Smoke in This Life, Not the Next
Virtue: Custody of Another's Soul
Cigar: Corojo
Bourbon: Russell's Reserve
Most sins hurt the person committing them. Scandal hurts someone else as well. It occurs when our words, actions, or example make sin easier and virtue harder for another person. That is why Our Lord spoke so strongly against leading others away from the path of God.
Father Nicholas Zucchi, a seventeenth-century Jesuit priest, guided three young women toward religious life. Before the youngest entered the convent, a young nobleman sought to persuade her to abandon her vocation. He repeatedly encouraged her to leave the service of God and return to worldly pursuits. Seeing the danger, Father Zucchi warned him to repent and reminded him that he would soon stand before God's judgment.
Two weeks later, the young man died.
Not long afterward, the novice encountered an apparition of the deceased nobleman. Bound by fiery chains, he revealed the suffering he was enduring and cried out only, "Pray for me!" God's mercy had not abandoned him, but his punishment served as a warning about the consequences of attempting to draw another soul away from its divine calling.
The Swiss pikemen understood that a single soldier breaking ranks could expose the entire formation. The spiritual life is no different. Parents, spouses, friends, teachers, and coworkers all influence the souls around them. Every encouragement toward virtue strengthens the line. Every temptation toward sin weakens it.
As today's smoke rises, ask yourself a simple question: Do my words help others reach Heaven, or do they point them somewhere else?
"Let your speech always be gracious." — Colossians 4:6
NOVEMBER 18 Wednesday Twenty-Fifth
Week Pentecost
Luke, Chapter 19, Verse 20-21
Then the other servant came and
said, ‘Sir, here is your gold coin; I kept it stored away in a handkerchief, for I was AFRAID of you, because you are a demanding
person; you take up what you did not lay down and you harvest what you did not
plant.’
When
I read this verse; I thought of Mathew Kelly’s writing from his book,
“Rediscovering Catholicism.” Kelly speaks about the various attitudes and
philosophies which shape and define the mindset of the modern secular world. He
identifies three key lifestyles: individualism, hedonism, and minimalism.
First, what’s individualism?
Individualism
is an attitude whereby I come to see myself as the center of the universe. The
individualist will typically go through the course of his or her day asking
himself or herself one question: “What’s in it for me?”
Secondly, what’s hedonism?
Essentially,
it is an attitude whereby I come to see the pursuit of my own personal pleasure
as my primary concern in life. The hedonist will typically ask himself or
herself this question: “How
can I maximize the amount of pleasure in my life while minimizing the amount of
pain and inconvenience which I must endure?”
Thirdly, what is minimalism?
This
is a attitude whereby I look to put in the minimum amount of effort that I
possibly can into life, while reaping the maximum amount of reward. The
minimalist will typically ask himself or herself questions such as these:
·
“What’s the least amount I can possibly
do at the workplace and still keep my job?” Or perhaps:
·
“What’s the least amount I can possibly
do at school and still get a good grade?”
There
are many people in the world today who might “self-identify” as being
“Christian”, if not “Catholic”, who are still giving their hearts very much to
the so-called “spirit
of the world”;
whether we’re talking about the spirit of individualism, hedonism or
minimalism. For instance, we can say that there are many Catholics in the world
who go to Mass, say their prayers, and perhaps even occasionally eat fish on
Fridays – who still govern most of their conduct by asking themselves this one
simple question: “What’s in it for me?” Many of these
people might still be very “kind” and “generous” to certain persons that they
happen to know. Who isn’t from time to time? But perhaps, this sense of
“kindness” and “generosity” is still governed by a pervasive sense of
selfishness and self-interest. In other words: “I’ll be kind to you, but only
insofar as you’re being kind back onto me!” And what is that but the spirit of
individualism. Let’s take a different example. Again, we can say that there are
many Catholics in the world today who go to Mass, say their prayers, and
perhaps belong to certain religious clubs or organizations who still govern the
bulk of their conduct by asking: “How can I get through the course of my day
while incurring the least amount of pain or inconvenience to myself?” Many of these people might still
be saying their prayers, perhaps even every day, but what’s often the real substance behind
these prayers? “O Lord give me the things that I want, the things that I
desire, the things that I believe to be essential to my own sense of happiness
and well-being. But Lord, whatever you do: do not make me suffer, do not give
me inconvenience, and do not give me pain! In other words, do not give me the
Cross!” And
that is the spirit of hedonism: the relentless and almost single-minded pursuit
of one’s own personal pleasure as one’s ultimate concern. This takes us to our
third example. Again, there are many Catholics in the world who go to church,
go to confession, and even follow the Commandments who still perhaps ask
themselves this question repeatedly: “How can I get myself into the kingdom of
heaven, while putting the least amount of effort into my relationship with God?” These people might try their very
best to avoid all sorts of serious sin. But, as we know from personal
experience, there is a huge difference between simply trying to avoid “serious sin”, and actually trying our very best
to please the Lord in all things, especially in those little details which
perhaps no one else would ever notice, except Christ Himself! But that’s really
the difference between being a “lukewarm Catholic” (or a “minimalist”) and
being a true disciple of the Lord.[1]
Gemini’s Take
The parable of the hidden coin in Luke 19 diagnoses
the spiritual paralysis of our age: wrapping grace in a handkerchief is the
ultimate symbol of a minimalism born of fearful calculation. When viewed
through the lens of Catholic teaching, the secular triad of individualism,
hedonism, and minimalism directly repudiates the Gospel. Individualism
fractures human solidarity by reducing relationships to the transactional
question, "What’s in it for me?"—denying the truth that man only
realizes his true nature through a sincere gift of self (CCC 1878). Hedonism,
meanwhile, treats mere comfort as the supreme good and flees from the Cross,
forgetting that true beatitude is found in God alone and that holiness cannot
exist without spiritual combat and renunciation (CCC 2015). Together, they
culminate in a calculated spiritual minimalism—the deadly sin of acedia
or lukewarmness (CCC 2094)—where believers seek the absolute bare minimum
required to maintain respectability or avoid damnation, rather than striving
for the universal call to holiness (CCC 2013).
In modern American culture, this personal compromise
metastasizes into widespread moral decay and institutional collapse. When
self-interest and convenience become sovereign, society naturally defaults to a
throwaway culture where vulnerable human life—the unborn, the elderly, the
suffering—is treated as an inconvenient burden rather than an inviolable image
of God (CCC 1700, 2270). A Christianity stripped of the Cross produces lukewarm
believers and timid institutions that bury their talents in the dirt out of
fear, lacking the moral courage to confront social injustice or evangelize a
fracturing world. External political programs, superficial reforms, and
cultural nostalgia cannot heal this deep spiritual numbness.
Ultimately, genuine renewal requires confronting the
root fear that leads us to hoard our lives rather than risk them for the
Kingdom. The one thing that must change is we must replace the pursuit of
comfortable self-preservation with total, sacrificial surrender to the Lordship
of Christ.
Worldwide Vineyard Tour🍇 Week 4: Sicily, Italy
Theme: “Volcanic Mercy, Marian Flame”
Dates: November 18–25, 2025
Base: Etna Region – Catania, Randazzo, and Castiglione di Sicilia
🗓️
November 18 – Arrival and Volcanic Orientation
Travel
from Montepulciano to Catania via Florence (~$68 USD flight).
Lodging
at Hotel
Centrum Catania (~$74 USD/night).
Evening
walk through Catania’s historic center. Toast with Etna Rosso.
Symbolic Act: “Flame and Dust”—bless the mountain, name the mercy.
🗓️
November 19 – Etna North & Vineyard Ascent
Transfer
to Randazzo (~$6 USD by train).
Tasting
at Tenuta delle Terre Nere (~$28
USD).
Visit Chiesa di
Santa Maria.
Symbolic Act: “Ascent and Mercy”—walk the slopes, pour the flame.
🗓️
November 20 – Castiglione di Sicilia & Civic Pouring
Bus to
Castiglione (~$4 USD).
Tasting
at Gambino Winery (~$25 USD).
Lunch at Ristorante
President (~$22 USD).
Symbolic Act: “Civic Flame”—bless the stewards, name the saints.
🗓️
November 21 – Marian Vineyard Walk
Morning
walk through Vigna di Madonna delle Grazie (symbolic route).
Journal
and name each vine with a Marian title.
Picnic
from Mercato
di Randazzo (~$10 USD).
Symbolic Act: “Naming the Vines”—plant mercy in Marian soil.
🗓️
November 22 – Vineyard Eucharist & Volcanic Pause
Morning
reflection at Etna’s lava fields.
Prepare a
Eucharistic meal: bread, olives, and Etna Bianco.
Evening
journaling with psalms or poetry.
Symbolic Act: “I believe and I burn”—a Eucharist of flame and fruit.
🗓️
November 23 – Taormina Day Trip: Beauty and Benediction
Train to
Taormina (~$9 USD).
Visit Duomo di
Taormina and Greek
Theatre.
Optional
tasting at Barone di
Villagrande (~$30 USD).
Symbolic Act: “Benediction and Beauty”—bless the ruins, pour the light.
🗓️
November 24 – Sending Forth
Final
toast with Etna Rosso Riserva.
Write a
vineyard blessing for the next traveler.
Symbolic Act: “Sicilian Benediction”—send forth the volcanic mercy.
🗓️
November 25 – Travel Day
Depart
Sicily for your next vineyard destination.
Suggested
next stop: Cyprus or Stellenbosch, depending on your seasonal arc.
💰
Estimated Total Cost: $512 USD
Includes 7 nights lodging, 3 vineyard tastings, 2 symbolic meals, and 1
day trip with transit and picnic.
🍽️ Seven-Course Sicilian Ritual Meal:
Volcanic Mercy, Marian Flame
🥂 1. Aperitivo – “Flame and Dust”
Dish:
Etna Rosso spritz with charred eggplant caponata on crostini
Sicilian eggplant caponata recipe
🍜 2. Antipasto – “Ascent and Mercy”
Dish:
Wild mushroom and black garlic arancini
Wild mushroom arancini with black
garlic aioli
🥗 3. Primo – “Civic Flame”
Dish:
Pasta alla Norma with roasted tomatoes and ricotta salata
🍖 4. Secondo – “Marian Soil”
Dish:
Grilled lamb chops with mint-pistachio pesto
Grilled lamb chops with mint-pistachio pesto
🍞 5. Contorno – “Eucharistic Flame”
Dish:
Olive focaccia with Etna Bianco pairing
🍧 6. Dolce – “Benediction and Beauty”
Dish:
Blood orange granita with almond crumble
Blood orange granita with almond
cookie crumble
🍷 7. Digestivo – “Sicilian Sending”
Dish:
Etna Rosso Riserva toast with fig-stuffed chocolate truffles
Fig-stuffed chocolate truffles
recipe
OR HAVE A “BIG NIGHT”
The centerpiece of the meal from The Big Night
is the iconic Timpano—a dramatic, drum-shaped pasta dome layered with meats,
cheeses, eggs, and sauce, baked in a golden crust.
Here’s a breakdown of the full menu inspired by the
1996 film The Big Night, which celebrates Italian-American culinary
grandeur and emotional depth:
🍽️ The Big Night Feast Menu
🥖 Antipasti
Bruschetta with Ricotta and Walnuts
Crusty bread topped with fresh ricotta, lemon zest, garlic, thyme, and
toasted walnuts.
Recipe link
Escarole and Fennel Salad
A crisp mix of escarole, shaved fennel, celery, red onion, and pecorino,
dressed with lemon and olive oil.
Recipe link
🍝 Primo
Pasta alla Ragu
A rich meat sauce made with ground beef, Italian sausage, rosemary, garlic,
and tomatoes, served over fusilli or cavatappi.
Recipe link
🍲 Secondo (Main Event)
Timpano
A show-stopping pasta dome filled with layers of cooked pasta, meatballs,
hard-boiled eggs, Genoa salami, mozzarella, provolone, and tomato sauce, all
encased in a golden crust.
This dish is the emotional and culinary climax of the film.
How to make Timpano
Dedicated Timpano recipe site
🍷 Accompaniments
Red Wine (Chianti or Barolo)
To match the richness and depth of the meal.
🍰 Dolce
Simple Italian Dessert (Optional)
In the film, dessert is overshadowed by the grandeur of the Timpano, but a
light panna cotta or biscotti would be fitting.
Around the Corner
Pray the Rosary AND Fast too today
is “Occult Day”
Start your day with a hearty breakfast of vichyssoise soup, celebrating
National Vichyssoise Day in style.
Head to a local school to volunteer during American Education Week.
Embrace your inner child by watching classic Disney cartoons featuring
Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse.
Afterwards, indulge in some apple
cider while watching a documentary about undersea sports like underwater
hockey.
Take a moment to honor Housing Day by decluttering and organizing your
living space.
Wear a tiara or a crown to celebrate National Princess Day, embracing
your royal side.
Educate yourself on issues of violence against men on the International
Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Men.
Daily
Devotions/Practice
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting: Today's Fast: Absent
Fathers (Physically & Spiritually)
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
LEAVE HER TO HEAVEN (1945) - WHEN LOVE BECOMES POSSESSION
From Devotion to Destruction
(Based on Leave Her to Heaven, 1945)
When a Man Makes Another Person His God
Every man is called to love.
A husband should love his wife.
A wife should love her husband.
Parents should love their children.
Friends should love one another.
Yet love becomes dangerous when it ceases to be ordered.
Love that serves becomes charity.
Love that controls becomes possession.
In Leave Her to Heaven, Gene Tierney portrays Ellen Berent, a woman whose beauty and devotion conceal a deeply disordered heart. She loves her husband Richard intensely, but her affection gradually becomes obsession. She cannot tolerate sharing his attention with family, friends, or anyone else who competes for his affection.
What appears at first to be romantic devotion slowly reveals itself as selfish attachment.
Many men make a similar mistake.
Not through crime or obsession, but through misplaced priorities.
A man can become more attached to a spouse than to God.
More attached to a child than to truth.
More attached to approval than to virtue.
More attached to comfort than to duty.
Anything placed above God eventually demands a price.
Scripture repeatedly warns against idols.
Most idols are not statues.
They are loves that have become disordered.
The lesson is that love must be governed by virtue.
The verdict is that true love seeks the good of another, not possession of another.
Film Card - Leave Her to Heaven (1945)
Leave Her to Heaven • Psychological Drama • Film Noir • Romance • 1h 50m
A beautiful newlywed's obsessive attachment to her husband gradually destroys the lives of those around her as love turns into jealousy and possession.
Themes: Love & Possession • Jealousy & Obsession • Idolatry & Attachment
Cast: Gene Tierney, Cornel Wilde, Jeanne Crain, Vincent Price
Production: Twentieth Century-Fox
Cultural Frame: Released immediately after World War II, the film challenged traditional romantic ideals by portraying how excessive attachment and possessiveness can become destructive rather than loving.
Production & Cultural Setting
Technicolor Noir
Unlike most film noir productions, the story unfolds in brilliant color, creating a striking contrast between outward beauty and inner corruption.
The Ideal Wife Question
Postwar America often celebrated domestic happiness, yet the film explores how appearances can conceal profound spiritual disorder.
Possessive Love
The story examines the difference between loving a person and attempting to own a person.
The Hidden Idol
What begins as affection slowly reveals itself as an idol demanding complete devotion.
Beauty and Temptation
The film reminds viewers that external attractiveness does not guarantee internal virtue.
Story Summary
The Romance:
Richard Harland falls in love with the beautiful Ellen Berent and quickly marries her.
The Attachment:
Ellen's devotion appears admirable but grows increasingly possessive.
The Jealousy:
She resents anyone who receives Richard's attention, including members of his own family.
The Obsession:
Her need for exclusive affection drives her toward increasingly destructive decisions.
The Consequences:
The lives of those closest to her are damaged by her refusal to place any limits on her desires.
The Tragedy:
Disordered love ultimately destroys the very relationships Ellen seeks to preserve.
Moral & Spiritual Resonances
A. Love Must Have Order
Every love finds its proper place only when God remains first.
B. Possession Is Not Love
Love desires another's good. Possession desires another's control.
C. Jealousy Distorts Reality
Unchecked jealousy often creates the very losses it fears.
D. Idols Demand Sacrifice
Anything elevated above God eventually consumes peace, joy, and freedom.
E. Virtue Protects Affection
Without humility, self-control, and charity, even good desires can become destructive.
Hospitality Pairing - A Classic Hollywood Evening
Food - Elegant 1940s Supper
- Roast chicken
- Butter-glazed vegetables
- Garden salad
- Lemon pie
Drink - Refined but Strong
- Bourbon Old Fashioned
- Russell's Reserve
- Dry red wine
- Coffee
Cigar
- Dark Habano
Atmosphere - Golden Age Hollywood
- Soft jazz
- Candlelight
- Classic film posters
- Discussion about love, attachment, and virtue
Personal Reflection
Do I love God more than the people closest to me?
Have I confused attachment with love?
Where has jealousy entered my relationships?
What possession or relationship would be hardest for me to surrender to God?
Do I seek to serve others or control them?
Am I helping those I love become saints?
Ellen Berent's tragedy is not that she loved.
Her tragedy is that she loved without order.
Scripture teaches that God must be first because every other love depends upon Him.
When God remains first, love becomes freedom.
When God is replaced, love becomes possession.
The world often says, "I cannot live without you."
Christian love says, "I love you enough to want God's will for you."
For in the end, the greatest love does not cling.
It leads others closer to Heaven.
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