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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 ReadingWelcome to 2025, Catholic Pilgrims! If you are a newbie to the page, here's an introduction to start the new year. I'm Amy, the Catholic Pilgrim, and I've been writing nearly everyday for 11 years on here. The only way that's maintained is by the Holy Spirit giving me inspiration every morning in my prayer time. I'm an Air Force wife and I've been married to my handsome airman for 23 years. I've been following him around for a *couple* rotations around the sun and I love this military life. We've lived in Ohio (twice), Florida, California (twice), Virginia (twice), Las Vegas, Turkey (yes, the country), Alabama, and a stint in there when I went back home to Kansas while he was deployed. I'm, also, a convert to the faith. My husband (cradle Catholic) and I used to battle it out in our early years of marriage over whether to be Protestant or Catholic. He dismantled every one of my arguments and in 2009, I converted. My husband opened my mind to the Faith, the Eucharist opened my heart. I have three beautiful children--two girls, one boy. Two of them are adults and have flown the nest, but it has been a joy to see them out in the world doing their thing. My son is still at home and it's been fun living the boy-life with him. I, also, have 10 saints in Heaven who are constant intercessors for their Momma. I love my sweet babes in Heaven and at every Mass, I ask them to be with me. I've homeschooled for 14 years, though I'm not a teacher by trade. Criminology is where my education lies and I specialized in dealing with sexual violence crimes. I love football and have been known to scare away children with my...ahem...enthusiasm. Go K-State and go Chiefs! My favorite Bible verse is 2 Timothy 4:7: "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." I'm opinionated, stubborn, sarcastic, a lover of rock-n-roll, hater of turkey (the meat), sentimental, and fiercely loyal. I love Christ with all my heart and I love writing about our Catholic Faith--to me, it's on the same level as needing air and water. So, welcome to my page, fellow Pilgrims. I'm glad you found me. Live the faith boldly and travel well in 2025!
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