s refuge; of whom should I be afraid? When evildoers come at me to devour my flesh, these my enemies and foes themselves stumble and fall. Though an army encamp against me, my heart does not fear; though war be waged against me, even then do I trust.

One thing I ask of the LORD; this I seek: to dwell in the LORD’s house all the days of my life, to gaze on the LORD’s beauty, to visit his temple. For God will hide me in his shelter in time of trouble, He will conceal me in the cover of his tent; and set me high upon a rock. Even now my head is held high above my enemies on every side! I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and chant praise to the LORD.

Hear my voice, LORD, when I call; have mercy on me and answer me. “Come,” says my heart, “seek his face” your face, LORD, do I seek! Do not hide your face from me; do not repel your servant in anger. You are my salvation; do not cast me off; do not forsake me, God my savior! Even if my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will take me in.

LORD, show me your way; lead me on a level path because of my enemies. Do not abandon me to the desire of my foes; malicious and lying witnesses have risen against me. I believe I shall see the LORD’s goodness in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD, take courage; be stouthearted, wait for the LORD!

The Law of Victory[3]

 Jesus raised several people from the dead, but in each case differed from His own resurrection. Those people would eventually die again. But Jesus rose from the dead, never to die again. He defeated mankind’s greatest enemy: death. All other problems are problems because they kill us. Once Jesus defeated death, His followers could operate in total security. No struggle is too big for God. No question is unanswerable. No problem is too difficult. The resurrection of Christ trumpeted good news from the graveyard! Jesus in spite of the evil influence of Satan on men practiced the Law of Victory, decisively defeating even death itself.

 The Law of Victory: Leaders find a way for the team to win.  ~ John C. Maxwell

Leaders make things happen. They are unwilling to accept failure as their reality and choose to do all humanly possible (and sometimes even more) to achieve victory. Not just for themselves, but for their teams. Leaders live and breathe success. Leaders are resilient. They don’t feed off of the past, but choose to move forward toward the next victory. Leaders are achievers. Leaders are winners. Leaders understand that they don’t need to win every battle to be victorious. They are patient and understand that victory sometimes takes time and often even sacrifices.[4]

 Have courage He has risen, and He has sent His Mother Mary to help us in the end times. Do not be perplexed and remember Our Lady said, “In the end, My Immaculate Heart will triumph!”[5]


Copilot’s Take


Tobit and Tobias fall prostrate in fear before Raphael, shaken by the sudden revelation of divine power breaking into ordinary life. Their instinct mirrors the instinct of every human heart when confronted with forces beyond control—whether the violence of a gunman in a Washington park or the raw strength of nature itself. Men fall flat because fear collapses the illusion of self‑sufficiency. Yet Raphael’s first words are God’s perennial answer to human terror: “Do not fear; peace be with you.” The Catechism teaches that angels are servants of God’s providence (CCC 331), and Raphael’s mission is precisely that—to reveal that God’s care is stronger than every threat.

The angel’s unveiling is not meant to frighten but to heal. Tobit learns that the stranger who walked beside him was heaven’s envoy, sent to restore sight, protect the journey, and bind a marriage. Raphael instructs them to bless God, to write down the works of mercy, and to remember that divine help often arrives disguised as ordinary companionship. Then he disappears, leaving behind not fear but peace. The Catechism reminds us that God’s providence is not abstract but personal, guiding creation and human history with wisdom and love (CCC 302–314). Fear blinds us to that truth; revelation restores it.

David understood this better than most. Surrounded by enemies, hunted by armies, threatened by violence, he still declared, “My heart will not fear… in spite of this I am confident.” His confidence was not bravado but trust. The Catechism teaches that fear becomes sinful when it leads us to distrust God’s goodness or His power to save (CCC 2091). David confronts fear not by denying danger but by seeking the Lord. His life becomes a testimony that courage is not the absence of threat but the presence of God. Psalm 27 is the anatomy of holy fearlessness: a heart anchored in God’s beauty, a soul sheltered in His tent, a life lifted high upon the rock of His fidelity.

Our nation has known moments of falling prostrate in fear—moments when violence, disaster, or division have shaken confidence and exposed vulnerability. But Scripture insists that the proper posture before overwhelming force is not despair but worship. “Seek His face,” David’s heart says. The Catechism affirms that prayer is the place where fear is transformed into trust, because prayer is the encounter of God’s thirst with ours (CCC 2560). When a people seek the Lord, fear loses its power to dictate their future. When a nation kneels before God rather than danger, it rises with strength no enemy can extinguish.

Christ reveals the ultimate Law of Victory. He raised the dead, but His own resurrection was categorically different—He rose never to die again. Death, humanity’s greatest enemy, was defeated from within. The Catechism teaches that Christ’s resurrection is the source of new life, the triumph of truth over falsehood, and the victory of love over fear (CCC 638–655). Every human problem is terrifying because it threatens life; Christ’s victory over death removes the foundation of all fear. Leaders, John Maxwell says, find a way for the team to win. Christ found a way for humanity to win—not by avoiding suffering but by conquering it.

True leaders—spiritual, civic, familial—mirror this pattern. They refuse to accept failure as final, they persevere through setbacks, and they understand that victory often requires sacrifice. They do not feed on past defeats but move toward future triumphs. The Catechism teaches that Christian hope is precisely this: confidence that God will give the strength necessary to persevere and that His promises will be fulfilled (CCC 1821). Fear paralyzes; hope mobilizes. Fear isolates; leadership gathers. Fear imagines defeat; faith anticipates resurrection.

And so, on this feast of St. Bridget of Sweden, we remember a woman who confronted evil with prayer, reform, courage, and unwavering trust in God’s providence. Her life teaches that holiness is not fragile and that God equips His saints for the battles of their age. Christ has risen. His Mother has been sent as a sign of final victory. And Our Lady’s promise remains the anchor of every fearful heart: “In the end, My Immaculate Heart will triumph.” May this nation, like Tobit, like David, like Bridget, fall prostrate not before fear but before God—and rise in the peace Raphael proclaimed: Do not fear; bless God now and forever.

 St. Bridget of Sweden[6]

Bridget was born in Sweden of noble and pious parents and led a most holy life. While she was yet unborn, her mother was saved from shipwreck for her sake. At ten years of age, Bridget heard a sermon on the Passion of our Lord; and the next night she saw Jesus on the cross, covered with fresh blood, and speaking to her about his Passion. Thenceforward meditation on that subject affected her to such a degree, that she could never think of our Lord's sufferings without tears. She was given in marriage to Ulfo prince of Nericia; and won him, by example and persuasion, to a life of piety. She devoted herself with maternal love to the education of her children. She was most zealous in serving the poor, especially the sick; and set apart a house for their reception, where she would often wash and kiss their feet. Together with her husband, she went on pilgrimage to Compostela, to visit the tomb of the apostle St. James. On their return journey, Ulfo fell dangerously ill at Arras; but St. Dionysius, appearing to Bridget at night, foretold the restoration of her husband's health, and other future events. Ulfo became a Cistercian monk but died soon afterwards. Whereupon Bridget, having heard the voice of Christ calling her in a dream, embraced a more austere manner of life. Many secrets were then revealed to her by God. She founded the monastery of Vadstena under the rule of our Savior, which was given her by our Lord himself. At his command, she went to Rome, where she kindled the love of God in very many hearts. She made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem; but on her return to Rome she was attacked by fever and suffered severely from sickness during a whole year. On the day she had foretold, she passed to heaven, laden with merits. Her body was translated to her monastery of Vadstena; and becoming illustrious for miracles, she was enrolled among the saints by Boniface IX. Excerpted from the Liturgical Year, Abbot Gueranger O.S.B

Things to do

 

From the Catholic Culture Library, two articles by Pope John Paul II — St. Bridget: A Unique Model of Feminine Holiness, Three Co-Patronesses of Europe and Saint Birgitta.

St. Bridget was a member of the Franciscan Third Order. If you have never considered joining one of the Church's order's for lay people today might be a good time to think about it. Learn more about becoming a secular Franciscan.

You may want to purchase a copy of which contains excerpts from her revelations.

You might like to read about St. Birgitta of Sweden's Influence in Finland.

The Birgittine Order now has thirteen monasteries of contemplative nuns and a congregation of contemplative-apostolic sisters whose motherhouse is in Rome, in the actual former dwelling of St. Birgitta. For information about the sisters here are some websites: About the Birgittine Nuns in Vadstena, Birgittine Sisters and About the Brigittine sisters

The Brigittine Monks existed from the 14th to the middle of the 19th century, when they were dispersed, largely due to European wars. (In 1970, a Brigittine Monk, Richard Reynolds, martyr, was declared a saint.) This monastery, the 1st in over 100 years, was founded in 1976 and has the Canonical status of a Priory “Sui Juris.” If you want to know about the monks visit Brigittine Monks of the Order of the Most Holy Savior.

Read about the saints of the Brigittine order and more about Bl. Elizabeth Hesselblad who refounded the order.

The Catholic Encyclopedia has this to say about the Brigittines.

You may want to buy some delicious fudge made by the monks or purchase a Brigittine Rosary.

St. Bridget of Sweden[7]- St. Bridget received visions of Christ’s suffering many times throughout her life.

Book 1

The words of our Lord Jesus Christ to His chosen and dearly beloved bride, Saint Bridget, about the proclamation of His most holy Incarnation and the rejection, desecration and abandonment of our faith and baptism, and how He bids His beloved bride and all Christian people to love Him.

Chapter 1

“I am the Creator of the heavens and the earth, one in Divinity with the Father and the Holy Spirit. I am the one who spoke to the patriarchs and the prophets and the one whom they awaited. For the sake of their longing and in agreement with my promise, I assumed flesh without sin and concupiscence, by entering the womb of the Virgin like the sun shining through the clearest gem. For just as the sun does not damage the glass by entering it, likewise the virginity of the Virgin was not lost when I assumed Manhood. I assumed flesh in such a way that I did not have to forsake my Divinity, and I was no less God - with the Father and the Holy Spirit, governing and upholding all things - although I was in the womb of the Virgin in my human nature. Just as brightness is never separated from fire, so too, my Divinity was never separated from my Humanity, not even in death.

Thereafter I allowed my pure and sinless body to be wounded from the foot to the head, and to be crucified for all the sins of mankind. That same body is now offered each day on the altar so that mankind might love me more and remember my great deeds more often. But now I am totally forgotten, neglected, despised, and expelled as a king is from his own kingdom and in whose place the most wicked robber has been elected and honored.

I have indeed wanted my kingdom to be within man, and by right I should be King and Lord over him, for I made him and redeemed him. However, now he has broken and desecrated the faith which he promised me in his baptism, and he has broken and spurned my laws and commandments which I prescribed and revealed to him. He loves his own will and refuses to hear me. In addition, he exalts the most wicked robber, the devil, above me and has given him his faith. The devil really is a robber, since he steals for himself, by way of evil temptations, bad councils, and false promises, the human soul that I redeemed with my blood. But he does not do this because he is mightier than me; for I am so mighty that I can do all things with a word, and so just, that even if all the saints asked me, I would not do the least thing against justice.

But, since man, who has been given free will, willfully rejects my commandments and obeys the devil, it is only right that he also experiences his tyranny and malice. This devil was created good by me, but fell by his own wicked will, and has become, so to speak, my servant for inflicting vengeance on the workers of evil.

Yet even though I am now so despised, I am still so merciful that whoever prays for my mercy and humbles himself in amendment shall be forgiven his sins, and I shall save him from the evil robber - the devil. But to those who continue despising me, I shall visit my justice upon them, so that those hearing it will tremble, and those who feel it will say: “Woe, that we were ever conceived or born! Woe, that we ever provoked the Lord of majesty to wrath!”

But you, my daughter, whom I have chosen for myself, and with whom I now speak in spirit: love me with all your heart - not as you love your son or daughter or parents, but more than anything in the world - since I, who created you, did not spare any of my limbs in suffering for your sake! Yet, I love your soul so dearly that, rather than losing you, I would let myself be crucified again, if it were possible. Imitate my humility; for I, the King of glory and of angels, was clothed in ugly, wretched rags and stood naked at the pillar and heard all kinds of insults and ridicule with my own ears. Always prefer my will before your own, because my Mother, your Lady, has, from the beginning to the end, never wanted anything but what I wanted.

If you do this, then your heart shall be with my heart, and it will be inflamed by my love in the same way that anything dry becomes rapidly inflamed by fire. Your soul shall be so inflamed and filled with me, and I will be in you, so that everything worldly becomes bitter to you and all fleshly lusts like poison. You will rest in the arms of my Divinity, where no fleshly desires exist, but only spiritual delight and joy which fill the delighted soul with happiness - inwardly and outwardly - so that it thinks of nothing and desires nothing but the joy which it possesses. So love me alone, and you will have all the things you want, and you will have them in abundance. Is it not written that the oil of the widow did not decrease until the day the rain was sent to earth by God according to the words of the prophet? I am the true prophet! If you believe my words and follow and fulfill them, the oil - joy and jubilation - shall never decrease for you for all eternity.”

Our Lord Jesus Christ’s words to his daughter - whom He now had taken as His bride - about the articles of the true faith, and about what kind of adornments, tokens and desires the bride must have in order to please the bridegroom.

 

Novena of St. Ann[8]

 

Daily Prayer to Saint Ann

 

O glorious St. Ann, you are filled with compassion for those who invoke you and with love for those who suffer! Heavily burdened with the weight of my troubles, I cast myself at your feet and humbly beg of you to take the present intention which I recommend to you in your special care.

Please recommend it to your daughter, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and place it before the throne of Jesus, so that He may bring it to a happy issue. Continue to intercede for me until my request is granted. But, above all, obtain for me the grace one day to see my God face to face, and with you and Mary and all the saints to praise and bless Him for all eternity. Amen.

 

Our Father, . . . Hail Mary . . .

 

O Jesus, Holy Mary, St. Ann, help me now and at the hour of my death. Good St. Ann, intercede for me.

 

SEVENTH DAY

 

Once again, Good St. Ann, I choose you for my advocate before the throne of God. By the power and grace that God has placed in you, extend to me your helping hand. Renew my mind and my heart.

 

Dear St. Ann, I have unbounded confidence in your prayers. To your blessed hands I entrust my soul, my body and all my hopes for this world and the next. Direct my actions according to your goodness and wisdom. I place myself under your motherly care. Receive me, good mother. Cover me with the mantle of your love. Look kindly on me. By your powerful intercession, may I obtain from God grace and mercy. Obtain for me remission for sin and release from the punishment my offenses have deserved. Pray that I may receive grace to lead a devout life on earth and that I may obtain the everlasting reward of heaven.

 Let Freedom Ring Day 17 Freedom from Lukewarmness

Hike of West Fork Oak Creek Sedona, Arizona

West Fork Oak Creek is a popular trail. There is a pleasant little stream that ripples along the canyon floor as you hike it where you can look up at the dizzying cliffs that tower above it.

During this hike you will meditate on each of the ways you may have been walking away from God; marking each of the meditations as you cross the stream multiple times. On the return hike, you will meditate using the walking towards God meditations as you cross the stream. Remember every journey away from something is a journey toward something—the first meditations are the seven deadly sins with fear added as an eighth; and you will be meditating on the Beatitudes of Christ on the way back in reverse order.

Walking away from GOD

(Have I been/Shown?)

1 FEAR:  Terror, Dread; Horror, Fright; Panic, Alarm; Trepidation, Apprehension.

2 PRIDE/HUBRIS:  Arrogant; Conceit; Smugness; Self-importance; Satisfaction; Pleasure; Delight.

3 ENVY:  Jealousy, Desire; Resentment, Spite, Malice, Meanness.

4 WRATH:  Anger, Annoyance, Rage; Fury, Aggravation, Frustration.

5 AVARICE:  Greed; Materialism; Covetousness, Acquisitiveness.

6 SLOTH:  Laziness, Idleness; Sluggishness, Inactivity; Indolence (condition that is slow to develop or be healed and causes no pain-i.e. fail to resist evil) Apathy.

7 GLUTTONY:  Excess, Exclusivity; Over indulgence; Intemperance.

8 LUST:  Yearn, Desire; Long for, Hanker for; Hunger for, Ache for, Crave.

Walking toward GOD

(Have I failed to be, do; or show?)

8 CHASTITY (PURITY OF HEART):  Cleanliness, Wholesomeness; Spotlessness, Clarity; Transparency, Knowledge, Honesty, Wisdom.

Opposing Deadly Sin: LUST

Blessed are the clean of heart, for they shall see God. The clean of heart are those who preserve with care the innocence with which they are invested at holy Baptism, or seek to regain it, when lost, by penance; those who keep their hearts and consciences unspotted from all sinful thoughts, particularly from all unchaste thoughts, desires, words, and acts, and who endeavor in all things to have a pure intention directed to God alone. They shall see God, that is, they shall know Him even here upon earth, for as the eye that is to see must be clean, so only souls that are pure and unstained can behold God. But further, our knowledge is like our hearts; the purer the heart the clearer and greater is the knowledge of God. But in the world above they shall see, know, and possess Him as He is. What blessedness! Strive, therefore, to keep your heart clean.

7 TEMPERANCE (POOR IN SPIRIT):  Sacrifice, Give Up; Forgo, Let Go; Surrender, Tithe, Self-Control, Abstention.

Opposing Deadly Sin: GLUTTONY

The poor in spirit are: 1. Those who, like the apostles, readily forsake all earthly things, and for Christ’s sake become poor. 2. Those who, happening to lose their property by misfortune or injustice, suffer the loss patiently, in resignation to the will of God. 3. Those who, like Jesus, are content with their poor and humble position, seek no higher or happier one, and would rather suffer want than enrich themselves by unlawful acts, by fraud or theft. 4. The rich and noble who set not their hearts upon the riches and greatness of the world who use their riches and influence to relieve the misery of the needy and oppressed. 5. Finally, the truly humble, who, convinced of their weakness, their helplessness and misery, think lowly of themselves, and regard themselves but as beggars, who are always in need of the grace of God. To all these, therefore, in whose hearts the world has no place, there is assured, as their inheritance, the kingdom of heaven; here the kingdom of grace there the kingdom of glory.

6 DILIGENCE (HUNGER & THRIST FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS):  Fairness, Impartiality; Righteousness, Evenhandedness; Fair Dealing, Persistence, Effort, Ethics, Rectitude.

Opposing Deadly Sin: SLOTH

Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice, for they shall have their fill. Hunger and thirst denote the most ardent longing after those virtues which constitute Christian perfection, such as humility, meekness, the love of God and of our neighbor, penance. Whoever longs for these virtues as the hungry man does for food and drink, and prays to God for them with perseverance and earnestness, shall have his fill; that is, he shall be enriched with them, and one day shall be satisfied with eternal Happiness.

5 CHARITY (MERCIFUL):  Compassion; Kindness, Pity; Bigheartedness, Clemency; Openhandedness, Forgiveness; Liberality, Understanding; Leniency, Will, Benevolence, Generosity. Opposing Deadly Sin: AVARICE

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. The merciful here spoken of are: 1. Those who willingly forgive the injuries done to them. 2. Those who have compassion on their poor neighbors, and, according to their ability, sustain them by alms. These shall obtain mercy; that is, God will forgive them their sins and endow them abundantly with the goods of this world and of the world to come. Thus God deals with us as we deal with others.

4 PATIENCE (PEACEMAKERS):  Relations, Mediation; Negotiation—Prevents Destruction, I.E. Stem Cell/Abortion, Sufferance.

Opposing Deadly Sin: WRATH

Blessed are the peace-makers, for they shall be called the children of God. By peacemakers we are to understand those who have peace with themselves, that is, a quiet conscience, and who endeavor to maintain peace among others, or to restore it when broken. Such are called the children of God, because they follow God, Who is a God of peace, and Who even gave His only Son to reconcile the world with Him, and to bring down upon earth that peace which the world itself could not give.

3 KINDNESS (MOURNING):  Grief, Sorrow; Remembrance, Respect, Loyalty, Integrity.

Opposing Deadly Sin: ENVY

Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted. By them that mourn we are not to understand such as grieve and lament over a death, a misfortune, a loss of worldly goods, or the like; but those who are grieved that God should be in so many ways offended by themselves and by others that His Church should be so heavily oppressed, and thereby so many souls lost that have been redeemed with the precious blood of Christ. The only evil really to be grieved for is sin, and the tears shed on account of sin are the only tears that are profitable, for they shall be recompensed with everlasting joy.

 2 HUMILITY (MEEK): Modesty, Not Assuming, Reverence, Altruism.

Opposing Deadly Sin: PRIDE/HUBRIS

Blessed are the meek, for they shall possess the land. That man is meek who does not murmur against God for sending afflictions upon him, who is not angry at men who do him injury, but who rather suppresses impatience, anger, envy, and revenge, nay, who seeks to recompense the evil done him by his neighbor with good. Such a one is greater than he who takes by storm fortified cities (Prov. xvi. 32); he possesses an unfailing fountain of peace, quiet, and cheerfulness; by his meekness prevails over the most hostile minds, is by such means truly a ruler upon earth, and will one day, for his portion, obtain heaven, the land of the living, there to enjoy eternal peace.

1 LOVE & COURAGE (FAITH-BE NOT AFRAID):  Affection, Adoration; Friendship, Confidence; Courageous, Trust; Valiant, Reliance; Heroic, Assurance; Bold, Conviction; Daring, Belief; Fearless, Devotion; Plucky, Loyalty.

Opposing Deadly Sin: FEAR

Love Brothers and sisters do not be afraid to welcome Christ and accept his power. Help the Pope and all those who wish to serve Christ and with Christ’s power to serve the human person and the whole of mankind. Do not be afraid: Open wide the doors for Christ. To his saving power open the boundaries of States, economic and political systems, the vast fields of culture, civilization and development. Do not be afraid. Christ knows “what is in man”. He alone knows it. So often today man does not know what is within him, in the depths of his mind and heart. So often he is uncertain about the meaning of his life on this earth. He is assailed by doubt, a doubt which turns into despair. We ask you therefore, we beg you with humility and trust, let Christ speak to man. He alone has words of life, yes, of eternal life.

Around the Corner Chill in Idaho

For thus said the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel: By waiting and by calm you shall be saved, in quiet and in trust shall be your strength. Isaiah 30:15

Places to Visit in July[9]

Coeur D’Alene, Idaho 

Idaho is probably not the first place, nor even the twentieth place, that people think of when they are planning a trip. Coeur D’Alene, however, should make you reconsider. August is a great time to visit to make the most of water sports on the lake, rafting on one of the nearby rivers, or relaxing on the lakeside beach in the warm weather. For music fans, the city park hosts the “Live After Five” series of weekly concerts throughout the summer. For adventure seekers, you can even go skydiving and zip-lining in Coeur D’Alene. There are also several trails and forests nearby for hiking enthusiasts.  

The shops and restaurants are primarily independently owned, and a few local wineries have tasting rooms in the city. Grab a coffee from The Vault or Evans Brothers Coffee and go for a stroll on the Floating Boardwalk. Head to Beverly’s for dinner for some truly excellent seafood and steaks and enjoy views of the lake with your food. It might be a surprising location to recommend, but it is one of the best places to visit in the USA in August, especially if you are on a road trip through the Northwest United States. 

Where to Stay: Coeur D’Alene Resort Hotel

Nearest Major Airport: Spokane International Airport 

Average Temperature: 84 // 58 

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[10] 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.

American West Coast Menu

Mojito

Hearty Potato Soup

Cobb Salad

Pork Chile Verde

Washington State Apple Pie

Foodie-Catholic Recipe: Swedish Meatballs

St. Louis Style Pig Snoots

Pigs Feet Recipe (Southern Soul Food)

Easy Chicken Feet Recipe (Chinese Dim Sum Style)

Vanilla Ice Cream Day

Bucket List Trip: The World” next port of call: Riga, Latvia

Things to do

Spirit Hour: Wine Cooler

Be a model of feminine Holiness

Daily Devotions

Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them in fasting:

Litany of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus

Offering to the sacred heart of Jesus

Drops of Christ’s Blood

Universal Man Plan

Rosary



[3] John Maxwell, the Maxwell Leadership Bible.

[5] Third apparition, Fatima, July 13, 1917.

[10] Venerable Mary of Agreda. The Mystical City of God: Complete Edition Containing all Four Volumes with Illustrations (p. 770). Veritatis Splendor Publications. Kindle Edition 


 


THE BAD SISTER (1931)

Sydney Fox • Conrad Nagel • Bette Davis • Humphrey Bogart Directed by Hobart Henley • A Pre‑Code Melodrama of Temptation, Ruin, and Moral Awakening

The Bad Sister is one of those early‑sound curiosities whose resonance comes not from its plot but from the luminous shadows of the careers it would eventually launch. Beneath its modest melodrama lies a story of small‑town yearning, moral frailty, and the dangerous glamour of a charming stranger. Sydney Fox’s Marianne is the restless heart of the film — impulsive, vain, and aching for a life larger than the one she’s been given.

Around her orbit two figures who would become giants: Bette Davis, still shy and unformed, and Humphrey Bogart, already carrying the faint outline of the cynicism that would define him. Their presence turns this simple drama into a historical artifact — a glimpse of legends before they knew they were legends.

The film’s emotional core is the tension between innocence and ambition, between the safety of home and the seductive promise of escape. It is a tale of misjudgment, consequence, and the slow, painful rediscovery of what truly matters.

🎞️ Film Card — The Bad Sister (1931)

The Bad Sister

1931
6.0/10 IMDb
68 min
A small‑town girl, restless for glamour and admiration, falls under the spell of a suave con man whose schemes entangle her family and threaten their reputation. Her sister’s quiet virtue stands in contrast to her reckless choices, revealing the cost of vanity and the slow path toward redemption.
Pre‑Code Melodrama Early Sound
Director Hobart Henley
Stars Sydney Fox, Conrad Nagel, Bette Davis, Humphrey Bogart
Studio Universal Pictures
Notable Earliest surviving film featuring both Bette Davis and Humphrey Bogart

Sources:

1. Production & Cultural Setting

Early‑Sound Hollywood — Finding Its Voice

The film arrives during that transitional moment when studios were still learning how to stage dialogue, pace scenes, and let sound breathe. Its stiffness is part of its charm — a relic of cinema discovering itself.

Pre‑Code Candor

Before the Production Code tightened its grip, films could explore moral ambiguity with surprising frankness. Marianne’s vanity, her flirtation with danger, and the con man’s predatory charm all reflect that brief window of cinematic freedom.

The Dawn of Two Titans

Davis and Bogart appear here as almost‑unrecognizable versions of themselves — Davis timid, Bogart slick and theatrical. Their presence is the film’s greatest historical gift.

2. Story Summary

The Restless Sister

Marianne Madison longs for sophistication and admiration, chafing against small‑town ordinariness.

The Con Man Arrives

Bogart’s Valentine Corliss sweeps into town with polished lies and seductive promises, quickly ensnaring Marianne’s imagination.

The Good Sister’s Quiet Strength

Bette Davis’s Laura, gentle and overlooked, becomes the moral counterpoint — the steady presence Marianne cannot yet appreciate.

Schemes, Scandals, and Consequences

Corliss’s fraudulent plans entangle the Madison family, exposing Marianne’s naïveté and threatening their social standing.

A Painful Awakening

Through humiliation and heartbreak, Marianne confronts the truth of her choices — discovering that admiration without integrity is hollow.

3. Moral & Emotional Resonances

A. Vanity Clouds Judgment

Marianne’s hunger for admiration blinds her to danger — a timeless warning about the seductions of ego.

B. Innocence Is Not Weakness

Laura’s quiet goodness becomes the film’s moral anchor, revealing that gentleness can be a form of strength.

C. Charm Can Be a Weapon

Corliss embodies the danger of charisma untethered from conscience.

D. Redemption Begins With Clarity

Marianne’s growth comes not from punishment but from painful self-recognition.

E. Home Is a Moral Compass

The small town she once scorned becomes the place where she learns who she truly is.

4. Hospitality Pairing — A Night of Moral Reflection

Drink: A simple rye‑whiskey highball — crisp, unpretentious, a nod to early‑1930s Americana. Plate: Butter cookies and sliced apples — humble comforts that contrast Marianne’s misguided pursuit of sophistication. Atmosphere: A quiet evening with soft lamplight, evoking the stillness of small‑town nights. Symbol: A tarnished locket — beauty dulled by misuse, restored by honesty.

5. Reflection Prompts

  • Where has admiration tempted me away from what is true.

  • What quiet strength in my life have I overlooked.

  • How do I discern charm from character.

  • Where might humility open a path to restoration.

  • What “small town” part of my soul keeps me grounded.


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