Tripping Over the Saints

My dear friend, Belinda Terro Mooney, has written a beautiful book “The 3 Works of Reparation,” a guide to help you make reparation to the Sacred Heart, Holy Face, and Immaculate Heart.

So many precious Saints have begun this work, encouraging the faithful to continue – St. Gertrude, St. John Eudes, St. Margaret Mary Alocoque, St. Claude de la Colombiere, Sister Maria de St. Pierre, St. Therese, Blessed Maria Pierina de Micheli, Venerable Leo Dupont, Venerable Lucia dos Santos, and Sts. Jacinta and Francisco Marto. Belinda now asks us to pick up the torch and carry forward this incredibly important work!

“Belinda Terro Mooney shows us the way to a better life. If we practice reparation — if we make it habitual — if we help bear the crosses of others — we’ll become more merciful, more God-like, and by our silent witness we’ll teach mercy to a world that has come to reject it.” Mike Aquilina, author of The Fathers of the Church.

The Three Works of Reparation: God’s Divine Mercy for Our Times

About Belinda:

I love to serve by writing, teaching, training, and speaking at conferences. I’ve had experience as an adjunct professor in human services or social work at three different colleges (Georgia State University, Oglethorpe, and Lone Star College Montgomery). I’ve helped develop an addictions course at Belmont Abbey College. I have been a licensed professional social worker and addictions counselor for over 15 years, having worked in educational, hospital, and clinical environments. My specialized clinical experience is in addictions, group therapy, and case management. I owned my own business, training other professionals in addictions, self-care, and ethics and speaking at local, state, regional, and national conferences. I have been blessed to be able to home educate my seven children over the last 28 years and to write articles and speak at Home Education conferences.

I love my faith and hope that all I have done will give glory to God.

Resources:

A Look at Life: A Book of Poetry by Belinda Terro Mooney | En Route Books and Media

Pray with Us: A Saint for Every Day

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I had the privilege of speaking with Sr. Mary Catherine Blanding! She has written a book about Saint John Henry Newman, one of my favorite Saints! Join us as we talk about why she chose him to write a book about! 

A very sweet note from Sr. Mary Catherine Blanding, IHM:

When I looked up the publication date of my book, I discovered it was released on May 24, the Feast of Our Lady, Mother of the Church. Though that greatly consoled me, I was mistaken when I mentioned that it was the feast of St. Philip Neri. I still believe St. John Henry is “coaching” me!

If any of your listeners would like to learn more about either our Sisters or St. John Henry Newman, these resources may be helpful:

The blog includes a history of our Lovers of Newman group, along with reflections that individuals or groups may use in pondering or discussing St. John Henry’s sermons.

Sister Mary Catherine Blanding’s St. John Henry Newman: A Doctor of the Church for Our Time presents a compelling and deeply pastoral introduction to one of the most influential Catholic thinkers of the modern era. Drawing from Newman’s sermons, spiritual writings, and personal journey of conversion, Blanding reveals why Newman continues to speak powerfully to contemporary believers confronting doubt, secularism, loneliness, and the search for holiness. Both intellectually rich and spiritually accessible, the work serves as a guide to prayer, conscience, divine providence, and authentic Christian transformation.

Emily Simpson Chapman is one of my absolute favorite writers. Her writing is challenging yet effortless. Does that make sense? You know those authors who give you something to ponder and reevaluate, but your eyes fly over the page? You don’t stumble and have to reread pages at a time? (ahem, Saint Thomas Aquinas….)

When presented with the opportunity to sit down and chat with her, I may have scared Brian with my yell excitement.

Emily is a fellow adoptive mama, a lover of the Church and food (yes, those go together in my book), and travel.

Please join us as we talk about the Saint that has journeyed with her – Saint Anne, Mother of Mary, Grandmother of Jesus!

And please support her newest book, Joseph, Keeper of the King.

Resources:

Emily’s Website: https://www.emilystimpsonchapman.com/ – books, recipes, pilgrimages, and so much more!

Emily’s newest book: Joseph, Keeper of the King

The Story of All Stories: A Story Bible for Young Catholics

Emily’s Substack: https://substack.com/@emilystimpsonchapman

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Meg was my very first podcast guest three years ago! Talking with her on that very first episode confirmed in my heart that this podcast and the stories of the Saints deserved a place on the airwaves. Meg has just released her newest work – Eyes Fixed on Jesus, Volume 1: A Journey Into the Gospels. I hope you listen and hear all about her passion for reminding people how fiercely and tenderly they are loved by God!

Eyes Fixed on Jesus, Volume 1: A Journey Into the Gospels

Saints Around the World

Pray for Us: 75 Saints Who Sinned, Suffered, and Struggled on Their Way to Holiness

I had the absolute pleasure of talking with Maura Roan McKeegan about her newest addition in the series of children’s picture books about biblical typology! The series is called The Old and the New. Maura’s passion to teach children about the connections between the Old Testament and the New Testament is the driving force behind these books. The stories, the connections, and the illustrations fascinate my younger children, ages 8 and 10!

We spoke about Servant of God Fr. Don Dolindo Ruotolo and the influence the Surrender Novena has had on her life and on her writing. When you see someone truly embrace this submission to God’s will, there is an unmistakable peace that they have. As I spoke with Maura about future projects and dreams, I could hear how she truly gives everything to Jesus in surrender.

This interview was an encouraging reminder that something as simple as the line below an email signature might just be the thing God uses to spark someone’s heart into an overflow of creativity, wisdom, and grace!

My time with her was delightful. Her knowledge of scripture and excitement for instilling a love of reading scripture in children is thrilling! I hope you order copies of The Old and the New series for your family to enjoy!

Resources:

The Old and The New Series

Maura’s article about the Surrender Novena

Maura’s Substack – Stories of Don Dolindo

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“Love and sacrifice are as intimately connected as sun and light. We cannot love without suffering or suffer without loving.” St. Gianna Molla

I had the privilege of speaking with Jenna and Kevin Bauer about the birth of their beautiful daughter, Mary Elizabeth. This is a story of faith and perseverance, of a mother and father who fell at the feet of Jesus and surrendered everything to Him.

From Spirit Juice:

A fetal diagnosis of Down Syndrome and heart conditions. A family’s fervent prayers answered. A mother’s divine vision in a hospital waiting room. A miraculous story of life and healing.

Believe: Bauer Miracle Story is a new short film premiering online October 1 that tells the incredible true story of Mary Elizabeth Bauer, a baby prenatally diagnosed with Down Syndrome and serious heart defects and almost no chance of survival. After an outpouring of prayer from her family and local community, Mary was born and soon underwent a high risk heart surgery that put her on life support.

Her mother Jennifer experienced a divine vision of St. Michael, Mary, and Jesus while praying in the hospital waiting room at the same time that her daughter was successfully taken off life support and her condition stabilized.

“Mary is a constant reminder of just how beautiful life is,” said Jennifer Bauer, “We want to share our story because we think it will move others to know that Christ is real and that he will hear you and answer your prayers according to his will.”

About Spirit Juice Studios

Spirit Juice Studios is an award-winning, Chicago-based creative production firm specializing in the transformative power of high-quality visual media merged with the ever ancient, ever new beauty of Catholicism. Learn more at www.spiritjuicestudios.com.

Follow more of the story on Instagram : @marys_mission_

Lily, Mary Elizabeth’s older sister, runs Mary’s Mission instagram page devoted to Mary. Lily made a vow to Mary Elizabeth when she was on life support that she would always be her biggest advocate and make sure she had a voice in this world. Lily has made good on that promise.

https://www.spiritjuice.org/shortfilms/believe/

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Cecilia Stevenson, producer, joins me to talk about Saint Maximillian Kolbe and the new movie, Triumph of the Heart!

Most stories about St. Maximilian Kolbe’s biography end when he steps forward to take the place of a condemned man in Auschwitz. “Triumph of the Heart,” however, begins there. In the harrowing confines of a starvation cell at the infamous concentration camp, Kolbe joins nine other condemned men and fights to forge a brotherhood of hope despite their suffering and desperation. As despair and fear grip the group, the pressures of starvation and internal ideological divisions mount. Yet, Kolbe’s appeal to their shared humanity and Polish identity forges a brotherhood that culminates in a poignant act of sacrifice, illuminating hope in one of history’s darkest moments.

Director Anthony D’Ambrosio was at the darkest moment of his life. A chronic illness overtook him. It destroyed his life. He couldn’t sleep. His relationship ended. He could barely hold down his job. Worse, there was no cure in sight. He lost his faith and wanted to die. And then he remembered St. Maximilian Kolbe’s story of courage and sacrifice and how this already heroic man built a brotherhood of light in the darkness of an Auschwitz starvation bunker.

Before its Nazi occupation, Łódź (pro. “Wooch”) had Poland’s second largest Jewish population. The Nazis established a ghetto there in 1940. It was enclosed by fences and barbed wire, with strict guarding by German police. Life within the ghetto was characterized by horrific conditions, including extreme overcrowding, starvation and a lack of basic necessities such as running water and sanitation. Beginning in January 1942, deportations from the Łódź ghetto to the Chelmno extermination camp began. Jewish residents were murdered in gas vans upon arrival at Chelmno. In September 1942, the Germans specifically targeted children, the elderly and the sick for deportation to Chelmno during what became known as “The Sperre” or “Children’s Aktion.” In 1944, the Łódź Ghetto was the last remaining ghetto in German-occupied Poland. The Germans liquidated it, deporting the remaining approximately 75,000 Jews to Auschwitz-Birkenau and Chelmno, where most were murdered. When Soviet forces liberated Łódź in January 1945, only a small number of Jews remained, either in hiding or in forced-labor units, highlighting the devastating impact of the Holocaust on this community.

The film tells the story of St. Maximilian’s final two weeks on earth through the eyes of the nine men with whom he was condemned.

Director Anthony D’Ambrosio’s most important decision was to tell the story largely from the perspective of Kolbe’s fellow doomed men, a group the film imagines as a representative mix of Auschwitz prisoners: young and old, of varying levels of education; Catholic, Jewish, non-

As a project of D’Ambrosio’s Sherwood Fellows, “Triumph of the Heart” has already made a significant impact in the Catholic film community, becoming the most successful Catholic Film Kickstarter of all time, raising $160,000 in Kickstarter funds alone.

Cecilia Stevenson is a film producer with a background in live media, narrative film and television, and corporate video production. She has a passion for stories that explore faith, purpose and sacrifice, and she specializes in producing faith-based and mission-oriented projects. After graduation from Texas A&M University, she pursued a career in video production. However, she eventually found herself falling in love with the world of narrative filmmaking and has worked on large production sets, including those of “The Chosen” and “Washington’s Armor.” In 2016, she met Anthony D’Ambrosio (writer/director of “Triumph of the Heart”), and the duo quickly discovered the complementarity of their strengths and shared values to produce faith-based films. Cecilia enjoys downhill mountain biking, creating spreadsheets and playing board games. She is a devoted Catholic who calls producing “Triumph of the Heart” the most challenging — and most meaningful — experience of her life.

You can watch the trailer for “Triumph of the Heart” HERE.

Or you can have the amazing opportunity to host a community screening HERE.

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On this episode of Tripping over the Saints, I’m joined by my friend DeeDee. You guys – this the sweetest story! Pull up a chair and listen to DeeDee and I talk about the beautiful twists and turns of life that led her closer to Jesus, through her friend Saint Martin de Porres.

A very special thank you to Father McDaniel for introducing DeeDee and me.

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After taking a break over Lent, Patrick joined me to share about his newest book, Saints Come in all Shapes and Sizes!

This was the perfect book to kick off the next season of Tripping Over the Saints!

About Patrick:

Patrick O’Hearn is a devout Catholic, husband, and father. He is an author of seven books and counting, literary consultant, speaker, and a freelance editor, previously serving as TAN Books’ acquisitions editor for two years.He grew up in the Midwest and spent close to three years in a Benedictine Monastery before discerning the call to marriage. He graduated with a master’s in education from Franciscan University of Steubenville and a bachelor’s in marketing from St. Ambrose University.  You can visit his website at patrickrohearn.com.

Resources:

Website – patrickrohearn.com

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Katherine (Katie) Bogner joins us again! You guys – she has a new book out – All About Lent! This is the perfect book to teach your children about the Biblical roots of Lent and Holy Week.

About Katie:

Katie Bogner is a Catholic school teacher from Central Illinois who is passionate about equipping parents, catechists, and teachers to share the beauty and truth of Christ and His Church with children. She is the author of the books Through the Year with Jesus and Through the Year with Mary, as well as All about Advent & Christmas and We Have a Pope. Visit her website, LookToHimAndBeRadiant.com, for free lesson plans, printables, and other resources for teaching the faith.

Connect with Katie here:

@katherine.bogner

LookToHimAndBeRadiant.com

Resources:

All About Lent

Through the Year with Jesus

Through the Year with Mary

All about Advent & Christmas

We Have a Pope

https://stpaulcenter.co/saints-lent

@stpaulcenter

@emmausroadpublishing 

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