Afternoon Tea Week[1]
My
mother loved everything about tea, so I posted this.
Sometimes the wait for dinner is just way too long, and lunch has passed
far too many hours ago. It’s obvious that the length of the day is starting to
wear on everyone!
When this happens, it’s time to heat the kettle and then get started with
a warm cup of tea and some light sandwiches–and perhaps something sweet to
finish it off. This is the opportunity to take some time to appreciate the day,
and bolster up for the rest of the evening!
Afternoon Tea Week taps into the British Tradition of having afternoon
tea. It is meant to help bring a bit of elegance and pomp to an otherwise
unremarkable time of day in the later part of the afternoon.
History of Afternoon Tea Week
Afternoon Tea Week was established to help secure a tradition that has
graced British afternoons since the 1840’s. In those days, dinner often wasn’t
served until 8pm. Since a full lunch wasn’t actually a thing, what was a hungry
person to do in the hours of the afternoon? Create a new mini-meal in the
middle of the day of course!
Even though it is called “tea”, there is far more than just a beverage
being served in the afternoon! Traditionally this light meal contains tiny
finger sandwiches, as well as scones with jam and clotted cream. Plus, this
time is also likely to reveal sweet dainties such as cakes and pastries to help
lift the spirits, bolster energy, and see people through the rest of the day.
After a while, what started out as a simple afternoon meal grew into a
social event, especially for those who spent their lives in the upper echelons
of the day’s society. This became even more prominent once Queen Victoria
herself took part in this tradition. At that point the concept of the ‘tea
reception’ was born. This type of event included lavish and fancy afternoon
repasts that could host anywhere from a close collection of friends to a couple
hundred of society’s most important faces.
As the name suggests, drinking hot tea was a very important part of this
meal, which was a tradition started by Anna, the 7th Duchess of Bedford. She
often found herself feeling weary or worn down in the middle of the day, and a
pot of tea with a snack just seemed to be the best way to take care of it. She
soon invited friends to join her for walks in the field, and thus began the
tradition that would eventually turn into Afternoon Tea.
The tradition continues and it is time, once again, to celebrate
Afternoon Tea Week!
How to Celebrate Afternoon Tea Week
Celebrating Afternoon Tea Week is simple. For the length of a week,
simply commit to taking a pause for Afternoon Tea as a part of each day. Enjoy
warm tea, a few sweets, and a small repast that will help lift those spirits
and drive the momentum for the rest of the day. Or try these other ideas for
celebrating:
Host an Afternoon Tea Week Event
Those who really want to go all out can organize and host a special tea
reception where friends and family can be invited. Gather those tea pots filled
with loose leaf English Breakfast or Earl Grey tea, and get started! It might
be fun to even go so far as to wear a Victorian Costume to honor the delightful
history of this day.
Enjoy a Restaurant for Afternoon Tea
Those who don’t have time to prepare a formal (or simply don’t feel like
it!) may be able to find a local restaurant that provides a formal or
semi-formal afternoon tea experience.
Traditional Afternoon Tea is usually served based on the number of people
joining. A reservation might be made as a tea for two or tea for four. The meal
will be served with a pot of tea as well as three different courses of food
that are usually displayed on a tall, three-tiered stand.
Typically, the stand will contain tea sandwiches, which are meant to be
eaten first. After this, traditional scones will be eaten and usually served
with clotted cream as well as fresh jam. Finally, after this, a plate full of
sweets and pastries will be available.
Visit England for Afternoon Tea
No one can challenge the fact that the best place to have afternoon tea
is in England. Sure, it might be a bit overpriced, but why not pop over to
London to enjoy some of the best afternoon tea that can be found at one of
these places:
The Tea Rooms at Harrods
Department Store. Served in style,
sandwiches here will often include smoked salmon or salt beef. Since Harrods
began as a shop with a special interest in tea, the pot is the star of the show
here.
Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon
at Fortnum & Mason. Since this
company has been selling tea for more than 300 years, it is safe to say this is
a trustworthy experience. The tearoom is decorated in the style of a Georgian
Drawing Room and boasted a visit from Queen Elizabeth herself on its opening in
2012.
BB Bakery Afternoon Tea
Bus Tour. An alternative to the
traditional, this tearoom offers a slightly more casual feel as it takes place
on a vintage London Bus as it moves about the city!
But even for people who only have time for a simple cup of tea each day, remember Afternoon Tea Week. And, of course, it’s the perfect occasion to take a few breaths in the very British tradition that lets people “Keep Calm and Carry On.”
**Smoke — Monday, August 10
Feast of Saint Lawrence Joy in Suffering**
Leaf: Bold, spicy (Nicaraguan)
Pour: Booker’s
Question: What am I willing to offer joyfully
Today’s leaf does not soothe; it awakens. Nicaraguan spice steps forward with a confident burn, a counterpoint to yesterday’s Cameroon gentleness. Booker’s joins it with its own fierce clarity — a spirit that refuses to soften the truth that love, when real, will eventually cost something.
Saint Lawrence stands in the center of this day like a flame that laughs. His martyrdom is not grim endurance but radiant offering. He teaches that suffering, when united to Christ, becomes a strange feast: not because pain is desirable, but because love transforms even the furnace into a place of victory.
The saints from yesterday remain, but their posture shifts. Magdalen de Pazzi, who watched Benedicta’s soul carried as a golden‑headed dove, shows that restoration is preparation, not conclusion. Benedicta’s “third place” — that chamber of deprivation without pain — was a pause before ascent. Mercy steadies the heart; suffering tests it; joy crowns it.
Saint Gertrude’s visions of Christ’s limitless mercy form today’s foundation. One cannot offer joyfully without first being restored. Blessed Margaret Mary and Mother de Montoux remind the soul that the Sacred Heart beats in a rhythm of wound and sweetness — and that joy is found not by escaping the wound but by entering it with Christ.
So what am I willing to offer joyfully?
Not the easy things. Not the sacrifices that flatter my strength. But the fears, comforts, and hidden resistances that reveal where love must grow.
Yesterday was for embers. Today is for flame.
AUGUST 10 Monday Eleventh Week
Pentecost
Saint Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr
Judith, Chapter 16,
Verse 15-16
For the mountains to their bases
are tossed with the waters; the rocks, like wax, melt before your glance. “But
to those who FEAR you, you will show
mercy. Though
the sweet fragrance of every sacrifice is a trifle, and the fat of all burnt
offerings but little in your sight, one who fears
the Lord is forever great.
With
victory come the spoils of war and Judith as Heroin of the people get the
spoils from Holofernes tent. She is rich indeed but because she is truly a
servant of God; all of the booty she receives she keeps none sending it all to
the temple in Jerusalem.
“Only those that see the invisible
can do the impossible.”
Tyrese
Victory[1]
Material
gains from victory are turned back to God.
People’s joy
and exultation are also returned to God in celebration.
The Lord is
God; he crushes warfare.
The Lord
shatters the enemy with a woman’s hand.
Yahweh sends
heroes to deliver the people when they cry out for help. The victory of Judith
confirms that premise.
Judith’s
victory is symbolic of God’s victory over evil, preservation of the sanctuary,
and the deliverance of the people.
The
beheading of Holofernes is the symbolic defeat of the devil.
Judith is a precursor of Mary the Lord’s mother who
will defeat the devil as he defeated Eve, our first mother.
God’s
message in Judith is when you face evil beyond your strength; persevere in
hope.
Judith gave
all her wealth to the temple of Jerusalem; Mary, Queen of heaven gave us her
Son to complete the work of God making our bodies and soul the true temple of
the Lord. Today’s Saint St. Josemaria founded Opus Dei whose goal is to aid us
in being a living temple for God.
Copilot’s Take
The song of Judith rises like
a trumpet blast across the centuries: mountains tremble, rocks melt, and the
gaze of God exposes every false strength. Judith 16 teaches that fear of the
Lord — holy reverence, not terror — is the posture that makes a person “forever
great.” The Catechism affirms that this fear is a gift of the Holy Spirit (CCC
1831) and the beginning of wisdom (CCC 1806). It is the interior stance that
allows God to act when human strength collapses. America’s crisis is not merely
political; it is spiritual. A nation that forgets holy fear forgets the source
of true greatness.
Judith’s victory is the
triumph of a woman who sees the invisible and therefore accomplishes the
impossible. She receives the spoils of war, yet keeps none for herself, sending
everything to the Temple. Her heart is free from the seduction of victory. The
Catechism teaches that authentic worship requires interior sacrifice more than
external offerings (CCC 2099–2100). Judith embodies this truth: her victory is
not for personal enrichment but for the glory of God. In a culture obsessed
with gain, Judith reminds America that victory without virtue is hollow.
Her beheading of Holofernes
is not merely military strategy; it is symbolic theology. Evil is defeated not
by brute force but by fidelity, courage, and purity of heart. The CCC teaches
that God’s providence works through human instruments (CCC 302) and that He
raises up deliverers when His people cry out (CCC 2577). Judith becomes a
precursor of Mary, the woman whose obedience will crush the serpent’s head (CCC
411). In both women, God reveals that evil is conquered through humility, not
domination — a lesson America must relearn if it hopes to heal.
This symbolism becomes
painfully relevant today, as some states and cities extend the culture of death
from abortion to euthanasia. The Catechism teaches that direct abortion is a
grave moral disorder (CCC 2271) and that euthanasia is morally unacceptable
because it seeks to end life under the guise of mercy (CCC 2277). When a
society normalizes the killing of the vulnerable — whether unborn or elderly,
disabled, depressed, or terminally ill — it reveals a deeper spiritual
sickness. Judith’s victory over Holofernes becomes a warning: evil grows when
unopposed, and once a culture accepts the destruction of life at its beginning,
it soon accepts the destruction of life at its end.
Yet the confrontation with
evil cannot remain external. The Catechism insists that the deepest structures
of sin are rooted in personal sin (CCC 1869). Conversion is the true
battleground. Solidarity becomes the method (CCC 1939), courage the posture (CCC
2242), truth the light (CCC 1827), and charity the motive (CCC 1822). A
Catholic response to America’s wounds is never partisan; it is sacramental. It
flows from the Eucharist, “source and summit of the Christian life” (CCC 1324),
where Christ gives himself entirely, and from Mary, who teaches us how to
receive him without fear.
Thus, the feast of St.
Lawrence becomes a summons. He died as Judith lived — fearless, generous, and
utterly given to God. His martyrdom proclaims that evil is confronted not by
hatred but by charity (CCC 2473). Judith, Mary, and Lawrence form a single
witness: when confronted with evil, the people of God must respond with
courage, purity, sacrifice, and unwavering fidelity to truth. America needs
this witness now. For only those who see the invisible — the providence of God,
the dignity of every human life, the victory of Christ — can do the impossible:
confront evil without becoming it.
St. Lawrence[1] is the patron of cooks-today, have a
BBQ in honor of his death for the faith.
This young deacon and heroic martyr are numbered among those saints who
were most highly venerated by the ancient Roman Church. Even though we have no
genuine account of St. Lawrence's martyrdom, we do possess considerable
evidence from most ancient times regarding the particulars of his passion.
Legendary Acts tell how Lawrence was a disciple of Pope Sixtus
II (257-258), who dearly loved him because of his special talents, but
principally because of his innocence; in spite of his youth, the Pope numbered
him among the seven deacons of Rome and raised him to the position of
archdeacon. As such, Lawrence had the immediate care of the altar and was at
the side of the saintly Pope whenever he offered the holy Sacrifice; to him also
was confided the administration of the goods of the Church and the
responsibility of caring for the poor. During the persecution of Emperor
Valerian (253-260), Sixtus II and his four deacons were martyred. Lawrence was
dispersing items in the house of a certain Narcissus, a blind man named
Crescentius asked for healing help by the imposition of hands. The holy deacon
made the Sign of the Cross over him and the man began to see. From his
relations with Pope Sixtus, it was known that he acted as the steward over the
Church's property. He was arrested and while in prison Lawrence cured the blind
Lucillus and several other blind persons. Ordered by the authorities to
surrender the treasures of the Church, Lawrence asked for two days’ time during
which to gather them. The request was granted, and he brought together the poor
and the sick that he had supported. These he led to the judge. "Here are
the treasures of the Church!" Lawrence was tortured, scourged, and
scorched with glowing plates, in other words, Barbequed alive. In
the midst of excruciating pain, he prayed: "Lord Jesus Christ, God from
God, have mercy on Your servant!" And he besought the grace of faith for
the bystanders. At a certain point the soldier Romanus exclaimed: "I see
before you an incomparably beautiful youth. Hasten and baptize me." He had
observed how an angel dried the wounds of Lawrence with a linen cloth during
his passion. Again, during the night, he was dragged before the judge and
threatened with immediate death. But he replied: "My God I honor and Him
alone I serve. Therefore, I do not fear your torments; this
night shall become as brightest day and as light without any darkness."
When placed upon the glowing gridiron, he jested with his executioners and the
cruel tyrant. "Now you may turn me over, my body is roasted enough
on this side." Shortly after this had been done, he cried again:
"At last I am finished; you may now take from me and eat." Then
turning to God in prayer: "I thank You, O Lord, that I am permitted to
enter Your portals." To comfort him during his torments God said to him:
"My servant, do not be afraid. I am with you." He was put
to death upon the Viminal Hill and buried on the Tiburtinian Way.
Let
Freedom Ring Day 35
Freedom from Childishness
When observing the condition of our culture, it is clear that it is
showing signs of an alarming growth of "Emotional Childishness,"
which is not unlike a "lack of spiritual maturity." More and more
people have, as renowned Psychologist, Dr. Susan Heitler states, "reached
chronological adulthood without having mastered the core elements of adult
emotional functioning."
Dr. Heitler points to 10 signs of a childish adult - See how many of
these you recognize in the "temper tantrum mob" wreaking havoc in the
streets:
1) Emotional escalations,
2) Blaming,
3) Lies,
4) Name-calling,
5) Impulsivity,
6) Need to be the center of attention,
7) Bullying,
8) Budding narcissism ("It's all about me." In the eyes of a
narcissist, no one else counts; if they don't get their way, they may result to
pouting or bullying in order to do so),
9) Immature defenses (tendency to attack - see "cancel
culture" - anyone who expresses a differing viewpoint),
10) No observing ego (inability to see, acknowledge, and learn from their
mistakes).
Around the Corner
Bucket List Trip: Around the World “Perfect Weather”
Eat waffles and Pray for the assistance of the Angels
Religion in the Home for Preschool: August
Spirit Hour: St Lawrence cocktail
Monday: Litany of Humility
Foodie: Thukpa
Daily Devotions
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them in fasting: Restoring the Constitution
Religion in the Home for Preschool: August
Litany of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus
Offering to the sacred heart of Jesus
Rosary
[1]The Collegeville Bible Commentary, 1986.
🔸 August 2026 — Conversion & Mystery
A Month of Films That Reveal What Grace Looks Like When It Interrupts a Life
August is the month when the soul begins to turn — not dramatically, not violently, but with the slow, unmistakable pivot that marks true conversion. It is also the month when mystery becomes visible: grace appearing in unlikely places, unlikely people, unlikely moments. These five films form a pilgrimage through that terrain.
Each Sunday offers a different face of conversion: the unexpected, the painful, the reluctant, the ambiguous, the aristocratic. Together they create a theology of transformation.
• August 3 — Strange Cargo (1940)
Conversion as intrusion. Grace walks into a band of fugitives and refuses to leave. A Christ‑figure appears where no one expects Him — and the soul is forced to choose.
• August 10 — Come Fill the Cup (1951)
Conversion as sobriety. A man confronts the wreckage of his own excess and learns that redemption requires both courage and companionship.
• August 17 — The Devil at 4 O’Clock (1961)
Conversion as sacrifice. A priest and convicts face catastrophe together, discovering that holiness sometimes emerges only in crisis.
• August 24 — The Devil Probably (1977)
Conversion as question. A young man rejects the world’s false answers, yet cannot find God’s. A meditation on despair, freedom, and the mystery of refusal.
• August 31 — Brideshead Revisited (1981)
Conversion as memory. Grace haunts an aristocratic family, revealing that God’s pursuit is patient, persistent, and often hidden beneath beauty and ruin.
If you want, I can craft a full August header, a weekly liturgical cue, or individual Smoke‑style reflections for each film.
RED SALUTE (1935)
Barbara Stanwyck • Robert Young • Hardie Albright Directed by Sidney Lanfield • Produced by Walter Wanger A Campus‑to‑Border Chase of Ideals, Rebellion, and the Dangerous Romance of Defiance
Red Salute (1935) sits at the crossroads of screwball energy and political anxiety. America was watching Europe tilt toward extremism, and Hollywood responded with films that tried to tame radicalism through romance, humor, and patriotic clarity. Into this atmosphere steps Barbara Stanwyck — sharp, restless, and unwilling to be anyone’s ideological pawn.
She plays Drue Van Allen, a general’s daughter whose flirtation with campus radicalism sends her fleeing across the Mexican border. Robert Young’s character, a clean‑cut medical student with more common sense than swagger, becomes her reluctant companion. Their journey becomes a tug‑of‑war between rebellion and responsibility, between the thrill of defiance and the sobering weight of reality.
Stanwyck gives the film its spine: a woman whose independence is genuine, but whose political flirtations are naïve. Young provides the counterbalance — steady, decent, and quietly courageous. Together they reveal a truth still relevant: zeal without grounding becomes drift; conviction without clarity becomes chaos.
🎞️ Film Card — Red Salute (1935) Red Salute (1935) • 5.6/10 IMDb • 80 min A general’s daughter, swept up in campus radicalism, flees to Mexico where she collides with a level‑headed medical student. Ideals, attraction, and political confusion chase them across borders until rebellion gives way to truth. Romantic Comedy • Political Farce • Borderland Adventure
Director Sidney Lanfield
Producer Walter Wanger
Writer Humphrey Pearson
Stars Barbara Stanwyck, Robert Young, Hardie Albright
Studio Walter Wanger Productions
Notable A Depression‑era attempt to defuse radicalism through humor and Stanwyck’s fire.
1. Production & Cultural Setting
The Red Scare Before the Red Scare 1935 America feared ideological drift — the film treats radicalism as both comic and dangerous.
Stanwyck’s Restless Intelligence She plays Drue as a woman too sharp for slogans, too alive for dogma.
Borderland Symbolism Mexico becomes a liminal space where rebellion collapses and clarity emerges.
Political Comedy with Teeth The film mocks extremism but respects the seriousness of conviction.
Score Light, brisk, and mischievous — rebellion set to dance‑tempo.
2. Story Summary
A Daughter in Revolt Drue rejects her father’s military world and embraces campus radicalism.
A Level‑Headed Companion Young’s character becomes her accidental guardian on the run.
Borderland Misadventures Their flight into Mexico exposes the absurdity of ideological fantasies.
Romance Through Reality Attraction grows as illusions fall away.
Return to Truth Drue discovers that rebellion without wisdom is just noise.
3. Moral & Emotional Resonances
A. Ideals Without Depth Radicalism becomes a costume when not rooted in truth.
B. The Seduction of Rebellion Defiance feels powerful — until consequences arrive.
C. The Strength of Steady Virtue Young’s character shows that courage can be quiet.
D. Clarity Through Collision Truth emerges when illusions are forced to break.
E. The Heart’s Return Home Sometimes the soul must run away to discover what it actually believes.
4. Hospitality Pairing — Borderland & Clarity
Drink: Tequila with lime — sharp, honest, border‑bright.
Plate: Grilled carne asada — smoke, salt, and straightforward strength.
Atmosphere: A roadside cantina at dusk — lanterns low, dust settling, truth approaching.
Symbol: A passport — identity tested, direction chosen.
5. Reflection Prompts
Where does rebellion mask confusion.
Where does conviction need grounding.
Where does attraction reveal truth.
Where does clarity require leaving familiar ground.
Where does the heart return after running too far.
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