Illuminated By Joy

 J.M.J.  Hello, my friends!  Do you ever keep track of quote-worthy lines in books you read? I've had a notebook since I was 12 where I've recorded "Important Things to Remember from ...". It's an easy way to sort of reread books from my past spiritual reading (and see how my handwriting has changed!). One of my favorite books is Story of a Soul: Autobiography of St. Therese of Lisieux , so I thought I'd share some of my favorite quotes from her writing. I also highly recommend it to everyone, no matter your stage in life!  (credit) *Emphasis is my addition* "He wants me to love Him because He has forgiven me, not much, but everything. He did not wait for me to love Him with a great love, like Magdalene's, but made me see that He had loved me first, with an infinite providence, so that now I may love Him in return even unto folly" (57-58).  " 'The world is but a ship, and not thy home' " (61).  "...Our Lord does not come fr...

 Hey everyone!  Over the past few years, I've seen lists of saints that belonged to different races or suffered from a particular circumstance, but I've never seen a list of saints with physical disabilities. So I've decided to make one for all of you today. They'll be listed in alphabetical order along with a brief description of their disability. Some of them were born disabled, some acquired their disability later, but I promise you -- every single one of them is unique. - Bl. Alexandrina Maria da Costa jumped off a roof to escape a man who was trying to assault her and remained bedridden for the rest of her life. - Bl. Alexius Kim Si-u was paralyzed on the right side of his body. - St. Ava was born blind, but was later cured by St. Reinfredis. - Bl. Benedetta Bianchi Porro suffered from an illness that eventually left her blind, deaf, and paralyzed. - Servant of God Darwin Ramos was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy at age five and had it the rest of h...

 Hey everyone! Today is the Feast of my Confirmation saint and her friend: Sts. Perpetua and Felicity.They were two young mothers who were martyred in Carthage, Tunisia, in the year 203. They were still catechumens when they were arrested, but were baptized in prison. Perpetua had an infant son and Felicity was pregnant but gave birth to a daughter two days before the contest. The two young women died with three other men by being scourged, thrown to wild beasts, and beheaded. They are very influential and are mentioned in the cannon of the Mass. These two saints are very special to me for so many reasons that I can't possibly name here. So, in their honor, I would like to share a quote from another martyr: an unnamed pastor from Zimbabwe who wrote this in a letter before he died. It shows how he --and the two saints we celebrate today -- really said no to the things of this world and yes to God: "I'm part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have the Holy Spirit power. T...

I always loved the stories of the saints. They were always so exciting and full of adventure! But unfortunately, the way they were portrayed made them seem boring, distant, and even a little creepy. It can get so tiring to hear just how holy they were over and over again that they just seem impossible to relate to. However, we know that isn't the case. The saints were just like us. They had their faults, sins, slips, and  bad sides. We just need some more authentic portrayals of them. Luckily, that's where books come in. Books can make the stories with so few details come alive. They can also answer the question: "What might have it looked like if I could go back in time and witness the saint go through their struggles?" They have room for all of the details that those one-page-per-saint biographies don't. So, maybe we could read some of those! Below is a list of authors who have written novels/ novellas of saints. I am only including authors who have written seri...

Hey everyone! Sorry I haven't been posting! Anyhow, Happy late All Saints Day and  All Souls Day! These are two days of the year when we can really reflect that we're not alone; we have souls up in Heaven and Purgatory that are praying for us. Together, these three parts of the Church, the Church Militant (us, here on earth), the Church Suffering (those in Purgatory), and the Church Triumphant (those in Heaven) make up the mystical Body of Christ. We can get a small taste of that on earth by partaking in Holy Communion at Mass, where Heaven really does become one with earth. Jesus is really present there, but so is Mary, and all of the saints! It can just make us all reflect on just how amazing it will be when we do get into Heaven. We will all be One in Christ. We will also all be saints, whether the rest of the world knows our story, or not.  Let us all, then, strive to become saints and see one another in the Kingdom of Heaven.

 Do you ever want to read something well written, Catholic, and... exciting, but struggle to find a novel that fits all of these three categories? Some books are well written and exciting, but aren't Catholic; others are Catholic and well written but aren't exciting; or even Catholic and exciting but badly written?  Well, here I am to introduce to you the author of well written, Catholic, and exciting teen novels!  I present Susan Peek and her opus! Susan Peek is writing a series for Catholic teens called God's forgotten friends, lives of little-known saints.  The series features novels about, you guessed it, little known saints.  Susan Peek showcases the lives of saints as they truly are! Epic, incredible, and inspiring.  Her novels include:  Crusader King: A Novel of Baldwin IV and the Crusades.  An action-packed, thrilling historical novel about the little-known life of Baldwin IV of Jerusalem, the leper Crusader king who despite ascending the...

  Today, 97 years ago, a young man, aged only twenty four, lay on his deathbed. He was dying from polio, which he had contracted while helping the poor of Turin.  His family did not realize he was seriously ill until only a couple days before his death. This was because his grandmother had just died, and also because he did not complain of pain and was reluctant to draw attention to his own sufferings.  Finally, after enduring excruciating pain while paralyzed, Pier Giorgio Frassati died on the fourth of July 1925.  I cannot possibly describe how beautiful and holy his death was, I strongly advice reading the last chapter in Man of the Beatitudes by Pier Giorgio's sister, Luciana. You can borrow it for free on internet archive.  Americans will associate the fourth of July, with freedom and liberty. Well, I think it was an appropriate day for him to die on, because then, on the day of his death, he became truly free. Free from the sufferings he had borne, his own...

  We recently celebrated the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, the Body and Blood of Christ. The Church has always held the truth that the Eucharist is Jesus Christ, present under the appearances of bread and wine. Yet, the vast majority of Catholics don't really grasp the real meaning of what the Eucharist is.   There was a saint who was not like that. She was so determined to receive the Eucharist, that it took a miracle to convince those around her that she should. That saint was Bl. Imelda Lambertini.                                                          Bl. Imelda was born in the year 1322 to a wealthy family. She was very devout from a young age, and had a deep love for Jesus.   On her fifth birthday, Imelda began asking her parents many questions about the Eucharist. After she received her answers, she suddenly requested to ...

Hello everyone!  So, you all have probably guessed by now that Bl Pier Giorgio is a favourite of mine, considering how many of his quotes I've dropped in posts. Well, I thought that maybe a good place to introduce you all a bit more to him is to tell you how I came to know him.  On Goodreads once a book was recommended to me called To The Heights by Brian Kennelly. I clicked on it. On the cover was a young man on top of a mountain. I read the summary and was intrigued.  Enter the heart of a passionate young man, who in his brief life reached the heights of adventure, friendship—and sanctity.   Born to a wealthy family in Turin at the dawn of the 20th century, Pier Giorgio Frassati was good-looking, popular and athletic. He spent much of his youth climbing the rugged Italian Alps, disappearing into the clouds for days at a time. He was quick with a joke or a prank and enjoyed a good time. It seemed he was blessed with everything a young man could ask for. ...

 Sometimes it's easy to become complacent. In our own spiritual lives yes, but also in regards to the world.  We can become complacent about the world in two ways: 1. "The world is evil, it always has been, and there's nothing I can do about it." 2. "The world's not so bad, people do wicked things yes, but they are hurting and are right in their hearts." They are both dangerous in their own way, and sometimes we need a jolt to start us out of them. The first is wrong because, although the world as a whole is evil, every single person was created to be a saint by God, and it is never too late until they draw their last breathq. We must have hope for the world.  The second is wrong because, actually, a lot of people aren't right on their hearts. Despite all the 'be nice' talk going around, the world is getting crueler and crueler. Violence, abortion, sexual immorality, revenge, gossip, and selfishness are all increasing.  I was unconsciously in...