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From today's First Reading: "For Zion’s sake I will not be silent, for Jerusalem’s sake I will not be quiet, until her vindication shines forth like the dawn and her victory like a burning torch. Nations shall behold your vindication, and all the kings your glory; you shall be called by a new name pronounced by the mouth of the LORD. You shall be a glorious crown in the hand of the LORD, a royal diadem held by your God. No more shall people call you “Forsaken," or your land “Desolate," but you shall be called “My Delight, “and your land “Espoused.” For the LORD delights in you and makes your land his spouse. As a young man marries a virgin, your Builder shall marry you; and as a bridegroom rejoices in his bride so shall your God rejoice in you." (Isaiah 62:1-5) This is His Love for you: a love that is unique, personal, and spousal, unlike any other. As part of His Church, the Body of Christ, Jesus longs to unite with you in a love that is infinite, self-giving, and total. Even if your Vocation is not consecrated life as a literal Bride of Christ, or one of a priest who cares for the Church with the love of a Bridegroom, know that Jesus still desires a deep, intimate union with you—a love that mirrors the spousal love He has for His Church. As you hear these words in the first reading for Mass tomorrow, think of this: Your God rejoices in you. He rejoices in you in your most beautiful moments- and your messiest. He rejoices in the you that is attending daily Mass, leading a Bible study, and getting straight A's all at once- And in the you who spends hours scrolling through reels and forgets to do homework and doesn't make it to her holy hour. He rejoices in the you who is confident, boldly sharing your faith- and when you have doubts He rejoices in you when you care for your family, loving them selflessly- and when you are so annoyed and find yourself wishing for just a moment away from the chaos. He rejoices in you when you trust Him completely- and when your anxiety is overwhelming and you don't know what happens next. Your Bridegroom rejoices in you, simply because you are you and He is Him. He's always there, rejoicing over you, calling you back to His loving embrace. There is no love like His—a love that endlessly rejoices in you and calls you back into His embrace. (Originally posted 1/19/2025 on Instagram)

Scroll through the gallery below to learn about the Jubilee Year! (Originally published on @the_little_apologist Instagram on 1/14/2025).

Some Catholic Q&A for today's feast day- save this post to have a simple and quick answer ready to go! //"What was the Baptism of John?" Saint Thomas Aquinas says the Baptism of John had four purposes: To sanctify water for Baptism To announce Christ to the crowds To prepare the Jewish people for Christ’s coming To draw John’s followers to repentance so they would more readily follow Jesus // "How is Christian Baptism different?" John's Baptism was one of repentance and preparation. Christian Baptism has the effects of... Forgiveness of all sins, including original sin and its punishments. Becoming children of God, partakers in the Divine Nature, and temples of the Holy Spirit. Receiving sanctifying grace and justification. Sharing in Christ’s priestly, prophetic, and royal mission. Makes us members of the Church, called to obey its teachings, participate in the life of the Church, and able to receive the Sacraments. Calls us to profess our faith and participate in the Church's mission (Matthew 28:19) Unites all baptized Christians, even those who are not yet in full communion with Christ's Church. "Baptism constitutes the sacramental bond of unity among all reborn." Sealing one's soul with an indelible spiritual mark, making their identity as children of God permanent. Baptism is the seal of eternal life. //"Why was Jesus Baptized?" These reasons can be broken down into three ways (thanks to my priest's homily this morning...): Sanctifying the Waters: Jesus, in being Baptized, sanctified water as a means of redemption and renewal. Inaugurating the Kingdom of God: John preached, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!" Jesus fulfilled this message in His Baptism, John having proclaimed Him as the "one who is coming." Foreshadowing the Passion: Jesus’ Baptism foreshadowed His Death and Resurrection. The Catechism says, "Immersion in water symbolizes death, purification, regeneration, and renewal." Our own Baptism reminds us of death and Eternal Life. This is a super basic overview, so if you have more questions, drop them in the comments! (Originally posted on @the_little_apologist Instagram on 1/12/2025)

Looking for a Catholic Speaker? Ready to learn about the Beauty, Goodness, and Truth of the Catholic faith and how to share it? Looking for a speaker who knows how to help you to do just that? Whether it's a youth group meeting, retreat, conference, or pro-life gathering, I'd love to share my faith, experiences, and practical guidance with your group, no matter their age range (I'm especially passionate about middle school and high school youth ministry, though). I have experience giving talks, leading and organizing retreats, participating in debates, and more! Just fill out the form below to get in touch. Please note: As of January 2025, I am only booking in-person events in Central Pennsylvania. If you are not in this area, please still fill out the form- I am more than happy to speak to your group or event via Zoom meeting or discuss other options! Donations to help cover the cost of travel are greatly appreciated, but not necessary. Let me know if you'd like to try another approach or if you have any other questions! First name* Last name* Email* Phone* Group or Organization * This will be a... In-Person Event Virtual event Location (or Email for Virtual Event)* Proposed Date and Time Month : AM Choose a Topic* Questions? Concerns? What else do you want me to know?* Send

Rosary for the End of COVID-19 The themed rosary uses the same exact prayers as a traditional Rosary, but has prayer intentions for each Hail Mary prayer. You can follow the chart above which demonstrates which prayer is on which bead. All prayers used in the Rosary can be found by going to the "Themed Rosary" tab, and clicking on the button titled, "Rosary Prayers". Feel free to copy and paste the Rosary into a document to print it out for your own personal use. The Sign of the Cross Apostles Creed Our Father: For the intentions of the Holy Father Hail Mary: For an increase in faith Hail Mary: For an increase in hope Hail Mary: For an increase in love Glory Be 1st Decade Our Father Hail Mary: That the coronavirus pandemic will end Hail Mary: That researchers will find a vaccination using good and morally acceptable means Hail Mary: That all who are working to end the virus will stay healthy Hail Mary: That all who are praying for an end to the virus will be protected from it by the power of the Holy Spirit Hail Mary: That the virus will continue to infect less and less people. Hail Mary: That the virus will cause fewer deaths Hail Mary: That government leaders and healthcare workers will do all that they can to correctly report cases of the virus Hail Mary: That countries around the world will begin to see diminishing numbers of cases of the virus Hail Mary: That all people of faith will pray for an end to the virus Hail Mary: That the hand of Jesus will come and heal our world Glory Be Oh my Jesus... 2nd Decade Our Father Hail Mary: For all world leaders who are working to put a stop to the virus through the enforcement of health and safety guidelines Hail Mary: For the health and safety of all the medical workers who battle the virus every day Hail Mary: For all those who work to provide personal protection equipment for the world Hail Mary: For all those who work for the Church and have strived to reopen the churches as safely as possible Hail Mary: For all priests who have encouraged the faithful to pray and stay strong in their faith in this difficult time Hail Mary: For all construction, sanitation, and other workers who keep our communities up and running Hail Mary: For all firefighters, police, and first responders who continue to respond to emergencies in our communities Hail Mary: For al military personnel who continue to keep our countries safe during the pandemic Hail Mary: For all teachers as they adjust to the new guidelines for educating students during the pandemic Hail Mary: For all store and restaurant employees, as well as farmers, who work hard to provide food for all. Glory Be Oh My Jesus... 3rd Decade Our Father Hail Mary: That people may turn to hope instead of fear Hail Mary: That all those who are anxious or afraid will take seriously the words of the Lord: "Do not be afraid!" Hail Mary: That people will seek out Jesus Christ, the healer, in every area of their lives Hail Mary: That people will take the time to talk with their Heavenly Father during this time of social isolation Hail Mary: That people will seek healing for their souls in the sacrament of reconciliation. Hail Mary: That Christ, the Divine healer, will come and heal His people of all their infirmities Hail Mary: That those who have been mentally wounded by the effects of this pandemic will find peace with Christ Hail Mary: That all who have endured abuse during this time will seek help and find healing in Christ Hail Mary: That all relationships that have been wounded by the lack of socialization during the pandemic can be restored Hail Mary: That the world will see that it is Christ alone who heals and restores our brokeness. Glory Be Oh My Jesus... 4th Decade Our Father Hail Mary: For all those who are infected by the virus Hail Mary: For all those recovering from the virus Hail Mary: For the souls of all who have died from COVID-19 Hail Mary: For negative results for all being tested for the virus Hail Mary: For all of the healthcare professionals who are directly caring for those with COVID-19 Hail Mary: For the families of those infected with the virus Hail Mary: For all nursing home residents who are battling the virus Hail Mary: For the continued health and safety of all who have not been infected by the virus Hail Mary: For everyone who has lost a family member or friend due to the virus Hail Mary: For all who are fighting other medical conditions during the pandemic Glory Be Oh My Jesus... 5th Decade Our Father Hail Mary: That all countries will be able to reopen safely and quickly Hail Mary: That there will be a minimal resurgence of the virus around the world Hail Mary: That all Churches will be able to reopen as soon as possible Hail Mary: That all citizens will cooperate with reopening processes Hail Mary: That schools will reopen and be safe for students and staff Hail Mary: That government officials will be reasonable with their demands for reopening guidelines Hail Mary: For everyone who is working hard to get our world back up and running Hail Mary: That as places reopen, people will use good judgment in determining where they should and should not go Hail Mary: For all of us who are having to adjust to this new way of living Hail Mary: That the virus will come under control so that life can resume in a somewhat normal way Glory Be Oh My Jesus... Hail Holy Queen Closing Prayer