SMOKE IN THIS LIFE NOT THE NEXT
Queenship of Mary
Reverence & Trust
Dominican Floral Regal
Angel’s Envy
The Queenship of Mary is not a coronation of power but of presence — the quiet sovereignty of a Mother whose authority is exercised entirely through intercession. Tonight’s floral Dominican cigar carries that same gentle majesty: a smoke that unfolds like petals in procession, regal without severity. Angel’s Envy follows with its courtly sweetness, a bourbon that tastes like mercy extended rather than demanded.
The old chronicle of Sancho, King of León, enters this stillness with its stark reminder of the world beyond sight. Poisoned by treachery, Sancho died a Christian king but appeared after death in mourning garments, bound with red‑hot chains. His widow, Queen Guda, refused to abandon him to the shadows. She prayed, she wept, she offered Mass after Mass. She took the veil so she could remain near his body, near his memory, near his need.
It was on a Saturday — Mary’s day — that Sancho appeared to her again. Not triumphant, but grateful. Not freed, but hopeful. He begged her to continue her charity, to trust that her petitions mattered, to believe that mercy moves when love refuses to stop.
Mary’s Queenship is precisely this: the reign of a Mother who receives our small offerings and multiplies them into ladders for the suffering. She is the Queen who turns fidelity into rescue.
To honor Mary’s guidance is to imitate Guda —
steady, loyal, unhurried — praying until chains become glory.
AUGUST 22 Saturday-Queenship of the
Blessed Virgin Mary
1 Maccabees, Chapter 3, Verse 25
Then Judas and his brothers began
to be FEARED, and dread fell upon the
Gentiles about them.
The Battle of Beth
Horon was fought in 166 BC between Jewish forces led by Judas Maccabaeus
and an army of the Seleucid Empire under the command of Seron.
The rebel army led by Judas Maccabeus was growing in strength. They had just
inflicted a crushing defeat upon the Seleucid General Apollonius and now they
faced the forces of the Syrian Governor Seron, who was widely overconfident.
With Maccabeus' superior knowledge of the terrain, he prepared his forces to
ambush the larger Seleucid force. Seron had anticipated this and spread out his
force, but the Maccabees exhibited superior tactical skill by decimating the
general's leading unit and killing Seron himself. With their leader dead, the
shocked and disconcerted remnants of the Seleucid army took to the hills and
ran. The stubborn Seleucids refused to give up their slow phalanx-based tactics
when compared to the lightweight and quick Maccabean militia thus always
creating problems for them on the battlefield. Another force was soon sent
against Maccabaeus, which led to the Battle of Emmaus.[1]
Reflecting
on this constant struggle between the culture of death and the culture of life;
I have just received a communique that my UNION is endorsing a PRO-CHOICE
candidate. Ah now comes the rub. So begins the battle of sorts. I called 3
times to get a call back. The answer well union dues are not used to support
the candidate (killing of children) but if I want to quit the union 1) I must
draft a letter stating I want out and 2) ask for a window (2 weeks) of when I
can request again the stoppage of my union dues. (We got your money-ha, ha, ha)
or I can divorce myself and remain silent because I am not responsible. Hmm. I
would appreciate getting feedback on this from my readers. My feeling it is
like being silent during the holocaust but please let me know your thoughts.
AS of this Date-: A Union’s Quiet
Message —
“We Don’t Care”
For
the record, readers should be aware that this same union has been sitting on a
simple retirement request for more than a year. The paperwork was submitted.
The intent was clear. The follow‑up calls were made. Yet the response has been
silence — not once, not twice, but for twelve consecutive months.
No
explanation.
No
progress.
No
acknowledgment.
Nothing.
At
seventy‑three years old, a member should not have to wonder whether an
institution is waiting him out. But silence has a way of speaking. It says: You
do not matter. It says: We will act when we feel like it. It says: Your
age is an inconvenience, not a dignity. Bureaucratic indifference toward
the elderly is not merely inefficiency; it is a moral failure long before it
becomes a legal one.
Readers
should see the pattern. An organization that treats unborn life casually also
treats elderly members casually. The culture of death is not always loud.
Sometimes it is procedural. Sometimes it hides behind forms that never move.
Sometimes it expresses itself through the simple, chilling message: We don’t
care.
This
entry stands as a public record of that indifference. Institutions that refuse
to act can be compelled to act through documentation, oversight, and
accountability. Silence can be broken. Neglect can be exposed. Rights can be
enforced. Evil is often administrative before it is dramatic — and naming it is
the first step toward defeating it.
On the
"Pro-Choice" Position on Abortion[2]
But responsibility
likewise falls on the legislators who have promoted and approved abortion laws,
and, to the extent that they have a say in the matter, on the administrators of
the health-care centers where abortions are performed. ... In this sense abortion
goes beyond the responsibility of individuals and beyond the harm done to them
and takes on a distinctly social dimension. It is a most serious wound
inflicted on society and its culture by the very people who ought to be
society's promoters and defenders. Pope John Paul II, Evangelium vitae
(1995), no. 59.
When a parliamentary or
social majority decrees that it is legal, at least under certain conditions, to
kill unborn human life, is it not really making a 'tyrannical' decision with
regard to the weakest and most defenseless of human beings?....While public
authority can sometimes choose not to put a stop to something which – were it
prohibited – would cause more serious harm, it can never presume to legitimize
as a right of individuals – even if they are the majority of the members of
society – an offense against other persons caused by the disregard of so
fundamental a right as the right to life. Id., nos. 70, 71.
Laws which legitimize the
direct killing of innocent human beings through abortion or euthanasia are in
complete opposition to the inviolable right to life proper to every individual;
they thus deny the equality of everyone before the law. Id., no. 72.
Utilitarianism is a
civilization of production and of use, a civilization of "things" and
not of "persons", a civilization in which persons are used in the
same way as things are used. In the context of a civilization of use, woman can
become an object for man, children a hindrance to parents, the family an
institution obstructing the freedom of its members. To be convinced that this
is the case, one need only look at certain sexual education programmes
introduced into the schools, often notwithstanding the disagreement and even
the protests of many parents; or pro-abortion tendencies which vainly try to
hide behind the so-called "right to choose" ("pro-choice")
on the part of both spouses, and in particular on the part of the woman. Pope John Paul II,
Letter to Families, February 2, 1994, no. 13
On
"social sin":
Also social is every sin
against the rights of the human person, beginning with the right to life and
including the life of the unborn or against a person's physical integrity...The
term social can be applied to sins of commission or omission-on the part of
political, economic or trade union
leaders, who though in a position to do so, do not work diligently and wisely
for the improvement and transformation of society according to the requirements
and potential of the given historic moment...Whenever the church speaks of
situations of sin or when the condemns as social sins certain situations or the
collective behavior of certain social groups, big or small, or even of whole
nations and blocs of nations, she knows and she proclaims that such cases of
social sin are the result of the accumulation and concentration of many
personal sins. It is a case of the very personal sins of those who cause or
support evil or who exploit it; of those who are in a position to avoid,
eliminate or at least limit certain social evils but who fail to do so out of
laziness, fear or the conspiracy of silence, through secret complicity or
indifference; of those who take refuge in the supposed impossibility of
changing the world and also of those who sidestep the effort and sacrifice
required, producing specious reasons of a higher order. The real
responsibility, then, lies with individuals. Pope John Paul II, Reconciliation
and Penance (1984), no. 16
Copilot’s
Take
The Queenship of Mary casts a
steady light over every age in which the dignity of the human person is
threatened. Under that light, the account of Judas Maccabeus becomes more than
an ancient battle; it becomes a pattern of resistance. Judas did not seek
conflict, yet conflict sought him, and his fidelity became the hinge upon which
life and death turned. The Seleucid phalanx advanced with the slow arrogance of
an institution convinced of its own inevitability. In the present age, the
battlefield is quieter, but the pattern remains: when institutions forget the
worth of the person, they reveal what they truly serve.
A union’s endorsement of a pro‑choice
candidate is not merely a political gesture; it is a moral statement. The
Church teaches that legitimizing the destruction of unborn life wounds society
at its core and betrays the very ones entrusted with its protection (CCC
2270–2273). When an organization aligns itself with such a position, it
announces its anthropology: that life is conditional, dignity negotiable, and
moral responsibility something that can be buried beneath procedure. The unease
such an endorsement provokes is not exaggeration; it is conscience recognizing
the gravity of silence in the face of injustice.
The same pattern emerges in the
union’s year‑long refusal to process a simple retirement request. Bureaucratic
indifference toward the elderly is not a clerical delay; it is a moral failure.
Silence becomes a message: the member does not matter, the years of service are
inconvenient, the dignity of age an afterthought. The Church warns that
structures can embody sin when they normalize injustice, especially when the
vulnerable are ignored or dismissed (CCC 1931–1933). The culture of death is
often administrative before it is dramatic, hiding in forms that never move and
calls that are never returned.
Catholic teaching on social sin
makes this pattern unmistakable. Structures become sinful when individuals
within them choose convenience over conscience, indifference over duty, silence
over truth (CCC 1869). An organization that treats unborn life casually and
elderly members casually is not inconsistent; it is perfectly consistent. It
has embraced a utilitarian logic in which persons are used like things, and the
weakest — the unborn, the aging, the inconvenient — bear the cost. The sin
becomes social because the silence is shared.
Naming such indifference is not
political activism; it is spiritual warfare. Judas did not defeat the Seleucids
by mirroring their arrogance but by rejecting their worldview. The same courage
is required now. By documenting institutional neglect, silence is broken. By
refusing complicity, the culture of death is confronted where it hides — in
endorsements, in delays, in the quiet message that says without speaking, we
don’t care. The Queenship of Mary reminds every age that evil is not inevitable
and dignity is not negotiable. Conscience must speak, even when institutions
will not.
Queenship
of the Blessed Virgin Mary[3]
On the 11th of October 1954, Pope Pius XII
established the Feast of the Queenship of Mary to be celebrated throughout the
world, and commanded that on that day each year, the world should renew its
consecration to her. In the future the Feast came to be celebrated on 22nd of
August. On the day of her Assumption, Mary our Mother was solemnly crowned by
Christ and received by the whole court of Heaven as Queen. What Christ has done
in Heaven and the Church has done on our behalf we should now do individually,
that is, we should recognize Mary's Queenship, enthrone her in our homes,
consecrate ourselves to her and, by this means, establish in our lives the
reign of Mary Immaculate Queen of the Universe.
How to Enthrone
Mary Immaculate Queen in Your Home and
Consecrate Your Family to Her a
statue or picture may
be blessed; If convenient, ask a priest to perform the ceremony, otherwise the
head of the family can do it. Prepare
her altar with flowers and candles, giving her an honored place in your home
where all will see her and often pray to her. Recite
together kneeling:
Act
of Contrition; 3 Hail Mary’s; 3 Gloria’s; 3 times the invocation: Mary Immaculate Queen: Triumph and Reign. followed by
the
Act of Consecration
O Mary Immaculate Queen, glorious Queen of the Universe, most powerful Virgin,
merciful Mother of a merciful God and refuge of sinners, we consecrate
ourselves to thy Royal and Immaculate Heart.
It is through thee that Jesus Christ our King has come into the world to save
it. It is also through thee that He is to reign over the world.
In order to obtain this great benefit for ourselves and all mankind, we come to
thy feet to consecrate to thee our persons, our lives, all that we are, all
that we have, all that we love. Keep us, enlighten us, dispose of us, reign
over us.
May all hearts and all homes willingly proclaim thee as their Immaculate Queen.
Prayer
O Mary Immaculate Queen, look down upon this distressed and suffering world.
Thou knowest our misery and our weakness. O Thou who art our Mother, saving us
in the hour of peril, have compassion on us in these days of great and heavy
trial.
Jesus has confided to thee the treasure of His Grace, and through Thee He wills
to grant us pardon and mercy. In these hours of anguish, therefore, thy
children come to Thee as their hope.
We recognize thy Queenship and ardently desire thy triumph. We need a Mother
and a Mother's Heart. Thou art for us the luminous dawn which dissipates our
darkness and points out the way to life. In thy clemency obtain for us the
courage and the confidence of which we have such need.
Most Holy and Adorable Trinity, Thou Who didst crown with glory in Heaven the
Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Savior, grant that all her children on earth
may acknowledge her as their Sovereign Queen, that all hearts, homes, and
nations may recognize her rights as Mother and as Queen. Amen.
MARY IMMACULATE QUEEN
Triumph and Reign!
Imprimi potest:
+ Michael Epus Galviensis, 4 June 1966
30 DAY TRIBUTE TO MARY 8th ROSE:
Mary's Visitation Gives Charity
30 Days of Women and Herbs – Frauendreissiger-Ivy
(Hedera helix)
MEDICINAL PLANTS Day 8 ANTIBIOTIC PROPIERTIES-Revealed by
Heaven to Luz De María
RAW GARLIC Scientific name: Allium sativum Family: Liliaceae
After the message from the blessed Mother on June 3, 2016,
Luz de María had a vision in which she was given the following indications as
natural remedies for the illnesses that are approaching. Our Mother told me
that true plagues will come and that we should ingest a raw clove of garlic
every morning, or oil of oregano; these two are excellent antibiotics. If oil
of oregano is not available, oregano can be boiled to make an infusion;
however, the Oil of Oregano is a better antibiotic. Blessed Virgin Mary, 06.03.2016
BUCKET LIST TRIP: RICH
VS POOR TOUR:
🇧🇳 Why Brunei Ranks High in Per Capita
Income
Brunei consistently ranks among the
top countries globally in terms of GDP per capita, thanks to its small
population and vast oil and gas reserves. In 2023, its GDP per capita was
approximately $82,963, placing it in the top tier worldwide. While it may not
be exactly ranked 10th, it often appears in the top 30 depending on the metrics
used (e.g., purchasing power parity, nominal GDP, etc.).
Key contributors to this wealth include:
·
🛢️ Oil and gas exports:
The backbone of Brunei’s economy.
·
👥 Low population: Around
450,000 people, which amplifies per capita figures.
·
💰 No income tax: Citizens
and many expats enjoy tax-free salaries.
·
🏥 Subsidized healthcare
and education: Funded by state revenues.
🙏 Quality of Life for a
Catholic Expat in Brunei
Brunei is a Muslim-majority country governed by a
conservative Islamic monarchy, and while it’s peaceful and safe, religious
expression outside Islam is regulated. Here's what a Catholic expat might
expect:
🕊️ Religious Freedom
& Practice
·
Catholicism is permitted, but public
proselytizing or visible religious symbols outside churches is restricted.
·
There are a few Catholic churches, such as the
Church of Our Lady of the Assumption in Bandar Seri Begawan.
·
Mass is held regularly, but religious activities
are confined to designated spaces.
🏡 Lifestyle & Comfort
·
High standard of living: Clean air, low crime,
and good infrastructure.
·
Affordable healthcare: Public hospitals are
modern and subsidized; private care is also available.
·
Housing: Comfortable and reasonably priced,
often subsidized or provided by employers.
·
English is widely spoken, making daily life
manageable without fluency in Malay.
🌿 Social & Cultural
Integration
·
Social life is quiet: Alcohol is banned,
nightlife is limited, and cultural events are modest.
·
Nature and serenity: Expats enjoy lush
rainforests, beaches, and national parks.
·
Respectful coexistence: While Islamic customs
dominate, expats are generally treated with warmth and hospitality.
⚖️ Challenges
·
Sharia law applies, but non-Muslims are largely
exempt from its stricter provisions.
·
Limited religious visibility: Wearing crosses or
holding public religious events may be discouraged.
·
Cultural sensitivity is essential: Discretion
and respect for local norms are key to a peaceful experience.
🇳🇪 Why Niger
Ranks 203rd in Per Capita Income
Niger’s ranking near the bottom of global per capita income
lists—203rd according to the CIA World Factbook—is a reflection of its extreme
poverty, limited industrial development, and challenging geography. In 2024,
its GNI per capita (PPP) was approximately $1,990, and its nominal GNI per
capita was even lower, around $620.
📉 Key Factors Behind the
Low Ranking
·
Landlocked and arid: Over 80% of Niger is
desert, limiting agriculture and infrastructure.
·
Subsistence economy: Most people rely on farming
and livestock, with minimal industrial output.
·
Rapid population growth: One of the highest
fertility rates globally strains resources.
·
Political instability and security issues:
Ongoing threats from extremist groups and regional conflicts hinder
development.
·
Limited education and healthcare: Low literacy
rates and poor access to medical care reduce productivity and quality of life.
✝️ Quality of Life for a Catholic
Expat in Niger
Living in Niger as a Catholic expat is possible, but it comes
with significant challenges. The country is predominantly Muslim (over 98%),
and while religious freedom is constitutionally protected, the reality is
shaped by poverty, limited infrastructure, and security concerns.
🕊️ Religious Life
·
Catholic presence: There are small Catholic
communities, especially in Niamey, with churches and missions.
·
Freedom of worship: Practicing Catholicism
privately or within designated churches is generally tolerated.
·
Interfaith relations: Peaceful coexistence is
common, though public religious expression should be discreet.
🏥 Health & Safety
·
Healthcare is limited: Even in Niamey, hospitals
lack equipment and trained staff.
·
Medical evacuation insurance is essential: Many
expats rely on care in neighboring countries for serious issues.
·
Sanitation and disease risks: Cholera, malaria,
and waterborne illnesses are prevalent.
🏡 Daily Life
·
Niamey is the best option: It offers
international schools, expat communities, and basic amenities.
·
Electricity and water: Often unreliable,
especially outside major cities.
·
Transportation: Roads are poorly maintained;
travel at night is discouraged due to safety concerns.
🤝 Expat Community
·
NGOs and diplomatic missions: Most expats work
in aid, development, or diplomacy.
·
Support networks: Social events and cultural
exchanges help build community among foreigners.
⚖️ Summary: A Catholic Expat’s
Experience in Niger
|
Aspect |
Experience in Niger |
|
Religious Practice |
Possible but discreet; small Catholic community |
|
Safety |
Moderate to high risk; avoid travel at night |
|
Healthcare |
Severely limited; evacuation insurance needed |
|
Community |
Strong expat networks in Niamey |
|
Comfort |
Basic amenities; frequent power/water outages |
|
Spiritual Life |
Quiet, resilient, and deeply intentional |
🏁 Brunei vs. Niger: Which
Is Better?
If you're weighing Brunei against Niger in terms of quality
of life, economic opportunity, and Catholic expat experience, the contrast is
stark. Brunei offers a high-income, peaceful, and well-developed environment,
while Niger faces significant developmental challenges.
💰 Economic Comparison
|
Metric |
Brunei |
Niger |
|
GDP
per capita (2022) |
$38,795 |
$608 |
|
GNI
per capita (PPP) |
~$82,000 |
~$1,000 |
|
Life
expectancy |
~75.6
years |
~61.6
years |
|
Literacy
rate |
~97.6% |
~37.3% |
|
Electricity
access |
100% |
~19% |
|
Internet
access |
~98% |
~22% |
|
Infant
mortality |
10.5
per 1,000 births |
66.8
per 1,000 births |
✝️ Catholic Expat Experience
|
Aspect |
Brunei |
Niger |
|
Religious
freedom |
Limited
public expression; churches allowed |
Tolerated;
small Catholic missions exist |
|
Safety |
Very
safe, low crime |
Moderate
to high risk; terrorism concerns |
|
Healthcare |
Modern
and subsidized |
Severely
limited; evacuation often needed |
|
Community |
Small
but active Catholic presence |
Missionary
and NGO-based communities |
|
Comfort |
High
standard of living |
Basic
amenities; frequent outages |
|
Spiritual
life |
Quiet,
structured, respectful |
Resilient,
humble, and mission-driven |
🏆 Verdict
Brunei is objectively “better” in terms of infrastructure,
income, safety, and comfort. It’s ideal for a Catholic expat seeking peace,
structure, and a quiet life of reflection. Niger, on the other hand, offers a
more raw and challenging experience—one that may appeal to missionaries or
those called to serve in hardship.
If you're discerning between the two for spiritual or
lifestyle reasons, it comes down to this:
·
Brunei: A sanctuary of order and serenity.
·
Niger: A crucible of service and sacrifice.
Around the corner
My soul rests in God
alone, from whom comes my salvation.
God alone is my rock and
salvation, my fortress; I shall never fall.
Palm 62:2-3
·
Saturday Litany of the Hours Invoking the Aid
of Mother Mary
·
Foodie: 15
Most Popular Foods in Brunei
·
Spirit Hour: Bloody Mary
o
Rise
and shine! You could start your themed day by whipping up a delicious batch of
burgers for breakfast. Get creative with your toppings and enjoy a hearty start
to your day.
o
After
breakfast, why not head out to a local bakery or try your hand at baking your
own National Pecan Torte? Indulge in the sweet, nutty flavors and treat
yourself to a slice of this decadent dessert.
o
For
lunch, celebrate National Bao Day by visiting a nearby Asian restaurant or
making your own steamed buns at home. Fill them with your favorite savory
fillings and savor every bite.
o
In
the afternoon, take a stroll through a botanical garden or park to enjoy the
beauty of nature on Daffodil Day. Take in the sights and sounds of the
outdoors, and don’t forget to snap a few photos of the vibrant daffodils in
bloom.
o
As
the day winds down, relax with a refreshing peach smoothie in honor of National
Eat a Peach Day. Blend up some fresh peaches with yogurt and honey for a tasty
treat to enjoy while unwinding.
Daily
Devotions
·
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting: Increase
of Vocations to the Holy Priesthood.
·
Religion
in the Home for Preschool: August
·
Litany of the Most Precious
Blood of Jesus
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Rosary
ONE RAINY AFTERNOON (1936)
Francis Lederer • Ida Lupino • Roland Young Directed by Rowland V. Lee • United Artists A Parisian Misstep Where Accident Becomes the Door to Affection
One Rainy Afternoon is a Parisian comedy‑romance that understands the charm of the unexpected. A darkened cinema, a wrong seat, and an accidental kiss become the stage for a deeper revelation: sometimes grace arrives disguised as embarrassment. The film’s humor is urbane, its romance feather‑light, its pace content to glide. Lupino’s Monique is no caricature; she is a reminder that innocence can coexist with wit, and that dignity can survive even the most public blunder.
This is comedy without cruelty. The danger is scandal. The fire is pride. The verdict is tenderness.
🎞️ Film Card — One Rainy Afternoon (1936)
One Rainy Afternoon 1936 • Comedy • Romance • 1h 10m
A debonair actor accidentally kisses a stranger in a darkened theater, igniting a national uproar. The Purity League, the tabloids, and the courts turn a simple mistake into spectacle. Amid the chaos, affection grows between two people forced to navigate scandal with grace. Comedy • Parisian Whimsy • Mistaken Identity • Light Romance
Director Rowland V. Lee Cinematography Lucien Andriot Stars Francis Lederer, Ida Lupino, Roland Young Studio United Artists Notable Early Lupino charm; satire of moral crusaders; romance born from mischance
1. Production & Cultural Setting
Parisian Sophistication A 1930s portrait of European elegance filtered through Hollywood’s lens.
Pre‑War Escapism Audiences sought lightness, glamour, and harmless mischief.
Comedy of Misunderstanding Humor built on accident, not malice.
The Weight of Public Opinion Scandal becomes a mirror for society’s moral anxieties.
Romance as Clarification Love emerges once pride and spectacle fade.
2. Story Summary
The Incident A mistaken kiss in a darkened cinema.
The Outcry Purity crusaders and tabloids seize the moment.
The Pair Philippe and Monique navigate embarrassment and attraction.
The Comedy Courtrooms, headlines, and social satire swirl around them.
The Resolution Truth softens scandal; affection triumphs over pride.
3. Moral & Emotional Resonances
A. Accident Can Become Invitation Unexpected moments often reveal the heart’s direction.
B. Scandal Distorts Reality Public outrage rarely sees clearly.
C. Gentleness Defuses Chaos Monique’s dignity becomes her shield.
D. Pride Is a Poor Guide Humility restores perspective.
E. Love Grows in Honest Light Affection thrives once misunderstanding dissolves.
4. Hospitality Pairing — A Saturday of Light Romance
Food: Crêpes with powdered sugar — simple, airy, Parisian, the taste of a mistake that becomes sweetness.
Drink: Modest Pour: Angel’s Envy — courtly, elegant, fitting a romance born from mischance.
Smoke: Modest Smoke: Dominican floral — soft, refined, a whisper of Parisian charm.
Atmosphere: A rainy evening, lamplight on wet pavement, a quiet room after laughter.
Symbol: The darkened cinema — the place where confusion becomes clarity.
5. Reflection Prompts
Where has accident become invitation.
Where does pride distort my vision.
Where is gentleness asking to lead.
Where is truth waiting beneath embarrassment.
Where is love emerging from mischance.
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