For your inspiration and encouragement on the journey towards holiness, here is… Say Yes to Holiness Newsletter #23 Greetings, my Fellow Pilgrims on the Way! Food for the Head “Reading the holy Scriptures confers two benefits. It trains the mind to understand them; it turns man’s attention from the follies of the world and leads him to the love of God. Two kinds of study are called for here. We must first learn how the Scriptures are to be understood, and then see how to expound them with profit and in a manner worthy of them . . . No […]
christina.semmens
387 posts
For your inspiration and encouragement on the journey towards holiness… Say Yes to Holiness Newsletter #22 Greetings, my Fellow Pilgrims on the Way! Food for the Head “This is the very perfection of a man, to find out his own imperfections.” -St. Augustine How well do you know yourself? Are you REALLY open to an assessment of your ideas and actions, especially those that pertain to your spiritual practices? Do you seek out the advice of a spiritual mentor or director, or a close friend(s) in order to discover your imperfections? This week, make a commitment to seek out spiritual […]
Was just reading a great article by Connie Rossini entitled, Praying Always and Set Times of Prayer, and she pointed out the fact that many people will substitute the idea of “praying always” (off and on throughout the day) in lieu of establishing a habit of daily mental prayer. Connie makes an accurate observation here, but her article caused me to reflect upon WHY this normally happens, as well as what is the ONE thing that we can do to change this situation in our lives forever. First, the why. It’s actually fairly simple, LIFE. Although simple, the reasons can […]
Today’s memorial of St Monica particularly tugs at my heart because our three sons in their own ways are not as close to Jesus as I would desire for them. Am fairly certain that ALL parents have desires for their children that have yet to come to fruition. Therefore, we can probably identify with St Monica’s deepest desire and longing for her son, St Augustine, to come to know the reason for her (and our!) hope and joy–Jesus Christ. On a personal note, my prayers (and tears) are similar ones for our sons–that not only may they come to know […]
If, in light of the latest Pew Research Study, you have been wondering why so few Catholics actually believe that the Real Presence of Jesus–His Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity–is actually present in the Most Holy Eucharist, then you’ll appreciate this article by Dr Anthony Lilles that was posted on SpiritualDirection.com. Here’s just a short excerpt: “Catholics do not believe in the Real Presence of the Risen Lord because teachers, ministers, and public voices have winked at evil and rejected the demands of the Gospel. We wanted the comfortable and the reality of this Presence was inconvenient.” Vivo Christo Rey! […]
I just finished reading a great book by Anthony Moore, a personal growth and self-improvement author on Medium, entitled, What Extraordinary People Know: How to Cut the Busy B.S. and Live Your Kick-Ass Life. I personally think Anthony knocks it out of the park in his straightforward and no-nonsense presentation about what is necessary to live the life you truly desire. He does this by brilliantly breaking down the process of how to discover the life you’ve always imagined into three parts–where you are now, how to break free of your current circumstances, and then concludes with how to continue […]
Was reading a really well researched article about Montessori education and it caused me to wonder why, in the wake of our failing education system, are there not more Montessori schools in our communities? Our youngest son was the beneficiary of attending a Montessori school from age 3 through kindergarten, and I would advocate for every parent to at least consider Montessori if it’s an option in your area. Anyway, enjoy the article, and would love to know your thoughts about it! https://www.americamagazine.org/politics-society/2018/06/29/montessori-schools-are-exceptionally-successful-so-why-arent-there-more
For your inspiration and encouragement on the journey towards holiness… Say Yes to Holiness Newsletter #21 Greetings, my Fellow Pilgrims on the Way! Food for the Head “Young people need the light of watchful guides to lead them on the path of salvation.” — St. John Baptist de la Salle How well are you serving as a “watchful guide” leading the young people in your life? Are you actively engaging and conversing with them BY NAME as you accompany them on the path of salvation? Do you know what their current struggles are? Is it with faith, or addiction, or […]
I returned recently from attending “Voice and Vision: The National Summit for Ministries With Youth and Young Adults” held at Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio. The Summit was sponsored by the National Dialogue and is a continuation of the efforts associated with both the Synod on Young People that was held at the Vatican in Rome last spring, 2018 and the V Encuentro that was held last fall, 2018 in Grapevine, Texas. In conjunction with these efforts, the National Dialogue is assisting the the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops (USCCB) to, as is advertised on the National Diologue website, […]
I was quietly sitting beside a small lake near our house this evening, and I was struck by how absolutely beautiful this world is, and how grateful I am to experience it. So I think it is no coincidence that I also had the opportunity to read a short article by Charlie McKinney of Sophia Institute Press entitled Gratitude Brings Many Blessings which highlights the ways that gratitude impacts our lives. He highlights in particular that gratitude increases humility and charity, is contagious, and finally, that it nurtures holiness. For myself, I can attest to the reality of all of […]