Fiat in the Mess

Annie Muller and Hailey Skinner tackle one of the loudest conversations in the cultural zeitgeist right now: health maxing, longevity obsession, and optimal health trends — and ask what a faithful Catholic response actually looks like. From sleep trackers to sourdough guilt, from perimenopause to postpartum, they explore how moms in every season of life can care for themselves without losing themselves in the process. Grounded in Scripture, St. Augustine, St. John Paul II, and hard-won personal experience, this episode is your permission slip to tune out the noise and tune in to what actually matters.

What We Cover

• The "health maxxing" and longevity trend — where it comes from, what it gets right, and where it goes wrong
• St. John Paul II's concept of the "cult of the body" and why women are especially vulnerable to it
• The difference between selfishness and self-care — and why that distinction matters for moms
• Hailey's morning routine that changed everything (and how she got there)
• Why Annie became a certified health coach — and the statistic about healthy parents raising healthy kids
• The Church's feasting and fasting seasons as the antidote to both gluttony and restriction
• Why "guilty pleasures" is a phrase that needs to go — and what the Psalms say instead

Timestamps

• 0:00 — Welcome & intro to the health maxing conversation
• 5:22 — Hailey's experience with social media comparison & why she deleted Instagram
• 10:00 — The cult of the body, fear of death, and the desire for control
• 15:11 — Reframing self-care as stewardship, not selfishness
• 17:00 — Hailey's morning routine: the one change that transformed her days
• 20:00 — Annie's health coach background & modeling health for your children
• 27:00 — Sleep: a hot commodity, a gift, and an offering
• 35:10 — Is there more to life than optimal health? Health as means, not end
• 41:00 — The Church's rhythm of feasting and fasting as a countercultural gift
• 42:01 — Hailey's theology of bread and wine (and the Eucharist)
• 45:00 — Self-knowledge, "guilty pleasures," and the goodness of creation
• 50:29 — Practical self-care: what Annie and Hailey actually do

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Discover the profound lessons from the Feast of the Visitation, reflecting on Mary's humility, Elizabeth's reception of grace, and how we can embody these virtues in our motherhood and daily lives.

In this episode:

• How St. John Paul II describes Mary's faith and interior attitude during the Visitation
• The parallel between Mary and the Ark of the Covenant, based on Scott Hahn's insights
• Elizabeth's recognition of Christ's presence as a first Pentecost, emphasizing God's Holy Spirit at work
• The importance of community, service, and receptivity in motherhood, inspired by Mary's and Elizabeth's example
• Practical tips for embodying humility, gratitude, and trust in God's plan amidst life's challenges

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction to the Feast of the Visitation and its significance 00:44 St. John Paul II's insights on Mary's faith and interior life 01:29 Mary's role as the Ark of the Covenant, parallels drawn by Scott Hahn 02:45 The humility and service exemplified in the Visitation 05:10 The gift of community and mutual service in motherhood 06:28 Mary's haste to serve and her response of praise and gratitude 07:52 The Holy Spirit's role in Mary's and Elizabeth's encounters 09:37 The importance of trusting God's timing and embracing life's seasons 11:26 Overcoming feelings of unworthiness through grace 13:41 Practical ways to serve in everyday motherhood 15:17 The significance of gratitude and praise in faith 18:34 Elizabeth’s recognition of Christ and the role of the Holy Spirit 21:15 Living as a “tabernacle” and embracing God’s presence in motherhood 24:45 The hope in waiting and trusting in God's perfect timing 26:33 Insights about waiting and trusting, even amid suffering 30:08 The scene as a prelude to Pentecost, highlighting God's ongoing work 31:23 Practical ways to live out the Visitation in daily motherhood 32:37 The importance of community, service, and receptivity 34:49 Trusting God's plan and timing, embracing surprises and unplanned blessings 36:04 Recognizing that God's ways are above ours, even in crisis 40:42 Embracing the miracle of life and community in our faith journey

Resources & Links:

• Scott Hahn on Mary as the Ark of the Covenant https://angelusnews.com/voices/mary-ark-covenant/
• Pope St. John Paul II Visitation is Prelude to Jesus’ Mission https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/library/visitation-is-prelude-to-jesus-mission-8820
• Fulton Sheen The World’s First Love https://ignatius.com/the-worlds-first-love-2nd-edition-digital-wfl2e/

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Reach out to Annie - [email protected]

Support our podcast!  https://mightyishercall.com/podcast-support/

Annie and Hailey explore four common tactics the enemy uses to discourage mothers, offering spiritual insights and encouragement rooted in Scripture and Tradition. Whether you're feeling overwhelmed, dissatisfied, or tempted to compare, these reflections aim to bolster your faith and perseverance in motherhood. You're not alone — Christ and his saints walk with you every step.

• Spiritual warfare: recognizing the enemy’s tactics versus God’s truth
• Cultivating receptivity over grasping in motherhood and life
• Gratitude as a remedy to dissatisfaction and the importance of daily thankfulness
• Staying rooted in Christ’s identity rather than external measures of success or appearance
• The call to surrender perfectionism and control, embracing God's grace in the mess
• How Our Lady of Fatima's message encourages steadfast faith amid spiritual battles
• Practical tips for mothers to combat discouragement through prayer, community, and perspective shifts

Resources & Links:

• Seven Weeks Coffee 
• Psalm 139 
• Romans 8:14-17
• Luke 12:22-34
  

• Mighty Is Her Call - Prayer Requests: https://mightyishercall.com/prayer-request/
• Reach out to Annie - [email protected]
• Support our podcast!  https://mightyishercall.com/podcast-support/

 01:45 - Checking in with Mary’s pregnancy at seven weeks 05:52 - Connection to Our Lady of Fatima and her call for prayer, devotion, and sanctification of daily life 07:42 - Christ’s clarity versus the devil’s confusion: discernment in motherhood 09:03 - Tactic one: grasping versus receptivity 09:53 - How culture promotes grasping and encourages comparison, leading to unrest 11:49 - The trap of comparison: measuring ourselves against others’ external successes 12:19 - Cultivating gratitude instead of envy or dissatisfaction 13:41 - Controlling versus surrendering: letting go of perfection and embracing God’s plan 15:10 - Flexibility and being present amid interruptions: finding God in everyday moments 16:39 - Tactic two: Dissatisfaction versus gratitude 17:38 - How gratefulness shifts perspective and nurtures peace in the family 19:05 - The power of gratitude in appreciating daily blessings and small victories 24:11 - Tactic three: External appearances versus inner identity in Christ 26:56 - The importance of cultivating virtue and inner beauty over externals 28:52 - Scriptures emphasizing our identity as children of God 29:54 - The temptation of comparison and trusting in God's view of our efforts 34:00 - Tactic four: surrender over striving for worldly perfection 37:10 - The call to imitate God’s mercy and love 38:10 - Recognizing “thy will be done” as the path to peace and holiness 40:13 - Conclusion: You are equipped by Christ, and your work is blessed

• The home as the first school of Christian life and divine worship
• The significance of everyday actions as sacred work
• The importance of model prayer and authentic relationship with God for children
• Practical ways to integrate prayer throughout daily routines
• Creating a prayerful environment with religious art, crucifixes, and feast day celebrations
• The virtue of hospitality and welcoming others as an extension of Mary’s example at the Annunciation
• The role of humility, gratitude, and laughter in cultivating a joyful domestic church
• Encouragement and inspiration for mothers to see their work as sacred, divine, and impactful

• Catechism of the Catholic Church on the Domestic Church
• Brother Lawrence, The Practice of the Presence of God

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• Reach out to Annie
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  Timestamps:

00:00 - Welcome and topic overview: the Christian home as domestic church

02:01 - The home as a school for human and Christian enrichment

03:25 - The significance of work in making the home a place to encounter God

08:18 - The parable of the mustard seed: small sacrifices building something beautiful

09:46 - The importance of levity, laughter, and hospitality in the home

12:20 - Praying for one's children and trusting God’s plan

14:56 - The home as a school of prayer, sacrifice, and love

17:16 - Practical tips: sacraments, prayers, saints, and holy living

18:38 - Modeling attitude and charity in family life

22:20 - Connecting daily tasks with prayer—laundry, gratitude, and intentionality

25:22 - Authenticity in prayer; making prayer a genuine act of love

29:43 - Prioritizing family prayer at mealtime and incorporating Scripture

34:21 - Creating sacred space with religious art, crucifixes, and holy water fonts

35:24 - Celebrating feast days and saints to enliven family culture

44:00 - Mary’s example of hospitality as model for our domestic churches

45:38 - Inviting Christ into our home and life with love and openness

48:29 - Closing thoughts and encouragement to live out the call of the domestic church

Join Annie and Hailey as they further explore the profound vocation of motherhood. This week, they talk about mothers as the heart of the home, and how the feminine genius shapes our families and domestic churches. Discover how your virtues (and vices), prayer, and self-gift transform everyday life into a sacred act of service and love, inspired by Mary, along with  Sts. Pope John Paul II, Mother Teresa, and Elizabeth Ann Seton.

• The significance of Mary as the heart of Christ’s earthly home and ours
• The distinct seasons of motherhood demonstrated through Mary, Joseph, and John
• How women’s unique gifts foster a nurturing and relational environment
• Practical ways to cultivate virtues like patience, joy, and peace in the home
• The concept of the domestic church and the power of prayer in daily life
• Embracing our identity as queen and servant through love and self-gift

• Motherhood, An Extraordinary Vocation by Dr. Rombs
• Letter to Women by St. John Paul II
• Dignity of Woman by St. John Paul II
• The Theology of Home

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02:54 - The reflections on Joseph’s and John’s homes with Mary at the center

06:06 - The safe and loving home Mary creates in every season

07:20 - Our call to bring Christ into the heart of our homes

08:53 - St. John Paul II on feminine genius and self-gift

11:33 - The physical and relational aspects of being the heart of the home

13:44 - The importance of nurturing virtue and environment in everyday life

15:41 - Embracing the beauty and significance of women’s inherent gifts

16:45 - Motherhood and the deep, spiritual vocation beyond reproductive capacity

17:41 - The example of Mother Teresa

19:07 - The sacredness of being needed

22:40 - How our virtues influence the culture of our homes

23:16 - The story of Elizabeth Ann Seton

26:17 - Transforming hardships into a place of domestic beauty and peace

28:30 - Focusing on virtues that align with our strengths

33:13 - Prayer and daily sacrifice as the heart of the domestic church 

34:49 - Personal stories of exhaustion

36:40 - Mary as model for service, obedience, and reign through love

38:01 - Embracing our role as queen-mother of our families

39:05 - Resting in the love of Jesus to sustain us as the heart of our home

Key Topics:

• Holy Week and how to enter into its mysteries amid daily chaos
• The analogy of childbirth as a symbol of suffering and salvation, as expressed through Scripture
• Mary’s presence at the foot of the Cross and her role as model for mothers enduring suffering
• The connection between the Annunciation and the foot of the Cross, highlighting God's plan in creation and salvation history
• Practical ways to observe Holy Week in family life
• The significance of Holy Saturday as a day of silent reflection and victory over darkness
• How suffering in motherhood reflects Christ’s redemptive love and teaches children to suffer with purpose

Resources & Links:

• Catechism of the Catholic Church - 964: https://www.vatican.va/archive/catechism/index.htm
• Fulton Sheen’s reflections on the Passion: http://catholicsaints.mobi/ebooks/book-articles/seven-last-words-by-venerable-fulton-sheen.htm
• Scripture References: Luke 1:26-38, John 19:25-27, Matthew 26:26-29

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• Mighty Is Her Call - Contact Us
• Mighty Is Her Call - Prayer Requests

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction: Holy Week and motherhood amid life's obstacles

00:42 - Mary’s journey from Annunciation to the Passion - living in two sacred spaces

03:16 - Jesus’ analogy of labor pains and suffering during the Last Supper

04:42 - The promise of joy emerging through suffering, as shared by Christ

05:07 - Motherhood as Christ-like suffering leading to new life

10:30 - Entering into Mary’s scene at the foot of the cross: prayer and reflection

14:04 - Eucharistic nature of motherhood

17:01 - Venerable Fulton Sheen and the “second Annunciation” 

20:44 - Our spiritual inheritance: Mary as Mother to all believers

23:50 - Recognizing the divine esteem for femininity and motherhood in salvation history

24:28 - Holy Week traditions to help families observe and honor the sacred days

31:24 - The hope and victory in Christ’s passion and resurrection—lessons for mothers and children

33:12 - Offering your heart to Christ amid life’s mess and trusting in His love

Thank you for listening! Stay tuned for our Holy Week episodes and more reflections on giving God your fiat in the mess.

The conversation revolves around the theme of surrender in motherhood, particularly in the context of the Feast of the Annunciation. It explores the challenges, joys, and call to surrender in the journey of motherhood, drawing parallels with Mary's fiat at the Annunciation. The discussion reflects on the interruptions, doubts, and fears experienced in motherhood, and the invitation to surrender to God's plan. The conversation explores the journey of motherhood as a profound experience of surrender and fiat, highlighting the mystery and grace of this role. It delves into the Annunciation moments, the journey of surrender and fiat, and the acceptance of God's will in the context of motherhood.

Takeaways

• Surrender in motherhood
• The Annunciation and the theme of surrender Motherhood as a journey of surrender
• The mystery and grace of motherhood

Chapters

• 00:00 The Feast of the Annunciation
• 17:41 The Annunciation and Surrender
• 23:49 Becoming a Mother on My Wedding Day
• 30:54 The Post-Annunciation Journey
• 41:29 The Acceptance of God's Will

Annie and Kathryn are excited to introduce you to Kelsey Gillespy in this season two finale of the Mighty Is Her Call Podcast. Kesley is a mother, athlete and writer. We will discuss her journey of motherhood, particularly how Kelsey found the balance between self-gift and self-care and the ways the Lord revealed more about his love, and love of his Mother, through her journey of motherhood. 

Check out Kelsey's First Book In the Trenches 

Kelsey's New Book, Life With Mary is available here and here. 

Learn more about Kelsey and what she's up to on her website: https://kelseygillespy.com/

Mighty Is Her Call is a Catholic mothers' ministry that encourages women who have embraced the call to openness to life by proclaiming the radically Christ-like nature of motherhood. Visit our website to learn more about our in-person and audio retreats as well as our blog, all created to fortify and encourage you in your daily call to holiness.

https://mightyishercall.com/

Support Mighty Is Her Call

Partner with us as we proclaim the radically Christ-like nature of motherhood and encourage women to continue raising up saints and find peace and joy on the road to holiness. 

https://mightyishercall.com/support-our-ministry

Today, Annie and Kathryn welcome author, mother, and podcaster, Kimberly Cook. Kimberly grew up formed by the culture and the feminist narrative and did not see motherhood as a worthy life-calling. Now the mother of a large family, she tells us the beautiful story of how God changed her perspective and how her experience of motherhood led her to write Motherhood Redeemed. We discuss this beautiful work, which reminds us that the true nature of womanhood is maternal and inseparable from self-gift. We know you will love this episode! 

Learn more about Kimberly on her website: https://kimberlycook.me/

Kimberly's Book: Motherhood Redeemed 

Podcast Episode with Alice Von Hildebrand

Check out Kimberly's book for middle-aged children: The Adventures of Lily Creek

Mighty Is Her Call is a Catholic mothers' ministry that encourages women who have embraced the call to openness to life by proclaiming the radically Christ-like nature of motherhood. Visit our website to learn more about our in-person and audio retreats as well as our blog, all created to fortify and encourage you in your daily call to holiness.

https://mightyishercall.com/

Support Mighty Is Her Call

Partner with us as we proclaim the radically Christ-like nature of motherhood and encourage women to continue raising up saints and find peace and joy on the road to holiness. 

https://mightyishercall.com/support-our-ministry

Annie and Kathryn are thrilled to introduce you to mother and author, Catherine Pakaluk on today's podcast. We know you will be inspired by Catherine's story of "instant motherhood," becoming a mom to six (grieving) children on her wedding day. She is now mother to 13 beautiful children, an Economics professor at Catholic University of America, and the author of the very important work: Hannah's Children: The Women Quietly Defying the Birth Dearth. In this longer-than-usual episode, you will hear Catherine's unique story as we dive into her fascinating work. You will get a glimpse into the discoveries of her groundbreaking research, asking the question: "In a world where more and more women are choosing not to have any children, why do some women choose to have many?" You will be blessed by this book and this conversation; you don't want to miss it! 

Buy Catherine's Book: Hannah's Children: The Women Quietly Defying the Birth Dearth https://a.co/d/0gl8kYBb

Mighty Is Her Call is a Catholic mothers' ministry that encourages women who have embraced the call to openness to life by proclaiming the radically Christ-like nature of motherhood. Visit our website to learn more about our in-person and audio retreats as well as our blog, all created to fortify and encourage you in your daily call to holiness.

https://mightyishercall.com/

Support Mighty Is Her Call

Partner with us as we proclaim the radically Christ-like nature of motherhood and encourage women to continue raising up saints and find peace and joy on the road to holiness. 

https://mightyishercall.com/support-our-ministry