Not Lukewarm Podcast

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

Not Lukewarm Podcast with Deanna Bartalini

Welcome to learning and growing into a person who is not lukewarm. Curious as to where “not lukewarm” came from? It is from Revelation 3:16, “So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.” Jesus is speaking to one of the seven churches and he is admonishing one for being neither hot nor cold and he tells them he will spit them out of his mouth. The first time I read that I realized I never wanted to be lukewarm, especially in my faith and love for Jesus. Rev 3:16 is a life verse for me, reminding me to the person God is calling me to be, each and every day.

And I want to help you live “not lukewarm” too! One of my greatest joys is to walk with people on their faith journey. I believe that the more you know about God and your faith, the more deeply you will fall in love with him. And when you fall in love with God, you want to reach out to others in gratitude. The Not Lukewarm podcast is about journeying together and learning how to live our faith every day.

I think the world wide web is a great place to connect. Here’s where you can find me:

God Reaching Out & Breaking Through

Glimmer or God? I’ve been hearing about ‘glimmers’ on social media lately. I’ve seen a few memes. And while I liked the thought of a glimmer as opposed to a trigger, I wasn’t happy with the advice to look for the glimmer. You see, to me, a glimmer is not about looking for something good, […]

The Secret to Happiness

Banter Need a bit of a laugh? Listen to my pretend banter about my haircut and eyebrows! Saintly Wisdom on Happiness “The secret of happiness is to live moment by moment and to thank God for all that he, in his goodness, sends to us day after day.” […]

God’s Faithfulness to Us

Let’s begin with a prayer Let nothing disturb you, Let nothing frighten you, All things are passing away: God never changes. Patience obtains all things Whoever has God lacks nothing; God alone suffices. St. Teresa of Avila God is Faithful “If we are faithless, he remains […]

Toward Forgiveness

Joseph in the Old Testament In the story of Joseph, we find an example of forgiveness. Joseph not only forgives his brothers for the wrong they did to him but restores and blesses them. The verses below show a small piece of the story. Scripture ” Joseph prepared his chariot and went up to meet […]

Why Listening is Important

In the Beginning… In the very first chapter of Genesis, it tells us that “God said” and the earth was formed. There was listening. How to listen When listening to another person, it is important that we: listen with the intention to understand and respond let go of our own experiences and the need to […]

The Road to Hope: Responding to the Crisis of Addiction

Keaton Douglas Meet Keaton Douglas, who wrote The Road to Hope: Responding to the Crisis of Addiction with Lindsay Schlegel, a book that Keaton hopes gets into the hands of all who want to be an apostle. Who is Keaton Douglas? She is the Executive Director of the I THIRST Initiative, a Mission of the […]

A Daily Examen

End your day with prayer Echo the psalmist as he says, Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts. See if there is any wicked way in me,and lead me in the way everlasting. […]

4,000 Miles to Say Thank You

Road Trip In some ways, I can’t believe we really did it; 4000 miles in 9 days. But then again, we are about living NOT lukewarm!!!!! I’m glad we went. We rested, we talked, and we drank great beers. We spent time in prayer before, during, and after. At the Shrine, we were able to […]

Interior Disposition

The Question What is going on in your soul as you go about your daily life? That is your interior disposition! Your attitude as you go about your life. Do you look at the chores and mundane pieces and tasks of your life as burdens? No one is paying attention, thankful, or offering accolades. You […]

Mercy’s Power by Maria Gallagher

A New Book As always, learning about a new book is a joy and even more so when the author is a friend! Maria Gallagher has written another book, Mercy’s Power, published by Marian Press. It is a guidebook of how to bring the corporal works of mercy into your life to help us recreate […]

Liminal Space & Waiting

Waiting can be Difficult I stink at waiting, especially when waiting for a decision to be made. Living in that in-between space, neither here nor there, can seem like a waste of time. We want to get onto the next thing. But sometimes, we are asked to wait, to have some patience. Liminal Space Liminal […]

Ordinary Time-An Opportunity

What is Ordinary Time? This is one of the seasons in the Church’s Liturgical Year. We have various liturgical seasons, just as there are natural seasons. Ordinary time happens two times a year, and now it is beginning again, from May 29 until December 2. For more information, you can read this post. On […]

Better, with God

Micro Changes Small changes can help us change our habits. Changing our habits leads us to better outcomes. We can break big changes or shifts into small segments and increase over time. We do not have to do it all at once. This can set us up for failure, rather than success. You are the […]

Scriptures of Hope

For this last episode of the series on Hope, we turn to God’s Word. His word guides and sustains us like nothing else. I’ve chosen three passages to ponder and I highly recommend you read the entire passage, not just the one verse to get the full meaning. The Verses He set me free in […]

Catherine of Siena and Hope

Who is Catherine of Siena? Born in 1347, Catherine was a 3rd Order Dominican. She left for us The Dialogue, which is a conversation between Catherine and Giod while she was in ecstasy. It was transcribed by her secretaries as Catherine spoke. Catherine died in 1380 in Rome. In 1461 she was canonized by Pope […]

What is Hope?

The Theological Virtues From the Catechism of the Catholic Church The theological virtues are the foundation of Christian moral activity; they animate it and give it its special character. They inform and give life to all the moral virtues. They are infused by God into the souls of the faithful to make them capable of […]

Meditations on the Crucifixion & Resurrection

Sometimes we go to all the liturgies of Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter but never seem to ponder or pray with the scripture. We wonder, is there more? Can I go deeper? What is there in these words forme? Guided Meditations This podcast episode offers you two guided meditations, one for Good Friday and […]

Go Against

Get out of your Rut The first four chapters of Habits of Freedom have us looking inward and being contemplative. The last chapter, 5, is about looking outward, getting out of your rut, and acting on your life experience. How to become a Contemplative in Action? Experience – what goes on around us through our […]

Take Time to Talk

In this episode, we talk about Chapter 4, Talk it Out, from the book, Habits of Freedom: 5 Ignatian tools for Clearing your Mind and Resting Daily in the Lord by Fr. Christopher J. Collins, SJ. Deacon John and I had similar yet different takeaways from this chapter. First, the idea or rather, the reality […]

Toward the Good or Evil Spirit

Continuing with Habits of Freedom by Christopher S. Collins, SJ Chapter 3, Reject the Lie Jesus’ identity was rooted in God the Father. He knew He was God’s beloved Son. We see that right after His baptism, Jesus is tempted in the desert by the evil one. Let’s not quickly dismiss Jesus’ ability to withstand […]

Where does our True Identity come from?

What is our true identity? “We cannot be truly happy until we are truly free, and we to know who it is that we truly are if we are to be truly free.” Habits of Freedom, pg 20 Eve As in adam and Eve, she engages in a ‘what if ‘ conversation with the snake. […]

Habits of Freedom; Holy Indifference

We are continuing our series of Habits of Freedom: 5 Ignatian Tools for Calming Your Mind and Resting in the Lord by Christopher S. Collins, SJ. God often calls us out of our usual to get our attention. In the scripture, we see him call people to the desert, recall the Israelites in the desert […]

Habits of Freedom, Introduction

Normal We want our life to go back to normal. And what exactly does normal mean? I think, instead, let’s consider grounding ourselves in Christ. When we are with him, life will be on a more even keel. When we begin with him, Jesus helps us get through life. A Series The next few episodes […]

Pray for Yourself

Do you pray for yourself? I have met many people who don’t think to pray for themselves. Some think it is selfish; others, maybe a bit burdensome to God, who already has enough to concern himself with. But I think we are to pray for ourselves. Jesus prayed for Himself In scripture, we see many […]

Psalms and Gratitude

Gratitude is an Answer Often times we don’t think about our blessings and daily life as gifts, but they are. It’s not good luck or being in the right place at the right time. When we feel mired down in problems, turn to gratitude. Shift your focus. Praying the Psalms Here is a list of […]

America’s Mary: The Story of Our Lady of Good Help

New Book about Our Blessed Mother I have always known we have a generous and loving Mother in Heaven. But Mary also comes to people here on earth to guide and give a message of hope or words of exhortation when needed. In 1859, this is what happened in Door County, Wisconsin to a girl […]

Ask the Holy Spirit for Help

Decisions to be made How often do we wonder, is this what I should do? What will be the best decision? We think and pray and ask a few or twenty-five, people, what they think, instead of going to the Holy Spirit. Or maybe you do go to the Holy Spirit but still, ask questions. […]

Called by God

What is my purpose? “Each one of us has been called from all eternity to fulfil a divine vocation. God the Father brought us into life (no one has been born by accident). He created our soul. He drew us into his intimate life through the Sacrament of Baptism. By means of this sacrament God […]

A New Book: Encountering Signs of Faith

A New Book It is always a pleasure when I talk with an author and doubly so when she is a friend! You’ve met Allison Gingras before, but today it’s all about her own new book, Encountering SIgns of Faith: My Unexpected Journey with Sacramentals, the Saints and the Abundant Grace of God. What’s it […]

Stop Worrying; Focus on Now

We all do it Or at least it seems so to me. Worry that is, looking forward or back, wondering what we could have or should have or ought to do better or differently. The preoccupation with the possibilities instead of what is does not help us. Scripture “I am the God of your faither, […]

You are Enough

Fine Line There is a fine line between true, good, and holy desires and grasping for more. Our world tells us that we are not enough or maybe too much; that we need to do more, be more, and have more. Always striving for an ideal that is beyond reach. That is not of God. […]

Trust in the Slow Work of God

Learning to Wait Not my strong suit. Same as being still, not always easy, as I said in the last episode! But there is beauty in stillness; it builds trust, trust in God. And God will always come through for you. Trust in the Slow Work of God Above all, trust in the slow work […]

What to do

What to do when you don’t know what to do Often times our inclination is to do something. And that may be the wrong answer. We may be doing something that is not within our scope of influence or concern. We may be getting in God’s way! So what is the answer? The LORD will […]

The Mother of Jesus is Wonderfully Real

How did this book come about? One day, Isabel went to camp and was made fun of for wearing a medal of Mary, Our Blessed Mother. She was broken-hearted, and neither her mother or aunt (Alyssa Bormes) could console her. She she and her aunt wrote a letter to a priest friend, Fr. Paul Murray. […]

We can trust God!

What does trust mean? What does the word trust mean? “A firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability or strength of someone or something.” We have belief in God. He is reliable. He is truth. His ability is above all, as is His strength. We can trust Him. Yet we falter at times. The Word […]

Simple & Ordinary

A few weeks ago I interviewed Rachel Balducci about her new book, No Such Thing as Ordinary and we talked about how oftentimes, we are waiting to do something big and important for God and miss what is in front of us. Reminder from God I have lots of insomnia lately and so the middle […]

A Prayer of Surrender

Suscipe or Surrender Prayer Take Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my will, all that I have and cherish you have given to me; I surrender it all to be guided by your will. Your grace and strength are wealth enough for me. I ask for this and nothing more. […]

The Value of Friendship as We Age

How to Be Happy as You Age There are 7 indicators, based on a Harvard Study that indicate how happy and well you will be later in life. A full explanation is here. Briefly, the 7 are: Don’t smoke Do not abuse alcohol Maintain healthy body weight Exercise Adaptive coping style Education Stable, long-term relationships […]

Meet Rachel Balducci, Author of No Such Thing As Ordinary

A New Book It’s always a treat to interview authors whose books I’ve read. Rachel Balducci is a speaker, writer and co-host of The Gist on Catholic TV. She teaches journalism at Augusta University and is married to Paul. They have five sons and one daughter. Her latest book, No Such Thing as Ordinary: Unlocking Your […]

Are you participating in your faith life?

Scripture He entered a boat, made the crossing, and came into his own town. And there people brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Courage, child, your sins are forgiven.” At that, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” […]

Is Spiritual Direction for you?

What is Spiritual Direction? “It is the guidance of a person into a life truly under the dominion of the Holy Sprit, who is the primary director.” from Seeking Spiritual Direction by Thomas Dubay, S.J. “Spiritual direction is concerned with helping a person directly with his or her realtionship with God…the most fundamental issue is […]

A Eucharistic Revival

Catholics having a revival Yes, we are, starting on June 19, 2022, until July 17, 2024. That is two years to unpack the riches of the Eucharist, grow individually in your personal relationship with the Lord, and change the world! Take a look here at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ National Eucharistic Revival […]

The Trinity-A Mystery to Embrace

Thoughts from St. Hildegard “But the Father is revealed through the Son, the Son through the beginning of created things, and the Holy Spirit through the incarnate Son. How is this? It is the Father who before time engendered the Son; it is the Son through whom all things were created by the Father at […]

The Feast of Pentecost

Come, Holy Spirit The Feast of Pentecost is a theophany, a manifestation of God! Luke, the writer of Acts, uses the retelling as a way to remind us that the Jews also celebrated Pentecost. For them, it was the celebration of Moses receiving the Torah from God on Mt. Sinai. The same wind and fire […]

5 ways to Care for your Soul

Our soul needs care just as our body does. This week, I’m offering 5 suggestions that help me be the Christian witness I want to be and live notlukewarm! Five Ways Start your day with a prayer. Read scripture. Spend time in nature, noticing the beauty of God’s creation. Sit in silence for a short […]

The Courage of St. Catherine of Siena

About Catherine Catherine of Siena was born in Siena, Italy in 1347. She was a twin but her sister died shortly after birth. The following year the Black Death entered Siena. She had a vision of Jesus as a young child and from then knew she wanted to give her life to God and renew […]

A New Book: Joyful Encounters with Mary

A new book! Maria Gallagher has written, Joyful Encounters with Mary: A Woman’s Guide to Living the Mysteries of the Rosary, a wonderful way to learn more about the joyful mysteries, virtues and the saints while living out your faith every day! 5 Joyful Mysteries The 5 joyful mysteries are the Annunciation, the Visitation, the […]

Faith at the Empty Tomb

Happy Easter I hope that if you pull this up on Good Friday, you wait for another day to listen. This is a resurrection meditation! Filled with the good news of Jesus’ triumph over death. A Fresh Hope Each year we celebrate Easter to remind ourselves, yet again, that Jesus gave us our salvation. The […]

The Four Women Church Doctors

Who are they? Saints Hildegard of Bingen, Catherine of Siena, Teresa of Avila, and Therese of Lisieux are the four women Doctors of the Church! Why are they called Doctors? In honoring these women with this title, the Chuch is recognizing that the work and contributions each of these saints made has withstood the test […]

Ask God for the Plan

Scripture “I cannot do anything on my own; I judge as I hear, and my judgment is just, because I do not seek my own will but the will of the one who sent me.” John 5:30 Reflection If Jesus, who is the one speaking, makes the point that he cannot do anything on his […]

10 Reasons to Study Scripture

Begin with Scripture “Indeed, the word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart. No creature is concealed from him, but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom […]

Ditch the Heaviness of Life

Life can be heavy All of us in this world has both good and bad things going on. There are moments of joy and despair, all intermingled, sometimes in the same moments. And where we focus often determines our attitude. Scripture “Then all who trust in you will be glad and forever shout for joy. […]

Imagine You Walked with Jesus, A Guide to Ignatian Contemplative Prayer.

Teaching Prayer Teaching a person to pray using Ignatian Contemplative Prayer is not an easy task. It takes time and repetition to learn. The other point to consider when teaching someone is that you want the person to enter into the prayer based on their needs, not the person teaching. In his new book, Imagine […]

Asceticism

Asceticism – not a word you use every day Lent is approaching and I’ve been considering the idea of asceticism. Which is different from minimalism. But rather than my words, let’s look a the definition from A Concise Dictionary of Theology. “Asceticism is the ways and mean sdopted by Christians under the action of the […]

With the Lord’s Help

A Saint and some Scripture We are reading The Way of Perfection by St. Teresa of Avila with the LiveNotLukewarm community. The book is filled with wisdom, which is why she is a Doctor of the Church! This struck me: “May our Lord assist me in everything that I shall do, that all things may […]

Grace in Tension: Discover Peace with Martha and Mary

Author Introduction I had a fun conversation with Claire McGarry, the author of Grace in Tension: Discover Peace with Martha and Mary, published by Our Sunday Visitor. Her website is Shifting my Perspective and you can find links to her books and recent writing there. Instagram […]

The Father’s Love

Back home I’m back home after two weeks away to finish my spiritual direction certificate. I graduated on January 30, 2022, and received my Spiritual Direction Certificate from the Cenacle of Our Lady of Divine Providence School of Spiritual Direction in association with the Franciscan University of Steubenville. It was a grace-filled time with lots […]

365 Dates to Renew your Christian Marriage

Let’s talk That phrase could be the answer to “how to strike fear in the heart of my husband?” But it isn’t. Honest. Dating your spouse and keeping your marriage at the forefront of your life can be difficult. What you might need is to take a look at this book from Dana Nygaard for […]

All in with your spiritual life

What does ‘not lukewarm’ mean? To me, it means being all in, first with my spiritual life so then, the rest of life will follow. Life will never be perfect, but when grounded in faith, especially prayer and scripture, we all stand a better chance of dealing with life. Scripture points “but showing love down […]

You are valuable

It’s easy to get sucked in New Year’s resolutions, goals, plans — good, especially if they work for you. What’s not good is coming away with the thought that you have to change because you are not enough or not quite up to the world’s standards. We are bombarded with messages of do it this […]

Prioritize, 2022

A New Year Each year we have the opportunity to begin something new. And while many people take stock of their life in the new year, it can be done at any time. This episode is a fun one as my husband joins me in a conversation about our word for the year and goals. […]

The Best Episodes of 2021

Quite a year Our year began with an episode that encouraged us to begin a spiritual makeover by “Changing our Hearts.” Later in the year, I talked about Rhythm, Routines and Habits, a good one to listen to as you begin planning for a new year, be it in your personal or professional life. I […]

Faith, Present, Future

Our Three Quotes “Faith is the fundamental response to the love that has offered itself up for me.” Fr. Hans von Balthasar “Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1 “It is because of faith that we exchange the present for the future. […]

What does it cost?

We begin with scripture “Without cost you have received, without cost you are to give” (Mark 10:8b). Gratitude. Humility. Thankful. Sacrifice. Share. These are all words that come to my mind as I read those verses, Mark 10:6-8. And I ponder what I have received without cost. And then it hits me, everything I have […]

Say Yes, Don’t Hesitate with God

Mary’s Yes “Mary said, Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Luke 1:38 And at that moment the Incarnation began. Mary did not hesitate. In The Reed of God, Caryll Houselander describes that trust of Mary’s yes. We too can have that trust which […]

Be Brave, Spread Light

Catherine of Siena “Start being brave about everything, driving out darkness and spreading light as well. Don’t look at your weakness, but realize that in Christ crucified you can do everything.” Shift your focus It’s so easy when we are feeling all of our weaknesses that we dwell there and go down a rabbit hole […]

Does God have footprints?

This post and podcast was done in collaboration with my husband, Deacon John; hope you enjoy it. God the Father in heaven sent His Son to us here on earth as a manifestation of His merciful love for us. By the Holy Spirit, Jesus was incarnate of the Virgin Mary. He left actual footprints where […]

Awakening at Lourdes: How an Unanswered Prayer Healed our Family and Restored our Faith

Meet Christy Wilkens She is a wife and mother of six, is a speaker and writer who lives outside Austin, TX. She blogs at FaithfulNotSuccessful.com about disability, faith, doubt, suffering, community, and good reads. Her first book, Awakening at Lourdes: How an Unanswered Prayer Healed Our Family and Restored Our Faith, a memoir about a […]

The Struggle is Good

No one likes struggles However, in our world they are inevitable. I do believe they can help us tough, in becoming the person God created. If we learn from our struggles, we have confidence that God will be there with us the next time. God’s Word “So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, […]

At Your Command

Who do you listen to? There are many voices in the world who clamor for our attention and think they can guide us on the best path. Ultimately, though, only God wants what is best for us and will be with us always. In Luke 5:1-11, Jesus calls Simon (Peter) to follow him. But first, […]

Take Courage

Courage! Do we have courage or are we more like the Cowardly Lion? I’d say there are many times when I am like him and other times not. Life can be difficult and courage helps us stand up for what we believe, overcome mental, emotional and physical pain. Scripture Of course, I’d rather God inform […]

New Book – Saintly Moms, 25 Stories of Holiness

New Book My best life includes a steady supply of books and time to read them. How about you? This week I spoke with Kelly Ann Guest, the author of Saintly Moms, 25 Stories of Holiness published by Our Sunday Visitor. Who are these Saintly Moms? 25 women, from the Blessed Mother to Saint […]

Practical Tips on Being Kind

Kindness is good The world can always use another person to spread kindness. Why shouldn’t it be you? I know it’s not always easy, let’s face it – you’ve got just as much going on as the next person. How can you be kind when it’s not easy or you’d rather treat the person the […]

Prayers of Gratitude & Surrender

Praying What does it mean to pray? And is there a right or wrong way to pray? Simply put, prayer is talking to God. It is sitting with the One who made you and listening to what he has to say as well as telling him your thoughts. Often though, we forget to say thanks […]

Rhythm, Routine & Habits

Sounds a bit boring? Rhythm, routines and habits sound a bit boring, isn’t the fun in life unplanned and spontaneous. Yes and no. I like having a rhythm and routine in my life and habits make life easier, so you make fewer decisions all day long. Plan my day I find when I plan […]

4 ways to pray with your spouse

Why pray with your spouse? Jesus tells us in Matthew 18:19-20, “Again, [amen,] I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything for which they are to pray, it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am […]

Answering God’s Call

Hits all the high points! Talking with Barbara Lee reminded me why Ignatian Spirituality is so important. It is relatable, easy to approach and helpful as you go through life, no matter what age or stage you are in. A Way to Pray Answering God’s Call: A Scripture Based Journey for Older Adults by Barbara […]

Ask for the grace

A quote “Grace is not a strange, magic substance which is subtly filtered into our souls to act as a kind of spiritual penicillin. Grace is unity, oneness within ourselves, oneness with God.” Thomas Merton Different Graces There are different types of grace, for different purposes; but all come from God and are gifts given […]

Meet Melanie Rigney, Author

Meet Melanie Rigney Melanie is an author of three great books, Sisterhood of Saints; Radical Saints and Menopause Moments. Our interview focused mainly on Menopause Moments, published by Twenty-Third Publications. She also writes for Living Faith, Catholic Update and Viva Mercy. Why this journal? Aging and change are a part of life. Menopause is inevitable […]

A New Women’s Devotional, Called by Name

What’s different? Let’s be honest, there are so many devotionals that it can be hard to choose. What makes this new devotional, Called by Name from Women in the New Evangelization edited by Kelly M. Wahlquist, Allison Gingras and Alyssa Bormes different? First, there are new voices; second, the daily devotions are brief yet […]

The Spiritual Exercises

Who is St. Ignatius? Ignatius was born in Spain in 1491 and at 16 began serving at court and enjoying the good life of romance, fine clothes and gambling. He joined the army and in a battle in 1521 was struck by a cannonball to the knee and the trajectory of his life changed. 500 […]

Fun Summer Fiction Reads with Karina Fabian

Unexpected! Karina Fabian loves to write speculative fiction, fantasy, science fiction and horror stories. She reminds us that God gave us our imagination, it is a sacred gift for us to use to create something wonderful. Do you expect to see nuns in space? Or a gumshoe dragon named Vern? The beginnings While dating her […]

Essential Worship Questions

Who needs worship? Is it God or us? God does not need our worship. We need to worship him. It makes us more inclined to give him honor and reverence and awe. It reminds us to love God above all other people and things. What are we to worship? We are meant to worship the […]

All Things New: Breaking the Cycle & Raising a Joyful Family

A new Book by Erin McCole Cupp It is always a pleasure to talk to people I have gotten to know from their writing and social media. I’ve read Erin’s blog and known her work for some time. I was excited to learn about her new book, All Things New: Breaking the Cycle & Raising […]

Finding Sanctuary, How the Wild Work of Peace Restored the Heart of a Sandy Hook Mother

Restoration and Healing People often wonder, when terrible things happen, how those involved recover. How do they find their way back to wholeness? This book, Finding Sanctuary, How the Wild Work of Peace Restored the Heart of a Sandy Hook Mother by Jennifer Hubbard, published by Ave Maria Press, is the story of just that, […]

How do we care for the marginalized?

A new book Love and Care for the Marginalized, 40 Meditations, Spiritual Outreach Reflections for Catholics by Anne DeSantis is about learning to be kind and loving disciples of Jesus. That’s it. These meditations include a quote, a reflection, a prayer and a call to action. It is not enough to know what we are […]

Meet Lara Patangan, author of Simple Mercies

What did you do when you turned 40? Lara Patangan wanted to mark the milestone with a year of mercy. She decided to embrace the corporal and spiritual works of mercy by doing them all year long. And what began as an experiment of sorts became a turning point in her faith life. What are […]

What are the Works of Mercy?

Works of Mercy How can we serve others? The Church talks about the Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy, a means of helping those around you in very real and tangible ways. Here are 2 images that break it down for you When you look at these lists and explanations […]

Meet Erin Whalen from Compassionate Coaching

Tired of feeling weary? Do you ever feel like no matter what you do it is not enough? You are not just tired but weary of trying to do all the things for all the people. Enter Erin Whalen, a life coach who wants to help you go from weariness to hope. Erin journeys with […]

Embrace Uncomfortable?

Do you like being comfortable? I do. In the spiritual life though, comfortable can mean stagnant. Or stuck. Not moving toward greatness. Two quotes “The world promises you comfort, but you were not made for comfort. You were made for greatness.” Pope Benedict XVI “If you are always comfortable, nothing really happens, nothing changes. Embrace […]

The Prayer of Silence

What is prayer? Prayer is time with God. A conversation. A lifting of our mind and heart to him. There are different types of prayer We can pray with others or by ourselves. There are vocal prayers, often those we have memorized. We can pray those aloud or inside our mind, but there are words […]

Whisper: Finding God in the Everyday

Meet Danielle Danielle Bean is brand manager at CatholicMom.com, an apostolate of Holy Cross Family Ministries. She is creator and host of the Girlfriends podcast and co-host of The Gist on CatholicTV. Danielle is also author of several books including Momnipotent, You Are Enough, and Giving Thanks and Letting Go. She is a retreat leader and a popular […]

A new book: Hearts Burning within Us

Meet the authors Anne DeSantis and Bill Synder are the people who worked together along with other contributors and college students to put together this unique book. Why do Is ay unique? Because the questions are not what they think college students need to know about but are actual questions from students! Bill is the […]

A Meditation on John 20

Not quite Easter Save listening to this for Easter Monday! Deacon John Bartalini, my other half, better half, whichever you prefer, leads us in a guided meditation on John chapter 20. Pause it as you wish to allow yourself time to enter into the scene with Mary Magdalene and the apostles. Imagine you’re right there, […]

Meet Mary Lenaburg, Be Bold in the Broken

A new book It’s no secret that I love books! Interviewing authors is always a chance to learn more about the person behind the words. In Mary Lenaberg’s case, she is just as down-to-earth and honest on paper as in person. As she said, she only has time to be one Mary, no matter where […]

Peter denies, Jesus forgives

What is sin? Simply put, it is missing the mark. In the Gospels, the story of Peter denying Jesus and then being able to be forgiven by Jesus after the resurrection is such a clear example of how much love Jesus has for each one of us. Scripture John 18: 17, 25-27 is where you […]

Is it time to repent?

Repentance True sorrow and a desire to change is the repentance God is asking from us. When we sin, we hurt ourselves, others and our relationship with God. God calls us to look at ourselves with honesty and decide what needs to be changed. Not out of shame, but because we desire to live more […]

Letters to Women by Chloe Langr

A new book Letters to Women: Embracing the Femmine Genius in Everyday Life is a collection of letters put together by Chloe Langr. There are 30 letters from different women for different times and seasons of life. Some a specific, letter to those who want to be married or have suffered a miscarriage. Others are […]

Is Lent a time of sacrifice or action?

What is Lent? Lent is 40 days before Easter, it begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on the Wednesday before Holy Thursday. It is a time of prayer, fasting and almsgiving; a way to prepare ourselves for the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Sacrifice or Action? I say both! Give up something and […]

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