Letters to Women: Embracing the Femmine Genius in Everyday Life is a collection of letters put together by Chloe Langr. There are 30 letters from different women for different times and seasons of life. Some a specific, letter to those who want to be married or have suffered a miscarriage. Others are more general, women who are suffering or want more joy in their life. Each letter begins with a brief introduction from Chloe and ends with questions for reflection and questions for conversation. The questions would be ideal for a group study.

Chloe has a podcast by the same name. She realized that many women have similar struggles and thought it would be interesting to pull together different letters on women’s experiences in different situations and how God spoke to them. Some of the letter authors will be familiar names while others not. But each letter serves the purpose of speaking to a woman’s heart and helping her embrace her feminine genius.

This is a phrase used by St. John Paul II in his Letter to Women before the Fourth World Conference on Women in 1995. He used the phrase but did not define it. He did give some characteristics though, such as receptivity, density, generosity and maternity. There is no one way to live out the feminine genius. Rather, it the unique way you are put together by God to live as a woman in this time and place.

All women! I read the letter about Surrender. It was written by a woman who could be my daughter. It resonated with me. I encourage you to take a look at this book for all the women in your life.

It is published by Tan Books.

Chloe offered a great challenge: spend just a few minutes in silence (maybe during lunch time or early in the morning) to simply exist with God, entering into a time of prayer with Him without an agenda, but simply to be present.

Other places to find Chloe Langr

Instagram

Facebook

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Lent is 40 days before Easter, it begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on the Wednesday before Holy Thursday. It is a time of prayer, fasting and almsgiving; a way to prepare ourselves for the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

I say both! Give up something and then do something. But it’s not only me saying this, God does too! Check out Isaiah 58:1-9a.

Yes, Lent has already started but it’s never too late to enter into the season. For this week, choose a sacrifice and an action for the rest of Lent.

FYI: I have a playlist for Lent on Spotify.

Sign up for the Live Notlukewarm Newsletter here and get a sample of my bible study on the Fruit of the Spirit.

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Not only did God give us Jesus for our salvation, we are his adopted children. John reminds us of that, ” See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God. Yet so we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we shall be has not yet been revealed. We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is” 1 John 3:1-2.

Read the 1st commandment and consider if you have things or people or activities that come before God. Do you want to change that? How could you do that?

You can register and learn more here.

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I’m talking about the kind of passion that propels your life in a positive direction, and ideally, of course, toward God and for his glory.

What propels you forward? What are the things in your life that drive you and that without, you would be bereft? Do these draw you to or away from God? Others? Yourself?

Find or rediscover your passion. It’s in you, let it out. If we live out the passion God poured into us, we will give him glory.

And if scripture is your passion or you’d like to discover if it could be your passion, join me to learn about the Gospel of Mark. You can join the group at any time. It is a no pressure group of supportive people who love God’s word.

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It was an honor and a pleasure to speak with Bishop Byrne about his priesthood, new appointment as Bishop of Springfield, MA and his new book.

He grew up in Washington, D.C. , the youngest of 8 children. When he told his parents his parents he wanted to become a priest his mother encouraged him to work first before entering seminary because she didn’t want a son who “was” a priest. He listened to his mom and taught at school for a time. The call to the priesthood remained though and he responded. He was ordained a priest in 1994. In October of 2020 he received a phone call with the news that Pope Francis had appointed him Bishop. He was ordained and installed as the 10th Bishop of Springfield in December 2020 by Cardinal Sean O’Malley.

Bishop Byrne’s book, 5 Things with Father Bill: Hope, Humor, and Help for the Soul , published by Loyola Press came out of a video series he did when he was in the Washington D.C. diocese. The series is on YouTube; the videos are short, but have meaningful content.

The book is similar, 50 short chapter, no more than a few pages each with topic ranging from dogs to blessing to gifts to every day life. After a short introduction, Bishop Byrne gives 5 things that can do, pray, think, change that will help in your faith life. All very relatable and helpful.

This was a fun interview and I hope you enjoy it. Follow Bishop Byrne on Instagram. 

For our challenge this week consider writing your own list of 5 things about your faith that you are passionate about. I’ll share mine in the next episode.

Sign up for my scripture reflection or monthly newsletter and get a sample chapter of my bible study.

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We live in a fallen world. No news there. We long for something to help us. We often look in many places before coming to the One who can help us. Unbound is a prayer process that can help us rid ourselves of past sins and hurts by others. Even those of us who receive the sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation often hold onto our sins, refusing to forgive ourselves though God has done so.

If after listening to this episode you are interested in learning more, go to the Heart of the Father website. 

All of this is done in the name of Jesus. It is gentle, though it can be emotional. The prayer is driven by the needs of the person coming for prayer. The person leading the prayer and the intercessor are conduits of God’s mercy and healing.

I encourage everyone to look into this prayer, especially if you feel weary and weighed down by life.  Many times, by surrendering past hurts and lies we have believed about ourselves, that burden is lifted. This process is not a substitute for counseling or medical help, rather, it si of help for our soul.

Another good resource is the book, Unbound by Neal Lozano.

Do you have unresolved burdens or sins in your life? Pray. Thank God for all He has already done for you in these areas and then ask if Unbound is something for you. If it is, go to the website to find a group in your area who can pray with you. If you have nay questions or can’t find someone to pray with you, please email me dgbartalini(at)gmail(dot)com.

Get a sample of my Bible study book when you sign up for my emails.

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This sacrament forgives our sins, reconciles us to God and his people, and gives us the grace to not sin again. In John 20: 22b-23 Jesus is with the apostles, “he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”

First we need to examine our conscience. There are many ways to do this: use the 10 Commandments as a guide, review the past few weeks and months , sit quietly and think of the times you have less than your best.

If you haven’t been in a while, tell the priest. He will talk you through the steps.

It’s important that we have contrition, that is, are sorry for our sins. We also need the desire to amend our ways so we don’t sin again. We say our sins aloud to the priest and then he offers us absolution and gives us a penance.

Unbelievable grace. Forgiveness. The strength to not sin again.

Those are just a few gifts we receive and that why going to confession is so important and helpful.

If you are Catholic, consider going to receive the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation. If you are not Catholic, ask forgiveness of anyone you  have hurt and pray to receive grace to not to it again.

Sign up for the Live NotLukewarm Sunday Scripture Reflections

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I find his story compelling and an excellent example for our times. In the face of many obstacles he lived a life of holiness and virtue. His faith guided his life.

He was born a slave in what is now Haiti in 1766. His master allowed him to be educated by the family tutor which was extremely rare. In 1787 part of the family was sent to New York City due to political unrest. Pierre and his sister were among the slaves who went with the family. In, NYC Pierre trained as a hairdresser and was allowed to keep the money earned. His master died and his family was left almost desittiue. Pierre supoprted the widow for mnay years, until her death. It was then that she finally gave Pierre his freedom. ONce freed, he purcahse his sister’s freedom and his future wife’s.

Pierre and Juliette married. They had no children of their own but did adopt Pierre’s sister’s daughter when his sister died. Sadly, she died at 14. Faith and discipline is what kept Pierre going. He moved forward, every day, praying and serving those in need, as well as working. He worked long many years, not for himself, but so that he could use his money to  help others.

Juliette and Pierre opened their home to orphans and those on need. Pierre helped St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in her work. He also donated substantial funds towards the building of the first St. Patrick’s Cathedral in NYC.

There’s so much more about this great man to learn, this episode just scratches the surface but I hope you’ll listen to hear more!

This week consider emulating Vn. Pierre Toussaint’s charity. Choose a charity to help, with your time, resources or prayer and plan a way to help them.

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God calls to us and offers to change our stony hearts for those of flesh. Jesus also calls us to conversion. The Gospels are full of stories which point to Jesus healing and leading people to a relationship with God.

In Mark 2:1-12 we see Jesus healing the paralytic. The man is lowered down from the roof by his friends so he can get to Jesus. And Jesus heals him and then tell him to pick up his mat and go home. He gives him directions, a bit task that allows him to participate in the healing. It is not passive.

And then, The Samaritan Woman at the Well in John chapter 4. Yes, Jesus tells the woman her sins, but then also tells her she can be given life giving water; she slowly comes to realize that this is the Messiah they have been waiting for and tells the other people in town. They to come to believe.

Jesus calls us for conversion not condemnation. This is important to us for 2 reasons: so we know what he wants of us and to do the same with others. We are called to share the light of Christ with those around us. And the world needs the Light!

Internally we may change, but we need to externally change as well. This is how we lead people to Jesus, by our example, our behavior. So onto the

This week, think and pray about how some of your behaviors might need to change. Is it to stop yelling at your children, spouse or others; remember to spend some time in prayer each day; go back to regular worship with your community – whatever it may be, let’s start having our internal change and external behavior match more closely with each other.

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Thoughts often turn to resolutions and changes and how will I solve all problems this year as a new year begins. And while making change can be good and beneficial, we need to care first for our soul.

A few scriptures from the Old Testament that tell us what God wants to do for us:

God is gentle and wants to help us live a life of abundance, peace and joy. He is mercy, so go to him and ask what in our stony heart needs to go and be replaced by His heart of flesh.

Consider too, if you need forgiveness for what you have done wrong. God extends His mercy when we ask for it and then we can extend mercy as well.

Pray about what needs a spiritual makeover in you. Do you need a change of heart?

And I hope you join me again next time, as we look at how Jesus calls us to be made over!

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