Smoke in This Life Not the Next
August 15 — Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Elevation & Hope Elegant, floral (Dominican) Blanton’s — Mary’s feast deserves refinement “What lifts my soul toward heaven?”
Some mysteries rise without effort. They do not strain or shout; they simply ascend, drawing the attentive heart with them. The Assumption is one of these mysteries — a quiet, radiant lifting of the woman whose entire life bent toward God. Her rising is not escape but fulfillment: the flowering of every hidden obedience, every sorrow carried without spectacle, every fiat whispered in faith. She is the first of the redeemed to taste the full weightlessness of grace, body and soul gathered into the brightness where nothing wounded remains.
A Dominican‑wrapped cigar suits the day: floral, elegant, steady in its burn. It invites contemplation rather than command. And Blanton’s — warm, refined, ascending in its own register — becomes a small homage to the one whose humility was crowned with glory. Refinement is not excess here; it is reverence.
Tonight is for the souls learning how to rise. For those who have carried burdens quietly. For those whose hope has been persistent but uncelebrated. For those who long for the place where sorrow is finally outgrown.
Ask yourself: What lifts my soul toward heaven? What grace has already begun its ascent within me? What obedience, still small and trembling, is preparing to bloom?
Offer your smoke as a sign of hope. Even the gentlest plume knows how to rise when the day itself is ascending.
AUGUST 15 Saturday-Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Holy Day of Obligation-Woodstock
1969
Ester, Chapter 4D, Verse 13
We
fear the rich and the powerful, yet we often have no fear of God and continue
in our inability to rise above our weaknesses. It is when we like Ester rise
above our fears that we can live up to our potential.
The Law
of the Sacrifice[1]
·
Ester
is willing to give her life for the people.
·
A
leader must be willing to give up going up.
·
Leaders
only do this when their cause becomes more important than their life.
·
Likewise,
Jesus a descendent of Ester, called on his staff to deny themselves, take up
their cross and follow Him.
·
Christ
stated that those who wished to save their lives would lose them and those who
gave up their lives would save them.
·
True
leadership places the cause of the people above the instinct for
self-preservation.
Copilot’s Take
America’s crisis after
Woodstock was not simply a collapse of norms or a generational rebellion; it
was the moment the nation learned to fear institutions while forgetting the
holy fear that steadies the soul. Ester’s trembling before majesty — “my heart
was shaken by fear of your glory” — reveals a fear that clarifies rather than
paralyzes. It is the fear that awakens responsibility, the fear that makes a
person capable of sacrifice. Woodstock, by contrast, baptized self‑expression
as salvation and cast restraint as oppression. A culture that loses holy fear
inevitably loses holy courage.
The Assumption of Mary stands
as the counterimage to Woodstock’s myth. Where Woodstock exalted bodies
collapsing into mud, Mary reveals a body lifted into glory. Where Woodstock
preached liberation through indulgence, Mary embodies liberation through obedience.
Where Woodstock dissolved duty into sentiment, Mary’s ascent restores the truth
that human flourishing requires reverence, discipline, and the willingness to
say yes when God calls. In her rising, the world is reminded that holiness is
not an escape from the world’s corruption but the only force strong enough to
confront it.
Ester enters this same
pattern. She rises not by rebellion but by responsibility. She confronts evil
not by spectacle but by sacrifice. Her willingness to say, “If I perish, I
perish,” is the antithesis of the post‑Woodstock instinct for self‑preservation.
She does not seek authenticity; she seeks deliverance for her people. She does
not chase self‑expression; she offers self‑donation. In her courage, we see the
Law of Sacrifice: a leader must give up going up. A leader must place the cause
above the career, the people above the platform, the truth above the instinct
to survive.
Christ completes this law. He
calls His staff to deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow Him — not
to “find themselves,” not to “express themselves,” but to lose themselves in
love. He teaches that those who cling to life lose it, and those who surrender
it save it. This is the anti‑Woodstock principle: salvation through sacrifice,
not indulgence; transformation through obedience, not rebellion; leadership
through cruciform service, not personal ascent. Evil is confronted not by
outrage but by offering one’s life for the good of others.
Post‑Woodstock America still
struggles with this. We fear the rich, the powerful, the institutions, the
systems — but we do not fear God. We fear losing influence, losing comfort,
losing status — but we do not fear losing virtue. We fear being silenced — but we
do not fear being selfish. A nation that fears everything except God becomes
incapable of producing leaders who sacrifice. It becomes a culture of
performers rather than stewards, critics rather than guardians, rebels rather
than protectors.
The path forward is the
Marian‑Ester‑Christ pattern: recover holy fear, rebuild sacrificial virtue, and
restore leadership that descends into service rather than ascends into self.
America does not need more influencers; it needs more intercessors. It needs
men and women who say, like Ester, “If I perish, I perish,” and like Mary, “Let
it be done,” and like Christ, “Not my will.” Only then can evil be confronted
with the force that has always defeated it — the courage born of holy fear and
the leadership born of holy sacrifice.
FEAST
OF THE ASSUMPTION OF MARY[2]
AUGUST 15.
This feast is so called because on this day, according to a very old and
pious belief, the Blessed Virgin was, in body and soul, taken up into heaven.
This feast is of very great antiquity; it was fixed on the 15th of August at
the request of the Emperor Maurice, and afterwards, by Pope Leo IV, was
extended to the whole Church.
In the Introit of the Mass the Church invites us to universal joy by
singing, “Let us all rejoice in the Lord, celebrating this festival in honor of
the most blessed Virgin Mary, on whose assumption into heaven the angels
rejoice and give praise to the Son of God. My heart hath uttered a good word; I
speak my works to the King.
Pardon, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the sins of Thy servants, that we, who
are not able to please Thee by our deeds, may be saved by the intercession of
the Mother of Thy Son. Amen
EPISTLE. Ecclus. xxiv. 11-20.
In all things I sought rest, and I shall abide in the inheritance of the
Lord. Then the Creator of all things commanded, and said to me: and He that
made me rested in my tabernacle. And He said to me: Let thy dwelling be in
Jacob, and thy in heritance in Israel, and take root in My elect. From the
beginning, and before the world, was I created, and unto the world to come I
shall not cease to be, and in the holy dwelling-place I have ministered before
Him. And so was I established in Sion, and in the holy city likewise I rested,
and my power was in Jerusalem. And I took root in an honorable people, and in
the portion of my God His inheritance, and my abode is in the full assembly of
saints. I was exalted like a cedar in Libanus, and as a cypress-tree on Mount
Sion. I was exalted like a palm tree in Cades, and as a rose-plant in Jericho:
as a fair olive-tree in the plains, and as a plane-tree by the water in the
streets, was I exalted. I gave a sweet smell like cinnamon, and aromatical
balm: I yielded a sweet odor like the best myrrh.
GOSPEL. Luke x. 38-42.
At that time Jesus entered into a certain town: and a certain woman named
Martha received Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who
sitting also at the Lord’s feet, heard His word. But Martha was busy about much
serving. Who stood and said: Lord, hast Thou no care that my sister hath left
me alone to serve? speak to her therefore, that she help me. And the Lord
answering, said to her: Martha, Martha, thou art careful, and art troubled
about many things. But one thing is necessary. Mary hath chosen the best part,
which shall not be taken away from her.
Why does the Church read this gospel to-day?
Because it readily admits of being applied to
Mary, the Mother of God, since she, far more worthily and lovingly than Martha,
chose the best part, and thereby obtained the most glorious reward, which no
one shall ever take from her.
What is the one thing necessary?
The glory of God and the salvation of the
soul. Let a man, therefore, fulfil the duties which are binding upon him; but
in so doing let him look only to God, avoid all uneasiness and distraction, all
extravagance and excess, all that is unjust, and sooner sacrifice everything
than suffer injury to his soul.
Assumption of Mary[3]
The day that the mother of God
was assumed body and soul into heaven and crowned Queen.
Traditionally Roman Catholics believe Mary, the Virgin mother of Jesus,
never physically died and instead ascended into heaven. Mary, as the mother of
God, is believed by some Christian faiths to have lived a life without sin.
Some early-church theologians believed that since she and Christ were both
without sin that Mary must have raised bodily to heaven just as Christ was.
This belief began the feast of the Assumption of Mary.
Assumption
of Mary Facts
The Assumption of Mary isn't in the Bible. The theology it is based
upon is from several early church documents and sermons. The Orthodox
Church continued the tradition, but it didn't become doctrine in the Roman
Catholic Church until 1950 when Pope Pius XII declared the belief infallible.
Thomas was the only disciple who purportedly saw Mary's ascension into
heaven. In a reversal of his story in scripture, the other disciples
didn't believe him at first. Mary dropped her girdle when she reached
heaven, and Thomas caught it.
The Feast of the Assumption of Mary is a high feast Day in the Roman
Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church. The day venerates the assumption
into heaven of Mary, the mother of Jesus. It is held on August 15.
In the Orthodox tradition, the feast, called the Dormition of the
Theotokos, is held the same date, although the day may be later for churches
that follow the Gregorian calendar.
Assumption
of Mary Top Events and Things to Do
Attending an Orthodox Church during the Feast of the Assumption to see
the blessing of flowers.
Start an herb garden or plant some bulbs to bloom in spring in honor of
Mary.
The Assumption of Mary is a popular subject in Christian art. One
of the most famous is The Assumption of the Virgin, by El Greco and available
for viewing in the Art Institute of Chicago. See if your local art museum
has paintings of the Assumption.
Sing or Listen to a rendition of "Ave Maria". One of the
more popular renditions is by Luciano Pavarotti.
Many faithful in the Orthodox Church will also be breaking a two-week
fast after the service honoring the Assumption of Mary. If you are
fasting, attend a community meal offered by many Orthodox Churches.
The Directory on Popular
Piety talks about the deep
significance of this feast day. It also refers to the custom of blessing herbs:
In the Germanic countries, the custom of blessing herbs is associated
with 15 August. This custom, received into the Rituale Romanum, represents a
clear example of the genuine evangelization of pre-Christian rites and beliefs:
one must turn to God, through whose word "the earth produced vegetation:
plants bearing seeds in their several kinds, and trees bearing fruit with their
seed inside in their several kinds" (Gen 1, 12) in order to obtain what
was formerly obtained by magic rites; to stem the damages deriving from
poisonous herbs, and benefit from the efficacy of curative herbs.
This ancient use came to be associated with the Blessed Virgin Mary, in
part because of the biblical images applied to her such as vine, lavender,
cypress and lily, partly from seeing her in terms of a sweet-smelling flower
because of her virtue, and most of all because of Isaiah 11, 1, and his
reference to the "shoot springing from the side of Jesse", which
would bear the blessed fruit of Jesus.
In an age of sensuality and materialism the Assumption points out the
dignity and destiny of our human body, extols the dignity of womanhood, and
turns our eyes to the true life beyond the grave. At Mass today ask Mary for
the grace to keep your mind fixed on things above and to aspire continually to
be united with her and to be brought to the glory of the Resurrection.
Processions[4]
Most likely the oldest and certainly the highest annual feast day of
Mary, the Feast of the Assumption is held in both east and west as a day of
great solemnity. Processions would wind their way either through cities and
towns in order to publicly honor Mary or through fields in order to pray for
God's blessing upon the harvest. Marian hymns would be sung, and statues of the
Blessed Virgin carried. In some places there would even be a dramatic representation
of the mystery of the assumption. The statue of Mary would be carried through
town to an elaborate arch of flowers symbolizing the gate of Heaven. From here
another statue, a statue of Christ, would greet "her" and conduct her
to the church as a symbol of her entrance into eternal glory. The procession
would then conclude with Benediction.
Our Lady’s 30 Days[5]
In pre-Christian times the season from the middle of August to the middle
of September was observed as a period of rejoicing and thanksgiving for the
successful harvest of grains. Many symbolic rites were aimed toward assuring
man of prosperous weather for the reaping of the fall fruits and for winter
planting. Some elements of these ancient cults are now connected with the feast
and season of the Assumption. All through the Middle Ages the days from August
15 to September 15 were called "Our Lady's Thirty Days" (Frauendreissiger) in the German-speaking sections of Europe.
Many Assumption shrines even today show Mary clothed in a robe covered with
ears of grain. These images (Maria im Gerteidekleid, Our Lady of Grains)
are favored goals of pilgrimages during August. Popular legends ascribe a
character of blessing and goodness to Our Lady's Thirty Days. Both animals and
plants are said to lose their harmful traits. Poisonous snakes do not strike, poison
plants are harmless, wild animals refrain from attacking humans. All food
produced during this period is especially wholesome and good and will remain
fresh much longer than at other times of the year. The fact that herbs picked
in August were considered of great power in healing occasioned the medieval
practice of the "Blessing of Herbs" on Assumption Day. The Church
thus elevated a popular belief of pre-Christian times into an observance of
religious import and gave it the character of a Christian rite of deep and
appropriate meaning. In central Europe the feast itself was called "Our
Lady's Herb Day" (Kräutertag in German, Matka Boska Zielna
in Polish). In the Alpine provinces the blessing of herbs is still bestowed
before the solemn service of the Assumption. The city of Wurzburg in Bavaria
used to be a favored center of these blessings, and from this fact it seems to
have received its very name in the twelfth century (Würz: spice herb).
The Roman Ritual still provides an official blessing of herbs on
Assumption Day which, among other prayers, contains the petition that God may
bless the medicinal powers of these herbs and make them mercifully efficient
against diseases and poisons in humans and domestic animals. The Eastern Rites
have similar blessings. In fact, the Syrians celebrate a special feast of
"Our Lady of Herbs" on May 15. Among the Armenians, the faithful
bring the first grapes from their vineyards to church on Assumption Day to have
them solemnly blessed by the priest. Before breakfast the father distributes
them to his family. No one would dream of tasting the new harvest before
consuming the first blessed grapes on Our Lady's Day.
Blessing of Herbs and
Fruits[6]
for the Feast of the Assumption
The Church "baptized" an old pre-Christian belief in the great
healing power of herbs picked in August by instituting a ritual for the blessing of herbs and fruits on the
Feast of the Assumption. Since that time, Christians from both East and West
have blessed herbs and fruit on the Feast of the Assumption in the belief that
these sacramentals provide protection against harm and danger. But this custom
also hearkens back to the Hebrew observance of the harvest, and more importantly, it teaches us something
about our Lady's role in the economy of salvation. Eve foolishly used herbs
(fig leaves) to hide and aggravate her sin, thereby bringing about a disorder
of body and soul (Gen. 3.7). By contrast, Mary, the new Eve whose soul and body
are untouched by sin or the decay of death (as we celebrate on this day),
foreshadows a healing of our corporeal frailties, a healing represented by
herbs.
Likewise, fruits are an appropriate symbol for the new Eve because she
never ate of the forbidden fruit but brought forth only the fruit of good works
and, most importantly, the Fruit of
her womb, Jesus Christ. The blessed fruit thus betokens the fruit of a holy and
generous life which we are called to enjoy by our Lord through the patronage of
His mother. In any case the solemn blessing of herbs and fruits on this day became
so popular that in central Europe August 15 was simply called Our Lady's Herb Day. Usually, these
blessings would take place before Mass and would involve whatever was brought
by the congregation to the church. Afterwards the herbs would be kept for
medicinal use while the fruit would be served at dinner. The following is one
of the special blessings from the Roman ritual that is used for herbs and
fruits on Assumption Day:
O God, who by Moses Thy servant didst command
the children of Israel to carry their sheaves of new fruits to the priests for
a blessing, to take the finest fruits of the orchards, and to make merry before
Thee, the Lord their God: Kindly hear our supplications, and pour forth the
abundance of Thy blessing upon us and upon these sheaves of new grain, new
herbs, and assortment of fruits, which we gratefully present to Thee and which
we bless on this feast in Thy name. And grant that men, cattle, sheep, and beasts
of burden may find in them a remedy against sickness, pestilence, sores,
injuries, spells, the poison of snakes, and the bites of other venomous and
nonvenomous creatures. And may they bring protection against diabolical
illusions, machinations, and deceptions wherever they are kept or carried, or
with whatever arrangement is made of them: that with sheaves of good works and
through the merits of the Blessed Virgin Mary whose Feast of the Assumption we
celebrate, we may deserve to be lifted up to heaven. Through our Lord Jesus
Christ, Thy son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy
Spirit, God unto endless ages. Amen.
The blessing of herbs and fruits has also led to the lovely custom of
giving and receiving baskets of fruit
on the Feast of the Assumption, a custom which was especially popular in
Sicily.
Blessing of Nature[7]
August 15th is the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed
Virgin Mary and just as Mary's assumption into heaven signifies her purity of
body and soul, so too does it remind us of her freedom from the curses of the
Fall, such as having to live by the sweat of one's brow on a land that yields
only thorns and thistles (Gen. 3.18,19). It is perhaps for this reason that the
Feast or the Octave of the Assumption was a favorite time for blessing the scene of man's labors,
especially those related to the production of food. In Western Europe, for
example, fields would often be blessed by the parish priest, while in America
and Latin countries Assumption Day is traditionally the occasion for blessing
the fishing fleets of coastal towns. Also tying into this theme of nature is
the German and Austrian time Mary is invoked for assistance or thanked for the
autumn harvest of grains. This period lasts from Assumption Day until September
15, the Feast of the Seven custom of Our
Lady's Thirty Days (Frauendreissiger), during which Sorrow of the Blessed Virgin.
Legend states that nature is particularly benign during this time: snakes do
not bite, wild animals do not attack, and food picked within the thirty days is
especially wholesome. Finally, parts of England and Ireland observe Our Lady's Health Bathing, where bathing
in rivers, lakes, the ocean, or any natural body of water is considered
particularly good for one's health.
30 Days of Women and Herbs –
Frauendreissiger – Nr. 1 Scarlet Pimpernel
MEDICINAL PLANTS Day 1-Revealed by Heaven to Luz De María
Boiled Water-Humanity
has comfortable feeding habits, but which are totally harmful for the human
organism, and continually destroys and makes sick. In this instant man’s
organism is saturated by bad eating habits, making it a weakening organism and
the new diseases causes man a lot of harm. Luz de Maria asks our Mother what we
must do to make the organism more resistant against the plagues that are
coming. The Blessed Mother responds: My beloved, utilize water that has been
previously boiled and start now the detox of the organism drinking as much
water as possible, so the organism will start to purify.” Blessed Virgin Mary,
10.13.2014 B
Saint Francis of Assisi observed an annual ‘Lent of Saint Michael’, from
the Feast of the Assumption of Mary (August 15) up to the Feast of Saint
Michael the Archangel (September 29). Francis had a special rapport with
Mary and Michael from the early days of his conversion. He went to them often,
for comfort and consolation, when things got rough (and things are pretty
rough right now). It was on one of these 40-day solitary retreats when,
through meditating on the Passion of our Lord, Francis received the sacred
stigmata, imprints of Jesus’ five wounds on his body.
*During these 40 Days, we are asking everyone to
offer some kind of fasting/abstinence and/or penance, and to pray the daily
deliverance prayers of the Auxilium
Christianorum, which are highly recommended by exorcist, Fr.
Chad Ripperger. Specifically, we are asking for protection and for reparation,
particularly for the sins in our Church and in our culture.
Prayers to be said every day:
V. Our help is in the name of the Lord.
R. Who made heaven and earth.
Most gracious Virgin Mary, thou who wouldst crush the head of the
serpent, protect us from the vengeance of the evil one. We offer our prayers,
supplications, sufferings and good works to thee so that thou may purify them,
sanctify them and present them to thy Son as a perfect offering. May this
offering be given so that the demons that influence or seek to influence the
members of the Auxilium Christianorum do not know the source of their expulsion
and blindness. Blind them so that they know not our good works. Blind them so
that they know not on whom to take vengeance. Blind them so that they may
receive the just sentence for their works. Cover us with the Precious Blood of
thy Son so that we may enjoy the protection which flows from His Passion and
Death. We ask this through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
St. Michael Prayer. Guardian Angel Prayer. Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory
Be.
Litany of the Most Precious Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ:
Lord have mercy.
Christ have mercy.
Lord have mercy.
Christ hear us.
Christ graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.
Blood of Christ, only-begotten Son of the Eternal Father, save us.
Blood of Christ, Incarnate Word of God, save us.
Blood of Christ, of the New and Eternal Testament, save us.
Blood of Christ, falling upon the earth in the Agony, save us.
Blood of Christ, shed profusely in the Scourging, save us.
Blood of Christ, flowing forth in the Crowning with Thorns, save us.
Blood of Christ, poured out on the Cross, save us.
Blood of Christ, price of our salvation, save us.
Blood of Christ, without which there is no forgiveness, save us.
Blood of Christ, Eucharistic drink and refreshment of souls, save us.
Blood of Christ, stream of mercy, save us.
Blood of Christ, victor over demons, save us.
Blood of Christ, courage of Martyrs, save us.
Blood of Christ, strength of Confessors, save us.
Blood of Christ, bringing forth Virgins, save us.
Blood of Christ, help of those in peril, save us.
Blood of Christ, relief of the burdened, save us.
Blood of Christ, solace in sorrow, save us.
Blood of Christ, hope of the penitent, save us.
Blood of Christ, consolation of the dying, save us.
Blood of Christ, peace and tenderness of hearts, save us.
Blood of Christ, pledge of eternal life, save us.
Blood of Christ, freeing souls from purgatory, save us.
Blood of Christ, most worthy of all glory and honor, save us.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O
Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
V. Thou hast redeemed us with Thy Blood, O Lord.
R. And made of us a kingdom for our God.
Let us pray.
Almighty, and everlasting God, Who hast appointed Thine only-begotten Son
to be the Redeemer of the world, and hast been pleased to be reconciled unto us
by His Blood, grant us, we beseech Thee, so to venerate with solemn worship the
price of our salvation, that the power thereof may here on earth keep us from
all things hurtful, and the fruit of the same may gladden us for ever hereafter
in heaven. Through the same Christ our Lord. R. Amen.
On Sundays:
O Glorious Queen of Heaven and Earth, Virgin Most Powerful, thou who hast
the power to crush the head of the ancient serpent with thy heel, come and
exercise this power flowing from the grace of thine Immaculate Conception.
Shield us under the mantle of thy purity and love, draw us into the sweet abode
of thy heart and annihilate and render impotent the forces bent on destroying
us. Come Most Sovereign Mistress of the Holy Angels and Mistress of the Most
Holy Rosary, thou who from the very beginning hast received from God the power
and the mission to crush the head of Satan. Send forth thy holy legions, we
humbly beseech thee, that under thy command and by thy power they may pursue
the evil spirits, counter them on every side, resist their bold attacks and
drive them far from us, harming no one on the way, binding them to the foot of
the Cross to be judged and sentenced by Jesus Christ Thy Son and to be disposed
of by Him as He wills.
St. Joseph, Patron of the Universal Church, come to our aid in this grave
battle against the forces of darkness, repel the attacks of the devil and free
the members of the Auxilium Christianorum, and those for whom the priests of
the Auxilium Christianorum pray, from the strongholds of the enemy.
St. Michael, summon the entire heavenly court to engage their forces in
this fierce battle against the powers of hell. Come O Prince of Heaven with thy
mighty sword and thrust into hell Satan and all the other evil spirits. O
Guardian Angels, guide and protect us. Amen.
On Mondays:
In Thy name, Lord Jesus Christ, we pray that Thou cover us, our families,
and all of our possessions with Thy love and Thy Most Precious Blood and
surround us with Thy Heavenly Angels, Saints and the mantle of Our Blessed
Mother. Amen.
On Tuesdays:
Lord Jesus Christ, we beg Thee for the grace to remain guarded beneath
the protective mantle of Mary, surrounded by the holy briar from which was
taken the Holy Crown of Thorns, and saturated with Thy Precious Blood in the
power of the Holy Spirit, with our Guardian Angels, for the greater glory of
the Father. Amen.
On Wednesdays:
In the Name of Jesus Christ, Our Lord and God, we ask Thee to render all
spirits impotent, paralyzed and ineffective in attempting to take revenge
against anyone of the members of the Auxilium Christianorum, our families,
friends, communities, those who pray for us and their family members, or anyone
associated with us and for whom the priests of the Auxilium Christianorum pray.
We ask Thee to bind all evil spirits, all powers in the air, the water, the
ground, the fire, under ground, or wherever they exercise their powers, any
satanic forces in nature and any and all emissaries of the satanic
headquarters. We ask Thee to bind by Thy Precious Blood all of the attributes,
aspects and characteristics, interactions, communications and deceitful games
of the evil spirits. We ask Thee to break any and all bonds, ties and
attachments in the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
On Thursdays:
My Lord, Thou art all powerful, Thou art God, Thou art our Father. We beg
Thee through the intercession and help of the Archangels Sts. Michael, Raphael,
and Gabriel for the deliverance of our brothers and sisters who are enslaved by
the evil one. All Saints of Heaven, come to our aid.
From anxiety, sadness and obsessions – We implore Thee, deliver us, O
Lord.
From hatred, fornication, and envy – We implore Thee, deliver us, O Lord.
From thoughts of jealousy, rage, and death – We implore Thee, deliver us,
O Lord.
From every thought of suicide and abortion – We implore Thee, deliver us,
O Lord.
From every form of sinful sexuality – We implore Thee, deliver us, O
Lord.
From every division in our family, and every harmful friendship – We
implore Thee, deliver us, O Lord.
From every sort of spell, malefice, witchcraft, and every form of the
occult – We implore Thee, deliver us, O Lord.
Thou who said, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto
you." Grant that, through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, we may be
liberated from every demonic influence and enjoy Thy peace always. In the Name
of Christ, our Lord. Amen.
On Fridays:
Litany of Humility
O Jesus, meek and humble of heart, hear me.
From the desire of being esteemed, deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being loved, deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being extolled, deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being honored, deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being praised, deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being preferred to others, deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being consulted, deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being approved, deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being humiliated, deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being despised, deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of suffering rebukes, deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being calumniated, deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being forgotten, deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being ridiculed, deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being wronged, deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being suspected, deliver me, Jesus.
That others may be loved more than I, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire
it.
That others may be esteemed more than I, Jesus, grant me the grace to
desire it.
That in the opinion of the world, others may increase and I may decrease,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be chosen and I set aside, Jesus, grant me the grace to
desire it.
That others may be praised and I unnoticed, Jesus, grant me the grace to
desire it.
That others may be preferred to me in everything, Jesus, grant me the
grace to desire it.
That others may become holier than I, provided that I become as holy as I
should,Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
On Saturdays:
O God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, we call upon Thy holy Name and
humbly beseech Thy clemency, that, through the intercession of the ever
immaculate Virgin, our Mother Mary, and of the glorious Archangel Saint
Michael, thou wouldst vouchsafe to help us against Satan and all the other
unclean spirits that are prowling about the world to the great peril of the
human race and the loss of souls. Amen.
Conclusion for Every Day
August Queen of the Heavens, heavenly Sovereign of the Angels, Thou who
from the beginning hast received from God the power and the mission to crush
the head of Satan, we humbly beseech Thee to send thy holy legions, so that
under Thy command and through Thy power, they may pursue the demons and combat
them everywhere, suppress their boldness, and drive them back into the abyss. O
good and tender Mother, Thou wilt always be our love and hope! O Divine Mother,
send Thy Holy Angels to defend us and to drive far away from us the cruel
enemy. Holy Angels and Archangels, defend us, guard us. Amen.
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.
Mary, Help of Christians, pray for us.
Virgin Most Powerful, pray for us.
St. Joseph, pray for us.
St. Michael the Archangel, pray for us.
All You Holy Angels, pray for us.
In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Woodstock 1969-Anti Fatima
Event[8]
On August 15–17, 1969, the Woodstock Music and Art Fair was held on a
600-acre dairy farm near Bethel, New York. It helped usher in a period of moral
devastation. The event enshrined free love as acceptable in the national
psyche. It created the idea that life should be dominated by the maxim, “if it
feels good, do it.”
However, the worst part of Woodstock was its role in creating the
spiritual desolation of imagining a utopian society without religion or the
Catholic Faith. Woodstock presented itself as a mystical experience with its
own dark spiritual message. It was almost a liturgical act of an anti-religion
of unbridled passions that denied a moral law.
Reflection About Another Field
Reflecting upon Woodstock, it is hard not to recall another event held on
a large field that gathered together a huge crowd. This gathering also changed
history. The two events could not be more contrary to each other, and yet the
parallels and contrasts are striking. They both happened amid a terrible crisis
inside society. However, each proposed a radically different solution. The
second event took place in a tiny village in the backwater of Portugal called
Fatima. The date was October 13, 1917. What attracted people there was no less
than the Queen of Heaven. Our Lady had appeared to three young shepherd
children and promised to perform a great miracle so that people might have
faith and change their lives.
Contrast on the Two Fields
At both events, everything that could have gone wrong did go wrong. At
Woodstock, nearly 400,000 people appeared at the farm where they crashed the
gates and entered the field. The organizers were overwhelmed by the crowds. The
highways were clogged with cars trying to get to the event. At Fatima, some
80,000 faithfuls came from all over Portugal. They had heard about the
apparitions by word of mouth. There were no organizers since it was a
spontaneous movement of grace that called people to the site. Nevertheless,
they clogged the highways and byways of the small nation to get to the event.
Both events prompted government action. When order broke down in Woodstock, the
government stepped in by sending nearby Air Force personnel to the concert to
prevent chaos and fly in stranded performers. At Fatima, the secular
anti-Catholic government played an opposite role. It sent soldiers with fixed
bayonets to prevent pilgrims from entering the huge field. When the masses of
pilgrims overwhelmed the small number of soldiers, people then managed to join
the orderly crowd that patiently waited with great expectation, prayer and
faith. Heavy rains came down in torrents at both events creating seas of mud.
At Woodstock, the mud mixed with the nudity, promiscuity and drugs to the point
that the crowd became one with the quagmire of immorality and muck. Singer John
Fogerty described an early morning scene as “sort of like a painting of a Dante
scene, just bodies from hell, all intertwined and asleep, covered with mud.” At
Fatima, the rains also lashed out against the crowds and turned the field into
a great muddy mess. However, the crowds accepted the rain and mire as part of
the suffering and penance that would mark the Fatima Message. Many knelt in the
mud in prayer.
Historical Contexts
While the circumstances of the open fields at Fatima and Woodstock are
important, the context of these gatherings must also be considered. The
historical context of Fatima was a world in the process of abandoning the
Church and Christian civilization. Europe was engaged in the bloody World War
I, which would soon end. The people still had faith but were in danger of
losing it. Our Lady came to deliver a message of tragedy and hope, inviting
humanity to conversion and amendment of life. Woodstock took place 52 years
later in the context of a Sexual Revolution that would devastate what remained
of Christian morals in society. America was divided, engaged in a brutal war
against communism in Vietnam. The Church was also in a state of turmoil.
Woodstock was an event that would celebrate a world without restraint that
would soon become mainstream.
What Happened in Fatima
The events that took place in these two fields are what made them so
important. At Fatima, the crowd gathered in an ordered fashion as they awaited
the appearance of the Mother of God. They were to behold a marvelous yet
terrifying scene, which was the most witnessed miracle in modern history. Some
80,000 pilgrims of every age, educational level and social class were there.
Believers and non-believers vied for places to see the promised miracle. Our
Lady provided it. The clouds opened up and the sun appeared as an immense
silver disk. It shone with great intensity yet was not blinding. The enormous
ball then started to “dance” across the sky, spinning rapidly scattering red
flames. The bright light reflected on the ground, trees, bushes, clothing and
faces. After going three times across sky, the globe of fire then appeared to
tremble, shake and plunge toward the terrified crowd who thought the world was
coming to an end. However, the sun soon zigzagged back to its place and shone
benevolently upon the crowd. Many converted and believed. The people noticed
that their sodden clothes were both dry and clean.
What Happened at Woodstock
The events at Woodstock stand in stark contraposition. There were no
miracles there, but there was an aura that produced an eerie feeling around the
event. The bad weather, food shortages and poor sanitation created a climate of
generalized chaos. Witnesses reported an atmosphere of free love and nudity
that shocked many unaccustomed to seeing such things in public. Drug use was
also rampant, especially the use of marijuana and LSD. Thus, many were out of
their minds as the music blared from the stage throughout the night. Carlos Santana later recalled how he hallucinated throughout his
performance because he was high on the mescaline he obtained from Jerry Garcia.
Meanwhile, backstage, The Who singer Roger Daltrey reported that “Woodstock wasn’t peace and love. There
was an awful lot of shouting and screaming going on. By the time it all ended,
the worst sides of our nature had come out.” The scenes of partying, chaos and
sin created a surreal and bizarre spectacle. It was a whimsical space without
rules or law where you could “do your own thing” without consequence or risk.
Some thought a new age was dawning, both inebriating and terrifying, where the
unbridled passions driven by psychedelic drugs would liberate everyone from the
staid constraints of the establishment. On the trash-littered fields of
Woodstock, a self-centered generation embraced an anything-goes culture of sex,
drugs and rock ‘n’ roll. America would leave the Woodstock mud fest with
sullied innocence.
Two Messages in Conflict
Both fields also produced messages that are still in conflict today. The
Fatima message was very clear and precise. Our Lady said: “Let them offend Our
Lord no more, for He is already much offended.” Thus, Fatima called upon the
world to repent by having recourse to prayer, sacrifice and amendment of life.
If humanity did not repent, Our Lady spoke of a great chastisement, symbolized
by the Miracle of the Sun. The Fatima message denounced the decadence of the
modern world, the sins of the flesh and the abandonment of God and the Church.
Woodstock proclaimed an anti-Fatima message. It was an invitation to sin,
indulge and offend God. In the name of peace and love, it called upon youth to
“imagine” a perfect world where they might live together in harmony without
property, Christian morals or God. Woodstock projected an empty world without
meaning and purpose that seeks only extreme gratification and pleasures. The
clash between Fatima and Woodstock continues. Many Catholics have remained
faithful to the Fatima message despite the great pressure to conform to the
culture. Others have been mugged by the terrible reality that the Woodstock
dream of sexual freedom was an appalling nightmare that left behind a trail of
dead, unborn babies, broken relationships and shattered communities. It is
therefore not fitting to celebrate the concert’s anniversary but rather to
reject all that it symbolizes and represents. Instead, let us embrace Fatima’s
saving message of prayer, repentance and amendment of life as the essential
solution to a world gone awry.
Bucket List trip: Rich
vs Poor Tour:
10-Switzerland
vs. 213- Liberia
Switzerland
ranks among the top 10 countries globally in GDP per capita hovering around
$90,000 to $110,000 depending on the source and year. But its wealth isn’t just
about numbers—it’s deeply tied to its economic structure, cultural values, and
political stability. Let’s break it down, especially with an eye toward
Catholic expat life and work opportunities.
🇨🇭
Why Switzerland Ranks So High in Per Capita Wealth
🔑
Key Drivers of Wealth
Robust Financial Sector:
Home to global banking giants like UBS and Credit Suisse, with strong banking
secrecy laws that attract international capital.
Stable Currency: The Swiss
franc (CHF) is one of the world’s strongest currencies, backed by gold reserves
and low inflation.
Neutrality & Political
Stability: Switzerland’s long-standing neutrality keeps military spending low
and investor confidence high.
Innovation & R&D:
The country invests heavily in research—about 3.4% of GDP—with strong private
sector involvement.
Low Public Debt & Taxes:
Public debt is around 38% of GDP, and VAT rates are among the lowest in Europe.
✝️
Quality of Life for a Catholic Expat
🕊️
Spiritual & Cultural Integration
Catholic Heritage:
Catholicism is one of Switzerland’s major religions, especially in cantons like
Valais, Fribourg, and Ticino. Churches are active, and liturgical life is
vibrant.
Freedom of Religion: The
Swiss constitution guarantees religious freedom, and Catholic expats can
participate fully in parish life, retreats, and community events.
Multilingual Worship: Masses
are often available in German, French, Italian, and sometimes English,
depending on the region.
🏞️
Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Clean, Safe, and Scenic: Low
crime rates, pristine nature, and efficient infrastructure make daily life
peaceful and fulfilling.
Work-Life Balance: Average
workweek is under 36 hours, with 4–5 weeks of paid vacation. Sundays are
culturally reserved for rest and family.
Healthcare & Education:
Universal healthcare and excellent international schools support family life
and long-term settlement.
💼
Work Opportunities for Expats
📈
In-Demand Sectors
Finance & Banking:
Positions in wealth management, compliance, and IT support are common.
Pharmaceuticals &
Biotech: Companies like Roche and Novartis offer roles in research, marketing,
and production.
Technology &
Engineering: Switzerland has a thriving tech startup scene and demand for
software developers, AI specialists, and engineers.
Administrative &
Executive Roles: Positions like CEO assistants and process managers are
available for those with strong organizational skills.
🛂
Work Permits & Residency
EU Citizens: Easier access
to work permits and residency.
Non-EU Citizens: Requires a
job offer and sponsorship; high-skilled professionals are prioritized.
Catholic Expats: No
religious restrictions on employment; cultural integration is smooth,
especially in Catholic-majority regions.
Liberia ranks 213th in the world by GDP
per capita, with an estimated $846 per person in 2024. This low ranking
reflects deep structural challenges, but the country also offers unique
opportunities and a vibrant Catholic presence for expats willing to embrace its
complexities.
🌍
Why Liberia Ranks So Low in Per Capita Income
⚠️
Key Challenges
Post-Conflict Recovery: Two
civil wars (1989–1996 and 1999–2003) devastated infrastructure, institutions,
and human capital.
Limited Economic
Diversification: The economy relies heavily on raw exports like rubber, iron
ore, and gold, with minimal value-added industries.
High Poverty & Informal
Employment: Over 26% live in extreme poverty, and most jobs are informal and
low-productivity.
Weak Infrastructure: Roads,
electricity, and healthcare systems are underdeveloped, especially outside
Monrovia.
Aid Dependency & Debt:
Liberia has a high current account deficit and limited fiscal space.
✝️
Quality of Life for a Catholic Expat
🕊️
Faith & Community
Christian Majority: About
85% of Liberians identify as Christian, with Catholicism well-established
through schools, parishes, and missions.
Missionary Legacy: Catholic
institutions have long played a role in education, healthcare, and
reconciliation efforts.
Spiritual Richness: Despite
material poverty, many expats find the faith life vibrant, communal, and deeply
rooted in resilience.
🧭
Daily Life Considerations
Healthcare: Public hospitals
are under-resourced; private insurance and evacuation plans are essential.
Safety: Crime is a concern,
especially in urban areas. Expats are advised to avoid walking alone at night
and to have security plans.
Culture & Hospitality:
Liberians are known for their warmth, music, and storytelling traditions.
Expats often speak of strong community bonds.
Language: English is the
official language, though many speak Liberian Kreyol or tribal dialects.
💼
Work Opportunities for Expats
📈
Sectors with Potential
NGOs & Development:
Roles in education, health, agriculture, and governance are common through
organizations like WHO, UN Women, and Partners in Health.
Mining & Natural
Resources: Jobs in gold, iron ore, and rubber industries exist, though often
require technical expertise.
Education & Training:
Teaching roles in international schools or vocational programs are available.
Remote & Freelance Work:
Some companies hire Liberia-based staff for remote roles in tech, business
development, and media.
🛂
Work Permits & Entry
Visa Requirements: Expats
need a work visa and residence permit, typically sponsored by an employer or
NGO.
Networking: Job boards like Liberia HR Jobs Board and Liberiawork.com are useful for finding
openings.
Between Switzerland and
Liberia, Switzerland is unequivocally the better choice for most Catholic
expats seeking a high quality of life, stable work opportunities, and robust
infrastructure. Here's a side-by-side comparison to help clarify why:
🧭
Overall Comparison: Switzerland vs Liberia
|
Category |
🇨🇭
Switzerland |
🇱🇷
Liberia |
|
GDP per capita (2024) |
$104,523 |
$808 |
|
Life expectancy |
83.6 years |
63.3 years |
|
Political stability |
Very high (score: 92) |
Low (score: 41) |
|
Corruption index |
Excellent (score: 18) |
Very poor (score: 75) |
|
Healthcare access |
Universal, high quality |
Limited, under-resourced |
|
Internet access |
96% of population |
34% of population |
|
Catholic community |
Strong, multilingual,
well-integrated |
Vibrant but
resource-constrained |
|
Work opportunities |
High-skilled, diverse
sectors |
Mostly NGO, education, or
mining |
|
Safety & infrastructure |
Excellent roads, public
transport, low crime |
Poor infrastructure, higher
crime risk |
✝️
Catholic Expat Life
Switzerland offers a refined
spiritual and liturgical experience, with access to historic churches,
multilingual Masses, and a contemplative rhythm aligned with the seasons and
feasts.
Liberia, while spiritually
rich and welcoming, presents challenges in terms of healthcare, safety, and
infrastructure. Catholic missions play a vital role, but resources are limited.
💼
Work & Vocational Opportunities
In Switzerland, expats can
find work in finance, pharmaceuticals, tech, and international organizations.
Salaries are high, and work-life balance is respected.
In Liberia, opportunities
are concentrated in NGOs, education, and extractive industries. These roles
often require a calling toward humanitarian or missionary work, rather than
career advancement.
🏁
Verdict: Which Is Better?
If you're seeking:
Material stability,
professional growth, and refined spiritual life → Switzerland is the clear
choice.
Missionary engagement,
cultural immersion, and service to the poor → Liberia offers profound spiritual
rewards but demands resilience and sacrifice.
Let
Freedom Ring Day 33 Freedom from Theft
Dear family, most of us - excluding the rioters, looters, burners and
shooters - know that we should not steal tangible things. How about for today
let us ponder how so many of us steal intangible things - like time - like
God's time? As part of our next Confession - how about if we examine our
consciences and ask ourselves how much time have we stolen. That is an
important examination, dear family, because stealing time makes us thieves. To
help with that examination - let us ask ourselves if we have made it a point to
do what Jesus told us to do: spend an hour a day with our Lord in this
life, so we really can spend an eternity with Him in the next. Then let us, in
these troubled, troubled times, resolve to be free from our attachment to time,
and start giving back the Lord one hour for every 23 other hours of the day He
gives us.
Around the Corner
And whoever enters into God’s rest, rests
from his own works as God did from his. Hebrews 4:10
Spirit Hour: Mint Strawberry Fizz Cocktail
Foodie Cheat: cuisses-de-dames
Use Mary’s Herbs
Get an indulgence
Daily Devotions
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them in fasting: The Families of
St. Joseph Porters
Religion in the Home for Preschool: August
Litany of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus
Offering to the sacred heart of Jesus
Rosary
INSPECTOR HORNLEIGH GOES TO IT (1941)
Gordon Harker • Alastair Sim • Phyllis Calvert Directed by Walter Forde • Produced by Edward Black A Wartime‑Bureaucratic Crime Spiral Where Humor Masks Institutional Strain
Inspector Hornleigh Goes To It (1941) closes the trilogy by shifting noir’s usual shadows into the fluorescent corridors of wartime Britain. Instead of alleys and gangsters, we get ration books, office politics, and a Home Office learning to function under pressure. Gordon Harker’s Hornleigh remains steady, dry, and unflappable; Alastair Sim’s Sergeant Bingham provides the eccentric counterweight — anxious, brilliant, and perpetually off‑balance. The crime is real, but the tone is sly: a mystery threaded with satire, showing how institutions bend, creak, and occasionally stumble when war rearranges every priority.
This is crime‑drama without glamour. The darkness is bureaucratic. The danger hides in paperwork.
🎞️ Film Card — Inspector Hornleigh Goes To It (1941)
Inspector Hornleigh Goes To It
Sources:
1. Production & Cultural Setting
Wartime Bureaucracy The Home Office becomes the battleground — confusion, secrecy, and overstretched staff.
British Humor Under Strain Sim’s anxious brilliance reveals how comedy survives even in national tension.
Institutional Vulnerability The war exposes cracks in systems meant to be orderly.
Civilians in Crisis Ordinary workers suddenly carry national responsibility.
Tone of Resilience The film insists that competence and humor can coexist.
2. Story Summary
The Case A murder intersects with government documents and wartime secrecy.
The Partnership Hornleigh’s steadiness balances Bingham’s nervous ingenuity.
The Bureaucratic Maze Clues hide in offices, ledgers, and misfiled papers.
The Pressure War amplifies every mistake — and every discovery.
The Resolution Justice arrives through persistence rather than brilliance.
3. Moral & Emotional Resonances
A. Institutions Are Human Systems fail because people fail — and recover because people recover.
B. Humor Is Survival Laughter becomes a coping mechanism for national stress.
C. Competence Is Quiet Hornleigh’s steadiness is its own form of heroism.
D. War Distorts Everything Even small crimes become large under national strain.
E. Order Requires Grace Bureaucracy works only when patience and humility remain intact.
4. Hospitality Pairing — Wartime Britain Under Pressure
Drink: Old Forester — steady, honest, unfussy.
Plate: Buttered toast — ration‑era comfort.
Atmosphere: A desk lamp over scattered papers.
Symbol: A misfiled document — small errors with large consequences.
5. Reflection Prompts
Where does humor protect dignity.
Where does duty become burden.
Where does bureaucracy reveal truth.
Where does pressure expose character.
Where does steadiness become quiet heroism.
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