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.

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!

           

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. 

           

Be Satisfied With Me

"Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you." – Psalm 63:3

Happy St. Valentine's Day!!! ❤ Today is the feast day of a wonderful saint who was a priest and martyr for the faith. St. Valentine is the patron saint of love, couples, young people and happy marriages. For many many years now, people have been exchanging Valentine cards to express their love and affection for one another. This goes back to a legend of St. Valentine. While he was in jail, on the eve of his death, he wrote a farewell note to the jailer's daughter and signed it "From your Valentine."

Although this day is meant to commemorate a great saint, it has become commercialized to the extreme.  Around the end of January you can't go into a store without seeing hearts, balloons, and dazzling cards with red and pink sparkles. However, these materialistic goods can be used as a kind gesture from the heart if given in moderation and for sentimental value. I personally love giving and receiving Valentine cards or eating Valentine cookies with friends and family. It's a time to show how much you truly care about those you love and hold close to your heart.

If you have a spouse or a special someone to share the day with it can be a lot more enjoyable! Maybe the two of you have a date planned for the evening or an outing with a group of friends. If you're a Catholic couple, maybe you'll spend it in Adoration with Jesus. Or maybe you'll stay at home and watch a fun and uplifting romantic comedy together. Whatever it may be, it is always nice to be with the one you love.

That being said, I do feel for all of the single folks out there. Not having a Valentine on Valentine's Day can be tough; especially when you see lots of other couples walking around, holding hands, and staring into each other's eyes. Everybody wants to be loved—and it's okay to feel this way. But it's not okay to dwell on it so much that it brings your spirits down. Remember, moping is not hoping.

One of my friends that I talked to last night emailed me a beautiful prayer today. It is a prayer written by St. Anthony of Padua and it's perfect for singles on Valentine's Day. After reflecting on this prayer, Be Satisfied with Me, I feel as though Jesus is asking for our trust and complete surrender as Catholic singles in waiting. He wants us to fall totally and completely in love with Him first before we meet the right "one." Although I know my greatest love is my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, there is a certain plan He has for me that only He knows. He has a plan for all of us! What we need to do is pour out our love for Jesus and then things will just fall into place according to His great plan. The more we plan on our own the more we could possibly be getting in the way of His bigger and better plan for us.

So whether you are single, married, divorced, or widowed let us give all of our fears to Jesus and have Him enlighten us with His hope and love. Let us be satisfied with Him and know that all things happen in His own good time.

Notre Dame Basilica Wedding

Be Satisfied With Me by St. Anthony of Padua

Everyone longs to give themselves completely to someone,
To have a deep soul relationship with another,
To be loved thoroughly and exclusively.

But to a Christian, God says, "No, not until you are satisfied,
Fulfilled and content with being loved by Me alone,
With giving yourself totally and unreservedly to Me.
With having an intensely personal and unique relationship with Me alone.

Discovering that only in Me is your satisfaction to be found,
Will you be capable of the perfect human relationship,
That I have planned for you.
You will never be united to another
Until you are united with Me.
Exclusive of anyone or anything else.
Exclusive of any other desires or longings.
I want you to stop planning, to stop wishing, and allow Me to give you
The most thrilling plan existing... one you cannot imagine.
I want you to have the best.
Please allow Me to bring it to you.

You just keep watching Me, expecting the greatest things.
Keep experiencing the satisfaction that I am.
Keep listening and learning the things that I tell you.
Just wait, that's all. Don't be anxious, don't worry.
Don't look around at things other have gotten
Or that I have given them
Don't look around at the things you think you want,
Just keep looking off and away up to Me,
Or you'll miss what I want to show you.
And then, when you're ready, I'll surprise you with a love
Far more wonderful than you could dream of.

You see, until you are ready, and until the one I have for you is ready,
I am working even at this moment
To have both of you ready at the same time.
Until you are both satisfied exclusively with Me."

Here And Now

"So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." - Matthew 6:34

I've realized sometimes we think too much about the future and what it holds. It's good to plan ahead for certain things in the short term. But most of our long term situations are out of our control. God wants us to be present where we are at this time. By thinking so much about the future we miss out on today. Dwelling on thoughts that question where we are headed in life make us doubt the Lord and what He has to offer. 

God knows the desires of your heart. He truly wants to give you all that you desire and more! But in order for His plan to transpire we must trust and surrender to His Holy Will...even if we do not yet understand it. It can be extremely difficult to give all of your fears and worries to Him, but that is where faith comes in. Faith, in itself, is complete trust. Igniting our faith in the Lord with prayer and supplication helps us to release our fears and surrender to His Will.

Every once in a while I'll catch myself thinking about why God put me in Florida, where I am today. I never chose to be here, but here I am. Don't get me wrong... I'm ssoooo thankful to be here! I love living in the Sunshine State. I love my friends, family, church, school, Disney World, beaches, and everything else about Florida. But sometimes I wonder where my future husband is. It makes me sad to think maybe he's not living close to me...and then I think maybe I would be happier living there, wherever he is. However, now I see that it doesn't matter if he's living half way across the world... I know God will bring him to me at the right time, in the right place, at the right moment, and in the right way.

Right now, apparently, I'm not suppose to be with him. Right now I'm just suppose to be living my life as myself — a Catholic college student (in Florida) that loves God, family, friends, and being an artist. You are also meant to be where you are today. The school you go to, the place you work at, the friends you meet, and the city you live in is all part of God's plan for your life. It's so easy to get caught up in "what if" scenarios. But at the end of the day, all the possibilities don't matter. What matters is right now. Just by dwelling on the future doesn't help us get there. It's what we do now with the opportunities presented to us which will produce an outcome... hopefully in accordance with God's Will if we've surrendered to Him.

All of this reminds me that a few days ago on Twitter I saw @TheSingleWoman post, "You are where you are, at the time that you are, for a reason. Don't waste it by wishing to be somewhere else." That really hit home with me. As I approach graduation I still wonder where God wants me to go. But dwelling on where I should be or shouldn't be, as I said before, won't help me get there. Just by taking it one day at a time I'm sure that I'll find out where I am suppose to go and how I will get there. Trusting in the Lord takes patience! This is why I'm currently praying a 54-day Rosary Novena for my future husband and career path. In time, God will answer me. I just have to patiently wait for His answer while continuing to be the best person I can be, which is what He calls all of us to.

As for you young ladies seeking a future spouse, I found this blog post by The Catholic Young Woman called Right Now, which I encourage you to read. It's really good! The post is filled with lots of insight on why prayer is for now and being with your future beloved is for later. I would also recommend that you pray a 54-day Rosary Novena for your future spouse. A really funny Catholic lady, Jackie Francois, prayed this novena and miraculously received her answer! Right now she is 28-years old, and even though she would have liked to have met her beloved earlier in life, this was the right moment for her. I'm so happy for Jackie and Bobby! They are an adorable couple. If you'd like to check out their blog site go to this link: http://bobbyandjackie.com/. They have a great inspirational story that gives hope to us young woman who are seeking a holy, Catholic man of God.

I truly believe God has a very special purpose for your life. Don't lose hope if you feel that you're not sure where to go. Just put all your faith and trust Him even when it is tough. I guarantee that you'll be happier and more satisfied with yourself in the end if you do than if you don't.  ...Thanks for reading my blog post! Have a wonderful day and God bless. :)

SEEK A New Year With New Beginnings

"And he that sat upon the throne said, 'Behold, I make all things new.' And he said unto me, 'Write: for these words are true and faithful.'" - Revelation 21:5

Hello my dear friends in Christ! Today we celebrate the feast day of the Holy Family. As we approach a new year let us continue to bless our own families with constant love and support. At times we may hurt the ones we love most just because they are part of our family. With that being said, we need to begin again and renew the love of Christ between our family members or at least ignite the fire of love for them in a more passionate and selfless way.

Speaking of a new year with new beginnings I've decided to go to the SEEK conference in January held by FOCUS (The Fellowship of Catholic University Students). It's amazing how fast time flies. I registered for this event in October and the new year is almost here! Just a few more days before I'm off to visit with over 6,000 other Catholics from around the nation! I'm so excited to engage with my fellow peers in Jesus Christ. This should be a wonderful opportunity to make new friendships and foster old ones. It is a time for us to celebrate the presence of the living God in Holy Communion and Adoration. There will also be some wonderful speakers there, including Matthew Kelly, Leah Darrow, and Jason Evert. As you can tell, I'm really excited!

But in all honesty, I had no idea how this would all come together. In October I had registered without knowing if any of my friends were going. I had asked a bunch of people if they wanted to come with me, but unfortunately they were all going to be busy at the time. However, I was determined to go. So I signed up anyways. Since my school does not have a FOCUS group on campus I was worried that I would go and not know anyone! But God truly makes things work out for the best. After some time I heard that more and more of my friends were going to come too. So just by trusting in Him I signed up for something that seems like it's going to be a very enjoyable experience with some of my friends—even though I didn't know it at the time.

Besides hanging out with my fellow Catholic friends, this is an opportunity for me to discern my future in a more intimate way in the presence of God. For a while I have been constantly discerning what God's future plan is for me when I graduate college. I have some thoughts in mind, but every time I consider what I might want to do I become even more confused. I think going to an event like this will hopefully make my paths clearer in my discernment. So while I'm at this event I will be going to seek Him and keep you in my prayers. I greatly appreciate you for reading my blog. Thanks for your support. Please pray for me too as I embark on this journey soon!!! God bless you in the New Year of 2013. *Note: Also if you are going to SEEK hope to see you there!* ;)

SEEK2013 : what moves you from FOCUSNational on Vimeo.

Medjugorje Visionary Marija Visits Notre Dame

"And Mary said, 'My soul glorifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has been mindful of the humble state of His servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has has done great things for me—holy is His name.'" 
- Luke 1:46-49

On November 15th the Medjugorje visionary, Marija Pavlovic-Lunetti, came to the University of Notre Dame for one of her daily apparitions. She came to witness to those living in South Bend, IN about the Medjugorje messages coming from Our Lady. My cousin, Lauren, attends the University of Notre Dame and she was fortunate to be able to go to this event with my aunt. Mary TV also streamed a live video feed online. (Click here to read Cathy Nolan's reflection of this event from Mary TV's perspective.) This was such a blessing! Because of this broadcast my family and I were present for the apparition as well, via the internet.

During the apparition you could see the peace of Our Lady's presence come upon Marija while she was in ecstasy. It must be so wonderful to see the beauty of the Blessed Mother everyday! What a gift! I cannot even imagine.

After the vision, Marija gave her testimony to all who gathered there. I was surprised to hear her speaking in English. Since I have done a lot of research about Medjugorje I know that this particular visionary never studied the English language. It was absolutely amazing to hear her witness in our own native tongue. When I went to Medjugorje in 2010 my family and I stayed with the visionary Ivan. Even though he knew how to speak English, he would always use a translator while giving a testimony since he was more comfortable speaking in Croatian. I am so glad Marija choose to speak in English this time. It was much easier for us to relate to her by hearing the witness given in our language.

While Marija spoke she reflected upon the reasons of why Our Lady is coming. Is is very apparent that our society today is corrupted in sin and in great need of the Blessed Mother's presence. At the event Marija relayed the message of God which came from the Blessed Mother, stating, "I am God, the Resurrection. I am the God who was crucified and died. But I am resurrected! I am with you and I died for you. But I give you freedom. In this freedom you have a choice. Good or bad. I call you for goodness." The Blessed Mother also added, "I call you for new life. It's your choice. It's your choice to say yes or no." 

It is so sad that numerous people across the globe have stopped following Christ. They have given up on Him and are looking to the world for their satisfaction. Some people even claim to be "spiritual" but not "religious." Spirituality can be very dangerous if it is not within a religious context, such as Christianity. This usually means they are following New Age trends or satanic influences. Those involved in these cults and/or do not believe in God are in grave danger. What they do not realize is that they are putting their own soul at risk of losing the opportunity of enteral life. That is why Our Lady is coming for them. She is coming to give them hope. She is coming to give all of us hope and the grace of conversion.

Marija's testimony rang with truth and conviction. Like she said, we need to give our "YES" to God. We need to accept Him into our lives to strengthen our faith day by day. Only in this way can we inherit His holy kingdom. Paradise is waiting for us! All of us! If people seriously knew this who would ever say no to happily ever after? But, as Marija testified, it is our choice. It is our choice to accept or reject. By rejecting Christ we have essentially rejected eternal life. But if we accept Him into our life and our hearts we accept His glorious kingdom. During this "Year of Faith" let us give our entire "YES" to God. Let us glorify the Lord like Mary did with her "YES" to becoming the mother of Jesus. For she has truly given us the greatest example in accepting the Will of the Father.

         

Moment of Impact

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:6-7

All of a sudden...BOOM! Your life is never the same again. Just like that! In the blink of an eye! And there's nothing you can do about it. What is done is done. Have you ever experienced that moment or known someone who has? Let me tell you, it isn't fun if the moment of impact is traumatic. I have been in a state of shock for the last few days with what happened to a church friend of mine.

It all started as a peaceful day in Daytona Beach. My friend, Austin, was having a family reunion for Father's Day weekend. You wouldn't think there would be anything to worry about on this beautiful, relaxing day in the Florida sunshine, right? ...Wrong. Apparently the guys decided to go body surfing in the Atlantic. Somehow Austin caught a dangerous wave that threw him down hard. He must have hit the back of his neck in a certain place that shouldn't have been hit. From there the paramedics took him to the Halifax hospital in Daytona where he has been in the ICU for a few days.

It is awful to think that this beautiful young man of God, a strong devout Catholic who just graduated from Franciscan University of Steubenville, may have a very hard life ahead. He is basically immobile and has no feeling in all of his limbs. I am literally torn up by this thought and it has brought me to tears. How could this have happened? Why? WHY?!? Especially Austin, who is a wonderful man and comes from a great Catholic family. He, of all people, does not deserve this one bit.

As Father's Day weekend came to a close my parents put on a movie for our family to see called The Vow. It is a great movie. I loved it! I saw it in theaters before with my friends, but as I watched it back over again it really hit me hard when Channing Tatum's character Leo started talking about "moments of impact" in our lives. Moments that hit you hard all of a sudden which you can't control. In the movie he says, "The moment of impact. The moment of impact proves potential for change. Has ripple effects far beyond what we can predict. Sending some particles crashing together. Making them closer than before. While sending others spinning off into great ventures. Landing them where you've never thought you've found them. That's the thing about moments like these. You can't, no matter how hard you try, controlling how it's gonna affect you. You just gotta let the colliding parts goes where they may. And wait. For the next collision."

As I see it, in moments like these, friends and families either come together, stronger than ever, or begin to fall apart...(referencing the colliding particles, as perviously mentioned). In the The Vow, Leo was entirely dedicated to his wife... willing to go above and beyond the duty of a normal husband because he loved her so much. I can see with Austin's situation how supportive all of his friends and family are for him!! Prayer warriors across the globe are praying for him day and night. He has a whole fleet of angles at his beckon call! I can see from going on his website and his Facebook posts from friends just how much everyone cares for him. I, myself, have been constantly keeping him in prayer throughout the day, during Mass, and in my rosary intentions. If anyone can get through this it WILL be Austin! :) What a testimony that would be! Such a glory story for the power of the Almighty God if he is to have a full recovery.

I'm sure if you have read my other blog posts you know that I believe God can do impossible things. Miracles do happen! In fact, they happen everyday if we open our eyes. It's a miracle that you are alive and breathing right now, right? Everyday is a gift. Every moment is a miracle. We must never let the little things in life be taken for granted. Just the thought of walking right now is beyond what Austin can bare at this moment. He is taking it day by day. One step at a time. Which is the right thing to do for his recovery.

Reading the verse Philippians 4:6-7 gives me a peace of mind and a hope for Austin. So in situations like these that are very traumatic lets not become panicked or flustered. God wants us to take a deep breath and relax. Worrying is not going to make it any better. Once we have surrendered our anxiety over to God we need to be faithful in prayer and place all of our trust in Him. Through this we will experience God's peace in our heart and mind that will get us through all of life's trials that wait ahead.

If you would like to send a prayer message to Austin please visit his website http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/austinjsmith. Even if you have never met him before I'm sure he'd love to hear of your prayers and support. Thank you so much! God bless!

If You Have Faith Nothing Shall Be Impossible

"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." - Romans 12:12

Let me start by praising my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! How blessed I feel at this very moment for His love, grace, and divine assistance in my life. Today was a wonderful day! Today my sister, Alyssa, my best friend, Jasmine, and I were able to meet Tim Tebow in person. Tim is such a great role-model and follower of Christ. We adore him for being the wonderful and beautiful person he is inside and out. Thank you Jesus for letting us meet him today!!!

However, the day did not show (in the beginning) many hopeful signs of us meeting him. Tim was scheduled to assist and mentor members of the D1 Sports Center with their training and workouts. After spending two hours in the hot Florida sun we spoke to a mother of two children who had heard more about what was going on with Tim Tebow. We could not get into the sports center because it was for a private event only -- meaning only members could go in and see him. The event was suppose to have ended by this time, but the mother said she saw Tim inside the building. So, obviously, he was still there. We waited again for a very long time. People were coming in and out of the building, so we quickly asked some of them about Tim Tebow. Sadly, we got very poor answers, like, "No, he's gone" or "You're wasting your time" or "He's actually still inside working out -- but he will be here all day -- so you better leave cause you're not going to see him" or "If he comes out they are going to sneak him out through a secret door, so you won't see him." Just about everyone said something to try and bring our hopes down, except for the sweet mother with her two kids.

Eventually it was lunch time and we needed to get some food. We knew Tim hadn't left the building and seemed like he was going to be in there for quiet some time working out. At this point we asked the kind mother to keep us posted with what was going on as we headed over to the McDonald's next door. (How ironic to put a McDonald's next to a gym, right? lol.) While we were eating the mother came over to us in the restaurant and told us she had to leave, but she overheard people saying Tim was going to be working out until 4:30 and then he was going to come out. At this moment it was about 2:15 in the afternoon. So, we decided to go shopping in the nearby area to kill some time until then. I mean, if Tim Tebow was seriously going be leaving in a few hours, why not wait a little longer to see if we could really meet him on his way out? Right? We've been waiting all day, why not wait a little more?

That is the key -- patience. With all things that happen in God's time we need to be able to wait for them with patience. With this mindset, we left the McDonald's and shopped around. Thinking about how wonderful it would be to meet Tim we decided to go into a LifeWay Christian bookstore to find a small gift for him. We searched for a while and I finally found a little stone cross with a bible verse engraving -- Matthew 17:20. I felt this was perfect! I loved the verse... so I got the gift, not knowing if I was really going to be able to give it to him or not.

After, we headed back over to the sports center. Now there was nobody there. It was dead. A few cars were in the lot, but there was no sign of Tim or anyone. So I took the initiative to peak through the windows. All the doors were locked, but we saw some men coming out and we asked them if they knew if Tim was still there. They hesitated to answer us and then one man said, "Umm, I don't know if he's still here. But if he is, he won't be coming out for a while."

Obviously all the doors were locked since he was still there. So I felt hopeful even with the disappointing answer. I told my sister and my friend I was praying a 54-day-rosary-novena, during Lent, for a very beloved friend of mine. I wanted to pray this novena, now, in front of the sports center, to ask Mary to intercede for us to help us meet Tim Tebow if he was still there. Of course, the novena's main intention was still for my beloved friend -- who is in desperate need of prayers -- but I also united to my prayers that of meeting Tim.

Once we concluded our rosary we immediately saw a bunch of men pile into a black van. As they turned to leave one of the men rolled down his window and looked at us while pointing to a white van that was just about to pull out of the lot. We thought, "Is that Tim's car? Did he really just point us to Tim Tebow?" Sure enough, as we came closer we saw people coming out from nowhere gathering around his car. I felt as if I was about to faint. Not only did we just finish praying for this, but it was answered so quickly I could hardly believe it. It was exactly 4:30 when we went up to see him. I realized if the sweet mother didn't come back to us in the McDonald's to let us know he was staying until 4:30, we would have probably left.

After waiting the longest time, and being one of the last people to see him, we not only got to talk to him -- but we even hugged him and gave him our little cross gift. This was such a special moment. In the end, it was worth waiting 5 hours for 5 minutes with Tim Tebow. We thanked him for being the wonderful person he is and we told him how we are keeping him in our prayers -- always. He was very happy and had such a compassionate smile. I knew he must have been very tired from working out all day, so he didn't say much, except "thank you." However, I'm so very grateful we had this opportunity and waited patiently for God's time and God's Will. Maybe if we saw him earlier we wouldn't have had the opportunity to find a gift for him. You see, God works in ways we cannot possible think of. I felt so happy to give him that little cross! It was special, because everyone else just wanted autographs -- wanting something from him -- but I didn't necessarily want that. I wanted to express my faith, my love, my hope, and my prayer for this beautiful man of God with a simple and sweet gift from the heart. Although he may never remember us, or our names, or the gift -- it was a blessed moment for us for those 5 minutes we got to share with him. 5 minutes we will never forget. So don't doubt God when His answers don't come when you want them to. Wait for His answers to come when He wants them too. Trust and have faith without hesitation -- for nothing will be impossible for you with God.

           

Mission Impossible?

"For nothing is impossible with God." - Luke 1:37

Have you ever been in a situation that you feel there is no way out of? Do you feel that some things in your life can never be fixed; work, relationships, marriage, school, illness, death, etc? Have you ever seen a friend falling into a dark place? ...And don't you wish they would wake up and see the light?! We have all felt something like this at some point in our lives when we feel there is no hope left. When this happens often times people will stray from God because they believe God must not exist since this or that happened to them (or a family member). However, whatever the circumstance may be, God has not and will not intentionally hurt us. He is love itself! Maybe certain situations have occurred and resulted in an unpleasant way because God was not present in the final decision making. That is why it is very important that we must draw near to God and let Him influence our decisions so we completely submit ourselves to His Holy Will -- which is good and pleasing and perfect. We can never be led astray when we put complete trust in Him.

Therefore, miraculous events can occur since nothing is impossible for Him. The Blessed Mother herself gave birth to the son of God as a virgin. She was conceived without sin and submitted herself to the Will of God without hesitation, for she trusted His Will and knew it would ultimately satisfy her life -- even with the sufferings and crosses it brought along the way. Mary completely surrendered to God's Will and let Him work the impossible in her life. Not only did she see her son die in agony on the cross, which pierced her heart, but she also saw Him in His glory after the resurrection. So even when we endure the most trying of times, if we give our sacrifice to God and trust His Will anything is possible!

If you feel called on a mission to help someone who is in a difficult situation, pray for them. Let God work through you and into their life. I have entrusted myself to the four saints of the Catholic Church that are patrons of impossible causes and hopeless situations. These saints include St. Jude, St. Rita, St. Philomena, and St. Gregory. (I mentioned these saints in my previous posting). They have given me much comfort, for I know that they can work miracles of any kind -- no matter how great or how small. Just as Saint Augustine said, "Miracles are not contrary to nature, but only contrary to what we know about nature." Anything is possible if you believe and have faith, entrusting the situation to the Will of God.

I composed a novena prayer dedicated to all four of these saints; deriving from other prayers and novenas from which they have answered to. So when you are down and have lost hope, don't give up. Instead ask the Holy Spirit to lift you up and give you the grace to persevere. Go to these saints to assist you with their miraculous intercession.

One of my friends, who comes from a broken family, told me that for her prayer is a way of healing what has been hurt. Her family situation may never be the same as it was, but with God she is able to retain a true peace of mind and comfort, along with forgiveness. She has completely submitted herself to God in this situation. She understands that maybe it wasn't God's Will for her parents to be together forever, but it was for a moment, for her to be brought into this world. Now, she has no more bitterness or resentment against her parents. She can live peacefully, understanding that anything is possible for God when it is according to His Holy Will.

Novena of the Impossible

O holy saints of impossible causes, St. Jude, St. Rita, St. Philomena, and St. Gregory, I come to you with confidence in my great need. Faithful intercessors, who work so many miracles for all who invoke your unfailing aid, graciously hear me and obtain from God a favorable answer to the request which I humbly lay before thee... (mention petition).

O great saints, to you I have recourse from the depths of my heart and sincerely ask -- to whom God has given such great power -- to come to my assistance on behalf of my earnest petition. Guide and purify my intention, o holy patrons, so that I may obtain what I ask of thee, with the grace to persevere in courage, faith, generosity, and fidelity.

I firmly believe in your great intercession and in return for this favor I promise to make your names known and encourage devotion to each of you. Saint Jude, Apostle of Christ, pray for us. Saint Rita, advocate of the helpless, have mercy on us. Saint Philomena, powerful with God, pray for us. Saint Gregory, the Wonder Worker, hear and answer my prayer. Amen.