Simply Holy with Marge Fenelon

Have you ever heard the voice of Jesus? Those who have had that experience are quite fortunate. But some of us, seem never to heart his voice. Whether it be audibly, symbolically, or intuitively, we never seem able to perceive what God is saying to us either through circumstances, “coincidences,” or the still small voice within us. For a period of time, I was convinced that our Lord spoke to everyone else but me. In a moment of discouragement, he proved me wrong and brought me to an amazing realization. In this episode, I share my experience with listeners and show them how they, too, can hear the voice of Jesus even when he seems to be keeping silent.

If someone asked you to describe yourself, what would be on your list of characteristics and attributes? How far down on that list would you mention your Catholic faith? Current events have sparked countless terse discussions in person and on line about what it means to be a Catholic. Can we profess one set of beliefs and then act contrarily in the public sphere? A frank look at the precepts and four marks of the Church and how we’re obligated to follow them in both our private and public lives. Calling ourselves Catholic must be more than a designation; it must be a way of life.

As you move through Lent, there is only one essential question to ask yourself. This single query encompasses all you need for your spiritual striving and should be your main motivation. What is that question? How can it help you through Lent? You’ll find it in Chapter Six of the Gospel of Matthew. In this episode, Marge unpacks Matthew’s chapter and shows you how to apply it to your Lenten striving.

In a vision, Christ told John that he will spit from his mouth those who are lukewarm in their faith (see Rev 3:15-16). Its hard to be on fire for the faith when the Church is under persecution. We fear shame and retaliation from those who oppose our beliefs. Being lukewarm seems like the safer route to take. Take heart! There are more faithful out there than you think and when they see you on fire, their hearts will burn for Christ as well. This message of hope and encouragement will help you do exactly that.

Feeling discouraged? That’s not surprising given the current state of affairs in the world. Discouragement is a form of spiritual desolation and it’s during such times that people tend to back off on spiritual commitments and go easy on themselves. But, that’s exactly the time to step it up and increase your spiritual striving. In this episode, Marge explains why that is and how to effectively face discouragement and spiritual desolation.

Most people focus on the new calendar year as January 1 rolls around. But, there’s so much more to know about New Year’s Day. Here’s what you need to know to make it a holy, happy, celebration.

There’s so much to do during these last few days before Christmas! Your To-Do List is a mile long and you’ve only worked part way through it. But getting ready for Christmas actually has nothing to do with decorating, shopping, wrapping, baking, or anything else on your list. Here are the three most essential things to do before Christmas and how to tell if you’re really ready.

Christmas is under threat by officials seeking to limit our ability to attend Christmas Mass and gather with family and friends. Over social media and news outlets, there’s mention of efforts to “cancel” Christmas. The truth is, Christmas can’t be canceled and in this episode, Marge gives three concrete reasons why that’s true. Then she gives three things you can do to make a joy-filled Christmas happen for you and yours.

If you saw someone walking down the street dressed in camel’s hair and eating grasshoppers and honey. Would you consider that person a credible authority? Most likely not. You’d probably think that person was weird at best or perhaps mentally ill. It was a strange thin to do in Jesus’ time, too, but St. John the Baptist did just that, becoming the voice int eh desert that prepared others for the coming of the Savior. He spoke the truth regardless of the possible consequences. Today we need countless St. John the Baptists who will be the voice in the desert, speaking the truth regardless of the consequences. You can do it, God will help you and St. John the Baptist will intercede for you.

We’re facing more pandemic lockdowns, uncertainty about the future of our country, and the possibility of financial crisis for many.  Add to that our Lord’s admonishment in the Gospels that we must be ready for his Second Coming at any moment. All of this can tempt you to give into fear and lose hope when in fact the opposite should and can be true. Here’s how to make fear backfire and Advent 2020 become a blessed time of spiritual growth, hope, and joy.