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Or you can go and watch the video on Instagram, because I'll share it there too. This is incredible what God has done.  For years now, I've lived in fear.  For the last five years (and honestly, probably longer) I've lived with obsessive compulsive disorder that manifested itself in ways that made me horrified that I'd committed a mortal sin, afraid to love because it could mean hurting someone else, and the most debilitating of all has been the fear of getting sick- specifically a GI bug or food poisoning of some sort.  And for so long now, that fear has had ahold of my life.  For nearly a year now, because of that fear, and the fear of further pain from the chronic illnesses I struggle with, I pretty much haven't eaten food that other people have prepared. Friends, family, restaurants- nothing., and nothing even my mom has cooked in months. Therapy is great in other ways, but hasn't really helped with this.  Last week, I went to a healing prayer service that Father David Dodd, one of my priests at Saint Francis who is a true friend and mentor and spiritual Father to me, had invited me to and was leading.  One of my friends and her daughters were praying over me, and I completely broke down. I was sobbing- could barely stand on my own- and they said that heat was radiating from my body.  The only way I can describe it is that Jesus broke me down. All the fear that the pain had caused- and vice versa- He took it from me.  I had peace that night making the drive home. For the first time in literally years, my mind was quiet. I wasn't anxious. I wasn't spiraling. I wasn't afraid.  I didn't really see an immediate change apart from that- but last night my family went to a friend's house for a birthday party and she had made dinner, and I ate the food that she made! Even chicken, which I'm usually literally terrified of! And I ate cake! Which normally I wouldn't touch!  And I literally would not have done that even last week, but last night I felt absolutely no fear. It was crazy.  Jesus is so good. I'm absolutely shocked and amazed that He gave me the grace to do that without even being afraid and having to "push through it" or "go out of my comfort zone"!! I thought healing from OCD would mean pushing through exposure therapy and doing scary, hard things. But Jesus said "no". He already won. I can fight this for my whole life or He can take away fear in an instant. I couldn't wrap my brain around the fact that God CAN and WANTS to heal me from OCD- because I couldn't imagine life without it. But now I've had a taste of that freedom, and, even if I still might be scared sometimes, I want to keep choosing it. Keep choosing Him. Perfect Love casts out fear, and I am in Love with Perfect Love! If your pain and suffering comes from your mind- please know that Jesus wants to heal you. Truly. He does. God's glory and power are greater than we can ever imagine. And Church, we need to pray for eachother and build eachother up! we can't be afraid to pray for the impossible- because it's possible. We were not created for this pain. We were not created for fear. We were created for life. We were created for His Glory!

Jesus gave us the most foundational prayer in the Our Father, teaching His disciples how to pray. The Church identifies three types of prayer - all seen in Jesus’ own life. Vocal Prayer: Vocal prayer is a form of prayer, modeled after Christ’s own prayers recorded in Scripture, in which we use words- spoken, written, or sung, to talk to God. Examples of Vocal prayer:   The Rosary The Mass Praise and Worship Journaling Spoken prayer In the Catechism... Vocal prayer, founded on the union of body and soul in human nature, associates the body with the interior prayer of the heart, following Christ's example of praying to his Father and teaching the Our Father to his disciples. (CCC 2722) Meditative Prayer: Meditative Prayer is modeled after Christ’s withdrawal from the world to pray, and involves thinking about and meditating on God’s Word or His actions in the world & one’s own life. Examples of Meditative Prayer:   The Rosary Lectio Divina Spiritual reading Reflective journaling In the Catechism... “Meditation is a prayerful quest engaging thought, imagination, emotion, and desire. Its goal is to make our own in faith the subject considered, by confronting it with the reality of our own life.” (CCC 2723) Contemplative Prayer: Contemplative prayer is most simply described as gazing at God and being present with Him. It’s modeled after Jesus’ perfect union with the Father, and we can also imitate Mary of Bethany in sitting at Jesus’ feet. Examples of Contemplative Prayer:   Silent Adoration Sitting in stillness with God Gazing at a crucifix or icon Imaginative Prayer In the Catechism... “Contemplative prayer is the simple expression of the mystery of prayer. It is a gaze of faith fixed on Jesus, an attentiveness to the Word of God, a silent love. It achieves real union with the prayer of Christ to the extent that it makes us share in his mystery.”  (CCC 2724) Just like the Disciples... We can ask Jesus to teach us to pray! When you talk to God (or read... or sit in silence) today, ask Him to simply teach you how to pray. 💬 Which form of prayer do you turn to most often?

... and it made me think about the ways that we can come to know God. Let me explain. I was driving to an appointment the other day and the purple and yellow flowers on the side of the road caught my eye. I love getting flowers. So when I saw the hundreds and hundreds of gorgeous blooms in the afternoon sunshine, my immediate thought was, "Thank you Jesus! You are so generous to your little ones." The Catechism says that we come to know God and His existence in primarily two ways: The world & human reason. “Since our knowledge of God is limited, our language about him is equally so. We can name God only by taking creatures as our starting point, and in accordance with our limited human ways of knowing and thinking.” (CCC 40) All creatures bear a certain resemblance to God, most especially man, created in the image and likeness of God. The manifold perfections of creatures — their truth, their goodness, their beauty all reflect the infinite perfection of God. Consequently we can name God by taking his creatures' perfections as our starting point, "for from the greatness and beauty of created things comes a corresponding perception of their Creator". (CCC 41) So to summarize... The Beauty, Goodness, and Truth that we witness in one another and in all of creation points pur minds and hearts to God! So when Jesus allowed me to notice those flowers along the road, He wasn't just saying to me, "Look, I created this." He was saying, "Look, I created this, and it's for you." Creation is a starting point. Its beauty, goodness, and truth point to God. God's Divine Revelation takes place through Scripture and Tradition- but all throughout our world are moments of Beauty that reveal His existence, attributes, and care for humanity. How have you experienced God’s presence this week?

I've always been fascinated by the four temperaments. I remember being at a talk by Jackie Francois Angel at a Steubenville conference one year when she started talking about the temperaments. I was fascinated. The powerful choleric. The friendly sanguine. The thoughtful melancholic. The easygoing phlegmatic. Over the years I've read numerous books and articles and listened to podcasts about the temperaments. I'm primarily of the melancholic temperament, with choleric being my secondary temperament (everyone has two!). When Rose Sweet gave me the oppurtunity to read her new book, My Type of Holiness, I was absolutely thrilled! Like I said, I’ve read other books on the temperaments, but none of them come close to the practical examples and relatability Rose brought to this one. It helped me accept my own temperament- I didn't WANT to be a melancholic-choleric combo... I don't want to be so intense!! But this is the first book I’ve read on the temperaments that didn’t make that feel like a more negative or harsh combination than the others. The weaknesses were very real, the strengths were so eye-opening, and I especially loved the saint highlights and prayer tips to help you live a life of holiness not in spite of, but working with your natural temperament and personality. I would recommend this to any college-aged Catholic (and honestly, to anyone...) who's trying to figure out who they are and how to best use their strengths in a way that glorifies God! It's truly such a blessing to have this one on my bookshelf. You can snag a copy of My Type of Holiness: Striving for Sainthood with the Temperament God Gave Me from Amazon or from the Our Sunday Visitor website. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Last year I joined a book study led by a priest friend who has become a true spiritual father to me. The book was Abba’s Heart by Neil Lozano . Around that same time, I went on a FOCUS Father's House retreat. I’ve always felt closer to Jesus than to the Father. But something changed. These two experiences opened my heart in a way I didn’t know was possible. They began a journey that will never end. Here’s what I discovered: I have a Heavenly Father who loves me unconditionally. He doesn’t think I’m too far gone. He doesn’t think I’m too much. He doesn’t think I’m too broken. He wants to heal me. To make me whole. To be with me. I am a daughter. Beloved before all else. That is the truth that I want to live my life out of. We have a father who is Love Himself. We are made for eternal union with Him. We are made for Love Himself. Jesus’ every word, every act, reveals the Father’s heart. Think of the Prodigal son. The parable shows this so clearly. The Love of the Father. He was waiting on the porch to run to and embrace His Son when he returned. He loves us so, so unfathomably much. If this is you... If you’ve sinned. If you’ve rejected Him. If you feel ashamed, abandoned, or broken... The Father is not far. You don’t have to be perfect to come home. He’s already running to you. If you long to know the Father’s Heart, I highly recommend reading Abba’s Heart by Neil Lozano . It changed my life, and I know the Father will use it to draw you closer to His Heart, too.   You are not too far gone. You are not too much. You are not too broken. You are infinitely loved. Fall into His arms and draw near to the Father’s Heart. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases

Six years ago today, I was Confirmed. And honestly? I haven't stopped talking about it since. I find it ironic, because June 8 is National Best Friend's Day. And the Holy Spirit, on that day, became my best friend. The Father is, well, my Father. Jesus is my Beloved. And the Holy Spirit is my best friend. When one is Confirmed, they are called to evangelization. I like to tell my kids on Confirmation retreats that they have been given a special mission. The Holy Spirit has a mission for each of them, and a way that they are speciically called to evangelize. So in my case, when I was Confirmed, I didn't really know what my mission was. I loved Jesus, and I loved talking about Jesus, but I didn't know what came next. But at the moment that my priest placed his hands on my head and said, "Recieve the Holy Spirit," I was filled with a physical warmth- like I was set on fire. A month later I went to my first Steubenville Conference. and I experienced another outpouring of the Holy Spirit- this time through the gift of tears.  Since then, He’s continued to move in ways I never expected: through tears, joy, healing, dreams, and moments of prayer I knew weren’t just from me. 9 months later, the pandemic began,  and I, in my newfound free time, started a blog.  That blog, guided by the Holy Spirit, has grown into an apologetics ministry and opportunities I only could have dreamed of. Anything good I do today is fruit of His Spirit.  Don’t know your mission yet? Ask the Holy Spirit.  He wants to be your best friend.

As disciples of Christ, we have a duty to share the faith (CCC 1816). These are a few simple ways to do that that are easy to understand and put into practice! #1. Smile St. Mother Teresa said that “smiling is our first act of love.” When you smile at someone, you’re not just being polite- you’re showing them that you see them. That they matter. That they’re made in the image of God, whether they know it or not. #2.Wear a Crucifix Not only is jewelry a fantastic conversation starter, it also serves as a silent sign of whose you are and reminds others of Christ. It's incredible to think that your simple crucifix may trigger the first thought someone has had of Christ in months or even years. #3. Shop Intentionally You can get beautiful stuff and evangelize at the same time. A tee shirt with a saint quote , a car magnet , thank-you-notes (use code FOLLOWER10), a candle ( use code THELITTLEAPOLOGIST), a tote bag - those everyday things open doors for conversation and point hearts toward Heaven. Here are some of my favorite Catholic products that are great tools for evangelization... #4. Invite, invite, invite! It can be as simple as, “Hey, want to come to Mass with me?” or “My church is doing this thing tonight-do you want to go?” Even if they say no, the invite plants a seed. And if they say yes, who knows what God will do? #5. Pray before meals  It's countercultural to pray in public, so yes- people do notice. And it’s such a simple way to bring Jesus into everyday moments and remind people that God is real, and He provides. #6. Ask Questions In conversation, ask things that invite someone to think a little deeper: “What’s been giving you joy lately?” or “Did you grow up with any kind of faith?” You'd be surprised at how many opportunities arise to talk about Jesus in everyday non-Church related conversations! #7. Live Liturgically Decorate for feast days, wear liturgical colors, make special meals or have parties for solemnities. People will notice, and they might ask questions. It's a great way to start conversations about the magesterium, the Saints, and the little things you love about being Catholic. #8. Play Catholic Music In the car. While you’re studying. In your room at home. While you have friends over. Praise and worship music sets a tone, sparks curiosity, and helps people encounter God without needing a full conversation. (telling people that your favorite type of music is Gregorian Chant works well, too...) #9. Random Acts of Kindness Text a friend that you’re thinking of and praying for them. Share a quote from a saint or Scripture that reminded you of them. Small encouragements help people to know how unconditionally loved they are. #10. Prayer Ask Jesus to give you opportunities to evangelize and to make your entire life one act of evangelization. Someone shares that they’re struggling? Pray with them. Have a friend who’s sick? Pray over them for healing. Tell people that you’ll pray for them- then do it. Send Spiritual bouquets in your Chritmas or birthday cards. The possibilities are endless!

I used to think the Holy Spirit was passive- just a gentle dove or a flame that could be easily extinguished. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. Building a relationship with the Holy Spirit is something I’m actively seeking and trying to cultivate in my own life. Thankfully, the Church gives us a clear guide! The Catechism (paragraph 688) says: "The Church, a communion living in the faith of the apostles which she transmits, is the place where we know the Holy Spirit." And that we come to know Him in these ways... 🔥 In Scripture: Pray a prayer to the Holy Spirit before reading and ask Him to enlighten your heart and mind to receive what the Lord wants to reveal. 🔥 In Tradition: Ask the Spirit to guide you as you study the writings of the Saints and the teachings passed on from the beginning of the Church. 🔥 In the Church’s Magisterium: The Spirit protects the Church from error in doctrine. As you read the Catechism, ask Him to help you understand with both mind and heart. 🔥 In the Sacramental Liturgy: Each time you attend Mass, confession, or receive a Sacrament, the Spirit stirs your soul, bringing you into communion with Christ. If you feel distracted or unmotivated, ask the Holy Spirit to renew your heart. 🔥 In Prayer: We never pray alone! The Spirit prays and intercedes for us constantly. When you start prayer or a Holy Hour, invite Him to pray with you. Even without words, say, “Come, Holy Spirit,” and He will. 🔥 In Charisms and Ministries: As a disciple, you have gifts from the Spirit—teaching, healing, prophecy, hospitality, wisdom, and more. Ask, “Holy Spirit, how do You want me to use these gifts today?” 🔥 In Apostolic and Missionary Life: When you share the Gospel, the Spirit is present, giving you the words. Make it a habit to ask Him each morning to speak through you. 🔥 In the Witness of Saints: The Spirit shows His power through saints who continue God’s work. Ask the Spirit to help you find a saintly friend who intercedes for you, and pray for grace to imitate their virtues. Share this post with a friend searching for a deeper relationship with the Holy Spirit 🕊️

I can very clearly remember the first time I truly KNEW Christ's love for me. I was 12 and sitting on my bed one night with my new teen Bible open on my lap. I was flipping through, trying to be quiet while my little sister tried to sleep across the room, and I came to the Gospel of John. I randomly started reading. One verse- John 17:24- made me pause that night, and it changed absolutely everything. "Father, they are your gift to me." I remember thinking "Wait, Jesus. Me? I am a gift? But I caused you so much pain." I read and re-read. Traced the line with my finger, wondering if it could be real- this simple prayer of Christ that made everything fall into place. As tears welled up in my eyes, in the stillness of my room, I felt the Love of Jesus in a way that was different and entirely new. It was intimate. Sacrificial. Because He knew what had to happen and what He would endure- and yet, even before it happened, He thanked the Father for us. And even more than that, Jesus saw humanity as a GIFT! He loved us so much that even then, knowing what suffering would occur, He wanted to thank the Father for us- because He knew that His suffering would bring about eternal union with His Bride- the Church. In that moment, something stirred in my heart. The Holy Spirit rushed in, and I was given the grace to see that Jesus was not only saying that the entirety of humanity was a gift- but also that I am a gift to Him from the Father Himself. And so are you, friend. When I saw that this verse was included in the readings for this Sunday, I knew that I needed to share this with you. You are the Father's gift to the Son- loved in every moment beyond all imagining.

The human heart is attracted to beauty. In Catholic thought, especially from the writings of Saint Thomas Aquinas, we find the idea of transcendentals. This is the idea that everything that exists bears some mark of its Creator. The transcendentals- like truth, beauty, and goodness- draw our hearts and minds to God even in simple spaces or ordinary moments. Truth and Goodness are what makes something beautiful, and, in turn, true beauty leads to goodness and truth. This is why so many great cathedrals are crafted with such breathtaking beauty. True beauty moves us toward an encounter with God- because our minds can’t fully grasp its wonder. It leads us to think of higher things. In my own life, I’ve tried to take advantage of this concept in times where it’s difficult to pray. Can’t focus? Light a candle. Have no motivation? Make your spot for prayer somewhere where you want to spend time. Don’t make time for prayer? Create a place of beauty somewhere where you absolutely can’t miss it. Even if you can’t go and pray at a Cathedral every single day, you can still create beautiful spaces that draw your heart to Heaven. Here's what I'd reccommend: First, find a spot for your prayer space. A bookshelf. A nightstand. The top of a dresser or chest. The corner of a desk. A picture on the wall. An end table near a chair. The top of a cabinet. A windowsill. Then, add beautiful images and things that draw your heart to God. Cloth that is the color for the liturgical season. Flowers or dried flower petals. Your Bible , journal , and spiritual reading. Rosaries or chaplets Fairy lights or lamps. Holy water or oil Pictures of people you want to pray for. A speaker or earbuds for listening to worship music or meditations Holy cards Pictures of Jesus, Mary, and the Saints Catholic artwork Crosses or Crucifixes Candles Small statues A candle/room spray/essential oil diffuser (This one is my absolute favorite!) Prayer intentions list Bulletin board filled with quotes of artwork White or chalkboard (for writing prayer intentions, quotes, etc.) Want to share your beautiful Catholic prayer space with The Little Apologist community? Send us your photos to give others some inspiration to create their own spaces for prayer! Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate and Blessed is She Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Hi friend!! I bet this is confusing. Every Catholics Instagram story is filled with white smoke, seagulls, and the Pope in red. The news has been zoomed in on a chimney for the last 24 hours. The memes. The happy tears. The celebration. You might be thinking, "Isn't it all a little much? He's not Jesus. He's just a guy. What's with all the hype?" Let’s back up a bit. Jesus said to Peter, "And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 16:18-19) Peter was the first Pope, and was recognized as such throughout all of history. From the very beginning, Christians knew that Jesus had given Peter special authority and the responsibility to lead the Church. Peter was succeeded by Linus. Linus was succeeded by Cletus. And so on... Until Pope Francis. And now, Pope Leo XIV. So what’s the big deal? First, it’s a celebration of the Lord’s generosity and the fact that Jesus keeps His promises! He gave us a father and a shepherd to guide us, promising that even hell cannot prevail against it. Secondly... It's just really, really exciting!! The Pope is a spiritual Father to the Universal Church and this is such a huge change and moment in our lives and in history. It involves so many big emotions, prayer, unity, and joyful hope for the future. But at the core of it all, behind every "Pope post", and every seagull meme, is deep, deep gratitude to God. For the Church. For His guidance. For his Mercy. For the Papacy and the new Pope who will lead and guide the Church moving forward. If you’re confused or curious, please reach out. We’d love to talk- and yes, we have more seagull memes ready if you want them. 😉 Love, Your Catholic Friend

One thing you might not know about me is that right now I work at a grocery store. For 20 to 30 hours a week, I help customers, make sandwiches, slice meat and cheese, and help clean my department. It's not the most glamarous job. But despite that, I've learned to love what I'm doing. It's not my dream job, of course, and I know it won't last forever- but for now, it's where God needs me for some reason, and so I make the best of it. So for today's feast day, the Feast of Saint Joseph the Worker, I wanted to talk a little bit about work. Many of us in college (and even high school) find ourselves working in jobs just to make a little extra cash. These jobs aren't the ones we'd think of when we think of "ministry" or as giving us oppurtunities for prayer and evangelization- but I promise you, there are plenty! Here are some ideas for evangelization and prayer within your job. If you have a job that I didn't list here, comment below and I'll put some ideas together for you! BARISTA OR WAITRESS Pray for each customer as you make their drink or take their order Smile as you work and greet customers joyfully Make each person you meet feel like they’re the only person in the world. Give them your full, undivided attention. Wear a Crucifix, Miraculous Medal, or other religious jewelry. Fantastic conversation starters! LANDSCAPING Pray as you work, taking the opportunity for interior silence as the noise of the world is drowned out by machinery. Offer up your manual labor for the sake of the souls in Purgatory or other prayer intentions. Pray for the people who own the home you’re working on. Do small, extra tasks for free if you’re able, as acts of kindness. RETAIL CASHIER Treat each customer as beloved by Christ and greet them with love (no matter their attitude!) Wear religious jewelry. Engage in conversation. Make people feel seen, known, and loved. Smile at people! Pray for each customer you’ll encounter before and after your shift. FOOD SERVICE Embrace the monotonous tasks- dishes, cleaning, etc.- and offer them up for specific intentions. Pray over each dish you serve as you’re preparing it. Stay calm and joyful, even in rushes or stressful situations. Take care to create a clean, sanitary environment to protect each customer you are serving. OFFICE ASSISTANT Create a welcoming environment. Offer a smile and sense of peace to those you encounter or speak to on the phone. Have a mindset of service- even when your work is not recognized. Practice gentleness in your speech, emails, and phone calls Set your laptop background as a Bible verse, Saint Quote, or Sacred Artwork BABYSITTER Pray for the children and families you serve. Give the children you’re caring for your full, undivided attention with love, gentleness, patience, and joy. Put your phone away! Ask the Holy Family for help in difficult moments. Strive to react from a place of love rather than frustration. TUTORING Pray the prayer for students by Saint Thomas Aquinas before your session or with your student. Encouraging the struggling with the love of Christ Practice patience and mercy when concepts are being misunderstood. Wear t-shirts, jewelry, etc. that serve as tools for evangelization and sharing the faith. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you as you teach. No matter what sort of job you are working in, you can glorify God and make Him known to those you serve. Saint Joseph the Worker, Pray for us.