Podcasts about saint pope john paul ii

Read Onlinehile they were eating, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, gave it to them, and said, “Take it; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it. He said to them, "This is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed for many.” Mark 14:22–24 (Year B Gospel)At the holy Mass, as soon as the priest pronounces the words of the consecration, transforming the bread and wine into the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ our Lord, he genuflects, rises, and then says, “The mystery of faith.” What is “the mystery of faith?” Oftentimes, when we say that something is a mystery, we mean that the conclusion is hidden but that there are certain clues to help solve the mystery. And once the mystery is solved, everything is clear and it is no longer a mystery.“The mystery of faith” is much different. Those words are spoken at Mass immediately after the consecration as a way of drawing the faithful into a holy awe and amazement of what just took place. But this mystery can only produce wonder and awe if the reality of what just took place is understood through the gift of faith. Faith is knowing and believing without perceiving the reality before us with our five senses or through logical deduction. In other words, faith produces true knowledge of a spiritual reality that can only be known, understood and believed through spiritual insight. Therefore, if we attend the Mass and have been gifted with the knowledge of faith, then as soon as the consecration of the bread and wine takes place, we will cry out interiorly, “My Lord and my God!” We will know that God the Son is present before us in a veiled way. Our eyes do not perceive, nor do any of our senses reveal to us the great reality before us. We cannot rationally deduce what just took place. Instead, we come to know and believe that the Son of God, the Savior of the World, is now present before us in His fullness, under the veil of mere bread and wine.In addition to the divine presence of our Lord and our God, the entire Mystery of our Redemption is made present. Saint Pope John Paul II tells us that in this moment there is a “oneness in time” that links the Paschal Mystery, that is, the Life, Death and Resurrection of Jesus, to every moment that the Eucharist is celebrated and made present through the words of consecration. And that unity between each Mass and the Paschal Mystery “leads us to profound amazement and gratitude” (Ecclesia de Eucharistia, #5). Do you sense and experience this profound amazement and gratitude each time you attend the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass? Do you realize as you attend the Mass and as the words of consecration are spoken that the entire Mystery of your redemption is made present before you, hidden from your eyes but visible to your soul by faith? Do you understand that it is God the Second Person of the Most Holy Trinity Who descends to us to dwell with us in that moment of time in this glorious Sacrament?Reflect, today, upon the hidden but real Mystery of Faith. Allow yourself to be drawn into a wonder and awe at what you are privileged to attend. Let your faith in the Most Holy Eucharist grow by being open to a deepening of this gift of faith through spiritual insight and belief. Behold this great Gift of the Eucharist with the eyes of faith and you will be drawn into the wonder and awe that God wants to bestow upon you. My ever-glorious Eucharistic Lord, I do believe that You are here, made present in our world under the form of bread and wine, every time the Holy Mass is celebrated. Fill me with a deeper faith in this Holy Gift, dear Lord, so that I may be drawn into wonder and awe every time I witness this holy Consecration. Jesus, I trust in You.  Image: Philippe de Champaigne, Public domain, via Wikimedia CommonsSource of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Read OnlineToday is the Feast of all Feasts! It is the Feast of Mercy! This Feast originated from the private revelations given to Sr. Maria Faustina Kowolska, a Polish cloistered nun who died in 1938. In the year 2000, she was canonized by Saint Pope John Paul II, and the Feast of Mercy was instituted as a universal Feast of the Church. To better understand this Feast, let's read some of the private revelations Jesus gave to Saint Faustina:“Whoever approaches the Fountain of Life on this day will be granted complete forgiveness of sins and punishment” (Diary #300).“This Feast emerged from the very depths of My mercy, and it is confirmed in the vast depths of my tender mercies” (Diary #420).“On one occasion, I heard these words: My daughter, tell the whole world about My Inconceivable mercy. I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and shelter for all souls, and especially for poor sinners. On that day the very depths of My tender mercy are open. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the fount of My mercy. The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment. On that day all the divine floodgates through which grace flows are opened. Let no soul fear to draw near to Me, even though its sins be as scarlet. My mercy is so great that no mind, be it of man or of angel, will be able to fathom it throughout all eternity. Everything that exists has come forth from the very depths of My most tender mercy. Every soul in its relation to Me will contemplate My love and mercy throughout eternity. The Feast of Mercy emerged from My very depths of tenderness. It is My desire that it be solemnly celebrated on the first Sunday after Easter. Mankind will not have peace until it turns to the Fount of My Mercy” (Diary #699).“Yes, the first Sunday after Easter is the Feast of Mercy, but there must also be deeds of mercy, which are to arise out of love for Me. You are to show mercy to our neighbors always and everywhere. You must not shrink from this or try to absolve yourself from it” (Diary #742).“Souls perish in spite of My bitter Passion. I am giving them the last hope of salvation; that is, the Feast of My Mercy. If they will not adore My mercy, they will perish for all eternity” (Diary #965).“I want to grant complete pardon to the souls that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion on the Feast of My mercy” (Diary #1109).In addition to the above quotes about the celebration of the Feast of Mercy, below are some quotes revealing more about The Divine Mercy itself:“Mankind will not have peace until it turns with trust to My Mercy” (Diary #300).“My Heart overflows with great mercy for souls, and especially for poor sinners. If only they could understand that I am the best of Fathers to them and that it is for them that the Blood and Water flowed from My Heart as from a fount overflowing with mercy” (Diary #367).“I desire trust from My creatures. Encourage souls to place great trust in My fathomless mercy. Let the weak, sinful soul have no fear to approach Me, for even if it had more sins than there are grains of sand in the world, all would be drowned in the unmeasurable depths of My mercy” (Diary #1059).“Tell all people, My daughter, that I am Love and Mercy itself. When a soul approaches Me with trust, I fill it with such an abundance of graces that it cannot contain them within itself, but radiates them to other souls” (Diary #1074).“My daughter, write that the greater the misery of a soul, the greater its right to My mercy; urge all souls to trust in the unfathomable abyss of My mercy, because I want to save them all” (Diary #1182).Reflect, today, upon God's infinite and unfathomable Mercy. The Divine Mercy is especially for those who struggle with sin. Jesus says, “The greater the sinner, the greater the right he has to My mercy” (Diary #723). The Divine Mercy is the very tenderness and compassion of God. Run to Him, trust in Him, open your soul to Him and allow Him to pour forth an ocean of Mercy on this holy day.Most Merciful Lord, I desire to receive the superabundance of Your Mercy poured forth from Heaven today. Please open my heart so that I will turn to You in my need. I am a sinner, dear Lord, but for that reason I am in most need of You in my life. Help me to trust in You with all my might. Jesus, I do trust in You!Eugeniusz Kazimirowski, Public domain, via Wikimedia CommonsSource of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Today is the feast of Saint Pope John Paul II. Father Kubicki shares some words from this great saint about the need humanity has to be connected with Christ. How do we connect with Christ? Father explains in this reflection.

Remembering Saint Pope John 23rd: The Good Pope on His Feast Day Saint Pope John 23rd was born in the Northern Italy town of Sotto il Monte in 1881. Upon becoming a priest in 1904, he was made the secretary to a bishop. A few years later he was appointed to go to Rome. He was appointed to be a Cardinal in 1953, and was elected Pope in 1958 at the age 76. His birth name was Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, but he chose the name John upon accepting the chair of Pope. He was known for many things, including commissioning / beginning the Vatican II Council. He was also known as The Good Pope, and was canonized alongside Saint Pope John Paul II. Upon becoming the Pope, his first statement was the Vatican must modernize the Church. Hear more on the day of Pope Saint Pope John 23rd's Feast Day. Listen to: Remembering Saint Pope John 23rd: The Good Pope on His Feast Day --------------------------------- Image: Official Photo: Pope Saint John 23rd Bishop of Rome: 1958-1963 --------------------------------- Gospel Reading: Luke: 11: 15-26 First Reading: GAL: 3: 7-14

In this week's episode, we model what it looks like to pray Lectio Divina, which is a divine reading of Sacred Scripture. We begin by sharing the different ways we spend time in Sacred Scripture, how it has impacted our lives, and model how to pray Lectio Divina. We invite you to follow along and join us as we spend time reading and reflecting on John 15:5-8. Sacred Scripture is the voice of God and what He has said is alive forever and relevant to our lives in all situations. We encourage you to journey with us as we deepen our relationship with God through His word. Heather's One Thing - Franciscan University's Austria Study Abroad Program and Guadalupe Pilgrimage Sister Miriam's One Thing - FOCUS film Radiating Joy: The Michelle Duppong Story (trailer here) Michelle's One Thing -  Praying for anyone affected by hurricane Helene Catholic Charities    Other Resources Mentioned:  Steps for Lectio Divina The Art and Practice of Lectio Divina    Announcement(s): We are so excited to announce that we will have new Abiding Together shirts in our shop next week! Follow us on social media for all the latest updates!   Journal Questions: When do I encounter the Scriptures throughout my day? Do I incorporate Lectio Divina into my prayer routine? What obstacles prevent me from entering into Lectio Divina? How can I begin to incorporate Lectio Divina more frequently into my prayer?   Discussion Questions: How have you been nourished by the Word of God? Have you struggled to hear the voice of God in the past? When do you hear the voice of God in this season of your life? What stuck out to you during the Lectio Divina within the episode?   Quote to Ponder:  “It is especially necessary that listening to the word of God should become a life-giving encounter, in the ancient and ever valid tradition of lectio divina, which draws from the biblical text the living Word which questions, directs and shapes our lives.” (Saint Pope John Paul II, Novo Millennio Ineunte, 39)   Scripture for Lectio:  “I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit; because apart from me you can do nothing. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire and burned. If you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and become my disciples.” (John 15:5-8)   Sponsor - Emmaus Road Publishing: Introducing the Saints Around the World for Little Ones Collection from Emmaus Road Publishing! Building on the success of the original Saints Around the World, this six-volume series is designed for young readers aged 0-8 and presents the lives of 90 saints in an engaging and accessible way. You can purchase each volume individually or save 15% by ordering the complete set. Written by Meg Hunter Kilmer and illustrated by Lindsey Sanders, this collection features saints from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and walks of life, showing children that holiness is possible for everyone. Each book focuses on a different group of saints: “Young Saints,” “Adventurous Saints,” “Royal and Warrior Saints,” “Talented Saints,” and more. The vibrant illustrations and simple, captivating storytelling are perfect for family reading time. The books are printed on sturdy, tear-resistant paper, making them ideal for young readers.  Each saint's story includes a summary of their teachings and a map showing where they lived, helping children learn geography while deepening their faith. Whether you choose to buy a single book or the whole set, Saints Around the World for Little Ones will be a cherished addition to your family's library. Order today at stpaulcenter.com/saints and use promo code Abide10 to take an additional 10% off your purchase!   Timestamps: 00:00 - Emmaus Road Publishing 01:09 - Intro 02:01 - Welcome 07:23 - Sacred Scripture in Our Lives 12:45 - How to Pray Lectio Divina 15:37 - First Reading 17:59 - Second Reading 19:23 - Third Reading 21:01 - Reflections 28:23 - One Things 32:06 - Announcement

Letters to Women is back with a brand new season: Letters to Wives. This season is inspired by the following line from Saint Pope John Paul II's ‘Letter to Women': Thank you, women who are wives! You irrevocably join your future to that of your husbands, in a relationship of mutual giving, at the service of love and life. This upcoming season is going to feature conversations on topics like sex and intimacy (and we're getting into the nitty gritty on this), communication in marriage, what marriage looks like in different seasons, how to strengthen your marriage in hard seasons, when marriage therapy could be helpful for your marriage and how to find a therapist you trust, how to go on a marriage retreat, and I'm sitting down with the owner of a model-free lingerie company to talk about intimacy. And more!! I'm so excited to welcome brand new of the show on this journey to discover what the feminine genius is and how the Lord is asking us to live it out in our day to day reality as wives.  Resources for you: Subscribe to Naptime Notes and get early, ad free access to all the Letters to Women episodes for just $5 a month

While Ellie Hiller was raised in a beautiful home of faith and memorized Scripture, she wondered if her faith should be so much in her head. Something was missing. Until God converted her heart. When Ellie's husband became Catholic and they lost their shared non-denominational practice, Ellie struggled. She armored herself in defensiveness and even listened to Matt Fradd's podcast “Pints with Aquinas,” just so she could gain intellectual ammunition to defend her non-denominational viewpoints.  Only God changed her. Ellie was touched by Saint Pope John Paul II's Theology of the Body, the Sacraments and physicality of the Catholic faith. Listen to this joy-filled podcast and allow God to help you move out of your head and into your heart, too.

While they were eating, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, gave it to them, and said, “Take it; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it. He said to them, "This is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed for many.” Mark 14:22–24 (Year B Gospel)At the holy Mass, as soon as the priest pronounces the words of the consecration, transforming the bread and wine into the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ our Lord, he genuflects, rises, and then says, “The mystery of faith.” What is “the mystery of faith?” Oftentimes, when we say that something is a mystery, we mean that the conclusion is hidden but that there are certain clues to help solve the mystery. And once the mystery is solved, everything is clear and it is no longer a mystery.“The mystery of faith” is much different. Those words are spoken at Mass immediately after the consecration as a way of drawing the faithful into a holy awe and amazement of what just took place. But this mystery can only produce wonder and awe if the reality of what just took place is understood through the gift of faith. Faith is knowing and believing without perceiving the reality before us with our five senses or through logical deduction. In other words, faith produces true knowledge of a spiritual reality that can only be known, understood and believed through spiritual insight. Therefore, if we attend the Mass and have been gifted with the knowledge of faith, then as soon as the consecration of the bread and wine takes place, we will cry out interiorly, “My Lord and my God!” We will know that God the Son is present before us in a veiled way. Our eyes do not perceive, nor do any of our senses reveal to us the great reality before us. We cannot rationally deduce what just took place. Instead, we come to know and believe that the Son of God, the Savior of the World, is now present before us in His fullness, under the veil of mere bread and wine.In addition to the divine presence of our Lord and our God, the entire Mystery of our Redemption is made present. Saint Pope John Paul II tells us that in this moment there is a “oneness in time” that links the Paschal Mystery, that is, the Life, Death and Resurrection of Jesus, to every moment that the Eucharist is celebrated and made present through the words of consecration. And that unity between each Mass and the Paschal Mystery “leads us to profound amazement and gratitude” (Ecclesia de Eucharistia, #5). Do you sense and experience this profound amazement and gratitude each time you attend the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass? Do you realize as you attend the Mass and as the words of consecration are spoken that the entire Mystery of your redemption is made present before you, hidden from your eyes but visible to your soul by faith? Do you understand that it is God the Second Person of the Most Holy Trinity Who descends to us to dwell with us in that moment of time in this glorious Sacrament?Reflect, today, upon the hidden but real Mystery of Faith. Allow yourself to be drawn into a wonder and awe at what you are privileged to attend. Let your faith in the Most Holy Eucharist grow by being open to a deepening of this gift of faith through spiritual insight and belief. Behold this great Gift of the Eucharist with the eyes of faith and you will be drawn into the wonder and awe that God wants to bestow upon you.My ever-glorious Eucharistic Lord, I do believe that You are here, made present in our world under the form of bread and wine, every time the Holy Mass is celebrated. Fill me with a deeper faith in this Holy Gift, dear Lord, so that I may be drawn into wonder and awe every time I witness this holy Consecration. Jesus, I trust in You.Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.Featured image above: The Last Supper By Philippe de Champaigne, via Wikimedia Commons

Letters to Women returns February 13th with a season dedicated to motherhood. Plus, Chloe shares her favorite part of Saint Pope John Paul II's original Letter to Women and reveals a few other surprises.  Stay in touch and learn about upcoming episodes by signing up for the email list at naptimenotes.substack.com

Yesterday was the 32nd annual world day of the sick, and day instituted by Saint Pope John Paul II. Father Kubicki shares some insights from Pope Franics about this day and the inherent meaning and value of human life.

     Morning Light visits with our "Passionately Pro-Life" advocate, Emily Naugle, about celebrities who were almost aborted.  One of which was none other that Saint Pope John Paul II! It was recently announced that JPII's parents are now being considered for canonization.

Gene Gomulka is a retired Navy Chaplain, author, screenwriter, and Roman Catholic priest. His books include The Survival Guide for Married Military Couples, and Core Values of “Honor, Courage, and Commitment” adopted by the Marine Corp & later the Navy. Saint Pope John Paul II named him Monsignor with Prelate of Honor. He suffered reprisals in 2004 for exposing clerical abuse in the Roman Catholic Church seminaries. He also works pro bono as a sex abuse victims' advocate and investigator who helps those who were harassed and/or abused by Catholic bishops, priests, and seminarians, or whose abuse was covered up by Church leaders. www.Gomulka.net , www.gofundme.com/f/save-our-seminarians-fund

Saint Pope John Paul II was a contemporary hero and gifted teacher. We remember some funny stories and recall his focus on the meaning of man as made in the image and likeness of God. This insight could be the solution to the problems we are facing in the present crisis. Listen to learn more! Podcast by Fr. Luke Mary Fletcher, CFR.

Gene Gomulka is a retired Navy Chaplain, author, screenwriter, and Roman Catholic priest. His books include The Survival Guide for Married Military Couples, and Core Values of “Honor, Courage, and Commitment” adopted by the Marine Corp & later the Navy. Saint Pope John Paul II named him Monsignor with Prelate of Honor. He suffered reprisals in 2004 for exposing clerical abuse in the Roman Catholic Church seminaries. . www.Gomulka.net , www.gofundme.com/f/save-our-seminarians-fund

Today is the feast of twin brothers, Saints Cosmas and Damian. They are patron saints of physicians; Father reads some words from Saint Pope John Paul II asking for help to all health care workers. Let us remember those who work in the medical field in our prayer.

Adam and Fr David Skillman start a new series on the teachings on Saint Pope John Paul II.  Today's topic is Redemptor Hominis.  For more information about Covenant Network, please visit our website at www.OurCatholicRadio.org.

Drinking, partying, and pressure to explore homosexuality are common within women's sports, but this does not need to be the norm, according to former college athlete Samantha Kelley. While the "transgender" issue is a new challenge in women's sports, it has long been "statistically proven that college athletes party more [and] drink more than the normal student population," says Kelley, the founder and president of FIERCE Athlete. Athletes are "under so much pressure and under so much scrutiny, and even more so today with social media," she added.An athlete herself, including playing Division I soccer at the University of Connecticut, Kelley founded FIERCE Athlete seven years ago after growing frustrated with the culture of women's sports and realizing that her experience in college was not unique."We were hazed," Kelley said of her freshman year of playing college soccer. "A third of our team was 'lesbian' and would try to convince you that you were, too."FIERCE Athlete serves as a resource to female athletes at all levels, providing them with training, mentorship, and resources to navigate the challenges of sport and grow in an understanding of femininity. FIERCE stands for Femininity, Identity, Embodiment, Receptivity, Catholicism, and Encounter—the core pillars of the organization.Because coaches play a vital role in setting the culture of any sports team, Kelley launched FIERCE Coach with Tracy Guerrette earlier this year to empower coaches with the knowledge they need to lead female athletes. Kelley and Guerrette join the “Problematic Women” podcast to share the challenges they faced as athletes and to explain how their organization is seeking to change the culture of women's sports. They also discuss why culture's definition of femininity is not God's definition and how they have incorporated the teachings of (now Saint) Pope John Paul II's Theology of the Body into their work as a tool to empower women to feel confident in their physical body. Check out the FIERCE Athlete website here: https://fierceathlete.org/Listen to the FIERCE Athlete Podcast here: https://fierceathlete.org/podcastOrder a copy of "BE FIERCE: The Athlete's Guide to Growing Physically, Mentally, and Spiritually" here: https://www.amazon.com/BE-FIERCE-Athletes-Physically-Spiritually/dp/B0C1J2Q9TX.Enjoy the show! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Sarah Swafford first started talking to college students about friendship, it was 2007. They were trying to figure out cellphones, dorm life, emotions, and virtue. Sixteen years later, Sarah is still talking about friendship—and it hasn't gotten any easier with the rise of social media, smart phones, and a world pandemic. Sarah fist came on the podcast way back in 2018 to talk about emotions and virtue. She's back for another conversation about virtue, a brand new book called Gift and Grit that she just wrote with her husband, Swaff, and a deep dive into the topic of friendship, especially as you navigate changing seasons of life. Whether you're blessed with an incredible community of friends around you and you want to grow deeper in relationship with them, or you're starting out in a new season of life and you're hungry for authentic friendship, sister, this letter is for you.  Topics we talked about in this episode: Sarah's story as a Catholic woman The story behind Gift and Grit: How Heroic Virtue Can Change Your Life and Relationships and what it was like for Sarah to write a book with her husband What Środowisko is, what it looked like in the life of Saint Pope John Paul II, and what it means for us as Catholic women today Why finding meaning in life isn't enough and why we need grit, too How to navigate friendship in changing seasons and how to be truly vulnerable with women you trust Sarah's three ingredients for healthy and holy friendship How Sarah lives out the feminine genius in her daily life Resources you should check out after listening to this episode: Pick up a copy of Gift and Grit Connect with Sarah on Instagram and Facebook Visit The Swafford's website and get a signed copy of Gift and Grit Lisa Cotter's new book on femininity, Reveal the Gift—and my conversation with her about it on the Letters to Women podcast! Sarah and I's conversation on emotional virtue from back in 2018 on the Letters to Women podcast Join us in bringing the newest Langr home with our adoption fundraiser Check out the sponsor for today's episode, Sacred Heart Tea, and use the code LETTERS to get 10% off your purchase at checkout Pick up a copy of the Letters to Women book (and use the code LETTERS at checkout to receive 15% off your purchase!) Check out my monthly newsletter, Naptime Notes Subscribe and Review Letters to Women in iTunes Are you subscribed to Letters to Women? If not, you should subscribe today! You don't want to miss any of the upcoming episodes. Click here to subscribe in iTunes. “Throw out whatever image that you think you need to have of yourself. Really ask the Lord to see you and be seen by you. Let the Lord love you. Let him define all the beauty that is within you.”—Sarah Swafford

Gene Gomulka is a retired Navy Chaplain, author, screenwriter, and Roman Catholic priest. His books include The Survival Guide for Married Military Couples, and Core Values of “Honor, Courage, and Commitment” adopted by the Marine Corp & later the Navy. Saint Pope John Paul II named him Monsignor with Prelate of Honor. He suffered reprisals in 2004 for exposing clerical abuse in the Roman Catholic Church seminaries, now in our military. www.Gomulka.net , www.gofundme.com/f/save-our-seminarians-fund

Father James Kubicki shares some words from Saint Pope John Paul II about the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Jesus' Heart is revealed in gentleness and Lowliness as stated in the bible. Let us turn to Jesus' Heart to learn these profound traits.

     Anita Moore and Josh Andrus from the Idaho Lay Dominicans join Morning Light to wrap up The Gospel of Life by Saint Pope John Paul II…and then start a new series talking about devotions. Today, talking about the Five First Saturdays devotion to Our Blessed Mother.  

In this episode, The Mentors Radio host Tom Loarie talks with Peggy Stanton, ABC-TV's first woman news correspondent in Washington D.C., about her pioneering journey into journalism at a time when very few women were in the field. What attracted her to a career in journalism? Peggy shares some highlights of her experiences as an ABC news correspondent in D.C. and more. She also talks about principles of good journalism. Her storied world experiences include politicians and celebrities such as Lyndon Johnson, Fidel Castro, Julia Andrews, Saint Pope John Paul II, Salvador Dali and more. Focused on career, she did not anticipate marrying a Congressman along the way, whose career segued to international business. You'll also learn about Peggy's very unexpected life-changing experience in a former communist bloc country, in a small town called Medjugorje which she visited with her daughter, at her daughter's urging. A compelling writer, Stanton recently penned a book (From the White House to the White Cross) about her career and experiences that many have praised as "you can't put it down!" (see below) Listen to The Mentors Radio show live in San Francisco or via live-streaming on iHeart Radio worldwide… You can also listen on ANY podcast platform, including Apple podcast, iTunes, Spotify, TuneIN, Stitcher, Google Play and all the others. Sign up for the podcast here. SHOW NOTES: PEGGY STANTON: BIO: https://avemariaradio.net/hosts/peggy-stanton/ ARTICLES: Pointer of Interest: From being in the pew to being of the pew — Grosse Pointe News BOOKS: From the White House to the White Cross: Confessions of a TV News Correspondent, by Peggy Stanton Order of Malta Minutes with the Catechism: A Pocket Guide to the Catechism, by Peggy Stanton, with foreword by Cardinal Timothy Dolan The Daniel Dilemma: The Moral Man in the Public Arena, by Peggy Stanton, 1979

     Mike Turner & Pamila Jaszkowiak from the Idaho Lay Dominicans drop by Morning Light to continue covering chapter 4 of The Gospel of Life by Saint Pope John Paul II.

While they were eating, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, gave it to them, and said, “Take it; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it. He said to them, "This is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed for many.” Mark 14:22–24 (Year B Gospel)At the holy Mass, as soon as the priest pronounces the words of the consecration, transforming the bread and wine into the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ our Lord, he genuflects, rises, and then says, “The mystery of faith.” What is “the mystery of faith?” Oftentimes, when we say that something is a mystery, we mean that the conclusion is hidden but that there are certain clues to help solve the mystery. And once the mystery is solved, everything is clear and it is no longer a mystery.“The mystery of faith” is much different. Those words are spoken at Mass immediately after the consecration as a way of drawing the faithful into a holy awe and amazement of what just took place. But this mystery can only produce wonder and awe if the reality of what just took place is understood through the gift of faith. Faith is knowing and believing without perceiving the reality before us with our five senses or through logical deduction. In other words, faith produces true knowledge of a spiritual reality that can only be known, understood and believed through spiritual insight. Therefore, if we attend the Mass and have been gifted with the knowledge of faith, then as soon as the consecration of the bread and wine takes place, we will cry out interiorly, “My Lord and my God!” We will know that God the Son is present before us in a veiled way. Our eyes do not perceive, nor do any of our senses reveal to us the great reality before us. We cannot rationally deduce what just took place. Instead, we come to know and believe that the Son of God, the Savior of the World, is now present before us in His fullness, under the veil of mere bread and wine.In addition to the divine presence of our Lord and our God, the entire Mystery of our Redemption is made present. Saint Pope John Paul II tells us that in this moment there is a “oneness in time” that links the Paschal Mystery, that is, the Life, Death and Resurrection of Jesus, to every moment that the Eucharist is celebrated and made present through the words of consecration. And that unity between each Mass and the Paschal Mystery “leads us to profound amazement and gratitude” (Ecclesia de Eucharistia, #5). Do you sense and experience this profound amazement and gratitude each time you attend the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass? Do you realize as you attend the Mass and as the words of consecration are spoken that the entire Mystery of your redemption is made present before you, hidden from your eyes but visible to your soul by faith? Do you understand that it is God the Second Person of the Most Holy Trinity Who descends to us to dwell with us in that moment of time in this glorious Sacrament?Reflect, today, upon the hidden but real Mystery of Faith. Allow yourself to be drawn into a wonder and awe at what you are privileged to attend. Let your faith in the Most Holy Eucharist grow by being open to a deepening of this gift of faith through spiritual insight and belief. Behold this great Gift of the Eucharist with the eyes of faith and you will be drawn into the wonder and awe that God wants to bestow upon you.My ever-glorious Eucharistic Lord, I do believe that You are here, made present in our world under the form of bread and wine, every time the Holy Mass is celebrated. Fill me with a deeper faith in this Holy Gift, dear Lord, so that I may be drawn into wonder and awe every time I witness this holy Consecration. Jesus, I trust in You.Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2023 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Gene Gomulka is a retired Navy Chaplain, author, screenwriter, and Roman Catholic priest. His books include The Survival Guide for Married Military Couples, and Core Values of “Honor, Courage, and Commitment” adopted by the Marine Corp & later the Navy. Saint Pope John Paul II named him Monsignor with Prelate of Honor. He suffered reprisals in 2004 for exposing clerical abuse in the Roman Catholic Church seminaries, now in our military. www.Gomulka.net , www.gofundme.com/f/save-our-seminarians-fund

Today Father talks about Saint Pancras, an orphan who was taken in by his uncle. Saint Pancras was beheaded at the age of 14 for his Christian faith. Father Kubicki shares some words from Saint Pope John Paul II about the treasure of the youth.

There is a strong tradition that the first person who Jesus appeared to after his resurrection was Mary his mother. Father Kubicki reads some words from Saint Pope John Paul II who reflects on this pious tradition.

Saint Faustina reports in her Diary what Jesus told her about Divine Mercy Sunday: “My daughter, tell the whole world about My inconceivable mercy. I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and shelter for all souls, and especially for poor sinners. On that day the very depths of My tender mercy are open. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the fount of My mercy. The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment. On that day are open all the divine floodgates through which graces flow” (Diary #699).That day is today! It is the Feast of Divine Mercy! Today's feast is among the newer feasts in our Church. Though Jesus' desire that this feast be celebrated on the eighth day of Easter was spoken to Sister Maria Faustina Kowolska back in 1931, it was not solemnly instituted until the year 2000. On April 30 of that year, Saint Pope John Paul II canonized Saint Faustina and inaugurated the Feast of Divine Mercy as a universal feast within the Church. Because this Feast is so recent within the Church, we can be certain that we still have much to learn about the message of this Solemnity as well as the numerous messages about God's mercy revealed in Saint Faustina's Diary.Among the many messages contained within her Diary, Jesus revealed to us that this Sunday, the eighth and final day of the Octave of Easter, is a day like none other. Though grace and mercy are continuously poured out from Heaven upon us, Jesus is very clear that today is unique. Today, “a whole ocean of graces” is poured forth upon souls who approach the font of His mercy. Sit with that image for a time. “A whole ocean of graces.” What does that mean?Symbolically speaking, a whole ocean is meant to depict the infinite. Try to imagine what it would be like to have the entire ocean poured upon you—it's beyond comprehension! Thus, God is saying that the infinity of grace is given today. The question for us all to ponder is this: How receptive am I to those infinite graces?By analogy, imagine that your life was like a thimble, and an ocean of water was poured upon you. As a thimble, you could not contain all that was given. Therefore, we should realize that God wants to stretch our capacity to receive His mercy more abundantly by widening our capacity for mercy. What if your soul were like a large pond? Still, the waters of the ocean could not be contained within that pond. What is it that is capable of receiving an entire ocean of mercy? Only an ocean can contain an ocean. For that reason, God desires to first prepare our souls to receive an infinity of mercy by transforming us into vessels of infinite capacity.Saint Teresa of Ávila, in her spiritual classic, “Interior Castles,” teaches us that the soul is, indeed, capable of infinite capacity for the simple fact that God dwells within. The soul is like an interior castle with many interlinked dwelling places through which we must pass so as to arrive at the central chamber. She teaches that the goal of the spiritual life is to travel through these various dwelling places to the center of our souls where the infinite God dwells so that we can be present to Him there. Therefore, we must understand that our souls are indeed capable of receiving the infinite waters of mercy, because God created us with this ability when He chose to live within us. The key to being able to fully receive this fullness of mercy is to seek out the infinite God, dwelling within. How is this done?The heart of the path laid out in the Diary of Saint Faustina is as follows: Go to Confession and receive Holy Communion so as to obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment. However, as many of the great spiritual writers explain, such as Saint Teresa of Ávila, there are many levels we must pass on our spiritual journey so as to be able to encounter God in His fullness. This, of course, includes encountering God's mercy given to us in Holy Communion and Confession. Those who receive these Sacraments while dwelling only in the first dwelling places, for example, will never benefit from them to the extent that those who dwell in the seventh and central mansion where the King dwells in fullness. Thus, mercy is given in its fullness but unless we make the transforming journey to God through conversion and purification of our souls, we will never be able to receive the ocean of graces God bestows.Reflect, today, upon this ocean being poured forth upon you. How much of this mercy are you able to receive right now in your life? As you humbly admit your limited openness to God's grace, know that God patiently waits for you, dwelling in His fullness deep within you, waiting for you to make the journey to Him. Commit yourself to this journey by prayer, fasting, penance, the reading of Scripture, the celebration of the Sacraments and spiritual reading. There is an ocean of the fullness of life waiting for you. Dive in and allow His mercy to deepen your capacity to receive Him most fully.My Lord, You are The Divine Mercy, the source of all grace and the Bestower of this grace in superabundance. I thank You for the infinity of Your generosity and pray that my soul will be more fully disposed to receive You. Please stretch the capacity of my soul through my ongoing journey of purification and conversion so that I will receive all that You wish to bestow. Jesus, I trust in You. Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2023 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

All of us suffer and all suffering matters. At times we may feel that our suffering is not significant compared to what others might be enduring, but the pain caused by all forms of suffering is real. Whether our suffering is internal (mind/soul) or external (body), we can use that suffering. Saint Pope John Paul II endured many forms of suffering throughout his life and gave us an example of how to transform suffering.

Tomorrow is known as the World Day of Consecrated Life, instituted by Saint Pope John Paul II in 1997. Father Kubicki reads some words from Pope Benedict about why we have a day celebrating consecrated life. Remember the religious in your prayers.

Our very special guest this week is Dr. Marie Meaney, a philosopher, academic - and a wife who knows well the isolation and suffering of infertility. She joins Ann and Cassandra to discuss her book, "When Expecting Doesn't Happen: Turning Infertility into a Journey of Hope." Dr. Meaney speaks with the eloquent and thoughtful words of a highly experienced and respected academic but with such sincerity and tenderness it'll feel as if she's speaking just to you. Please don't miss out! Resources: When Expecting Doesn't Happen: Turning Infertility into a Journey of Hope by: Dr. Marie Meany https://stpaulcenter.com/product/when-expecting-doesnt-happen-turning-infertility-into-a-journey-of-hope/ Saint Pope John Paul II's Apostolic Letter titled, 'Salvifici Doloris: On the Christian Meaning of Human Suffering' https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/apost_letters/1984/documents/hf_jp-ii_apl_11021984_salvifici-doloris.html

Gene Gomulka is a retired Navy Chaplain, author, screenwriter, and Roman Catholic priest. His books include The Survival Guide for Married Military Couples, and Core Values of “Honor, Courage, and Commitment” adopted by the Marine Corp & later the Navy. Saint Pope John Paul II named him Monsignor with Prelate of Honor. He suffered reprisals in 2004 for exposing clerical abuse in the Roman Catholic Church seminaries. The fight is not just in the Catholic Church but now is in our military. www.Gomulka.net , www.gofundme.com/f/save-our-seminarians-fund

Culture Tuesday - 2022.11.01 - Therese Withers My background is in a mix of design and ministry. I studied illustration at art school and worked as a freelancer over the years. I also worked for years with Youth 2000 (volunteering many many hours- overseeing workshops, content and some of the latter initiatives within it, regarding creativity and design); I also worked at Worth Abbey as a forerunner, where we lived as a team on site at the monasteries boarding school and created programmes and sessions for the students and monks to engage in personal encounters with Jesus. I also spent years working with children that had been expelled across north London- which was a very big calling and passion of mine. With regards to the shop: I started a free resources blog during lockdown for activities based on the Sunday liturgy, after my sister was looking for things for her 4 children. Around 4000 people viewed and downloaded these each week and it put me in touch with the needs of the domestic church and the need to encourage and equip parents in their responsibilities of faith formation. As this grew, new commissions grew alongside it and I started First Saturday shop, which was inspired by Saint Pope John Paul II's “respond to the problems in the world with your gifts” and the biblical themes of light, especially “let there be light” and “do not hide your light” which I hope the designs can help people do through this evangelism. Parishes have often remarked that the greeting cards are a tool for their mission to evangelise and I have received lots of feedback from individuals that have been able to give a Christian message for the first time to someone non-Christian or have the artwork present in their mixed faith home (for the first time). I was raised with the stories of the saints and I take such strength and encouragement from my heavenly friends who intercede for me. I have 2 baby daughters and choosing their names was a real witness of how the saints choose us too- it was a discernment and often surprising what names came; it helped me to envisage a saintly family drawn together from our personal patrons. So I wanted a picture of this little family unit and wanted to share it with others. The saints are alive and rooting for us! My favourite saint is Saint John Paul II. He instilled in me from childhood that the desire for greatness that we have is not a fantasy, but found in Jesus who will take us on the greatest adventure. He was a living witness of Gods constant message to ‘be not afraid' and to ‘step out onto the waters'. The calling to be the saints of the new millenium did not die with him! Photos of saints remind us of our inherent calling for greatness and for good. They remind us to stand back up, to journey on and to never fall into the lie that we are alone and we are not called. They remind us of their closeness. St Paul said about the great cloud of witnesses and in the book In Sinu Jesu, Jesus says to the priest he is appearing to that there has been saints interceding for his intentions for years before he even knew to ask for them. He also said that “[a saint] sees you as his spiritual son” and this reminds me that it is a LIVING and dynamic relationship: they choose us too! We cannot be like coals taken out of the fire and growing weaker in our flame just because we are not surrounded by supporting heat: we are called to live in community and esp at such a time when our earthly communities have been shaken (through covid etc) we have to seek strength and support in our heavenly ones. They are real and ready and waiting!

Father Ed Broom, OMV, serves as Associate Pastor at St. Peter Chanel Church in Hawaiian Gardens, California. He is a member of the Religious Order, Oblates of the Virgin Mary, and was ordained by Saint John Paul II in St Peter's Basilica on May 25, 1986. Fr. Ed is a Retreat Master and teaches Catholic […] The post SAINT POPE JOHN PAUL II appeared first on Fr. Ed Broom, OMV.

October 22: Saint John Paul II, Pope1920–2005Optional Memorial; Liturgical Color: WhitePatron Saint of World Youth DayFully prepared, possessing every skill, a pope for the ages makes maximum impactThirty-three years after the dark cloud of communism had settled over Eastern Europe, on a crisp autumn night, heavy bells across Poland began to sway and toll in their high towers. Their clangs peeled down the valleys, thundered through the town squares, and reverberated off every city street. Men and women spilled like water into the streets. Songs. Candles. Prayers. Flowers. Tears. Flags. Embraces. Champagne. Could it be true? A son of Poland had been elected Pope! The impossible had become possible! In the town of Wadowice, Father Edward Zacher was paralyzed by emotion. He could not summon a single word for the faithful who crammed the church in thanksgiving. Late that night, he slowly opened the sacramental register of the parish. He leafed through the yellowed pages back to May 1920. Carolus Joseph Wojtyła. Father Zacher had taught him catechism as a boy. The register duly noted, in Latin, Karol's dates of Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Priestly and Episcopal Ordination, and consecration as Cardinal. In a margin at the bottom of the page, the old priest's hand trembled as he made a new entry: “Die 16 X 1978 in Summum Pontificem electus et sibi nomen Ioannem Paulum II imposuit.”Pope Saint John Paul II was a titan. He was as prepared as any man before him to be pope. He was all things—a highly educated European intellectual, a philosophy professor with two Doctorates, a mystic of intense spirituality, a working bishop of a large and dynamic Archdiocese behind the iron curtain, a Cardinal whose counsel was valued by the Pope, an active contributor at the Second Vatican Council, a polyglot, and a world traveler. Adding to this embarrassment of riches, he was an athlete and outdoorsman, had palpable charisma, an open personality, a manly presence, vast circles of lay friends, a resonant voice, and he was just 58 years old when elected! Never had a conclave of Cardinals made a bolder, wiser choice. That John Paul II was the first Slavic pope, and the first non-Italian in centuries, was also interesting and became more significant as his papacy unfolded. The times and the man were a match. He was simply the perfect man for the hour and his long papacy disappointed in almost nothing.The catalogue of accomplishments of John Paul II, both before and after his papal election, is long. He was a tornado of activity and displayed a physical stamina which might have buried a man half his age. He wrote profoundly on every subject: Saint Mary, the Trinity, the Church' social teachings, suffering, Christ, work, moral theology, philosophy, and on and on. Every subject found ample space to grow in his capacious mind. His personal narrative was also compelling. He had personally experienced the effects of the twentieth century's twin horrors, Nazism and Communism, both efforts to create a perfect society without regard for God or man's dignity. He knew what it was to be personally degraded, to come close to death, to go into hiding. He had seen his entire nation brought to its knees in humiliation. He understood, at the deepest level, what the Church meant to the world.The papacy of our Saint built on the international Petrine ministry first initiated, in small steps, by Pope Saint Paul VI. John Paul II made this universal ministry an enduring part of every pope's profile. He said Mass on the altar of the world, where humanity itself was his congregation. He had the piety of a humble Mexican peasant and the sophistication of an erudite German professor. No one, and no type, was a stranger to him. An assassin's bullet almost killed him on May 13, 1981, but he survived, barely. The physical effects of his injuries, and other illnesses, laid bare his sufferings for all to see. On the night of April 2, 2005, this giant, this father to the world, this Moses to the Slavs, died as tens of thousands gathered in prayerful vigil outside his window in Saint Peter's Square. His funeral Mass was timeless and supernatural in a manner felt by all, but difficult to capture in words. He was canonized in 2014 and is buried in a side nave of Saint Peter's Basilica.Saint Pope John Paul II, you laid your superabundant gifts on God's altar as a teen, and God used them to the fullest extent until your death. Help all Christians to put their talents at God's service to help lead others to Christ and to His Church.

As we honor Our Lady of the Rosary today, it's a good opportunity to reflect upon this powerful prayer.  The best way to reflect upon the power of the Rosary is to turn to the saints.  Below you will find a number of sayings from the saints of God regarding the Rosary.  Reflect upon them and let them speak to your heart.  “Never will anyone who says his Rosary every day be led astray. This is a statement that I would gladly sign with my blood.” - Saint Louis de Montfort. “Of all prayers the rosary is the most beautiful and the richest in graces…love the Rosary and recite it every day with devotion.” - Saint Pius X. “How beautiful is the family that recites the Rosary every evening.” - Saint Pope John Paul II. “The Rosary is my favorite prayer. A marvelous prayer! Marvelous in its simplicity and its depth.” - Saint Pope John Paul II. “The Rosary is a priceless treasure inspired by God.” - Saint Louis de Montfort. “There is no surer means of calling down God's blessings upon the family… than the daily recitation of the Rosary.” - Pope Pius XII. “The Rosary is the most excellent form of prayer and the most efficacious means of attaining eternal life. It is the remedy for all our evils, the root of all our blessings. There is no more excellent way of praying.” - Saint Pope Leo XIII. “Give me an army saying the Rosary and I will conquer the world.” - Blessed Pope Pius IX. “If you desire peace in your hearts, in your homes, and in your country, assemble each evening to recite the Rosary. Let not even one day pass without saying it, no matter how burdened you may be with many cares and labors.” - Pope Pius XI. “Our Lady has never refused me a grace through the recitation of the rosary.” - Saint Padre Pio. “The greatest method of praying is to pray the Rosary.” - Saint Francis de Sales. “One day, through the Rosary and the Scapular, Our Lady will save the world.” - Saint Dominic.Lord, may I understand the power of this precious gift, the Holy Rosary.  Give me the grace of making this part of my daily prayer.  Jesus, I trust in You.Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2022 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Gene Gomulka is a retired Navy Chaplain, author, screenwriter, and Roman Catholic priest. His books include The Survival Guide for Married Military Couples, and Core Values of “Honor, Courage, and Commitment” adopted by the Marine Corp & later the Navy. Saint Pope John Paul II named him Monsignor with Prelate of Honor. He suffered reprisals in 2004 for exposing clerical abuse in the Roman Catholic Church seminaries. . www.Gomulka.net , www.gofundme.com/f/save-our-seminarians-fund

Saint Pope John Paul II gave 129 powerful lectures during his Wednesday audiences that formed the Theology of the Body - an analysis on a multiude of important issues related to human sexuality. Our very own Michael Gormley will not be giving 129 lectures, but his four TOB talks on August 1st through 4th are sure to still be insightful! Mike and Nate sit down for this episode of Beyond the Bulletin to talk about the importance of TOB, how our society has been misguided in our focus on sexuality, and hear a sneak preview of what topics and issues will be on the table when Mike hosts the upcoming Theology of the Body talk series for high schoolers and their families August 1st through 4th from 6:30 to 8:30pm in the youth room!

July 23: Saint Bridget of Sweden, Religious1303–1373Optional Memorial; Liturgical Color: WhitePatron Saint of Europe, Sweden, and widowsA royal widow's visions awe the massesUpon entering the baroque Basilica of Saint John Lateran in Rome, on the first pillar to the right, is a fragment of a medieval fresco by the master Giotto. It is incongruous with the style of the rest of the often restored Basilica. The fresco has been preserved, partial but unchanged, because of its historical importance. It depicts Pope Boniface VIII proclaiming the first Jubilee Year in 1300. That Jubilee, and its indulgences, brought so many pilgrims to Rome that the original intention to celebrate a Jubilee every one hundred years was reduced to every fifty years. 1350, then, saw the second great Jubilee. Ironically, the Pope was living in Avignon at the time. For political reasons, he was unable to visit the eternal city during the very Jubilee he had called. Among the throngs of pilgrims who did swamp Rome in 1350, however, was today's saint. Saint Bridget made the grueling journey from far away Sweden. Unlike a typical pilgrim, however, she did not return home after earning her indulgence. Rome became her new home and the platform that made her, and her writings, famous. Bridget only returned to her birthplace twenty-three years later, when her daughter Catherine, also a canonized saint, carried her mother's remains triumphantly back to Sweden. They rest today in a secular museum which, before the Reformation, had been the first monastery Bridget founded.The details of the first half of the life of Saint Bridget of Sweden evoke a place long lost to history—Catholic Scandinavia. For hundreds of years, the true faith thrived in these lands and incubated great saints such as Bridget. She was married at the age of thirteen and lived happily with her husband for twenty-eight years, bearing eight children. They were a pious couple, even completing the famous pilgrimage to the Shrine of Santiago de Compostela in Spain. But her husband died while Bridget was only halfway through her life's journey. Bridget then spent three years in mourning in a Cistercian monastery. During this period, the spiritual visions she had experienced throughout her life increased in number and vivacity.After a particularly powerful vision in 1346, she founded the monastery that would eventually be her burial place. But it wasn't built to house an existing order. Responding to the words of Jesus, Bridget wanted to reform monastic life by founding a new congregation, the Order of the Most Holy Savior, or the Bridgettines. The Rule for the new Order was revealed to her throughout numerous and detailed visions. The Order was based on the Rule of Saint Benedict and was approved by the Pope only near the end of Bridget's life. The Bridgettine Order spread throughout Europe and is found in numerous countries today, due largely to its founder's incredible spiritual visions.Saint Bridget, like Saint Catherine of Siena, labored to convince the popes to return to Rome from Avignon. She invoked the Lord's opinions about the papal exile as He expressed them in her visions. One letter she wrote to the pope was so strongly worded that her envoy refused to read it when he was in the Holy Father's presence. An Italian woman Bridget had become friends with during the Jubilee of 1350 donated a large palace in central Rome to Bridget. Saint Bridget and her sisters established their Roman foundation in that centrally located palace, and within its walls Saint Bridget died. A Bridgettine convent occupies the very same building today and preserves the founder's rooms, as well as a relic of Bridget and her saintly daughter.Saint Bridget was canonized eighteen years after her death, in 1391, due to her Christian virtue, her deep and sincere piety, her life of strict poverty and assistance to the poor, her devotion to the Virgin Mary, and her many pilgrimages to the shrines of the saints. She was a saint who loved saints. But she became famous for other reasons—mainly because of her intense, highly detailed, and provocative spiritual revelations. The revelations were written down in both Swedish and Latin, translated into multiple languages, and then diffused throughout Europe. Christ's arresting words on death and judgment, heaven and hell, and right and wrong sparked the imaginations of all who read Saint Bridget's writings. Saint Pope John Paul II named Saint Bridget a co-patron of Europe in 1999.Saint Bridget, may your example of poverty, devotion, and prayer be an example to all who seek to live a life in Christ, and may your writings fire our imaginations to burn ever hotter and brighter with love of God.

So how exactly do you return to the faith of a child? How can you get over these textual difficulties? How do you even make sense of your “rebellion” against your childhood faith, when it may not seem like a rebellion at all, but rather an awakening to truth? Asking questions can be the very thing that drives you away from faith, as reason alone seems to call for finding truth elsewhere. You have been lied to, and now the time has come to correct it. The authority over you has been revealed to be a fraud, just to keep you in your place. Do you know what this is? Do you recognize where you have heard this before? This is the temptation and the fall of man. The serpent tells Eve this exact message, persuading her that God is hiding the truth in order to keep humans lower and lesser. The snake says, “God knows well that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened and you will be like gods, who know good and evil.” (Gn 3:4-5)I've said this many times, but if you had told me back in college that in my forties I would be quoting Genesis and telling others about how the serpent talking to Eve makes total sense, I probably would have jumped off a bridge. I'm not even exaggerating. Ok, maybe a little. But I was in full-blown Thomas Paine mode, and teetering on Richard Dawkins' atheism. Any book I picked up regarding Genesis would have been to argue against it or mock it as fairy tales, because I was completely convinced that evil portrayed as a talking snake was only a scare tactic for those in authority wanting to keep control over people. But then life happened. In those days of life, I came to realize that there are falls that we must pass through. Every person who has ever lived must pass through the fall, or falls. If you don't think you've encountered the fall, you either haven't reached it, or you may need to hike longer yet. The third option is that you have had the gift of faith, like a child, from the beginning and never lost it. Those are the most fortunate people, but the rest of us must reach the fall. The fall is the oldest trick in the book, the oldest temptation, which is exactly why it's in the beginning, right after the creation stories. Adam and Eve are you and me. They are these naive childlike humans who reach the age of reason and start to ask questions about the world. The experience of Eve describes my own thoughts and feelings once I reached middle-school age. No longer content with the answers I was given, I started wondering about the narrative and rules that had been handed to me, and once I started down that path, the fall happened. I didn't eat a literal fruit, but asking questions and getting unsatisfactory answers I veered into doubt, thinking much like Thomas the Apostle and Thomas Paine the revolutionary. The lack of logical explanations increased my doubt, shaking the foundation, and coupling that doubt with the weight of hypocritical adult behavior that I could observe, the rock teetered toward tumbling down the hill. The last nudge came simply from my own desire to push the rock over the edge. The flow of the fall goes like this: There is something I want. I know I shouldn't do it, as I've been told not to or advised not to. The idea occurs to me that the rules don't apply, that I see others breaking the rule, and that the rules are really only for “bad” people. If I really want to do it, I'll find someone to do it with me, or research for some book that tells me it's ok to do. But really, if I see others doing it and not being struck by lightning then it must be fine; others have already jumped the fence and the bull has not gored them to death. Then the temptation comes more alive. Why am I prohibited from this thing? What's the big secret? I am coaxed into moving the desire outside of my head and into action. With nervousness, the threshold is crossed. The fall is complete. Now I have knowledge. The knowledge of those who were already doing it suddenly belongs to me. The musical Into the Woods has a song by Little Red Riding Hood called “I Know Things Now” that dives right into this fall. The lyrics contain all the good stuff from Eden. She rejects motherly advice as she falls for the wolf's seductive invitation. After being swallowed by the wolf she realizes that mother was right, and then needs someone to save her from the darkness.Mother said, "Straight ahead," Not to delay or be misled. I should have heeded Her advice... But he seemed so nice!He seemed so nice! The wolf and serpent in the Garden of Eden seem to have something in common. Almost like these are parallel tales instructing us with an allegory here. Little Red Riding Hood and Eve could probably go to coffee together and hash this out for several hours. “Wait,” says Eve, “did you say a talking wolf? That's so weird! I ran into a talking snake.” Little Red Riding Hood replies, “In the woods?” Eve says, “No, a garden.” Anyone overhearing the conversation would assume they are baked or tripping, as the two of them would be in total unison once they got into the details. Back to the song from the musical, Little Red Riding Hood continues:I really got scared, well - excited and scared - but he drew me close and he swallowed me down, down a dark slimy path, where lie secrets that I never want to know, and when everything familiar seemed to disappear forever.Oh, Little Red, I don't think the sacred writer of Genesis could have said it better. Paradise lost, innocence swallowed up. She took the plunge and the fun wore off. In the fairy tale, her mother tells her to run nice and straight to grandmother's but the wolf distracts her, and uses the same tricks that the serpent in the garden uses, and those are the four D's: Deceit, diversion, division, and lastly despair. The wolf distracts her, showing her all the lovely flowers of the woods, and Little Red thinks that perhaps granny would like a bouquet. The wolf suggests that she pick some flowers in order to deceive her about his real aim, which is to eat her. So Little Red is diverted from her path and suddenly divided from her mother's instructions, she is acting against the one that loves her, thinking the kindly wolf means well. A few hours later she is betrayed, swallowed up, and in a dark and hopeless place - despair. (The musical Into the Woods has a lot of searching for fulfillment, as characters fall into despair over their unfulfilled desires…I could talk about it all day because fairy tales and fables tell us more about ourselves than we would ever suspect, just like the book of Genesis). Little Red Riding Hood finally comes to knowledge, and not just the knowledge of the fall, but knowledge of the solution. She knows that someone must set her free. In this case it's the huntsman, who slices open the wolf and sets the girl and grandmother both free. So we wait in the dark until someone sets us free, and we're brought into the light, and we're back at the start.What a great line, and the writer of it is not a Christian. This is where these “seeds of the word” are all over the culture, even in the most secular places like Disney films. What is happening in this fairy tale? She falls, she despairs, she is saved by someone who undoes the mistake. He slays the wolf, and from her darkness she is “reborn” into the light of the world. I mean, she is literally reborn, cut from the wolf by C-section, and then she is “back at the start.” What is the start? She is once again a child. She has returned to childhood. Does any of this sound familiar? She has fallen and is reborn into the light, saved by a savior, and once again a child. In fairy tales, we are close to touching scripture stories and don't even know it, but this is why fairy tales and fables never die. Little Red goes through the fall and restoration rather quickly, while we may linger long in the belly of the wolf. This is because once the falling sequence begins, it becomes comfortable, the action can quicken, because the authority, now exposed as a fraud, holds no sway. If we believe our mistaken path is good, we will follow it for a long time. Unfortunately, the act that you believed would “open your eyes” to knowledge and make you into a god, can never deliver because it was based on a lie to begin with. But we will tell ourselves there is always a next action, a further step, something a bit more extreme or different, that may be the key to seeing the fullness of life, where we will unlock the god level. The quote of Thomas Paine saying, “My own mind is my own church,” is simply his self-deception carried to its logical conclusion. He has elevated his own thoughts, temptations, and desires to be sacred and godlike. To call your head a church is to proclaim yourself a god. There's no other way to interpret that statement. Even though I always mention how shocking Jesus' declaration of his divinity is, that calling himself God is incredible, in reality billions of us do this daily, just in our own minds. Thomas Paine is a terrific author to read because he celebrates his fall so openly that it's like a dissection of doubt, splayed out for us to review. I like writers who do this, because they show what the mind is like without the gift of faith. Never forget, that faith is a gift, one that is given to us, but we must ask for it, and Thomas Paine lacked the gift and I suspect he didn't ask for it, because he thought it was for suckers and fools, just as I did before I came up against difficulties that could not be overcome without help outside of myself. Maybe he never felt boxed in, trapped, or in the darkness like Little Red Riding Hood, Eve, and me. Whatever the case, for someone like Paine, or other writers who clung to an open rebellion against God, such as Charles Bukowski or Christopher Hitchens or Karl Marx, I suspect that power, fame, and recognition had something to do with it, and the root of all that is pride. The secret that you learn once you turn is this: the thing that took you into the darkness, is how you will be purified. I'd really like to claim that idea as my own, but St. Bernard (not the dog) said it, and if you go to recovery meetings this is only a revelation to newcomers, as those who have passed through the bottom come to realize that without their vice they would never have reached bottom and been reborn to become free of the vice. The great contradiction for us follows the path that Dante took in the Inferno, in arguably the greatest writing of all time, where midway through his life's journey he found himself lost in the dark, and the only way to get to heaven was to pass through hell, and of course once he gets to the bottom of hell, seeing all the vices and sins human beings can commit, he emerges onto the mountain of Purgatory. Yes, he has to go down in order to go up. The trick of the serpent and wolf is that their false promises lead you to believe that sin will make you level-up to be like god, but sin actually takes you down, in a spiral, that slowly circles around. You can get stuck in that spiral for a long time thinking that the rock or crack you cling to is where you want to end up. Some stay there forever. But life has a way of pushing you down that spiral once you begin circling the drain, and ultimately you need to let go and pass through the drain, through the darkness, or you can never get back to the light. This temptation in the garden that Eve faces is the moment before we depart from our childhood faith. Modern literary people would call this a “coming of age” story or “loss of innocence.” The moment in the Gospel of Luke where twelve year old Jesus is in the temple ‘asking questions' seems included for a specific purpose. There are no other childhood stories of his life. So while I laser in on the fact that Jesus was “asking questions” in the temple as a signal of his coming of age, of the moment where many of us would take the first fall, the rest of the chapter in Luke tells us something important, as Jesus doesn't take the fall (as I did). When his parents saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.” And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?” But they did not understand what he said to them. He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart. And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and favor before God and man. (Lk 2:48-52)The worried mother, Mary, reminds Jesus of the parental authority over him. In the response there is a whiff of rebellion in pre-teen Jesus. He instructs his mother about his purpose, about who he is, about who his real father is, but the critical turn back to obedience is made before he overrides his parents' authority. The temptation of a normal person to rebel is strong; imagine being God, with infinite power, and having to obey a human. However, having already selected Mary to be the mother of God, he relents and obeys, and doing so, Jesus shows us how to avoid the pitfall of the fall of man. He keeps his childlike faith intact by listening and asking questions. When his mother gives him instruction, he obeys. He shows us how to live. There's so much more to go into here, but let's stick to the fall, that root sin of pride and the rejection of authority. As for us regular humans, we want to disobey, so we do. We toss out authority and faith, sometimes at the same time, or sometimes gradually. Even if we don't fully throw out faith, we only keep it nearby for when a lifebuoy is needed, because to live with the open faith of a child in a teen or adult world would make us seem like a freak. Consider how a high school senior would be received if he came to school excited about Santa Claus. He'd be treated like a moron, like Dostoyevsky's Prince Myshkin in the The Idiot. When I first rejected God, I had this notion of God as a myth like Santa Claus or Zeus. The problem here is that this is an immature understanding of what Jews and Christians mean by “God.” If my concept of God was so small that I could compare the creator of the universe to a man that brings gifts and lives in the world that he created, then I had no concept or understanding of the God that is being itself. The reason God says his name is “I AM” in Exodus is because there is no name for him, he is beyond our labels, but we need a word so we say God. To protect ourselves, even if we still believe, we have to keep it hidden. After everyone else has stopped believing, we would hate to seem like a gullible fool, so we dust the small concept of God under a rug, thinking it will go away. One of the most surefire nudges toward the death of faith is when one of your closest friends, someone you trust, or an older person you admire either expresses their own doubts or makes fun of your gullibility. I can think of several people that pointed out how gullible I was, not about faith, but about other ideas or notions. Once you have the wound of feeling like a gullible fool, you need to find a fig leaf to cover that. Cynicism is a giant fig leaf that can cover entire bodies - it's like a frond more than a leaf. More people hide behind cynicism today than just about anything else because the cynic doesn't trust and doesn't hope. Wonder and enchantment have left the building. The cynic sees the conspiracy and ulterior motive in everything, because once bitten they are twice shy. The idealist who is exposed as gullible or foolish can retreat rapidly into cynicism as a defense move. The cynic appears bold but the fool who admits his faith and takes on insults for trusting in God has far more courage. Why? Because he is exposed. Openness to God means exposure and vulnerability, while cynicism is easy and effortless. The difference between the two can be seen in any classroom in America, where the student that raises his hand to ask a question is exposed and vulnerable to the back row cynics who mock the question and he who asked. But the cynic is the one riddled with fear, which is why the fig leaf is needed. The cynic is a visitor who will enter your life on a “speak and destroy” mission, like a heat seeking missile, pretty much like a serpent in the garden or wolf in granny's bed. The person may not intend to be the catalyst for your fall, but they will provoke you toward the rejection of authority, God, and all things sacred. The abandonment of the childlike faith is nearly unavoidable, but this fall can be the greatest blessing of your life if you do eventually return, if you get up again. Rising from this fall may take five years, twenty years, or you may be on your death bed before you can overcome it, like the good thief on the cross next to Jesus, or the many people who call for Last Rites after having fallen away from their faith. Overcoming the fall takes time. We don't go through this fall like Eve or Little Red Riding Hood in just a few pages. But once you fall, you may have to fall all the way down. Jesus tells the Parable of the Two Sons, which I think applies to the return to faith. A dad has two sons. Dad tells the first one, “Get to work,” and the first son replies, “Up yours, Dad!” and doesn't move, but then later he feels bad about it and goes out to the field to do the work. (In case you didn't notice, I'm paraphrasing the dialogue here.) Dad then approaches the second son and says, “Get to work.” The second son says, “Yes, sir, right away, Dad, you betcha, I was just about to go do just that,” and then he doesn't move at all and sits on his butt and doesn't feel bad about lying to his father. What's the message? The first son will be chosen. The second one is just trying to look good, just saying the right words, and talk is cheap. To Jesus, talk is always cheap because he knows your heart. Jesus actually tells the Apostles and Pharisees that the prostitutes and tax collectors will find heaven before those who say all the right things in the temple. Wait. What? The reason why the worst sinners find their way to Jesus is because their fall is so far and they hit the ground so hard. Wham! Drunks and addicts know this. They come to realize that they have rejected God because they feel his absence. God doesn't provide the safety net, he lets them hit in order to jolt them back to life. The people who go wild in their fall, their coming of age, who throw out God completely during their age of reason, who choose their pride of life over God, these are the ones that become brutally aware of what has been lost. How do I know this? Because I lived it. As I said, the sin you like the most, will start the fire that purifies you. By falling I became aware, and addicts worldwide tell this tale. Addiction is a way to fall, and recovery is the rebirth, the return. Many are the ways to the path of addiction: drugs, alcohol, sex, success (or vicarious success through your children), gambling, lying, co-dependence, stealing, setting fires, inhalants, nicotine, gaming, shopping, cutting yourself, gaming, pornography, tanning, coffee, work, fitness, social media. Any addiction can get you there. You can fall to the bottom and hit the ground hard through any of these channels. If you have an experience that mirrors the Parable of the Prodigal Son, the story of returning to home is powerful. For those who think of Santa Claus as the same as God, I have never met anyone who hits bottom and wakes up to realize that it all started when they rejected the jolly old elf. No, the comparison of Santa to God is for immature atheists, not for serious doubters. The awakening begins when you are cut out of the belly of the wolf by a creator and savior called God, big 'G', not by a fat mythological character. But in order to be set free, you must give up, surrender, to give back authority to the loving embrace of God. And many people refuse to do that, claiming that they cannot, or are not ready. My point in all of this is that in order to return to the faith of a child, you have to have abandoned the childlike faith in the first place, otherwise you would never have left that state. The faith of a child is what you see when the child sings and doesn't care who is listening, or dances in springtime puddles. It's having loud conversation in quiet waiting rooms, or running around outside naked without awareness that it's illegal. The faith of a child means to be exposed and vulnerable and free, and to believe that Goldilocks really did eat the bears' porridge. To return, you must be open. You must not care about your exposure and vulnerability, and trust that God's will is being done regardless of what mockery comes your way. Also, you can only return to something that you left behind. I so often look at the Gospels and think of Jesus' own life as the model for living, the perfect example of how we should live. What I've often wondered about is the eighteen year gap between twelve-year old Jesus being “found in the temple” and his baptism by John, which marks the beginning of his ministry. Could it be, perhaps, that Jesus gives us the example in his own life, staking off a period of time when we venture out, when we mature. Aren't these middle years precisely when the wheat plant is growing but not yet ripe? The grain of a wheat plant doesn't exist until it is mature, therefore a grain of wheat cannot yet die. To mature and produce grain, a plant must go from childhood to adolescence and finally adulthood, and only then can grain fall to the ground. To me this eighteen year gap in Jesus' life story is speaking something to us. We know that Jesus did not sin in his initial temptation to rebel. He obeys his mother and keeps his faith. Of course he does; he's God. But that temple story shows us how we were supposed to live to avoid the fall. Then the story goes dark for almost two decades, where we can assume he is working construction jobs with his earthly father, Joseph. Somewhere in there, Joseph dies and we know little else except for that around the age of thirty, Jesus emerges, and begins to speak and heal. The baptism of Jesus is the first metaphor for us to observe in the grain of wheat parable, as baptism is being “reborn” in the water and spirit. As I mentioned before, the “unless a grain of wheat dies” message has two metaphors that can apply, if not more. The first is to be reborn, and the act of baptism fits like a puzzle piece. The second metaphor is the literal death of the body and resurrection. The first death and rebirth is something we can carry out now. Only Jesus can lay down his life and take it up again. But baptism is the action we can perform here and now. In fact, we can be reborn every day. In fact, the purpose of the Sign of the Cross is to renew our baptismal vows every day. It's not just a cool hand motion we Catholics do for kicks or to get attention. This is one of those things, so ancient in the Church, that we don't even remember what it's for, so we need to remind ourselves now and then. Check out the free e-book from Word on Fire on the Sign of the Cross for some illuminating insights. Dare I venture into further interpretation? (I wish someone wiser than myself was here right now, like Trent Horn or Father Mitch Pacwa or Saint Pope John Paul II, to guide me back from the precipice of bad interpretation.) Jesus knows that we are going to fall and turn away. He practically implies that you are lying if you can't admit that you have turned away. Jesus, who knows our hearts, fires shots at the Pharisees for false representation. The accusation he makes at the Pharisees centers around them being clean on the outside but filthy on the inside. Nicodemus becomes confused with Jesus during their conversation about “rebirth,” unsure of the meaning. It's so easy to bash on the Pharisees as Jesus points out their error, since they are so legalistic in following rules that they think that is all that matters, that no change of heart is needed. The Pharisees are the protectors of the culture, so their behavior is following God's will of the Old Testament. The Jewish people are always being hemmed in by other cultures, from the time of Canaan boiling their goats right up to the infiltration of Rome. The Pharisees are doing their best to keep the covenant, to save the traditional culture, to keep the Jewish people “set apart” from the pagan, polytheistic world that surrounds them. What great lengths Nicodemus and company go to in their defense of that culture. Then suddenly John the Baptist shows up and says everyone must repent and be baptized, and then Jesus shows up and takes it even further saying a full rebirth is required. None of this makes sense right away to Nicodemus or his colleagues because they feel that they are righteous, that they have never rejected God. Jesus comes to tell them, “Oh yes, you have.” The fact that Nicodemus doesn't know he's taken the fall means he is still spiritually blind. Why? Because he is so bloated with pride, whereas the prostitutes and tax collectors and Prodigal Sons of the world are all too aware of their own fallen nature so that they understand what Jesus is saying long before the educated and wealthy classes begin to understand. What I'm trying to say is this: How can you return to something unless you have gone astray in the first place? Jesus knows we will go astray. He knows that we already have gone astray, and that we'll not just do it once, but repeatedly. It's not just a middle-schooler or drunk college student problem. The problem is shared by all, in all ages and all phases of life. Again, if you believe that Jesus is God, then you must read everything he says as coming from God, and God knows everything written in Genesis because he himself beamed it down somehow to the sacred writer. He knows about the Fall in the Garden, he knows about our rebellion, and he's all too aware of our attempts to hide from him. So if Jesus, who was sinless, gets baptized at thirty years old, despite not needing to be baptized but to show us how to live and be re-born, might we not suspect that he is deliberately telling us (and here by us I mean myself): “Yes, I know you spent many years rejecting me. I know you turned away from me, and I saw you closing down all those bars and acting the fool. At least Little Red Riding Hood was only picking flowers for grandmother, but you were totally out of control. I also know how you mocked me, and said I was just an imaginary being like Santa Claus, just invented to control people. Oh yeah, I saw all of that, and more, especially the things that only you know about. But as you know now, I'm real. I'm here. I came for you as one of my lost sheep. I waved many signs in front of you that you chose to ignore. But I'm glad you are listening now, and that you can see me again. So follow me. From now on, I will lead you. Be baptized and believe.” This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.whydidpetersink.com

Father talks about  Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati who died on this day at the age of 24. Saint Pope John Paul II encouraged people to get to know Pier Giorgio Frassati who shows that we can be holy just by living our ordinary lives rooted deep in charity.

Have you ever secretly (or not so secretly) wondered if you're doing this whole womanhood thing right? Are you tired of the secular rhetoric that tries to tell you how you should act and who you should be? And are you wondering what the church really teaches about Catholic femininity - but also a little worried about diving deeper into what the church says because you're afraid you won't measure up? In this episode, I sit down with Lisa Cotter. You may know her from talks that she's given at Steubenville, NCYC, or SEEK conferences. She's also the author of a brand new book, “Reveal the Gift: Living the Feminine Genius.” Obviously, we're going to be talking about the feminine genius in today's conversation, which is one of our mutual favorite topics. We're talking about what the feminine genius is, where the idea that there are “four main aspects” of the feminine genius came from and why it falls short when it comes to the beautifully diverse ways the feminine genius can be lived out, and how we can strive for human virtues in a particularly feminine way. If there was a video of this podcast episode, you'd mainly just see me nodding along and mouthing YES for thirty minutes while I listened to Lisa's thoughts on Catholic femininity, and I'm so excited to share this conversation with you. If you're ready to explore what it means to be an authentic woman and discover how to be an authentic women, sister, this letter is for you. Topics we talked about in this episode: Lisa's story as a Catholic woman and how she does not do it all as a wife and mom What inspired Lisa's new book, “Reveal the Gift: Living the Feminine Genius” Our mutual frustration at Saint Pope John Paul II's lack of definition of the feminine genius, and a definition from Sister Prudence Allen that helps us understand what the feminine genius is Why “the four aspects of the feminine genius” falls short of what the feminine genius truly is How we live out human virtues particularly as women with a feminine genius Women's capacity for fidelity Where we can draw inner strength from as women (especially in challenging seasons!) How Lisa lives out the feminine genius by being receptive to grace Resources you should check out after listening to this episode: Reveal the Gift: Living the Feminine Genius by Lisa Cotter The Eternal Woman by Gertrud Von Le Fort How to Be a Spiritual Mother (Whether You Have Kids or Not)—an article I wrote back in 2018 for Aleteia that discusses the beauty of spiritual motherhood  Follow Lisa on Instagram and her website, Made to Magnify  Naptime Notes, a new monthly newsletter from Chloe Order my newest book, Sisterhood: Giving and Receiving the Gift of Friendship  Check out The Little Catholic Box and access the exclusive bonuses for LTW listeners

Father Talks about 22 young men who were martyred in Uganda in the late 1880s. Father shares some words offered by Saint Pope John Paul II when he visited their grave site. We should imitate these martyrs by striving to be witness in our everyday lives.

In this episode, we conclude our series on the identity of Bride: Fruitful Love. We discuss the truth that love was designed to be life generating and to bear good fruit that will last. Although this occurs through biological children within family, it also applies to community and beyond the boundaries of biological ties in the discipleship of others. We also talk honestly about how tenderness, vulnerability, and intimacy are intertwined and what is needed to feel safe and open up. Our body has meaning and was made for an other. We all are invited to grow from brokenness to wholeness in our sexuality. This conversation has some mature content so please be sensitive to little ears listening.   Sister Miriam's one thing - Our Listeners, Spirit Juice, and Michelle for her vision of the content from this series Heather's one thing - Best Ever Roasted Brussel Sprouts Michelle's one thing - Our listeners and everyone behind the scenes making this podcast happen   Discussion Questions:     What stood out to you from this week's episode? In what ways can you see that love is fruitful in your life and the lives of those around you? If you're married, do you make space for intimacy in all of it's forms within your marriage? What more can you do to make space for intimacy? If you're not married, what is your ideal view of what intimacy should look like in marriage or the consecrated life? “Every woman wants to be attended to and to be a partner on a great adventure”. Discuss your desire for this within marriage and/or relationship with Christ. How is this desire being met and in what ways are you still longing for this?   Journal Questions: How are you responding to Christ's invitation to intimacy in practical ways? All of us are called to make disciples of all nations. Who might the Lord be asking you to disciple in the faith and journey alongside? Ponder how you can support your married friends and be “for” their marriage. How have you participated in gossip and maybe disunity in your own marriage or of a friend's? Sex is holy and beautiful. Notice what this provokes in your own heart. Ask the Lord to bring healing to the areas in your life that need to be restored by this truth.   Quotes to Ponder: "Love is never something ready made, something merely given to man and woman. It is always at the same time, a task, which they are set. Love should be seen as something which is in a sense never is, but is always becoming. And what it becomes depends upon the contribution of both persons and the depth of their commitment." Saint Pope John Paul II, “Love and Responsibility.” Scripture for Lectio Divina: “Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper as his partner.” So out of the ground the Lord God formed every animal of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. The man gave names to all cattle, and to the birds of the air, and to every animal of the field; but for the man there was not found a helper as his partner. So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then he took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. Then the man said, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; this one shall be called Woman, for out of Man this one was taken.” Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and clings to his wife, and they become one flesh. And the man and his wife were both naked, and were not ashamed. - Genesis 2:18-25    This episode is sponsored by Soul Core. SoulCore is an invitation to nourish body, mind and soul through prayer and functional movement. SoulCore began from a simple “yes” to an inspiration of the Holy Spirit and is a movement all its own.  Engaging all of the senses, SoulCore incorporates scripture, sacred art, music, candlelight, and movement; a gentle path to grow in virtue and interior peace. Participants often say it feels like they've been on a “mini-retreat” after a SoulCore class.  There are several ways to experience SoulCore. Live classes are offered across the country, as well as DVDs, Digital Downloads and an Online Streaming Studio, which offers a wide variety of Leaders and classes. You can take advantage of their Online Streaming Studio FREE 14-day trial at soulcore.com/signup. In addition, SoulCore is extending a 20% savings to all Abiding Together listeners in their Online Shop (shop.soulcore.com)  Enter promo code: ABIDE20 at checkout.  Discover the beauty and transforming power of the rosary. Visit SoulCore.com to begin your SoulCore journey today!

I'm very happy to share with you all this week my favorite Roman Catholic Pope, Saint Pope John Paul II! Saint Pope John Paul II was ordained in 1946, became the bishop of Ombi in 1958, and became the archbishop of Krakow in 1964. He was made a cardinal by Pope Paul VI in 1967, and in 1978 became the first non-Italian pope in more than 400 years. He was a vocal advocate for human rights and used his influence to effect political change. He died in Italy in 2005. It was announced in July 2013 that he would be declared a saint in April of the following year. Anglican Easter Service with woman Priest. Truly amazing! https://youtu.be/Y0R1HSUf2Zg Infinite thanks to ALL of you for listening! I pray you find what you are looking/searching for - and more - here! Please keep listening and share the show with as many people as you feel it would benefit/help! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Check out our website!! This is an incredibly easy way to access the show, show notes, listen to the show, request prayers, and contact me! https://faithandmorepodcast.wixsite.com/my-site Contact me at... faithandmorepodcast@gmail.com or at anchor.fm/faith-and-more #popejohnpaul #saintpopejohnpaul #saintpopejohnpaulii #interfaith #prayer #equality #faith #love #hope #divine #blessing #blessings #positive #staystrong #digdeep #life #nagchampa #saintfaustina #trust --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/faith-and-more/message

April 24, 2022: Second Sunday of Easter (Divine Mercy Sunday)Solemnity; Liturgical Color: WhiteTrue power pardonsIn the Nicene Creed, we say that Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father. When a judge walks into a courtroom, the bailiff announces, “All rise,” and the judge sits in judgment. In his see city, a bishop rests in his cathedra, and in his palace, a king reigns from his throne. A president signs legislation while seated at his desk. The chair is a locus of power. The power that emanates from such seats of authority judges, condemns, and sentences. Today's feast reminds us, though, that authority also exercises power by granting mercy. When a judge pronounces innocence, the sentence is no less binding than one of guilt. The absolved exits the court into a new day, ready to begin again. And when the priest's voice whispers through the screen, “I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,” guilt evaporates into thin air. The purest and truest expression of power is the granting of mercy.Mercy is a superabundance of justice, not an exception to it. When faced with a wound to the common good, those responsible for repairing the damage do not have two contrary options: justice or mercy. Justice and mercy are not mutually exclusive. Mercy is a form of justice. Mercy does not ignore the tears to the fabric of the common good slashed by crime and sin. Rightful authority notes the torn fabric, weighs the personal responsibility of the accused, and distributes justice precisely by granting mercy. Mercy does not turn a blind eye to justice, but fulfills its obligations to justice by going beyond them. After all, one cannot be absolved of having done nothing. Similarly, where there is no guilt there is no need of mercy. When justice calls out, two words echo back off the hard walls: “condemnation” and “mercy.” Mercy runs parallel to, and beyond, the path of condemnation. This is the mercy we celebrate today, the mercy whose greatest practitioner is God Himself. Because He is the seat of all authority, God is also the seat of all mercy.God plays many roles in the life of the Christian—Creator, Savior, Sanctifier, and Judge. Our Creed teaches us that God the Son, seated at the Father's right hand, “will come in glory to judge the living and the dead,” both at the particular and at the final judgment. At that moment, it will serve us nothing to state, in excusing our sins, that “God understands.” Of course God understands. To state “God understands” is just another way to say that God is omniscient and all powerful. “God understands” implies that because God knows the powerful temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil, that He could not possibly judge man harshly. Yet “God understands” is a lazy manner of exculpating sinful behavior. When nose to nose with God one second after death, the repentant Christian should plead, instead, “Lord, have mercy.” Faced with the scandalous behavior of a friend or relative, the response should again be “Lord, have mercy.” Appealing to God's mercy will melt His heart. Appealing to His knowledge will not.The private revelations of Jesus Christ to Saint Faustina Kowalska, a Polish nun and intense mystic who died in 1938, are the source of the profound spirituality of today's feast. Sister Faustina was a kind of Saint Catherine of Siena of the twentieth century. She lived a regimen of fasting, meditation, liturgical prayer, and close community life that would have crushed a less resilient soul. But Faustina persevered, amidst debilitating illnesses, sisterly jealousy, and respectful but questioning superiors. Her diaries are replete with the starkest of language from the mouth of Christ, showing that moral clarity precedes the call for mercy. Sister Faustina faithfully recorded Christ's manly commands in her diary. One of these commands expressly desired that the Divine Mercy be celebrated on the Sunday after Easter. In an age-old pattern familiar to an ancient Church, Saint Faustina's private revelations were challenged, filtered for theological truth, sifted for spiritual depth, and granted universal approbation by the only Christian religion which even claims to grant such. In the soundest proof of their authenticity, the profound simplicity of the Divine Mercy revelations and of their related devotions were intuitively grasped and adopted by the Catholic faithful the world over.Pope Saint John Paul II first inserted today's feast into the Roman calendar on April 30, 2000, the canonization day of Saint Faustina. Saint Pope John Paul II was also canonized on Divine Mercy Sunday in 2014. And so the Church's third millennium was launched with a new devotion that quickly eclipsed many older ones, a new piety rooted in the most ancient truths, a fresh appeal to a side of God that had not been fully understood in prior ages. Divine Mercy is the new face of God for the third millennium, a postmodern Sacred Heart. This is the God who leans in and waits with bated breath for us to whisper through the screen, “Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned.” This is the God who at the end of time, whether our own time or all time, waits to hear from our lips those few prized words “Lord, have mercy.” Having heard that, He need not hear anything more. And having received that, we need not receive anything more.Divine Mercy, do not hold our sins against us. Be a merciful Father who judges us in the fullness of Your power, punishing when needed, but granting mercy when we need it more, most especially when we are too saturated with pride to request it.

Gene Gomulka is a retired Navy Chaplain, author, screenwriter, and Roman Catholic priest. His books include The Survival Guide for Married Military Couples, and Core Values of “Honor, Courage, and Commitment” adopted by the Marine Corp & later the Navy. Saint Pope John Paul II named him Monsignor with Prelate of Honor. He suffered reprisals in 2004 for exposing clerical abuse in the Roman Catholic Church the seminaries. We'll also talk about abortion and much more. www.Gomulka.net , www.gofundme.com/f/save-our-seminarians-fundwww.freedommail.us

We got Kanye West's older brother, Christopher, and his friend, Mike Mangione to talk theology of the body, gender, genitals, generation, music, waterskiing, and God is Beauty, a retreat Saint Pope John Paul II gave to artists in 1962. Incredible stuff

“Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.”  Luke 5:4It's interesting to note that Jesus did not simply tell Peter and the Apostles to put out into the water; rather, He told them to put out into the “deep water.”  This is significant.At the close of the great jubilee year of 2000, Saint Pope John Paul II wrote an apostolic letter, Novo Millennio Ineunte in which he began by quoting this Gospel passage.  This passage set the tone for the rest of his letter in which he called for a new evangelization for the coming millennium.“Put out into the deep!”  What should we take from this?  What should we hear Jesus speaking to us?  We should hear Him calling us to “lower our nets” in a tireless and committed way so as to draw many others to the Gospel.  When Peter and the Apostles did this in the boat, they caught so many fish that their nets were tearing and they were greatly astonished.  This is a prophetic action given to us to tell us that we must evangelize with the utmost enthusiasm and zeal, searching far and wide for God's lost sheep.The world we live in can be brutal at times.  So many people are lost and confused.  Sin is rampant and despair is prevalent.  Our world is in desperate need of a Savior and we are the ones Jesus desires to use to gather a huge catch and to find those in greatest need.  Jesus desired the Apostles to catch the fish that were in the deep waters as a way of saying that there are countless souls in our world who are far from God.  There are many people “swimming” in an ocean of confusion and pain.  It is these people, in particular, that Jesus wants to draw in.  It's our responsibility to heed the command of our Lord and to seek them out.Reflect, today, upon these words of Jesus: “Put out into the deep water.”  In what way is Jesus asking this of you?  How is it that He is calling you to go out of your comfort zone and “lower your nets?”  What is it that He wants of you and how does He desire to use you to further the mission of evangelization.  Heed His command and you, too, will be amazed at the good fruit that is born!Lord of infinite mercy, I desire to give myself to You for Your service and glory.  I desire to go forth, at Your command, looking for the souls in most need of Your abundant mercy.  Give me the grace I need to be faithful to the calling You have given to me so that Your loving mercy will reach those most in need.  Jesus, I trust in You.Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2022 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Every person in this world has the capacity to create and be creative. Whether that is with art, music, athletic abilities, engineering, or whatever, we all have a talent regardless of whether you believe it or not. It sometimes just takes a little soul searching. Stephen and I chat about our journey in finding our creative gifts and how you can figure out what your gift is. The Church needs it, and so does the world. I hope you enjoy it!Get your loved ones something nice from Be A Heart Design and also help our ministry by using our affiliate link: https://beaheart.com/?aff=53Use Promo Code: Ardently10 for 10% off your purchase!Episode Notes:Letter to the Artist by Saint Pope John Paul II: https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/letters/1999/documents/hf_jp-ii_let_23041999_artists.htmlFollow Stephen:Instagram: @eguino.mediaSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/0RP6uxfvz1jjqKIKH4cIEv?si=aZ4pwlKbSpGYkw2Y4JKMjwYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/user/TheBoscoBeats Follow me:@livingardently  @itsonlyadrienneSubscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSdpov2TCj3LJj5MmypzgLw?sub_confirmation=1Visit our Blog: livingardently.wordpress.com    Support the Podcast & Donate here: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=CBJYJ97GR68YN$1, $5, $10, whatever you're able to do is greatly appreciated and will go directly to the podcast's production and improvement!Please remember to leave us a rating and a review on Apple Podcast (:Contact:livingardentlypod@gmail.comLet's Pray together:Call/Text: (407)720-8522Please keep in mind I am not a counselor or a crisis hotline. I am just a friend to pray with. If you need a counselor, please text HOME to 741741. For a crisis hotline, please call 1-800-273-8255.Support the show (https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=CBJYJ97GR68YN)

Gene Gomulka is a retired Navy Chaplain, author, screenwriter, and Roman Catholic priest. His books include The Survival Guide for Married Military Couples, and Core Values of “Honor, Courage, and Commitment” adopted by the Marine Corp & later the Navy. Saint Pope John Paul II named him Monsignor with Prelate of Honor. He suffered reprisals in 2004 for exposing clerical abuse in the Roman Catholic Church the seminaries. We'll also talk about the abortion and China. www.Gomulka.net , www.gofundme.com/f/save-our-seminarians-fundwww.churchmilitant.com/news/article/summer-of-shame-2021 www.freedommail.us

Pope Pourri Part 5Fr Joe Krupp teaches about Saint Pope John Paul II

TGIF loyal listeners and we have on the show today, Dave Carollo, the Executive Director of the World Apostolate of Fatima is here.  His main focus in on today's Feast Day, the Feast Day of Saint Pope John Paul II and shares some of the history behind not only the day itself, but on Pope John Paul II himself.  He also shares the latest info on his organization of the World Apostolate of Fatima and the work he's done recently.  For more information on Dave and the World Apostolate of Fatima, visit: http://wafusa.org  https://ststanschurch.org/

Saint Pope John Paul II"Our walk with our most precious Pope John Paul II began in June of 1979. We had come back to our Church four years before and once we tasted of the vine (our 2000 years of unbroken heritage), we couldn't stay away from all that was Catholic and Church. We took every opportunity to return to the roots of our Faith - the Holy Eucharist, Mother Mary, the Saints, the Angels, and the Martyrs, making Journeys of Faith to Europe, the Holy Land,Mexico, and Canada."More about the Popes CollectionJourneys of Faith Bob and Penny Lord's StoreJourneys of Faith Blog Subscribe to our Free Blog Easy PeasyBob and Penny Lord TV Channel Miracles of the Eucharist, Apparitions of Mary, and lives of the Saints videos on demand.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/bobandpennylord?fan_landing=true)

In this episode, we begin a four-part series on the identity of daughter. This episode is now offered in video on youtube! We speak about the building blocks of daughterhood: trusting the heart of God and receiving our identity from the Father. We discuss the foundational importance of believing we are beloved children even when there are parts of our humanity and frailty we do not love. We pray that you may behold the Father this week and allow him to behold you with delight! Be sure to subscribe to the Abiding Together Podcast on YouTube to watch our video podcasts!  Sister Miriam's one thing -  Renew Face and Body Cream from Rooted for Good Michelle's one thing - the entire team at Spirit Juice Studios Heather's one thing - Be Formed Adult Faith Formation with Fr. Burke Masters through the Diocese of Joliet Discussion questions:     What stood out to you from this week's episode? How have you received the identity of a daughter (or son) from the Father? What are some practical ways to stay rooted in the identity of daughter of God? When the Lord looks at you and says, “you are my beloved daughter (son) with who I am well pleased”, what is your initial reaction? What would it look like to live this reality at the forefront everyday? When have you experienced the Father delighting in you and what did that look like? Does your mission (what you do) flow from your identity as daughter of God or do you tend to find your identity in the things you do? Journal Questions: Take a moment to picture your heart as a garden. Rather than digging through the dirt to find the roots of problems, imagine yourself playing in the dirt with the Father. With holy curiosity, ask what does the Father want to reveal to you about your identity as a beloved daughter?  Pray Sister Miriam's prayer “Father, open my heart to the truth of who I am.” Listen for what the Father wants to say to you and write it down.  Write down some scriptures that help you stay rooted in the truth of who God says you are as a beloved daughter. You can google something like “scriptures about child of God” or “ scriptures about God's love”. Quotes to Ponder: “On first beholding created woman, man must surely have thought: “God gave you to me.” He said as much, though in different words—but he said as much (Gn 2:23). Awareness of gift and givenness is clearly written into the biblical Creation account. For man, woman is first an object of awe and wonder. “ - Saint Pope John Paul II, A Meditation on Givenness Scripture for Lectio Divina -  “For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord's holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” - Ephesians 3:14-21   This episode is sponsored by Rooted for Good. Rooted for Good hand makes premium all natural products that feel amazing and work really well! Enhance your skincare experience with Rooted and join the growing number of satisfied customers across the US and beyond who are switching to Rooted and going all-natural. On top of the amazing benefits and affordable pricing, using Rooted products makes a difference for others as well. Every time you choose our all natural premium products 10% of your purchase goes to help someone in need in a developing country! From Coffee Exfoliators & Sugar Scrubs, to foaming Face Wash & luxurious Bath Salts, to Premium Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils and everything in between, make Rooted for Good your source for all natural healthy living. Rooted provides an option to choose all natural living that resonates with your Catholic values. See all of our amazing products and read the stories of the lives that are being blessed through Rooted purchases at RootedForGood.com and use the Abide10 promo code and enjoy 10% off your next order.

Truth of the Spirit with Patti Brunner reads to you the encouraging Pope's Letter to Women written by Saint Pope John Paul II. This wonderful letter was written to all women during 1995. It often quotes Saint Pope John Paul II's apostolic letter "The Dignity of a Woman". The “Letter to Women” was written in prelude to the United Nations World Conference on Women held in Beijing. http://www.PatriarchMinistries.com/176  

Br. Guy Consolmagno calls himself a 'Sputnik Kid'. He started school the year the Russians launched the world's first satellite. Growing up in Detroit during the space race he remembers the excitement he felt watching Nasa launch rockets into space, "I grew up at a time when anything was possible." He was always fascinated with astronomy. In fact, his father always wanted to be an astronomer but could never turn it into a career. He would show Guy the stars at night and point out the different constellations. Little did he know back then that his son would not only go on to be an astronomer, lecturing at the prestigious colleges of Havard and MIT, but he would go on to become the director of one of the oldest observatories in the world - The Vatican Observatory. The Vatican Observatory has been gazing at the stars since 1582. The church started the observatory to study the heavens in order to make changes to the church calendar. Over the years it became a way for the church to marry science and faith and explore the points where they intersect. The first telescopes were placed right on top of the Vatican, but as Rome grew bigger and brighter, the view of the stars started to fade and so in the 1930s the Vatican built a new large telescope at the Pope's summer residence at Castel Gandolfo 25km south of Rome, and also one in Arizona in the US! There are twelve astronomers working at the Vatican observatory, but Br. Guy, the director, is unique as he is the only one who was appointed by a pope and saint, Saint Pope John Paul II. He worked under JPII, Pope Benedict, and now Pope Francis. He still wears his MIT ring, as well as his white priest's collar. For this Heart and Soul special on the BBC World Service, we will visit the Vatican Observatory to hear about its fascinating history and meet the 'Sputnik Kid' who is passionate about showing the world that science and faith are not as opposed as you might think.

Gene Gomulka is a retired Navy Chaplain, author, screenwriter, and Roman Catholic priest. His books include The Survival Guide for Married Military Couples, and Core Values of “Honor, Courage, and Commitment” adopted by the Marine Corp & later the Navy. Saint Pope John Paul II named him Monsignor with Prelate of Honor. He suffered reprisals in 2004 for exposing clerical abuse in the Roman Catholic Church especially in the seminaries. We'll also talk about the abortion issue. www.militaryconnection.com/gene-thomas-gomulka-bio/www.churchmilitant.com/news/article/summer-of-shame-2021www.freedommail.us

Lulu takes you to meet a fan-favorite saint today, and a man responsible for canonizing many of the saints we meet in this podcast! Saint Pope John Paul II is a beloved and familiar saint to many of us, but you might not know about his life before becoming pope! Thank you so much for listening, and don't forget to connect with us on Instagram @lulu_meets_the_saints and to rate and review the podcast and of course -- share it with your friends.  As always, we love you Lulu! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

While they were eating, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, gave it to them, and said, “Take it; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it. He said to them, "This is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed for many.” Mark 14:22–24At the holy Mass, as soon as the priest pronounces the words of the consecration, transforming the bread and wine into the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ our Lord, he genuflects, rises, and then says, “The mystery of faith.” What is “the mystery of faith?” Oftentimes, when we say that something is a mystery, we mean that the conclusion is hidden but that there are certain clues to help solve the mystery. And once the mystery is solved, everything is clear and it is no longer a mystery.“The mystery of faith” is much different. Those words are spoken at Mass immediately after the consecration as a way of drawing the faithful into a holy awe and amazement of what just took place. But this mystery can only produce wonder and awe if the reality of what just took place is understood through the gift of faith. Faith is knowing and believing without perceiving the reality before us with our five senses or through logical deduction. In other words, faith produces true knowledge of a spiritual reality that can only be known, understood and believed through spiritual insight. Therefore, if we attend the Mass and have been gifted with the knowledge of faith, then as soon as the consecration of the bread and wine take place, we will cry out interiorly, “My Lord and my God!” We will know that God the Son is present before us in a veiled way. Our eyes do not perceive, nor do any of our senses reveal to us the great reality before us. We cannot rationally deduce what just took place. Instead, we come to know and believe that the Son of God, the Savior of the World, is now present before us in His fullness, under the veil of mere bread and wine.In addition to the divine presence of our Lord and our God, the entire Mystery of our Redemption is made present. Saint Pope John Paul II tells us that in this moment there is a “oneness in time” that links the Paschal Mystery, that is, the Life, Death and Resurrection of Jesus, to every moment that the Eucharist is celebrated and made present through the words of consecration. And that unity between each Mass and the Paschal Mystery “leads us to profound amazement and gratitude” (Ecclesia de Eucharistia, #5). Do you sense and experience this profound amazement and gratitude each time you attend the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass? Do you realize as you attend the Mass and as the words of consecration are spoken that the entire Mystery of your redemption is made present before you, hidden from your eyes but visible to your soul by faith? Do you understand that it is God the Second Person of the Most Holy Trinity Who descends to us to dwell with us in that moment of time in this glorious Sacrament?Reflect, today, upon the hidden but real Mystery of Faith. Allow yourself to be drawn into a wonder and awe at what you are privileged to attend. Let your faith in the Most Holy Eucharist grow by being open to a deepening of this gift of faith through spiritual insight and belief. Behold this great Gift of the Eucharist with the eyes of faith, and you will be drawn into the wonder and awe that God wants to bestow upon you.My ever-glorious Eucharistic Lord, I do believe that You are here, made present in our world under the form of bread and wine, every time the Holy Mass is celebrated. Fill me with a deeper faith in this Holy Gift, dear Lord, so that I may be drawn into wonder and awe every time I witness this holy Consecration. Jesus, I trust in You.Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2021 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Adrianna and Giuliana discuss suffering. We start by talking a bit about theology: If God loves us, why do we suffer? Then, we get more personal: How have we found freedom in suffering? Who has inspired us to live suffering well? What steps are we trying to take in our own experiences of suffering? Our weekly challenge is to commemorate 3PM on Friday — the time Jesus died. And our media recommendation is the novel East of Eden by John Steinbeck. We'd love to hear from you! Write to us at pilgrimsoulpodcast@gmail.com or find us on Instagram at @pilgrimsoulpodcast. Other resources we mention: - Saint Pope John Paul II's Apostolic letter Salvifici Doloris - Saint Augustine's Confessions - Mother Teresa's letters in the book Come Be My Light - Fr. Jacque Philippe's book Interior Freedom - "Ancient Homily on Holy Saturday" Our theme music is Nich Lampson's “Dolphin Kicks.”

Gene Gomulka is a retired Navy Chaplain, author, screenwriter, and Roman Catholic priest. His books include The Survival Guide for Married Military Couples, and Core Values of “Honor, Courage, and Commitment” adopted by the Marine Corp & later the Navy. Saint Pope John Paul II named him Monsignor with Prelate of Honor. He suffered reprisals in 2004 for exposing clerical abuse in the Roman Catholic Church. We’ll discuss abuse in the church and especially in the seminaries. www.militaryconnection.com/gene-thomas-gomulka-bio/

Good morning and welcome to Waking up with the Saints! Today we'll be talking about St. Marguerite, a woman who persevered to help others in need, to be able to go out and become missionaries and help others survive! Thanks for listening, God bless! :D

Giuliana and Sofia have a conversation about work: Is it possible to live your work as a gift instead of a burden? How can work become a place of encounter? What steps can we take to transform the way we approach our work? Our weekly challenge is to add a visual reminder of God (like a holy card or scripture verse) to your workspace. And our media recommendation is Ian McEwan's novel Saturday. We'd love to hear from you! Write to us at pilgrimsoulpodcast@gmail.com or find us on Instagram at @pilgrimsoulpodcast. Other resources we mention: - Saint Pope John Paul II's encyclical Laborem Exercens - The Benedictine Abbey of Saint Walburga - Saint Josemaria Escriva's Conversations and Friends of God - Pope Benedict XVI's second homily from In the Beginning - The film Chariots of Fire - Jean-Francois Millet's painting “The Angelus.” Our theme music is Nich Lampson's “Dolphin Kicks.”

Paul and Bill spoke with Aida Ramos, Ph.D., an associate professor of economics at the University of Dallas. Prof. Ramos’ research and teaching at that private Catholic university include topics in economic development and Catholic Social Thought and their implications for public policy. She is the author of a book (Shifting Capital: Mercantilism and the Economics of the Act of Union of 1707 ) in the “Palgrave Studies in the History of Economic Thought” series. The Vatican’s first direct foray into issues of justice in economics and the relationship of capital and labor came from Pope Leo XIII in 1891 in his encyclical Rerum Novarum. Pope Pius XI added to the Church’s economic analysis 40 years later in the encyclical Quadragesima Anno; it focuses on the different systems of economic organization. The Vatican has spoken out about economic organization and justice in various additional ways over the years, including such encyclicals as Saint Pope John Paul II’s Centesimus Annus. In general, both capitalism and socialism have received mixed reviews in terms of their virtues and problems. At the core of economic decision-making—discernment about the systems from which we choose and how we implement them—is the balancing of rights and responsibilities. The Church strongly proclaims a variety of economic rights held by human persons. It also insists that humans and corporations go beyond a limited notion of responsibility focused only on maximization of income and wealth. The Church asks, what is the economy for? What is my duty to God and other human beings as it is to be exercised through human economic behavior? The universal destination of goods is a Catholic principle that the reason the economy exists is for the good of all human persons. The preferential option for the poor is a principle which states: If any action makes the poor worse off, do not pursue it. The Church also teaches that we all have a responsibility to uphold the common good. The Catechism of the Catholic Church says, the totality of social and economic conditions is intended for human beings to achieve fulfillment and authentic happiness. Pope Franics’ new encyclical, Fratelli Tutti, reminds the faithful to pursue fraternal relationships of compassion and love with people all over the world, which helps the human ecology to reflect and build the common good. This taps into principles of Catholic Social Teaching including solidarity and respect for the dignity of each unique individual created by God. This global consciousness coexists with a local consciousness guided by the principle of subsidiarity—which instructs that people at the level of smaller communities should have responsibility and authority to address all issues they can address, free of intervention by higher authorities unless those greater resources must be called upon. Catholic Social Thought, or Catholic Social Teaching, has been called the Church’s best-kept secret, partly because its principles are prospective meeting grounds for broader public consensus; they are drawn from the Gospel and Church wisdom through the ages, but they have rarely been proclaimed as a package to be consistently understood, discussed and applied in unison.

Director Robert Orlando and Paul Kengor speak about their documentary, “The Divine Plan,” which follows the actions of U.S. President Ronald Reagan and Saint Pope John Paul II during the Cold War. Hosted by Fr. Mitch Pacwa.

In this homily, Fr. Willie Arias, SJ, reminds us to always be prepared for the spiritual battles we fight here on earth. He relays the message from our Lord telling us to be not afraid as we face many different challenges in our daily life. Inspired by the courage of Saint Pope John Paul II, let us live fearlessly as we fight the good fight and build the Kingdom of God!

On "EWTN News Nightly" tonight: Senators hold an initial vote on Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s Supreme Court nomination. How Democrats are responding. Plus: President Donald Trump and rival Joe Biden are set for their final face-to-face debate before the election. We have a preview. Also: The Vatican makes an announcement regarding its deal with China over the appointment of bishops. We have an update. And we hear about the life of Saint Pope John Paul II, on his feast day. Don't miss out on the latest news and analysis from a Catholic perspective. Get EWTN News Nightly delivered to your email: https://ewtn.com/enn

In today’s episode, I’m sitting down with Melissa Maleski and we’re talking about what Saint Pope John Paul II meant when he called women “sentinels of the invisible.” I’ve spent a lot of time researching what Saint Pope John Paul II said and wrote about women and it wasn’t until I read Melissa’s new book that I even heard of the phrase “sentinels of the invisible.” I loved this conversation about the feminine genius in our daily life and the stories of women throughout the life and history of the Catholic Church. If you’ve ever wondered how the Catholic Church has championed the dignity of women and you want to know more about what the feminine genius means for you today, sister, this letter is for you. Topics we talked about in this episode: What Saint Pope John Paul II meant when he called women “sentinels of the invisible” Women’s three inclinations towards protection, illumination, and revelation Saints who inspire Melissa to live out the feminine genius in her daily life Having a disposition to maternity as physical and spiritual mothers Resources you should check out after listening to this episode: Melissa’s new book, “The Supreme Vocation of Women” Cardinal Sarah’s book, “God Or Nothing” Subscribe to the Letters to Women newsletter so you don’t miss updates about the new Letters to Women book, which is being published by TAN books in early 2021 --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

The intersection of Saint Pope John Paul II and Missy Elliot.

 Episode #80: Is Jesus coming soon with a warning and a great illumination, as the Blessed Mother foretold in many apparitions? Do today's upheavals and rampant evil indicate that the prophecies about this are coming true? If so, how can we best prepare for it?In seeking answers, this podcast starts with the prophetic warning of Saint Pope John Paul II. Next I share with you the prophecies of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the Blessed Mother in Garabandal (Spain), Fr. Michel Rodrigue, and St. Alphonsus de Liguori. And I summarize for you what I think the prophetic evidence is telling us, in the context of why faithful followers of Christ need not be frightened of the Warning.The texts quoted in this podcast are available for reading and printing at https://gnm.org/paracletia/the-warning-and-other-prophecies/.Subscribe to our Footsteps to Heaven website: http://footstepstoheaven.com/Who else should hear this episode? Please share it!To keep this ministry going by sponsoring future episodes, go to https://gnm.org/podcast-sponsorship.For more faith-builders, visit us at https://gnm.org.

In today's episode, Chloe Langr and Joe Heschmeyer sit down with Holy Family School of Faith team members Dain Finney and Taylor Downey to talk about Saint Pope John Paul II's thoughts on the Rosary. They discuss what it means to sit in the school of Mary, the importance of Mary's memories, and how to console the heart of Jesus.For full show notes, head over to CathPod.com. To support The Catholic Podcast, support Holy Family School of Faith! You can find more about our mission at SchoolofFaith.com/donate. 

In the May 20, 2020 recording of A View from the Top, Bishop Parkes announces the resuming of Sunday Masses at Pentecost, a discussion of the recent video roundtable on the document Laudato Si, diocesan and parish finances during the pandemic, and his encounters with Saint Pope John Paul II.

Julie Onderko talks with David and Brenda about the special devotion to Our Lady of Fatima and the Saint Pope John Paul II connection. The post Morning Blend Guest: Julie Onderko, Your Next Mission From God appeared first on Mater Dei Radio.

Not all forms of communication are verbal or purely journalistic or sent via social media. A wonderful world of communication is found in art and beauty. We need to spend time on this form of communication as part of any tour through Church wisdom on communication. Saint Pope John Paul II issued his Letter to … Continue reading S3E5 – How Great Thou! Art

Not all forms of communication are verbal or purely journalistic or sent via social media. A wonderful world of communication is found in art and beauty. We need to spend time on this form of communication as part of any tour through Church wisdom on communication. Saint Pope John Paul II issued his Letter to … Continue reading S3E5 – How Great Thou! Art

On this week's episode we share Lenten reflections and the topic of Plenary indulgence and a special message from Pope Francis and one dating back from '99 from Saint Pope John Paul II.

Today we are featuring Hugs from Heaven, and their special owner Jen Angelle as they travel the world sharing Jesus and Mary. Jen will also share her grief of losing her brother, and then her father. Jen is a dear friend of mine, and a light to the world. Here is a little more about how Hugs from Heaven came to be. Hugs from Heaven - a doll company for believers, was founded by a south Louisiana Catholic wife and mom of four, Julie Marceaux Romero. She was inspired by her own real-life experience when her brother Chad went through life-threatening transplant surgeries at Mercy Medical Hospital in New Orleans, Louisiana. During the operations, Julie prayed in the chapel, wishing for the Lord’s physical presence to hold and comfort her. In this moment, she received a clear vision from Jesus to create a “hug from heaven” - a soft pillow doll in His image. In 2017, Julie sold the Hugs From Heaven brand to a fellow south Louisiana native, customer and friend, Jennifer Angelle. Now, Jennifer and her family are taking these beloved characters beyond Louisiana, expanding across the country and sharing Hugs around the world. “Sharing HUGS is our answer to Saint Pope John Paul II’s call for New Evangelization. With each sale, we give back a portion of our income to those in need like the Sisters of Life in New York City, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù (Baby Jesus Children’s Hospital) Rome, Italy, Don Bosco Center for Youth, St. Martinville, LA and others that our family encounter who may need a HUG. We believe that when you get a hug, you should hug back! And we love the fact that each plush replica of Jesus Christ and Mother Mary have a heart monogrammed on their chest to serve as a reminder of GOD’S COMFORT, GOD’S PRESENCE, GOD’S MERCY but most of all GOD’S LOVE! Pray with us “Jesus, I trust in you!” and share a hug today! Blessings + Love + Hugs, Jenn

In this episode, Psychology professor Dr. Keith Houde joins to speak about the popularity of the psychology program at Ave Maria, his inspiration by Saint Pope John Paul II, and his love of sports psychology.

We are created to become Saints, Super Saints.God created each of us with a unique purpose and path to Eternity with Him in Heaven.God's will is that we become Saints. Now think about it. If God wills us to become Saints and He tells us that we should ask and we shall receive, then He will answer that prayer request.Our first suggestion for 2020 is that we ask to become a Saint.Saint Pope John Paul II recommended we study the life of Saint Louis de Montfort and his path to Jesus through Mary..Resources:Journeys of FaithSaint Louis de Montfort Support the show (https://www.journeysoffaith.com/donate)

If you’re stressed or anxious, you will find great comfort in Pope John Paul II’s famous phrase: “Be not afraid … Open wide the doors to Christ!” In this episode of All Things Catholic, Dr. Sri explains the meaning behind Pope John Paull II’s words and shares a simple way you can begin bringing your fears and anxieties to Christ in prayer. Once you surrender those fears to Christ, you might be surprised at the amazing plan that unfolds. _Snippet from the Show Whatever is burdening you right now, talk to Jesus, name your fear, and beg Jesus to give you the grace to open the doors of your heart to him. _ *Our Modern Condition * How many of us live in fear and anxiety? We’re anxious about work, success, our relationships, our dreams for our family ... Pope John Paul II addressed this reality in his inaugural address: “So often today man does not know what is within him, in the depths of his mind and heart. So often he is uncertain about the meaning of his life on this earth. He is assailed by doubt, a doubt which turns into despair. We ask you therefore, we beg you with humility and trust, let Christ speak to man. He alone has words of life, yes, of eternal life.” So what did Pope John Paul II urge us to do? He prescribes a life-changing remedy for our anxiety: “Brothers and sisters, do not be afraid to welcome Christ and accept his power…. Do not be afraid. Open wide the doors for Christ.” What Christ Says about Anxiety: Matthew 6:25-34 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O men of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek all these things; and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well. “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Let the day's own trouble be sufficient for the day.” Questions to Ask Yourself when You’re Anxious or Afraid What is God trying to tell me? Is this a sign that something is off spiritually? Am I too attached to something—someone’s esteem of me, my position at work, a plan for my children or family? Do I want too much control in my life? The First Step to Opening Your Heart Wider to Christ In prayer, name your fear to Jesus. Tell him everything about it. Don’t ask him to resolve it; just be honest with him. Admit your weakness and ask for his grace. Ask Jesus if there’s something he wants to do in your heart surrounding the issue of your anxiety. Pray a prayer of surrender. Tell Jesus you want to let go of your attachments and open the doors of your heart to him Tell him you trust in his plan for your life! Repeat St. Faustina’s prayer of trust: “Jesus I trust in you.” *Pope John Paul II: An Example of a Man Whose Heart Was Wide Open to Christ * Think about Pope John Paul II risking his life to meet in clandestine Catholic small groups during the Nazi occupation. It was by taking that risk and opening his heart that his vocation took root. See the great fruit that has come from his surrender! God will do incredible things with you as you surrender your life more completely to him. When you ask him to open your heart and help you overcome your fears, you’re going to be able to bless others in an incredibly powerful way. For an exclusive bonus episode on what we can learn from three historic moments in the life of Pope John Paul II, sign up for the All Things Catholic weekly shownotes! (https://media.ascensionpress.com/category/ascension-podcasts/allthingscatholic/)

Reflecting on Pope John Paul II’s encyclical Redemptor Hominis, Colin reminds us that Christ the redeemer is the center of the entire universe and all of human history. But is he the center of your own personal universe and your own personal history? As Catholics, we need to re-situate Jesus Christ as the center of our reality. Everything we do, say and believe should orbit around him. The devil is looking to sidetrack us and lead us to focus on anything other than Christ the redeemer. For Catholics, it might be Church politics, our families, our work— even a specific spiritual practice— but if we place any of these at our center, we need to re-calibrate our lives and put Christ back in his rightful place. Only when our lives are reordered around him will we be fully redeemed. _ Snippet from the Show:_ Christ the Redeemer is the center of the entire universe and of human history, but is he the center of your universe?

Topics we discussed:??What it means to strive for sainthood as a woman todayReceptivity and what a woman's body reveals to everyone about the Lord's desire for usWhy sensitivity and vulnerability are courageous strengthsRejecting the idea that taking care of ourselves is selfishThe opportunities Christ gave women for human connection and communion on earthHow all women are called to maternity (physical or spiritual)The humanity of Our Lady ?Resources we mentioned: Saint Pope John Paul II's Letter to Women Life of the Beloved by Henri NouwenMeg Hunter-Kilmer on InstagramChristopher WestBrene Brown and the courage of vulnerability Saint Edith Stein and her writings on women ??? Find Holy Family School of Faith:Online

The post 09/03/19-Bishop Campbell-Living The Catholic Life: Labor Day and the meaning of work. “God Himself worked and blessed the nature of work,” said Saint Pope John Paul II. In the pagan world, Christ restored the dignity of labor, especially manual labor. Because of sin, work can become toil, yet even toil can be beneficial as a sacrifice. appeared first on St Gabriel Catholic Radio.

This week, Brian and Eric sit down to give their thoughts on Eric's interview with their friend Spencer Flippin. They discuss the universal meaning of suffering, give some evangelical discussion strategies, and, most importantly, push back against the idea that the purpose of religion is to be a good person. They connect that very issue, as well, in their response to Spencer's question on how we as Catholics can bear to call people to become Catholic when it is so clear that our church is full of sinners. It's a loaded week, to say the least! Enjoy!Recommended Reads: No More Christian Nice Guy, Paul Coughlin; Real Choices: Listening to Women; Looking for Alternatives to Abortion, Fredericka Mathewes-Green; Architects of the Culture of Death, Donald DeMarco; Seeds of the Word, Bishop Robert Barron; Fides et Ratio, Saint Pope John Paul II; God or Nothing, Robert Cardinal Sarah.

“Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.”  Luke 5:4It’s interesting to note that Jesus did not simply tell Peter and the Apostles to put out into the water; rather, He told them to put out into the “deep water.”  This is significant.At the close of the great jubilee year of 2000, Saint Pope John Paul II wrote an apostolic letter, Novo Millennio Ineunte in which he began by quoting this Gospel passage.  This passage set the tone for the rest of his letter in which he called for a new evangelization for the coming millennium.“Put out into the deep!”  What should we take from this?  What should we hear Jesus speaking to us?  We should hear Him calling us to “lower our nets” in a tireless and committed way so as to draw many others to the Gospel.  When Peter and the Apostles did this in the boat, they caught so many fish that their nets were tearing and they were greatly astonished.  This is a prophetic action given to us to tell us that we must evangelize with the utmost enthusiasm and zeal, searching far and wide for God’s lost sheep.The world we live in can be brutal at times.  So many people are lost and confused.  Sin is rampant and despair is prevalent.  Our world is in desperate need of a Savior and we are the ones Jesus desires to use to gather a huge catch and to find those in greatest need.  Jesus desired the Apostles to catch the fish that were in the deep waters as a way of saying that there are countless souls in our world who are far from God.  There are many people “swimming” in an ocean of confusion and pain.  It is these people, in particular, that Jesus wants to draw in.  It’s our responsibility to heed the command of our Lord and to seek them out.Reflect, today, upon these words of Jesus: “Put out into the deep water.”  In what way is Jesus asking this of you?  How is it that He is calling you to go out of your comfort zone and “lower your nets?”  What is it that He wants of you and how does He desire to use you to further the mission of evangelization.  Heed His command and you, too, will be amazed at the good fruit that is born!Lord, I desire to give myself to You for Your service and glory.  I desire to go forth, at Your command, looking for the souls in most need of Your abundant mercy.  Give me the grace I need to be faithful to the calling You have given to me so that Your loving mercy will reach those most in need.  Jesus, I trust in You.

This is a talk my amazing girlfriend gave on the teaching of Saint Pope John Paul II, Theology of the Body. You were made for more. Enjoy!! If you have topics you want discussed, questions, or comments, email me at CrossingTheJordan1@gmail.com God bless you all abundantly! Artwork by Yongsung Kim

This week, we speak with Christopher West, husband, father of five, author, speaker, and the world’s leading teacher on Saint Pope John Paul II’s “Theology of the Body.” In this podcast, Anthony and Christopher discuss how beauty cracks opens our hearts and there places a longing for the infinite. They speak about eros, Logos, and rock ‘n roll. Christopher talks about the authenticity and innocence of childlike wonder and the suffering of those with a creative or artistic sensibility. He explains that everything we’re attracted to we’re attracted to because at the root of it is Jesus and that everything that has been twisted by sin can be untwisted and redeemed to reveal God’s glory. He also shares many vulnerable moments and experiences from his own life to show us that God knows how to speak to each one of us with the language of our hearts.

His parents were pastors of an Assemblies of God church, and when he was seven they went to Japan as missionaries.  While they studied the Japanese language, Kevin was in the daytime care of an elderly Japanese nanny who brought a distinctly Buddhist perspective, which Kevin absorbed into his developing personality.  He lived in Japan until graduating High School in Tokyo at the Christian Academy in Japan.  Returning alone to the US in 1969 was a culture shock that drove him to exploring various religious faith communities, including Reformed Judaism.  He joined the Air Force and lived in Turkey, where he was introduced to the Mevlânâ – Whirling Dervish community, and was able to attend the 700th Anniversary celebration of Rumi’s death.  Another assignment opened the door to attend Christmas mass celebrated in Saint Peter’s Basilica by Saint Pope John Paul II.  https://www.worldcommunityofsaintfrancis.org/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgX2Bg8x9sc

SHOW NOTES “The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet.” – Frederick Buechner “To be saints is not a privilege for the few, but a vocation for everyone.” – Pope Francis PRIORITIZE: Hosea 14:10, 2 Samuel 11:1, “Our concern must be to know God’s will. We must enter that path: if God wants, when God wants, how God wants.” – St. Gianna Molla. LOOK:  CCC 799, “Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire.” –St. Catherine of Siena, “God has not called me to be successful, He called me to be faithful.” – St. Mother Teresa. ASSESS: “It is Jesus that you seek when you dream of happiness. He is waiting for you when nothing else you find satisfies you.” Saint Pope John Paul II. NOW. THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY On the Holy Rosary, Pope St. John Paul “No one has ever devoted himself to the contemplation of the face of Christ as faithfully as Mary. The eyes of her heart already turned to him at the Annunciation, when she conceived him by the power of the Holy Spirit…. Mary lived with her eyes fixed on Christ, treasuring his every word” (On the Most Holy Rosary, nos. 10 & 11).  Luke 1:38, 48. Momma Mary, Pray for us! St. Charles Borromeo, pray for us! See you in the Eucharist! www.mannafoodforthought.com Support us on Patreon: www. patreon.com/mannafoodforthought Rate and review this podcast & like/follow/share it on:  Facebook.com/mannafoodforthought Instagram: @mannafoodforthought Twitter: @mannaf4t Pray for us and let us know how we can pray for you and send us any feedback you have as we seek to follow the Lord's will in this exciting venture: mannafoodforthought@gmail.com.

Back in 1993 on World Youth Day, Saint Pope John Paul II challenged young people to hit the road and get out on the highways and byways to spread the Gospel of Life. A young man named Steve Sanborn heard that call and decided to do something. In the summer of 1995, Steve and some of his fellow students at Franciscan University of Steubenville organized a pro-life walk across America covering 3,200 miles in 11 weeks. Seeing the overwhelming support they received on their mission, Steve founded a non-profit – Crossroads – which has been organizing walks each summer ever since. As of today, over 1,000 young people have witnessed to millions of Americans as they crossed the country in dedication to this cause. Tonight, we’re joined by two walkers who finished their cross-country trek today. Emily Ouillette and Cliff Hearn join us to talk about their experiences this summer, the people they encountered, and the mood of the country towards this issue.

There are a lot of you out there who haven’t had a chance to learn about Saint Pope John Paul II’s Theology of the Body, or you’ve heard about it, but you’re not sure how it can help you in your ministry. So, we decided to do a show about it, and we invited Jason Evert, an expert on the topic, to join us. In this interview with Jason, he’s going to explain how the TOB is a roadmap we can use to help people discover their purpose in a society that is very confused. Disclaimer: At Ascension, we are fully committed to the fullness of truth found in the Catholic faith. We also love that while adhering to certain unchangeable truths, Catholics of goodwill can hold and express an abundance of different perspectives and opinions. We want this podcast to be a forum where an open and candid exchange of these views can occur. As such, the views expressed by the guests on our show are their views and not necessarily those of Ascension.

Many Catholics, even very faithful Catholics, have simply fallen away from the practice of praying the Rosary. This is indeed an unfortunate set of circumstances. Many of the Church's greatest Saints have consistently reminded us of the importance of the Rosary especially its use as a strong defense and even a spiritual weapon against the demons and their assaults. In this conversation Mark and Frances reexamine the importance of the Rosary as they look at it through the eyes and the words of some of its Greatest Champions. The list of individuals includes such notable figures as Saint Pope John Paul II, St Padre Pio and St Teresa of Calcutta. More than just advocating the recitation of the Rosary, however, Mark and Frances discuss how these Champions encouragement can be seen as a means of using to Rosary to confront the most difficult challenges facing our society, such challenges as Divorce, Abortion, Suicide and even Terrorism. In the second half of the conversation, Mark and Frances offer helpful hints for getting out of our Rosary rut, whether someone might have just become a bit bored with praying the Rosary, or whether someone may have stopped praying it altogether. If you have lost that loving feeling for the Rosary, this might be a good program to re-inspire you and get you back to praying this powerful prayer.

October is the month of the Rosary and so in this week's programme, the Sacred Space Team chat about the origins of the Rosary, why it is both a beautiful and a powerful prayer and they pray the joyful mysteries of the scriptural rosary. We also have our usual notices, prayer intentions and saints of the week. The full programme is available HERE.The Scriptural RosaryLast Friday we celebrated the feast of the Holy Rosary. The month of October is dedicated to the Holy Rosary. According to an account by fifteenth-century Dominican, Alan de la Rocha, Mary appeared to St. Dominic in 1206 after he had been praying and doing severe penances because of his lack of success in combating the Albigensian heresy. Mary praised him for his valiant fight against the heretics and then gave him the Rosary as a mighty weapon, explained its uses and efficacy, and told him to preach it to others:"Be of good cheer, Dominic, the remedy for the evils which you lament will be meditation on the life, death and glory of My Son, uniting all with the recitation of the angelic salutation (Hail Mary) by which the mystery of redemption was announced to the world. This devotion, which you are to inculcate by your preaching, is a practice most dear to My Son and Me. The faithful will obtain by it innumerable advantages and shall always find Me ready to aid them in their wants. This is the precious gift which I leave to you and to your spiritual children." (HT to ScripturalRosary.org HERE).Saint Pope John Paul II, in Rosarium Virginis Mariae, said: The Rosary is “at heart a Christocentric prayer” (RVM 1). In other words, Jesus is at the centre or heart of the Rosary. We can see this with the Hail, Mary prayer. The Holy Name of Jesus is at the heart of every Hail, Mary we say. Saint John Paul II says: “With the Rosary, the Christian people sits at the school of Mary and is led to contemplate the beauty on the face of Christ and to experience the depths of his love” (RVM 1). Isn't that beautiful! Every time we pray the Rosary we sit at the school of Mary and she, our beloved Mother, helps us to contemplate the beauty of the face of Christ. What do we mean by contemplate? The Catechism teaches us that when we recite vocal prayers like the Rosary in a prayerful manner, “Prayer is internalised to the extent that we become aware of him ‘to whom we speak'” (CCC 2704). In other words, we are drawn deeper in prayer by praying the words of the Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be etc. and meditating or thinking about the mysteries of the Rosary so that we experience the love of God deep within ourselves. Every Rosary we pray with love and devotion making our best effort to unite our hearts with our Blessed Mother draws us closer to God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. As Fr. John Mockler has reminded us a number of times, the Rosary is the most powerful prayer we can pray after the Mass. In fact, the Rosary is a continuation of the Mass because in the Mass we celebrate the Paschal Mystery, in other words, the life, death and resurrection of Jesus and the Rosary is a meditation on the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.The talk on the Rosary and the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary prayed by the Sacred Space Team is excerpted from our programme HERE.  The text of the Scriptural Rosary for each of the Mysteries is available HERE.