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by Catherine | Jun 3, 2015 | Faith
The home where Jane and Walt are taking swimming lessons is just a few blocks away from St. Teresa’s Catholic Church. Philip has Tuesday mornings off, so he suggested I leave Harry at home with him. That way, I could drop off the “big kids” at swimming lessons and pop over to St. Teresa’s for some quiet prayer time. I took him up on his sweet offer and made my way over to St. Teresa’s. I had never been there before, so it was a treat!
I love the old school T-shape design of the church.
Compared to a lot of other modern Catholic churches, the building is relatively small and modest. I think it’s a beautiful, perfect homage to the parish patroness–The Little Flower.
I sat in the side chapel with Jesus. After saying hello and having some quiet time, I got to read more of Pope Francis’ The Joy of the Gospel.
I’m about a quarter of the way in. I started it shortly after its publication, but I never finished it. I’m so glad my spiritual director suggested revisiting it. When I asked him about the direction Philip and I should take with our GodTeens, he said that The Joy of the Gospel could be our curriculum. Wow. He wasn’t kidding! I can’t wait to dive into what our Holy Father is telling us in this groundbreaking message. It’s time to get out there, smell like the sheep, and “make disciples of all nations”!
I love that I got to read Pope Francis’ words with this beautiful statue of St. Thérèse looking on. Her mission was all about “the little way” — doing small things with great love for neighbors out of love of Christ. That’s what Pope Francis is calling us to in The Joy of the Gospel. There’s nothing boring about being a disciple of Christ when we live out our mission.
Isn’t this stained glass window in the front door beautiful? I especially like the rose in the middle in honor of The Little Flower. I’m so grateful that Philip suggested I take a little breather for myself to fuel up for my mission as mama. It was exactly what I needed. What a gift that I can pop into any Catholic church around the world and pray with Jesus in front of the tabernacle.
St. Thérèse, pray for us!
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by Catherine | May 31, 2015 | Faith
Another Monday means another opportunity to swap prayer intentions and start “putting them to work” for one another!
Here are my prayer intentions for this week:
- For single parents who need us to be the Body of Christ to them
- For Philip to have a blessed retreat next weekend with other young men
- For the Eucharist to transform lives next weekend as parishes around the world celebrate the Feast of Corpus Christi
Your turn! What prayer intentions can I “put to work” for you this week? As always, I will add them to my prayer journal and pray for you by name throughout the week–especially during my morning prayers. Please share your intentions in the comment box below, on the blog Facebook page, or send them to me via the blog contact form. Thank you in advance for your prayers.
Have a great week!
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by Catherine | May 25, 2015 | Faith
Another Monday means another opportunity to swap prayer intentions and start “putting them to work” for one another!
Here are my prayer intentions for this week:
- For safe travels for everyone traveling over Memorial Day weekend
- For the souls of all those who paid the ultimate price defending our freedoms and for those grieving them
- For the Holy Spirit to awaken the “sleeping giant” of the nearly 80 million lay Catholics in the United States
- For Philip and I to remember that Christ is the foundation of our marriage as we celebrate our 7-year anniversary on the 31st
Your turn! What prayer intentions can I “put to work” for you this week? As always, I will add them to my prayer journal and pray for you by name throughout the week–especially during my morning prayers. Please share your intentions in the comment box below, on the blog Facebook page, or send them to me via the blog contact form. Thank you in advance for your prayers.
Have a great week!
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by Catherine | May 18, 2015 | Faith
Another Monday means another opportunity to swap prayer intentions and start “putting them to work” for one another!
Here are my prayer intentions for this week:
- That I overcome my habit of anger
- That Walt has a blessed 4th birthday
- That we have a smooth transition into summer
- For those with high-risk pregnancies or are struggling with infertility
- For those who are unemployed or underemployed, that they find meaningful work soon
- For safe travels for all those traveling over Memorial Day weekend
Your turn! What prayer intentions can I “put to work” for you this week? As always, I will add them to my prayer journal and pray for you by name throughout the week–especially during my morning prayers. Please share your intentions in the comment box below, on the blog Facebook page, or send them to me via the blog contact form. Thank you in advance for your prayers.
Have a great week!
![Singing In the Shackles]()
by Catherine | May 12, 2015 | Faith
In this morning’s First Reading (Acts 16:22-34), we hear about the persecution of Paul and Silas as they tried to spread the Gospel. For their missionary work, they are stripped, beaten, and sent to jailer. The prison guard was given strict instructions to guard them securely, so he put Paul and Silas into the innermost cell and secured their feet to a stake.
Every time I read this story, I have to re-read the next verse multiple times. “About midnight, while Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God as the prisoners listened, there was suddenly such a severe earthquake that the foundations of the jail shook; all the doors flew open, and the chains of all were pulled loose.” Woah. These guys had just been stripped, beaten, and thrown in jail for their missionary work. You’d think they’d be licking their wounds and keeping their traps shut so that the guard would leave them alone and possibly release them. Instead, they’re praying and singing hymns to God in their shackles at midnight! This should absolutely positively blow us away.
How can we account for their singular focus and determination to serve God in all things–even in their shackles? We need look no further than 14 chapters before this reading. In Acts 2, Jesus fulfills exactly what He promised in todays’ Gospel reading (John 16:5-11) at Pentecost. “But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go. For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes he will convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and condemnation: sin, because they do not believe in me; righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will no longer see me; condemnation, because the ruler of this world has been condemned.”
How can we explain the transformation of Jesus’ disciples from a group of cowards and betrayers to men and women full of zeal, willing to risk their lives for the sake of the Gospel? The Advocate. The Holy Spirit. The One who defends and strengthens us in the face of the accuser, Satan.
Before Pentecost, Paul was “laying waste” to the Church, murdering Christians and attempting to thwart all of their work. After Pentecost, when he saw the Advocate at work in the disciples’ souls, he was moved to become one of their most fervent leaders and the focal point of our First Reading today. With the aid of the Holy Spirit, Paul and Silas were able to persevere in prayer and sang hymns to God even in shackles. Instead of shaking their fists at God for allowing them to be beaten and imprisoned, he thanked God in all things. God rewarded Paul and Silas’ faithfulness by sending an earthquake to free them from bondage.
What am I shackled to? What sins are blinding me to the Holy Spirit at work in my life? Am I thanking God in all things, not just the good? Am I, like Paul and Silas, allowing my life to serve as an instrument to bring others to God?
The same prison guard who had shackled Paul and Silas and nearly killed himself out of fear that the Romans would in turn kill him for allowing Paul and Silas to escape after the earthquake, fell to his knees and asks them what he needs to do to be saved. He knew God was responsible for releasing the prisoners that even his prison could not contain. The reading ends with Paul and Silas baptizing the household of the guard and them rejoicing because they came to faith.
When was the last time I called upon the Advocate? When I pray, do I address all 3 Persons in the Trinity, or do I ignore the Holy Spirit? Do I take for granted the sacrament of Confirmation in my day-to-day living? How can I allow the Holy Spirit to unshackle me from the sin that is blinding me? Do I believe enough to start singing in my shackles today?
Come, Holy Spirit!
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by Catherine | May 11, 2015 | Faith
Another Monday means another opportunity to swap prayer intentions and start “putting them to work” for one another!
Here are my prayer intentions for this week:
- That those facing unemployment or underemployment may find meaningful work
- For those with high-risk pregnancies. That God will watch over the precious babies and their mothers, and that they can find comfort (in the truest sense of the word: com – with + fort – strength) in their faith
- For teachers and students as they close out another school year. That students will be successful in their studies, that teachers will be affirmed in their vocation, and that both will find rest during their summer vacation.
Your turn! What prayer intentions can I “put to work” for you this week? As always, I will add them to my prayer journal and pray for you by name throughout the week–especially during my morning prayers and holy hour tonight. Please share your intentions in the comment box below, on the blog Facebook page, or send them to me via the blog contact form. Thank you in advance for your prayers.
Have a great week!
