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YES!! The answer is yes. 100%. Absolutely. Today's Gospel had me thinking about the healing ministry of the Apostles. Jesus literally told His disciples to "take nothing for your journey and heal the sick..."So are we called to do that too? Yes- without a doubt. The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is "intended to strengthen those who are being tried by illness" (CCC 1511) and may certainly bring about physical or emotional healing! In addition to this, we are called as Christians to pray and intercede for those who are sick that they might be healed. The Catechism (1506-1513) says: We share in Jesus' ministry of compassion and healing. The Lord renews this mission: "In my name... They will lay hands on the sick and they will recover." These signs and healings demonstrate that Jesus is truly the God who saves. The Holy Spirit gives the charism of healing to manifest the power of the Risen Lord The Church has received this charge from the Lord and strives to carry it out by taking care of the sick as well as by accompanying them with her prayer of intercession. Jesus says, "...whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father. And whatever you ask in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it." (Jn 14:12-14) If this is true, then when we pray for healing in Jesus' name, we can have faith that, in God's timing, He will do it. We can pray with faith and expectation, always in submission to God’s perfect will. Though not every single person we pray for will be healed at that moment or in the way that we expect, Jesus can and wants to heal them. He knows what they need for their body, soul, and salvation. Friends, I've seen miracles. I saw a woman get up and walk who hadn't walked for a long time, my own dislocated knee shifted back into place, and a woman held her arm over her head when she could barely move it before. And this is just a tiny glimpse. Pray for healing in the name of Jesus. Intercede for your Brothers and Sisters in Christ. Let the Holy Spirit work through you.

In the last year or so, and more specifically in this last week, I've discovered a love for the Catechism. What a blessing it is to have a text that contains a summary and explanation of all that Christ's Church teaches!! I was never quite sure what the Catechism was- what the purpose of it was- why we needed it if it wasn't the Bible. The Catechism is not here for us to read instead of the Bible- rather, it serves as a companion to the Christian life, summarizing the teachings of the faith that comes from Scripture, Tradition, and the Magisterium in a way that is easy to comprehend. In a word, it makes the faith accessible. The great depths of knowledge that are found in this text are simply remarkable. Reading so much for class in this last week has opened my eyes to the Catechism and how useful it is in explaining the faith. There are lines I've found myself nodding along with- "Oh. So THAT'S why we do that..." Questions I've never even considered before have been answered. So friend, if you don't yet own a copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church , please buy one. It makes a fantastic resource for apologetics and evangelization, is a key tool for catechists, as well as those learning the faith even for the first time, and is a great book to take to adoration with you. Catechism of the Catholic Church Paragraph 1 "God, infinitely perfect and blessed  in himself, in a plan of sheer goodness freely created man to make him share in his own blessed life. For this reason, at every time and in every place, God draws close to man .  He calls man to seek him, to know him, to love him with all his strength. He calls together all men, scattered and divided by sin, into the unity of his family, the Church.  To accomplish this, when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son as Redeemer and Savior. In his Son and through him, he invites men to become, in the Holy Spirit ,  his adopted children and thus heirs of his blessed life." Catechism of the Catholic Church Paragraph 739 "Because the Holy Spirit is the anointing of Christ, it is Christ who, as the head of the Body, pours out the Spirit among his members to nourish, heal, and organize them in their mutual functions, to give them life , send them to bear witness , and associate them to his self- offering  to the Father and to his intercession for the whole world. Through the Church's sacraments, Christ communicates his Holy and sanctifying Spirit to the members of his Body." Catechism of the Catholic Church Paragraph 789 "The comparison of the Church with the body casts light on the intimate bond between Christ and his Church . Not only is she gathered around him; she is united in him, in his body. Three aspects of the Church as the Body of Christ are to be more specifically noted: the unity  of all her members with each other as a result of their union with Christ; Christ as head of the Body ; and the Church as bride of Christ." Catechism of the Catholic Church Paragraph 104 "In Sacred Scripture, the Church constantly finds her nourishment and her strength, for she welcomes it not as a human word, "but as what it really is, the word of God". "In the sacred books, the Father who is in heaven comes lovingly to meet his children, and talks with them ." Catechism of the Catholic Church Paragraph 3 "Those who with God's help have welcomed Christ's call and freely responded to it are urged on by love of Christ to proclaim the Good News everywhere in the world.  This treasure, received from the apostles, has been faithfully guarded by their successors . All Christ's faithful are called to hand it on from generation to generation, by professing the faith, by living it in fraternal sharing, and by celebrating it in liturgy and prayer." If you've read parts of the Catechisn- what's one paragraph you're loving right now?

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.

This question is one that a lot of people wonder about- so let's break it down. Matthew 23:8-10 does say "Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in heaven," when translated into English. In this verse, Jesus was emphasizing that no one has ultimate authority but God alone, not saying that we literally can call no one our father. We know this because there are MANY verses in the Biblical texts, including the New Testament, where people other than God alone are referred to as "Father" For example... 1 Corinthians 4:15, Paul refers to himself as a spiritual father. In Acts 7:2, Stephen refers to "our Father Abraham." And there are so many more examples of this. The point that Jesus was making was that our spiritual leaders, earthly fathers, and teachers, are not to REPLACE God, but rather to lead us to Him with humility and gentleness! It was also to discourage the Scribes and Pharisees from their prideful view that they were the ultimate judges and authority. This teaching is why, though priests are spiritual fathers, just as the apostles were to the Early Church, they are NOT God, and they are NOT perfect! God is our Father, and He's entrusted our care to His Shepherds and spiritual Fathers on earth. Have more questions about the priesthood,

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?

Hey friend! There are so many misconceptions surrounding what Catholics actually believe about Salvation. Here's a quick overview... ✅ We have been saved by grace through faith by Jesus' Sacrifice and by no works of our own at our Baptism -that’s justification. (Eph 2:8–9, Rom 8:24) ✅ We are being saved by "working out our salvation with fear and trembling" by living a life in cooperation with God's grace; - that’s sanctification. (1 Cor 1:18, Phil 2:12) ✅ We have confident hope to be saved and united with God forever in Heaven- that’s final salvation. (Rom 5:9–10, 1 Cor 3:12–15) So in other words... We are saved, we're being saved, and we will be saved. Sometimes people say that Christians are "One saved and always saved" because Jesus said, “No one can take them out of my hand” (John 10:28). That’s true- no one can force us away from Him. But we can choose to walk away ourselves. Grace is a gift, but God doesn’t force it on us. We have to say “yes” to it, not just once, but continually, with our lives. That’s why works are important: not because they earn salvation, but because they are the fruit of faith and a sign of our cooperation with God's grace. Think of it like this: If someone doesn’t want to live with God here on earth-by rejecting His grace and ignoring His commands-why would they want to live with Him forever in Heaven? God loves us too much to force us into Heaven if we don’t want Him. So, to summarize...  God loves you. You were made to live in friendship with Him. But sin turns us away. So God sent Jesus- to die, rise, and restore that friendship. When we trust in Him and receive His grace through faith and the Church He gave us, we can be united with Him forever. We do good things not to earn Heaven, but to love God and others. And one day, He’ll ask how we loved. (Matthew 25:31–46) That's why faith and good works go together. They both come from love for Jesus. Have questions or thoughts? Let's talk about it some more! Drop your questions in the comments or ask your question here. With love, Your Catholic friend 🤍

... 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