Have you seen this film? What did you think?

What is one of your favorite ‘Catholic’ films?

Thank you to CatholicFamilygifts for allowing me to review such a great product. For this film and other great Catholic products visit their site at CatholicFamilyGifts.com

Look at these scriptures on the heart.

Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us. Luke 24:32

My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. Psalm 84:2

Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Proverbs 3:3

The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks. Luke 6:45

For today’s feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus we take an intimate look at the heart that loves us and burns for us like no other. The image of the Sacred Heart is one of a heart with a flame rising above it and a crown of thorns circling it. This image penetrates deep into the mystery of love. Fire, an all-consuming element, burning away. His heart burns for love of you. Literally. That is why it is pictured on fire! A crown of thorns, reminding us that ‘God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son’ John 3:16. This is what true love is; a sacrifice, a suffering of love.

Throughout the years I sometimes think about the state of my heart and if someone was to do an autopsy on me what would they find. For myself, sometimes in prayer or at Mass while receiving the Eucharist, I can feel a burning of sorts inside my heart. This burning correlates to a longing for Christ and a desire to be united to Him. But I also know that at times I can sense blackness or dark speaks, blotches or even boulders inside my heart. My sin constantly gets in the way of that desire for God. It taints it and creates a black void. (and so goes Confession to renew myself again!)

A great prayer is to invoke the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, asking Him to make His heart at home in our heart. Let us purify our hearts by allowing His Sacred Heart to burn in us, burn away our blackness so we may love with His love.

MOST SACRED HEART OF JESUS, HAVE MERCY ON US!

To learn more about the Sacred Heart go here.

What are your thoughts? 

A few weeks ago I wrote a book review on this book. To read it click here. This month one blessed winner will receive a copy of this book and I will pray a rosary for their vocation.

To enter, reply below with any thoughts. Contest ends Thursday, June 13 at 5pmEST. One entry per person, only ships within US.

This song is so beautiful and Ginny Owens has an angelic voice. The pictures don’t really make sense with the music, but it’s a good song to listen to while online.

I have to admit, when I first went to order this book, I was hesitant. Vocations? Ok, I thought, this is going to be a book about the religious life. Am I ready for this one? I mean I had been discerning for years and still did not feel called…but what if? And obviously this book is only about that vocation, so if I order it, that means I have to become a nun. This book is about vocations to the religious life, but it doesn’t start or end there.

There has long been a tendency in the Church to apply the term vocation only to Holy Orders and religious life. Yet St. Paul himself gives us a broader notion of vocation or calling.

Excerpt from the Introduction

This tiny, easy to read book brings you into a greater knowledge of what a vocation is and how to live it out. All I can say is, ‘be not afraid’. This book will ‘guide’ you through what it means to live out the vocation of being a disciple of Christ, the various ‘Vocations’ out there (including that one that requires a veil!) and the one that says be fruitful and multiply! The second chapter on the vocation of the single life is a very interesting read too. Would love to hear  your thoughts on it!

I love how seemingly thorough and concise this book is. It gets right to the point and offers a series of reflective questions at the end of each chapter. With only 54 pages, it’s one you can go back to time and time again, as a resource or for reflection.

You can receive a copy for free! Look for it in next month’s giveaway on June 6!

What book(s) do you recommend on vocations?

This review was written as part of the Catholic book reviewer program from The Catholic Company. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on Catholic Update Guide to Vocations. The Catholic Company is the best resource for gifts for every Sacrament celebration, such as First Communion gifts and Baptism gifts, as well as a great selection of limited-time Year of Faith gifts and resources.

Happy Mother’s Day to all of you ‘Spiritual Mothers’ out there. What is spiritual motherhood? God created us women. And as women, we are given a special gift, to give life. As a spiritual mother you give life, not physically, but spiritually. There are so many opportunities the Lord gives to us in life to be a spiritual mother. Think about the women you have helped to nourish throughout the years by pouring your heart into their lives, just like a physical mother, caring for these ‘children’ whomever they may be.

Are you a teacher/nurse/mentor? Have you volunteered with Big Sisters? Do you work with young kids? Do you have a younger sibling? Nieces or nephews? Have you taught Religious Education? Are you a Godmother? A sponsor? There are so many opportunities to be a spiritual mother. God brings children into our lives that need to be fed.

What does it take to be a spiritual mother?

Spiritual Motherhood consists of first and foremost by praying for those in your life. But it’s also about being a mother. What do mother’s do? They give of themselves, unselfishly, unreservedly, willingly. They sacrifice their time, tend to the sick, wipe snotty noses, listen with a caring heart, read to the young, give encouragement and bake cookies! Think corporeal works of mercy, there you have spiritual motherhood. Every woman has a gift of motherhood, so today, I want to honor all of you spiritual mothers and encourage you to keep feeding your children, giving them sound advice, helping them through the struggles of life and keeping them in your heart.

All women are called to be spiritual mothers. Some examples of spiritual motherhood; Mother Mary! Can’t get any better than her! She is our Mother that cares for us and prays for us continuously. Mother Teresa, think about the countless ‘children’ that she took care of and we call her ‘Mother’ for a reason! I have to give a shout out to my former Campus Minister who has served as a spiritual mother to countless of women (including me!), Monica Ashour, through her years of teaching, being a campus minister and now through TOBET. Thank you, Monica!

I also think that consecrated women have a unique role to play in the gift of spiritual motherhood. Because they have vowed themselves unreservedly to our Lord in a celibate lifestyle, they are ‘concerned about the Lord’s affairs’ (1 Corinthians 7:34)

So, ladies, Happy Mother’s Day to you!

FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I am a proud spiritual mother to my two godsons, Christopher and MacLane, my former students at University of Mary Washington, my religious education students from the Archdiocese of Denver and to my 17 beautiful nieces and nephews. Happy Mother’s Day to me!

To whom are you a spiritual mother?

Click here for EWTN’s novena to the Holy Spirit for the Seven Gifts. 

To read more about the Holy Spirit, click here, here or here. 

Come, Holy Spirit!!!

To enter, reply below. What is your favorite mysteries to pray? Contest ends Thursday, May 9 at 5pmEST. One entry per person, only ships within US. 

Congratulations to Kaitlyn! You are this month’s winner, you get to choose any pair of earrings from the store! 

Need a mother’s day gift for your mama? Check out her other items at clayrosaries.com