Tag: Catholic

Inspiring Goodness

Palm Sunday – Encountering God’s Goodness

Smitten With Goodness

Have you ever had an encounter with God that left you in tears because you understood the power of His goodness?  I will never forget the first time I watched Passion of the Christ a few years ago and how it brought me into the life of Christ in such a powerful way.  I watched Christ’s entrance into Jerusalem to accomplish the Paschal Mystery, His passion and resurrection with fresh eyes.  Seeing Jesus portrayed in His humanity and divinity brought home for me the magnitude of suffering, rejection, and betrayal He faced.  I may start my Spiritual Director’s practice of watching this movie on Good Friday.  Will you join us?

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Inspiring Goodness

Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord — Saying Yes to God’s Will

Smitten With Goodness
Fra Angelico, The Annunciation (ca. 1440-1445)  Covent of San Marco, Florence, Italy

We celebrate the beautiful Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord on March 25.  This day, which is nine months prior to Christmas Day, honors the Blessed Virgin Mary saying “Yes” to God’s will for her as part of His divine plan for salvation of the world.  Mary’s “Yes” is included every year in the Gospel reading for this Solemnity:

Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.  May it be done to me according to your word.  

Luke 1:38

The Solemnity of the Annunciation is a bittersweet day for me as it is also the anniversary of my father’s death.  He died on March 25, 1998, and I have had a Mass said in his memory each year on this day.  Over the years, I have found comfort in the Mass readings for the Solemnity, which provide me with encouragement and strength to accept God’s will for my life.  Mary’s brave and trusting acceptance of God’s will helps me to accept God’s will in my life, even to accept God’s will for the death of a beloved parent.  The Gospel reading also reminds me that God is always with us, and that I should not be afraid (Luke 1:26-38). 

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Guide to Goodness

Finding Perfect Precious Love

Smitten With Goodness

Joy isn’t what happens when life goes perfectly. It’s what happens when you know you’re loved perfectly, even when life’s a mess.

Chris Stefanick, Living Joy

The journey of Smitten With Goodness began with a simple question.  What does it mean to love?

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Inspiring Goodness

Inspiring Goodness: St. Joseph

Smitten With Goodness

As I am in the remaining few weeks of Lent where he is purifying my heart, I want to honor St. Joseph, my saint buddy who is helping me see God’s goodness working in my life.  I am in awe with his surrender to God’s will and his trust and confidence in what he heard.  Today is the Solemnity of St. Joseph, spouse of Mary during this Year of St. Joseph designated by Pope Francis.

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Inspiration

Reclaiming Peace

Smitten With Goodness
Photo by Gift Habeshaw on Pexels.com

Another blow.  Why can’t we catch a break?  These were my thoughts as I drove my husband to the emergency room. He had only been home from the hospital 20 days after previous admissions adding up to more than 200 days following his bone marrow transplant last year.  Sometimes it is just too much to be surrounded by all the suffering, the uncertainty life brings, and waiting in the fear of the what ifs.  The blanket of heaviness can descend upon me covering me in darkness when all I want to do is bask in the light. 

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Guide to Goodness

Fasting For The Love Of It

Smitten With Goodness

Fasting is amazingly popular in our culture today if you are seeking to shed some weight or reap the debated health benefits.  A google search provides an overwhelming amount of information.  On the other hand, not much is written about fasting as a tool for our spiritual growth.  This time-tested practice is a proven method for shedding the weight of self-will and the evolution to our lower self.  Today, I challenge us see how fasting trains our soul for goodness and the higher purpose of love.  I have mentioned previously, God prunes our hearts through prayer, fasting and almsgiving, as we unite with Him. 

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Be Smitten, Inspiring Goodness

My Peace I Give To Others

Smitten With Goodness

I believe what we hold in our heart is a microcosm of what we bring into the world.  During this fourth Sunday of Advent, we prayerfully light the Angel’s Candle or the Candle of Love in the Catholic tradition.  This symbolizes the Christmas message of the angels “Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward Men.” You can find the full message here. 

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