Living LIT

The month of May in the Catholic Church is dedicated to Our Blessed Mother Mary.

In this Living LIT podcast episode, we chat about practical ways we can honor Mary and celebrate her this month--in the Little Church that You Call Home-your Domestic Church.

Resources from this episode:

Mary Garden | Catholic Living

Bring flowers to Mary | Catholic Living

Mary Gardening--The connection between flowers & Our Blessed Mother | Living Lit

How to create your own Mary Garden & Inspiration | Living Lit

In this episode, Emily Stimpson Chapman joins us to explore what it truly means to be fully human in a distracted and digital age. We discuss her latest book on St. Joseph, how to live more intentionally, and ways to reconnect with our true selves and with God.

Key Topics:

• The profound significance of St. Joseph as a model of humility, virtue, and fatherhood
• The importance of free will and discernment in our faith stories, exemplified by Joseph's decisions
• The impact of digital distraction on our ability to live authentically
• Practical ways to reconnect with the real world
• The importance of praying for discernment and trusting God's invitation in our vocations
• How to cultivate a more human life amid technological and societal pressures
• The significance of living rightly ordered lives and the danger of being hurried and divided

Timestamps: 00:00 - Welcome and introduction to the episode's focus on being fully human

02:32 - Insights into Emily’s new book on St. Joseph and its messaging for children and adults

04:19 - The significance of seeing St. Joseph as a model of fatherhood for everyone

06:33 - Exploring the virtues of St. Joseph, including his humility, faith, and influence

08:50 - The debate about young versus old Joseph and its theological implications

10:24 - The importance of Joseph's decision to accept God's plan and his role in salvation history

12:18 - How Joseph’s angelic dreams offered divine guidance and a model of discernment

15:01 - Living in a distracted world and the importance of unplugging from media to live fully human

16:39 - Reflections on technology’s shaping influence and how to cultivate intentionality

18:42 - The cultural shift in social media and the importance of local, face-to-face influence

22:41 - Recognizing the profound loss of what it means to live rightly paced and ordered lives

29:34 - Practical ways to embrace our humanity, including exploring with children and unplugging

30:57 - The metaphor of life as a journey and the importance of wandering to discover God’s beauty

31:08 - Resources for connecting with Emily and her work: website, Substack, and podcast

32:34 - The meaning behind Emily’s Substack name, "Through a Glass Darkly"

33:25 - Final words of encouragement to prioritize living in God's truth and beautyResources & Links:

• Home | Emily Stimpson Chapman, Catholic Author & Speaker - Official website
• Joseph Keeper of the King by Emily Stimpson Chapman - Book on St. Joseph
• Study the Bible through the Catholic lens - St. Paul Center - Resources on Catholic faith and books

This episode explores the rich liturgical traditions and feast days celebrated in May. Robyn shares insightful ways to deepen your faith experience and incorporate feast days into your domestic church.

• Top 5 feast days: St. Joseph the Worker, Our Lady of Fatima, Ascension, Pentecost, and Trinity Sunday
• Practical ideas for living liturgically — blessing tools, making themed foods, prayer routines such as the rosary, and Marian devotion setups
• The importance of prayer and participating in the church's liturgical calendar for spiritual growth
• How to celebrate feast days joyfully and intentionally without stress, including family activities and meaningful traditions
• Insights into Rogation Days and Ember Days as times to pray and ask God’s blessing on creation

00:00 - Introduction to May as a grace-filled liturgical month

00:28 - Feast of St. Joseph the Worker — the dignity of work & sanctification

01:52 - Connecting St. Joseph’s feast with daily life & work blessings

05:58 - Celebrating Our Lady of Fatima — prayer, sacrifices, and themed foods

10:12 - Ascension Sunday — Jesus’ ascension and our divine home in heaven

14:24 - Pentecost — Holy Spirit’s descent, fire, and wearing red to mass

17:43 - Trinity Sunday — understanding the mystery of one God in three persons

20:29 - Living Easter through Rogation Days & honoring seeds & crops

21:51 - The value of balancing feasting and fasting in liturgical living

22:21 - Final tips for stress-free celebration & embracing the church’s rhythm

• The feast of St. Joseph the Worker | Catholic Living
• It's a Pentecost Party - YouTube
• Rogation Days, Ember Days and Living Liturgical with Fr Darin Schmidt
• Rogation Days
• Mary isn't just for Catholics | Living Lit
• Easter isn't Over: Celebrating All 50 Days

• Instagram
• Home - Living Lit

In this episode, discover joyful, practical ways to incorporate May feast days into your home—making your domestic church a vibrant space for faith and family.

In a world increasingly craving genuine purpose and connection, missing out on your charisms isn't just a missed opportunity—it's a barrier to the full life God has designed for you.

When you step into your God-given gifts, you don’t just help others; you experience a profound sense of fulfillment and joy that radiates outward, igniting the faith of those around you.

Perfect for Catholics ready to deepen their faith, parish leaders seeking to empower their communities, or anyone seeking clarity about their role in God's plan. This episode offers the tools, encouragement, and inspiration to live a life that sets the world on fire—just as Saint Catherine of Siena famously called us to do.

Join Robyn and special Guest Jill Simons, from Many Parts Ministry and take the first step toward discovering and living your extraordinary charisms.

for more information about Many Parts Ministry/Charisms visit:

https://www.manypartsministries.com?ref_id=cmnqjmf2ogjvuocpg6z0jhmtv

Fire 50 info and to sign up use this link: https://www.manypartsministries.com/fire-50?ref_id=cmnqjmf2ogjvuocpg6z0jhmtv

Unlock the ancient practice of Rogation Days and Ember Days—timeless traditions that still shape our faith today.

If you've ever wondered how these seasonal prayers and processions can deeply enrich your spiritual life and connect you with the land, this episode is your invitation to rediscover them. Father Darin Schmidt, a seasoned priest from the Diocese of Sioux Falls, SD- with a passion for living liturgically, shares the fascinating roots of these old practices—from pagan rituals in Rome to the meaningful ways they still influence farming communities and parish life today in the Christian life.

You’ll discover how Rogation Days originated as a plea for God’s protection over crops and land, and how Ember Days connect to gratitude, penance, and vocations. We break down: the history behind these days and why returning to these traditions can bring a fresh sense of purpose and holy rhythm to your year.

Honoring and observing these special times in the Church year, turns seasons into spiritual opportunities for fasting, penance, and thanksgiving.

In a world overwhelmed by busyness, these sacred customs remind us to slow down, invite God's blessing, and recognize His sovereignty over creation and our work. They are calls to holiness woven into the fabric of everyday life—whether you’re on a farm, in the city, or anywhere in between.

We also chat about Fasting & Feasting- and the significance of what the Church invites us into and why it matters.

**For practical ways and ideas to honor, observe and celebrate Rogation Days-Be sure to check out our other podcast on Rogation Days

Easter isn’t just a day—it’s a season. A full 50 days of celebration, joy, and living the Resurrection.

In this episode, we dive into how to keep the joy of the Risen Christ alive in your home long after Easter Sunday has passed. Too often, we move on too quickly—but the Church invites us to linger… to celebrate… to live differently.

You’ll find simple, practical ideas for celebrating the Easter season in your Domestic Church-The Little Church You Call Home. From prayer and Scripture to family traditions, feasting, cultivating and creating a home and life filled with light and joy.

Let’s not rush past the Resurrection.

Let’s live it.

*One of the best ways to continue Living Easter-is to follow and read (or listen) along with the daily Mass Readings. The Church invites us into walking alongside Our Lord and seeing in the Acts of the Apostles-how the early Church was built.

Home - Living Lit

free Easter candle wraps & Easter banner and kit: Catholic Resources Freebie Vault for Everyone's Use

Living Liturgically in April-Top 5 Catholic Feast Days to Celebrate

Creating your own Resurrection garden | Living Lit

Sunday Best & All the Rest launch

Regina Caeli Prayer | EWTN

April invites us deeply into the heart of our faith — from the joy of the Resurrection to the richness of the Eucharist, this is a month filled with beauty, mercy, and new life.

In this episode of Living LIT, we explore April’s Top 5 feast days: Easter Sunday, Divine Mercy Sunday, St. Mark, St. Gianna Molla, and St. Catherine of Siena — along with the Church’s dedication to the Holy Eucharist.

Together, these celebrations draw us into the fullness of what it means to live as Easter people — rooted in the joy of the Resurrection, renewed by Divine Mercy, and inspired by the lives of the saints who show us how to live with courage, love, and deep faith in our everyday lives.

We also reflect on the gift of the Eucharist, given to us out of Christ’s deep desire to remain with us, and how this profound mystery becomes the center of our homes and hearts.

In this episode, we’ll explore:

• What we celebrate in each of these April feast days

• How they invite us into deeper intimacy with Christ

• Simple, practical ways to live them out in the home

• How to carry the joy of Easter throughout all 50 days

This is your invitation to enter more fully into the beauty of the Church and to live your faith intentionally — right in the heart of the little church you call home.

Home - Living Lit

Being a Pro-Life Family" with Jon and Sheila Hansen | Living Lit

Divine Mercy Sundaes | Catholic Living

Christ is Risen! Alleluia!

In this joyful Easter season episode of Living LIT—Living In Truth, Robyn is joined by Laura Kelly Fanucci, author of Living Easter: 50 Days to Practice the Resurrection (Ave Maria Press), to explore what it truly means to live as an “Easter people.”

So often, Easter feels like a single Sunday celebration—but the Church invites us into fifty full days of joy, renewal, and transformation. Together, Robyn and Laura unpack how we can move beyond the Easter basket and step into a lived experience of the Resurrection in our everyday lives.

Drawing on the words of Pope John Paul II, “We are an Easter people and Alleluia is our song,” this conversation will inspire you to embrace the hope, joy, and new life of Christ in your home, your family, and your daily rhythms.

You’ll walk away with simple, practical ways to celebrate the Easter season more intentionally and bring the light of the Resurrection into the little church you call home.

To order Living Easter-50 Days to Practice Resurrection book: https://www.avemariapress.com/?ref=ROBYNBRUGGEMAN

To find and follow Laura Home - Laura Kelly Fanucci

*Content Note: This episode discusses the realities of human trafficking and may include sensitive topics. We recommend parents preview this episode before listening with children.*

Human trafficking is often thought of as something that happens somewhere else—far away from our communities and families. But the truth is, trafficking exists everywhere, and awareness is one of the most important ways we can protect the vulnerable.

In this important episode of Living LIT—Living in Truth, Robyn sits down with Rachel Foltz from Call to Freedom to talk about the reality of human trafficking: what it is, the different forms it takes, and how traffickers target vulnerable people. Together they discuss the three categories of trafficking, common warning signs, and practical ways families can educate and protect their children.

You’ll also hear how Rachel was called into this powerful ministry and the work Call to Freedom is doing to support survivors and bring hope and healing.

Drawing inspiration from St. Josephine Bakhita, patron saint of victims of human trafficking, this conversation reminds us that every human person is created in the image of God and deserves dignity, protection, and freedom.

This episode equips families with knowledge, awareness, and practical steps to help keep the little church we call home safe.

Call to Freedom South Dakota - Serving Victims of Human Traffing

Stations of the Cross: USCCB / Migration and Refugee Services, Anti-Trafficking

Come learn more about keeping your kids safe in the digital World: Wednesday, May 13 at 7pm at St Therese Church, Sioux Falls, SD.

Home - Living Lit

In this episode of Living LIT, I’m inviting you into our home as I share how our family walks through Holy Week—intentionally, prayerfully, and together. From Palm Sunday to Holy Saturday, we talk about simple traditions, meaningful rhythms, and practical ways to bring the beauty and depth of this sacred week to life in your own domestic church.

Holy Week isn’t meant to be rushed through—it’s meant to be lived. I’ll share how we slow down, enter into each day, and help our children (and ourselves) encounter the love of Jesus in a real and tangible way.

Whether you’re just starting or looking to deepen your family’s experience, this episode is full of encouragement and ideas to help you live Holy Week more fully—right in the little church you call home.

A Holy Thursday Tradition: Scripture at the Supper Table & Seven Churches Visitation at Night Bruggeman Family Holy Thursday tradition and meal

Stations of the Cross | Living Lit easy and simple ways to bring Stations into your home

503: Bringing Holy Week Home | Ignition

558: What happened when Jesus died? | Ignition What’s really going on behind the scenes on Holy Saturday and while Jesus is in the tomb

Daily Bible Reading - March 26, 2026 | USCCB

Divine Mercy | EWTN Mission Divine Mercy Chaplet

Home - Magnificat USA

Find God's Peace in Prayer – Hallow

Amen free Catholic App with Daily Mass readings, Prayers and so much more

Holy Week at Home | Catholic Living