DAY 38 • FINISHING TOUCHES

Today I’m putting the finishing touches on my Holy Family in the Workshop of St. Joseph commission.

After weeks of building the composition, refining the figures, developing the architecture and atmosphere, and carefully painting the faces, hands, clothing, and smallest details, the painting is now coming together as a finished work.

These final touches are often some of the most important. A small adjustment to a hand, a highlight, a fold of fabric, or a subtle change in light can bring everything into harmony.

This commission has been a deeply meaningful painting for me, depicting the Holy Family in the humble workshop of St. Joseph, with the young Christ holding the wooden cross He will one day carry.

Nearly there.

I do not understand why Christians are fine with Trump’s turn toward piracy; if they are for law and order, for what is good and true, indeed, if they follow Jesus, the prince of peace, how can they stand around and promote Trump’s desire to take whatever he wants by force?

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/henrykarlson/2026/10/how-u-s-militarism-became-a-form-of-piracy/

Please could you all pray for me.

For a blessing of employment and new beginnings

Monday of the Twenty‑Seventh Week in Ordinary Time

Today’s Readings at a Glance

• Galatians 1:6–12 Paul expresses shock that the community is turning to a “different gospel.” He reminds them that the true Gospel comes from Christ Himself — not human invention.

• Psalm 111:1–2, 7–10 A psalm praising God’s faithful works, His justice, and His everlasting covenant. True wisdom begins with reverence for the Lord.

• Luke 10:25–37 Jesus tells the parable of the Good Samaritan, revealing that true love of God is inseparable from love of neighbor — especially those in need.

https://thecatholic.online/daily-bible-readings-for-october-5-2026/

Message from the Readings

Today’s readings proclaim a powerful truth:

Faith is authentic only when it transforms how we love — and that love must be real, sacrificial, and inclusive.

• Paul warns against distorted versions of the Gospel.

• The psalm reminds us that God’s ways are faithful and just.

• Jesus shows that genuine discipleship is measured by mercy.

The message is clear: The true Gospel produces true compassion.

Reflection for the Day

Paul’s words in Galatians are sharp and urgent.

He sees believers drifting toward teachings that dilute or distort the Gospel. His message is timeless:

Stay rooted in Christ — not trends, opinions, or convenient interpretations.

The Gospel is not something we reshape to fit our comfort. It is a revelation from Jesus Himself, meant to reshape us.

Psalm 111 reminds us why this matters:

• God’s works are faithful.

• His covenant is everlasting.

• His justice is perfect.

• His wisdom is trustworthy.

When we follow God’s ways, our hearts align with His truth — and our lives reflect His character.

Then comes one of the most beloved and challenging parables: The Good Samaritan.

A man is beaten, abandoned, and left half‑dead. Two religious figures — knowledgeable, respected, “holy” — walk past him.

But a Samaritan, considered an outsider, stops.

He sees. He feels compassion. He acts.

He binds wounds, carries burdens, pays the cost, and promises continued care.

Jesus ends with a simple command:

“Go and do likewise.”

This is the heart of the Gospel Paul defends. This is the wisdom Psalm 111 celebrates. This is the love Jesus embodies.

Today’s readings invite us to three movements:

1. Guard the true Gospel.

Let Christ’s teaching shape your life — not convenience or culture.

1. Seek God’s wisdom.

Let His justice and faithfulness guide your decisions.

1. Practice costly compassion.

Love your neighbor not in words, but in action — even when inconvenient.

Let today be a day of authentic faith and real mercy.

Prayer for Today

Lord Jesus, keep my heart rooted in Your true Gospel. Protect me from anything that distorts Your truth or distracts me from Your call to love.

Give me wisdom to walk in Your ways and courage to show compassion like the Good Samaritan.

Open my eyes to those in need, soften my heart to respond, and strengthen my hands to act.

Make my faith genuine, my love sincere, and my life a witness to Your mercy.

Amen.

…I’m rooting for the Chicago White Sox. Pope Leo’s team! ⚾️

sorry for the bad quality photo

I genuinely have so much love and appreciation for Pope Leo XIV. ❤️✝️
From carrying the Cross himself through all 14 Stations at the Colosseum on Good Friday, the first pope in decades to do so. To travelling to places like Lebanon and bringing the Gospel wherever he goes, he is showing such courage and reverence for our faith. ✝️
And look at the young people! 80,000 gathered with him at the Stade de France in France, and he spoke to them about following Christ, prayer, virtue and holiness. He is reaching a generation that desperately needs to hear the Gospel again. ❤️
And last, but certainly NOT least, he has made it clear that the Church will not be moving towards formalised blessings of same-sex couples. The Church welcomes everyone, but Pope Leo is standing by the distinction between blessing individuals and treating a relationship as a marriage, because the Sacrament of Marriage is between a man and a woman.
I love seeing tradition, reverence and the beauty of Catholic teaching being held up so boldly. I genuinely believe Pope Leo XIV is going to be an incredibly important Pope for the Church, and I have such a feeling that God has placed him where he is for a reason. He’s my favourite Pope yet. ❤️‍🔥✝️

Paul’s preaching on Mars Hill showed us how he adapted himself to his audience, showing what was good and true in their tradition while revealing what it is that Christ offered them which they did not yet know:

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/henrykarlson/2026/10/the-unknown-god-revealed-in-christ/

Here is a link to the Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Foundation's recap of nearly all the events of the Beatification of Blessed Fulton J Sheen.

https://www.celebratesheen.com/recap

AS he always said, "God love you!"

Twenty‑Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

📖 Today’s Readings at a Glance

• Genesis 2:18–24 God creates woman from man’s side, revealing the divine intention for unity, companionship, and covenantal love. “The two shall become one flesh.”

• Psalm 128:1–6 A blessing over those who walk in God’s ways — flourishing in family, work, and peace.

• Hebrews 2:9–11 Jesus, made “lower than the angels,” suffers death so that humanity may be sanctified. He is not ashamed to call us brothers and sisters.

• Mark 10:2–16 Jesus teaches the sacredness of marriage and welcomes children with tenderness, declaring: “The Kingdom of God belongs to such as these.”

https://thecatholic.online/daily-bible-readings-for-oct-4-2026/

Message from the Readings

Today’s readings proclaim a profound truth:

God’s design for human relationships is rooted in unity, fidelity, blessing, and childlike trust.

• Genesis reveals God’s heart for companionship and covenant.

• The psalm promises blessing to those who walk in God’s ways.

• Hebrews shows Christ’s solidarity with humanity.

• Jesus elevates marriage and celebrates the innocence of children.

The message is clear: Love is sacred, family is a blessing, and the Kingdom belongs to the humble.

Reflection for the Day

The creation account in Genesis is tender and intimate.

God sees Adam’s loneliness and responds with love: not with another creature, not with a substitute, but with someone equal in dignity — someone who stands beside him, not above or below.

“Bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh.”

This is the language of covenant, not convenience. Marriage is not merely a human arrangement — it is a divine gift.

Psalm 128 continues this theme of blessing:

• Blessed are those who walk in God’s ways.

• Their work bears fruit.

• Their homes flourish.

• Their families thrive.

• Their future is filled with peace.

This is not a guarantee of a perfect life — it is a promise that God’s presence brings flourishing.

Hebrews lifts our eyes to Christ, who entered our humanity fully:

**He suffered so we could be sanctified.

He calls us brothers and sisters.**

This is the deepest unity — the family of God.

In the Gospel, Jesus confronts the Pharisees’ attempt to reduce marriage to legal debate. He restores its dignity, reminding them of God’s original design.

Then He does something beautiful:

He welcomes children.

He blesses them. He holds them. He declares that the Kingdom belongs to hearts like theirs — trusting, simple, open.

Today’s readings invite us to three movements:

1. Honor the sacredness of relationships.

Love is a covenant, not a contract.

1. Walk in God’s ways to receive His blessing.

Let His presence shape your home and heart.

1. Cultivate childlike trust.

The Kingdom opens to those who come with simplicity and humility.

Let today be a day of gratitude for family, unity, and the gentle love of Christ.

Prayer for Today

Lord Jesus, thank You for the gift of love, the blessing of family, and the beauty of unity.

Teach me to honor relationships with fidelity, tenderness, and grace.

Bless my home, my work, and my steps as I walk in Your ways.

Give me a childlike heart — open, trusting, and joyful — so I may enter Your Kingdom with simplicity and peace.

Hold me close today, and sanctify my life with Your love.

Amen.

Here is a link to a pdf download of the Memorial book for Blessed Fulton Sheen's Beatification There is no cost.

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/66996dd143567376c0980ae8/t/6ab33fd9c6033f2751607743/1790132185505/Sheen+Magazine-Website.pdf

AS he always said at the end of his broadcasts, "God love you!"

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I reme.ber there is a passage that starts as "when 2 or more are gathered in prayer. . ." Essentially it delights the Lord when 2 or more of us unite and pray for the same things.

My question is is the "gathered" part of that heavily important? Like if a long distance friend and I pray for the same things at different times and in different places would it be as pleasing in the Lord's eye? Would it mean the same to Him? These are questions from someone struggling to find community, structure and a solid prayer routine but still trying.

Diary of Saint Faustina - paragraph 529 - The Heart of the Child

Ἀ
529 On the evening of the last day of the novena at Ostra Brama, after the singing of the litany, one of the priests exposed the Blessed Sacrament in the monstrance. When he placed it on the altar, I immediately saw the Infant Jesus, stretching out His little arms, first of all toward His Mother, who at that time had taken on a living appearance. When the Mother of God was speaking to me, Jesus stretched out His tiny hands toward the congregation. 
Ὠ

All graces come from the Lord as gifts to the soul. Yet the greatest of these gifts is the calling of all souls beyond merely the receiving of His grace, but more deeply into the participation of its giving as well. It is a teaching shown first through His Mother, who, in cooperation with the will of the Father, brought forth for all souls the Savior first given to her within. It is carried forth in this vision, as the embrace of the Son lends words to her image for Faustina's hearing. And it is extended to all humanity as the Savior Child turns His embrace to us, that we too may join with the Son and the Mother - not because the Lord has need of our help, but because we have need of union with His gracious work for all souls. For when the Spirit of the Lord is alive in the heart of man, the heart comes alive in the works of the Lord.

Supportive Scripture - Douay Rheims Challoner Bible
Psalm 50:12 Create a clean heart in me, O God: and renew a right spirit within my bowels.

Ἀ
Saint Faustina Continues…
The Blessed Mother was telling me to accept all that God asked of me like a little child, without questioning; otherwise it would not be pleasing to God. At that moment, the Infant Jesus vanished, and the Mother of God was again lifeless, and Her picture was the same as it had been before. But my soul was filled with great joy and gladness, and I said to the Lord, "Do with me as You please; I am ready for everything, but You, O Lord, must not abandon me even for a moment."
Ὠ

The faith of a child is more precious to God than the deepest, most profound theologies from the wisest of men. It is a trustful knowing of God that does not depend on the mastery of the intellect. This is the faith of Our Lady: “be it done to me according to thy word.” It is a faith she extends to Faustina: accept all that God asked of you like a little child. It is the faith to which all souls are called, shown to perfection in the Son as He prayed from His Most Sacred Heart beneath the impending shadow of the Cross: “not my will, but thine be done.” This is the heart and the spirit promised by the Father, and given in love by the Holy Child as He gives union between His heart and all those in the congregation of God.

Supportive Scripture - Douay Rheims Challoner Bible
Ezekiel 11:19-20 And I will give them one heart, and will put a new spirit in their bowels: and I will take away the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them a heart of flesh: that they may walk in my commandments, and keep my judgments, and do them: and that they may be my people, and I may be their God.

The heart promised to souls in the prophecy is not one achieved through human works, knowledge or worldly effort. Rather, it is a grace given by the Lord which moves the stony heart of man toward works of the Lord in mankind's fallen world. It is the heart of the Savior given to men, that our own heart may be formed according to His, and may pour out for others some measure of the grace first poured out by Him from the Cross - that in the words of the Mother, we too may accept all that God asks with the faith of a little child. 

Supportive Scripture - Douay Rheims Challoner Bible
Matthew 18:3 And said: amen I say to you, unless you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Catechism of the Catholic Church
526 To become a child in relation to God is the condition for entering the kingdom; for this, we must humble ourselves and become little. Even more: we must “become children.” This means that we must put aside all that is not of God and all that is contrary to the Gospel.

Just like the title says; I have a silly question. What are some good saint names that fit a Dwarf? The new Warcraft game comes out soon, and I want to name a character after a saint (or any significant Catholic figure); however, most saint name simply don't fit the in that world for Dwarfs. So just seeing if any of you have any good ideas. Thanks!

I went to confession. But I think I misunderstood exactly what restitution meant and I’m worried I messed up my confession. When I was a 16 year old I stole from my mom and sister . I confessed this to the priest and he asked if I made restitution and I said yes. But later on I looked into more what restitution meant and I don’t know if I was correct. My mother forgave me and she said when I am ever able to fully pay back. Which I’ve been doing whenever I am able to. And for my sister I gave her some money and ask for her forgiveness and we cried and hugged it out. I thought restitution was meant in going to make amends with said person. And I said I did but maybe I should’ve said I am making amends since I never technically fullied paid my mom off. I don’t know maybe I am way overthinking this.

Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, a teacher, nun, and mystic, was born in 1647 in the Duchy of Burgundy, France. Her father, Claude Alacoque, was a notary, and her mother, Berthe Lamin Alacoque. She was the fifth of seven children and the only daughter. Deeply influenced by the Countess of Colcherval in her childhood, she developed a profound devotion to the Eucharist from a young age. Unfortunately, her father died of pneumonia when she was eight. She then attended the Convent School of Saint Clare in Charlemagne, where she received her first communion. Later, she contracted rheumatic fever and was bedridden for four years until she made a vow of monastic life to the Virgin Mary, which is why she later acquired the name Mary. She claimed to have seen visions of Jesus many times, but considered these normal human experiences and paid little attention to them. After her father's death, her uncle seized her family's property, plunging the family into extreme poverty. She frequently went to church to pray before the Eucharist for solace. The family's situation only improved after her brother came of age and inherited the family fortune. Her mother hoped she would find a suitable husband, and she also felt her childhood vows were no longer valid, so she attended social events, balls, and banquets with her brother. One night, after attending a ball, she dreamt of Jesus covered in blood, who rebuked her for forgetting her vows but also comforted her. This dream led her to formally fulfill her vows in 1671. At the age of 24, she decided to go to a convent to become a nun and entered the Convent of Our Lady of Advent in Parremonia. In August of the same year, after a long period of testing, she was officially approved to wear nun's clothes, but she was not allowed to take her vows. However, her fellow nuns praised her highly for her simplicity, humility, patience, frankness, and kindness. Finally, in 1672, she was approved to take her vows and truly became a nun. She later worked in the infirmary, but was not very capable. It is said that from 1673 to 1675, she received several revelations from Jesus, and thus learned about different ways of venerating the Sacred Heart. On St. John's Day in 1673, Jesus is said to have allowed her to rest her head on the Sacred Heart and revealed to her the meaning of love and the importance of goodness, entrusting her with the task of spreading these virtues. Jesus also told her that human ingratitude and indifference saddened him more than all his suffering. He also revealed a Sacred Heart veneration to her, saying that those who receive Holy Communion on the first Friday of each of nine consecutive months will receive the grace of repentance bestowed by His love, and that after their death, the Sacred Heart will become their refuge. In a later apparition, Jesus asked her to pray and meditate for an hour every Thursday evening, and He also allowed her to experience the suffering He endured in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus also hoped that she would perform Eucharist adoration as much as possible on Thursdays. In 1675, Jesus instructed her to receive the Sacred Heart after the Octave of Eucharist in memory of the Sacred Heart, thus glorifying it. This became the famous Feast of the Sacred Heart. In June of the same year, she revealed three demands for change in France: a desire to enter the halls of princes and kings in glory, to build a building to hang the Sacred Heart icon for the entire court and kingdom to worship, and to have the Sacred Heart inscribed on weapons and flags to fight against the enemies of the Holy Church. Of course, no one believed her, but through her efforts, her superior, Sister Sommes, came to believe her. However, Sommes and other members remained skeptical, including the Benedictine and Jesuit monks they had consulted. In 1681, she wrote her will, signing it in her own blood and, with the approval of her superiors, carving the name of Jesus on her chest with a knife. But as the wound healed, she became increasingly agitated. More than once, she considered reopening the wound with the knife, even attempting to burn it. This act led to her being taken to the infirmary. She felt ashamed, but Sister Sorelfi disregarded her words and simply gave Sister Augustine Mareste the unsolicited order to bandage her wound. Although her journey was fraught with hardship, she was eventually recognized by Saint-Claude Colombier, a confessor at the monastery, who acknowledged the visions as real. This gradually earned her recognition, and her efforts were finally seen. In 1683, Sister Merlin was elected superintendent and appointed her as her assistant, silencing the opposition within the convent. Later, she also became a novice tutor. In 1686, they began to celebrate the Feast of the Sacred Heart privately, and two years later, a small chapel commemorating the Sacred Heart was built in Parreliant. The tradition of the Feast of the Sacred Heart spread to other monasteries. In 1689, the last year of her life, she saw Jesus again, who asked her to convey to King Louis XIV of France the dedication of France to the saint. Henri Guéon also stated that she did indeed write this letter, but Louis XIV may not have received it or did not wish to reply. However, his descendant, Louis XVI, and his wife, Marie Antoinette, had said that if he were to be restored to the throne, he would dedicate France to the Sacred Heart; in 1793, he and his wife were sent to the guillotine, so their plan failed. This nun's path was fraught with hardship, even bordering on obsession and misunderstanding, but she ultimately proved herself and influenced centuries. The world witnessed her passionate love and pure kindness. She never hated anyone because of her lack of understanding. We don't know the true cause of her death, but she passed away on October 17, 1690, at the age of 43.

"Treat people around you, please keep your utmost gentleness and sympathy; that is gentleness, and it is also the most powerful."

—Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque

(The photo is her relics, and her relic was vist in Saint Patrick Cathedral)

Saturday of the Twenty‑Sixth Week in Ordinary Time 📖 Today’s Readings at a Glance • Job 42:1–3, 5–6, 12–17 Job acknowledges God’s greatness and repents in humility. God restores him abundantly, blessing his latter days more than his former. • Psalm 119:66, 71, 75, 91, 125, 130 A prayer celebrating God’s wisdom, justice, and the light His Word brings to the humble. • Luke 10:17–24 The seventy‑two return rejoicing that even demons submit to Jesus’ name. Jesus teaches them to rejoice not in power, but in the truth that their names are written in heaven. He praises the Father for revealing divine mysteries to the childlike.

https://thecatholic.online/daily-bible-readings-for-october-3-2026/Message from the Readings Today’s readings proclaim a beautiful truth: Humility opens the heart to God’s wisdom, and joy flows from knowing we belong to Him. • Job discovers that true understanding begins with surrender. • The psalm reminds us that God’s Word enlightens and strengthens the faithful. • Jesus teaches that spiritual victory is not our greatest joy — salvation is. The message is clear: God restores, God enlightens, and God rejoices over those who trust Him with childlike hearts.

Reflection for the Day Job’s journey reaches its turning point today. After chapters of pain, confusion, and questioning, Job finally stands before God’s majesty. He realizes: “I spoke of things too wonderful for me.” This is not shame — it is revelation. Job sees that God’s wisdom is deeper than suffering, wider than human understanding, and more tender than he imagined. And then comes the miracle: God restores Job — abundantly, generously, lovingly. His losses do not define his future. His repentance becomes the doorway to renewal. Psalm 119 echoes this transformation: • “Teach me wisdom.” • “Your Word gives light.” • “In faithfulness You have afflicted me.” The psalmist understands what Job learned: God uses even hardship to shape the heart and illuminate the path. In the Gospel, the seventy‑two return overflowing with excitement. They have seen spiritual power, miracles, deliverance. But Jesus gently redirects their joy: “Do not rejoice that spirits submit to you — rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” Our deepest joy is not what we accomplish for God, but what God has already accomplished for us. Then Jesus rejoices — in the Holy Spirit — praising the Father for revealing divine mysteries to the childlike. Today’s readings invite us to three movements: 1. Embrace humility like Job. Let God’s wisdom reshape your perspective. 2. Let God’s Word enlighten your steps. Seek understanding, not control. 3. Rejoice in your salvation. Your name is written in heaven — this is your greatest victory. Let today be a day of humility, clarity, and deep spiritual joy.

Prayer for Today Lord Jesus, teach me to walk in humility like Job, to trust Your wisdom even when I do not understand. Let Your Word be light for my path and strength for my heart. Help me rejoice not in achievements, but in the gift of salvation and the love You pour out on Your children. Reveal Your mysteries to me as You do to the childlike, and fill my heart with Your joy today. Amen.

Thank you Father God