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To prepare for Season Five of my "Journeying with the Saints" podcast, I figured I better watch the movie, "Cabrini." It's because of this movie that the book containing her letters "fell" into my hands last spring. Not long after the movie came out, a man named Michael reached out to me. He told me, "I found Mother Cabrini's letters in an online copy of an out-of-print book about four years ago, and after I couldn't find a physical copy at any of the online used bookstores I vowed to republish it." He continued, "The seventeen letters in the book are remarkable for their quality, and she intricately weaves her faith and spiritual wisdom into her recounting of the adventures of her travels." His hard work is the book we will be reading this season for the podcast. It's titled, "Letters from the Voyages of St. Francis Cabrini." For Seasons One and Three, I read from mystics. For Seasons Two and Four, I read from two priests. I haven't yet read from a missionary. So, my family watched the movie a few nights ago because when people ask, I want to speak intelligently about it and not rely on hearsay. I, also, want to see if how she is portrayed in the movie is accurate to her tone and personality in her actual letters. To get my review and thoughts on the movie, you will have to listen in to the first episode of my podcast on February 1st, 2025. Looking forward to it, Catholic Pilgrims!
Continue ReadingThis picture is from the monastery founded by St. Basil the Great, who along with St. Gregory Nazianzen, is celebrated today. It is located in Cappadocia, Turkey. This part of the structure comes centuries after St. Basil's time which was in the late 300s. My daughter and I took a walk the other day out in the desert and I asked her if she had any resolutions for the new year. She said, "No, not really. If I want to do something or change something, I just do it. There's no reason to wait until the start of a new year." I get the desire to start something with the freshness of a new year. It's like a reset button. But, if something is good for you and should be done, it should be done once you realize you need to make the change. If you know you should read the Bible more, start when your conscience is pricked. If you need to get healthy, start as soon as you can. If you need to give up an addiction, don't wait for a new year. One of the reasons that New Year's resolutions don't stick for so many is that the motive very often is too inwardly focused. If the change desired is attached to a vice, such as vanity, it will be difficult to sustain. St. Basil founded the monastery in this area to reform lives and to combat heresy. Once he knew it was what he needed to do, he set out to do it. And the motive was God-focused, not self-focused. If our desire to change or grow is attached to a desire to be able to live out God's will better, it is more likely it will stick. Our purpose in this life is to live out God's will and when we align growth and change with His Will, it means we are doing it for someone outside ourself. Ultimately, this will make us more happy. There is nothing wrong with starting a resolution at the beginning of the year, Catholic Pilgrims. We just have to make sure we are doing it for the right reasons and the main reason, above all else, is to be better equipped to live out God's purpose for us. Have a blessed Thursday.
Continue ReadingWhere do I start to list the blessings from this year? I've been doing this social media thing for over a decade. To think of where I started and where I'm at now is truly astounding. In my early days, I wanted to quit every other day. Mostly because I had like five followers and I wasn't gaining any ground. But, I kept plugging away. I continued to stay to true to myself and my goal of wanting to create an online community where we helped each other along the pilgrimage of life. It's been such a joy for me to write for you all and have us share our ups and downs in the spiritual life. So, let's go through a few highlights of this year! 1. At the beginning of the year, I visited St. Augustine and got to see where some of the earliest Catholic seeds were planted in the US. Visiting The Shrine of Our Lady of Leche and the cathedral were great mini-pilgrimages. 2. In early spring, I visited Charleston, SC and laid eyes on the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. Beautiful! I, also, quickly got to see the oldest church in town before it closed for the day. 3. Around Easter time, I got to visit one of the most gorgeous Catholic Churches in the US. The Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Hanceville, AL made my jaw drop. The monstrance is truly fit for Our King. 4. My family PCS'd from Alabama to California in June. I made a trip to see another mission, so now my number is up to 10 out of the 21 missions in California. 5. I finished Season Four of my "Journeying with the Saints" podcast. Together, we listened to and reflected on St. Francis de Sales' book "Introduction to the Devout Life." It is one of my favorite spiritual books now. I'm, also, happy to know St. Francis better and call him friend. Those are some of my highlights and I thank you all for joining along with me. I have a lot of exciting things planned for this next year and I can't wait to share it all with you. I hope you are able to look back on this past year and find many blessings, Catholic Pilgrims. If it's be a trying year with not so many highs, I pray that God has sustained you through your sufferings. You know what to do in 2025--Live the Faith boldly and travel well!
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