March 15th is Catholic Media Promotion Day. Read more about it here.
I’d like to share some of my Catholic Media faves with you.
North Texas Catholic
Guadalupe Radio Network
EWTN Television
Here is my response to Nourishing Hearts:
Being a wife and mother isn’t as easy as I thought it would be. I struggle with striking a balance between caring for my family and taking care of myself. When I fall short, complain, or neglect to count my blessings, I can be pretty unforgiving of myself. Try incredibly unforgiving. Not to mention that my heart often feels like it’s going to implode when I read the news. There is so much pain, suffering, and sadness in the world… My heart needs nourishing.
“What do I live on? What keeps me going? How do I nourish my heart?”
Sometimes it seems like I live on worry and regret, but this does not nourish my heart. Instead, they steal my joy and erode the present.
I NEED to be in control and to feel secure. They keep me going, right? If I’m in control, I’ll feel secure, right? Not exactly. Striving to fill these “needs” does not nourish my heart; rather, striving for control and security gives rise to all sorts of stress and discontentment.
Come to think of it, I don’t do much to nourish my heart. Not intentionally anyway. So I started to think about WHEN my heart feels nourished.
My heart feels nourished– I feel nourished– WHEN:
I know that worry, regret, trying to be in control, and striving for security pretty much leave God out, but I forget. And when I forget, I struggle.
On the other hand, my husband and my children are gifts from God through the Sacrament of Marriage. All that I am and all that I have are gifts from God. Answering the call of stewardship sets me on the path of discipleship, which is exactly where I should be. Prayer and the Sacraments help me along the way, and all of these have God’s Word as their source.
So how do I nourish my heart? I don’t. God does. If only I didn’t forget…
Heavenly Father, my heart needs nourishing. Worry, regret, and struggles for control and security leave my heart weary. Please help me to remember that it is Your Word that nourishes my heart.
Lord, my heart needs nourishing. Please open my heart to receive Your holy, life-giving Word, and guide me in the ways of good stewardship so that Your Word will be fruitful in my life and the lives of those around me.
Amen.
Last Thursday, the kids and I went to the grocery store to pick up a few things we had forgotten on our previous shopping adventure. During the checkout process, the groceries ended up in a different cart, which left no room for the kids. As I struggled to corral two shopping carts, a man and his young son approached us and offered to help. I gladly accepted. As we pushed the carts out to the truck, I explained to my kiddos that the man and his son were our Good Samaritans that day, that they saw we needed help and decided to do something about it. We were all very thankful and expressed our gratitude to the man and his son with great enthusiasm. Continue reading »
Catholic Prayers: Prayer for Peace
Pope John Paul II
Lord Jesus Christ, who are called the Prince of Peace, who are yourself our peace and reconciliation, who so often said, “Peace to you,” grant us peace. Make all men and women witnesses of truth, justice, and brotherly love. Banish from their hearts whatever might endanger peace. Enlighten our rulers that they may guarantee and defend the great gift of peace. May all peoples on the earth become as brothers and sisters. May longed-for peace blossom forth and reign always over us all.
Lord Jesus Christ, who are called the Prince of Peace, who are yourself our peace and reconciliation, who so often said, “Peace to you,” grant us peace. Make our family witnesses of truth, justice, and brotherly love. Banish from our hearts whatever might endanger peace. Enlighten Bethany and myself that we may guarantee and defend the great gift of peace. May our entire family become as brothers and sisters in peaceful cooperation. May longed-for peace blossom forth and reign always over us all.
“We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature – trees, flowers, grass- grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence… We need silence to be able to touch souls.” — Blessed Teresa of Calcutta
“Do not think that love, in order to be genuine, has to be extraordinary. What we need is to love without getting tired.” ~~ Blessed Teresa of Calcutta
A Prayer for Hope and Comfort
Watch, dear Lord, with those who wake or watch or weep tonight, and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend your sick ones, O Lord Jesus Christ, rest your weary ones, bless your dying ones, soothe your suffering ones, shield your joyous ones, and all for your love’s sake. Amen.
— St. Augustine