hvala BOGU i MAJCICI SV JOSIPU !

O Lord Jesus Christ, Eternal Wisdom and True Light, Enlighten the eyes of my heart, that I may behold the truth not as the world sees it, but as Thy Holy Church has received and lived it. Root out from me every prideful thought, every trust in my own opinion, and every habit formed outside Thy Holy Tradition. Teach me to love what the saints have loved, to cherish what the Fathers have taught, and to follow the narrow path with joy, even when it is hidden or hard. Grant me, O Master, the spirit of humility, obedience, and reverent silence. Let me not cling to the words of this passing age, but to the eternal word of Thy Church, spoken in the lives of Thy saints. Help me to bow my heart, not only my head— to trust the living Tradition, not merely read it; to be formed by it, not only to study it. O Holy Spirit, dwell within me and conform my thoughts to the mind of Christ. That I may see the world through Thy love, and see myself through Thy mercy. Through the prayers of the Most Holy Theotokos, and all Thy God-bearing Fathers and Mothers, form in me the mind of the Church, that I may live and die in the Truth, and rise in Thee to eternal life. Amen.

☩ 𝕁𝕄𝕋 ☩

@SecretFire79

10h

VISION: THE SOUL OF MARTIN LUTHER IN HELL (Through Blessed Maria Serafina Micheli, 1883, Eisenach, Germany) While walking through the city of Eisenach on All Souls’ Day, Blessed Maria Serafina Micheli prayed fervently for the dead—especially for the souls in Purgatory with no one to pray for them. As she passed by the former house of Martin Luther, she knelt in front of it to offer a heartfelt prayer. Suddenly, the heavens opened… and she saw: “A mighty angel appeared before me—radiant with light. With a single touch, he opened a part of the earth. From the abyss, thick smoke, blazing fire, and the terrifying cries of souls in torment burst forth.” The angel said: “Behold the fruit of rebellion.” There, she witnessed a horrifying scene… “In the midst of the fire, I saw a soul raging in anger, despair, and intense remorse. He repeatedly bashed his head against the fiery walls, as if trying to tear himself apart. Countless demons surrounded him—mocking, grabbing, and pushing him further down into the flames.” In fear, she called upon the Lord: “Lord… who is this soul?” And from above, came the sorrowful answer: “This is the soul of Martin Luther. In his pride, he turned away from Me and shattered the unity of My Church. Through him, countless millions of souls have been led astray. Now, he is here—engulfed in fire and facing eternal punishment.” Then she heard the anguished cry of Luther’s soul: “I long to repent… but it is too late. I chose to reject the Truth, and now… I am the punishment of my own rebellion.” A WARNING FOR OUR TIMES Wisdom and brilliance are useless when separated from the Church founded by Christ. Even with good intentions, those who teach false doctrines cannot escape accountability. To fight against the Catholic Church is to fight against Christ Himself. “He who hears you hears Me; he who rejects you rejects Me.” – Luke 10:16 STAY IN THE TRUE FAITH Do not trade Heaven for fleeting comforts or empty philosophies. Hell is real. To abandon the Church is the road that leads there.

Trad West

@trad_west_

23h

The world wants you to feast your eyes on vanity & to focus on lust Saint Charbel teaches you to have custody over them. Let me show you how a Maronite hermit from Lebanon mastered purity by never lifting his gaze. The art of the Custody of the Eyes – a

Pedher´s blogg
Dagens mellanrum – 16 juli – ’Gud, blicka ner’

Av pedherskoog den 16 juli, 2025

’Gud, blicka ner’

Psalm 80:15
”Gud Sebaot, kom tillbaka! Blicka ner från himlen och se, ta hand om denna vinstock!”

Kärnbibeln skriver: En bön om att Gud ska återupprätta Israel ännu en gång, och speciellt de tio norra stammarna som är på väg att försvinna, se vers 2, 3, 16-18. Templet står kvar och folket är i landet, se vers 2, 9-16, men det är en tid av djup nöd då man blivit attackerade. Troligtvis är psalmen skriven just innan assyrierna för bort de tio norra stammarna, se 2 Kung 15:29.

Ännu en gång – Herre, gör det ännu en gång. Asaf ber Gud om att han skall upprätt Israels folk, ännu en gång. Kanske känner du igen dig i detta ”ännu en gång” Då du har ber Gud göra något. Sen har det hänt något som stört din relation med Gud. Så har du bett: Herre gör det igen. Så kommer Gud i sin barmhärtighet och gör det – ännu en gång.

Håll din hand över mannen vid din högra sida – Kärnbibeln skriver: ‘Låt din hand [ditt stöd] vara över din högra hands människa [den smorda kungen, som du har utvalt] , över människosonen som du själv har gjort stark. [Kan syfta på vinstocken Israel, se vers 15-16 eller Messias, se Ef 1:20; Heb 8:1] ’ För mig lutar det åt Jesus. Men det kan ha en dubbel förståelse här.

Herre, se på mig. Herre, se till mig. Glöm inpetat blicka ner från himlen och söka efter mig. Jag är beroende av att du vaka över mig och mitt liv.

Amen

’Herrens välsignelse’

Herren välsigne dig och bevare dig.
Herren låte sitt ansikte lysa över dig och vare dig nådig.
Herren vände sitt ansikte till dig och give dig frid
I Faderns Sonens och den Helige Andens namn

Amen

Pedher´s blogg
Ibland behöver man tänka lite innan man fattar

Av pedherskoog den 16 juli, 2025

Igår läste jag godnattsagan för mina barnbarn. Bla om en gris som smugglades in på dagis av barnen. När fröknarna sent om sider upptäckte grisen fick den vända tillbaka till sin hage. Som blev nog lite överraskade att grisen var för. Lite rädda också. Fröken trodde grisen lire senare och ber den om förlåtelse för att hon hade dragit den i öronen medan barnen dragit den i knorren. Hon tänkte inte efter i sin rädsla och försöker dra ut grisen. Det är då hon säger ….

Ibland behöver man tänka lite innan man fattar

Och visst är det så. Ibland springer vi för fort i våra beslut så att vi inte hinner tänka efter först. Så blir det lite tokiga beslut efter vägen. Kanske helt enkelt för att vi inte stannar upp och funderar först.

För visst är det så. Ibland behöver vi verkligen tänka efter lite innan vi fattar. Så kloka ord. Och vi behöver inse det och ta den tiden som behövs. Att inte springa för den insikten kan bli dyrbart.

Så, det är inget nederlag att behöva tänka lite först innan man fattar. Tror det mer handlar om att handla på ett vist sätt. Modigt också att stanna upp lite. Tänka efter först brukar för det mesta vara en bra väg. Och det kan ju bli rätt knepigt när vi tror oss fatta rätt men det visar sig att vi har fattat fel.

Tänk vilken lärdom en godnattsaga kan ge …

Chabad.org

View Online ב”ה

Today in Judaism

Today is Wednesday, Tammuz 20, 5785 · July 16, 2025

Today’s Laws & Customs

”The Three Weeks”

During the Three Weeks, from 17th of Tamuz to the 9th of Av, we commemorate the conquest of Jerusalem, the destruction of the Holy Temple and the dispersion of the Jewish people.

Weddings and other joyful events are not held during this period; like mourners, we do not cut our hair, and various pleasurable activities are limited or proscribed. (The particular mourning customs vary from community to community, so consult a competent halachic authority for details.)

Citing the verse (Isaiah 1:27) ”Zion shall be redeemed with mishpat [Torah] and its returnees with tzedakah,” the Rebbe urged that we increase in Torah study (particularly the study of the laws of the Holy Temple) and charity during this period.

Links:

The Three Weeks

Today in Jewish History

Passing of Rabbi Avraham Chaim Na’eh ( 1954)

Rabbi Avraham Chaim Na’eh (1890-1954) was born in Hebron to Rabbi Menachem Mendel Na’eh, a Lubavitcher chassid and dean of the Magen Avot, a yeshiva founded by the S’dei Chemed. With the outbreak of World War One, the Ottomans, who controlled the Land of Israel at the time, expelled anyone who was not a citizen of the empire. Most of the exiled Jews, including Rabbi Avraham Chaim, gathered in Alexandria, Egypt. During his time there, Rabbi Avraham Chaim founded Yeshivat Eretz Yisrael and wrote the halachic work Shenot Chaim, a concise digest of halachah for Sephardic Jews. In 1918, he returned to Palestine to work for the Edah HaChareidit (a prominent Orthodox communal organization), under Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld.

Rabbi Na’eh best known for his halachic works Ketzot ha-Shulchan and Shiurei Torah (”measurements of the Torah”), in which he converted halachic measurements into modern terms. Contemporary halachic authorities follow his measurements to this day.

Daily Quote

The Egyptian Exodus involved breaking the bonds and limitation of Egypt in order to escape it. Chassidic teaching instructs to take this one step further: to step out of worldly limitations and bounds while remaining in the world. While functioning within the world we must transcend its limitations.

— Hayom Yom, Tevet 25

Farfar Hebbe en yngling på 82 bast
Dagens fakta 16 Juli.
Av farfar hebbe den 16 juli, 2025

Dagens namn

Reinhold
Namnbetydelse Reinhold
Reinhold är ett mansnamn med tyskt ursprung (Forntyska Raginald). Det är bildat av en förled Ragin- med betydelsen ”råd” och en slutled -(w)ald med betydelsen ”härskare”, ”regent”. En nordisk form av samma namn är Ragnvald och en skotsk är Ronald. Reinhold har förekommet i Sverige sedan 1400-talet och hade ett uppsving i början av 1900-talet för att därefter ha minskat i frekvens.Namnet var i ropet kring förra sekelskiftet men sedan 1920-talet har populariteten minskat stadigt. Det fanns 31 december 2005 totalt 6 999 personer i Sverige med förnamnet Reinhold, varav 401 hade det som tilltalsnamn. De senaste decennierna har 15-20 pojkar per år fått namnet, varav nästan ingen som tilltalsnamn.

Reine
Namnbetydelse Reine
Mansnamnet Reine är en förkortning av Reinhard eller Reinhold vars första del reinkommer från ett ord som betyder de styrande eller gudarna.Namnet är inte speciellt vanligt. Mellan fem och tio pojkar i varje årskull får för närvarande namnet, men knappast någon som tilltalsnamn.31 december 2005 fanns det totalt 2 284 personer i Sverige med namnet Reinevarav 1 211 med det som tilltalsnamn.År 2003 fick 6 pojkar namnet, men ingen fick det som tilltalsnamn.

Kalender med temadagar 2025<>16 Juli
Ölets dag
katolskakyrkanisverige
I dag den 16 juli firar katolska kyrkan Vår fru av berget Karmel.
”I en av våra äldsta kristna böner vänder vi oss till Jungfru Maria: ’Under ditt beskydd tar vi vår tillflykt, heliga Guds moder’”, säger karmelitbroder och kardinal Anders Arborelius
”Här får vi en sammanfattning av Karmels förhållande till Maria. För oss karmeliter är hon i första hand Guds Moder, den kvinna som ’när tiden var fullbordad’ fick föda Guds enfödde Son till världen. Därför förblir hon i alla tider den kvinna under vars beskydd vi tar vår tillflykt för att komma den Gud allt närmare som tog sin boning i henne.
Vi gör oss helt beroende av hennes beskydd, för ingen kan som hon skydda det som är både störst och minst i vårt liv, det som är både starkast och svagast i vårt hjärta: helighetens klara men flämtande låga.”
I Sverige finns karmelitbröderna i Tågarp och karmelitnunnorna har sitt kloster i Glumslöv.
Läs mer om karmeliterna på https://www.katolskakyrkan.se/kyrkan-i-sverige/ordnar-och-kongregationer/manliga-kommuniteter/karmeliter-ocd
https://www.katolskakyrkan.se/kyrkan-i-sverige/ordnar-och-kongregationer/kvinnliga-kommuniteter/karmelitnunnor-ocd_saintoftheday
July 15th is the Feast Day of Bl. Anne Mary Javouhey
.
Daughter of a wealthy farmer, she grew up during the French Revolution, and saw her family risk everything by hiding priests. Pious girl who wanted to devote herself to teaching children and helping the poor. In 1800 she had a vision in Besançon where she was surrounded by a group of black children, but did not understand it at the time. In 1807, she and eight friends at Cabillon started the group that would become the Congregation of Saint Joseph of Cluny, which was formally founded in 1812 when the group purchased an old friary at Cluny to act of mother-house. The group was dedicated to teaching, and soon became famous for its innovative techniques. Anne established houses in Europe, Africa, and South America. In 1834 the French government sent her to French Guiana where she was to teach 600 Guianan slaves who were about to receive their freedom. She spent nine years there teaching, fulfilling her vision. In 1843 she returned to her homeland to work on establishing houses in other countries.spiritual_x_warriors
JULY 16 + Today is the Feast Day of Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Our Lady of Mount Carmel is the title given to the Blessed Virgin Mary in her role as patroness of the Carmelite Order. The first Carmelites were Christian hermits living on Mount Carmel in the Holy Land in the 12th and 13th centuries. They built in the midst of their hermitages a chapel which they dedicated to the Blessed Virgin.

Since the 15th century, popular devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel has centered on the Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, also known as the Brown Scapular, a sacramental associated with promises of Mary’s special aid for the salvation of the devoted wearer. Mary is said to have given the Scapular to St. Simon Stock.

Simon was a Carmelite monk who founded many Carmelite communities. Simon received a private revelation about the Brown Scapular, a monastic garment worn by Carmelites.

The Blessed Virgin Mary with a multitude of angels appeared to Simon holding the Scapular of the Order in her hands, and said, ”Receive, my beloved son, this scapular of thy Order; it is the special sign of my favor, which I have obtained for thee and for thy children of Mount Carmel. He who dies clothed with this habit shall be preserved from eternal fire. It is the badge of salvation, a shield in time of danger, and a pledge of special peace and protection.”

This vision was the source of the Brown Scapular devotion – a tradition which involves the wearing of an adapted version of the garment, along with certain spiritual commitments, by lay Catholics as well as priests and religious. Through Simon, the devotion of the scapular spread throughout the world, not only among the people, but also among kings and princes who found themselves very honored to wear the sign of the servants of the Blessed Virgin.

Webbplatsens bildlogga Lena i Wales, Spanien, Sverige och lite överallt Läs på bloggen or Läsare
SVERIGE – KOSTERÖARNA
Av Lena i Wales den juli 16, 2025

Onsdag, ja bloggdags förstås! Idag från Koster som jag besökte för ca 2 veckor sedan. Jag har haft härliga dagar med familjen på Västkusten och så har det blivit lite kubbspel, men var är jag nu? Ja det får ni reda på på lördag!

Kosteröarna

Med båt från Strömstad tar man sig på mellan 40 och 50 min till Kosteröarna. En fantastiskt vacker färd när solen skiner och havet är lugnt…

…lite fiskelägen här och där. Här finns också några fyrtorn och häromkring bodde också lotsar och tullare…

…Koster är Sveriges västligaste bebodda plats och består av två öar, Nordkoster och Sydkoster. Delar av öarna är naturreservat.

Bilden ovan visar Nordkoster till höger och Sydkoster till vänster. Det var på Sydkoster vi gick av. Det finns också en liten linfärja mellan öarna…

…färden går med en katamaran och Västtrafikkort gäller. Färden kostar enkel resa 74 kronor…

…båda öarna tillsammans har ca 300 invånare, varav de flesta bor på Sydkoster.

Länge var fisket huvudnäring, idag är det turismen med ca 90 000 besökare / år…

…bild när färjeläget på Sydkoster mot Nordkoster.

Sydkoster är ungefär dubbelt så stort som Nordkoster…

…här är lummigare än på Nordkoster, som är kargt.

Vi tog en 4 km lång promenad från Långegärde på norra Sydkoster till Ekenäs på östra delen av ön. Längs vägen fanns många hus, åkrar, ängar och lövskog…

…efter halva vägen kommer man till den lilla träkyrkan från 1939, nu under reparation…

…kyrkan var öppen så naturligtvis måste man gå in. Vacker, men mycket sparsamt inredd…

…promenaden fortsatte längs ängar och lite bondgårdar här och där…

…denna trädgård väckte intresse. Massor med annorlunda utomhusdekorationer. Stod att det var en ateljé där, men allt var stängt…

…väl framme vid Ekenäs besökte vi Havshotellet för en fika…

…i skuggan på denna terrass med utsikt över havet…

…i Ekenäs finns många fina sjöbodar och har också Naturum, kiosk och rökeri…

…antingen fångas ostron eller musslor i dessa ryssjor.

Hur tar man sig fram på Koster om man inte använder apostlahästarna?…

…här finns flera ställen för cykeluthyrning, vilket är mycket populärt.

Ön är i princip bilfri, men här finns arbetsfordon så som traktorer och andra arbetsfordon, samt…

…en hel del elbilar, typ de man har på golfbanor.

Kostervalsen, från början av 1900-talet med Harry Brandelius:

Spela video på YouTube
Spela video på YouTube

Musik av David Hellström och text av Göran Senning.

Hoppas ni får härliga sommardagar!
What You Need to Know About Going to Bed Like a Jew
By Yehuda Shurpin

Art by Sefira Lightstone
As Jews, our service of G-d doesn’t begin in the morning—it begins the night before. The way we go to sleep sets the tone for how we rise, both physically and spiritually. If we go to sleep with purpose—reciting the Shema, reflecting on the day, and entrusting our soul to G-d—we’re more likely to wake with clarity, energy, and readiness to serve our Creator.

In light of this, here are some things you need to know about going to sleep and reciting the bedtime Shema (we are, of course, leaving out essentials like brushing teeth, etc. ).

Prepare Water to Wash in the Morning
According to the Zohar,1 one should not walk more than four cubits (approximately six feet)—and many are careful not to even step on the ground—before washing one’s hands in the morning.2 For this reason, it is customary to prepare a basin and cup of water in a spot that can be reached from bed, so that you can wash your hands as soon as you wake up.

For more on this, see: Morning Hand-Washing and Why No Touching Food Before Morning Handwashing?

Wearing Tzitzit to Sleep
Many men, including Chabad, have the custom to wear tzitzit while sleeping. Some say that wearing it at night serves as a form of spiritual protection during sleep.3

For more on this, see Why Sleep With Tzitzit?

How to Say the Bedtime Shema
While the Shema is part of both the morning and evening prayers, the Talmud teaches that we should say it an additional time before going to bed,4 since it is a mitzvah to say Shema “when you lie down and when you rise.”5 This helps us fall asleep with words of Torah on our lips, protects us from negative influences during the night, and sets the tone for waking up in the right frame of mind.6

Even if you already recited Shema as part of the Evening Service, the bedtime Shema remains important.

The Talmud also relates that Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi would recite Psalm 91 before going to sleep, in addition to the Shema, as a form of protection.7 As such, many have the custom to recite this psalm, together with various other verses, alongside the bedtime Shema. (These prayers can be found in most standard prayer books. It is also available for download in English and Hebrew on our site here).

It is also customary to add a short formula in which we forgive all those who may have wronged us during the day and ask G‑d for forgiveness as well.

For more on this see Why Say Shema at Bedtime?

When and Where to Say Shema
Ideally, the Shema should be said near your bed, right before going to sleep.8 But if you can concentrate better elsewhere (such as at home or in the synagogue), say it there. If a significant amount of time passes before going to bed, repeat the first paragraph of Shema and recite Hamapil at your bedside.9

Position and Attire
Shema may be recited while standing, sitting, or lying on your side—but not while lying flat on your back or stomach.10 Slight tilting is not sufficient; you must be fully sideways.
Some opinions are lenient if you have already fulfilled the nighttime Shema (e.g., through Maariv said after nightfall), allowing the bedtime Shema—said in this case for protection—to be recited in any position.11 Nevertheless, it is still recommended to recite it, with focus, while sitting or standing. According to Kabbalah, it should be recited standing, which is the Chassidic custom.12

Many men, including Chabad, have the custom to recite the bedtime Shema fully dressed, like for prayer.

Hamapil
Hamapil is generally said in pajamas, lying in bed, immediately before falling asleep. If there is a concern that you might fall asleep without saying it, however, you should say it earlier.

May I Speak After Shema?
It is best to refrain from speaking or eating after reciting the bedtime Shema. If you have said the Shema but not yet recited Hamapil, you may speak or drink if needed. After doing so, repeat the first paragraph of Shema and say Hamapil before going to sleep.13

According to many opinions, the Hamapil blessing is like a blessing over sleep itself, and you should avoid any interruption between reciting it and falling asleep. Others view it as a general statement about nighttime being the usual time for sleep, and therefore permit saying it even if sleep does not immediately follow.14

Halacha follows the view that Hamapil is a general blessing about nighttime being a time for sleep. As such, it is more important to say Hamapil than to worry about avoiding speech afterward. So don’t skip the blessing out of concern that you might talk.15

You are permitted to learn Torah or read in bed after Hamapil, provided it is done silently (without verbalizing). Keep in mind that the thoughts you go to sleep with can affect your night and the entire following day—so choose them wisely!

Position and Place of Sleep
It is forbidden for a man, woman, or even a child to sleep alone in a room at night,17 unless there is some light present—either a light left on or light entering through a window.18 If others are present in the home, the issue can also be avoided by leaving the bedroom door unlocked.19

In general, you should sleep on your side. A man is prohibited from sleeping flat on his back or stomach—a position referred to as prakdan.20 Instead, he should sleep slightly turned to the side. This does not apply when sleeping in a chair.

Maimonides suggests that, ideally, one should fall asleep on the left side and wake up on the right.21

FOOTNOTES

Zohar, Introduction, 10b, and 1:184b.
See Eshel Avraham 4:1.
Siddur Admur Hazaken, Hilchot Tzitzit.
Talmud, Berachot 60b.
Deuteronomy 6:7.
See Talmud Berachot 4b, 60b and Shavuot 15b.
Talmud, Shavuot 15b.
Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 239:1.
Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 239:1.
Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 63:1.
See Magen Avraham, Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 239:5; Mishna Berurah 239:6.
See Ba’er Heiytiv, Orach Chaim 239:4 quoting Sefer Hakavanot, Derush Halayla 5.
Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 239:1; Mishna Berurah 239:4.
Piskei Teshuvot 239:3
Piskei Teshuvot 239:3.
Piskei Teshuvot 239:3.
Talmud Shabbat 151b.
Shulchan Aruch Harav, Choshen Mishpat, Shemirat Haguf Vehanefesh 6, Kunteres Achron 2.
See Piskei Teshuvot 239:10.
Talmud Berachot 13b; Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 63:1; Shulchan Aruch Harav 63:1.
Mishnah Torah, Hilchot Deot 4:5.

By Yehuda Shurpin More by this author
A noted scholar and researcher, Rabbi Yehuda Shurpin serves as content editor at Chabad.org, and writes the popular weekly Ask Rabbi Y column. Rabbi Shurpin is the rabbi of the Chabad Shul in St. Louis Park, Minn., where he resides with his wife, Ester, and their children.

16 juli
Att växa i Herren
.

Väx till i nåd och i kunskapen om vår Herre och Frälsare Jesus Kristus! Honom tillhör Honom äran både nu och intill evighetens dag! Punkt slut! (2 Petrus 3:18)

Hem
Information
Diverse ämnen
Rekord
Diverse böner
Kolumner
Diverse
KKODS BiH

ATT LÄSA BIBELN PÅ 365 DAGAR
Dela detta med dina vänner!

Alla helgon och saliga var medvetna om vikten av Guds ord, inklusive vår välsignade Jungfru Maria. Alojzije Stepinac och St. Jerome, och de läste den varje dag. Dessutom sa till och med Jesus själv att ”människan lever inte bara av bröd, utan också av varje ord som utgår från Guds mun” (Matt 4:4).

Men vi katoliker förebrås mest för att vi inte känner till Guds Ord alls och att den Heliga Skrift faktiskt är det värdefullaste som Gud har gett oss tillsammans med Petrus. Mässan och sakramenten samlar oftast damm på hyllorna, skriver Muževni budite.

Det är därför som vi, som en del av projektet ”Be Manly”, har gjort en plan inte bara för hur vi ska läsa Bibeln varje dag, utan också för hur vi ska läsa den på 365 dagar, från pärm till pärm. Det finns två tillvägagångssätt för detta: ett linjärt tillvägagångssätt och ett parallellt tillvägagångssätt.

I det linjära tillvägagångssättet läses flera kapitel varje dag, från Första Moseboken till Uppenbarelseboken. Varje dag räcker det med att avsätta 5-10 minuter för att läsa hela Bibeln på 365 dagar och för att meditera över Guds ord varje dag. Du kan ladda ner Linear Access Reading Plan HÄR.

Den komparativa ansatsen är något mer krävande och enligt den jämförs och beaktas äldre och nyare skrifter. Varje dag läses två läsningar ur Gamla testamentet och en ur Nya testamentet, och det tar cirka 10 minuter. Även om de till synes inte har något samband, visar alla tre läsningarna vissa beröringspunkter och det faktum att många av de saker som tillkännages i Gamla testamentet uppfylls i Nya testamentet. Ett sådant tillvägagångssätt rekommenderas särskilt för läsning i en grupp (gemenskap, familj) där individer kan dela sina intryck med andra och lyfta fram sina kopplingar mellan läsningar. Du kan ladda ner läsplanen för den jämförande metoden HÄR.

Du kan ansöka om någon av dessa två metoder genom att kontakta e-postadressen: muzevnibudite@gmail.com. Under månaderna kommer du att få uppmuntrande bibliska tankar, uppmuntrande avsnitt och frågesporter för att testa dina kunskaper i Guds ord.

Må Guds Ord vara din tillväxt och uppmuntran och det viktigaste nyårslöftet, från vilket du kommer att hämta Guds nådegåvor och välsignelser varje dag, och som du kommer att uppmuntra andra att läsa och studera.

Dela detta med dina vänner!

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MITT LIV FÖRÄNDRADES HELT OCH HÅLLET GENOM ATT BE EN NOVENA TILL JESUSBARNET

Pedher´s bloggDagens mellanrum – 16 juli – ’Gud, blicka ner’Av pedherskoog den 16 juli, 2025’Gud, blicka ner’Psalm 80:15
”Gud Sebaot, kom tillbaka! Blicka ner från himlen och se, ta hand om denna vinstock!”Kärnbibeln skriver: En bön om att Gud ska återupprätta Israel ännu en gång, och speciellt de tio norra stammarna som är på väg att försvinna, se vers 2, 3, 16-18. Templet står kvar och folket är i landet, se vers 2, 9-16, men det är en tid av djup nöd då man blivit attackerade. Troligtvis är psalmen skriven just innan assyrierna för bort de tio norra stammarna, se 2 Kung 15:29.Ännu en gång – Herre, gör det ännu en gång. Asaf ber Gud om att han skall upprätt Israels folk, ännu en gång. Kanske känner du igen dig i detta ”ännu en gång” Då du har ber Gud göra något. Sen har det hänt något som stört din relation med Gud. Så har du bett: Herre gör det igen. Så kommer Gud i sin barmhärtighet och gör det – ännu en gång. Håll din hand över mannen vid din högra sida – Kärnbibeln skriver: ‘Låt din hand [ditt stöd] vara över din högra hands människa [den smorda kungen, som du har utvalt] , över människosonen som du själv har gjort stark. [Kan syfta på vinstocken Israel, se vers 15-16 eller Messias, se Ef 1:20; Heb 8:1] ’ För mig lutar det åt Jesus. Men det kan ha en dubbel förståelse här. Herre, se på mig. Herre, se till mig. Glöm inpetat blicka ner från himlen och söka efter mig. Jag är beroende av att du vaka över mig och mitt liv.Amen’Herrens välsignelse’Herren välsigne dig och bevare dig.
Herren låte sitt ansikte lysa över dig och vare dig nådig.
Herren vände sitt ansikte till dig och give dig frid
I Faderns Sonens och den Helige Andens namnAmen
Pedher´s bloggIbland behöver man tänka lite innan man fattarAv pedherskoog den 16 juli, 2025Igår läste jag godnattsagan för mina barnbarn. Bla om en gris som smugglades in på dagis av barnen. När fröknarna sent om sider upptäckte grisen fick den vända tillbaka till sin hage. Som blev nog lite överraskade att grisen var för. Lite rädda också. Fröken trodde grisen lire senare och ber den om förlåtelse för att hon hade dragit den i öronen medan barnen dragit den i knorren. Hon tänkte inte efter i sin rädsla och försöker dra ut grisen. Det är då hon säger ….Ibland behöver man tänka lite innan man fattarOch visst är det så. Ibland springer vi för fort i våra beslut så att vi inte hinner tänka efter först. Så blir det lite tokiga beslut efter vägen. Kanske helt enkelt för att vi inte stannar upp och funderar först.För visst är det så. Ibland behöver vi verkligen tänka efter lite innan vi fattar. Så kloka ord. Och vi behöver inse det och ta den tiden som behövs. Att inte springa för den insikten kan bli dyrbart.Så, det är inget nederlag att behöva tänka lite först innan man fattar. Tror det mer handlar om att handla på ett vist sätt. Modigt också att stanna upp lite. Tänka efter först brukar för det mesta vara en bra väg. Och det kan ju bli rätt knepigt när vi tror oss fatta rätt men det visar sig att vi har fattat fel.Tänk vilken lärdom en godnattsaga kan ge …
Chabad.orgView Online ב”הToday in Judaism
Today is Wednesday, Tammuz 20, 5785 · July 16, 2025Today’s Laws & Customs• ”The Three Weeks”During the Three Weeks, from 17th of Tamuz to the 9th of Av, we commemorate the conquest of Jerusalem, the destruction of the Holy Temple and the dispersion of the Jewish people.
Weddings and other joyful events are not held during this period; like mourners, we do not cut our hair, and various pleasurable activities are limited or proscribed. (The particular mourning customs vary from community to community, so consult a competent halachic authority for details.)
Citing the verse (Isaiah 1:27) ”Zion shall be redeemed with mishpat [Torah] and its returnees with tzedakah,” the Rebbe urged that we increase in Torah study (particularly the study of the laws of the Holy Temple) and charity during this period.
Links:The Three Weeks
Today in Jewish History• Passing of Rabbi Avraham Chaim Na’eh ( 1954)Rabbi Avraham Chaim Na’eh (1890-1954) was born in Hebron to Rabbi Menachem Mendel Na’eh, a Lubavitcher chassid and dean of the Magen Avot, a yeshiva founded by the S’dei Chemed. With the outbreak of World War One, the Ottomans, who controlled the Land of Israel at the time, expelled anyone who was not a citizen of the empire. Most of the exiled Jews, including Rabbi Avraham Chaim, gathered in Alexandria, Egypt. During his time there, Rabbi Avraham Chaim founded Yeshivat Eretz Yisrael and wrote the halachic work Shenot Chaim, a concise digest of halachah for Sephardic Jews. In 1918, he returned to Palestine to work for the Edah HaChareidit (a prominent Orthodox communal organization), under Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld.
Rabbi Na’eh best known for his halachic works Ketzot ha-Shulchan and Shiurei Torah (”measurements of the Torah”), in which he converted halachic measurements into modern terms. Contemporary halachic authorities follow his measurements to this day.
Daily QuoteThe Egyptian Exodus involved breaking the bonds and limitation of Egypt in order to escape it. Chassidic teaching instructs to take this one step further: to step out of worldly limitations and bounds while remaining in the world. While functioning within the world we must transcend its limitations.— Hayom Yom, Tevet 25
Farfar Hebbe en yngling på 82 bastDagens fakta 16 Juli.Av farfar hebbe den 16 juli, 2025Dagens namnReinholdNamnbetydelse ReinholdReinhold är ett mansnamn med tyskt ursprung (Forntyska Raginald). Det är bildat av en förled Ragin- med betydelsen ”råd” och en slutled -(w)ald med betydelsen ”härskare”, ”regent”. En nordisk form av samma namn är Ragnvald och en skotsk är Ronald. Reinhold har förekommet i Sverige sedan 1400-talet och hade ett uppsving i början av 1900-talet för att därefter ha minskat i frekvens.Namnet var i ropet kring förra sekelskiftet men sedan 1920-talet har populariteten minskat stadigt. Det fanns 31 december 2005 totalt 6 999 personer i Sverige med förnamnet Reinhold, varav 401 hade det som tilltalsnamn. De senaste decennierna har 15-20 pojkar per år fått namnet, varav nästan ingen som tilltalsnamn.ReineNamnbetydelse ReineMansnamnet Reine är en förkortning av Reinhard eller Reinhold vars första del reinkommer från ett ord som betyder de styrande eller gudarna.Namnet är inte speciellt vanligt. Mellan fem och tio pojkar i varje årskull får för närvarande namnet, men knappast någon som tilltalsnamn.31 december 2005 fanns det totalt 2 284 personer i Sverige med namnet Reinevarav 1 211 med det som tilltalsnamn.År 2003 fick 6 pojkar namnet, men ingen fick det som tilltalsnamn.Kalender med temadagar 2025<>16 Juli
Ölets dag

katolskakyrkanisverigeI dag den 16 juli firar katolska kyrkan Vår fru av berget Karmel.”I en av våra äldsta kristna böner vänder vi oss till Jungfru Maria: ’Under ditt beskydd tar vi vår tillflykt, heliga Guds moder’”, säger karmelitbroder och kardinal Anders Arborelius”Här får vi en sammanfattning av Karmels förhållande till Maria. För oss karmeliter är hon i första hand Guds Moder, den kvinna som ’när tiden var fullbordad’ fick föda Guds enfödde Son till världen. Därför förblir hon i alla tider den kvinna under vars beskydd vi tar vår tillflykt för att komma den Gud allt närmare som tog sin boning i henne.Vi gör oss helt beroende av hennes beskydd, för ingen kan som hon skydda det som är både störst och minst i vårt liv, det som är både starkast och svagast i vårt hjärta: helighetens klara men flämtande låga.” I Sverige finns karmelitbröderna i Tågarp och karmelitnunnorna har sitt kloster i Glumslöv.Läs mer om karmeliterna på https://www.katolskakyrkan.se/kyrkan-i-sverige/ordnar-och-kongregationer/manliga-kommuniteter/karmeliter-ocdhttps://www.katolskakyrkan.se/kyrkan-i-sverige/ordnar-och-kongregationer/kvinnliga-kommuniteter/karmelitnunnor-ocd_
saintofthedayJuly 15th is the Feast Day of Bl. Anne Mary Javouhey.Daughter of a wealthy farmer, she grew up during the French Revolution, and saw her family risk everything by hiding priests. Pious girl who wanted to devote herself to teaching children and helping the poor. In 1800 she had a vision in Besançon where she was surrounded by a group of black children, but did not understand it at the time. In 1807, she and eight friends at Cabillon started the group that would become the Congregation of Saint Joseph of Cluny, which was formally founded in 1812 when the group purchased an old friary at Cluny to act of mother-house. The group was dedicated to teaching, and soon became famous for its innovative techniques. Anne established houses in Europe, Africa, and South America. In 1834 the French government sent her to French Guiana where she was to teach 600 Guianan slaves who were about to receive their freedom. She spent nine years there teaching, fulfilling her vision. In 1843 she returned to her homeland to work on establishing houses in other countries.spiritual_x_warriorsJULY 16 + Today is the Feast Day of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Our Lady of Mount Carmel is the title given to the Blessed Virgin Mary in her role as patroness of the Carmelite Order. The first Carmelites were Christian hermits living on Mount Carmel in the Holy Land in the 12th and 13th centuries. They built in the midst of their hermitages a chapel which they dedicated to the Blessed Virgin.
Since the 15th century, popular devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel has centered on the Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, also known as the Brown Scapular, a sacramental associated with promises of Mary’s special aid for the salvation of the devoted wearer. Mary is said to have given the Scapular to St. Simon Stock.
Simon was a Carmelite monk who founded many Carmelite communities. Simon received a private revelation about the Brown Scapular, a monastic garment worn by Carmelites.
The Blessed Virgin Mary with a multitude of angels appeared to Simon holding the Scapular of the Order in her hands, and said, ”Receive, my beloved son, this scapular of thy Order; it is the special sign of my favor, which I have obtained for thee and for thy children of Mount Carmel. He who dies clothed with this habit shall be preserved from eternal fire. It is the badge of salvation, a shield in time of danger, and a pledge of special peace and protection.”
This vision was the source of the Brown Scapular devotion – a tradition which involves the wearing of an adapted version of the garment, along with certain spiritual commitments, by lay Catholics as well as priests and religious. Through Simon, the devotion of the scapular spread throughout the world, not only among the people, but also among kings and princes who found themselves very honored to wear the sign of the servants of the Blessed Virgin.
Webbplatsens bildlogga Lena i Wales, Spanien, Sverige och lite överallt Läs på bloggen or LäsareSVERIGE – KOSTERÖARNA Av Lena i Wales den juli 16, 2025Onsdag, ja bloggdags förstås! Idag från Koster som jag besökte för ca 2 veckor sedan. Jag har haft härliga dagar med familjen på Västkusten och så har det blivit lite kubbspel, men var är jag nu? Ja det får ni reda på på lördag!KosteröarnaMed båt från Strömstad tar man sig på mellan 40 och 50 min till Kosteröarna. En fantastiskt vacker färd när solen skiner och havet är lugnt……lite fiskelägen här och där. Här finns också några fyrtorn och häromkring bodde också lotsar och tullare……Koster är Sveriges västligaste bebodda plats och består av två öar, Nordkoster och Sydkoster. Delar av öarna är naturreservat.Bilden ovan visar Nordkoster till höger och Sydkoster till vänster. Det var på Sydkoster vi gick av. Det finns också en liten linfärja mellan öarna……färden går med en katamaran och Västtrafikkort gäller. Färden kostar enkel resa 74 kronor……båda öarna tillsammans har ca 300 invånare, varav de flesta bor på Sydkoster.Länge var fisket huvudnäring, idag är det turismen med ca 90 000 besökare / år……bild när färjeläget på Sydkoster mot Nordkoster.Sydkoster är ungefär dubbelt så stort som Nordkoster……här är lummigare än på Nordkoster, som är kargt.Vi tog en 4 km lång promenad från Långegärde på norra Sydkoster till Ekenäs på östra delen av ön. Längs vägen fanns många hus, åkrar, ängar och lövskog……efter halva vägen kommer man till den lilla träkyrkan från 1939, nu under reparation……kyrkan var öppen så naturligtvis måste man gå in. Vacker, men mycket sparsamt inredd……promenaden fortsatte längs ängar och lite bondgårdar här och där……denna trädgård väckte intresse. Massor med annorlunda utomhusdekorationer. Stod att det var en ateljé där, men allt var stängt……väl framme vid Ekenäs besökte vi Havshotellet för en fika……i skuggan på denna terrass med utsikt över havet……i Ekenäs finns många fina sjöbodar och har också Naturum, kiosk och rökeri……antingen fångas ostron eller musslor i dessa ryssjor.Hur tar man sig fram på Koster om man inte använder apostlahästarna?……här finns flera ställen för cykeluthyrning, vilket är mycket populärt.Ön är i princip bilfri, men här finns arbetsfordon så som traktorer och andra arbetsfordon, samt……en hel del elbilar, typ de man har på golfbanor.Kostervalsen, från början av 1900-talet med Harry Brandelius:Spela video på YouTubeSpela video på YouTubeMusik av David Hellström och text av Göran Senning.Hoppas ni får härliga sommardagar!
What You Need to Know About Going to Bed Like a JewBy Yehuda ShurpinArt by Sefira LightstoneAs Jews, our service of G-d doesn’t begin in the morning—it begins the night before. The way we go to sleep sets the tone for how we rise, both physically and spiritually. If we go to sleep with purpose—reciting the Shema, reflecting on the day, and entrusting our soul to G-d—we’re more likely to wake with clarity, energy, and readiness to serve our Creator.In light of this, here are some things you need to know about going to sleep and reciting the bedtime Shema (we are, of course, leaving out essentials like brushing teeth, etc. ).Prepare Water to Wash in the MorningAccording to the Zohar,1 one should not walk more than four cubits (approximately six feet)—and many are careful not to even step on the ground—before washing one’s hands in the morning.2 For this reason, it is customary to prepare a basin and cup of water in a spot that can be reached from bed, so that you can wash your hands as soon as you wake up.For more on this, see: Morning Hand-Washing and Why No Touching Food Before Morning Handwashing?Wearing Tzitzit to SleepMany men, including Chabad, have the custom to wear tzitzit while sleeping. Some say that wearing it at night serves as a form of spiritual protection during sleep.3For more on this, see Why Sleep With Tzitzit?How to Say the Bedtime ShemaWhile the Shema is part of both the morning and evening prayers, the Talmud teaches that we should say it an additional time before going to bed,4 since it is a mitzvah to say Shema “when you lie down and when you rise.”5 This helps us fall asleep with words of Torah on our lips, protects us from negative influences during the night, and sets the tone for waking up in the right frame of mind.6Even if you already recited Shema as part of the Evening Service, the bedtime Shema remains important.The Talmud also relates that Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi would recite Psalm 91 before going to sleep, in addition to the Shema, as a form of protection.7 As such, many have the custom to recite this psalm, together with various other verses, alongside the bedtime Shema. (These prayers can be found in most standard prayer books. It is also available for download in English and Hebrew on our site here).It is also customary to add a short formula in which we forgive all those who may have wronged us during the day and ask G‑d for forgiveness as well.For more on this see Why Say Shema at Bedtime?When and Where to Say ShemaIdeally, the Shema should be said near your bed, right before going to sleep.8 But if you can concentrate better elsewhere (such as at home or in the synagogue), say it there. If a significant amount of time passes before going to bed, repeat the first paragraph of Shema and recite Hamapil at your bedside.9Position and AttireShema may be recited while standing, sitting, or lying on your side—but not while lying flat on your back or stomach.10 Slight tilting is not sufficient; you must be fully sideways.
Some opinions are lenient if you have already fulfilled the nighttime Shema (e.g., through Maariv said after nightfall), allowing the bedtime Shema—said in this case for protection—to be recited in any position.11 Nevertheless, it is still recommended to recite it, with focus, while sitting or standing. According to Kabbalah, it should be recited standing, which is the Chassidic custom.12Many men, including Chabad, have the custom to recite the bedtime Shema fully dressed, like for prayer.HamapilHamapil is generally said in pajamas, lying in bed, immediately before falling asleep. If there is a concern that you might fall asleep without saying it, however, you should say it earlier.May I Speak After Shema?It is best to refrain from speaking or eating after reciting the bedtime Shema. If you have said the Shema but not yet recited Hamapil, you may speak or drink if needed. After doing so, repeat the first paragraph of Shema and say Hamapil before going to sleep.13According to many opinions, the Hamapil blessing is like a blessing over sleep itself, and you should avoid any interruption between reciting it and falling asleep. Others view it as a general statement about nighttime being the usual time for sleep, and therefore permit saying it even if sleep does not immediately follow.14Halacha follows the view that Hamapil is a general blessing about nighttime being a time for sleep. As such, it is more important to say Hamapil than to worry about avoiding speech afterward. So don’t skip the blessing out of concern that you might talk.15

Speaking after Hamapil is permitted when necessary for a mitzvah—for example, to recite a required blessing or to respond to a parent. Additionally, if you cannot fall asleep and significant time has passed, you may speak, and it is not considered to be “a blessing in vain.”16You are permitted to learn Torah or read in bed after Hamapil, provided it is done silently (without verbalizing). Keep in mind that the thoughts you go to sleep with can affect your night and the entire following day—so choose them wisely!Position and Place of SleepIt is forbidden for a man, woman, or even a child to sleep alone in a room at night,17 unless there is some light present—either a light left on or light entering through a window.18 If others are present in the home, the issue can also be avoided by leaving the bedroom door unlocked.19In general, you should sleep on your side. A man is prohibited from sleeping flat on his back or stomach—a position referred to as prakdan.20 Instead, he should sleep slightly turned to the side. This does not apply when sleeping in a chair.Maimonides suggests that, ideally, one should fall asleep on the left side and wake up on the right.21FOOTNOTES1.Zohar, Introduction, 10b, and 1:184b.2.See Eshel Avraham 4:1.3.Siddur Admur Hazaken, Hilchot Tzitzit.4.Talmud, Berachot 60b.5.Deuteronomy 6:7.6.See Talmud Berachot 4b, 60b and Shavuot 15b.7.Talmud, Shavuot 15b.8.Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 239:1.9.Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 239:1.10.Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 63:1.11.See Magen Avraham, Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 239:5; Mishna Berurah 239:6.12.See Ba’er Heiytiv, Orach Chaim 239:4 quoting Sefer Hakavanot, Derush Halayla 5.13.Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 239:1; Mishna Berurah 239:4.14.Piskei Teshuvot 239:315.Piskei Teshuvot 239:3.16.Piskei Teshuvot 239:3.17.Talmud Shabbat 151b.18.Shulchan Aruch Harav, Choshen Mishpat, Shemirat Haguf Vehanefesh 6, Kunteres Achron 2.19.See Piskei Teshuvot 239:10.20.Talmud Berachot 13b; Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 63:1; Shulchan Aruch Harav 63:1.21.Mishnah Torah, Hilchot Deot 4:5.By Yehuda ShurpinMore by this author
A noted scholar and researcher, Rabbi Yehuda Shurpin serves as content editor at Chabad.org, and writes the popular weekly Ask Rabbi Y column. Rabbi Shurpin is the rabbi of the Chabad Shul in St. Louis Park, Minn., where he resides with his wife, Ester, and their children.cenaclemary12
cenaclemary12
18 juli 2023
Before the burning bush he stood,
He did not get cold feet.
Obeying, he took his sandals off.
God wished to have a meet.
Moses’ heart burning within,
Open to the great ”I am.”Moses and the Quest for God

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Modern historians, looking at Moses, ask did he really exist? When did he live and what are the facts of his life?

The 4th century writer, Gregory of Nyssa, in his classic work “The Life of Moses”, asks a different question: How can we see our own journey to God in him?

In the 120 years of his life Moses was on a journey to God. . He shows us how God draws us to himself in our life’s journey.

Exodus 2,1-15 brings us to his birth and first 40 years. His Jewish mother puts him in the Nile river in a little boat ( the word for boat in Exodus is the same word used in Genesis for Noah’s ark). Those years are not without danger, but Moses–like all of us – is placed on the river of life, with a mission from God and God’s protection.

Moses’ adoption by Pharoah’s daughter brought him the wealth of Egypt. He makes his way to God with human gifts as well as divine gifts, and so do we. We’re blessed with gifts, human and divine, and we must use them.

Moses’ first forty years end with the killing of the Egyptian and his subsequent flight to the mountainous desert of Midian. There, Moses meets God alone in the burning bush and choses to stand with God.

If we want to see the face of God, we’re called to face the burning mystery of God and choose to stand with him.

Then, at eighty years, Moses begins the next stage of his life: leading his people through the desert to the promised land. Eighty years old– hardly a good time for something like that, isn’t it?

For Gregory, though, Moses’ life is an inward journey, not so much of events, as a journey of desire, and the journey of desire is a constant journey–an ascent– that never ends or grows old in this life. It’s not ended by sickness or the cessation of our active lives and responsibilities. Here’s how Gregory describes it:

“…the great Moses, becomes ever greater, he never stops his ascent, never sets a limit to his upward course. Once setting his foot on the ladder that God sets up (as Jacob says) he continually climbed to the step above and never ceases to rise higher, because there was always a step higher than the one he attained…though lifted up through his lofty experiences, he’s still unsatisfied in his desire for more. He still thirsts for what seems beyond his capacity… asking God to appear to him, not according to his capacity, but according to God’s true being.

“Such an experience seems to me to belong to the soul who loves the beautiful. Hope always draws the soul from the beauty that’s seen to what ‘s beyond; it always kindles the desire for what’s hidden from what’s now known. Boldly requesting to go up the mountain of desires the soul asks to enjoy Beauty, not in mirrors, or reflections, but face to face. “ (Gregory of Nyssa)

“Old men ought to be explorers

Here or there does not matter

We must be still and still moving

Into another intensity

For a further union, a deeper communion

Through the dark cold and the empty desolation,

The wave cry, the wind cry, the vast waters

Of the petrel and the porpoise. In my end is my beginning.” T. S. Eliot, Four Quartets

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No Excuses: The Brutal Truth About Priorities and Success
The Quill & Musket
Jul 15

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You can lie to yourself. You can say you do not have time, that life is just too hectic, that things will change “someday.” But your actions will always reveal your true priorities.

So look at your life. Look at how you spend your time. Look at what you make excuses for versus what you actually do. If something is important, stop talking about it and start prioritizing it.

Because at the end of the day, you are either making progress or you are making excuses. You cannot do both.

Pledge your support
The Choice: Excuses or Execution

Life is a constant battle between what is easy and what is right. Excuses are easy. Prioritization is hard.

It is easy to say, “I will start tomorrow.”

It is hard to start today.

It is easy to stay in bed when the alarm rings at 5 AM.

It is hard to get up and train.

It is easy to blame external factors for a lack of progress.

It is hard to take full responsibility.

But everything you want—every skill, every achievement, every meaningful relationship—exists on the other side of difficulty. The more you excuse yourself from doing what matters, the further you push yourself from the life you claim to want.

The Art of Brutal Honesty

Here is the uncomfortable but liberating truth:

If you are not exercising, it is because you do not care enough to make it a priority.
If you are not advancing in your career, it is because you have chosen not to.
If you are not spending time with loved ones, it is because you have placed other things above them.

That may sound harsh, but it is the truth. And once you accept that, you regain control. Because when you stop making excuses, you start making decisions.

Excuses strip away agency. They turn people into victims of circumstance, forever waiting for “the right time.” But there is no right time. There is only now.

The Relentless Prioritization of the Successful

If you want to know how serious someone is about their goals, look at their schedule.

Highly successful people have the same 24 hours as everyone else, yet they manage to train their bodies, sharpen their minds, build businesses, strengthen relationships, and create things of value. How? They ruthlessly prioritize what matters and eliminate what does not.

Take Elon Musk, for example. He runs multiple billion-dollar companies, yet he still makes time to read, think, and innovate. Consider Jocko Willink, a former Navy SEAL who wakes up at 4:30 AM every day to work out before running a business, writing books, and hosting a podcast. Or look at Warren Buffett, who spends 80% of his day reading because he understands that continuous learning is essential for making better decisions.

None of these people have more time than the average person. They simply refuse to waste it.

Contrast that with someone who complains about not having time to exercise, yet somehow watches hours of Netflix every night. Or the person who says they want to start a business but spends every weekend partying instead. The difference is not intelligence, opportunity, or luck—it is priority.

The Myth of “No Time”

How often do people say, “I do not have time for that”? It is the most common excuse in the world, and it is almost always false.

Consider this:

The average person spends over two hours a day on social media. That is 14 hours a week, 728 hours a year—the equivalent of an entire month wasted.
The average American watches three to four hours of television daily. Over a year, that adds up to 1,095-1,460 hours, or roughly 45-60 full days.
The average person spends an hour or more a day commuting. That is 365 hours a year—more than two full weeks.

Yet, when someone claims they have “no time” to exercise, to read, to start a business, or to develop a skill, they rarely examine how their time is actually being used.

The reality is, time is not found—it is made. No one ever just stumbles upon a free hour in their day and thinks, “Oh, now I finally have time to pursue my goals.” That is not how life works. Time must be carved out, prioritized, and defended.

The Currency of Life: Time

If money is the currency of commerce, then time is the currency of life. Unlike money, time cannot be earned back, stored for later, or borrowed. It is spent moment by moment, with no refunds and no guarantees. Every second, every minute, every hour is a transaction—a trade-off between what you say you want and what you actually do.

Consider a man who claims he desperately wants to write a book. He has been talking about it for years. He dreams about it. He tells his friends about it. But when asked how much of the book he has written, he mutters something about how life has been busy. Work has been demanding. Family obligations have been overwhelming. And yet, that same man somehow finds time to binge-watch TV shows, scroll endlessly through social media, and go out with friends.

What does that tell you?

It tells you that writing a book is not actually a priority.

And that is fine—so long as he admits it. The problem is that most people refuse to be honest about their choices. They hide behind excuses because the truth is uncomfortable: if something is not being done, it is not because of circumstances. It is because of a lack of prioritization.

No Excuses: The Brutal Truth About Priorities and Success

There is a simple but devastatingly effective rule in life: people make time for what matters, and they make excuses for everything else. That is the reality. It does not matter how busy, how tired, or how overwhelmed someone claims to be—when something is truly important, time is found, sacrifices are made, and action is taken.

Yet, so many people lie to themselves. They convince themselves that they are just “too busy” to go to the gym, “too exhausted” to pursue their dreams, or “too swamped” to maintain meaningful relationships. The truth? They are simply unwilling to prioritize those things over whatever else is consuming their time.

This is the difference between those who succeed and those who do not. Not intelligence, not luck, not natural talent—just the ability to cut through the fog of excuses and act on what truly matters.

The Final Truth

You can lie to yourself. You can say you do not have time, that life is just too hectic, that things will change “someday.” But your actions will always reveal your true priorities.

So look at your life. Look at how you spend your time. Look at what you make excuses for versus what you actually do. If something is important, stop talking about it and start prioritizing it.

Because at the end of the day, you are either making progress or you are making excuses. You cannot do both.

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Essence and Relation in the Trinity
Gospel Reflection for Wednesday, July 16th, 2025
Andrew McGovern, Th.D.
Jul 16

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Explaining the Trinity | Catholic Answers Magazine
Courtesy of Catholic Answers
“All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.” Matthew 11:27

In today’s Gospel, Our Lord reveals two intricate truths about the Blessed Trinity:

The equality of the Father and the Son
The origin of the Son from the Father

At first glance, these two truths may seem to be at odds with each other. How does the Son claim both equality with the Father and yet find His origin in the Father? God as Trinity possesses unity according to the Substance, but possesses multiplicity in relation.¹ To understand this, I want to first ground this idea in the metaphysics of Aristotle. Simply, according to Aristotle, there are nine categories for understanding and classifying being. We call these:

Substance

And the Nine Accidents

Quantity
Quality
Relation
Place
Time
Situation
Condition
Action
Passion

Of these, substance applies to God as God is Being Itself. When we speak of God’s Substance, we are speaking about His Very Essence, that is, Ipsum Esse Subsistens, or Being Itself. Of the nine accidents, only relation exists in God. The difference, though, is that relation is not an accident in God, as there are no accidents in God. As all things in God, relation is identical with essence since anything that exists in God must be essential. Simply, an accident is something said to be in a substance which could change, but the substance would remain what it is. In God, there is no change. Therefore, all that is in God must be essential, that is, identical with What God IS.

Returning to the Gospel text, Our Lord reveals that “All things have been handed over to me by my Father.” It is here that we first see the equality of the Father and Son. This equality is found in the substance of the Trinity. Both the Father and the Son are God. They possess the same divine nature. This means that the Father and the Son are both divine in the same sense. There is no distinction in the divine nature in the way that there is with created natures. In the divine nature, one is either God or not God. One is either Divine or not Divine. The Father is Divine. The Father is God. The Son is Divine. The Son is God. Thus, the Father and the Son are equal. This is expressed in the words all things. The Son possesses all that the Father possesses. There is nothing that the Father has withheld from the Son. The Father communicates the Divine Nature and all that comes with it to the Son, and so the Son is equal to the Father.

This communication then requires an origin. The Divine Nature is possessed by the Father as Origin and He communicates that Divine Nature to the Son. This is not a temporal movement. It does not first exist in the Father for a time and then moves to the Son. The Father and the Son are both eternal. The Creed beautifully expresses this mystery:

I believe in One Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God. Born of the Father before all ages…

It is here that we can return to the idea of relation. Relation is found in God, essentially, as said above. This relation is found in action and requires what is called relative opposition. St. Thomas teaches on this:

“These processions are two only, as above explained (Q27, A5), one derived from the action of the intellect, the procession of the Word; and the other from the action of the will, the procession of love. In respect of each of these processions, two opposite relations arise; one of which is the relation of the person proceeding from the principle; the other is the relation of the principle Himself.”²

This means that the persons in the Trinity are related to one another according to opposing positions based on procession. Simply, the Father is Father because He has the Son. The Father is not the Son because He has no Father. Likewise, the Son is Son because He has the Father. The Son is not the Father since He has no Son. This is what we call relative opposition. The Son receives everything that He is from the Father, who is the origin of the Trinity. The Father begets the Son eternally with no beginning and no end to that divine action.

What does all of this teach us in the practical sense? Simply this, for those sects that want to deny the equality of the Son with the Father, they are confounded by this revelation from the Son Himself. Our Lord reveals that He is equal to the Father in this passage.

Furthermore, those who would deny the unity of the Trinity and accuse Christians of being Tri-theists are likewise confounded. Relation and essence are identical in God. The communication of the divine nature through the procession of persons is essential to God. God is not God without this relation.

All of these things are difficult to wrap our feeble human minds around. God is infinite, and you can’t put an infinite thing (God) in a finite space (human mind). We are limited by our human nature. But, in His goodness, God has revealed certain truths about Himself. This glimpse of the Holy Trinity is given to us by the Son so that we can come to know the immensity of the Trinitarian relationship. God’s greatest revelation is not words on a page. It is the Word Himself. It is the Son who alone can reveal the Father.

For as complicated as all of this is, let us sit with this today and contemplate the Trinitarian God. If anything, essence and relation may drift over our heads. Substance and accidents may confuse us. At the end of the day, the lesson of this Gospel is that God desired to encounter us and lift us into His divine life, and so sent His Son to reveal that love to us.

God has loved us and sent His Son to reveal that love. Sit with that today.

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1
Cf. Boethius, De Trinitate.

2
Summa Theologiae, Ia q. 28, a. 4.

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Saint Tolkien, ora pro nobis!

Saint Tolkien Weekly Roundup #6
Chivalry Guild, Andrew Seeley, Ringfolk, Bros Krynn, Stories for Boys and more!
Kaleb Hammond
Jul 16

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Chivalry Guild

A recent article for The Chivalry Guild Letters took a look at an “older” film, 2007’s CGI adaptation of Beowulf by directed by Robert Zemeckis and written by Neil Gaiman and Roger Avary, in his article entitled “Don’t Do It, Beowulf!” I watched this movie a few years after it came out and only made it through the first few minutes – and after reading this plot analysis, I’m glad I didn’t finish it. Like Chivalry Guild points out, it’s basically just pornography dressed up as fantasy, a la Game of Thrones.

The makers of this movie, like most people in Hollywood today (and even in Tolkien’s time, like Walt Disney whom he thoroughly disliked for similar reasons), had little understanding or appreciation for either the pagan or the Christian influences on the original story, and like the makers of many adaptations and remakes today, such as The Rings of Power, they actually disliked the original and felt the need to “correct” and “update” it. As with many in the Church, this modernizing spirit is rarely if ever fruitful. Zemeckis, Gaiman and similar storytellers today (GRR Martin, Stephen King, Robert Kirkman, etc.), instead of inspiring heroism and virtue, undermine traditional values and enable vice by portraying heroic manliness as Toxic Masculinity.

The Northern Spirit, Christianized by those who lived in medieval Christendom like Beowulf’s author, Snorri Sturluson and others, is better captured by Tolkien himself, especially in his Rohan and Beorning cultures. As G.K. Chesterton once said, modern man may need to become pagan again in order to be converted back to Christianity.

Unlike the old poet who loved both Northern Courage and the Faith, these filmmakers admire neither, and they’ve done their best to refashion the world accordingly—both Beowulf’s world and ours. Nobility is a lie. Great men get debunked. Moral postures are struck, but are almost immediately undermined by perviness. And then we die and our “civilization” ends in night.

Denise Trull

For her Substack, The Inscapist (an intriguing term coined by the great Fr. Gerard Manley Hopkins), Denise (who, sadly, confesses herself not to be “an avid fan or aficionado” of Tolkien’s works) interviews a bibliophile who is new to me but whom I now greatly admire: Andrew Seeley, the new Director of Advanced Formation of Educators and a professor of philosophy at the Augustine Institute. He’s also the founder of two organizations I’ll have to look into: the Institute for Catholic Liberal Education and the Boethius Institute for the Advancement of Liberal Education, the latter named after one of the greatest early medieval authors. Among his other admirable traits, he’s also a baseball fan, though as a Braves fan, I’ll overlook his devotion to the Reds, and co-hosts a podcast with Patrick Boduch dedicated to The Lord of the Rings, called “Glittering Caves: A Catholic Journey Through the Lord of the Rings.”

In this fascinating interview, Professor Seeley discusses his lifelong love for Tolkien and his works, why they are such classics of literature, unique among fantasy fiction, and even says, “I would love to see it [LotR] become the central work of literature taught in high school,” a brilliant suggestion indeed. He gives some excellent advice for reading classic literature in an authentically literary spirit, not merely treating it as a vehicle for philosophy or politics (as many do today), and provides some tips for adults who, like many, had little exposure to reading as kids but now want to cultivate a deeper reading life.

Like the great ancient cultural epics, it’s best to experience LotR in adolescence, when you are most open to dreaming heroically and shaping your life accordingly. I would love to see it become the central work of literature taught in high school. Digital upbringing has deadened the spirit, the thumos, in most of our youth; educating them into a work like this can resurrect it. But those who can get the most out of The Lord of the Rings are those who have tried to live their lives heroically. I weep much more in reading it now as an old man than I ever did when I was young.

Patrick Lawrence

As mentioned in a previous weekly roundup, Mr. Lawrence, proprietor of Ringfolk, continues his read-through of The Two Towers. This is a great way to get into reading The Lord of the Rings, especially for those who are familiar with the film adaptations but are a bit intimidated at tackling the full book. This guided tour makes the story accessible and helps explain many of the characters, events and details that might seem perplexing at first.

Welcome back, fellowship. I hope your reading has been fruitful! We’re still in the early stages of our read-through journey, so it’s still not entirely too late to jump in with us—just catch up! Here’s the schedule up ‘til now and moving forward:

A New Read-through Journey: The Two Towers
A New Read-through Journey: The Two Towers
Patrick Lawrence, Blake Hart, and 2 others

The Brothers Krynn

For their Substack, Bros Krynn’s Newsletter, the good brothers recently added another excellent entry, this one on pre-suppositions in fantasy. They emphasize and give writing advice on what is perhaps one of the most difficult and debated subjects in fiction: the role of virtue. Many modern writers will deny any role to virtue in their stories, yet simply by portraying characters acting in certain ways, they’re recommending or critiquing those actions in some way, and this message gets to the readers and promotes virtue or vice. This is why, in “On Fairy-Stories,” Tolkien said that one role of fantasy is to uphold a “mirror of scorn” to man, showing him the worst that he’s capable of – not to celebrate it but to correct it and to show that we really are capable of learning from and overcoming our faults.

The brothers also make an important distinction, between virtue and values. Values are ephemeral and evanescent, “relative” to use a fraught term in that they change by time period and culture, especially so for fantasy world often radically different than our own. But even so, virtue and vice, good and evil are universal and transcendent, contrary to pure relativism. A good man is a good man, even if his goodness grows and lives in a particular historical setting. Aragorn, Luke Skywalker (in the originals, before he tried to murder his nephew), Jonathan Smith (Highway to Heaven), Superman, Mr. Toad of Toad Hall, Peter Pevensey, etc., all are good men, flawed but virtuous, yet in their own ways.

Like the saints, who lived in different places and times and had unique, sometimes conflicting personalities and dark pasts, but are admirable because of their consistent virtue. Tolkien said the promotion of virtue and the glory of God were his main aims in his stories and they should be the same for all Christian authors. But it must be done as literature, not as allegory or propaganda.

This is what is meant by me when I say let’s write some good ‘moral’ Fantasy fiction. It must NEVER involve preaching to the Readers. The reason is quite simple; the Readers will determine their own thoughts and ideas. We can inspire them to be sure, but we should instead of trying to pushing them in a negative direction try to get them to understand the characters and use the opportunity to inspire them.

For example; how many of the best police officers out there sought to emulate the likes of Aragorn or Superman? Quite a few right? Well, in that case doesn’t that show what a positive inspiration a hero can be?

Emily Finley

For her Substack, The Christian Imagination , Mrs. Finley gives a truly beautiful and important reflection on the education of boys, in her article entitled “The Enchanted Kingdom of Childhood.” Growing up in the midst of what Mrs. Finley astutely calls “the Age of the Angry Feminist,” where boys are accused of toxic masculinity before they even go through puberty and are taught to be effeminate and self-hating, boys need to be allowed to be boys – which, as I wrote about in my article, “Tolkien and Masculinity,” means exploring what it means to be a hero. Every man wants to be a hero, from birth to old age, and young boys want to figure out what it means to be a hero.

It’s beautiful and refreshing to read a mother who is able to appreciate and cultivate the budding masculinity of her sons without trying to stifle it or substitute it for pseudo-femininity, as many mothers do today. Through the Castle Game they play, to the books she gives them to read (including comics, which yes all boys love, and several books which, despite being 34, I’d also like to read!), her sons are learning to be virtuous, heroic men, something that will stay with them into adulthood, when they become the heroes of their own families. She includes Tolkien’s stories, alongside those of George MacDonald, as supreme examples of good heroic literature for boys, something I wholly agree with, where virtue isn’t only taught in the abstract but demonstrated in lived situations and tough choices. (Tolkien himself also recommended H. Rider Haggard for boys, if Mrs. Finley is looking for more books!)

In a world where men are either pornified barbarians or effete wimps, the role models of Aragorn, King Arthur and St. George are sorely needed. (Mrs. Finley would also enjoy, if she hasn’t already, a book by the great Anthony Esolen, “Ten Ways to Destroy the Imagination of Your Child.”)

Books for kids should, first of all, contain a plot, and secondly, not dwell in the realm of abstractions. They should ignite the moral imagination through the actions of characters with admirable traits. They may contain a romantic storyline or romantic elements—that is, elements that are wild, unexpected, and unusual—that inspire wonder and enchantment. Yet these romantic elements, in a good story, operate within the God-given moral order. This order shall not be violated. That is, the romance of the story cannot trump moral reality no matter how fantastical or romantic the storyline (see the stories of George MacDonald or J. R. R. Tolkien for how to do this effectively).

Robert Lazu Kmita

For his Substack, Kmita’s Library, Dr. Kmita offers what I think is one of the most brilliant connections in Tolkien research for some time, in his article “The Fantastic Secret of Tolkien’s Fairy-Tales.” He links Tolkien’s understanding of faerie, fantasy, imagination and subcreation, particularly from “On Fairy-Stories,” to St. Ignatius of Loyola’s great imagination-centered meditations from his Spiritual Exercises. Both Tolkien and St. Ignatius, as Dr. Kmita explains, were attempting to sanctify the imagination, to communicate truth in the way which is most natural to us according to St. Thomas Aquinas, namely through the “phantasms” or sense images of the body from which the intellect abstracts universal truth.

Despite deviating from the contingent facts of the Primary World, and indeed by doing so they celebrate the infinity of God’s own creativity in whose image we are made as subcreators, fantasy stories communicate the same truths as theology and philosophy, and even as the historical and biblical imagery St. Ignatius recommended, since truth ultimately transcends material fact (contrary to scientism and empiricism). Dr. Kmita’s connection reminds me of C.S. Lewis, whose science-fiction trilogy was inspired by his reading a medieval manuscript which described interstellar travel as a kind of spiritual journey. Mother Angelica also recommended internalizing the stories of Scripture by placing oneself in them, both imaginatively and emotionally.

Ultimately, we are mind and body, not mere computers driving organic vehicles or mere animals driven by compulsive urges, and so art can be at once satisfying for the senses (internal and external) and edifying for the intellect and will. When art is not guided by the truth, it can be one of the most corrupting influences on society (hence the wariness Dr. Kmita mentions to St. Ignatius’s method, and Plato’s similar antipathy to art and most forms of music for their potentially harmful effects).

The foremost effect of Tolkien’s fairy-stories is the reorientation of our entire life, generated by utilizing the inner energies of the soul for the purpose of meditating on the imaginary lives of some characters engaged in the intense struggle between good and evil. A prelude to recovering the virtues of the Christian faith, this existential reorientation could be one of the last chances of saving our souls, which have been imprisoned in a world of mechanical and digital artefacts and enveloped in an utterly dark cloud of oblivion. It would seem that Tolkien believed modern men have forgotten the one and only Story—the only eternally true Story—the one dealing with the Fall and Redemption of man by the Redeemer, our Lord Jesus Christ.

JRR Jokien

Now for something lighter: Mr. Jokien, of the inimitable Substack Jokien with Tolkien, presents a Middle-earth version of the classic Abbot and Costello segment, “Who’s on first?”, in his recent article, “We’ve Had First Base, Yes. What About Second Base?” (Has anyone seen Leslie Nielsen’s version, “Who Shot Twice?”) But for this version, Mr. Jokien uses a wordplay which I’m sure would’ve greatly amused Tolkien, who as a good Englishman loved wordplays, puns and other linguistic jokes (like “Baggins,” for example). “Which king? – the Witch-King!”

MERRY: who’s the king of angmar, Pip?

PIPPIN: witch-king

MERRY: …of angmar. that’s what I want to find out. who is the king of angmar?

PIPPIN: I’m telling you. witch-king of angmar

MERRY: I mean the fellow’s name

PIPPIN: witch-king

MERRY: the king of angmar

PIPPIN: witch-king

MERRY: the king who rules in angmar

PIPPIN: witch-king

Chivalry Guild

In another excellent addition to his Substack, The Chivalry Guild Letters, Chivalry Guild asks an important question: what form should loyalty take when those to whom we owe loyalty no longer deserve it? As he wisely observes, this is very applicable to our own time, when practically all governments in the world are atheistic and allow eugenics and genocide in their countries, and when the Church is ruled by shepherds who seem more bent on placating whatever lifestyle is popular today rather than upholding the Gospel of Christ. (Peter Kwasniewski discussed this issue at length in his book, “True Obedience in the Church: A Guide to Discernment in Challenging Times.”)

He uses the example of Éomer, who remained loyal to his king even when Gríma Wormtongue twisted him into an effete tool of Saruman, and risked his life to protect his people against the incursions of Orcs. Another example of such authentic, selfless loyalty in Middle-earth is Faramir, who defied his father Denethor’s command to bring the Ring to him and instead allowed Frodo, Sam and Gollum to pass through Ithilien on their way to Mordor. The answer, as Chivalry Guild explains, isn’t to abandon loyalty altogether but to maintain loyalty in the proper ordo amoris: God, Church, country, family.

Hard cases make bad law, and they don’t disprove general truths. What they do instead is create cynical feedback loops: when we start with the premise that loyalty will get you played, we encourage the self-seeking behavior that confirms the claim. Distrust begets selfishness, and selfishness warrants more distrust. The unworthiness of a former friend, a weak bishop, or a wayward government is no reason to jettison the virtue altogether, even if we have to rethink specific loyalties. Anyone who stayed awake during the last few decades knows how this show ends: our attempt to build a social order that avoids the need for any loyalty (except to our wallets and whims) has been a disaster of loneliness, weakness, dependency, medication, addiction, and more. Your loyalty will help you build something better than this nightmare.

Maddie Dobrowski

For her Substack, Love of Literature, Maddie inquires into the nature of the enigmatic and nonsensical Tom Bombadil, in her recent article, “The Nonsense of Tom Bombadil.” She explains that he “represents,” in a non-allegorical way, one of the virtues of fantasy listed by Tolkien in “On Fairy-Stories,” namely Recovery. By being truly “other,” Tom helps us appreciate God’s Creation, the Primary World, as Other, existing for its own good. God needed nothing and gained nothing from Creation – He created in sheer gratuity, out of love for the good of His artwork.

Tom viewed Creation appropriately, not as something he owned or possessed, and thus could do with as he pleased, contrary to industrialists like Saruman, but as something which had been entrusted to him. He was “the Master” of nature, but as steward, not tyrant. We imitate God’s gratuitous creativity in our own art, most of all in fantasy, where we make something truly new and other for its own sake, not simply as a means to an end. As Maddie says, this makes Tom central to The Lord of the Rings, not just a “useless” sideshow or diversion, but since he is so contrary to the modern mentality (including so-called “environmentalists,” whose love of nature tends to be possessive – “our planet” – rather than God-centered), he tends to be left out of adaptations and disliked by many readers.

If we want to understand Tom Bombadil, we have to accept him on his own terms. Tom is full of nonsense, and that is a good thing. Tolkien wants us to rediscover the world through the eyes of Tom Bombadil. To do this, we have to see the world as “nonsensical.” This does not mean that the world is not logical. It simply means that the true value of the world surpasses our narrow ideas of means and ends. The true character of the world is wonder and delight. Tom invites us into that attitude.

KingSeg0501

A new YouTube channel focused on the saints, especially praying for the canonization of “overlooked” Catholics, recently posted a short with a list of reasons to canonize Tolkien:

Joseph Pearce

In a recent YouTube short for “The Pursuit of Wisdom,” a series produced by Ave Maria University, Dr. Joseph Pearce explains the intertwined relationship between faith and creativity in Tolkien’s works:

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What should Catholics do when someone lets them down?

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Cerith Gardiner – published on 07/16/25
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Disappointed by others? You’re not alone. Here’s how Catholics can respond — with grace, not grudges.
If there’s one thing we can all agree on in 2025, it’s that disappointment seems to be everywhere. Politicians promise and flounder, leaders fall short, influencers lead astray, and friends falter — even family sometimes doesn’t come through when it counts. It can leave us feeling disheartened, frustrated, and wondering: What now?

And for Catholics, that question matters. How are we called to respond when someone lets us down — whether it’s personal, public, or playing out messily on the global stage?

Jesus gets it
First, let’s be clear: Disappointment isn’t just a modern woe. Even Jesus was let down — spectacularly. In His darkest hour in the Garden of Gethsemane, His dearest friends couldn’t even stay awake with Him. Peter, His boldest supporter, denied Him three times. Judas betrayed Him entirely.

If anyone knows the sting of being failed by those closest to Him, it’s Jesus.

But how did He respond? Not with fury or public shaming. Not with a grand, “I told you so.” He responded with love, with forgiveness — and remarkably, He didn’t give up on them.

That’s a pretty clear model for us, though admittedly a tough one to follow.

When the world weighs in
Of course, today’s landscape adds a new twist. Thanks to social media, personal failings and public scandals don’t stay local. They spiral outward, gathering comments, outrage, and division at dizzying speed.

Suddenly, our private disappointments can feel amplified — like we’re all part of some endless tribunal where grace is scarce and judgment is plentiful.

But as St. Paul writes:

“Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.” — Ephesians 4:31
In other words, don’t join the mob — online or offline.

A path forward
When someone lets us down, the Catholic path isn’t to pretend it didn’t hurt. It’s not to excuse harm or shy away from truth. But it is to: Acknowledge the hurt honestly; forgive, even when it costs us something; and remember that we too have let others down — and been shown mercy.

Ultimately, it’s about where we place our hope. As the Psalms state:

“It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humans.” — Psalm 118:8
People will fail us. Institutions will falter. But God is steady — a refuge that never disappoints.

Choosing grace
In a world quick to cancel and slow to forgive, Catholics have a chance to model something countercultural: grace. Quiet, patient, persevering grace.

That doesn’t mean we excuse serious wrongs. But it does mean we hold space for redemption — for others, and for ourselves.

So next time someone lets you down, don’t race to the comment section or shut the door completely. Instead, pause. Pray. And remember that Catholics follow a Savior who didn’t give up on His flawed friends — and doesn’t give up on us either.

Bible quotes to help you cope with life’s disappointments
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Why the feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel is on July 16
Pietro Novelli Our Lady of Carmel and Saints
Public Domain via Wikimedia

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Kathleen N. Hattrup – published on 07/16/25
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And what it has to do with Elijah, Scripture, and being wrapped in a mantle of graces.
The Feast of Mount Carmel is celebrated on July 16 because that is the day (July 16, 1251) that the Blessed Mother gave the brown scapular to St. Simon Stock.

St. Simon Stock had been visiting the Holy Land, and when he returned to England in 1251, he received an apparition of Our Lady in which she said, “Receive, my Beloved Son, this scapular of thy Order; it is the special sign of my favor, which I have obtained for thee and for thy children of Mount Carmel. He who dies clothed with this habit shall be preserved from eternal fire. It is the badge of salvation, a shield in time of danger, and a pledge of special peace and protection.”

Although the wearing of the Brown Scapular is a Carmelite privilege, this privilege has been extended to all Catholics. Any Catholic may wear a Brown Scapular (be sure to have it blessed!).

But did you know that you should also be formally enrolled into the Brown Scapular and that with it comes extraordinary graces? Any priest can enroll you, but more churches offer this officially on or near the Feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel.

It’s a great time to see if a church near you is doing so; or to suggest that they do it. Here is the formula for enrollment.

Wrapped in protection
It’s no wonder a friend of mine smiles and calls the brown scapular “fire insurance.” What an incredible grace the Queen of all Saints provides in her scapular!

If you don’t yet have a scapular, why not purchase one from a convent of Carmelite nuns and therefore support their holy work at the same time? Here is one option, and another.

Why not put on your “to-do” list, or mark on your calendar, to be enrolled in the brown scapular by a priest and if possible join an investiture ceremony. You only need to be enrolled once in a lifetime.

Here’s more details on the graces and answers to questions about enrolling and investiture in the brown scapular.

I am a Third Order Carmelite, and one of the things I love most about wearing the brown scapular is that it is an experience of being wrapped in Our Lady’s mantle. Furthermore, for Carmelites, the scapular is very symbolic. Elijah was known for wearing a cloak, or mantle.

When Elijah heard the whisper of God on Mt. Horeb and recognized the presence of God, he “wrapped his face in his mantle,” (1 Kings 19:12) and when Elijah made Elisha his disciple, he wrapped his cloak around him. Elisha later asked for a double portion of Elijah’s spirit.

When Elijah was carried up to heaven in a chariot, he dropped his mantle down to Elisha who caught it, a sign that Elisha would indeed receive this grace.

When we wear the brown scapular, it is a tangible and visible way to ask for and receive the spirit of Elijah, being ever more zealous for the Lord and witnessing to our faith.

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Queen Beauty of Carmel and Her Children

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Queen Beauty of Carmel
“How fair you are, O Virgin Mary! Your face is resplendent with grace.” — Carmelite Proper

Mary has many titles, each having a special significance and meaning. “Queen Beauty of Carmel” recalls the ancient beauty of Mount Carmel in the Holy Land, the place where the prophet Elijah, zealous for the worship of the one, true, and living God, steadfastly sought the Face of God in silence and in prayer.

The Cave of Elijah on Mount Carmel
Mary, Queen Beauty of Mount Carmel personifies the”enclosed garden” created solely for God and watered by Him, containing all beauty, grace, and virtues. All mankind has been entrusted to her maternal heart; she gathers her children into the garden of Carmel to learn from her the way of perfection. The children of Our Lady of Mount Carmel are drawn by her — to “contemplate God in the human Face of Jesus” and follow in her footsteps which lead to fullness of prayer and communion with her Son. With docility to the Holy Spirit, Mary’s children seek to imitate their incomparable Mother in her pilgrimage of faith, hope in trials, and faithfulness in love, with trust in His mercy and purity of heart which will enable them to see the Father’s Face.

“The Beauty of Carmel has been given to them, they will see the glory of the Lord and the splendor of our God.”– Carmelite Proper

Devotion to the Holy Face, as characterized by Pope St. John Paul II, Pope Benedict, and Pope Francis, is not solely a devotion of reparation, but so much more. It is a means of living out the two greatest commandments given to us by Christ Jesus in the Gospel: to love the Lord, Our God, with all our mind, and all our heart and all our strength, and to love our neighbor as ourself (Mt. 22:40). It is the path of transformation of love into the image of Christ.

Here are a few sainted Discalced Carmelite children of Mary and what they have learned about seeking God’s Face in prayer …

St. Teresa of Jesus: “He is always looking at you; can you not turn the eyes of your soul to look at Him?”

“He will gaze on you with beautiful, compassionate eyes, and will forget His own grief to solace yours, only because you went to comfort Him, and turned to look at Him.”

“Never set aside the Sacred Humanity of Christ…If we can, we should occupy ourselves in looking at Him who is looking at us; keep Him company; talk with Him; humble ourselves before Him; have our delight in Him…the Lord is within us and we should be there with Him.”

St. John of the Cross
St. John of the Cross: “The soul can only be satisfied with God’s Face.” To seek God’s Face is to seek Him in prayer, to look at Him is to take the time to contemplate Him, even in the darkness of pure faith. When we do this, St. John of the Cross tells us, God is doing great things! He shines His Face upon us, to restore by a “gentle touch” His image in our souls.

“O my God, the more gently You touch, the more You are hidden in the purified souls of those who have made themselves aliens on earth, and whom You hide in the secret of Your Face.”

“Courage then, O soul most beautiful! You now know that your Beloved dwells hidden within your own breast. Endeavor therefore to be truly hidden with Him.”

St. Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face: “Your Face is my only wealth./ I ask for nothing more./ Hiding myself in it unceasingly,/ I will resemble You, Jesus/ Leave in me, the Divine Impress/ of Your features filled with sweetness.”

“O Jesus, whose adorable Face ravishes my heart, I implore Thee to fix deep within me Thy Divine Image and to set me on fire with Thy Love, that I may be found worthy to come to the contemplation of Thy glorious Face in Heaven. Amen.”

St. Elizabeth the Trinity: “Nothing shows forth the love which the Heart of God bears for us as does the Eucharist. It means union, consummation, He in us and we in Him. Is not that heaven on earth, heaven in faith, while we await the face to face vision for which we so yearn? Then, when His glory appears, we shall be satisfied when we see Him in His light. Do you not find that it rests the soul to think about that meeting with Him whom we love supremely? Then all else vanishes and we feel that already we are penetrating into the Mystery of God!

“It is Your continual desire to associate yourself with your creatures…How can I better satisfy Your desire than by keeping myself lovingly turned towards You, so that You can reflect Your own image in me, as the sun is reflected through pure crystal?…We will be glorified in the measure in which we will have been conformed to the image of His Divine Son. So, let us contemplate this adored Image, let us remain unceasingly under it’s radiance so that it may imprint itself on us.”

St.Teresa Benedicta of the Cross: “Prayer is looking up into the face of the Eternal. We can do this only when the spirit is awake in it’s innermost depths, freed from all earthly occupations and pleasures that benumb it. being awake in body does not guarantee this consciousness, nor does rest required by nature interfere.”

“Contemplate the Lord who hangs before you on the wood, because he was obedient even to death of the cross. He came into the world not to do his own will but that of the Father. And if you wish to be the spouse of the Crucified, you must renounce completely your own will and have no other aspiration than to do the will of God…The eyes of the Crucified will gaze upon you. They question you and appeal to you…What will your response be? ‘Lord, where shall I go? You alone have the words of life.’ “Ave Crux, spes unica! Hail to the Cross our only hope!

St. Teresa of the Andes: “Are you perhaps afraid to draw near him? Look at him, surrounded by little children. He caresses them, he presses them to his heart. Look at him in the midst of his faithful flock, bearing the faithless lamb on his shoulders. Look at him in the tomb of Lazarus, And listen to what he says of the Magdalene: ‘Much has been forgiven her, because she has loved much.’ What do you discover in these flashes from the Gospel except a heart that is good, gentle, tender, compassionate; in other words, the heart of a God?”

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Mary, Queen Beauty of Carmel, Pray for us!

Flos Carmeli

Flower of Carmel, Tall vine blossom laden, Splendor of heaven, Child-bearing yet maiden. None equals thee.

Mother so tender, Whom no man didst know, On Carmel’s children Thy favors bestow. Star of the Sea.

Hail Gate of Heaven, With glory now crowned, Bring us to safety Where thy Son is found, true joy to see.

meditation of the day

Remembering the Day of Judgment

At the time of the judgment to come, when God is to weigh the secrets of hearts, fire will precede the arrival of the Judge; angels will be sent with trumpets to gather the elect from the four winds of heaven; all those who lie in their tombs will rise through the power of God’s command, and will stand before his judgment seat. Then the things hidden in darkness will be brought to light, and the counsels of hearts will be made manifest, and the scrolls of men’s consciences will be unrolled, and that scroll itself will be opened which is called the Book of Life. Thus, together and in a single flash, all the secrets of all men will be revealed to all with such clear certainty that, before the evidence of Truth testifying in the Person of Christ and corroborated by the testimony of every separate conscience, not a single path will be left open for denial or defense, for excuse or evasion, but every man will then receive according to his deeds….

Finally, when the whole face of the earth has been renewed, when the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, when the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven as a bride adorned, prepared for the marriage of the Lamb, and clad with a double stole, shall be led to the palace where the heavenly court abides…then this holy city shall be united to the heavenly Lamb with a covenant so closely binding that bride and groom will become one spirit…. Then the sweet wedding song shall rise, and throughout Jerusalem the people shall sing: Alleluia!

Saint Bonaventure

Saint Bonaventure († 1274) was a Minister General of the Franciscans. He is a Doctor of the Church. / From The Works of Bonaventure: Cardinal, Seraphic Doctor, and Saint: Vol. I. Mystical Opuscula, José de Vinck, tr. © 2017, CrossReach Publications, Edinburgh, UK. All rights reserved.

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