Journeying With The Saints

Today's readings are from Notebook 1, numbers 74-76.  Many times doubts prevail in our lives. We doubt about what we are doing; we doubt about the help of confession; we doubt God. I talk about my doubts after eight miscarriages and my doubts about trying to have more children. I tell the incredible story of getting pregnant with my son.   

Today's readings are from Notebook 1, numbers 71-73.  Sister Faustina prays for "poor sinners." She wishes she could do so much more to save them. She begs mercy for them. Her prayers for sinners really convicted me. I discuss a sin that I struggle with which was highlighted by her writings.  Our show today is sponsored by the My Saint, My Hero jewelry company. Their mission is to create wearable...

Today's readings are from Notebook 1, numbers 67-70. Too often in our lives, we want to jump ship when things stop feeling good. When our marriages become too hard, we want to leave. When we have to fight to accomplish something, we quit. When our faith doesn't feel good, we doubt that we should believe. Sister Faustina shows us what trust in God looks like even while enduring unspeakable torments...

This week we are reading the fourth number from "Way to Inner Peace." Bishop Sheen talks about how there is more access to knowledge than ever before but there is a denial of truth. We must be seekers of truth in order to have unity in our lives. When we deny the truth, chaos and destruction are the natural outcomes. People are lost, confused, and depressed. It is imperative that we seek and speak...

Today's readings are from Notebook 1, numbers 65-66. Sister Faustina struggles with a seemingly small task--draining potatoes. She is frustrated that she can't do it well and so she tries to avoid the task. It's important to remember that Christ wants to be present in even small things. God delights in helping us in the smaller things of life, as well as the harder things.   

Today's readings are from Notebook 1, numbers 62-64. Sister Faustina talks about how eyes of faith make each hour different, new, and fresh. Why do we lose this childlike wonder? There comes a time when life just seems to become "dull and monotonous."  Our show today is sponsored by the My Saint, My Hero jewelry company. Their mission is to create wearable blessings that empower global communities...

Today's readings are from Notebook 1, numbers 58-61.  Sister Faustina is visited by another Sister that had passed away. Is this a visit by a ghost? What is the Church's stance on ghosts? We talk about this and I appeal to Catholic Apologist Jimmy Akin's study on the matter.  To further listen to Mr. Akin's talks on ghost and spirits, please listen here:  https://jimmyakin.com/2018/08/jimmy-akins-...

Today's readings are from Notebook 1, numbers 56-57.  Why do souls avoid Jesus? There are so many reasons why: Never evangelized, angry with God, had a bad experience, etc. Each soul needs to be brought to Christ but sometimes that seems like an impossible task. The show today is sponsored by My Saint My Hero, a company that provides wearable blessings. Check them out at www.mysaintmyhero.com  

Today's readings are from Notebook 1, number 55.  Sister Faustina gets some great spiritual advice from several people. I think they are a great guide for how to be a good person. I've asked many times, "What does it mean to be a good person?" Barely anyone can give me an answer. I think we see in today's readings what makes up a "good" person.   

Today's readings are from Notebook 1, numbers 52-54. Sister Faustina is struggling with the hard things that Christ is asking of her. The reality of our Christian Faith is that God will ask hard things of us. Just living the Christian faith obediently and faithfully is a hard thing to do. We can be assured, though, that if God asks us to do something for Him, He will give us the graces to live out...

Today's readings are from Notebook 1, numbers 47-51.  Christ tells Sister Faustina that He wants her to paint a picture of showing His Divine Mercy. He wants it to be venerated in her chapel and then the whole world over. At the bottom, He wants the words, "Jesus, I trust in You." Christ stresses how much He wants to pour out His mercy.     

This week we are reading the third number from "Way to Inner Peace." Bishop Sheen talks about having faithfulness in the little things of life. For in all honesty, our lives are made of little moments, little details with a few big moments thrown in. We may be apt to think that little things are insignificant, but in reality, anything done with a "mighty motive" means something.  Three things to k...

Today's readings are from Notebook 1, numbers 44-46.  Christ's conversation with Sister Faustina reveals that He is displeased with what is going on in the convent. Sister Faustina makes reparations and Christ does not leave. I use this conversation to encourage us to explore whether our homes are places where Christ does dwell or where He would dwell. Are our homes pleasing to God and places wher...

Today's readings will be from Notebook 1, numbers 42-43.  Whenever we run from God, we are unsettled. Apart from God, we won't feel complete. We read a very interesting passage today. Sister Faustina tries to flee from an interior meeting with God. As she tries to leave, Christ tells her, "Go ahead, but I'm taking your heart." What a curious saying from Christ. I explore what this means for our fa...

Today's readings will be from Notebook 1, numbers 39-41. St. Faustina is asked to pray for her country to save it from chastisement. She prays for seven days and obtains pardon for her country.  Everybody needs to pray for their country. There is no country that isn't in need of prayers. Any country that turns away from God will suffer the consequences.   

Today's readings are from Notebook 1, numbers 36-38. Why must we suffer? In our world, most of us try to avoid suffering at all costs--only comfort and pleasure are sought. We are even seeing people take their lives if they experience any amount of suffering. This is understandable when suffering seems to have no point. For Catholics, we can come to see that suffering and pain bring about growth a...

Today's readings will be from Notebook 1, numbers 31-35.  We discuss a lot of different things from today's readings. I touch on the vision that St. Faustina experiences at church. Christ talks of Mary, His Mother, to St. Faustina and encourages her to include her in her prayer life. Christ also encourages her to "Make the Way of the Cross." I relate my experience of walking the Way of the Cross w...

Today's readings will be from Notebook 1, numbers 28-30. Be sure, Catholic Pilgrims, that along our spiritual journey we will meet naysayers. There will always be people that try to bring us down or get us to doubt ourselves and our relationship with God.  Another takeaway from today is that we can never think that we have God all figured out. There is no way that mere humans can fully understand...

Today's readings will come from Notebook 1, numbers 26-28. What's a hairshirt, you ask? Well, we talk about that today as I discuss what mortification and penance have to do with hairshirts.  Also, in our readings today, we hear Christ speak some amazing words of comfort to her. It's a good reminder that each one of us is a joy and delight to Christ.   

This week we will be reading the second number from "Way to Inner Peace." It is centered on understanding how living in a fantasy world will never lead us to peace. We must live in reality.  Three things to keep in mind as we read through our second reading: Fantasy, reality, and manufactured woes.   Find more on my website: www.catholicpilgrim.net .

Today's readings will be from Notebook 1, numbers 24 thru 25. Our readings for today are very heavy. St. Faustina is experiencing some very dark torments. While most of us don't like to talk about Hell, it's important that we do talk about it from time-to-time. Too many live in this world as if Hell does not exist and we need to recognize that it does. 

Today's readings will be from Notebook 1, starting with the second paragraph of number 23 and finishing through to the end of 23.  We hear today about the darkness of the soul that St. Faustina experiences. She feels rejected by God and she can't feel Him in her soul. Many Christians have felt this way and what do we do? How do we reconcile the feelings of abandonment with the call to trust in God...

Today's readings will be from Notebook 1, numbers 21 thru the end of the first paragraph of 23. It's so important for us to pray for those that have asked us to pray for them. Sometimes, we get a lot of prayer requests and it's difficult to handle all these prayer requests. Also, in these readings today, we hear about the darkness of St. Faustina's soul, something that we will read a lot about as...

Today's readings will be from Notebook 1, third paragraph of 19 thru 20.  Sister Faustina has a vision of purgatory. We get a glimpse into what purgatory is like and why it is so important to pray for the souls there. I briefly discuss purgatory and explain what it is and what it isn't. Growing up Protestant, purgatory was a doctrine that was completely new to me. Now that I am Catholic, I underst...

Today's readings will be from Notebook 1, 16-19. St. Faustina shares with us her unrest over not being able to be as pious as she desires once she finally enters the convent. She even wants to leave. However, Jesus wants her to stay. I relate this back to a time when I was trying to be super pious during Lent but I needed to be more flexible given the circumstances of my life at the time.