Journeying With The Saints

Today's readings are from Notebook 1, numbers 154-159. Would you change things if you knew souls depended on you? Would you be more inclined to follow God's Will if you knew that if you didn't, you'd have to answer for the souls that would have benefitted from you following it? Christ speaks a lot to Sister Faustina's in today's readings and He confirms much of what the Church has always taught us...

Today's readings are from Notebook 1, numbers 150-153.  So often we miss the context of a situation and judge wrongly. It's so important that we take the time to get the context and afford people the opportunity to explain things to us. Sister Faustina, also, paints a very vivid of picture of the two paths in life--one full of pleasure, one full of trials. We have to decide which is more important...

Today's readings are from Notebook 1, numbers 146-149. Think those that become saints never struggle with prayer? Think again. Sister Faustina shares with us some of her prayer struggles both external and internal. At one point, she is in the infirmary and is struggling to prepare her meditations because of a lack of light. Christ comes to the rescue and gives her points of His Passion to mediate...

Today's readings are from Notebook 1, numbers 142-145.  There is so much packed into today's readings. There's lots of talk about grace and the peace of Christ. What Christ says today in 143 is an answer to a prayer of mine. I can't tell you how happy I am to have read what He tells St. Faustina. Lots of good things to ponder in today's words.   

This week we are reading the 7th number from "Way to Inner Peace." We are moving into a new section entitled "Goodness." Today, Bishop Sheen is going to explain why we don't really hear goodness publicized. It's part of the human condition to gravitate towards hearing about the bad things that happen in people's lives.  Three things to keep in mind: Mood, assumptions, and disinterested love. 

Today's readings are from Notebook 1, numbers 138-141.  So often we all want to see ourselves doing something "big" in this life. We forget that pure love is "capable of great deeds." Most of us are not going to do "big" things that will make us a household name. But, if we do everything in love, our actions will be great in the eyes of God, no matter how small they are.   

Today's readings are from Notebook 1, numbers 133-137. What if our name became "Sacrifice?" Would we feel like we have lost our freedom? If we choose to follow our will, our lives will be very self-serving. If we choose to say "yes" to Christ, our lives will be focused on others and Christ. Many would think that this means we have lost our freedom, but is this true?     

Today's readings are from Notebook 1, numbers 129-132. Sister Faustina just wants answers. She just wants a confessor to tell her whether she is truly following God's Will. She's worried that she's being deceived by illusions. We all feel these kinds of doubts at different times. So often we want straight-forward answers. "Just tell me what you want me to do!" we shout out to God.   

Today's readings are from Notebook 1, numbers 125-128.  Sister Faustina has to endure many judgmental eyes on her in her convent. Many of her fellow sisters believe her to be hysterical, a fantasist. She chooses to just remain silent, much like Our Lord when he was questioned by the Pharisees. Growing in holiness can be a lonely road at times. Oftentimes, people will not understand what God is doi...

Today's readings are from Notebook 1, numbers 120-124. Our readings today give us so much to discuss. We go over fighting spiritual battles and how the saints are able to do that, spiritual directors, and how people will not understand a soul growing in holiness.   

Today's readings are from Notebook 1, numbers 116-119.  The tongue is one of the greatest weapons. It can be used for such good, but more often than not it is used to wound. It is so hard for us to be still, be silent, and listen. I struggle with holding my tongue and it is something I have to work on constantly. The Holy Spirit is restraining me pretty frequently. Sister Faustina's writings are s...

Today's readings are from Notebook 1, numbers 113-115. "I just don't feel anything anymore with regards to my faith?" Ever heard that one? I know that it's a common complaint among many Christians. It can even cause some to leave the faith behind. Sister Faustina shares with us that there is a level of spirituality with God that doesn't involve the five senses at all.   

This week we are reading the 6th number from "Way to Inner Peace." We are going to be talking about desire and more specifically, contentment. Bishop Sheen is going to dive into what contentment really is and what it isn't. Understanding this is very key to gaining inner peace.  Three things to keep in mind: Contentment, submission, dependency. 

Today's readings are from Notebook 1, number 112.  Sister Faustina gives us some great thoughts on what can hinder a soul in confession. She's got three points and I think a lot of us will be able to relate to what she shares with us.   

Today's readings are from Notebook 1, numbers 106-111.  Our readings today made me think of my track days. My coach was very hard on me making me run hills and do extra workouts when the other sprinters were left to lighter workouts. I felt like my coach was punishing me and trying to single me out for torturous workouts. But, then I started winning. What Sister Faustina's soul goes through helps...

Today's readings are from Notebook 1, numbers 101-105.  Are we afraid to be made saints? We know that growing in holiness means that weakness and sin have to be burned off. This will involve a certain amount of suffering. I think our fear of suffering or being made saints can keep us from going out into the deep with Christ.    

Today's readings are from Notebook 1, numbers 98-100.  Sister Faustina, again, gives us a vision of what a soul in hell experiences. As our world moves farther and farther away from God, we see people's souls in a state of despair. Our calling, Catholic Pilgrims, is to assist these souls. It will be frustrating and require patience but it is our calling.   

Today's readings are from Notebook 1, numbers 95-97. The readings for today remind me of the movie "Neverending Story." In that movie, the main character must face a mirror gate that reveals to him who he really is. There comes a point in our spiritual life when we will be forced to face a spiritual mirror--we will be confronted with the true state of our soul. This could plunge us into a spiritua...

Today's readings are from Notebook 1, finishing up 93-94. Religious takes vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. Today, we will be talking about the virtues of chastity and obedience and how all Christians are called to live out these virtues. Sadly, they are seen as dirty words in our world. We will be encouraged to not live them out, but they are beautiful virtues.   

Today's readings are from Notebook 1, number 93. Stop at the heading, "The Vow of Chastity." Our readings are different today. Instead of reading intimate diary entries, we will be reading about the vows that the Religious make. Our focus today will be on the vow of poverty.     

This week we are reading the 5th number from "Way to Inner Peace." The focus is on humility. We have to be honest with ourselves about who we truly are. We can't fool ourselves in thinking that we have barely any faults or that it's everyone else that needs to change. We cannot have inner peace if we refuse to accept the reality of who we are, what we need to work on, and how dependent we are on G...

Today's readings are from Notebook 1, numbers 91-92. Sister Faustina shares with us her love for the Eucharist. She reminds us that it sustains us, gives us courage, and "assures us that we will win the victory." I love to talk about the Eucharist as there was a time when I didn't receive it and I know the difference.   

Today's readings are from Notebook 1, numbers  87-90.  Check out the Ostra Brama gate from today's readings here: https://ausrosvartai.lt To check out the Original Image of Divine Mercy Documentary here: https://www.originaldivinemercy.com/movie/the-original-image-of-divine-mercy-documentary-film-on-dvd Our show today is sponsored by the My Saint, My Hero jewelry company. Check them out at www.mys...

Today's readings are from Notebook 1, numbers 79-86. How often do we just praise God in our prayers? Do we spend time just adoring Him? Sister Faustina gives us some great prayers of praise to God and Mary. It really got me thinking about how often I offer pure prayers of praise.   

Today's readings are from Notebook 1, numbers 77-78.  Trials in life can make us throw up our hands and give up on God. But, either way, trials will come in this life. You will either face trials with God or without Him. Without Him, you will have lost the only thing that can give meaning to our suffering--our faith. Our show today is sponsored by the My Saint, My Hero jewelry company. Their missi...