Just wanted to pass on two PHENOMENAL opportunities for your consideration in case you live ANYWHERE in/around the Atlanta area. Dr Mike Scherschligt (whose daily rosary meditation podcast I HIGHLY recommend), and Dr Troy Hinkle of the Holy Family School of Faith located in the Archdiocese of Kansas City, Kansas are the main speakers for both a women’s retreat day and a men’s morning of recollection. Both opportunities are happening at Holy Trinity Catholic Church the weekend of February 8th and 9th. Saturday, February 8th is a retreat day for women, and there is both an English and Spanish track. […]
holiness
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This is a wonderful (and super short!) podcast that offers a daily reflection on the Gospel of the day. Enjoy (and thanks for the recommendation Beth!) Also, if you would, please offer prayers for me as I lead a formation day for a local community, particularly that I serve as a good instrument of Holy Spirit so that power and authority of HIS Word may be shared today and much fruit be the result in the lives of all who gather today. Keep doing whatever it takes to grow closer to God and become more like Jesus so you can […]
On this Feast of the Baptism of our Lord, we are also asked to reflect upon the day that we were baptized into the divine life. For many of us, we may not remember the day, but I do—Easter Vigil, March 25, 1989. It was the day that I was also received into full communion with the Catholic Church, and received Holy Eucharist for the first time. For me, a person who has little biological family (I am the only child of an only child of an only child), the biggest feeling I remember is that that I felt like […]
In light of being diagnosed today with strep, this thought posted initially on my Instagram wall pretty much sums up what I am trying to do in the midst of this event that I do not like, did not choose and can not change. Lord Jesus, I surrender everything to you. Take care of everything! Keep doing whatever it takes to grow closer to God and become more like Jesus so you can tell the Master of Death, not today! Christina Semmens is a Roman Catholic author, blogger, speaker and mentor. She currently lives in Fort Payne, Alabama where she […]
For those of you who may not already be a part of my email list, wanted to share my weekly newsletter with you here on my blog in order to inspire and encourage you on the journey to holiness… The Say Yes to Holiness Newsletter #40 Greetings, my Fellow Pilgrims on the Way and may the peace of the Epiphany be with you! We are still in the midst of the Christmas season having just celebrated the great feasts of Mary, Mother of God, and the Epiphany, but still have another one ahead–we celebrate the Baptism of our Lord (and […]
Today is the Feast of the Epiphany, the day on which we remember the story of the three Wise Men. These Magi, or wise Kings, came from the east in order to pay homage to the newborn King, Jesus, whose birth had been foretold to them by the rising of a great star in the night sky. In the midst of reading a beautiful reflection by Bishop Robert Barron, I realized that the Magi modeled 5 practices of the spiritual life, that if we do, too, we become wise like they were in regards to the spiritual life. Secret #1 […]
On the journey to grow closer to God and become more like Jesus, it can be difficult to understand how our prayer life, the sacraments and making progress in the spiritual life all fits together. For those who are searching to understand it theologically, you can find an explanation in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, but I learned long ago that while “head” knowledge is a vital part of our spiritual growth, that knowledge sometimes doesn’t translate into transforming the thoughts, words and actions in our daily life so we become more like Jesus. And what I was blessed […]
I was reading a brilliant reflection by Blessed Bishop Fulton Sheen about the scene in the Nativity story where Joseph and Mary are seeking shelter in Bethlehem just before Jesus’ birth. As I meditated upon Bishop Sheen’s words, three hidden meanings, or secrets, emerged regarding the phrase “There is no room in the inn.” And if you are anything like me, I am sure your knowledge of these secrets will be sure to bring you lasting peace, joy and happiness long past Christmas. Secret #1 The Inn represents the gathering of public opinion, a place for all the worldly attitudes […]
Bishop Robert Barron posted a video for the first week of Advent that beautifully describes what we should be about in the spiritual life, particularly as we begin a new liturgical year in Advent. First Things First What struck me most though is that when Bishop Barron asks us to consider, “What is the highest mountain in your life?” his question is similar to the one I ask of myself, and others, which is “Are you truly putting first things first in your life?” I have written several articles about this concept of “first things first”, but simply, the idea […]
Hard to believe I have been doing a podcast for longer than a month already, but here is Episode 5–“God’s Will vs Our Will.” Hope you find the podcast to be a helpful tool and resource for you on the journey, and please reach out if there is a particular question or topic you would like me to address in future podcasts!