As we approach Ash Wednesday, the question on every faithful Christian's mind is, "What should I do to make this Lent an intentional time to grow closer to God?" In this episode, Sr. Josephine Garrett, CSFN, offers a new focus to this sacred season by encouraging us to examine the very fabric of our relationships—with ourselves, with others, and most importantly, with God. She provides practical advice on how intentional fasting, heartfelt prayer, and compassionate almsgiving can be tools to strengthen our most important connections. Through this, you will learn that going into Lent “blind” won’t set you up for success, but going into Lent “examined” can lead you to a preview of Heaven.

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• Get Your Copy of Made for Heaven by Fr. Agustino Torres, CFR
• Sign Up to Receive Emails for Ave Explores and Join Us for Lent 2024!
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Mary opened her arms to the child Jesus, and we are called to do the same. Sr. Zelie Maria Louis, a Sister of Life serving pregnant women in Manhattan, reflects on how we can look to Mary as a perfect example of holiness and love of the Lord in the final days of Advent.

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Editing provided by Forte Catholic (https://www.fortecatholic.com/)

Links:

• Get Your Copy of Prepare Your Heart by Fr. Agustino Torres, CFR
• Sign Up to Receive Emails for Ave Explores and Join Us for Lent 2024!
• Learn More About the Sisters of Life

Jackie and Bobby Angel, authors, speakers, and podcasters, share how the spirit of hospitality and a charism of welcome are essential in order to enter into Advent. When we open our homes to others, and when we work to build a home of love, we are embracing the spirit of St. Joseph.

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Editing provided by Forte Catholic (https://www.fortecatholic.com/)

Links:

• Get Your Copy of Prepare Your Heart by Fr. Agustino Torres, CFR
• Sign Up to Receive Emails for Ave Explores
• Check out Bobby Angel's New Book, Gaming and the Heroic Life

Meg Hunter-Kilmer offers insights into how the stories of the saints can help us more purposefully enter into Advent, preparing our hearts with the witness of faithful men and women who have spent their lives preparing to meet Jesus.

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Editing provided by Forte Catholic (https://www.fortecatholic.com/)

Links:

• Get Your Copy of Prepare Your Heart by Fr. Agustino Torres, CFR
• Check Out Meg Hunter-Kilmer's Books
• Sign Up to Receive Emails for Ave Explores
• Follow Ave Maria Press on Instagram

Fr. Agustino Torres, CFR, author of Prepare Your Heart, explains how the season of Advent is a chance to enter into the heart of Nazareth, a place of respite, rest, and formation. At the beginning of the liturgical year, it’s so easy to become consumed with the busyness of the season, the work that must be done for Christmas, and we can forget how this is ultimately a time to prepare to welcome Jesus. Fr. Agustino explains how when we purposefully prepare our hearts, we are joyfully anticipating the gift of Christmas in the best way possible.

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Editing provided by Forte Catholic (https://www.fortecatholic.com/)

Links:

• Get Your Copy of Prepare Your Heart by Fr. Agustino Torres, CFR
• Sign Up to Receive Emails for Ave Explores
• Follow Ave Maria Press on Instagram

When Elissa Tiprigan began searching for convenient and ready-to-use resources for liturgical living, she faced a challenge—there was a noticeable absence of such materials. However, undeterred by this, she viewed this gap as an opportunity to fulfill an important mission.

In response to this, Elissa established Catholic Family Crate, a heartfelt initiative designed to assist families, including her own, in easily accessing uncomplicated tools and activities that infuse the joyful spirit of the Church's calendar into their everyday lives.

Links:

• Order Your Copy of Living the Seasons Today!
• Use code AVEEXPLORES for 20% off your order at Catholic Family Crate
• Download the FREE Guide to Building a Catholic Culture at Home

It all started as an idea to create silly socks for a saint’s feast day. From there, Scott and Elisabeth Williams turned their desire to share creative ways to celebrate something meaningful in the Church into their company, Catholic Concepts.

Listen to the story about how this couple went from fun socks to creating other beautiful products to help Catholics grow in their faith by sharing about saints, planning the week, and decorating a home with subtle references to Church teaching and devotions. Through their story, you’ll be inspired to express your faith and celebrate special days and moments in the Church year in creative, unique, and beautiful ways.

Editing provided by Forte Catholic (https://www.fortecatholic.com/)

Links:

• Order Your Copy of Living the Seasons Today!
• Follow Ave Explores Liturgical Living
• Check out Scott and Elisabeth's company, Catholic Concepts

Advent and Lent, revered penitential seasons, stand as gateways to prepare us for days of rejoicing and victory. These seasons are so iconic that even secular society joins in with traditions including Advent calendars for everything under the sun and seasonal fish sandwiches at your favorite drive-thru. Fr. John Burns explains how the natural ebb and flow of the liturgical year, especially with Advent and Lent as pillars of penance within the seasons, allow us to more fully celebrate what is worth celebrating and repent when we need to repent.

Editing provided by Forte Catholic (https://www.fortecatholic.com/)

Links:

• Follow Ave Explores Liturgical Living
• Order Your Copy of Living the Seasons Today!
• Follow Ave Maria Press on Instagram

Erica Tighe Campbell established Be A Heart as a contemporary lifestyle brand designed for Catholics seeking elegant ways to practice their faith and commemorate the various seasons of the Church calendar. While crafting her product line and writing her latest book, Living the Seasons, she has uncovered the profound significance of embracing both the present phase of life and the yearly cycle, recognizing them as invitations to align with God's purpose, design, and blessings.

Discover how you, too, can embrace the seasons of the liturgical year to empower your own walk with the Lord and share the reason for your joy with those around you.

Links:

• Follow Ave Explores Liturgical Living
• Order Your Copy of Living the Seasons Today!

Liturgical living isn’t confined to family craft projects or activities for CCD classes. For Steffani Aquila, founder of His Girl Sunday and director of Liturgical Living for the Co-Cathedral in the Diocese of Galveston-Houston, liturgical living is an invitation for all faithful men and women to engage meaningfully with the rhythms of the year. Join Steffani as she chats with Katie on what feast days and sacred seasons can teach everyone, regardless of age or background, about Jesus and how embracing these practices helps us discover a joy-filled life based on tradition, hospitality, and togetherness.

Links:

• Purchase your copy of Living the Seasons today!
• Learn More About Steffani Aquila' blog His Girl Sunday
• Follow Ave Explores Liturgical Living