The Four Women Church Doctors

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

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 of time. It is just as valuable to us today as it was to those who spoke, wrote, and mentored when the women first put forth their efforts.

To learn more…

Click on the name of each saint to learn more about them.

And your challenge this week is to learn more about one of these great women saints!

Don’t forget, if you’d like to study the Book of Revelation, we begin on April 20. Also, join the newsletter to find out when we being the Set the World on Fire retreat.

God’s love for you

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

The 1st Commandment

Then God spoke all these words: I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall not have other gods beside me. You shall not make for yourself an idol or a likeness of anything in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters beneath the earth;  you shall not bow down before them or serve them. For I, the LORD, your God, am a jealous God, inflicting punishment for their ancestors’ wickedness on the children of those who hate me, down to the third and fourth generation, but showing love down to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments.               Exodus 20:1-6

We are the apple of his eye

God has, in one way or another, brought us all out of slavery, just as he did the Israelites. His love for us knows no bounds. And when we put him first, he gives us unending mercy.
In chapter 32 of Deuteronomy Moses recounts all God has done and in verse 10 says,  He found them in a wilderness, a wasteland of howling desert. He shielded them, cared for them, guarded them as the apple of his eye.” 

We are his children

Not only did God give us Jesus for our salvation, we are his adopted children. John reminds us of that, ” See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God. Yet so we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we shall be has not yet been revealed. We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is” 1 John 3:1-2.

 

 

Read the 1st commandment and consider if you have things or people or activities that come before God. Do you want to change that? How could you do that?

Lenten Retreat

You can register and learn more here.

 

 

 

A Few Good Books

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

book loveBooks are the best! I rarely regret buying the book or reading the book. I do regret have given away books, especially those I can’t replace. I’m sharing a few of my past favorites today, books I pick up again just to read what I underlined or the notes I jotted down. It’s like seeing your old friends.

In no particular order, let me introduce you to my friends!

The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis, a satire in a series of letters from Screwtape to Wormwood. Wormwood is a demon in training; learning the ropes from senior demon Screwtape on how to get people on his side rather than God’s side. Originally published in 1942, the ways in which we succumb to evil is quite similar now.

Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl tells the author’s story of imprisonment in Auschwitz and other concentration camps. He talks about how even in the midst of the harshest crimes against humanity and horrible suffering, people were able to find meaning in the suffering and choose their reaction. It is an amazing book that teaches us that we can rise above our experiences and expected responses.

The Holy Longing and Sacred Fire are both by Fr. Ronald Rolheiser. The third book in the series is Wrestling with God which I have not yet read. These two volumes talk about how we express our spirituality and answer the call of Jesus on our lives. If you are searching for a deeper relationship with God and wondering where he is leading you, pick up these books. You will not be disappointed.

Consoling the Heart of Jesus by Fr. Michael Gaitley is a do it yourself weekend retreat that you can take as long as you want to do! Based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, Fr. Gaitley leads you through the exercises in a weekend, instead of a month in solitude. He gives practical tips on how to manage your time and energy and asks the questions that get to the heart of the topic presented. Even if you do go through the book in one weekend, you will find yourself going back it to again and again. Truly life-changing for me!

Hairspray, Holy Water and the Healing Hand of God by Debbie Eckert is one woman’s story of her lifelong conversion to a deeper and closer walk with the Lord. Debbie writes in a down to earth style; it’s like having a cup of coffee and chatting. If you ever wonder if God is working in your own life, reading this book will help you see an example and is sure to help you see him in your own life.

If you are looking for a great book for moms who don’t have lots of time to sit and read a devotional every day, look no more. try the Catholic Mom’s Prayer Companion from Ave Maria Press, written by over 50 authors. Each day includes a quote, reflection, prayer and question to ponder. Short, sweet and to the point. And, if you leave a comment in the comment box, you will be entered to win a copy! So leave a comment by Dec. 15, I’ll pick a winner on Dec 16 and get in touch with you then. So be sure to leave a comment (and your email), which no one will see but me, promise.

the not lukewarm challenge

 

This week, why not read a book? Leave a comment and you can win the Prayer Companion!