Category: Be Smitten

Topics of inspiration, celebration of God’s love in ourself and others.

Lives of the Saints

Our Perfect Mother – Introducing the “There is Something About Mary Series”

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Day One: Ponder, Pray, Reflect, Act

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have the perfect mother?  One who taught you how read the road map of life – to love God, love your neighbors, know the truth, and help you grow in virtue?

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Lives of the Saints

Do You Have an Inspired Work Life?

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What words come to mind as you think about your work life?  Do honest, diligent, hardworking, patient, persevering, charitable, forbearing, pleasant, productive, balanced come to mind?  As we honor St. Joseph the Worker on the eve of his feast day tomorrow, we look at who he was as a worker and how he can inspire us in our work life. 

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Inspiring Goodness

Five Words That Can Change the World

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Living through the pandemic and all its challenges that have been exposed has been tough.  From job loss, health crisis, identity crisis and watching the social injustice, it is easy to become hopeless and feel like there is nothing one person can do.  But there is.  Each and every one of us can say these five words which will profoundly impact our world:

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Inspiring Goodness

Shining a Light on Goodness. The Empty Tomb: Easter with Mary Magdalene and Elizabeth Ann Seton

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With St. Mary Magdalene, let us accept Christ’s ‘Do not touch me’ with the certainty that His words give us a new mission, and a new way to be with Him, just as St. Elizabeth Ann Seton met the hardships of her life with renewed faith and strength. Written by Lisa Lickona from the Seton Reflection published last year.  

Christ’s Appearance to Mary Magdalene after the Resurrection, Alexander Andreyevich Ivanov (1806 – 1858)

This year we celebrate our great and holy Feast, the Resurrection of Our Lord, in the most unexpected circumstances, most of us separated from physical participation in the Mass and the opportunity to receive Communion.

We are cut off from our family and friends and our parish communities. And we wonder: how can we live in this new situation, separated from the Body of God—both in the Eucharist and the living Church?

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Inspiring Goodness

Shining a Light on Goodness: We Adore You, O Christ, and We Praise You

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One of the drawings created by the children
of the “Mater Divini Amoris” Family Home and the “Tetto Casal Fattoria” Family Home

As was the case last year during the beginning of the pandemic closures, this year’s Stations of the Cross (or Via Crucis) presided over by Pope Francis were held in the quiet and virtually empty St. Peter’s Square.  This year, though, the mediations and prayers for each Station were prepared and read by children from Rome and other Italian cities.  The faith and hope expressed by these children are profound and moving and are worthy of further reflection during this Easter season.  As a complement to the text of the meditations and prayers provided here, you can watch a video of the Stations and hear the children’s sweet voices, as well as see several of the children greet Pope Francis with hugs after the Stations concluded. 

Continue reading “Shining a Light on Goodness: We Adore You, O Christ, and We Praise You” →