Discipleship and Personal Finance
If there was ever any temptation for me to just hone in on one of the seven pillars of excellence and run a ministry focused completely on that, the financial pillar would be the one. Catholics often lament about the mass exodus of people who were baptized Catholic running toward one of the many popular non-denominational churches in their area.
I, myself, went through about a four-year-long phase where I was seriously intrigued by such churches, especially Elevation church in Charlotte, N.C. and Transformation church in Tusla, O.K. I have read a number of books by prominent Protestant authors like John Elderidge, Dave Ramsey, and Gary Chapman. I still follow the wisdom and teachings of a number of these people.
A Call for Vulnerability, Part 3
In part one of our three-part series on vulnerability, we covered what exposure looks like in day-to-day life. In part two we discussed how openness is needed to create a lasting connection, especially within romantic relationships. In the final article of this series, we explore what vulnerability looks like through the eyes of Christ.
Learning to love as Jesus loves requires incredible courage. He demonstrated vulnerability at its maximum through His improbable broken heart in the Garden of Gethsemane, his weakened body on the journey to Calvary, and his cruel death on the Cross. Was this supreme act of love weak? On the contrary, it was the bravest demonstration of love that the world has ever known. And we, though broken and bruised by shattered relationships and tired souls, must continue to say yes to the journey onward towards vulnerability. Remembering that when we grow with those closest to us, it brings peace to our hearts, and the most authentic example of vulnerability comes through.
Let us ask ourselves if we are willing to take the risk of being disregarded, rejected, and ridiculed – all for the sake of loving another. Suppose love is worth the risk, as it invariably always is. In that case, we must choose to become vulnerable and allow Jesus to break open our hearts, reveal our wounds, exposing them to the possibility of heartbreak, non-acceptance, and pain but also the chance of embracing and transformation.
Speed of God
Do you think of the speed of sound often?
When approaching a crowded place, all you hear is a murmur of people talking. There are different conversations going on in between the groups of people, but it’s hard to make out the individual conversations from a distance. Once you enter into the midst of the commotion, then you can make out the different conversation happening around you. Unfortunately, sometimes that means you are in a coffee shop and it’s impossible to focus because you are too close to a guy who is into too much detail about his real estate portfolio.
Sound has a way of captivating the mind and producing an experience unlike any other. Our ability to hear these sounds adds to our experience of whatever we are doing and it can completely change the way we remember a moment. This is why people pay more money to sit closer to the court at a basketball game, the stage at a Broadway show, or the main attraction at any other event. Being able to hear the sounds of those playing the game or the transitions that happen at the show. It allows us to enter into the minds of those who are apart of the show.
It’s also a huge reason WHY people want to be at the event. They want to be a part of the crowd, hear the uproar when something magnificent happens, and wait in silence in anticipation for the next move. Imagine the sounds of the Roman Colosseum in its heyday and the crowds of people shouting in sheer excitement to see the gladiator.
A Call for Vulnerability, Part 1 of 3
Have you ever caught yourself in a moment of utter despair, pain, and loss? What did you do to pull through? Often, when we find ourselves going through difficult times in life, we cling and seek resources to help guide us through. What if I told you the answer to overcoming that hardship is diving deeper into what led you to that suffering in the first place?
Come Holy Spirit
“All these devoted themselves with one accord to prayer.” -Acts 1:14
As we complete our Holy Spirit Novena, it is a great time to celebrate this Liturgical day along with exploring what a Novena is and how this ancient form of prayer connects to Pentecost Sunday.
Novenas have enriched my life in so many unique ways. From my very first Novena said many years ago to St. Thérèse of Lisieux to recently completing nine days of nine-hour novenas to St. Expeditus, my love of this traditional prayer has grown exponentially.
We had hoped
St. Louis de Monfort grew up in France with a dad known for having the most “fiery temper in all of Brittany… He was a volcano frequently erupting”
St Louis confessed that his temper was as bad as his father’s. He’s most often remembered as a man with an almost incomparable passion & zeal.
Mainly because of this, and my questionable ability to reign in my own emotions, I have a deep love for this Saint.
I re-read a story this morning about his priestly life that I can’t seem to let go of -
The Study of God
The knowledge of God is the medicine with which the spiritual hospital that is the Catholic Church treats its patients.
The New Evangelization is the result of the current war against faith and reason sweeping the world today. It is a term used to describe the large number of casualties who have been wounded, some fatally, by the relentless attacks of lies and hatred.
As with any medicine, this knowledge is only as effective as the medical professionals who use it.
The Innate Spirituality of Your Career
“Your ordinary contact with God takes place where your fellow men, your yearnings, your work and your affections are. There you have your daily encounter with Christ. It is in the midst of the most material things of the earth that we must sanctify ourselves, serving God and all mankind.” - St. Josemaria Escriva
Getting from here to there
One of the most critical, basic lessons a soldier needs to learn in any basic training is land navigation. What good are the skills of marksmanship, communication, or grenade throwing if you can’t find your way to the enemy?
Every mission has a destination, or an outcome it is seeking to create. Learning how to navigate through the difficult terrain of the mountains of Georgia and the swamps of Florida helped me to understand how to get from point A to point B. These lessons are incredibly valuable as we head into a new year with new goals.
2020 was rough for many of us. The secret though is that 2021 will only be better if YOU make it so. Here’s how you can do that:
How I Navigate Difficult Conversations — And How You Can Too!
The need to have that difficult conversation tends to be pretty heavy and daunting.
We all know the feeling -- it can be an all-consuming experience leading up to it.
Either you’ve offended someone or you’ve been offended.
Maybe there’s some sort of conflict needing to be resolved, or someone has some serious beef for no apparent reason.
The fact that these kinds of conversations weigh on us proves to me just how much value we humans place on communication.
Choose to Hike the Mountain
Isn’t it crazy how different a certain thing can look from a different perspective? Our experience of life is so profoundly based upon not just where we stand, but where we choose to look. As a society, and even as a Church, we have lost our inclination to look for beauty in the world around us. Our planet, our lives, and our reality are all constantly changing. If we don’t start to pay attention, this sweet, short life of ours will just pass us by.
It’s time we become more intentional about the direction of our gaze.
All the advice you’ve been given
You’ve Been Given A Lot of Advice
Everyone wants to give you their two cents - from your academic advisor to your coach to your mom to your great aunt with the 4 cats - everyone is a little too quick to let you know that they know how you feel. They’ve been here before. They were in your shoes once too, but if you do exactly what they did? You’ll be alright.
You’ve been given a lot of advice.
Be The light
Thanksgiving is always a favorite time of year for me. While most are excited about heading home to spend some much-needed time with family and friends, or eating all of the excellent food, the detail that means the most to me is that we get one day where the focus is entirely on one thing - GRATITUDE.
grat·i·tude /ˈɡradəˌt(y)o͞od/ - the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.
How are you doing, really?
“How are you doing?”
This phrase is my knee-jerk greeting when starting to speak with someone. We greet our friends with a “how are you?” so freely and easily in order to connect, catch up, and begin dialogue. It is our culture’s conversation starter. This question often leads to how work, family, spouse, kids, school, the weather are going. Sometimes, the question leads to how the person really is doing and you share in a special, vulnerable, or celebratory connection.
But when was the last time you asked yourself…How am I REALLY doing?
Brand New
Do you ever think back on your past and remember a time in your life when things were going really well—you were achieving your dreams and living on a high—and think, “I wish that was still me.” You remember the rush of emotions and feelings you felt in a previous moment of consolation.
Or maybe it’s the opposite. Maybe you’re running from the past—feeling like an empty shell of the person you used to be before the mistakes, the hurt, the decisions made, or life circumstances. You just want to be able to start over and shake it all off. But it sticks with you.
Be Not Afraid
The week we were leaving, I was scared out of my mind. I tend to get really anxious and worked up, so I went to Adoration to let it all out and pray for protection.
As I was sitting in my parish’s Adoration chapel, I looked up and I saw the words painted behind the monstrance - Be not afraid, follow me. I had seen those words on the wall for years, but on that day it was like they jumped off the wall. I even felt the Lord continue, “Follow me to Poland.”
5 steps to effective evangelization
For two millennia, the Catholic Church has been the missionary church.
The Catholic faith has and will continue to be the only religion whose primary goal is the conversion of souls.
You may be thinking that that is a bold statement.
You’re correct, it is a bold statement.
One that also happens to be true.
Hail Mary, Gentle Mother
"Take a deep breath, really hold it, allow the breath to travel from your nose to the bottom of your chest, Marissa... take a deep breath, MARISSA.. are you breathing?" I think to myself.
Isn't it funny how the most straightforward act can be so challenging to do?
Nathan Crankfield's blog, Mama's boy, on building a relationship with the Blessed Virgin Mary, prompted this reflection.
Mama’s Boy
I’ve never been good at planning surprises for people. However, my mom was in for quite the surprise on Christmas Day in the year 2000. She excitedly opened up the box I had my dad help me wrap for her the night before. I was pretty thrilled to give her this gift. I was only seven-years-old, but we had a “Secret Santa” shop at school where we could buy gifts for our loved ones.
Mom opened the box and there it was. I had given my Lutheran mother a beautiful little image of Mary.
She was perplexed, thankful, and happy. Neither of us knew that this was the beginning of a journey that would lead to both of us converting to the Church and falling deeply in love with the Blessed Virgin Mary.
self love, and all the extras
It is challenging to scroll through Instagram or flip through a magazine in 2020 without continually hearing the phrase self-love. Not saying anything with "loving yourself" is wrong, but in a "Me" based society that puts the sense of self before "we," is it really conducive to promote a world that encourages to love yourself even more?
Loving yourself can mean different things to different people. Some reserve their Sundays for quiet time and meditation, while for others, this “self-love" mentality is used as motivation to buy themselves that extra handbag or indulging on the second scoop of ice cream.
But if we really took a step back and paused, we would ask ourselves, where does "self-love" really come from?