Monday Night at the Movies
📅 November 2026 – Poverty, Resurrection, and Hidden Grace
Family — Tokyo Story (1953)
The quiet sorrow of Tokyo Story reveals how love is often hidden beneath ordinary duties, disappointments, and passing years. The elderly parents' journey becomes a meditation on gratitude, mortality, and the commandment to honor father and mother. In its restraint, the film shows that grace frequently arrives unnoticed, dwelling within everyday acts of kindness and fidelity. Hidden beneath the sadness is a resurrection hope that love offered sincerely is never lost.Dignity — The Overcoat (1952)
The Overcoat explores the suffering of a humble man whose deepest desire is simply to be seen and respected. Poverty here is not only material but social and spiritual. The story reminds viewers that every person bears an irreducible dignity bestowed by God, regardless of status or wealth. Mercy begins when we recognize Christ in the overlooked, the forgotten, and the poor who stand quietly among us.
Resurrection — The Gospel of John (2003)
Faithful to the biblical text, The Gospel of John presents Christ as the eternal Word who enters history to bring life to the world. Every miracle, discourse, and encounter moves toward the Cross and ultimately toward the Resurrection. The film reminds viewers that Christian hope rests not upon optimism but upon the victory of Jesus over sin and death. Resurrection becomes the foundation of every act of mercy and every promise of eternal life.
Responsibility — L’Enfant (2005)
The young father at the center of L’Enfant begins trapped in selfishness but gradually awakens to the demands of love and responsibility. His journey illustrates how conversion often begins with an honest confrontation with one's failures. Mercy does not excuse wrongdoing but opens the door to repentance and restoration. Through painful choices, the film demonstrates how grace can transform even deeply flawed lives.
Endurance — Christ Stopped at Eboli (1979)
Set among the forgotten poor of southern Italy, Christ Stopped at Eboli portrays human endurance amid neglect, poverty, and isolation. Yet beneath the hardship lies remarkable resilience, solidarity, and humanity. The film reveals how hope survives in places abandoned by political power and social privilege. Hidden grace emerges among ordinary people whose perseverance becomes its own testimony to the presence of God.
Family, dignity, resurrection, responsibility, and endurance form a single pilgrimage through the landscape of hidden grace. Family teaches us whom we are called to love. Dignity teaches us whom society overlooks. Resurrection teaches us why hope remains possible. Responsibility teaches us how conversion begins. Endurance teaches us how faith survives seasons of darkness. Together these films reveal that God's mercy often works quietly, beneath the surface of ordinary lives, preparing the soul for the joy of eternal resurrection.
Smoke in This Life, Not the Next
Mon., Nov. 9
Virtue: Dignity, Self-Mastery & Vigilance
Cigar: Cameroon
Bourbon: Woodford Reserve
Dignity — The Overcoat (1952) is part of today's reflection. In the film, a poor clerk believes a new overcoat will finally give him the respect and dignity he longs for. Like many of us, he looks for worth in something external. Yet true dignity does not come from what we wear, own, achieve, or display. It comes from being a child of God. The search for dignity in the wrong places is often another way of running from grace.
Today also marks the birthday of Lou Ferrigno, the actor who brought the Incredible Hulk to life. The Hulk fascinates us because he represents immense strength held just beneath the surface. Yet the Christian life teaches that true strength is not found in unleashing power but in mastering it.
Why do we keep running from grace?
Jesus answers this question in the parable of the two sons. One son tells his father, "I will not," but later repents and goes to work in the vineyard. The other replies, "Yes, sir," but never goes. The first begins badly and ends well. The second says the right words but never follows through.
Most of us resemble the second son more than we care to admit. We tell God yes, yet postpone prayer. We promise forgiveness, yet keep the grievance alive. We intend to change, but always tomorrow.
Father Schouppe reminds us that God's mercy saves, but His love also purifies. The Holy Souls would tell us to stop running and start surrendering. Grace is available today. The vineyard is open now.
As the smoke rises into the autumn sky, ask yourself: Where am I saying yes to God while living as though I said no?
NOVEMBER 9 -Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica
World Freedom Day-Carl Sagan born 1934
Psalm 96, Verse 4
For great is the LORD and
highly to be praised, to be FEARED above all gods.
What are the “gods” that this psalm alludes to?
Doing some research, we
find those gods can be anything that takes us away from He that is. This can be
such things as power, money, sex, drugs and rock and roll. It can also be any
idea that is counter to the love of God, such as “might makes right” or “Women’s
choice”. One of the best ways to praise He that is-is to follow His
commandments then we will find we can do good works with humility.
PRAYERS
AND TEACHINGS OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
Catholic Ten Commandments:
I am the LORD your God.
You shall worship the Lord your God and Him only shall you serve.
You shall not take the
name of the Lord your God in vain.
Remember to keep holy the
Sabbath day.
Honor your father and
your mother.
You shall not kill.
You shall not commit
adultery.
You shall not steal.
You shall not bear false
witness against your neighbor.
You shall not covet your
neighbor's wife.
You shall not covet your
neighbor's goods.
Gemini’s Take
The convergence of the Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica,
World Freedom Day, and the memory of Carl Sagan sharpens the perennial question
of what mankind chooses to revere. While World Freedom Day celebrates the
collapse of totalitarian walls and Sagan gazed in awe at the material cosmos,
the Lateran reminds us that authentic freedom is not mere political liberation
or cosmic wonder—it is grounded in the worship of the living God. When Psalm
96:4 proclaims that the Lord is "to be feared above all gods," it
strikes directly at our modern pantheon. As the Catechism of the Catholic
Church observes, idolatry did not die with pagan altars; it endures
whenever man "honors and reveres a creature in place of God... power,
pleasure, race, ancestors, the state, money" (CCC 2113). Divorced from
divine truth, liberty collapses into the idolatry of radical individual
autonomy, where slogans like "might makes right" or the euphemisms of
"choice" subvert the natural law and make an idol of the imperial
self.
Confronting the multifaceted crisis in America requires understanding
that our societal decay is rooted in the fracture of the Decalogue, which the
Church teaches forms an indivisible, organic whole (CCC 2069). When a culture
discards the first three commandments—banishing the primacy of God, profaning
His name, and desecrating the Sabbath with unrestrained commerce—it inevitably
loses the moral foundation required to honor the remaining seven. The
discarding of human life, the dismantling of marital fidelity, pervasive
dishonesty, and ravenous covetousness are the downstream casualties of this
primary spiritual rebellion. National renewal cannot be engineered through
technological prowess or political dominance; it demands reordering our
ultimate loyalties, recognizing that when human rights are detached from the
Lawgiver, tyranny simply assumes a more respectable mask.
The path forward begins not with cultural rage, but with the rebuilding
of the domestic temple and the recovery of holy fear—a profound reverence for
God that casts out the paralyzing fear of man. To live as the "living
stones" celebrated in the Lateran liturgy means allowing the Ten
Commandments to govern every corner of daily life, transforming duty into works
of humble, courageous charity. Authentic freedom is never license to do
whatever we will, but the moral power and interior strength to do what we
ought: to defend the unborn, speak truth in the public square, protect the
vulnerable, and bear witness that no earthly system or human ego holds the
final claim on the human heart.
Feast of the Dedication of the
Lateran Basilica in Rome
Today the liturgy
celebrates the dedication of the Lateran Basilica, called “mother and head of
all the churches of the city and the world.” In fact, this basilica was the
first to be built after Emperor Constantine’s edict, in 313, granted
Christian’s freedom to practice their religion. The emperor himself gave Pope
Miltiades the ancient palace of the Laterani family, and the basilica, the
baptistery, and the patriarchate, that is, the Bishop of Rome’s residence —
where the Popes lived until the Avignon period — were all built there. The
basilica’s dedication was celebrated by Pope Sylvester around 324 and was named
Most Holy Savior; only after the 6th century were the names of St. John the
Baptist and St. John the Evangelist added, and now is typically denominated by
these latter. Initially the observance of this feast was confined to the city
of Rome; then, beginning in 1565, it was extended to all the Churches of the
Roman rite. The honoring of this sacred edifice was a way of expressing love
and veneration for the Roman Church, which, as St. Ignatius of Antioch says,
“presides in charity” over the whole Catholic communion (Letter to the Romans,
1:1). On this solemnity the Word of God
recalls an essential truth: the temple of stones is a symbol of the living
Church, the Christian community, which in their letters the Apostles Peter and
Paul already understood as a “spiritual edifice,” built by God with “living
stones,” namely, Christians themselves, upon the one foundation of Jesus
Christ, who is called the “cornerstone” (cf. 1 Corinthians 3:9-11, 16-17; 1
Peter 2:4-8; Ephesians 2:20-22). “Brothers, you are God’s building,” St.
Paul wrote, and added: “holy is God’s temple, which you are” (1 Corinthians
3:9c, 17).
The beauty and harmony of
the churches, destined to give praise to God, also draws us human beings,
limited and sinful, to convert to form a “cosmos,” a well-ordered
structure, in intimate communion with Jesus, who is the true Saint of saints.
This happens in a culminating way in the Eucharistic liturgy, in which the
“ecclesia,” that is, the community of the baptized, come together in a unified
way to listen to the Word of God and nourish themselves with the Body and Blood
of Christ. From these two tables the Church of living stones is built up in
truth and charity and is internally formed by the Holy Spirit transforming
herself into what she receives, conforming herself more and more to the Lord
Jesus Christ. She herself, if she lives in sincere and fraternal unity, in this
way becomes the spiritual sacrifice pleasing to God.
Dear friends, today’s
feast celebrates a mystery that is always relevant: God’s desire to build a
spiritual temple in the world, a community that worships him in spirit and
truth (cf. John 4:23-24). But this observance also reminds us of the importance of the material buildings in
which the community gathers to celebrate the praises of God. Every community
therefore has the duty to take special care of its own sacred buildings, which
are a precious religious and historical patrimony. For this we call upon the
intercession of Mary Most Holy, that she helps us to become, like her, the
“house of God,” living temple of his love.
— Benedict XVI, Angelus
Address, November 9, 2008
The
focus of this Sunday is we must
render to God what is God's: meaning that we must give ourselves up entirely to Him, so that He will recognize
us on the Last Day.
GOSPEL. Matt, xxii. 15-21[1]
At that time, the Pharisees going consulted among
themselves how to ensnare Jesus in His speech. And they sent to Him their
disciples with the Herodians, saying: Master, we know that Thou art a true
speaker, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest Thou for any man:
for Thou dost not regard the person of men. Tell us, therefore, what dost Thou
think, is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not? But Jesus, knowing their
wickedness, said: Why do you tempt Me, ye hypocrites? Show Me the coin of the
tribute. And they offered Him a penny. And Jesus saith to them: Whose image and
inscription is this? They say to Him: Caesar’s. Then He saith to them: tender
therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that
are God’s.
Who are hypocrites? Those
who, in order to deceive their neighbors, show themselves outwardly pious,
while within they are full of evil dispositions and malice; who have honey on
the tongue, but gall in the heart; who, like scorpions, sting when one least
expects it. Such men are cursed by God (Mai. i. 14). The Lord hateth a mouth
with a double tongue (Prov. viii. 13).
See,
the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him, upon those who hope for his
kindness, to deliver them from death and preserve them in spite of famine.
Things to Do:[2]
Learn more about St. John
Lateran;
This basilica
represents the place of baptism, so it would be a good time to renew your
baptismal promises.
It also represents
heaven, so we can meditate on the joys of heaven and God's generosity in giving
us sufficient graces to be saved.
Since St. John Lateran
is the Pope's church, say a prayer for our Holy Father.
From the Catholic
Culture Library: Mother
Church of the World.
World Freedom Day[3]
In many parts of the
world, freedom is something that is taken for granted—the freedom to choose any
religion we want (or no religion at all), the freedom to be in a relationship
with the person we love, the freedom to travel…the list goes on. Unfortunately,
there are many, many places in the world where these freedoms are not available
to most people, who are forced to live empty, unfulfilling lives so the rulers
of their countries don’t have them thrown in jail or worse. If you don’t know
what it means to be afraid to voice your opinion, then you can consider
yourself very lucky to live in a place where liberty is a priority as well as a
basic human right. And like all good things, liberty should be celebrated, and
that’s what World Freedom Day is all about. The World Freedom Day is a federal
observance commemorating the fall of the Berlin Wall. The day commemorates the
end of communism in Eastern and Central Europe and was designated in 2001 by
President George W. Bush. It was created to celebrate the reunification of
loved ones separated by the Iron Curtain and differing ideologies, and
ultimately serves to acknowledge that the resolve of the masses can shift
boundaries, break unfavorable resolutions and ultimately determine the type of
leadership they desire so as to live is a freer, more fair society.
How
to Celebrate World Freedom Day
The
day is celebrated in different ways, depending on who’s celebrating.
Conservative groups such as the College Republicans and Young America
Foundation encourage students to celebrate the day through activism projects
and flyer campaigns, while on the other hand, political activists and
commentators see the day as an occasion to recognize President Ronald Reagan as
one of the most instrumental personalities in the collapse of the Soviet Union.
If
you are not living in the United States and therefore cannot be politically
active in the ways described, don’t worry! There are still plenty of ways you
can celebrate this day. Doing some reading about Ronald Reagan is a good start,
regardless of your nationality, but there are other figures that played large
parts in the fall of Communism as well. Among them are for example Margaret
Thatcher, often called the “Iron Lady” due to her determination and resolve,
who personally worked with Reagan to undermine the Communist regime.
Yet
another example of a person who was instrumental was a Pole named Karol
Wojtyła, more commonly known as Pope John Paul II. The pope helped ordinary
Poles and East Europeans banish their fear of Soviet Communism, convincing them
that liberation was possible. The prime minister restored her country’s failing
economy by reviving the “vigorous virtues” of the British people. The president
rebuilt America’s military power, its national morale, and its position as
leader of the free world.
All
three of these figures, working together, brought down an evil empire and
changed the world for the better, and these are the people that deserve
remembrance on World Freedom Day. The Cold War was a time of tension and
uncertainty for the West and misery and destruction for the East, so taking the
time to find out a bit more about the people that helped put an end to all of
this is the perfect way to celebrate this day.
Carl
Sagan born 1934[4]
One of the most well-known
gurus of scientism was the late Carl Sagan, best known for his popular
television series "Cosmos." Sagan was unrelenting in his
insistence that the methods and speculations of science are absolutely
necessary for the proper understanding of all reality. Science, then, surpasses
any other form of knowledge, including religion. In the "religion" of
scientism only matter is eternal. "Mother Earth" was for Sagan the
only god to be worshipped, as is the case for many who espouse New Age
thinking.
In his book
"Cosmos," Sagan wrote that "our ancestors worshipped the Sun,
and they were far from foolish. And yet the Sun is an ordinary, even a mediocre
star. If we must worship a power greater than ourselves, does it now make sense
to revere the Sun and stars?" (p. 243).
Put even more simply,
scientism is the belief that whatever cannot be experienced by the senses,
i.e., seen, touched, heard, etc., simply does not exist. First and foremost,
this means that God does not exist because he cannot be subjected to scientific
observation and proof.
Recently, scientism has
taken a curious turn. Last year scientists at the National Institutes for
Health in Bethesda, Md., performed experiments that convinced them that what
religion calls the moral conscience is, in fact, nothing more than basic brain activity.
Remaining true to the tenets of scientism, these scientists would allow no
explanation of moral action other than the claim that that's the way our brains
are wired.
What is interesting,
however, is that, instead of using science to discredit religion, these
scientists seem to be claiming that what people of faith have known all along
can now be substantiated by the scientific method. It's an intriguing twist,
but in the end scientism reigns supreme.
Harvard neuroscientist and
philosopher Joshua Greene, as good an example of scientism as anyone, has
stated that his goal as a scientist is "to reveal our moral thinking for
what it is: a complex hodgepodge of emotional responses and rational (re)constructions,
shaped by biological and cultural forces . . ." There it is. For Greene —
as for all good proponents of scientism — not only do conscience and morality
have no objective meaning or content or even less do they come from God, the
human person is ultimately understood to be no more than the product of
cultural and biological forces.
Several decades ago, a
Russian cosmonaut returned from his first venture into space and proudly
announced that he had been into the heavens and could now verify that God was
nowhere to be seen. This finding, of course, fit nicely into the atheistic
picture of reality that prevailed in the Soviet Union of those days.
More than simply a glib
pronouncement on the non-existence of God, however, the remark was expressive
of what has come to be known as "scientism." Michael Shermer, founder
of the Skeptics Society, provides a good definition of scientism: "Scientism
is the scientific worldview that encompasses natural explanations for all
phenomena, eschews supernatural and paranormal speculations, and embraces
empiricism and reason as the twin pillars of a philosophy of life appropriate
for an Age of Science."
This way of thinking is
becoming more and more acceptable in what has been called our "age of
science." It has infected even people of faith. Nowhere is it more obvious
than in the implicit — and even explicit at times — agreement that conscience
is, in fact, nothing more than what I think and feel about a particular
subject. My own personal thoughts are understood to be little other than the
effects of the culture in which I live. And so, even for some Catholics, the
moral conscience has little to do with God or his revelation or the natural
law. Rather, conscience has everything to do with how I, as an individual,
perceive reality. What else could account for the sad fact that many Catholics
believe that a crime like abortion could be morally justified in certain
situations?
In an age of relativism
such as ours, it is vitally important that we appreciate that God is the source
of all truth and meaning. He created that world and all that is in it. It is
his law that governs right behavior. It is his truth that informs and binds
every human conscience. It is his truth that is communicated authoritatively by
the magisterium of the Catholic Church. We read in the Catechism of the
Catholic Church: "A well-formed conscience is upright and truthful.
It formulates its judgments according to reason, in conformity with the true
good willed by the wisdom of the Creator. The education of conscience is
indispensable for human beings who are subjected to negative influences and
tempted by sin to prefer their own judgment and to reject authoritative
teachings" (No. 1783).
🎰 Bucket List Trip: Around the World
“Perfect Weather”
7-day
Las Vegas Stay & Reflection Itinerary, anchored at the quiet and affordable Tuscany Suites & Casino (~$77/night). Each day blends
desert clarity, Eucharistic rhythm, and civic spectacle.
🌆 Las Vegas Stay & Reflection Itinerary
November 9–16 • Desert Clarity, Eucharistic Rhythm
Lodging: Tuscany Suites & Casino – Off the Strip
Day
1: Arrival & Desert Benediction (Nov 9)
• Afternoon: Walk the Springs Preserve trails or visit the Nevada
State Museum, Las Vegas
• Symbolic act: Pour water on desert soil and offer a prayer for clarity and
renewal
• Evening Meal: Tuscany Gardens – house-made pasta and local herbs
Day
2: Eucharistic Anchoring & Civic Memory (Nov 10)
• Morning Mass: Guardian Angel Cathedral – 302 Cathedral Way
• Midday Visit: The Mob Museum – reflect on justice, mercy, and
civic repair
• Symbolic act: Write a prayer for reconciliation and place it near a courtroom
exhibit
Day
3: Marian Listening & Neon Reverence (Nov 11)
• Church Visit: St Joan of Arc Catholic Church – Downtown
• Art Exploration: The Neon Museum Las Vegas – vintage signs and civic memory
• Symbolic act: Sketch a Marian symbol in neon style or write a prayer in light
Day
4: Creation Prayer & Civic Wonder (Nov 12)
• Walk: Red Rock Canyon or Springs Preserve gardens
• Midday Pause: Psalm 104 reflection among desert blooms
• Symbolic act: Collect a desert stone or leaf as a token of clarity
• Evening Meal: Lotus of Siam – Northern Thai cuisine with desert herbs
Day
5: Cultural Listening & Civic Hospitality (Nov 13)
• Morning Museum: Las Vegas Science & Natural
History Museum
• Midday Visit: Discovery Children's Museum – reflect on wonder and communal
learning
• Symbolic act: Leave a blessing near a children's exhibit or garden
Day
6: Eucharistic Table & Punk Communion (Nov 14)
• Day Visit: The Punk Rock Museum – reflect on radical joy and civic
voice
• Symbolic act: Write a prayer for courage and leave it near a band poster or
lyric wall
• Evening Meal: Shared supper with bread, wine, and desert fruit—sacramental
and communal
Day
7: Benediction & Sending Forth (Nov 15)
• Final Walk: Fremont Street or Springs Preserve
• Midday Reflection: Write a closing prayer of sending
• Benediction:
“May this desert remember my reverence. May my steps echo clarity and joy.”
🍽️ Seven-Course
Pilgrimage Meal
“Desert Benediction to Sending Forth”
A ritual meal inspired by your week of civic reflection, desert clarity, and
shared hospitality.
1. Desert
Benediction – Cucumber Mint Water
Cucumber water with desert mint and a pinch of pink salt
A refreshing prelude to the journey. Echoes Day 1’s ritual of
pouring water on desert soil—a prayer for clarity and renewal.
2. Justice
& Mercy – Charred Artichoke Hearts with Lemon Aioli
Bittersweet layers with citrus and cream
Honors Day 2’s Mob Museum reflection—civic repair through
flavor, where bitterness meets mercy.
3. Desert
Listening – Roasted Carrot & Tahini Soup
Earthy, warm, and contemplative
A quiet dish for Day 3’s walk through signs and
silence—rooted in humility and attentiveness.
4. Creation
Wonder – Desert Greens with Prickly Pear Vinaigrette
Wild greens, desert fruit, and toasted seeds
A tribute to Day 4’s Psalm 104 walk—creation’s resilience in
edible form.
5. Civic
Hospitality – Northern Thai Curry with Desert Herbs
Bold, communal, and wonder-filled
Inspired by Day 5’s cultural listening and shared
learning—spiced with warmth and welcome.
6. Shared
Table – Sourdough with Olive Oil & Fruit Compote
Bread, oil, and desert
fruit compote
A sacred echo of Day 6’s communal supper—simple, nourishing,
and sacramental.
7. Sending
Forth – Date Tart with Citrus Zest & Lavender Cream
A fragrant farewell for Day 7—clarity, joy, and remembrance
folded into every bite.
Around the Corner
Ready for a
whirlwind day full of unexpected fun? Start off by channeling your inner kid
and celebrating Geriatric Tooth Fairy Day. Leave a small token under your
pillow for yourself or someone else, and revel in the magic of unexpected
surprises. Next up, educate yourself and others about Microtia Awareness Day.
Watch a documentary online, learn some sign language, or donate to a related
cause.
Feeling hungry?
It’s National Fried Chicken Sandwich Day! Whip up your own version at home or
explore local eateries for a tasty treat. Then, immerse yourself in creativity
on Go to an Art Museum Day. Visit a virtual gallery, create your own art, or
simply appreciate the beauty around you.
Venture outdoors
for National Saddle Hunting Day. Explore a nearby park or nature reserve, go
birdwatching, or simply enjoy the fresh air. Keep the adventure going with
Eleven09 Day. Try something new, whether it’s a new hobby, a new recipe, or a
new route for your daily walk.
Take a moment to
honor the legacy of Brian Holland Legacy Day. Learn about a historical figure
or local hero, share their story with others, or support a cause they believed
in. Embrace the chaos on Chaos Never Dies Day. Mix up your routine, try a new
workout, or engage in a spontaneous activity.
Celebrate your
culinary heritage on National Scrapple Day. Cook up a traditional family
recipe, research the origins of your favorite foods, or host a virtual potluck
with friends. Reflect on the value of freedom on World Freedom Day. Educate
yourself on global issues, support a human rights organization, or simply savor
your own freedoms.
Look up at the
stars and honor the spirit of Carl Sagan Day. Stargaze from your backyard,
watch a documentary about the cosmos, or ponder the mysteries of the universe.
Indulge your sweet tooth on British Pudding Day. Bake a classic British
dessert, experiment with new flavors, or treat yourself to a store-bought
delight.
End your day by
celebrating the vibrant culture of Louisiana on National Louisiana Day. Listen
to some jazz music, cook up a Cajun dish, or learn about the state’s rich
history. Cheers to a day filled with unexpected delights and diverse
experiences!
Daily Devotions
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting: Today's Fast: Purity
Litany of the Most Precious
Blood of Jesus
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