Journeying With The Saints

This week we are reading from the 48th number from "Way to Inner Peace." I know I've said this before, but this week's reading might be my favorite. The topic this week is on how the world scorns the virtues. I know what it's like to look at virtue and look down on those that are trying to live a virtuous life. I used to be that kind of person. We live in an upside down world where many people are...

Today's readings are from Notebook 6, numbers 1647-1651. Most of the time when we hear Sister Faustina talk about her sufferings, she is suffering all alone. Christ is there, obviously, but it's rare for the other Sisters to try to come and alleviate her sufferings. Suffering is hard enough but suffering alone is even more miserable. This reminded me of my maternal-grandmother and how she would of...

Today's readings are from Notebook 6, numbers 1642-1646. Often times we look at our present situation in the world and think, "Man, this is the worst. There has never been a worst time. It looks like the end is near." Christ is going to talk to Sister Faustina about how the world is not as powerful as we often give it credit. We need to trust His plan.   

Today's readings are from Notebook 6, numbers 1637-1641. Every once in a while, I like to do a refresher course on here about different teachings or practices of the Church. That's not to say that you all listening don't know but it's always nice to brush up on different teachings. Sister Faustina is going to confession and she talks about how her spirit was struggling to give a good confession be...

Today's readings are from Notebook 6, numbers 1633-1636. As we've been reading through these past couple of days, Sister Faustina has been talking a lot about the sufferings that she is going through. We are in the year 1938 and that's the year she does pass away. She died on October 5, 1938, so we still have more than half a year with her. We used to hear more about her work of getting the Divine...

Today's readings are from Notebook 6, numbers 1630-1632. As I was reading through Sister Faustina's writings, I realized that it's just one big long prayer. As I tried to meditate on what I wanted to say afterwards, I couldn't think of anything to add. It needs no comment from me. Join with Sister Faustina in this powerful prayer.   

Today's readings are from Notebook 6, numbers 1625-1629. I think in today's readings we find one of the hardest teachings of Christ--to love our enemies. Christ is going to talk to Sister Faustina about having great love for those who cause her sufferings and who hate her. If you are anything like me, you find that very difficult to do.   

Today's readings are from Notebook 6, numbers 1617-1624. We are entering into another Lent with Sister Faustina. Even though, we may not be entering into Lent right now, it's still an important Church season to talk about. It's important to reflect on the Lenten season before it occurs. We often wait till the last minute to think about it and that leaves us scrambling around trying to figure out w...

This week we are reading from the 47th number from "Way to Inner Peace." This is going to be a fun topic to read about and discuss. It's all about the differences between men and women and how these differences are really complimentary. We live in a climate and culture that tells us that there are basically no differences between men and women. We intuitively know that's not true just be spending...

Today's readings are from Notebook 6, numbers 1612-1616. Christ is going to tell Sister Faustina that He needs her sufferings to rescue souls. She is going to go through some very difficult times. She's going to be very physically ill. Two Sisters come to her asking for her help when she dies. She's working really hard for others. We can use our sufferings to help others, as well.   

Today's readings are from Notebook 6, numbers 1607-1611. Whenever you are going through a trial, you always wonder why God won't make it end as soon as possible. Especially if you are praying for it to end soon. We can't understand what God is up to and it can lead to a lot of frustration. Sister Faustina's mission has had lots of trials. But, there are reasons for the trials and we'll discuss tho...

Today's readings are from Notebook 6, numbers 1602-1606. Have you ever thought about how much has been written about Christ? He has been the topic of thousands of books, papers, and scrolls, more than any other person in the history of the world. Nobody even comes close. There can be a tendency to reduce Christ down to just "one among many," or Social Justice Warrior Jesus, or Nice Guy Jesus. But,...

Today's readings are from Notebook 6, numbers 1596-1601. Another 100 numbers down! The milestones seemed to be coming quicker and quicker.  Christ is going to say something that is absolutely heartbreaking. He says, "When I enter into certain hearts it's as if I enter into a Second Passion." We are not entitled to Holy Communion. It is a beautiful gift of love. We should approach with complete hum...

Today's readings are from Notebook 6, numbers 1590-1595. We enter into the last notebook today, Catholic Pilgrims. As per our custom, I will just read the prayer at the beginning. However, the prayer is very short, so I will read a few numbers past that. I won't be doing a reflection, though, so that you can just sit with the prayer and what Sister Faustina has to say.   

Today's readings are from Notebook 5, numbers 1582-1589. Another 10 days down! And today is the last day in Notebook 5.  We are going to go an a cool history lesson through ancient Turkey, which was called Asia Minor in the Bible. Sister Faustina writes about how Christ is fully man and fully God. This is called the Hypostatic Union and that doctrine of the faith was declared in 451 AD in...you gu...

Today's readings are from Notebook 5, numbers 1576-1581. We are two days away from entering into the last notebook of the diary. I'm thrilled we have made it so far.  Our readings will be a little longer as we dissect Sister Faustina's litany of desires. I think these desires are ones that we should desire, as well.   

Today's readings are from Notebook 5, number 1571-1575. What is true humility? I think a lot of people are confused about what true humility really is. One thing that it is not is denying our talents and gifts from God. God gave them to us for a reason and we are to use them. Sometimes, people will be threatened by our talents and gifts. They may be threatened by our lives if we are striving for s...

This week we are reading the 46th number from "Way to Inner Peace." We are entering into the last section of the book which is titled, "You." Our topic today is on pleasures. Think about what are your favorite pleasures. Some of my favorite pleasures are: Music, homemade desserts, spending time with my family, and watching football...only if we are winning, of course.  Three Key Points: Internal p...

Today's readings are from Notebook 5, numbers 1566-1570. We've all probably played that thought experiment where we ask what we would do if we only had a week or a day to live. Most people usually say that they would gather their loved ones around them and maximize their time with them. Sister Faustina is going to mention Christ's final coming. We are going to do that same thought experiment with...

Today's readings are from Notebook 5, numbers 1560-1565. We get some great advice today from Christ on how to fight temptations. Yesterday, Sister Faustina was fighting lots of temptations in our readings. Christ gives her some pointers, if you will. They are perfect pointers for all of us to follow.   

Today's readings are from Notebook 5, numbers 1158-1559. Sister Faustina is experiencing the Darkness of the Soul. We've seen her here before and she always finds her way out of it. However, this reminded me of a letter from the "Screwtape Letters" by C.S. Lewis. Screwtape, a devil, talks about the Law of Undulation, meaning how a soul moves through peaks and troughs. It's during the troughs that...

Today's readings are from Notebook 5, numbers 1554-1557. We are going to talk about indelible marks that are left on our souls. There are three sacraments that leave permanent marks on our souls marking us as different things. Today, we learn from Sister Faustina that there is an additional indelible mark given to souls called to a higher degree of holiness. So, we will talk all about indelible ma...

Today's readings are from Notebook 5, numbers 1548-1553. You know and I know, that we are reading the diary of a canonized saint. I don't think any of us question that. We've read so many wonderful things in this diary, but, today, Saint Faustina shows up. These writings, taken as a whole, are just undeniably the words of a Saint. I'm excited to read them with you.   

Today's readings are from Notebook 5, numbers 1537-1542. Christ is going to share with us today how much His heart hurts when people are ungrateful for His love and blessings. We come to just expect God's blessings and mercy which in turn makes us ungrateful people. The only proper response to Christ's love and blessings is one of gratitude.   

Today's readings are from Notebook 5, numbers 1531-1536. We've seen before Sister Faustina be very down-hearted by the state of her country, Poland. Today, we will see her lament all the transgressions of her country and the state of her country's "soul." You may be listening and feeling down-hearted about the state of your country's "soul." If we care about our country and love our country we wan...