Mattie is a profound example of living out today’s Gospel to “Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation” (Mark 16:15).

And Mattie did this in a unique way — through poetry he called  “Heartsongs” — Mattie believed that everyone has a “heart-song” — a unique gift from God — a reason for being — a purpose in life.

God has written a song into each one of our hearts to be messengers of HOPE.

How can you be a messenger of hope today?

Are you an owner or a steward of your money?

Owners are like the Dead Sea

Stewards are like the Sea of Galilee

How would you answer the challenge: "Prove to Me that You KNOW Jesus!"

What type of knowledge would you go for?

Factual knowledge?

Personal knowledge?

Which one counts?

What's the biggest mistake you've ever made?

Has Jesus transformed this biggest mistake into your biggest success story? (because that's what He wants to do!)

St. Peter provides encouragement for us to make this happen. 

Click here to get Stephanie Gray Connors' book, Conceived by Science. 

O Jesus, source of all holiness,

Hear me.

From the lie that I cannot be a Saint,

Deliver me, Jesus.

From the lie that I cannot be a Saint due to my past sins,

Deliver me, Jesus.

From the lie that I cannot be a Saint due to my current struggles,

Deliver me, Jesus.

From the lie that I cannot be a Saint due to my future uncertainties,

Deliver me, Jesus.

From the lie that holiness is for someone else,

Deliver me, Jesus.

From the lie that holiness is not possible in today’s world,

Deliver me, Jesus.

From the lie that holiness is a life of pain and suffering,

Deliver me, Jesus.

From any fear in the pursuit of heroic virtue,

Deliver me, Jesus.

From any disbelief in Your ability to make me a Saint,

Deliver me, Jesus.

From any discouragement in the pursuit of holiness,

Deliver me, Jesus.

That I may hold nothing back in striving for holiness today,

Jesus, make me a Saint.

That I may hold nothing back in loving God with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength,

Jesus, make me a Saint.

That I may hold nothing back in loving my neighbour in a real Christ-like way,

Jesus, make me a Saint.

That I may fill up my day with dozens of holy moments,

Jesus, make me a Saint.

That I may fill up my day with many acts of faith, hope, and love,

Jesus, make me a Saint.

That I may rely upon Your grace like a 747 burns fuel at takeoff,

Jesus, make me a Saint.

That I may rely upon Your grace like my lungs need oxygen,

Jesus, make me a Saint.

That I may rely upon Your grace through the sacraments, especially Holy Communion and frequent Confession,

Jesus, make me a Saint.

That I may prefer death before sin,

Jesus, make me a Saint.

That I may be converted from good to better every day,

Jesus, make me a Saint.

That I may always keep my eyes on the eternal prize of heaven,

Jesus, make me a Saint.

Holy Mary, Queen, Mother, and Teacher of all the Saints,

Pray for me.

St. Joseph, protector, model, and guide for the pursuit of holiness,

Pray for me.

St. Therese, friend, companion, and intercessor for heroic virtue,

Pray for me.

All Saints, the only superheroes worth imitating in this life,

Pray for me.

Let us Pray.

Heavenly Father, I believe that You have called me to a life of great holiness. I reject the life of comfort that this passing world offers me and instead I choose Your awesome plan for my life. I stand in the truth that a life of holiness is a life of true happiness, that pursuing sanctity is the path of genuine joy, and that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me! Amen.

For the written text of these affirmations, go here: https://prodigalcatholic.com/2021/08/20/33-biblical-i-am-affirmations-for-catholics/

For the YouTube version, go here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XXT8RwXwCE&feature=emb_logo

Graves into Gardens by Fr. Richard Conlin

When Christ rose from the dead, the heavens rejoiced with great cheer,

For Adam's grave was turned back into a garden, casting out eternal fear.

No more graveyard shifts for our Blessed Lord, but peaceful gardening would be His delight,

For turning graves into gardens was His new mission, and our hearts were in His sight.

When Christ rose from the dead, the earth remained silent and still,

For our graves still felt lifeless, and death brought us a chill.

So we hoarded the pleasures of this world, and filled our graves with stuff,

to avoid that emptiness within, to pretend that we are enough.

Still our Lord searched among the graveyards, for a single soul to transform,

knocking on the tomb of each heart, aching for a garden to be born.

Ask Jesus 2 question: 

Written out of an experience of sharing Jesus' broken Heart for lukewarm Catholics receiving Holy Communion