I Hear Wedding Bells ❤

Elissa Anne Photography

"When I found him whom my soul loves; I held onto him and would not let him go." 
– Song of Solomon 3:4 

At last, now the world can behold the beautifully married Catholic couple everyone's been chatting about recently, Mr. and Mrs. Robert (Bobby) Angel. How appropriate that their last name is Angel, right? These sweethearts are such a great example to other Catholics who are currently in relationships of their own or are in the midst of discerning the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony. If you don't know about these two newlyweds, Jackie and Bobby, you can become accquainted with them through their blog posts at http://jackieandbobby.com/. Nevertheless, this cute couple finally took their vows of true, pure, everlasting love for each other during their wedding Mass in California on August 10, 2013.

I haven't personally met either Jackie or Bobby, but I have come to love who they are through their postings on their blog, Facebook, and Twitter sites. These two lovebirds seem to be perfect for each other! However, they were not always together. The first time I ever heard about Jackie was from a YouTube video that showed up in my Facebook newsfeed a few years ago. It was called the "Ache of Singlehood." In this video Jackie describes the ache a heart feels from being single as a single woman herself. But she notes that it is a good ache because it's ultimately our longing for a deeper relationship with God. Jackie explains that no human person can satisfy us and only God can fill that void, or that longing, deep within our hearts. And the deeper relationship we develop with Him the deeper our trust and our love will be for Him.

This trust helps us to give our heart's desires to God and wait for His holy Will to transpire in our lives. If we are called to a married life then this ache is just another confirmation that we are destined to that particular vocation. The hard part is waiting. All of us single ladies feel that it is an endless wait for our Prince Charming to sweep us off our feet. But on the contrary, look at Jackie now! She was one of those ladies too, but now she is happily married to the man of her dreams! In the end, waiting for the right guy to show up is much better than settling for the wrong one.

Although Jackie did not know her future husband was Bobby during the making of the video, shown above, you can see how much peace she had from trusting God. This type of peace comes from accepting singlehood as a gift and learning to make the best of it until Mr. Right comes along. You can see she was perfectly happy and content being a single woman even though she still had the ache for a relationship. However, she developed her relationship with God more and more everyday. She continually grew to love Him better and more perfectly than the day before. Along with that, she prayed a 54-day-rosary novena for her future husband who was actually in the seminary when she met him.

Of course every Catholic girl knows that seminarians are off limits—otherwise you are given a bad rap and are known as a "chalice chipper." So obviously she wasn't intending to befriend him as more than a friend. But it looks like God had different plans. Apparently Bobby was still discerning his call to the priesthood and was open to let God redirect his path, if need be.

After spending time together on a retreat for Theology of the Body the pair of them became inseparable. In his blog post Bobby states, "I was still technically a seminarian, but I was given such clarity and peace during this week [at the retreat] with Jackie that I knew this was the sign I had asked God for." Both Jackie and Bobby knew they had found "the one" even though they didn't vocalize it until much later. It was all about trusting in God's Will and God's timing, which they both did. They even found each other on a retreat that brought them closer to God together! How wonderful!? Jackie and Bobby have a remarkable love story. You can continue to read more about their courtship on their blog by clicking here.

Besides the two of them being the cutest Catholic couple ever, their story (which they kindly shared with us on their blog) is a story of hope for all of those who are also waiting for the right person to be united with in the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony. As a girl, most of us women want to meet the man of our dreams and marry him in our early or mid-twenties. But even when Jackie saw her other friends get married or become engaged she kept her faith in God that He was still saving the perfect person for her in His perfect timing. And guess what? He did! His timing was not too early and not too late, but just right. Maybe if Bobby was never in the seminary he would have never gone on that retreat or met Jackie. But since they both heeded to the Will of God they found each other under the right circumstances, in the right place, and at the right time.

Also, just as a side note, this "Catholic" world is so small that I feel very devout Catholic people are all connected somehow (besides the Eucharist in Holy Communion, lol). Apparently Bobby Angel was a seminarian from my own diocese here in Florida, the Diocese of St. Petersburg. I actually know some of his seminarian friends and Father Victor Amorose who said one of his first Masses as a priest at my home parish of St. Paul in Tampa. Father Victor attended their wedding ceremony along with my local bishop from St. Petersburg, Bishop Robert Lynch (seen in the photograph above). Bishop Lynch anointed me with the Sacrament of Confirmation many years ago and now he's blessing this couple with the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony on their wedding day! How beautiful!

So for all the single ladies, like myself, please don't give up hope on finding your Prince Charming. He is out there right now, living and breathing in this very world we live in. He will come when the time is right if you let him by trusting in God. Give God all the desires of your heart and surrender to His Will with complete trust that He will fulfill them. If you really love God and believe this I guarantee you won't be disappointed. You will only be disappointed if you don't surrender, otherwise you will have no regrets.

And who knows? Maybe you've already met your future husband or maybe you already have mutual friends with him and you just don't know it yet. Personally I believe if you are an ardent and devout Catholic you are probably less than two degrees of separation between you and your future spouse. Like I said, we truly live in a small "Catholic" world. Everyone seems to know each other! It is a beautiful thing. But as you are waiting to meet "the one" my advice is to lift up your intentions for your future beloved during Mass at Holy Communion. That way the two of you will meet every week in the flesh of God until you truly meet in the flesh—face to face.

Marriage Is A Sacrament: A Sacred Union Between One Man, One Woman, and God

"But at the beginning of creation God 'made them male and female.' For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife." – Mark 10:6-7

There is a term known as "marriage" that has been tossed around quite a bit recently by the US government and politicians. Just for some clarity let's look up the definition of the word "marriage" in the dictionary. In my book it says, and I quote, "marriage – (noun) the formal union of a man and a woman, typically recognized by law, by which they become husband and wife." In other words, two persons of the opposite-sex are formally committed to one another and are united by a wedding ceremony and legally binding contract. Within this union the husband and wife are bound together by their vows of everlasting love. This gives the couple the opportunity to bring about new life into this world under the promises that they shall remain together as a family. In essence, it means the two shall become one flesh out of love for each other.

Pope Francis recently affirmed this as the church’s teaching of marriage between one man and one woman in his 82-page encyclical, originally started by Pope Benedict XVI, stating, “This union is born of their love, as a sign and presence of God’s own love, and of the acknowledge and acceptance of the goodness of sexual differentiation, whereby spouses can become one flesh and are enabled to give birth to a new life.” (Click here to read more.) As you can see, the union of marriage is meant for the purpose and intention of creating life; which in turn, creates a family.

Keep in mind, if God wanted two persons of the same gender to be united He would have only created one gender in the first place that could reproduce homosexually or asexually. But that is not the case. Instead, God created two beautiful genders of the human race that compliment one another with their bodies to produce life. Naturally, a man and a woman are meant to come together on a very intimate level for reproduction. This physical bond between husband and wife is essential for any marriage to thrive. If the marriage is not consummated then it lacks in fulfilling the wedding vows. And although true love is not always physical, the physicality of love is a big part of romance—especially within a marriage. This special type of romantic bonding is found only in the relations between a man and a woman. 

Along with that, a child raised from a traditionally married couple is also secured with a relationship between parents of both genders. It is very important for the growth, well-being, and physiological health of the child to have both a mother and a father figure to look up to. With that said, God has clearly given us the perfect example of a typical family demonstrated by His own Holy Family. The Holy Family is made up of a (male) husband, (female) wife, and child that we all know as Joseph, Mary, and Jesus Christ, respectively. Even though Joseph was not Jesus’ biological father, he was Mary’s earthly spouse and helped raise the Christ Child with Mary. As Jesus grew up within the family He learned life lessons from both of His loving parents and carried out the fruits of their love in His ministry on earth.

This is how the family unit is meant to be—a supportive and loving union containing a husband, wife, and child/children. However, satan wants to twist the holiness of marriage and change it so it no longer revolves around true love or the family. Marriage is the glue that binds families together. If we let satan break apart marriage through divorce or the dilution of a true marital union, between husband and wife, it breaks apart the family. Just as Blessed Pope John Paul II said, "As the family goes, so goes the nation and so goes the whole world in which we live." This is the devil's plan—to destroy marriage, in turn, destroying the family and our whole world as we know it.

That is why we must pray for our Church the sanctity of marriage to be upheld in the United States and in the rest of the world. People need to be reminded of the beauty and holiness of marriage between one man and one woman. Marriage is supposed to be a beautiful, sacred, and holy experience of two lovers joined intimately by Christ's love. Marriage is an institution, founded by God, to unite a male and female in the sanctity of their love for one another. That is why marriage is considered to be a Sacrament of the Roman Catholic Church known as Holy Matrimony. I, myself, hope to one day be married in the Catholic Church with the man I love under the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony. I believe many other people want this too! In order to preserve and protect the sanctity of Matrimony we need to uphold our values as Christians and be steadfast and true to our beliefs on marriage.

Below is a passage taken from the statement of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops response to the Supreme Court's decision on DOMA on June 26, 2013:

Today is a tragic day for marriage and our nation. ...The common good of all, especially our children, depends upon a society that strives to uphold the truth of marriage. 

Marriage is the only institution that brings together a man and a woman for life, providing any child who comes from their union with the secure foundation of a mother and a father. 

Our culture has taken for granted for far too long what human nature, experience, common sense, and God’s wise design all confirm: the difference between a man and a woman matters, and the difference between a mom and a dad matters. While the culture has failed in many ways to be marriage-strengthening, this is no reason to give up. Now is the time to strengthen marriage, not redefine it. 

When Jesus taught about the meaning of marriage – the lifelong, exclusive union of husband and wife – he pointed back to “the beginning” of God’s creation of the human person as male and female (see Matthew 19). In the face of the customs and laws of his time, Jesus taught an unpopular truth that everyone could understand. The truth of marriage endures, and we will continue to boldly proclaim it with confidence and charity.

Walk By Faith

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me." – Psalm 23:4

If you watched the Discovery channel on Sunday night this past weekend I'm sure you were sitting at the edge of your seat, waiting in anticipation to see if tightrope walker, Nik Wallenda, would make it across the Grand Canyon. Nik Wallenda is famous for doing these dangerous high-wire stunts along with the rest of his family. He is a descendant of the daredevil stunt performers known as the "Flying Wallendas." He lives in Sarasota, FL with his family near the Ringling Circus where he practices for these events.

Although I have never met Nik or his family I have been to Sarasota several times to visit the Ringling Museum. They have beautiful artistic masterpieces there, to include my one of my favorite paintings known as The Blue Madonna by the Italian artist Carlo Dolci. The Ringling Museum is most definitely my favorite part about going there. Also, Sarasota is a very gorgeous city right near the water! I can attest to the fact that Nik is very blessed to live with his family in such a beautiful Floridian area.

Nevertheless, no matter where he may be, Nik always keeps himself grounded in prayer as he performs these major hire-wire stunts. Last year I saw him on TV as he crossed the Niagara Falls from the United States into Canada. That was quite a risky endeavor. However, I noticed Nik seemed to keep calm as he muttered the praises of Jesus along the way.

In his recent tightrope walk Nik crossed the Grand Canyon much the same way as he did over Niagara—but this time he was even more vocal about calling to the Lord for guidance and strength. He thanked Jesus, our Lord and Savior, over 60 times as he walked to the other side. Watching his body language, I could tell he seemed to be much more uneasy with this walk compared to his others in the past. Maybe he felt more uncomfortable since he was standing on a 2-inch wire that swayed in the turbulent winds at about 1,500 feet over the Grand Canyon! Although he seemed to be very unsettled by the situation he was in, Nik kept praising God the entire time. He remained focused and unafraid as long as he kept his thoughts and prayers on Jesus.

This reminds me of the story of Jesus walking on the water. When Peter had seen Jesus standing on the ocean waves, in the middle of the storm, he got out of the boat and started walking towards Him. But at the very moment he lost eye contact with Jesus his thoughts shifted away from the Lord and he became frantic—starting to sink into the sea. Then Jesus reached down and pulled him back up, saying, "You of little faith. Why did you doubt?"

In comparison, Nik Wallenda also battled the elements of the major winds coming up from the Grand Canyon, much like Peter did in the storm. However, Nik never lost complete concentration on Jesus. His entire walk was a constant prayer. Even when the wind became too much for him to handle he knelt down to regain his balance on the wire. He did this several times to ensure his safety and trusted that the Lord would get him across to the other side. Being human, I could tell that he seemed worried at times...but it was at those moments when he called out to Jesus more.

Just as my sister said the other day, "Nik Wallenda crossed the Grand Canyon! Truly an incredible testimony for faith in God and how dreams do come true." The point is, he never gave up when it was hard, he never quit on his dreams, and he never stopped believing that Jesus would come trough for him. He is a great example of total trust and surrender to God. His family even prayed together beforehand for his strength and protection.

I am so happy that he followed his dreams of walking across the Grand Canyon and gave witness to Jesus Christ in this modern-day world. Millions of people across the globe watched him that night! It is truly remarkable to the reaction people gave him in being so outspoken with his faith. Nik even got #Jesus trending worldwide on Twitter that night. What a blessing for so many people to see the miracle of this man walking 1,500 feet above the Grand Canyon and making it to the other side alive and unharmed! How incredible!?

It just goes to show that we can get through anything if we trust in the Lord Jesus. He is there for us, always watching, with every little step we take. We just need to be more aware of His presence.

With that said, I want to leave you with a recent message from Our Lady of Medjugorje. She always calls us to draw nearer to God. I truly believe, like Nik Wallenda, that is what we must do with our lives. Everyday we live is a new opportunity to draw closer to God. One day we will get there when we reach the gates of Heaven, but we always have an opportunity to strengthen our relationship with Him each passing day. Also, we must help our other brothers and sisters in Christ along the way to the path of salvation as we go through our own journey.

On June 25th 2013, the 32nd Anniversary of the Apparitions of Our Lady of Medjugorje, the Blessed Mother Mary said:

"Dear children! With joy in the heart I love you all and call you to draw closer to my Immaculate Heart so I can draw you still closer to my Son Jesus, and that He can give you His peace and love, which are nourishment for each one of you. Open yourselves, little children, to prayer—open yourselves to my love. I am your mother and cannot leave you alone in wandering and sin. You are called, little children, to be my children, my beloved children, so I can present you all to my Son. Thank you for having responded to my call."

            

God's Inspiration

"But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on His own; He will speak only what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come." – John 16:13

About a little over a week ago I went to St. Paul, Minnesota, to visit my new school for the first time! I'm so excited to attend the University of St. Thomas in the fall for the Master's program in Catholic Studies. This school is such a blessing! Everyone I met up there is so friendly. The people are so welcoming, I'm sure this new school will feel like home in no time. However, the climate is a big change from where I'm from. Since I've only lived in Florida I'm used to a hot and tropical climate, as opposed to the cold northern temperatures. But I really feel in my heart that going to St. Thomas is a step in the right direction in accordance to God's will and His future plans for me.

The first day I came to St. Paul I met up with some friends I had connected with online prior to arriving. It was so great to finally meet them in person! First, we had lunch at a cute little Italian place close by. I would say it seems to be like the "local hang out" for everyone off-campus. Then, we took a walking tour of the entire university and I was exhausted by the end of it. Not to mention, we still had more sight seeing! After that, I checked out the place that I'm planning to rent with some girls. I'm excited to be living with them in the fall, however the place we looked at was not what I had expected and I started to have some doubts about the whole thing.

Moving is a big change, living with people other than my family members is a big change, the climate is a big change, the location is super far from my home—definitely a big change, the academic work seems to be very rigorous and writing intensive—a very big change from being an art major, and the list goes on and on. However, there are so many good things about this program! The girls and other people I met up there are so wonderful! Like I said, everyone is so friendly. The professors are very nice and super intelligent. They seem like they are willing to help out any student if they tend to be struggling in their course. I also met several priests on campus and I think they are amazing! I can't wait to get to know them more and have in-depth spiritual discussions.

Although there are many changes and challenges that will come my way, I cannot lose hope. I was most definitely called to this university by God, Himself. I can only imagine that I would regret the decision for the rest of my life if I chose not to go. This opportunity doesn't come around everyday and I have been very blessed with it. So I am choosing to let go and let God. I'm surrendering to His will and letting Him take me wherever He wants me to go. And apparently He wants me to be a St. Thomas Tommie girl.

Have you ever heard the quote by St. Therese, the Little Flower, "God does not inspire us to do what cannot be done"? It truly means that if God places a great desire in our hearts that it was meant for us! This Catholic Studies program seems to be like the perfect fit for me. God would never have placed that desire in my heart if He didn't want me to pursue it. Although everything that comes with the program, like moving from FL to MN, will be challenging it does not mean that it is impossible for me to overcome.

The same goes for you! Many times God will test our abilities by giving us a great challenge to strengthen our faith. If you have ever felt there is something you want to do but you are having a hard time doing it, it is because there are obstacles in the way meant for you to overcome. Throughout the journey you must place complete faith and trust in God—total surrender, if you will. Surrendering to God may be the hardest part of it. But as I said, if the opportunity is meant for you then it will not be impossible for you to complete. It may be hard, but not impossible. Nothing is impossible with God.

The rest of my trip was very good, even though I had several debates with myself trying to figure out if this is truly where God wants me. I have come to the conclusion that it mostly definitely is. Another friend of mine took me and my mom over to the St. Paul Cathedral for Mass on the night before we left the Twin Cities. It is such a beautiful and massive church! The architecture is so golden, detailed, and extremely elaborate. It makes you feel like you are over in Europe. After the Mass I just knew it was the right place for me. The University of St. Thomas is set right in the middle of a huge Archdiocese! The Cathedral is so great and I can see how there can be many opportunities in this area for Catholics.

While I was there, I also found out about this great app on the iPhone called "Rediscover." It is part of Matthew Kelly's ministry about Rediscovering Catholicism. It is based out of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, right where I was! After I downloaded the app I found out about a ton of events going on in the area to hear Catholic speakers. There is so much you can access on the app in regards to learning more about the Catholic faith. I definitely encourage you to download it. The app is free and can be used on iPhones and iPads. The following video about prayer by Matthew Kelly is shown within the application. Take some time to check it out and I promise you won't be disappointed!

 

Thank you friends in Christ, for viewing my blog. I'm so happy that many of you have found it and are inspired to learn more about the Catholic faith. As you may know from my previous blog post I am still trying to raise money for a family pilgrimage to go to Medjugorje and Rome next summer. If you feel called to, in your heart, please donate whatever amount you can. If you cannot because of financial reasons, I understand. Instead please send up a prayer for us to go! Thank you so much. However, donations are not tax deducible, but are greatly appreciated! You may use PayPal by clicking the button below or use the GoFundMe widget on the side bar to donate to our cause for the family pilgrimage. Thank you again! You are in my prayers. God bless!

           

I Will Go The Distance: Jesus, I Trust In You!

"But I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here." – John 14:31

Hello my dear friends in Christ! This summer has been filled with wonderful blessings so far, and still more to come. This week I plan on going to visit my new home at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN! I can't wait to meet everyone and see the place for myself. I know it's a very far journey, but traveling is always a fun and exciting adventure.

Meanwhile, as I've been planning to head to Minnesota, I believe God has been planning a trip for my family and I to go much further. Over the weekend my mother came to me with exciting news about a pilgrimage to Medjugorje and Rome next year with Father Donald Calloway, MIC. I had briefly seen something on Facebook about it, but didn't read much into it until she brought me the flyer. As I looked at it more closely I felt a strong yearning in my heart, a holy tug on my soul, that wanted me to go there. Since my family and I have already been to Medjugorje before sometimes I feel that other people should go on those pilgrimages to see and experience the graces for themselves, like I did. However, this pilgrimage not only stops in Medjugorje, but also in Rome! I have never been to Italy or the Vatican and I have always wanted to go, even before I knew about Medjugorje.

During my last year in college I studied Italian Renaissance art in my art history class. This course heavily concentrated on images from famous artists—such as Michelangelo, Leonard, and Raphael. Looking at the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica in the textbooks was always so fascinating...but I never really thought I would have the opportunity to see them in person. Now, all of a sudden, one of my favorite priests is offering a pilgrimage to go there along with a joint trip to Medjugorje on the way. How exciting!?

I have known Father Calloway for several years now, at least since 2008 or 2009. Since then we have kept in contact and my family and I would see him every time he came to our area in Florida. It has been a joy knowing him! But actually I don't think we have seen him in person since late 2010...so I definitely miss him very much. He is an extremely devout Roman Catholic priest with a high admiration for Our Lady. His book No Turning Back: A Witness to Mercy is a MUST read. His conversion story is incredible...a true blessing from Mary. Plus, he also came out with a new book called Under the Mantle: Marian Thoughts from a 21st Century Priest. I have yet to read it, but I can't wait to get my hands on it.

So as my family discussed the subject of this pilgrimage we became very concerned with the amount of money. First of all, it is about 4,000 per person! Yikes!!! On top of that we would have to pay for our own transportation to New York for the departing international flight...possibly another $500 a person. Then we have to have our own money for lunch, other food, and possibly personal transportation. Easily another $500 or more per person. That comes out to at least $5,000 a person and there are 4 people (including me) in my immediate family. I'm not the best at math, but I realize a trip like this for our entire family is going to cost around $20,000! Meanwhile, I'm just a poor college grad student trying to make it day by day.

There is a LOT to consider when you don't have the money, but you really want to do something. However, it's not impossible. Three years ago I went with my family to Medjugorje and somehow God provided a way for all of us to go. People just came to us with money out of the woodwork because they wanted us to go on this pilgrimage together, as a family. It was incredible! Definitely only something that God Himself could orchestrate.

Although I realize it seems like a far fetched idea, I still believe. God was able to get us to Medjugorje once, I know He can do it again! This pilgrimage is in a year (June 2014)...so between now and the time the money is due I believe He will find a way for us to get there. Why wouldn't God want us to go as a family with Fr. Don Calloway, one of our beloved priest, to Medjugorje and Rome—the Eternal City!? As a very devout Catholic there is nothing more I want to see in this world than the Vatican and the Pope. It would be amazing to have that opportunity! Plus, we would get to see so many historic artworks, like I learned about in my Renaissance class, and relics from some of the most amazing saints.

With a faith stronger than ever, I truly believe God will send my family and I next year to Medjugorje and Rome with Fr. Calloway. This is definitely something He would want us to do together, to grow in faith and love among some of the greatest treasures the Catholic Church has to offer. The other day I messaged Father about my excitement and how I believe God will provide a way for us. In reply he said, "Sounds good. You are a living example of 'Jesus, I Trust in You!' See you in Rome and Medjugorje! Blessings to you always!"

With that message in mind, the next day my family and I attended Sunday Mass together in the morning on the Feast Day of Corpus Christi, the Body and Blood of Christ. It was sad to see how few people came to this particular Mass, especially since it is a Solemnity. Even so, our family was chosen out of all of those who were there to bring up the gifts to the altar. We've done this several times before, as a family, but this time we felt very much "chosen" to do so. Just as we were picked from the crowd to go before God with our humble hearts, offering the gifts of bread and wine, I believe He has "chosen" us again for a family pilgrimage with memories that will last a lifetime!

Thank you for reading my blog! If you would like to contribute to our pilgrimage please send donations through PayPal or GoFundMe. You can use the donation widget on the sidebar if you wish to give. Thank you so much! If you cannot give because of your own financial hardships I completely understand. Please just send up a few prayers so that we can go! I know God will provide...and when He does I can request your petition to bring to the Father of Mercy at the Vatican and in Medjugorje. I appreciate all of your prayers, love, and support. Thank you! ♥

           

Lifelong Crusaders

"As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another." – Proverbs 27:17

It has been nine years since I graduated from 8th grade at Most Holy Redeemer Catholic School in Tampa, FL, home to the Crusaders. During my last year at MHR all of the 8th graders were assigned a Kindergarden buddy. It was our responsibility, as the older students, to hold our buddy's hand and walk them to the church for all-school Mass. We also played games with the Kindergardeners and helped them out with arts and crafts. Thankfully, God placed me with a little angel named Catie. I have some great memories of being her "Secret Santa" and watching her fall asleep at nap time.

Over the years I kept in contact with Catie and her beautiful family. Since we both attend the same local parish I would see her every now and then at Mass on Sunday mornings. Her father also became a deacon and is very much involved with the church at St. Paul's in Tampa. Now, Catie is 14-years-old and I watched her last night graduate from 8th grade at Most Holy Redeemer like I did nine years ago.

What a blessing! I am so thankful to still be friends with Catie. I even promised her way back then that I would attend her MHR graduation, and I'm so happy I did! I'm very proud of the young woman she has flourished into and I know she will become even more spectacular as she heads off to high school next year.

With high school in mind, I gave her a copy of the book How To Find Your Soulmate Without Losing Your Soul by Jason and Crystalina Evert. This book was such a blessing for me and I wished I had read it during my high school years. Although I couldn't have, because it wasn't published back then, I know that she has the opportunity to read it now and apply all of the Evert's great advice to her future relationships.

And for all of those young men and women out there who are in a similar situation, waiting and praying for your future spouse, here is a novena prayer I found to St. Agnes—the patron saint of unmarried couples.

St. Agnes, although you were only a child, you believed that Jesus was alway with you; help us to remember that He is also with us and to remain true to His presence.

St. Agnes, you refused to give up your faith, help us to be proud of our faith to love it, to be strong in it, and to give witness to it daily.

St. Agnes, patron saint of unmarried couples, watch over my future husband/wife and I. Please keep us strong in our faith, committed to chastity and virginity until marriage. Be with us and always pray for us. Amen. 

Just like I gave Catie a copy of the Soulmate book, I pray that you too will grow in the light of Christ in your own personal relationships. Ask St. Anges for her intercession and I guarantee she will not let you down! But as I mentioned in my pervious blog post, A Love Worth Waiting For, it may take some time before you meet the right person you are meant to be with. Every milestone in our lives takes patience to complete. It is something that cannot be rushed. Just like graduating from middle school, high school, and college... it all takes time. Relationships also take time to develop and grow in Christ's love.

So as I see it, enjoy the moments we have now. You never know if you'll have tomorrow, so celebrate life today! If it is God's will then everything you can hope for and possibly dream of will happen in His own good time. Probably the hardest part of it all is just giving Him our heart's desires and letting Him have complete control. In doing this, God can work through other people to help guide you. And just as I guided Catie to weekly Mass when she was in Kindergarden, I pray that the Holy Spirit will guide you follow a pure lifestyle in your personal relationships and all of your future endeavors.

            

A Love Worth Waiting For

"Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral." – Hebrews 13:4

Hello dear friends in Christ! I hope everyone has had a blessed May, Our Lady's special month. Spring is such a beautiful time of year when nature thrives among us. Every day I look out my window and see sunny skies, gorgeous flowers, fluttering butterflies, squirrels scurrying up trees, and birds chirping in the wind. It has been very nice to take some time off now that the semester is over. Now I can relax because all of the hard work is done. I have officially graduated college and earned my degree with the honors of Magna Cum Laude! It has been a whirlwind of a ride, but I have the feeling it is only just getting started. I am ready to embrace a new adventure and to see where God takes me in this amazing world of His.

As I begin to embark on a new phase in life I recall my high school days at the Academy of the Holy Names, an all-girls Catholic high school, where we talked about vocations in religion class. What is a vocation anyways? Well, I can tell you one thing—it's not just a job or a profession, but rather a lifestyle. A vocation is a summons or strong inclination to a particular call by God. This divine calling puts us in the right place to serve God and His Kingdom as best as we can on earth...but only if one adheres to it. If we ignore God's calling to our true vocation we will end up missing out on the best plan He has for us!

Although I feel very strongly that God has called me to graduate school in attending the University of St. Thomas, I know that is not my vocation. That specific calling is more in line with my profession. My vocation will be how I choose to live my life in accordance with God's calling to a particular lifestyle. Maybe going to St. Thomas will help fulfill my vocational calling in leading me in the right direction.

Since I am very active within the Catholic Church many people have asked me if I'd like to become a nun. However, I personally feel called to a married life instead. Even so, religious life is another beautiful vocation! I admire those who choose to love God in this way. It is a great sacrifice. But many people will also tell you that marriage is just as big of a sacrifice, in a different way.

Both vocational callings, married and religious, are different—yet similar. Being a religious, priest, deacon, nun, brother, sister, monk, etc., has the call to love God within the church and the Sacrament of the Eucharist. A priestly vocation, anointed by the Sacrament of Holy Orders, also includes the love of his congregation and clergymen. This is another way to love God, through other people. It is such a beautiful way to love...which is also shown significantly in the Sacrament of Matrimony. In marriage the couple loves one another and commits to this love with their vows, honoring God and each other. In doing so, they love Jesus in a formally committed way because Christ resides in every person. If the couple is blessed with children that committed love extends to their offspring. This is very similar to how love is extended to the congregation of the church in the priesthood.

However the lifestyle may be, love is always the center of the calling. Love is God and God is love! Christ's love is deeply rooted in each of these vocations. ...Although I have yet to mention the calling of a single life. The single life is another type of vocation, but I feel that it is a rare one. Maybe not, but I haven't met that many people called to a single life. Most of my single friends are like myself, waiting for that right person to love in a married life. However, single life is definitely another option for a vocational calling. Some choose to commit their virginity to God during their entire life on earth, like St. Philomena. Others may have been married once, but were widowed, like St. Rita of Cascia.

I like that St. Rita actually lived all three vocations. As a young woman she was married and had children, embracing the calling of marriage. Later, her husband and children died from a terrible disease. As a widow she lived a single life for a while. Then she became a nun in her older age and died peacefully in the religious life. Although she had many hardships, how beautiful it is for her to have lived all of these different vocational callings? She is a great example to anyone who desires to love God with their life and vocation!

I remember feeling called to my vocation a long time ago. When I was given the Sacrament of Confirmation, during my sophomore year of high school, the bishop blessed me with holy oil. During his blessing he looked at my name tag and saw I was taking the name of St. Anne, the mother of Mary and grandmother of Jesus. It was then that he said how I would one day be a great mother, just like St. Anne. It dawned on me that I truly do feel the call to marry and have children. I would love to be a mother someday! However, this call to love must come with patience. Before I can be a great mother I have to wait for the great man God has planned for me to be with. You have probably heard the phrase, "all good things come to those who wait." This calling to love is a love worth waiting for! Waiting for love doesn't only happen within marriage, but also in religious life. A man entering the priesthood must wait years and years before he is ordained with Holy Orders.

This reminds me of the first description of love in 1 Corinthians 13. Saint Paul writes, "Love is patient."  Just think about...he could have put love is patient much farther down on the list of his description. However, he writes it as the first account of love. Without waiting, without having patience, love cannot truly exist. Think about how Christ waited three hours on the cross in indescribable agony just to die for us! It was a big sacrifice but He did it out of true love. ...So like I said before, it may take years to finally live out a personal vocation, but it is totally worth it because your vocation is a love worth waiting for.

Below are two of my favorite songs about love that I wanted to share with you. The first is called "Hide Your Love Away" by the Anthem Lights. This is an amazing single about waiting for marriage! My friend Rachel had shared it with me on Facebook a little while ago and I can't thank her enough for that. The other is called "Plan on Forever" by Dana Glover and Mervyn Warren. I first heard this song on the movie called The Wedding Planner and fell in love with it! I hope these tunes will touch your heart the same way they touched mine. God truly loves you and He wants you to find your happily ever after, according to His own good plan and His own good time. Amen!

            

Follow The Desires of Your Heart

"For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." – Luke 12:34

Hello dear friends! It's been a while since I last updated my blog posts. Like I said, school has been very hectic towards the end of the semester. But, I am pleased to announce I have finally finished all of my undergraduate classes forever! Yay!!! I'm so excited that summer has officially started and I'm ready to move on to a new endeavor in my life. This weekend, alone, is going to be filled with lots of excitement. I will be participating in the BFA Senior Exit Show (the art show for all the graduating seniors) and I will graduate college with all of my friends from the University of Tampa. I have been to several college graduations in the past, but this time I'll be able to celebrate for earning my own degree. 

There have been many ups and downs throughout my college career. But overall I definitely enjoyed my experience and I have learned a lot about life in general. Going to UT was the first time I was removed from a Catholic institution. All my life I always attended a Catholic school, from elementary to high school. At least UT is still a private university, so some aspects were similar, but it is also a secular institution—which was very different from what I was used to. Being around people on a daily basis who have opposing views about life was extremely challenging. However, I have become stronger in my faith because of this and I can be around those people without feeling intimidated with my own personal views. In fact, I feel it has only helped to ingrain my belief system even more so into my lifestyle and persona.

As I stated in my last post, I am very excited to start a new chapter and attend graduate school. If you asked me where I was thinking of going last summer I would have said, "Notre Dame or University of Central Florida." At the time, those were the colleges I had been looking at. I love Notre Dame! It is the most beautiful university I have ever seen! The campus is absolutely gorgeous and I love the fact that is it a Catholic institution. However, it wasn't in God's plan for me to go there...nor UCF. I had looked at both schools for a masters degree in the digital arts/graphic design. Even though UCF is not a Catholic school, it would have been much closer to home. Plus, they do have a large Catholic community over there since it is the second largest university in the nation. But again, that was not where God was leading me. Surprisingly, instead, He planned for me to go much further away from home!

In early January, when I was at the SEEK conference, I spoke with a priest during confession about God's will for my life. I needed some guidance from the Holy Spirit. I had been discerning graduate school so much I was beginning to think it was God’s will for me to take a year off in order to figure it out. I wanted to go to Notre Dame because I love it so much. Just visiting the campus again last summer confirmed my love for that particular school. But the program just didn't seem to fit me the way I had imagined. They were targeting their master's program to much older students, above the age of 25. Plus, only one student is accepted to their program every year. That makes it highly competitive. I believed if God truly wanted me there it didn't matter who I was up against. But, even then, something didn't feel like it was the right choice. 

However, the priest distinctly said, “Follow the desires of your heart.” This made me really think about what is the most important aspect of my life. Of course, my greatest passion in life is the Catholic faith and my deepest desire is to be united with God in Heaven forever and ever. I love Jesus and His Mother Mary so much that I just want to be able to glorify the Kingdom of Heaven with whatever I do here on earth. That being said, my focus shifted from finding something in commercial art to doing something more in line with my beliefs—such as integrating my artistic profession within Roman Catholicism. I began to think that I should find a job in the diocese or do something for a Catholic institution in digital media.  

Unaware of what God was doing, I just kept praying about it and tried to put my trust in Him. By mid-January I was praying the second half of my 54-day-rosary novena that I started during Advent. The first part of the novena is 27-days in petition. I was praying for my future husband and God’s will for my career. I wanted to know what He wanted me to do after I graduated. The second 27-days is prayed in thanksgiving, whether you have received an answer or not. 

Lo and behold, one evening I was online and stumbled upon a website for the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota. I never went looking for it, but somehow I came across their website. After browsing through the pages I came to the degree listings. All of a sudden something caught my eye. It was an MA in Catholic Studies, which was very intriguing. I read through the details about this particular degree and I found out it was an interdisciplinary program, meaning you can come from just about any background and integrate the Catholic teachings in your own profession after you graduate. This was a remarkable find! 

After talking with my parents and family priest over dinner one night we decided that I should apply and see what happens. My priest gave me some advice and said to only go into the program if I was accepted with the financial means necessary for me to make this dream possible. He said if it is God's Will for me then He will provide a way. I agreed and felt something very compelling in my heart that this was somehow in line with His Holy Will.

We also talked about the issues of distance and climate change. I've only been in the snow once in my entire life! Moving to MN means lots of snow and extreme temperature change. However, if God wants me to go there He will provide a way for me to handle all the new obstacles that I may face while living in a new place. 

After a long time of prayer and discernment I finally received an envelope in the mail from the University of St. Thomas. I hung onto it and knew that it possibly contained the contents of my future. This was during Lent and I decided to wait and open the letter when I got back home from the Stations of the Cross and Adoration with my family. I remember praying in front of the Blessed Sacrament, begging not to get the scholarship I needed if God didn't want me to go there. I only want what He wants for me. But then again, I asked that if this was the right place for me to go that I would be able to receive the means to go there. 

When I got home that evening with my family I opened the letter. As my family sat there patiently waiting for me to say something I started to cry. It was tears of joy! I had been accepted into the Catholic Studies MA program and received exactly what I needed in order to go there. My family and I were completely overjoyed. My sister ran to me and hugged me so tight, saying, "I'm going to miss you!" Then I started to cry about leaving my family. However, I truly felt in my heart that it was right. Even though I have yet to visit the campus up there, this decision feels better then any of the other options I was looking at before. 

As I keep thinking about this decision more and more I have come to realize this is exactly what the priest at SEEK meant about "following the desires of your heart." It doesn't mean to be irrational with decision making. God gave us a brain and we must use our minds to think things through. But he also gave us a heart. Together, we have a mind that can know and a heart that can love. With that combination, I know I love my Catholic faith more then anything in this world! That is why I have decided to go this route so I can use my artistic talents for the evangelization of Catholicism in a world that seems to know God less and less everyday. 

People are hungry for true love! This true love only comes from knowing the living God. As Mother Teresa once said, "The hunger for love is much more difficult to remove than the hunger for bread." With my faith and talents I desire to be a light for those living in darkness. I hope people will find inspiration to live a life to the fullest within the Catholic Church. If I can somehow add to their inspiration I believe I can fulfill God's Will by helping to make our faith community across the globe stronger and more enduring until the end of time. 

           

Christ Has Risen, Alleluia!

The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay." – Matthew  28: 5-6. 

Hello my lovely readers. I hope all of you had a wonderful Easter celebration. Christ has risen, Alleluia!!! Let us rejoice and be glad! :) I'm so sorry for not posting on my blog during Holy Week. I really wanted to but I've been extremely busy with school, as it is my last semester of college. Also, I have been attending Mass non-stop. Our Holy Thursday Mass at St. Paul Catholic Church was so beautiful. The Mass of the Lord's Supper is always one of my favorite Masses of the year! Once the liturgy concluded the priest processed with Jesus around the church inside and out. Then the entire congregation followed the procession outside and everyone carried their own candle. It was so beautiful! Plus, we have an amazing choir!!! Our choir also sang during St. Paul's Passion service on Good Friday. They are just so good it gives me goosebumps thinking about their angelic voices.

This year I also attended the Easter Vigil Mass with my friend Rachel. I had never been to an Easter Vigil Mass before. It started out with the church in complete darkness. Then the Easter candle was lit and everyone received a small candle with the flame of the Easter candle. We all prayed together with our little candles in the church while the priests sang hymns of praise. It was so cool! Even though all the lights were off the candles were so bright that it illuminated the entire interior of the church. After, we blew out our candles and a few lights came on for the seven readings that followed. When the readings and psalms concluded the priests prepared for giving the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist to the catechumens and candidates. I was so happy to see all of those people become Catholic! It was so amazing!!! But, as you can tell, it was a very long Mass. It took nearly 4 hours to complete. We got there at 8:00pm and didn't leave until after midnight. However, it was a very joyous experience and I'm glad that I was able to go.

Then I went to Easter Sunday Mass the next morning with my family. The choir was amazing again! I kinda feel bad for our choir because they sing for all of the major services during Holy Week. That's a lot of time singing and practicing...but they do such a great job and it makes the Mass extra special. Yes, going to two Easter Masses was a lot for me, but just thinking about what Jesus did for us—it was nothing. He gave so much of Himself for us that He was willing to undergo such a tragic death to save our souls from eternal separation from God. I was so thankful to give my time to Him and thank Him for His Passion.

On Easter Sunday night my family watched the last episode of The Bible TV series. If you haven't watched it before you really should. It is such a great way to visually see the Bible unfold on the screen. The last episode was perfectly timed with Easter. We watched Jesus' Passion, death, and resurrection. It was pretty violent for a TV show. I was so horrified just thinking about how this really happened to my beloved Jesus in real life that I started to cry. I don't think it was as bad as watching the Passion of the Christ...but it was still really moving and emotional for me to watch.

I liked how this episode didn't just end with the resurrection. It continued beyond that point when the Apostles went to spread the message of Christ and it showed St. Paul's conversion. Of course I know the story of St. Paul, he is the patron saint of my home parish. But watching his story really made me not like him at first because he was persecuting Christians. I had totally forgot that he was responsible for the death of St. Steven until I watched the show the other night. But he truly became a new man in the light of Christ. He spread Christ's message far and wide. Plus, his writings make up about half of the New Testament. I personally love his writings to the Corinthians about "love." He describes it so well, just how love truly is. He was given such an amazing gift from the Holy Spirit to write like that. I'm very impressed!

Anyways, I wanted to say one more thing on this post. I want to thank my Lord Jesus Christ for answering a prayer of mine that I had been praying about for a long time. I have decided to take my education to the next level the following semester. I am going to be attending graduate school for a Master's degree in Catholic Studies. I had prayed a lot at the SEEK conference about going to graduate school. I was always thinking about going for Digital Media or Graphic Design to enhance my knowledge in the digital arts. But something in my heart didn't feel that it was right for me. When I went to confession at SEEK the priest said to "follow the desires of your heart" when discerning graduate school and God's will for my future. Well, my greatest desire is to be united with Christ for eternity and my greatest passion is living out the Catholic faith. I began to think of combining my artistic talent with my faith and using it to glorify God in Catholicism.

After much prayer I had received a letter in the mail that changed everything. I was accepted into the program with an award from the university that was overly generous. I'm thrilled to begin this new endeavor! But now I need to concentrate on my studies and projects for this semester so I can graduate. With that said, I will no longer be posting on my blog until the summer. But please feel free to keep following me on Twitter or Pinterest. Thanks for all of your prayers! I'm so grateful to everyone who has prayed for me. God is good! God is great!!! Alleluia!

           

We Have A Pope!

"And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." – Matthew 16:18 

Habemus Papam!!! After waiting for a quite and while, watching seagulls taking turns sitting on the Vatican chimney, is was such a relief to see white smoke appear from the tiny smokestack on the night of March 13, 2013. Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected as the 266th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church. He took the name of Pope Francis in honor of St. Francis of Assisi. He is the first Pope to take that name and he is also the first non-European Pope the church has ever seen. Along with that, he made history as the first Jesuit to be elected as the successor of Peter.

Pope Francis is a native of Buenos Aires, Argentina. This is a huge turning point for the Church, since the Holy See is now coming from somewhere other than Europe. I believe this will engage other cultures more-so into the Roman Catholic faith. I'm sure the Latin American countries had a huge fiesta in honor and celebration of their newly elected Pope. As I watched the news that day I saw Cardinal Dolan reflect on the election of the new Pope, stating, "Can you imagine when Pope Francis goes for World Youth Day, which may probably be his first international trip in July to Brazil, can you imagine the welcome he'll get, a Pope from Latin America? You can imagine the joy in our Latin American brothers."

When I heard Cardinal Dolan's response I thought he must have read my mind. I was thinking the exact same thing! This is wonderful news for our Latin American friends who will be hosting Pope Francis in Rio de Janeiro this summer. I am so happy for them and for our Church! Even though Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio was an unlikely choice for the pontificate, I think he was most definitely the best choice—by far. I had never heard of him before he stepped out as Pope. But, he seems like such a sweet, kind, humble, and holy man of God. Our Church needs someone like him to reach out to the young people, which he will be doing this summer. I'm sure he never expected to be the Pope; but here he is, fulfilling the duty God has entrusted to him.

Yesterday, March 14th, the 76-year-old Argentinian celebrated his first Mass as Pope in the Sistine Chapel among his fellow Cardinals. He gave a short homily in Italian, although he is also fluent in Spanish, English, German, French, and Latin. Being very versatile in several languages will also help him to communicate better with the members of the Church.

I personally like that he remains true to himself, being a very simple man, and also has a great devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, as do many other Latin Americans. Immediately after he was elected as Pope he addressed the crowd in St. Peter's square and said he intends to pray and ask the Madonna "that she may watch over all of Rome."

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Feel free to check out the following links for more news and updates about the Pope:
Fox News: http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/03/14/world-watches-as-cardinals-convene-for-2nd-day-papal-conclave/
NBC News: http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/03/14/17307513-pope-francis-celebrates-first-mass-emphasizes-gospels?lite

          

It's Time For You To Shine!

"You are my lamp, O LORD; the LORD turns my darkness into light." – 2 Samuel 22:29

This past weekend, during Sunday morning Mass, I felt a bit sad when I didn't hear our Holy Father's name read aloud after the consecration of the host. The reality has finally settled in that our Church is without a Pope. Although I am supportive of Pope Emeritus' decision, it's hard to imagine what kind of papacy will transpire within the coming days, weeks, or months. We certainly need someone who will be a strong and devout leader in these difficult times for the Church. I pray that whomever God selects, through the Cardinals, they will be a hit with the young people at World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro this summer. It is with today that we begin to take a step in a new direction for the Catholic Church. Today was the first day the Cardinals met for a pre-conclave meeting. Once the actual conclave begins they will be isolated from the world until a final decision has been made for a new pontiff.

Since the resignation of Benedict XVI there have been a lot of reports and rumors in the media about scandals within the Catholic Church and the Vatican itself. These news sources are not the most trustworthy and should be taken with a grain of salt. There may be some truth to corrupted politics and power within the Vatican, but most of it is twisted and exaggerated to the extreme. Unfortunately, the Church is not perfect because it is run by people. However, Jesus, who founded the Catholic Church, is perfect and will see to it that it becomes perfect at the end of time.

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Meanwhile, we are called to be stewards of faith, hope, and love by shedding light upon the Catholic Church through our own lifestyle. By living in the light of Christ others will see our example and will desire to find that light within themselves. They will feel attracted your interior light, like a moth, and won't cease to look for it as long as they can see it in you. WOW! Wouldn't that be a real statement...if Catholics really lived Catholic!? It seems simple, and yet there are so many Catholics who have fallen away. Some are even embarrassed to be Catholic because of what the media has shaped Catholicism to be. It's a sad reality, which is why we need a good Pope in the coming era.

Whatever the outcome may be for our Holy See we still need to do our best to live the Catholic faith to the fullest and set an example for others. You may not even know how you could touch someone just by being yourself. For example, I had no idea that I genuinely touched my best friend Janelle Sanchez before we became friends. As we became closer friends over the years she wrote a book called Confessions of a Pure Heart and asked me to design the cover. I was pleased with her request, but little did I know that she wrote something so heartfelt about me in her own book! On page 48, she writes,

"People are naturally attracted to things that are good, and through your loving presence, you attract loving people to you. Have you ever heard the phrase, "Birds of a feather flock together?" It means that people who are alike become friends and associate with each other. When you start living a pure lifestyle, and God's love radiates from you like the sun, you will find people who are attracted to this light, no matter where you are. Though your current circle of friends may not appreciate this, some will—and those are the people who will bring you up and not tear you down.

I have a friend named Danielle Duet and she is one of the most cheery people I know. She is always smiling, always happy to see you, and always there with a big hug whenever you see her. Do you want to know how I met her? In the school bathroom. We were both commuters at the time (meaning we drove to college instead of living there). I had noticed she had a rosary hanging in her locker, and I thought about how unique it was to find another Catholic on campus, and decided I wanted to get to know her. I never really had the courage to introduce myself, until we were standing next to each other in front of the sinks. She smiled at me and just looked so friendly I couldn't help but say something, and we became such good friends that she designed the cover of this very book! 

It was her demanor that attracted me, God's love was evident in her life, and she didn't shove her rosary in my face and tell me to pray it. No, simply having it in her locker for her own use was enough for me to gather interest in her. Her very lifestyle attracted me, and now we are close friends."

I honestly had no idea she even wrote that about me until it was published. I was so shocked and amazed that after I read it I almost wanted to cry. Janelle is one of my very best friends! If I hadn't been living my life faithfully and in accordance with God's love on a daily basis I would have never met her. That is why it is ssssooooooo important to live as best you can with God's love pouring out from your heart and soul like a radiant beam of light. You never know who you'll meet or become friends with.

The love of God shown through happiness is contagious! Just smile at someone and see if they smile back. As Blessed Mother Teresa said, "Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God's kindness; kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile, kindness in your warm greeting."

That is the life we are called to live by God as Catholics in the Roman Catholic Church. If we all lived like that, as practicing Catholics, no one could ever say anything bad about the Church because they would be so overwhelmed with the love they see in it. So while we are in the transitional period between Popes, Sede Vacante, let us continue to pray for the Church and the new pontiff.

Let me leave you with a song by Owl City called Shooting Star. I was inspired to write this blog for you after listening to Adam Young's music. Even though he is a very popular music artist in the secular media I have heard some of his songs on Spirit FM 90.5, my local Catholic radio station. Apparently he writes songs and lyrics based on his faith as Christian. I never looked at his music that way until now. His songs are very good and I encourage you to listen to this one with an open heart and mind—cause' it's time for YOU to SHINE!