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Daily Reflection: 28 March 2024
Here we are at Holy Thursday. This is the day Christ instituted the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist and Holy Orders. In the reading today from John, Peter initially refuses to let Jesus wash his feet. While I know Peter’s intention was an attempt at humility, it is, no less, a false humility. Christ wants…
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Daily Reflection: 27 March 2024
Two days before my husband and I were marrried, we went with our wedding party to the amusement park “Worlds of Fun” in Kansas City. At one point, I sat down on a bench and discovered right beside me a Crown Royal bag. When I looked inside, I found hundreds and hundreds of dollars, maybe…
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Introduction to the Devout Life: First Part–Chapter 13
Hello, Catholic Pilgrims. Thank you for joining me today. Our topic for today’s meditation is one that you may feel a bit nervous about exploring. The topic is our death and while I know this isn’t the most uplifting topic, it is one that we need to think about especially considering that ourattachment to sin…
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Daily Reflection: 26 March 2024
Judas and Peter. Both are going to betray Jesus. As I was reading the Gospel this morning, I noticed something I had never thought about. Both men commit to do something: Judas to do evil, Peter to stand by Jesus. Judas follows through and commits his evil deed. Peter does not, at least initially, follow…
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Daily Reflection: 25 March 2024
“Amy, you cannot live so close to such beauty and not go see it!” On her way home back to Ohio from my house, that’s what my best friend texted to me after her family stopped off to see The Shrine of the Blessed Sacrament in Hanceville, Alabama. My goodness, Catholic Pilgrims, the beauty in…
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Introduction to the Devout Life: First Part–Chapter 12
It’s that time, Catholic Pilgrims, to enrich our lives with a reading from St. Francis’ book “Introduction to the Devout Life.” We are still on the meditations with today being Meditation Four and its topic is sin. As a reminder, for the meditations, I’m not offering any reflections because I think they need to stand completely…
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Daily Reflection: 22 March 2024
Yesterday, while my son was at nature club, I took a little walk to a pond to pray my daily rosary. It was so nice seeing the signs of Spring all around, hearing the birds, watching the big ‘ole fat bumblebee hover right in front of me, and watching the tallest tree you see in…
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Introduction to the Devout Life: First Part–Chapter 11
Welcome to the Third Mediation where we will be focusing on the mercies of God. Everyone can find examples of where God has been merciful to them. Even when, and I stress this, even when we feel like we are really going through a trial. I encourage again with these meditations to enter into prayer with…
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Daily Reflection: 21 March 2024
Isn’t this tree incredible? While researching things to do in Charleston, I came upon this tree—Angel Oak Tree—and planned for us to see it and have a picnic on the grounds. It’s kind of out of the way, but it’s free to see, so with just a little effort, you can stop by and spend…
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Daily Reflection: 20 March 2024
Catholic Pilgrims, I wanted to share some gift ideas for Easter. I recently became acquainted with Dina Zeldon of The Saint Symphorien Institute. She has written the sweetest book called, “The Little Way of Trust.” The book is based off a true story of St. Therese from when she was a small child. It is…
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Introduction to the Devout Life: First Part–Chapter 10
Welcome to the Second Mediation, Catholic Pilgrims. Today, we will be thinking about the end to which we were created. I’d definitely challenge you to think about the ways in which we wasteprecious time here on earth with meaningless amusements. Not all amusements are bad, but some are so utterly meaningless that I’m sure we…
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Daily Reflection: 19 March 2024
For those that don’t love God or those that have a weak relationship with Him, God seems like a rule-making taskmaster. He’s like a spouse that you don’t really love, who you view as demanding all kinds of things. This makes it very hard to want to do what He asks. In fact, you’d sooner…
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Daily Reflection: 18 March 2024
On our last day in Charleston, I knew I wanted to see the oldest parish in the Carolinas, which had been established in 1789. It was getting close to 4:30pm and the church was about to close for the day, so my family quickly headed over so I could at least lay eyes on it.…
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Introduction to the Devout Life: First Part–Chapter 9
Welcome to the First Mediation, Catholic Pilgrims. Today, I will offer no reflection after the readings. I encourage you to listen to the meditation and feel free to pause between thoughts and think about what St. Francis has given us to meditate on. I will give a short break between each number so as to…
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Daily Reflection: 17 March 2024
One of the things that impresses me so much about many of the Saints is that after being removed from difficultly they often went back into the fray or they went searching for those situations that were surely to be a battle. St. Patrick, after being kidnapped and held as a slave for many years,…
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Daily Reflection: 16 March 2024
Hey, Catholic Pilgrims. I recently got to have a wonderful chat with Amy and Jacki from the “Design Your Life” podcast. We cover a wide range of topics: My conversion, meeting my husband, how I started my Catholic Pilgrim page, and the healing from past trauma that I experienced once I entered the Catholic Church.…
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Daily Reflection: 15 March 2024
f you’re gonna laugh, laugh big. This is me with my momma and sister. When I was 17, in my dark place, I was trying to convince my mom to let me go to another high school. We were arguing about it in the kitchen and because I wasn’t being clear in my reasoning, she…
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Introduction to the Devout Life: First Part–Chapter 8
Hello, fellow Pilgrims, welcome to another reading from St. Francis de Sales. The point of reading these deep spiritual books is to allow them to transform our lives and help us to imitate Christ better and conform our will to His. These readings can merit great graces for us so long as we approach them…
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Daily Reflection: 14 March 2024
I was sitting with my 9-year old son the other day and I asked Him, “Do you understand that God loves you?” He said, “Yes.” “Do you always feel that love?” Shyly, he answered, “Well, it’s kind of hard sometimes.” “Yeah, it can be. He’s not here to hug or play ball with.” He replied,…
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Daily Reflection: 13 March 2024
You’ve all heard my story of how when I was 17, I turned my back on God. I didn’t become an atheist, I was just incredibly angry with Him. In an attempt to punish God, I basically stopped doing anything religious. I didn’t go to church. I didn’t read my Bible. I broke a lot…
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Introduction to the Devout Life: First Part–Chapter 7
You would be hard pressed to find a Christian that says that they have an affection for the sin that they engage in, but, the hard truth is: There are some sins that we struggle to let go of because we like them. We may even let them go and cease committing them, but our heart may desire…
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Daily Reflection: 12 March 2024
My priest told a great story yesterday at Mass. He said, “I don’t remember where I read this, but its message is important. There was a Bishop from Europe meeting with a Bishop in Africa. They were having breakfast together. The European Bishop commented on how alive the Church was in Africa, specifically Nigeria. The…
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Daily Reflection: 11 March 2024
Finished another book in my list of recommendations from you all. I finished “The Last of the Mohicans” last night. It’s not my favorite book by any stretch of the imagination, but I am glad that I read it. The story opens with two sisters trying to get to their father, a colonel in the…
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A Catholic Pilgrim Traveling to St. Augustine, Florida
I’m one of those people that loves history and the biggest reason why is because I love story-telling. History weaves a story and I love to understand and learn from those that came before us. Here in the United States, most of our history was influenced by English Protestants, which consequently means that a lot…
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Introduction to the Devout Life: First Part–Chapter 6
Thank you for pressing play, I’m very glad you’ve come to listen to St. Francis today. Our topic today will be on confessing our sins, primarily our mortal sins in a General Confession. So, flip in your book to Chapter Six in the First Part and let’s begin. …
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Daily Reflection: 10 March 2024
Recently, when I was in Charleston, my family went on a sailing trip for two hours. The sun was out, the sky was Robin-egg blue, the clouds were fluffy cotton balls, the sun was warm, but the wind was cool, and the dolphins were playing in the water. It’s in those moments, those perfect moments…
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Daily Reflection: 8 Marc 2024
A little Charleston Catholic history lesson for you today, Catholic Pilgrims. Before the year 1716, Catholics were worshipping in South Carolina. However, in 1716, Catholics were banned because there was fear that Catholics would band together with the Spanish Empire and, as we know, Spain and England weren’t exactly best friends through the colonial era.…
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Introduction to the Devout Life: First Part–Chapter 5
Welcome back, Catholic Pilgrims. As most of us know, on this pilgrimage through life we will spend the entire time perfecting our will so that it matches God’s Will and we will spend our time purifying our souls. Hopefully, we realize that we need to do that. Purifying our souls is the topic for today in Chapter…
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Daily Reflection: 6 March 2024
A couple of days ago, I told you that my husband had a late night talk with a younger guy while on a business trip. They got on the subject of religion and it was clear to my husband that the younger guy is very much searching. There’s a question my husband always asks other…
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Introduction to the Devout Life: First Part–Chapter 4
Here we are at Episode five, Catholic Pilgrims. Today, in our reading, we will get a shout out to Season Four’s Saint, St. Teresa of Avila. St. Francis is going to mention her and it’s pretty cool to see these saints referring to one another, so be sure to pay attention to that. Our readings…
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Daily Reflection: 4 March 2024
Recently, my husband and our oldest have had good theological discussions with people—people who are searching. My daughter, the Focus missionary, was telling me about a recent tabling experience on campus. (Tabling is where the missionaries just set up a table and engage the college students.) Anyway, a guy with genuine curiosity come up and…
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Introduction to the Devout Life: First Part–Chapter 3
Hello, Catholic Pilgrims! Welcome back for another reading from “Introduction to the Devout Life.” Today, we are reading Chapter Three of the First Part, titled “Devotion Suitable to All Kinds of Vocations and Professions.” I think you’re really going to like this chapter. Its message needs to be heard. …
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Daily Reflection: 3 March 2024
I’m a very black and white person. For me, there’s right and there’s wrong and it’s really not too complicated to know which is which once you educate yourself. Basically, for the most part, if the world condones or encourages some issue of morality, beware. And I get it, there are areas of gray, or…
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Daily Reflection: 1 March 2024
Before moving to Alabama, I had told my son that the neighborhood we were moving into was going to be teeming with kids. I knew it was a place where a lot of families lived and so I presumed that the streets would be full of kids riding their bikes and playing games. But, when…
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Introduction to the Devout Life: First Part–Chapter 2
Today, we are reading Chapter Two of the First Part, titled “Fitness and Excellence in Devotion.” “Even so, Philothea, does the world calumniate holy devotion, representing devout persons with a gloomy, sad, and irritable countenance, and pretending that religion creates melancholy and unsocial men.” Isn’t this the truth? The world tells people–especially young people…
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Daily Reflection: 29 February 2024
Yesterday, I finished reading Immaculée Ilibagiza’s book, “Left to Tell.” Once I finish reading a book, I always add it into my Goodreads account. I like having a list of all the books I’ve read because it helps me remember titles and stories. Plus, I like reviewing the books for other readers. Real quick, the…
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Daily Reflection: 28 February 2024
Awhile back, someone that I know was pretty consistently posting hateful rhetoric about Christianity on their Facebook page. Most of the flat out bigotry, I let pass, as I didn’t have time to address it all. A high number of the posts were memes from other pages. One was called “Religion is Evil” to give…
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Introduction to the Devout Life: First Part–Chapter One
Today, we are reading about True Devotion from Chapter One of the First Part. Are you doing the things you are doing–praying the rosary, signing yourself,blessing your food in public, taking the Eucharist on the tongue, etc–are you doing those things because you want people to believe that you have true devotion? OR do you…
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Daily Reflection: 27 February 2024
I was making a podcast yesterday and St. Francis de Sales was talking about purifying ourselves from the affection to sin. While no Christian on earth would probably admit to you or themselves that they have an affection to sin, the hard truth is this: We all have at least one sin that we struggle…
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Daily Reflection: 26 February 2024
I was listening to Bishop Barron’s homily yesterday and he was focused in on the first reading about Abraham and Isaac. The story of Abraham taking Isaac up the mountain to sacrifice him because God told him to is, perhaps, one of the most challenging passages in the Bible to read. Bishop Barron said it…
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Introduction to St. Francis de Sales’ book “Introduction to the Devout Life”
Season Four! We have arrived! Today, I’m explaining the book we are reading, giving a little background on St. Francis de Sales, and laying out how this year is going to work. READING PLAN: https://www.canva.com/design/DAF7SfM46uY/EURpz88JwmPKLDCDVy-CNg/view?utm_content=DAF7SfM46uY&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=editor TAN BOOKS: https://tanbooks.com/products/books/an-introduction-to-the-devout-life/ My email: amy@catholicpilgrim.net …
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Daily Reflection: 25 February 2024
Have you ever really noticed Abraham’s response when God calls him in Genesis 22:1? Abraham immediately replies with, “Here I am!” Following this response, God asked him to do probably the most difficult thing ever—sacrifice his son…and Abraham immediately sets off to do what God has asked, with a heavy heart, I’m sure. Now for…
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Daily Reflection: 23 February 2024
The time has finally come, Catholic Pilgrims. Season Four of the “Journeying with the Saints” podcast starts this coming Monday, February 26, 2024. We will be reading St. Francis de Sales’ book, “Introduction to the Devout Life.” I’ve been prepping for weeks and I love this book already. It’s such a practical guide for living…
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Daily Reflection: 22 February 2024
Back in 2015, my family went to the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia. At the end of the week, we got to have Mass with the pope. There were over a million Catholics in the streets of Philly and it was incredible. I’ve never felt the universality of the Church quite as keenly as…
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Daily Reflection: 21 February 2024
My son heard what his dad was doing for Lent and so he modeled a lot of his Lenten practices after him. Not as difficult or intense, but appropriate for a young kid. The other night, my husband was tucking him into bed and asked him how his Lenten practices were going. Our son said,…
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Daily Reflection: 20 February 2024
I woke up greatly missing Turkey this morning. Even 2 1/2 years removed from living there, I still miss it. So, we get a picture from Turkey today. As I was reading through the next chapter in Job, the thing that stood out to me the most was when Job said, “How painful honest words…
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Daily Reflection: 19 February 2024
One day, years ago, I was sitting with a co-worker at our work lunch table and I was lamenting the fact that I wasn’t a patient person. I said to her, “I pray all the time for God to make me patient and I’m still the same.” She kind of good-naturedly laughed at my ignorance,…
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Bonus Episode: “The Hint of an Explanation” by Graham Greene
This bonus episode is the reading of a short story, “The Hint of an Explanation” by British author, Graham Greene published in 1948. This story is on the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. To follow along, click this link and scroll to page 64. http://ecvlad.ru/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/greene_graham_21_stories.pdf …
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Daily Reflection: 18 February 2024
Oh, how I love the angels. Sometimes, I don’t think we even realize how often they show up in Scripture. When I did my study on angels a few years back, I was struck by how often they minister to different people. I love the image of the angels ministering to Jesus in the desert…
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Daily Reflection: 16 February 2024
For many of us, our first thought when suffering comes our way is, “Well, God must not love me. If He loved me, He’d never let this happen.” Prevalent in our culture today is this idea that any amount of suffering automatically makes life not worth living. If we don’t get a smooth ride, what’s…
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Daily Reflection: 15 February 2024
What lengths do we go to as humans to stop suffering? Now, that may seem like a silly question at first blush, because it could imply that we should just sit around and watch people suffer or do nothing to help ourselves. Many people forget that the Christian life—any life really—entails suffering. Christ told us…
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Daily Reflection: 14 February 2024
I was sitting in the pew yesterday before Mass and thinking about how I am going to read the Book of Job for Lent. Out of the blue, my dark past flooded my mind and the images and memories just wouldn’t stop. I grabbed my son’s hand to have a bit of comfort and tried…
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Daily Reflection: 13 February 2024
Are you leaving me this Lent, Catholic Pilgrims, but still want to get my daily posts? Here are three options for you that keep you off social media. 1. If your church has the MyParish App, you can find me on there. Your church will have to select me as one of their “picks,” so…
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Bonus Episode: The Bishop’s Beggar by Stephen Vincent Benet
Bonus episode! This is a reading of a short story called “The Bishop’s Beggar” by Stephen Vincent Benet. This story was first published in the Saturday Evening Post in 1942. Here is the link to read along: https://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/2014/11/the-bishops-beggar/ …
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Daily Reflection: 12 February 2024
During my sophomore year of track, I was running the 4×100 relay at a mid-season meet. The first-leg girl of our relay had been off flirting with some boys and my team had to scramble to find her once 2nd call came. Consequently, none of us were warmed up and we were all a bit…
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Daily Reflection: 11 February 2024
One of the most difficult burdens to bear is watching a loved one lose their faith. That, or knowing someone who’s never had a relationship with Christ. We look at them and they look tortured. You can see the lack of God in their lives manifesting itself externally. You feel desperate to give them what…
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Daily Reflection: 9 February 2024
This whole week, I’ve been at Command Spouse Training and my brain is tapped out on this Friday. Consequently, I have no deep thoughts today. Let’s do a top five of pretty random things for fun: 1. Favorite animal: Black Panther 2. Favorite movie from when I was a kid: Goonies 3. Favorite type of…
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Daily Reflection: 8 February 2024
My first boyfriend I ever had, the one who I was desperate to have love me, did nothing to make me a better person. Not one thing. The next boyfriend was even worse. He absolutely tanked my moral compass and set me up for a world of pain. The third was…eh…okay. While he wasn’t horrible,…
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Daily Reflection: 7 February 2024
Lent starts in one Lent starts in one week, Catholic Pilgrims. Believe it or not, we celebrated Christmas yesterday. Now, though, we will enter into the Way of the Cross. I’m not here to tell you what to do, what to remove, or what to add in—that has to be personal to you. Whatever you…
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Daily Reflection: 2 February 2024
One of the problems with us, as humans, is that if things aren’t super entertaining or if they are an obligation, we do them half-heartedly and with little focus. “I mean, I’ll do it, but don’t expect me to get anything out of it.” The Mass often gets accused of not being “fun.” It’s not…
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Daily Reflection: 30 January 2024
When I was in college, I cleaned houses my sophomore year to get by. It was not my favorite job, but I needed the money and I needed something with a flexible schedule. Mostly, I cleaned houses for elderly people and one lady with 18 Persian cats. The cat house is a story for another…
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Congratulations! The Conclusion
Congratulations on finishing the book! Please join me as we read the Conclusion written by St. Teresa and end Season Three with a prayer of thanks. …
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Daily Reflection: 29 January 2024
The land beyond the Sea of Galilee in this picture is the Golan Heights and it’s over in this area that our Gospel reading from Mark takes us today. You are looking eastward. This passage today about the unclean spirits and the swine is a curious one. The response of the people after seeing the…
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End of the Readings: Seventh Mansion, Chapter Four, 17-24
Today, we will be reading from the Seventh Mansion, Chapter Four, numbers 17-14. Topics include: 17. Both Martha and Mary must serve Our Lord. 18. Christ’s food. 19. Mary’s mortification. 20. Her grief at the Passion. 21. Can we lead souls to God? 22. How to do so. 23. Love gives value to our deeds.…
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Daily Reflection: 28 January 2024
This is the synagogue in Capernaum, Catholic Pilgrims, from our Gospel reading today. It’s scary to think of people with unclean spirits in them. As scary as it is, we are being bombarded with the demonic pretty consistently now in our culture. Nobody is even trying to be subtle about it anymore. Build-A-Bear has a…
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Daily Reflection: 25 January 2024
My husband and I argued a lot-A LOT-in our first years of marriage about the Catholic Church. During our dating time, we were both lukewarm about our faith and didn’t really give it much thought. My husband literally lived a walk across the parking lot from the Catholic Church on campus and went maybe two…
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Never Be At a Standstill: Seventh Mansion, Chapter Four, 9-16
Today, we will be reading from the Seventh Mansion, Chapter Four, numbers 9-16. Topics are: 9. Fruits of these favors. 10. Why the spiritual marriage takes place. 11. Love for Christ proved by our deeds. 12. True spirituality. 13. Humillity and the virtues must combine with prayer. 14. Zeal of advanced souls. 15. Strengthened by…
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Daily Reflection: 24 January 2024
Today is the Feast Day of St. Francis de Sales, whose writings I will be reading for Season Four of my podcast “Journeying with the Saints.” With only a few episodes left in Season Three, I will soon be preparing to read “Introduction to the Devout Life” by this Doctor of the Church. I’ve had…
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Daily Reflection: 23 January 2024
Back in December, I asked you all to give me some book recommendations of lesser-known Classics. You all did not disappoint and I wrote down all the ones that were new to me. It is my reading list for the year. First up, was “Death Comes for the Archbishop” by Willa Cather, who was born…
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Daily Reflection: 22 January 2024
In my last year of college, I found myself unwed and pregnant with this gal. I was terrified. My morning sickness was so bad, I couldn’t go to classes most mornings and so I was falling behind. I was supposed to go to field training that coming summer for Air Force ROTC, which would be…
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The Last Chapter: Seventh Mansion, Chapter Four, 1-8
Here we are at the last chapter of the book. We will be reading from the Seventh Mansion, Chapter Four, numbers 1-8. Topics are: 1. Vicissitudes of the Seventh Mansion. 2. Humility produced by them. 3. Such souls free from mortal and from willful venial sins. 4. The fate of Solomon. 5. Holy fear. 6.…
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Daily Reflection: 21 January 2024
Our first reading today comes from Book of Jonah, which I have always found to be such a fascinating story and very relatable. At some point in our lives, God will ask us to do something for Him, but like Jonah, many times we aren’t particularly thrilled with our assignment. Often, we have *our* idea…
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Daily Reflection: 18 January 2024
Last night, I was blessed to hear Immaculée Ilibagiza speak at our church. If you don’t know her story, Immaculeé survived the Rwandan genocide in 1994 by hiding in a tiny bathroom with seven other women for 91 days. It was so powerful to hear the spiritual journey she went through in that bathroom. She…
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How to Cultivate Peace: Seventh Mansion, Chapter Three, 11-14
Today, we are reading from the Seventh Mansion, Chapter Three, numbers 11-14. Topics are: 11. Probable reasons for this. 12. Allusions in Holy Scripture to this state. 13. Watchfulness of such souls. 14. Crosses suffered in this state. …
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Daily Reflection: 17 January 2024
So, yesterday, I talked about the founding of St. Augustine and how it got its name back in 1565. When Father Lopez said the first Mass here, he claimed it in the Nombre de Dios, in the Name of God. Here on the land of Mission Nombre de Dios, there is a Shrine to Nuestra…
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Daily Reflection: 16 January 2024
St. Augustine, Florida. Where do I begin? Because I can geek out on history, I spent quite a few days researching where the first Spanish Mass was held in what would become the US. I’ve been to the spot of the first Mass said by the English—St. Clement’s Island off the coast of Maryland. The…
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What a Spiritually Mature Soul Looks Like: Seventh Mansion, Chapter Three, 7-10
Today, we are reading from the Seventh Mansion, Chapter Three, numbers 7-10. Topics are: 7. And recalls it to fervor if negligent. 8. God’s constant care of such souls. 9. Their peace and silence. 10. Few ecstasies in the Seventh Mansions. …
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Daily Reflection: 12 January 2024
Before I met my husband, I wasn’t a big traveler and I did not like getting out of my comfort zone. But, when you marry a military man who gets wanderlust every two years and is spontaneous to the nth degree, well, it rubs off on you. Now in my life, if it’s been awhile…
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Daily Reflection: 11 January 2024
The other night, I was lamenting to my husband about how I have been begging God for something for years and nothing was happening. Normally, my husband is very consoling, but he actually kind of rebuked me over my attitude. “Are you begging to satisfy yourself over this issue or are you really begging for…
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Live Your Life for Others: Seventh Mansion, Chapter Three, 1-6
Today, we are reading from the Seventh Mansion, Chapter Three, numbers 1-6. Topics are: 1. Effects of the graces last received. 2. The soul only cares for God’s honor. 3. But still performs its duties. 4. Other fruits of these favors. 5. The soul’s fervent desire to serve God. 6. Christ dwells within this soul. …
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Daily Reflection: 10 January 2024
In our Gospel reading today from Mark, Jesus goes off to a deserted place to pray. Simon and some others go on the hunt for Him and when Simon finds Him, he says, “Everybody is looking for you.” I got stuck on this statement from Simon. Is everybody looking for Jesus in this day and…
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Daily Reflection: 9 January 2024
As I was coming back to my seat this last Sunday after receiving Communion, I happened to glance up and down several rows of pews. Laid out all along the seats were rosaries, Magnificats with reading glasses laid on top, prayer books, Bibles, purses, baby toys, diaper bags, prayer cards, and a peaceful sleeping kid.…
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Daily Reflection: 8 January 2024
Nothing Christ did was a nice symbolic gesture. Because He is God, everything He did and asks us to do actually does something within our souls. As I was coming into the Catholic Church, I started thinking of all the ways I had been taught that our practices were symbolic. Communion was symbolic for me…
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Sacrifice Is Love: Seventh Mansion, Chapter Two, 12-15
Today, we are reading from the Seventh Mansion, Chapter Two, numbers 12-15. Topics are: 12. Unalterable peace of the soul in the seventh Mansion. 13. Unless if offends God. 14. Struggles outside the seventh Mansion. 15. Comparions explaining this. …
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Daily Reflection: 7 January 2024
Here is the land that the Wise Men came to so long ago. I was thinking about my late teens and my twenties this morning while reading about the Wise Men traveling to find the Christ Child. Most Sundays during those years, I couldn’t be bothered with getting out of bed for church. Sure, had…
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Daily Reflection: 5 January 2023
Happy Friday, Catholic Pilgrims! Checking in with this week’s musings. 1. My Wildcats won their Bowl Game! It was a great victory with our freshman quarterback. Looking forward to next year when the Big 12 becomes the Big 90 or whatever. Still unsure about how many teams are coming or going. 2. Next weekend, my…
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Daily Reflection: 4 January 2023
n October of 2022, my family visited St. Elizabeth Ann Seton’s Shrine in Emmitsburg, Maryland. Here is a picture of her resting place. I spent some time praying here, thinking about St. Elizabeth. We have some notable similarities. She and I are converts and teachers. I’ve been teaching my kids now for 14 years using…
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Make Yourself Fit: Seventh Mansion, Chapter Two, 8-11
Today, we are reading from the Seventh Mansion, Chapter Two, numbers 8-11. Topics are: 8. Its conviction of God’s indwelling. 9. Its peace. 10. Christ’s prayer for the divine union of the soul. 11. Its fulfillment. …
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Update: Sale on Book for Next Season’s Podcast
Catholic Pilgrims, if you are planning on joining me in February for Season Four of my podcast, it has come to my attention that the book is only $5 this month over at TAN Books. This is the book I will be using: “Introduction to the Devout Life” by St. Francis de Sales. If you…
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Daily Reflection: 3 January 2023
Yesterday, I was reading through some comments on a reel I put up about about a year ago where I was standing outside Mary’s house near Ephesus. One woman said to me in the comments, “Remember Jesus, He is the reason for the season.” I responded back to her by saying, “We do remember Jesus.…
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Daily Reflection: 2 January 2024
This is Cappadocia, the land where St. Basil the Great was from in Asia Minor (modern day Turkey), whose feast day we celebrate today. On our long drive back to Alabama from Kansas this past week, my husband and I started talking about evil ideologies. My husband asked a question that he frequently asks, “How…
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Daily Reflection: 1 January 2024
One of my greatest titles is that of mom, though my kids call me numerous variations of that word. They are currently cooking up what they want my grandma name to be in the future. (No, I’m not becoming a grandma yet.) To torture me, they have landed on Smeemaw. Even though I’ve failed at…
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Spiritual Marriage with God: Seventh Mansion, Chapter Two, 1-7
Today, we are reading from the Seventh Mansion, Chapter Two, numbers 1-7. Topics are: 1. The spiritual nuptials introduced by an imaginary vision. 2. Spiritual betrothal and marriage differ. 3. Spiritual marriage lasting. 4. Not so spiritual betrothal. 5. Spiritual marriage permanent. 6. St. Paul and spiritual marriage. 7. The soul’s joy in union. …
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Daily Reflection: 31 December 2023
When I was working at a juvenile detention center, I would often have to make house calls. Teens that were on probation had to be checked in on from time-to-time. I never went into a house that was healthy. By that, I mean, it was always a home where one parent was missing, the house…
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Open to Receiving God’s Graces: Seventh Mansion, Chapter One, 11-16
Today, we are reading from the Seventh Mansion, Chapter One, numbers 11-16. Topics are: 11. The effects. 12. This presence is not always equally realized. 13. It is beyond the soul’s control. 14. The center of the soul remains calm. 15. The soul and the spirit distinct though united. 16. The soul and its faculties…
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God, What Do You Want From Me?: Seventh Mansion, Chapter One, 7-10
Today, we have a special treat. Not only will I do I reading, but I will also read a poem from St. Teresa called “In the Hands of God.” Our readings for today are from the Seventh Mansion, Chapter One, numbers 7-10. Topics are: 7. The spiritual nuptials. 8. Former favors differ from spiritual nuptials.…
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Daily Reflection: 21 December 2023
My priest the other day said in his homily that “we try so hard to manufacture joy.” “True joy, though, comes from being in the presence of holiness. We have a tendency to think of John the Baptist as being severe and yelling ruthlessly about repentance, but we forget that he was a joyful man.…
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Souls in Mortal Sin: Seventh Mansion, Chapter One, 1-6
Welcome to the Seventh Mansion! Today, we are reading from the Seventh Mansion, Chapter One, numbers 1-6. Topics are: 1. Sublime mysteries of these mansions. 2. St. Teresa abashed at treating such subjects. 3. Our Lord introduces His bride into His presence chamber. 4. Darkness of a soul in mortal sin. 5. Intercession for sinners.…
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Which Suffering Will You Endure: Sixth Mansion, Chapter Eleven, 6-12
Milestone Day! We finish the Sixth Mansion! Today, we are reading from the Sixth Mansion, Chapter Eleven, numbers 6-12. Topics are: 6. These sufferings are a Purgatory. 7. The torments of Hell. 8. St. Teresa’s painful desire after God. 9. This suffering irrestistible. 10. Effects of the dart of love. 11. Two spiritual dangers…
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Daily Reflection: 17 December 2023
All throughout history, since Christ’s coming, man has been trying to downplay who He is. There’s been heresies that deny His divinity. There’s been heresies that basically deny the Incarnation because they deny Christ’s humanity. There are those that deny His existence. Today, Jesus is mostly just a great social justice advocate. In many ways,…