Blessed & Bruised

Christianity is frowned on and Catholicism is mocked. 

What's new? 

Christians and Catholics have been persecuted for centuries. 

And we will continue to face persecution.  

Yet, we are indeed under attack. 

Satan is celebrating each and every blow. 

He is rejoicing over Target and the Dodgers.

Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you [falsely] because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5:11-12 

When insulted 

Blessed are you

When facing persecution

Blessed are you

When falsely spoken against

Blessed are you

Evil will flee 

Rejoice 

In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!” John 16:33 

"Let Christians never break the bruised reed or quench the burning wick (Is 42:3). That reed is perhaps the suffering of a brother or sister; and the humble wick extinguished by our icy breath may be some noble spirit we could have restored and lifted up. Let us be attentive; nothing so quickly bruised. Let all our words and deeds be full of life, penetrating other spirits, communicating light and strength, and so reveal God to them." Elisabeth Lesseur 

Majid Gheidarlou

You are Good

 And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased."

Mathew 3:17 

In other words: "You are able. You are good. It is so good that you exist." Jesus has yet to perform miracles or to die on the cross for the sins of humanity. Nonetheless. he receives an experiential affirmation that he is deeply loved by his heavenly Father for who he is. This love is the foundation of his self-understanding and the root source of how he feels about himself. 

Emotionally Healthy Spirituality by Peter Scazzero 

My dear friend gave me this book. 

I had never thought about this truth before. 

Jesus did not have to earn his Father's love.  

God the Father proclaimed from heaven the good He saw in his Son.

The Father did not say "good job" but called his Son, Beloved. 

We, too, do not have to earn the Father's love. 

The world says, "The only thing you deserve is what you earn." Tom Brands 

This is a lie. 

We do not have to earn our worth. 

Sometimes we think if we do all the right things then we are worthy of God's love. 

However, nothing we ever do will ever be worthy of God the Father's love. 

Our unworthiness makes us worthy. 

We are His Beloved. 

He is saying to you today,

"It is good that you exist." 

Remember this. 

Photo by Davies Designs Studio 

What is Hope?

 What is hope?

I admit, I struggled to answer this question. 

However, I am grateful this question came up for me to think about.

Hope for me is found when all things seem lost or shaken. 

One cannot have light without darkness.

This doesn't mean you cannot have hope without feeling hopeless.

Hope, for me, is something I cling to. 

Rather, it is Someone, I cling to.

Hope is believing something good is going to happen. 

If you are struggling to hope, I recommend reading Fr. Michael Gaitley’s book, 33 Days to Merciful Love. This book encourages you to hope as Mary did at the Cross, to believe in God no matter how dark life gets, and to praise God no matter what is happening.

So I will repeat the question...

What is hope? 

Hope is my anchor. 

"Seek grace in the smallest things, and you will find also grace to accomplish, to believe in, and to hope for the greatest things. " Saint Peter Faber

Image by Carl Hunley Jr. 

My article - How hope has anchored me on my journey 

Anchored in the Heart

Thank God I do

Sr. Jordan Rose introduced me to this Lauren Daigle song.

It's beautiful.  

Today it was on my heart to share it with all of you. 

For those feeling weighed down by darkness, this is for you.

For those who feel alone and burdened with suffering, this is for you. 

Let these lyrics speak to your heart.

You're my safe place, my hideaway

You're my anchor, my saving grace

You're my constant, my steadiness

You're my shelter, my oxygen

I don't know who I'd be if I didn't know You

Thank God I do

Asking the Father to hold you in his hands. 

Close to His heart. 

Today this quote and image (below) remind me of His constant presence, 

"God only wants your ultimate happiness, so take the time to find out which vocation will bring you that kind of joy. With the help of the Holy Spirit and the Blessed Mother’s powerful intercession, you will receive the grace needed to continue this journey. Praying for you!" - Vocation Ministry

Sometimes we forget to cherish because of the perishing world we live in, 

Yet, our vocation remains. 

Our vocation is love. 

To be love and receive love. 

Love is our Constant. 

Chosen Power

Yesterday I watched a video about the actor who plays little James in the tv series, The Chosen. 

I shared the video on Facebook but wanted to go deeper with how that video moved me. 

I was moved to tears. 

The actor is not acting. 

He shares his vulnerable heart. 

His hardships. 

His cross. 

He shares what separates him from being like everyone else. 

Little James was chosen. 

It's hard to be chosen. 

Being chosen means standing apart. 

In this video, he calls what sets him apart as his superpower. 

Most days I don't see what sets me apart as my superpower. 

However, I now realize that it is a superpower when one's story helps console someone else's heart. 

That superpower is God's grace. 

Grace to choose being chosen. 

Grace to accept, receive and give. 

Today in First Friday Adoration I prayed with the Anima Christi prayer. 

Anima Christi 

Soul of Christ, sanctify me.

Body of Christ, save me.

Blood of Christ, inebriate me.

Water from the side of Christ, wash me.

Passion of Christ, strengthen me.

O Good Jesus, hear me.

Within your wounds hide me.

Permit me not to be separated from you.

From the wicked foe, defend me.

At the hour of my death, call me

and bid me come to you

That with your saints I may praise you

For ever and ever. Amen.

These words, now realizing they were right in the middle, stood out to me:

Within your wounds hide me.

Permit me not to be separated from you.

Each of us are asked to share our hearts. 

Each of us are called to be Chosen. 

Faye's First Communion

Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, and do not stop them, for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.” Matthew 19:14 

My sweet goddaughter Faye received her First Communion Sunday, April 30th, 2023, along with 28 other kids, including Faye's cousin Leo. 

It was a beautiful day to celebrate!

I was honored to be present and sit with Faye's family at the First Communion Mass. 

Faye looked like a little bride! 

Her heart was ready to receive the body and blood of Jesus.

As a godmother, nothing could make me more proud! 

Faye is a very creative, bright and fun girl. 

Her heart is pure and her spirit is bold. 

Dear Faye Therese,

Congratulations! 

Your First Communion was a very special day! 

It is special every time you receive Jesus! 

I am blessed to be your godmother and I am excited to see what Jesus has planned for you. 

My prayer for you is this,

"Miss no single opportunity of making some small sacrifice, here by a smiling look, there by a kindly word; always doing the smallest right and doing it all for love." St. Therese the Little Flower 

I love you, Faye Therese. 

As a gift for Faye on her First Communion I gave her a first class relic rosary of St. Therese the Little Flower. My cousin Chris gave me the same rosary for my birthday last year and I knew I wanted to give one to Faye Therese for First Communion. Here is the link to the rosary:

https://ruggedrosaries.com/collections/her-weapons/products/saint-therese-rosary