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I used to be so afraid of the end of the world. and I’m sure I wasn’t the only one. In 2020, I remember sitting in my bedroom watching Catholic YouTube (because what else was there to do during COVID?!) and over and over again seeing these fear-mongering “prophecy” videos. I was so scared that all of a sudden something would happen, everything would burst into flames, and everything would be in even more chaos. I'd be so uneasy when I'd hear verses like Revelation 22:20, Titus 2:13, and today's first reading. “Concerning times and seasons, brothers and sisters, you do not need for anything to be written to you. For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief at night. When people are saying, "Peace and security," then sudden disaster comes upon them, like labor pains upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.” (1 Thes 5:1-3) But I was listening to the readings this morning and realized that every time I thought about the end of the world, I never thought of the point of it. See, the Church does teach that there will be a time of tribulation before the Second Coming of Christ.  "before Christ’s second coming the Church must pass through a final trial that will shake the faith of many believers" (CCC 675) But I think sometimes people overlook what comes after that time of tribulation. This makes sense... we're so focused on suffering that we miss the glory. Fear has no power in the presence of Christ. When Jesus comes back, it won't be a day of sadness or fear. And now- I actually look forward to it. I can say "Come Lord Jesus!!" and mean it- not be stuck in "well.... Yes Jesus, come, but just not yet." If I could go back and tell myself anything, I'd say to #1 , look for the fruits of the Spirit, and #2 , look for a motive- is this person posting this because it will get more views? Or are they truly seeking to educate and inform the faithful on ACTUAL Church teaching, approved by the Magisterium, and not unapproved private revelation? Our God is a God of love. When He returns to bring us to Himself- whether at the end of time or at the end of our earthly lives- if we are living our lives with Him, we have no need to be afraid. When you're presented with the opportunity to discuss the Second Coming whether it's online or in everyday conversation, please, please know what the Church truly teaches and how to convey it with love, not fear. It will save so, so many hearts from fear. A bride has been waiting for her groom for the last 2000 years- and finally- FINALLY- He will have returned. Think of the indescribable joy... So friends, when you're thinking or talking about the end of the world and the second coming of Christ, keep in mind WHO it is that will return. It's Jesus- our King. Our Love. Our Bridegroom. He should be the focus. Be not afraid.

I saw a comment on someone’s post that said, “I’ll be keeping you in my thoughts.” and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it... Because here’s the thing: Our thoughts don't have the power to change things directly. Thinking ≠ Interceding. The Saints in Heaven- our Cloud of Witnesses that we hear about in the 2nd reading today- are they in Heaven just THINKING about us? No. They're praying. our Father listens to His Children's cries. Prayer changes things. Pleading with the King of the Universe has power because no one will be healed because you thought of them. People will be healed because you prayed for them. So yes- when someone asks for prayers, you can totally think about them- but let those thoughts lead you to prayer. Prayer is powerful.

"What is a Holy Day of Obligation?" Holy Days of Obligations are solemnities in the Church calendar that are to be treated with the same obligation as a Sunday Mass. This means that we are to treat those days as days of rest and attend Mass on those days, as we would on Sundays. "When are they?" In The United States...Jan. 1, the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God; Thursday of the Sixth Week of Easter, the Solemnity of the Ascension; Aug 15, the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary; Nov 1, the Solemnity of All Saints; Dec 8, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception; December 25, the Solemnity of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ "What do I have to do on one?" Treat it like a Sunday! Go to Mass, of course. Make an effort to rest- even if you can't skip work or school. If you want, you could learn about the solemnity being celebrated, make special meals that relate to the celebration, or take the day off of work or school to make it a true day of rest. "Can I miss it for work?" Try your absolute hardest not to! Plan to have the day or shift off, or try to flex your time so you can attend Mass. Many parishes offer both morning and evening Mass times so those who are working can make it. If there is some reason why it's absolutely impossible (ie: you're performing surgery on someone, your car broke down and you're stranded on the side of the road, you or your family member have a contagious illness, etc.) then Jesus knows your heart and intentions- but you should always TRY your best to get to Mass. "What about my/my child's sport practice?" Sports are optional activities and should never take precedence over Mass. "My parents won't take me. What do I do?" You can try to respectfully explain to your parents why you, as Catholics, need to attend Mass. If they still won't take you, you can try going with a friend or another family member (with permission, of course!). If you have NO WAY of getting to Mass, then it would not be sinful for you not to attend- the culpability would lie with those who kept you from going. What other questions do you have about Holy Days of Obligation? Ask away in the comments!

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.