Journeying With The Saints

Today's readings are from Notebook 3, numbers 1055-1061.

We've been going through Holy Week with Sister Faustina and we are now at Good Friday. The readings will be a little longer to keep the flow of the day. I really love the rhythm of the seasons of the Catholic Church. I especially love Holy Week. It helps make Easter all the more glorious, I think. I share a cool Easter Vigil experience I had at the parish on the UVA campus.

Today's readings are from Notebook 3, numbers 1050-1054.

What happens when we become numb to what Christ did in His Passion? Sister Faustina meditates often on Christ's Passion and it only makes her grow in appreciate of Christ's sacrifice and gift to us. She becomes even more sensitive to the gravity of sin. I think it is important that we meditate on Christ's Passion with right intention and with the goal to grow closer to Christ.

Today's readings are from Notebook 3, numbers 1043-1049.

One of the most misunderstood elements of the Catholic Church is the papacy. There are many misunderstandings and outright lies about exactly what the papacy entails. Sister Faustina has a vision of the Holy Father in her writings today and I thought this would be a good time to talk about the pope.

Today's readings are from Notebook 3, numbers 1038-1042.

Sister Faustina feels great sorrow when others are suffering. She always feels empathy and wants to help those close to her and even strangers. Social media has created an unsympathetic society. We just see others as unknowns behind a screen. It is so important that we "lead with empathy," as my brother likes to say.

Today's readings are from Notebook 3, numbers 1033-1037.

We are going through Holy Week again with Sister Faustina and she is meditating on Christ's Passion. This made me think of a scene from the movie "Passion of the Christ." There's a very specific scene where Mary is putting her head to the ground to "feel" Jesus through the stone floor as He is being held prisoner. I talk about when I went in the cell where Christ was held.

Today's readings are from Notebook 3, numbers 1027-1032.

We know that, as Christians, we are to help out our neighbors. Sister Faustina helps out a sick person in another room and renders them a great service. This reading reminded me of when I read Pope Leo XIII's encyclical "Rerum Noverum." He stresses in it how important it is for us to help people at the local level. More help can be done there than by a government.

Today's readings are from Notebook 3, numbers 1021-1026.

Christian's are often accused of being boring, lame, or too strict. This is a gross generalization, however, there have been some Christians that deny themselves all goodness in an attempt for piety. We must remember that God wants us to delight in His good gifts. We have to be temperate and prudent or we can tend towards gluttony. It is good, though, to find joy in the good, the true, and beautiful.

Today's readings are from Notebook 3, numbers 1014-1020.

We think we know how horrible sin is, but do we? We live in a world and culture that is trying to make all sin acceptable, even celebrated. Because sin is packaged as something that looks fun, cool, comfortable, or pleasurable, we don't often realize how horrible sin really is. This is why Confession is so important.

This week we are reading the 31st number from "Way to Inner Peace." This week's topic is probably going to be one of the most fun topics to discuss, as far as I can tell. I have loved reading since I was a little girl. My mom would often take me to the library and I would get a huge stack of books. My love of reading was fostered at a young age and I've enjoyed it ever since. Of course, Bishop Sheen is going to bring some more intellectual thoughts about reading to our discussion today.

Three key points: Mental garbage, leisure, and intelligent reading

Today's readings are from Notebook 3, numbers 1005-1013.

This is my last day recording from Turkey. Since our departure is what is weighing on my heart, it's what I'm going to talk about today. Somehow I'll make it connect with the readings today. The readings speak of all souls knowing Christ's mercy and love. Here in Turkey, for the most part, those things are not known or understood.