Thank You, Lord

Thank you, Lord, for the blessing of teddy bears.

Msgr. Pope on Tactics of the Devil

"One of the key elements in any contest is to understand the tactics of your opponent and to recognize the subtleties of the strategy or moves they may employ. In the spiritual battle of life we need to develop some sophistication in recognizing, naming, and understanding the subtleties of common tactics of the Devil."

In a recent commentary based on a related book by Fr. Louis Cameli, Msgr. Charles Pope (pastor of Holy Comforter-Saint Cyprian Parish, Washington, DC) reflected on four broad categories of the Devil's tactics.

To access Msgr. Pope's complete post, please visit:

Community in Mission: Four Common Tactics of the Devil (11 NOV 25)

Reflection Starter from Pope Leo XIV

"The Gospel of the Day (Lk 21:5-19) invites us to reflect on the travails of history and the end times. Jesus' words proclaim that the attack of evil cannot destroy the hope of those who trust in Him. The darker the hour, the more faith shines like the sun." - Pope Leo XIV

Mills Brothers: "Opus One"

As this blessed week draws to a close, I offer this version of The Mills Brothers presenting "Opus One":

 

On Government Agencies/Officials Meeting the Public Where They Are, the Art of Letter Writing, and Other Topics

A number of articles/posts have recently been published on a variety of  subjects worth considering.

To access some of these, please visit:

Public Discourse: The Natural Law Is Not Enough. The Natural Law Is All We Have. (29 JUL 25)

Governing: Meeting the Public Where They Are (3 NOV 25)

LifeCraft: To Find Wisdom at My Gate (24 SEP 25)

Vermont Public: The delightfully analog art of letter-writing (15 NOV 25)

The Discoverer: 7 Places in the U.S. That Will Make You Feel Like You're In Europe

WCRB Blog: Classical Kicks on Route 66 (26 SEP 25)

Public Discourse: On the Republic and Its Soul (13 OCT 25)

History Facts: The eagle once depicted on U.S. coins was a real eagle named Peter.

America Recycles Day

Today, 15 November. is being observed as America Recycles Day, an observance designed to promote and celebrate recycling through education and collection events.

For more information about America Recycles Day, please visit:

America Recycles Day

National Recycling Coalition

Earth911

Keep America Beautiful offers these tips and activities related to this observance:

• Get to know what’s recyclable in your community and what happens to your trash after the garbage truck takes it away. Recycling is different in different places, so knowing one’s local rules is an important first step.
• Don’t be a litterbug. Make sure that recyclable trash always goes in the proper place – a recycling receptacle.
• Reuse. Reuse things so that they stay out of the trash. Things like drink bottles and grocery bags may be refilled. Books and magazines may be reused as art projects or gift wrapping. Old toys or electronics may be donated to a charity that will give them to someone else.
• Know your numbers. Look for the recycling symbol (three arrows going in a circle) on plastic bottles, packages, or containers.
• Can it! Metals are among the most valuable materials for recycling. Aluminum and steel cans are always welcomed by recyclers, and most metals can be recycled infinitely with no loss of quality.
• Look beyond the daily paper. Paper and cardboard are America’s most-recycled materials.
• Make recycling easy on the road. Keep two bags in your car or truck to contain your family’s trash – one bag for garbage, and one for recyclables.
• Improve your neighborhood with a cleanup event, and be sure to sort the recyclables you pick up.

Background information:

EPA: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Thank You, Lord

Thank you, Lord, for the blessing of recycling efforts.

On St. Albert the Great, the Church, and Science

"St. Albert the Great was considered the 'wonder and the miracle of his age' by his contemporaries. He was an assiduous Dominican whose accomplishments and gifts to the Church are difficult to exaggerate.

"Born around 1206 and joining the Order of Preachers in 1223, Albert quickly became a master of almost every academic subject. Notwithstanding the standards of his own time, he became a pioneer of the natural sciences - both empirical and philosophical. His teachings on nature and theology were revolutionary, and he captured the attention of a young and taciturn Dominican - St. Thomas Aquinas."

A recent article in the National Catholic Register profiled St. Albert the Great (whose feast is today, 15 November) and explained how the Church and science both explore the truth.

To access this National Catholic Register article, please visit:

National Catholic Register: St. Albert the Great: The Church and science are in harmony (15 NOV 25)

Reflection Starter

"Work hard in silence, let your success be your noise." - Source Unknown

Joseph Haydn: Symphony No. 31 in D major (“Hornsignal”)

It's time for some classical music. This is a presentation of Joseph Haydn’s Symphony No. 31 in D major ("Hornsignal"), as played by the Bamburg Symphony, conducted by Yoichiro Omaki:

Thank You Lord

Thank you, Lord, for the blessing of grace-filled actions that appear inconvenient.

Fr. Joe Newman, OSFS, on Blessed Inconveniences

". . . Recently, we practiced a version of Lectio Divina with the Healing of the Paralytic (Luke 5:18-25) where the paralytic reaches Jesus through the roof of a house. Jesus forgives his sins and heals him.  

"During our meditation, I invited the students to place themselves in the scene and imagine everything through the experience of one of the characters in the story.  After a period of silence, I asked them who they had chosen and what they experienced. . . ."

In a recent commentary, Father Joe Newman, OSFS, reflected on how the actions of God can appear inconvenient to some people.

To access Fr. Newman's complete post, please visit:

De Sales Weekly: Provincial Reflection: Inconvenience (13 NOV 25)