A bit of goodness to start your day.
Do not be afraid.
Continue reading “Gift of Goodness – June 9, 2021”Gift of Goodness – June 9, 2021
Tag: Pope Francis
Shining a Light on Goodness. The Empty Tomb: Easter with Mary Magdalene and Elizabeth Ann Seton
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.
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?
Continue reading “Shining a Light on Goodness. The Empty Tomb: Easter with Mary Magdalene and Elizabeth Ann Seton”Shining a Light on Goodness: We Adore You, O Christ, and We Praise You
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”New Life and Consolation Our Easter Celebration Continues
Continue reading “New Life and Consolation Our Easter Celebration Continues”Amid the many hardships we are enduring, let us never forget that we have been healed by the wounds of Christ. In the light of the Risen Lord, our sufferings are now transfigured. Where there was death, now there is life. Where there was mourning, now there is consolation.
Pope Francis
Celebrating Happiness
Each day that begins, if welcomed in prayer, is accompanied by courage, so that the problems we have to face no longer seem to be obstacles to our happiness, but rather appeals from God, opportunities for our encounter with him.
Continue reading “Celebrating Happiness”Inspiring Goodness: St. Joseph
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.
Continue reading “Inspiring Goodness: St. Joseph”Feel Like Something is Missing?
Growing In Good Works
I hope this post finds you settling into your word of the year as well as having a plan mapped out to get to know your Saint buddy. My prayer time this week included a plea for guidance on how to best get to know mine, St. Joseph. The next day, I was listening to the Godsplaining podcast and low and behold, they were discussing the Year of St. Joseph. This conversation gave me a good starting point for my plan. I love how God works! Do you have a plan to nourish your mind this year? Another practice I wanted to share that supports my growth is identifying twelve books that will challenge my thinking. Getting through this stack feels good when I complete in December.
Have you started thinking about Lent?
Continue reading “Growing In Good Works”Awakening My Soul To Goodness
Do you need more time like I do to bask in the spirit and joy of Christmas? To invite Christ to be your center and North star? After the year we have had, I really want this gift of goodness to continue, especially to influence the new year. Goodness is about tapping into Christ born in us. It is created by God’s grace and my response to it. When I respond with tears of gratitude for His love and mercy, that is goodness. He is always inviting us forward and I can accept that invitation or not. When I focus on the things that feed my soul, I can see the pathway to holiness a little clearer each year and be Smitten with Goodness.
Continue reading “Awakening My Soul To Goodness”I’m Choosing Joy!
Happy Third Sunday of Advent. Today is Gaudete Sunday which means rejoice! Besides lighting the rose-colored candle on the Advent wreath, we celebrate that our hopeful anticipation for the coming of Christ at Christmas is almost over. This beautiful liturgical color signifies joy.
Continue reading “I’m Choosing Joy!”
Smitten With Goodness 