Mon, Aug 31 — Fifteenth Monday after Pentecost Restitution & Terror
Tonight’s Maduro burns with a heavy, unyielding steadiness — the kind of smoke that refuses to flatter. It is the opposite of comfort: a reminder that purification often begins with clarity sharp enough to wound. Laphroaig 10 stands beside it with its medicinal peat, the taste of a wound being cleaned rather than ignored. Together they form a vigil, a summons to truth.
The vision of Blasio in Hell is not spectacle but revelation. He sees the torments of pride, avarice, impurity — not abstractions, but consequences. Among the damned he recognizes faces from life, men whose choices have ripened into judgment. Then he witnesses the arrival of two newly dead: Buccerelli and Frascha. Frascha’s damnation is exact. He kept ill‑gotten goods, clinging to what was not his, choosing possession over justice. The goods he hoarded have become the chains that bind him.
The revelation strikes Frascha’s son like lightning. He knows the truth of it. He knows the weight of what his father refused to surrender. And so he acts with decisive courage: full restitution, then the surrender of the rest to the poor, and finally the embrace of monastic life. Terror becomes conversion. Judgment becomes mercy. Restitution becomes freedom.
Tonight’s meditation is simple and severe: What I refuse to release will one day define me. What I cling to unjustly will cling to me eternally. What I restore becomes the doorway through which grace enters.
This smoke rises as a vow to surrender what binds and walk toward the God who purifies through truth.
AUGUST
31 Monday Fourteenth Week Pentecost
Love Litigating Lawyers Day
1 Maccabees, Chapter 10, Verse 8
They were struck with
FEAR when they heard that the king
had given him authority to gather an army.
The,
they, in this verse were the
Hellenized Jews who were losing their power, which came from supporting Greece
(King Demetrius). At once they were afraid for their lives, realizing that
their power over Jonathan was gone; they decided to leave Jerusalem. Along
comes Alexander Balas, who claims to be the son of Antiochus and the rightful
king; he has the backing of Rome. Jonathan plays these two opponents against
each other to make Jerusalem great again. Jonathan then accepts from Alexander
permission to become high priest, which he accepts. There is just one problem:
he is not a Levite; only Levites can be priests. Here is high-stakes
politicking.
Copilot’s Take
The Hellenized factions in
Jerusalem—the courtiers who flattered Demetrius, the apostate party that clung
to Greek patronage, the men of the citadel who preserved their influence
through sycophancy—embodied the ancient evil of those who secure their position
not through truth but through flattery. Their hopes were anchored in powers
that could not sustain, in alliances that offered borrowed legitimacy rather
than the steadying fidelity of the God who had once made Israel free. Authority
built on such foundations grows hollow; conscience bends; courage evaporates.
And when Jonathan rose—one who remembered the covenant and carried a clarity
those factions had long abandoned—the fragility of their compromised order was
revealed. Power built on flattery trembles before fidelity; influence built on
sycophancy fears the arrival of conviction. needs (CCC 1807; CCC 2478)
This ancient drama mirrors
the spiritual condition of any society that drifts from its founding
principles. When natural law is neglected (CCC 1954–1956), when virtue becomes
negotiable (CCC 1803–1804), when religion is treated as a private ornament rather
than a public foundation (CCC 2244–2246), the entire civic structure begins to
wobble. The Founders warned that freedom requires moral strength, and the
Catechism teaches that authority must be ordered toward the common good (CCC
1902–1903). When these pillars weaken, citizens and leaders alike begin to seek
validation from cultural winds, ideological patrons, or distant centers of
influence. Borrowed authority becomes the norm, and fear becomes the quiet
confession of a conscience that has forgotten God (CCC 2097).
In such a moment, the arrival of someone who remembers—remembers God, remembers truth, remembers the nation’s moral architecture—becomes unsettling to those accustomed to compromise. Not because the remembering one is flawless, but because conviction exposes the instability of any order that relies on external approval. The Maccabean pattern is perennial: clarity disrupts confusion (CCC 2467), courage unsettles timidity (CCC 1808), fidelity reveals the hollowness of borrowed power (CCC 1814). In every age, fragile authority fears the presence of anyone who stands on something firmer than influence, firmer than favor, firmer than the shifting winds of political convenience.
And this is precisely why Our
National Principles must be remembered with reverence. The Declaration of
Independence in July and the Constitution in September form a single moral arc:
liberty rooted in self‑evident truth, and freedom secured by structural
restraint. These documents do not survive on sentiment; they survive on virtue.
As The Five-Thousand-Year Leap demonstrates, the Founders built the
Republic on natural law, unalienable rights, separation of powers, the
sovereignty of the people, and the conviction that only a moral and religious
citizenry can sustain a free nation. Their warnings echo the Catechism:
authority is just only when ordered toward the good (CCC 1903), freedom is
authentic only when directed toward truth (CCC 1731–1733), and society
flourishes only when justice and charity animate its institutions (CCC 1807;
CCC 1822–1825). To reflect on these principles is to rebuild the interior
temple of the nation. For a people who remember God and the truths that shaped
their founding, even the contentious vocations—principals, lawyers, leaders,
citizens—become instruments of renewal, and the civic order begins to heal from
the inside out. needs (CCC 1931; CCC 2015)
Love Litigating Lawyers
Day
No matter how unpopular we generally consider them to be…or how
unprincipled we believe them to be we are to love them for the sake of Christ. #LoveLitigatingLawyersDay
Our National Principles[1]
Declaration of Independence is in July, and the Constitution is in
September; let us once again reflect on the marvelous principles underlying
these two documents. The following is a review of these principles together
with a comment or a quote by the Founders. Documentation may be found in The Five
Thousand Year Leap.
Principle 1–
The only reliable basis for sound government
and just human relations is Natural Law.
Natural law is God’s law. There are certain laws which govern the entire
universe, and just as Thomas Jefferson said in the Declaration of Independence,
there are laws which govern in the affairs of men which are “the laws of nature
and of nature’s God.”
Principle 2–
“Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters.” – Benjamin Franklin
Principle 3–
The most promising method of securing a
virtuous people is to elect virtuous leaders.
“Neither the wisest constitution nor the wisest laws will secure the
liberty and happiness of a people whose manners are universally corrupt. He
therefore is the truest friend to the liberty of his country who tries most to
promote its virtue, and who … will not suffer a man to be chosen into any
office of power and trust who is not a wise and virtuous man.” – Samuel Adams
Principle 4–
Without religion the government of a free
people cannot be maintained.
“Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity,
religion and morality are indispensable supports…. And let us with caution
indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion.” –
George Washington
Principle 5–
All things were created by God, therefore upon him all mankind are equally
dependent, and to him they are equally responsible.
The American Founding Fathers considered the existence of the Creator as
the most fundamental premise underlying all self-evident truth. They felt a
person who boasted he or she was an atheist had just simply failed to apply his
or her divine capacity for reason and observation.
Principle 6–
All mankind were created equal.
The Founders knew that in these three ways, all mankind are theoretically
treated as:
Equal before God.
Equal before the law.
Equal in their rights.
The Freedom to try.
The Freedom to buy.
The Freedom to sell.
The Freedom to fail.
Principle 7–
The proper role of government is to protect
equal rights, not provide equal things.
The Founders recognized that the people cannot delegate to their
government any power except that which they have the lawful right to exercise
themselves.
Principle 8 –
Mankind are endowed by God with certain
unalienable rights.
“Those rights, then, which God and nature have established, and are
therefore called natural rights, such as are life and liberty, need not the aid
of human laws to be more effectually invested in every man than they are;
neither do they receive any additional strength when declared by the municipal
[or state] laws to be inviolable. On the contrary, no human legislation has
power to abridge or destroy them, unless the owner [of the right] shall himself
commit some act that amounts to a forfeiture.” – William Blackstone
Principle 9 –
To protect human rights, God has revealed a code of
divine law.
“The doctrines thus delivered we call the revealed or divine law, and
they are to be found only in the Holy Scriptures. These precepts, when
revealed, are found by comparison to be really a part of the original law of
nature, as they tend in all their consequences to man’s felicity.” – William
Blackstone
Principle 10–
The God-given right to govern is vested in the
sovereign authority of the whole people.
“The fabric of the American empire ought to rest on the solid basis of
the consent of the people. The streams of national power ought to flow
immediately from that pure, original fountain of all legislative authority.” –
Alexander Hamilton
Principle 11–
The majority of the people may alter or abolish a government which has become
tyrannical.
“Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes … but when a long train of abuses and usurpations … evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security.” – Thomas Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence.
Principle 12–
The United States of America shall be a republic.
“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to
the republic or which it stands….”
Principle 13–
A Constitution should protect the people from
the frailties of their rulers.
“If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on
government would be necessary…. [But lacking these] you must first enable the
government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control
itself.” – James Madison
Principle 14–
Life and liberty are secure only so long as
the rights of property are secure.
John Locke reasoned that God gave the earth and everything in it to the
whole human family as a gift. Therefore, the land, the sea, the acorns in the
forest, the deer feeding in the meadow belong to everyone “in common.” However,
the moment someone takes the trouble to change something from its original
state of nature, that person has added his ingenuity or labor to make that
change. Herein lies the secret to the origin of “property rights.”
Principle 15–
The highest level of prosperity occurs when there is a
free-market economy and a minimum of government regulations.
Prosperity depends upon a climate of wholesome stimulation with four
basic freedoms (Speech-Worship-Want-Fear) in operation.
Principle 16–
The government should be separated into three branches.
“I call you to witness that I was the first member of the Congress who
ventured to come out in public, as I did in January 1776, in my Thoughts on
Government … in favor of a government with three branches and an independent
judiciary. This pamphlet, you know, was very unpopular. No man appeared in
public to support it but yourself.” – John Adams
Principle 17–
A system of checks and balances should be adopted to prevent the abuse of power by the different branches of government.
“It will not be denied that power is of an encroaching nature and that it
ought to be effectually restrained from passing the limits assigned to it.” –
James Madison
Principle 18 –
The unalienable rights of the people are
most likely to be preserved if the principles of government are set forth in a
written Constitution.
The structure of the American system is set forth in the Constitution of
the United States and the only weaknesses which have appeared are those which
were allowed to creep in despite the Constitution.
Principle 19–
Only limited and carefully defined powers
should be delegated to government, all others being retained by the people.
The Tenth Amendment is the most widely violated provision of the bill of
rights. If it had been respected and enforced America would be an amazingly
different country than it is today. This amendment provides:
“The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor
prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to
the people.”
Principle 20–
Efficiency and dispatch require that the government
operate according to the will of the majority, but constitutional provisions
must be made to protect the rights of the minority.
“Every man, by consenting with others to make one body politic under one
government, puts himself under an obligation to every one of that society to
submit to the determination of the majority, and to be concluded [bound] by
it.” – John Locke
Principle 21–
Strong local self-government is the keystone
to preserving human freedom.
“The way to have good and safe government is not to trust it all to one,
but to divide it among the many, distributing to everyone exactly the functions
he is competent [to perform best]. – Thomas Jefferson
Principle 22–
A free people should be governed by law and not by the whims of men.
“The end of law is not to abolish or restrain, but to preserve and
enlarge freedom. For in all the states of created beings, capable of laws,
where there is no law there is no freedom. For liberty is to be free from
restraint and violence of others, which cannot be where there is no law.” –
John Locke
Principle 23–
A free society cannot survive as a republic
without a broad program of general education.
“They made an early provision by law that every town consisting of so
many families should be always furnished with a grammar school. They made it a
crime for such a town to be destitute of a grammar schoolmaster for a few
months and subjected it to a heavy penalty. So that the education of all ranks
of people was made the care and expense of the public, in a manner that I
believe has been unknown to any other people, ancient or modern. The
consequences of these establishments we see and feel every day [written in
1765]. A native of America who cannot read and write is as rare … as a comet or
an earthquake.” John Adams
Principle 24–
A free people will not survive unless they stay strong.
“To be prepared for war is one of the most effectual means of preserving
peace.” – George Washington
Principle 25-
Peace, commerce, and honest friendship
with all nations — entangling alliances with none.”-Thomas Jefferson, given
in his first inaugural address.
Principle 26 –
The core unit which determines the strength of any
society is the family; therefore, the government should foster and protect its
integrity.
“There is certainly no country in the world where the tie of marriage is
more respected than in America, or where conjugal happiness is more highly or
worthily appreciated.” Alexis de Tocqueville
Principle 27–
The burden of debt is as destructive to human
freedom as subjugation by conquest.
“We are bound to defray expenses [of the war] within our own time and are
unauthorized to burden posterity with them…. We shall all consider ourselves
morally bound to pay them ourselves and consequently within the life
[expectancy] of the majority.” – Thomas Jefferson
Principle 28–
The United States has a manifest destiny to eventually become a glorious example of God’s law under a restored Constitution that will inspire the entire human race.
The Founders sensed from the very beginning that they were on a divine
mission. Their great disappointment was that it didn’t all come to pass in
their day, but they knew that someday it would. John Adams wrote:
“I always consider the settlement of America with reverence and wonder,
as the opening of a grand scene and design in Providence for the illumination
of the ignorant, and the emancipation of the slavish part of mankind all over
the earth.”
30 DAY TRIBUTE TO MARY 17th
ROSE:
30 Days of Women and Herbs – Frauendreissiger
Mullein (Verbascum thapsiforme)
MEDICINAL PLANTS Day 17 DIGESTIVE SYSTEM-Revealed by Heaven
to Luz De María
ANGELICA Scientific name: Angelica archangelica L. Family: Apiaceae Known as:
Ghost Spirit Herb or Herb of the Angels (It receives its name due to a belief
that it was a gift of Saint Gabriel Archangel to a wise hermit so that he could
fight the plague that ravaged Europe during the Middle Ages). Promotes
digestion. Improves gastric juice secretion. Eliminates intestinal gases. To
treat heavy digestion and the lack of appetite. To treat diseases that attack the
digestive system.
Serious illnesses are approaching that attack the digestive system; use
the plant known as Angelica and use the whole plant properly, pregnant women
being cautious. Blessed Virgin Mary, 05.24.2017
Around the Corner
How to celebrate Aug 31st
Embrace your adventurous side by visiting a nearby zoo and learning about
the importance of wildlife conservation. Channel your inner Ironman by tackling
a challenging workout, whether it’s a long run, bike ride, or swim.
After working up a sweat, indulge in some matchmaking fun by setting up
your single friends or spending quality time with your partner. Spice things up
by cooking a romantic dinner at home or planning a surprise date night. Maybe
with a little ferment horse milk and a Mongolian BBQ. Express your appreciation
for franchises by enjoying a meal from your favorite fast-food joint or
treating yourself to some merchandise.
End your day on a high note by dining al fresco in your backyard or at a local park for National Eat Outside Day. Bring along some tasty treats, good company, and enjoy the beauty of nature. Let the fresh air and good food rejuvenate your spirit, leaving you ready for whatever comes your way next.
Bucket List Trip: Around the World “Perfect Weather”
Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar
is a longish (and a tad bit bumpy) bus ride but it’s the best way to travel
south into Mongolia to the surprisingly populous capital city. Originally a
mobile monastic tent community that settled into this spot in 1778, it is now a
major hub for trade and culture.
·
Eat waffles and
Pray for the assistance of the Angels
·
Religion
in the Home for Preschool: August
·
Monday: Litany of Humility
·
Foodie: Mongolian BBQ
Spirit Hour: Mullen Tea
Fermented Horse Milk
Daily Devotions
Unite yourself in the work of the Porters
of St. Joseph by joining
them in fasting: Today's Fast: An End to Addictions
Religion in the Home for Preschool: August
Litany of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus
Offering to the sacred heart of Jesus
Rosary
[1]https://nccs.net/blogs/articles/the-founders-unchanging-principles-of-liberty-1
SEPTEMBER
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?
Overview of September[1]
The month of September is
dedicated to Our
Lady of Sorrows, whose memorial the Church celebrates on September 15.
September falls during the liturgical season known as Ordinary Time, which is represented by the
liturgical color green. This symbol of hope is the color of the sprouting seed
and arouses in the faithful the hope of reaping the eternal harvest of heaven,
especially the hope of a glorious resurrection. It is used in the offices and
Masses of Ordinary Time.
September is Harvest Time
Since man is both a spiritual and
physical being, the Church provides for the needs of man in his everyday life.
The Church's liturgy and feasts in many areas reflect the four seasons of the
year (spring, summer, fall and winter). The months of August, September,
October and November are part of the harvest season, and as Christians we
recall God's constant protection over his people and give thanksgiving for the
year's harvest.
September is the end of the summer season and the
start of the fall season.
Explanation
of Ember Days—Three days set apart for fasting, abstinence, and prayer during
each of the four seasons of the year. They were the Wednesday, Friday and
Saturday after St. Lucy (or Lucia, d. 304) (December 13), the First Sunday of
Lent, Pentecost, and the feast of the Holy Cross (September 14). Since the
revision of the Roman calendar in 1969, Ember Days are to be observed at the
discretion of the National Conference of Bishops. Moreover, their observance
may be extended beyond three days and even repeated during the year. Possibly
occasioned by the agricultural feasts of ancient Rome, they came to be observed
by Christians for the sanctification of the different seasons of the year, and
for obtaining God's blessing on the clergy to be ordained during the Ember Days.
(Etym. Anglo-Saxon oemerge, ashes.) — Modern
Catholic Dictionary by John A.
Hardon, SJ, Doubleday, 1980.
So,
during these times the Church had a threefold focus:
(1) sanctifying each new season by turning to God
through prayer, fasting and almsgiving.
(2) giving thanks to God for the various harvests of
each season; and
(3) praying for the newly ordained and for future vocations to the priesthood and religious life.
Since
the reorganization of the Roman calendar in 1969 after the Second Vatican
Council, Ember Days are still retained in principle, but how and when they are
to be observed is at the discretion of each country's Episcopal Conference.
There is no longer set Mass readings for the Ember Days in the Ordinary Rite.
Another harvest feast is September 29, the Feast of the Archangels Michael,
Gabriel and Raphael. Before the revision of the calendar, this used to be only
the feast of St. Michael. In many countries this day was referred to as
"Michaelmas" and is celebrated with traditional foods and customs
September is the time to reflect on the Sorrows
of Mary
September Devotion: Our Lady of Sorrows.[2] Since the 16th century, Catholic piety
has assigned entire months to special devotions. Due to her feast day on
September 15, the month of September has traditionally been set aside to honor
Our Lady of Sorrows. All the sorrows of Mary (the prophecy of Simeon, the three
days' loss, etc.) are merged in the supreme suffering at the Passion. In the
Passion, Mary suffered a martyrdom of the heart because of Our Lord's torments
and the greatness of her love for Him. "She it was," says Pope Pius
XII, "who, immune from all sin, personal or inherited, and ever more
closely united with her Son, offered Him on Golgotha to the Eternal Father
together with the holocaust of her maternal rights and motherly love. As a new
Eve, she made this offering for all the children of Adam contaminated through
his unhappy fall. Thus she, who was the mother of our Head according to the
flesh, became by a new title of sorrow and glory the spiritual mother of all
His members."
September is the month dedicated to
contemplation of the Angels.
Devotion to the Angels is a mark of Predestination[3]
The Church has always practiced
and encouraged devotion to the holy angels. All ancient liturgies mention them
and the protection they provide to men. It is their greatest desire to aid us
in all our acts of religion by uniting their supplications to ours. We should
honor and love angels as well as our fellow mankind, for it is through the
Precious Blood of Christ that we are all united. Christ is the head of angels
as well as men, and it is as Man that He is Head of the angels. To honor them
and love them, we must first know them and earnestly strive to cultivate their
friendship.
September Travel and Events
Belgian Beer Weekend September 4-6. The drinking fun doesn’t end in Budapest! Head to Belgium for
Belgian Beer Weekend. Held at Brussels ’ Grand Place square, this annual
celebration in early September showcases Belgian brews from more than 30 small
and big breweries.
· Southern Arizona Beer Tour
Oktoberfest September 19-Oct. 4. Raise a stein to Oktoberfest. This annual 16-day celebration of all thing’s beer
kicks off in late September in Munich. Can’t make it to Germany?
Bring your
taste for brewski to these US Oktoberfest events.
· Oktoberfest in Arizona 2026 Oct 9-11
Constitution Day: Celebrate Constitution Day and the anniversary of the signing of the US Constitution with a trip to Washington, DC, on September 17. The National Archives has the original Constitution on display in the Rotunda, along with the Bill of Rights and Declaration of Independence. Make the most out of your trip to DC and pay a visit to the Smithsonian museums and monuments along the National Mall.
Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival: Call it an excuse to party: Come Sept. 25th, 2026, the 1-day Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival begins. In mainland China, the annual festival is the second biggest holiday of the year (right behind the country’s Spring Festival).
·
Autumn
Festival Arizona Sat. Sep 12
Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance (Hong Kong) September 24-26. Top off Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations
with the Tai Hang fire dragon dance. This 3-day-long event, held during the
Mid-Autumn Festival, carries on a tradition that’s more than 100 years old. In
the Hong Kong community of Tai Hang, some 300 performers take to the streets,
dancing, waving incense sticks and animating a 220-foot-long dragon.
Texas State Fair
(Dallas) September 25-Oct 18 “Our state
fair is a great state fair.” How can it not be when it’s in Texas? Beginning
the last Friday in September, the annual Texas State Fair unfolds over 24 days
in Dallas, TX, with plenty of fun for the whole family, including the chance to
ride this Ferris wheel – the largest in North America.
·
Arizona State Fair Oct
1-Nov 1
Iceman’s
Calendar
·
Tue. September 2nd MASS First
Wednesday
· Fri. September 4th MASS First Friday
·
Sat. September 5th MASS
First
Saturday
·
Sun. September 6th Fifteen
Sunday after Pentecost
·
Mon. September 7th Labor
Day
·
Tue. September 8th Nativity
of the Blessed Virgin Mary
·
Fri. September 11th Thu. Patriot
Day
o
Start 33-day consecration to Mary ends on Oct 13th
o Rosh
Hashanah begins at Sunset
·
Sun. September 13th Sixteenth
Sunday after Pentecost
·
Mon. September 14th Feast
of the Holy Cross
·
Tue. September 15th Our
Lady of Sorrows
·
September 16th Ember
Wednesday fast
·
September 18th Ember
Friday fast
·
September 19th Ember
Saturday fast
·
Sun. September 20th Seventeenth
Sunday after Pentecost
o
Yom
Kippur begins at sundown
·
Mon. September 21st Feast of
St. Matthew
·
Tue. September 22nd fall
begins
·
Wed. September 23rd Padre
Pio
·
Fri. September 25th Sukkoth
begins at sunset
· Sat. September 26th Full Harvest Moon
·
Sun. September 27th Eighteenth
Sunday after Pentecost
·
Tue. September 29th Feast
of St. Michael the Archangel
o
Begin
33-day prayer for the Feast of All Saints
Daily Prayers for September
At
Morning
O most holy Virgin, Mother of our Lord Jesus
Christ: by the overwhelming grief you experienced when you witnessed the
martyrdom, the crucifixion, and the death of your divine Son, look upon me with
eyes of compassion, and awaken in my heart a tender commiseration for those
sufferings, as well as a sincere detestation of my sins, in order that, being
disengaged from all undue affection for the passing joys of this earth, I may
sigh after the eternal Jerusalem, and that henceforward all my thoughts and all
my actions may be directed towards this one most desirable object. Honor,
glory, and love to our divine Lord Jesus, and to the holy and immaculate Mother
of God. Amen. --Saint Bonaventure
At Noon
Mary, most holy Virgin and Queen of Martyrs, accept
the sincere homage of my filial affection. Into thy heart, pierced by so many
swords, do thou welcome my poor soul. Receive it as the companion of thy
sorrows at the foot of the Cross, on which Jesus died for the redemption of the
world. With thee, O sorrowful Virgin, I will gladly suffer all the trials,
contradictions, and infirmities which it shall please our Lord to send me. I
offer them all to thee in memory of thy sorrows, so that every thought of my mind,
and every beat of my heart may be an act of compassion and of love for thee.
And do thou, sweet Mother, have pity on me, reconcile me to thy divine Son
Jesus, keep me in His grace, and assist me in my last agony, so that I may be
able to meet thee in heaven and sing thy glories. Amen.
At 3PM
Most holy Virgin. and Mother, whose soul was pierced by a sword of sorrow in the Passion of thy divine Son, and who in His glorious Resurrection wast filled with never-ending joy at His triumph; obtain for us who call upon thee, so to be partakers in the adversities of Holy Church and the sorrows of the Sovereign Pontiff, as to be found worthy to rejoice with them in the consolations for which we pray, in the charity and peace of the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
At Twilight
O most holy and afflicted Virgin! Queen of Martyrs!
thou who didst stand motionless beneath the Cross, witnessing the agony of thy
expiring Son--through the unceasing sufferings of thy life of sorrow, and the
bliss which now more than amply repays thee for thy past trials, look down with
a mother's tenderness and pity on me, who kneel before thee to venerate thy
dolors, and place my requests, with filial confidence, in the sanctuary of thy
wounded heart; present them, I beseech thee, on my behalf, to Jesus Christ,
through the merits of His own most sacred death and passion, together with thy
sufferings at the foot of the cross, and through the united efficacy of both
obtain the grant of my present petition. To whom shall I resort in my wants and
miseries if not to thee, O Mother of Mercy, who, having so deeply drunk of the
chalice of thy Son, canst compassionate the woes of those who still sigh in the
land of exile? Offer for me to my Savior one drop of the Blood which flowed
from His sacred veins, one of the tears which trickled from His divine eyes,
one of the sighs which rent His adorable Heart. O refuge of the universe and
hope of the whole world, do not reject my humble prayer, but graciously obtain
the grant of my petition.
At Slumber.
Mary most sorrowful, Mother of Christians, pray for
us. Virgin most sorrowful, pray for us.
September is the month of Angels and Mary
Queen of Angels
The church traditionally honors
angels during the month of September. Paul in Colossians states of Christ, “He is the image of the invisible God, the
firstborn of all creation. For in him were created all things in heaven and on
earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or
principalities or powers; all things were created through him and for him. He
is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of
the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in
all things he himself might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness was
pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile all things for him, making peace
by the blood of his cross through him, whether those on earth or those in
heaven.”
“St. Michael and the Angels” is a beautiful and inspiring book telling all about the angels. Filled with stories from the lives and writings of the saints, it tells of the role which the good angels play in the divine economy of saving souls. Led by St. Michael, the Prince of the heavenly host, the angels act as our guardians, serve as messengers from God to us and from us to God, surround the altar during Mass, and bear the graces of the Mass like incense to the altar of God on high. Here is explained the relationship of the angels to the Blessed Virgin Mary and how, if she is to send them to our aid, we must request her to do so. Included too is the prayer to our guardian angel asking him to go in our place to attend Mass when we cannot, plus the way the good angels protect us against the evil spirits. The book also discusses in detail the pre-eminent role of St. Michael as "Champion of the Church," "Defender of Christians," "Guardian of Purgatory," and "Helper of the Sick and Dying."
It is also a good practice to ask for angelic help throughout our
day. There are nine choirs of angels and three hierarchies three within three.
Remember to ask their assistance about every two hours throughout your
day
First Sphere
The angels of the first sphere
serve as the heavenly servants of God the Son incarnated. It includes the
Seraphim, Cherubim and Thrones.
Upon rising (7
am) address the first choir of angels, the Seraphim. Their chief
characteristic is great and ardent love. They were made for one thing
alone-----to love the God of Love. Without ceasing they honor, praise, and love
the most Blessed Trinity-----they can do nothing else-----this is their
happiness.
- Practice
upon rising to try to become a Seraph of love: let this be your habitual
disposition. Love and do what God wills. Ask this great gift
fervently.
- Aspiration:
"Oh! Blessed Seraphim! Make us love." Say the Shema
Yisrael and make a Morning Offering.
- By the
intercession of St. Michael and the heavenly Choir of Seraphim, may it
please God to make us worthy to receive into our hearts the fire of his
perfect charity. Amen.
- (1 Our
Father and 3 Hail Mary's)
At the second hour (9 am) of the day address the second choir is the Cherubim who continually are employed in contemplating the beauty and perfections of God and will share with us their admirable wisdom, if we ask them, and show ourselves in earnest, by the practice of supplication and prayer. Cherubim are full of zeal for the glory of God and stand ready at all times to defend His honor. Cherubim should be invoked when one is troubled with doubts against faith those who experience temptations against holy purity.
- Practice:
Spend time before praying in great silence and recollection; endeavor to
"know God, and Him Whom He has sent, Jesus Christ."
- Aspiration:
"Blessed Cherubim! Teach us to pray."
- By the
intercession of St. Michael and the heavenly Choir of Cherubim, may God in
his good pleasure, grant us grace to abandon the ways of sin, and follow
the path of Christian perfection. Amen.
- (1 Our
Father and 3 Hail Mary's)
At the fourth hour (11 am) of the day address the third choir is the choir of Thrones. They are called Angels of Peace; calm, tranquility, and stability. Ask them for that peace of soul which is the fruit of a good conscience. Invoke their aid for such as are prone to hatred, passion and impatience; and after their example, practice being meek, calm, and peaceful with all.
- Practice:
Dispose yourself to great sweetness and patience.
- Aspiration:
"O Holy Thrones! Obtain that Divine peace, which surpasses all
understanding, may keep our hearts and minds in Jesus Christ, Our
Lord."
- By the
intercession of St. Michael and the sacred Choir of Thrones, may it please
God to infuse into our hearts the spirit of true and sincere humility.
Amen.
- (1 Our
Father and 3 Hail Mary's)
Second Sphere
Second, Sphere angels are
considered to work as heavenly governors of creation by subjecting the matter
and ruling and guiding the spirits. The second sphere includes the Dominions or
Lordships Virtues and the Strongholds Powers or Authorities.
At the sixth hour (1 pm) of the day address the fourth choir of angels which is the choir of Dominations. They are consumed by their yearning for the interests of God: their principal office is to manifest His will. We should also beg of God to manifest His will to us by these Blessed "Intelligences" and then take care to fulfill it scrupulously, as being the shortest way to perfection and sanctity. We should ask these Angels to help us to spread God's kingdom upon earth, for the conversion of heretics and infidels, and for the return of lukewarm and fallen away Catholics to the practice of the faith.
- Practice:
Give practical proof of your zeal for the glory of God; do something for
His reign in souls, as instructing the ignorant.
- Aspiration:
"Holy Dominations! Animate us with thy zeal." It was also
at the sixth hour that Jesus was crucified. Traditionally Catholics recite
the Angelus at
noon, some pray it at six in the morning and six in the evening. For those
who wish to make personal change this is a good time to examine our day so
far and offer ourselves to our God. It is at the turning point of our day
that we recall the turning point of history: the moment when the angel
appeared to a young woman named Mary.
- By the
intercession of St. Michael and the heavenly Choir of the Dominations, may
it please God to grant us grace to have dominion over our senses, and to
correct our depraved passions. Amen
- (1 Our
Father and 3 Hail Mary's)
At the eighth hour (3 pm) of the day address the fifth choir of angels which is the choir of Virtues. Energy and strength are attributed to the Virtues. They have dominion over the elements; all nature is subjected to their control. Hence they can raise or appease the tempest. We may profitably invoke them in unforeseen accidents, sickness, etc. We may also have recourse to them for that strength necessary to lead a penitential life, and root out the inclinations of depraved nature. All persons inclined to the contemplative life should call on this choir of Angels for help, for good thoughts alone do not make holy, one needs also strength to persevere and to accomplish this great task.
- Practice:
(After work) Visit the Blessed Sacrament to obtain grace to overcome
your evil dispositions.
- Aspiration:
"Holy Virtues! Strengthen and fortify us."
- By the
intercession of St. Michael and the admirable heavenly Choir of the
Virtues, may it please God to keep us from falling into temptation, and
may He deliver us from evil. Amen.
- (1 Our
Father and 3 Hail Mary's)
At the 10th hour (5
pm) of the day address the sixth choir of angels the Powers.
These Angels have unlimited mastery over the wicked Spirits; they are endowed
with great intelligence and are able to discover their schemes and plans for
our destruction. Their power is so amazing that one alone of them would be able
to destroy the entire infernal host. It is well to invoke them in temptation:
but to merit their assistance we must take care to avoid the occasions of
sin.
- Practice:
Resist the attacks of vice and passion; frequently make acts of diffidence
in self and confidence in God; combat your evil inclinations.
- Aspiration:
"Lord! Send Thy Angels to assist us."
- By the
intercession of St. Michael and the heavenly Choir of the Powers, may God
vouchsafe to keep our souls from the wiles and temptations of the devil.
Amen.
- (1 Our
Father and 3 Hail Mary's)
Third Sphere
The angels of the third sphere
function as heavenly protectors, messengers and guides to human beings.
At the 12th hour (7
pm) of the day address the seventh choir of angels the Principalities.
The Principalities watch over Empires, Provinces, and Dioceses. Purity of
intention is the virtue ascribed to them, for in their high functions they
never seek but the honor and interest of God alone. Let us imitate them. It is
the intention which stamps the action with merit or demerit.
- Practice:
In all you do and say, seek the greater glory of God.
- Aspiration:
"O Holy Spirits! May we, like thee, seek God, for God
alone."
- By the
intercession of St. Michael and the heavenly Choir of Principalities, may
it please God to fill our souls with the spirit of true and sincere
obedience. Amen.
- (1 Our
Father and 3 Hail Mary's)
At the 14th hour (9 pm) of the day address the eighth choir of angels the Archangels. The Archangels are distinguished from the Angels by the greater importance of their functions: the Guardians of those invested with authority in the Church and State and are remarkable for their love and care of men. Let us imitate them, doing our neighbor all the good we can and invoking in his behalf these Blessed Spirits. Members of this choir are the holy spirits who stand before the throne of God, ever ready to announce His commands. St. Michael is the warrior leader of God’s angels. St. Gabriel is the special messenger of The Holy Spirit. St. Raphael is the angel of Joy.
- Practice-----Two
Acts of Charity, with great affection.
- Aspiration:
"Holy Archangels! Pray for us, and for our priests."
- By the
intercession of St. Michael and the heavenly Choir of Archangels, may it
please God to grant us the gift of perseverance in the faith, and in all
good works, that we may be thereby enabled to attain the glory of
paradise. Amen.
- (1 Our
Father and 3 Hail Mary's)
At the 16th hour (11
pm) of the day address the Ninth choir of the angels. They are
charged with the execution of the Divine ordinances and are appointed the
Guardians of men. Humility is the virtue particularly ascribed to
them-----for though the least among the Choirs, yet they see their celestial
companions without desiring their greater, more excellent endowments. The
Guardian Angels exercise continual watchfulness over the souls committed to
their care. Their number is exceedingly great, and it is not necessary when an
Angel has accompanied his charge into Heaven, that he be again assigned to a
soul in any future generation. Our Guardian, who is our companion in life, will
also be forever at our side in Heaven. The joy of these Angels is immeasurably
increased when souls entrusted to their care enter Heaven. The Guardian Angels
of the lost souls are not deprived of their share of joy. God in His justice
increases also theirs with the others, and then assigns them to the special
guard of the Queen of Angels, where they with great joy praise the Infinite
Justice of God. Let us, like the humble Guardian Angels, love the lowest place,
especially when placed therein by Divine Providence, and to behold with joy the
preference given to others.
- Practice:
Three Acts of Humility, interior and exterior.
- Aspiration:
"Who is like God!"
- By the
intercession of St. Michael and the heavenly Choir of all the Angels, may
God vouchsafe to grant us their guardianship through this mortal life, and
after death a happy entrance into the everlasting glory of heaven. Amen
- (1 Our
Father and 3 Hail Mary's)
Information
was obtained from:
- http://www.catholictradition.org/Angels/angels.htm
- Hierarchy of Angels Catholic Church |
Hierarchy structure
BRIDESHEAD REVISITED (1981)
Jeremy Irons • Anthony Andrews • Diana Quick • Laurence Olivier Directed by Charles Sturridge & Michael Lindsay-Hogg • Granada Television An Elegy of Memory, Faith, and the Slow Collapse of a Gilded World Where Beauty Beckons, Friendship Wounds, and Grace Stalks the Edges of Desire
Brideshead Revisited is not merely an adaptation; it is a pilgrimage through memory. Charles Ryder narrates the long arc of his youth — the friendships, the loves, the betrayals, the spiritual hauntings — all framed by his wartime return to Brideshead, now dimmed and hollow. The great house becomes a reliquary of longing: a place where beauty awakened desire, and where desire revealed its cost.
Sebastian Flyte enters the story like a visitation — whimsical, wounded, radiant. His charm is a veil over ache; his drinking a retreat from expectations he cannot bear. Their friendship is a season of grace, fragile and doomed.
Julia Flyte is the fulcrum of the drama: luminous, divided, torn between passion and the Catholic conscience that shapes her family. Her relationship with Charles is not romance but crucible — the collision of desire and duty.
The Flytes themselves form a spiritual constellation: Lady Marchmain’s sorrowful piety, Lord Marchmain’s rebellious exile, the children orbiting between faith and flight. Catholicism is not doctrine here; it is destiny.
This is drama without haste. The danger is illusion. The fire is grace. The verdict is surrender.
🎞️ Film Card — Brideshead Revisited (1981)
Brideshead Revisited 1981 • Drama • Literary Epic • 11 episodes • 659 minutes
Charles Ryder recalls his entanglement with the Flyte family — Sebastian’s fragile brilliance, Julia’s conflicted devotion, and the spiritual gravity of Brideshead itself. Drama • Literary Epic • Spiritual Conflict • Memory & Desire
Director Charles Sturridge, Michael Lindsay-Hogg Cinematography Ray Goode Stars Jeremy Irons, Anthony Andrews, Diana Quick, Laurence Olivier Studio Granada Television Notable Castle Howard as Brideshead; Irons’ iconic narration; one of the most faithful and spiritually resonant literary adaptations ever filmed.
1. Production & Cultural Setting
A Monument of British Television Granada’s resources and patience created a work of unprecedented scale and fidelity.
Postwar Memory The series reflects Britain’s lingering ache over a vanished aristocratic world.
Catholic Imagination Waugh’s spiritual architecture is preserved — grace, guilt, longing, and surrender.
Visual Devotion Castle Howard filmed like a cathedral: arches, fountains, corridors of light.
Elegy for an Age The decline of the Flytes mirrors the decline of the old order.
2. Story Summary
Charles Ryder An artist seeking beauty, finding entanglement, and confronting grace.
Sebastian Flyte A fragile soul fleeing expectations, clinging to innocence, drifting toward ruin.
Julia Flyte A woman torn between desire and the faith she cannot escape.
The Flyte Family A constellation of piety, rebellion, sorrow, and spiritual gravity.
The Return to Brideshead War brings Charles back to the house — now a shell of its former radiance.
3. Moral & Emotional Resonances
A. Beauty Awakens Desire But desire alone cannot sustain the soul.
B. Faith Haunts Even the Unbelieving Grace pursues Charles through the Flytes’ world.
C. Innocence Cannot Survive Evasion Sebastian’s charm collapses under the weight of avoidance.
D. Duty and Desire Collide Julia’s struggle becomes the series’ spiritual crucible.
E. Memory Is a Sacrament Charles’ narration becomes a confession of what beauty cost him.
4. Hospitality Pairing — Drawn From the Series’ Spirit
Food — Aristocratic, Quiet, Brideshead‑Liturgical Roast Partridge — Formal, delicate, fading grandeur. White Soup — Traditional, ceremonial, Lady Marchmain’s table. Strawberries — Sweetness tinged with melancholy.
Drink — Reflective, Memory‑Steeped Champagne — Sebastian’s early radiance. Claret — Charles’ contemplative maturity.
Atmosphere — The Chapel of Memory Lighting: Soft, golden, late‑afternoon. Sound: Distant bells, quiet footsteps on stone. Setting: A long table beneath ancestral portraits. Symbol: A small lamp burning before the chapel altar — grace waiting in the shadows.
5. Reflection Prompts
Where has beauty awakened longing in me.
Where do I flee expectations instead of facing them.
Where does duty confront my desire.
Where has grace pursued me through memory.
Where is Brideshead in my own life — the place I return to changed.
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