Jesus said to his disciples: “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won over your brother. If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, so that ‘every fact may be established on the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If he refuses to listen to them, tell the church. If he refuses to listen even to the church, then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector. Amen, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again, amen, I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything for which they are to pray, it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”
Enjoying this post? Subscribe to Radiant with Joy!
I’m blessed to have been friends with a girl in college who is now a religious sister. Before Emma joined the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration, we spent a lot of time together. She was in my Bible Study, we hung out together, and we went to a Catholic conference together. As she was discerning her vocation, she started having visions of Jesus, particularly while she adored him in the Blessed Sacrament. I’ll never forget her wonder as she told me about him. One evening, after I had prayed over her, she whispered, “He’s here.” Emma saw Jesus standing right behind me with his hand on my shoulder. She saw the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove flapping over my head. Every time I hear the final verse of the Gospel reading this Sunday, I think of this memory with Emma. Although we might not see him, Jesus is always with us when we pray. When you need to feel him near, gather with a friend or two in his name.
Click the links below to visit Radiant with Joy’s social media and Etsy Shop!
Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier.
St. Teresa of Calcutta
Faithful, not Successful We can’t deny that St. Teresa of Calcutta did some big and incredible things, like create a new religious order in India and speak out against abortion in the United States. While these accomplishments are important, the little things that she did were just as important. Near the end of her life, Mother Teresa said in an interview “God has not called me to be successful. He called me to be faithful.” Mother Teresa understood how to love unconditionally. St. Teresa discovered the urgency of the Gospel and mission, and she shared in Jesus’ thirst for souls. As Jesus longs to love us, St. Teresa dedicated her life to loving everyone around her, even those who were the hardest to love.
A Call Within a Call Even as a young child, Teresa was absolutely in love with Jesus, particularly in his most Sacred Heart. When she joined the Loreto Sisters, she made a vow to never refuse anything of Jesus. Five years later, she experienced three visions which she described as a “call within a call.” Teresa saw crowds of suffering people and heard Jesus asking her to take care of them and bring them to him. She responded to this “call within a call” by establishing the Missionaries of Charity, a religious order that ministers to the most poverty-stricken individuals in Calcutta, India.
As soon as Mother Teresa started her ministry with the Missionaries of Charity, she fell into spiritual desolation. She experienced what’s known as “the dark night of the soul,” which made her feel like an atheist when she prayed. I never knew this about Mother Teresa until college, and frankly, I never would have known if a Catholic speaker hadn’t mentioned it in a talk. Regardless, Mother Teresa’s faith and love remained strong. She didn’t stop praying or serving the poor when she couldn’t feel God. I love to look to her when I feel discouraged about praying. Her persistence inspires me to keep showing up to prayer, and by choosing God even when it’s difficult, she’s a perfect example of true love.
Enjoying this post? Subscribe to Radiant with Joy!
Loving “Jesus in Disguise” in Little Ways Mother Teresa spent the rest of her life serving the least of her brothers and sisters in Christ. She went out to the streets to love and serve the poorest of the poor in Calcutta. Every day she encountered sick, homeless, dirty, and hungry people who were abandoned, forgotten, and left to die in the streets. When Mother Teresa looked at these people, she saw more than their condition. She literally saw the face of Jesus. In the people who others would view as not worth the time of day, Mother Teresa saw our Lord. She said, “Each one of them is Jesus in disguise.”
Much like St. Therese of Lisieux, whose name Mother Teresa chose for herself, she did little things with great love. While it’s tempting to realize the masses of people in need and feel overwhelmed with work to do for them, St. Teresa of Calcutta teaches us to serve on a more focused and intentional scale. She gave her undivided attention to one person at a time and loved deeply and individually. With a little grace, we can have a missionary heart like hers. We might not be called to encounter the poor in the streets of Calcutta, but we can still see Christ in those around us and serve him through them. By spending time with a friend or even washing the dishes, we can spread love wherever we go when we remember that everyone we meet is Jesus in disguise.
St. Teresa of Calcutta loved like no one else, but everyone can emulate her love. I pray that we can find our own Calcutta wherever the Lord places us. May we always radiate God’s love to all of his children.
Fun fact! I’ve heart St. Teresa of Calcutta lovingly nicknamed “Mama T,” and that’s what I call my own mom sometimes because her name is Tina!
Click the links below to visit Radiant with Joy’s social media and Etsy Shop!
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Matthew 5:4
When I’m Not Joyful People often tell me that they love how happy and energetic I am. One priest that I knew in college would always say to me, “thank you for your joy.” I love to share my joy with everyone around me. If my contagious happiness can make someone smile and brighten up their day, then I know I’m sharing God’s light and pleasing him.
As much as I’d love to be happy all the time, I’m not. While I try to live up to my favorite Bible verse and the name of my blog, I’m not always radiant with joy. I have bad days. I let people and circumstances get the better of me. I dwell on things. I give in to sadness, anxiety, and fear. Whether its a little case of the blues, a bout of sadness, or a borderline depressive episode, I’ve had my fair share of sad days. While I strive to be a joy to those around me, I have reason to call myself a sad girl.
A “Healthy” Sad Girl I’m obsessed with the musical Hamilton, and strangely, one of my favorite songs from it is “It’s Quiet Uptown.” The line that stands out to me every time is “The moments when you’re in so deep, it feels easier to just swim down.” I relate to this so much because whenever I’m sad, I tend to burrow myself deeper into my sadness instead of getting out. I lay in bed a lot. I sleep in late and take a lot of naps. I listen to my sad girl playlist to get in my feelings, and I stay there. It takes so much effort to do anything somewhat productive.
Don’t get me wrong, it is okay to be sad. If there’s anything I’ve learned from Inside Out, it’s that it’s normal and healthy to be sad, so we shouldn’t deny ourselves from feeling that important emotion. Sadness helps us to process our feelings and to connect with our family and friends. Because of this, I can justify getting in touch with my sad girl side. To an extent, it’s good to let myself be sad and just swim down. Although laying in bed and staying sad can be helpful and even comforting, I know it isn’t good to stay there.
A Not-So-Healthy Sad Girl I used to be so bad about telling those around me how I felt. No matter the reason why I was sad, I would always make up an excuse to not talk to anyone about it. I needed to talk about how FOCUS turned me down when I applied to be a missionary, but I wanted to seem strong and I didn’t want anyone to feel bad for me. I needed to talk about how an ex boyfriend broke up with me seemingly because I was too Catholic for him, but I didn’t want anyone to know how deeply I was hurt. I would only be truly honest about my sadness with a few people in my life, and while it’s important to have close family and friends to confide in, I shouldn’t have been so quick to close myself off to everyone and anyone. I thought that bottling up my sadness was the way to cope with it. No one else would understand or want to be bothered by how I felt or what was bothering me, so why would I share it with them?
Stopping the Sadness For a month leading up to my move to Washington DC, I lingered in sadness. I stayed in my bed and camped out on my couch fearing and almost resisting the move. I was paralyzed by the fear of living somewhere new, all by myself with people who I didn’t know and who didn’t know me. I put on a brave and excited face to almost everyone around me. Only a few people knew how terrified I was. I made the move anyway, knowing that the Lord wanted me to go to DC. On the day that I moved in, I did something that I don’t think I’ve ever done before.
My supervisor, Meghan came to visit the house, and when she asked me how I was doing, I told her “I’m actually a little sad.” Not pitying me, but caring for me, she offered to talk with me on the porch. I opened up to her about my sadness from moving and now being far away from everyone I loved. After a brief but meaningful conversation, I felt better. Opening up to Meghan didn’t fix my sadness, but it was the first step.
Authenticity for the Sake of Community Sharing my feelings and letting my community get to know me-the real me-alleviated my sadness within my first few weeks in my new home. Little by little, I got to know everyone. I talked with them about the sadness I dealt with and I told them when I was genuinely having a good day. This honesty and vulnerability helped my community grow and allowed everyone to know the true me. I like to think that by sharing how I really felt, they felt comfortable sharing their thoughts and feelings with me. As difficult as this was at first, I knew I had to because the Lord desires us to live and thrive in community, and my community deserves my authentic self. I was afraid of not finding my place in my new community, and I wouldn’t have found it if I hid and shut everyone out. When I let everyone see me as I was, the good and the sad, they embraced the authentic me and welcomed me into the community.
Enjoying this post? Subscribe to Radiant with Joy!
How to be Sad When you’re feeling sad, don’t feel bad about taking some time to yourself. Sleep in, listen to some music, journal, eat some cookies, or cry it out. It also helps me to remember that Jesus felt all emotions in his humanity. He got sad, he cried, he grieved, and he needed to be alone. When we’re sad, he understands, and he’s with us in our sadness. Jesus was in Meghan when I opened up to her. He blessed our conversation to show me that my sadness was valid, but I didn’t have to dwell in it any longer.
While it’s okay to want to be alone for a while, we don’t have to deal with our sadness by ourselves. When you’re sad, don’t be afraid to confide in those around you. They love you and they want to help. When it’s hard, just imagine that you’re talking to Jesus. Rest in him, find comfort in him, and eventually, he’ll turn your sadness into joy.
Click the links below to visit Radiant with Joy’s social media and Etsy Shop!
Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised. Then Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him, “God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you.” He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? Or what can one give in exchange for his life? For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory, and then he will repay all according to his conduct.”
Enjoying this post? Subscribe to Radiant with Joy!
What does it take to follow Jesus? What does disciple cost us? In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus explains what we must do to be his disciples. The first step is to deny yourself. We have to grow in humility so that we choose Jesus rather than ourselves. Next, we take up our cross. We accept the challenges that God gives us to help us grow, and we embrace suffering, finding the holiness in it. Finally, we follow him. When we fix our eyes on Jesus and when we’re prepared to take on the challenges of discipleship, we’re ready to follow him. Only then can we go where he goes, do what he does, and become like him. Jesus is honest about the difficulties of discipleship, but he still calls us to it and always encourages us. Today, let’s decide to lose our lives for his sake so that we can gain eternal life.
Click the links below to visit Radiant with Joy’s social media and Etsy Shop!
The Patron Saint of Patience The first thing that I learned about St. Monica is that she’s the mother of St. Augustine. The second thing that I learned about her is that she’s the patron Saint of patience, and it wasn’t hard to figure out why. She was always patient with the people around her, especially her family, and especially when they ridiculed her for her faith. St. Monica was patient with her prayers, knowing that they would be answered according to God’s perfect timing. She prayed avidly and unceasingly for the conversion of her son, and although it took decades, she eventually saw the fruits of her prayers. St. Monica’s life was far from easy, but she remained patient and steadfast in her faith through it all.
St. Monica’s Life Monica’s parents arranged an unusual marriage for their Catholic daughter and a young pagan man. Patricius had a bad temper and harassed Monica because of her faith, but he still respected her as his wife. Monica’s bitter mother-in-law, who was as hot-headed as Patricius also lived with them. Instead of growing frustrated with them, Monica prayed for her husband and her mother-in-law. Because of her prayers, her husband and mother-in-law became Christians shortly before their deaths.
Augustine, her most well-known child, had a wild and immoral childhood. When he went to school in Carthage at the age of 17, he took on the Manichean heresy, which caused him to believe that “all flesh is evil.” When he told his mother this at the dinner table, she raised her voice at him and drove him away. After this, Monica heard in a vision that her son would return to the faith. Always praying and fasting for her son, Monica stayed as close to Augustine as she could, following him to Milan and Rome. Finally, when he was 29, Augustine was baptized by Bishop Ambrose in 387. Because of Monica’s fervent prayers, Augustine became not only a Christian, but also a great Saint.
Enjoying this post? Subscribe to Radiant with Joy!
Praying for Conversions with St. Monica What I love the most about St. Monica is that through arguments and spiritual warfare, she never lost hope. She remained steadfast in her prayers for her family despite all odds. She prayed with expectant faith, not merely wishing, but fiercely believing that the Lord would bring her loved ones back to him.
A prayer intention that became near and dear to my heart lately is conversions. I’ve always wanted to help people fall in love with Jesus and his Church, and I realized that, at least for now, the best way that I can do this is through prayer. For the past several months, I’ve been praying for conversions, particularly of loved ones. As I prayed, I found myself thinking of St. Monica, and recently, I finally started asking for her intercession. There’s nothing I want more than to be united in the Eucharist with everyone I love, but I often doubt that will happen. Knowing that the Lord wants to answer my prayers, when I feel myself doubting, I take a deep breath and say, “Lord, I believe that [name] will come back to you.” I’ve asked St. Monica to pray with me, and she encourages me to keep praying.
If you’re trying to grow in patience, look to St. Monica as an example and ask to share in her patience. If you’re praying to a loved one to return to the Church or to come to Jesus for the first time, ask for St. Monica’s intercession. When it becomes frustrating and praying for conversions seems futile, remember that St. Monica was there. She lived through that, persevered in prayer, and lived to see her son surrender his life to Jesus. When you feel like giving up, ask St. Monica to join you in praying for conversions and imagine you and your loved one together in Heaven praising God forever. Please know that I’m praying for your conversion intentions, too.
Click the links below to visit Radiant with Joy’s social media and Etsy Shop!
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Proverbs 31:30
More Than Just a Pretty Face As one of my namesakes and patron Saints, St. Rose of Lima is very special to me. Her radically faithful life inspires me to dedicate all that I am and all that I do to the Lord. Perhaps the most iconic facet of St. Rose of Lima’s story is her beauty and how she disfigured herself so that she could focus on the Lord. While this is a significant part of her life, there’s so much more to it than that. St. Rose of Lima’s faith was steadfast, especially amidst ridicule, and she devoted herself to prayer, fasting, and mortifications.
St. Rose of Lima’s Life Isabel Flores de Olivia was born in 1586 in Lima, Peru. Because of her beauty, she was given the nickname “Rose,” which was also the name that she took for her Confirmation. Her beauty interested all of the young men around her, but Rose wasn’t interested in marriage. She wanted to become a nun, and she prayed and fasted fervently. Every day she received the Eucharist and adored the Blessed Sacrament. To make herself less beautiful, she cut her hair short and rubbed pepper on her face until it blistered. Eventually, her parents stopped trying to marry her off, and they recognized her vow of chastity and her desire to dedicate herself to the Lord.
Rose’s life was filled with prayer and fasting, particularly in penance. She slept only two hours so that she could spend as much time praying as possible. She fasted from meat at all times. On one occasion, she burned her hands as an act of self-imposed penance. Most extremely, Rose would wear a heavy, spiked crown to remind her of Jesus’ Crown of Thorns. The spikes would pierce her head, and sometimes get lodged in her skull. Rose died on August 25, 1617 when she was 31. In 1671, Pope Clement X canonized her, and she became the patron Saint of Latin America, the Philippines, embroiderers, gardeners, and people ridiculed for their piety.
Enjoying this post? Subscribe to Radiant with Joy!
Living Simply St. Rose of Lima’s life was simple. She emptied herself of worldly comforts and distractions so that she could fill up her life with the Lord. To support herself financially, she made and sold pieces of embroidery. Of course, she didn’t earn much, but it was enough for her simple life of prayer and fasting.
Now that I’m serving with Franciscan Mission Service, I’m understanding firsthand what simple living is. It isn’t forcing poverty upon yourself or just being content with few possessions. Simple Living is letting go of literal and figurative clutter and distractions so that you can focus on what’s most important. When we live simply, like St. Rose of Lima, God has more room to work in our lives and transform our hearts. Yes, God exists outside of space, but its on us to open ourselves up, make a space for him, and welcome him into it. A beautiful way to do this is simple living, and we can look to St. Rose of Lima as one of the best examples of this lifestyle.
Click the links below to visit Radiant with Joy’s social media and Etsy Shop!
Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi and he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Then he strictly ordered his disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.
Enjoying this post? Subscribe to Radiant with Joy!
As I read this Sunday’s Gospel, a few questions arise. Did the other disciples know who Jesus was? Did they not know that he was the Christ, or did they know but were too timid to speak up? From this passage, it seems that Peter was the only one who really knew Jesus. This makes sense because out of all the disciples, Peter was closest to Jesus. But when he tells Jesus “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God,” Jesus implies that his Heavenly Father revealed this to him. Maybe God chose him to understand Jesus’ true identity, setting him up to become the Rock of the Church. Regardless, Peter confidently makes a profession of faith in this Sunday’s Gospel. He not only knew that Jesus was the Christ, but he proclaimed it unwaveringly. We also have the blessing of knowing who Jesus is. When the time comes to profess our faith, whether it be at Mass or with a friend, let’s do so with confidence, knowing that Jesus is the Son of the Living God who takes away the sins of the world.
Click the links below to visit Radiant with Joy’s social media and Etsy Shop!
Therefore, encourage one another and build each other up, just as you are doing.
1 Thessalonians 5:11
to my best friend, Mikayla on her 22nd birthday
Little Gifts from God We aren’t meant to be alone. God desires us to have loved ones, a community, people who love us and support us unconditionally. Having someone who you can have fun with, confide in, and share your life with is so special. That person, a friend, is someone who loves you, grows with you, and helps you become a better person. I learned throughout my life that we don’t have to have a large number of friends to be happy. A handful of solid friends will suffice. I learned this in high school when I found my core group of ladies, and I carried it with me in college when I found my dance family and my Rock Catholic Fam. A couple of friends who stick with you have so much meaning and hold special places in your heart.
Paul knew what he was talking about when he advised the Thessalonians to encourage each other and build each other up. I’ve felt these holy qualities in my friends throughout the years, and I’m so grateful for that. I have so many wonderful friends who have touched my life in different ways, and they’ve all encouraged me and built me up in a way that only they could. Friends are truly little gifts from God. I see him in my own friends, who remind me that he’s always with me. Through them, I feel God’s love, and becoming a good friend has helped me to find a friend in Jesus.
Mikayla One of my best friends and greatest gifts from God is Mikayla. Although we met a year or so prior, when we sat next to each other in chorus on our first day of high school, I knew we’d be close friends. Looking back at pictures of us through the years, it was amazing to remember growing up and glowing up with her. We were the two girls who loved to look cute and joke around all the time, and eight years later, as we laugh uncontrollably all dressed up in a nice restaurant, nothing has changed. During our high school days, we made memories as nuns in The Sound of Music, getting frozen yogurt at Sweet Frog every weekend, going to Disney World with the band and chorus, and having endless conversations of only our inside jokes. After we had navigated high school awkwardness together, we went to different colleges but somehow got even closer.
We always went to each other when college was getting rough, encouraging each other to stay strong and do what we need to do. We got coffee, Mexican food, or sushi every time I came home from school, and our excursions wouldn’t be complete without a random trip to Walmart, typically after 9 pm for some reason. Catching up on the funny and annoying things that happened at school was always a treat. I watched her get crowned Sommerset County Fair Queen, and I supported her as she earned the county, state, and national titles of Miss Agriculture USA. Whether we trek to a hipster coffee shop or the New River Gorge in West Virginia, we always have adventures when we’re together. When I went through a tough breakup in college, she sent me a care package with a succulent that I still have. She’s the first one that I tell about everything, the one who I love spending time with most, and the one who knows me better than anyone else.
Building Friendship Like a Virtue Because friendship is a gift from God, we should cherish it and strive to become the best friends that we can be. I learned so much about Christian friendship from my friend Isabella’s blog, Bearing Good Fruit, particularly in her post titled “A Guide to Making Friends for Christian Women!” I like to think that Christians can build friendship as they would any other virtue. In a way, friendship takes practice. Just like how we become more patient through opportunities to be patient, we become better friends by being a friend. We get better at making time to see friends, listening skills, remembering their likes and dislikes, and supporting them as they reach their goals throughout our friendships.
I learned from Sarah Swafford, a Catholic speaker with a lot of virtuous insight on relationships, that friendship requires availability, vulnerability, and accountability of a person. These are the core qualities that turn us from good friends to great and even holy friends.
It’s impossible to grow closer to someone if you don’t spend time with them, so we have to be available to our friends. Sometimes it’s easy to meet for coffee or FaceTime all night, but sometimes our friends will need us when it isn’t exactly convenient for us, so choosing to be available for your friend’s sake is important.
I know it can be difficult to be vulnerable with others, but it’s worth it to allow your friends into your life. Opening up to those who you’re close to is special. It means that you trust them with information, feelings, or your past, and your friends will be more likely to be vulnerable with you.
When you share your goals with a friend, they can keep you accountable for reaching them. They can check up on you and ask how you’re making progress, and you can do the same for them. The most important thing that friends could keep each other accountable for is bettering themselves and growing in their walk with Jesus, and a great and honest way to do that is to continue growing in friendship.
Enjoying this post? Subscribe to Radiant with Joy!
Encountering the Friend of Jesus I feel like all of the friends who I’ve been blessed with remind me of Jesus in some way. My friendship with Mikayla has most clearly shown me him throughout the years. She helps me encounter him at all times and in so many ways. Through her joy, her kindness, her patience, her generosity, and her wisdom, I’ve gotten to know Jesus better through Mikayla. A big reason why Mikayla is my best friend is because she’s always been so Christlike not only to me, but to everyone around her. Our friendship has helped me become a better friend and grow in my walk with Jesus. Because of this, I think Mikayla and I have a truly blessed friendship.
I mentioned at the beginning of this post that becoming a good friend helps you find a friend in Jesus. The attributes that I love in my friends and the traits that have made me a better friend, I can clearly see in Jesus. He meets us where we are to selflessly spend time with us. He talks with us so patiently and generously, and meets our needs. He knows us well so that we can turn to him and trust him. Once I started considering Jesus a friend, I found myself turning to him more often. We became closer and our relationship became less of a formal, required one and more of a loving and personal one. I recognized how to spend time with him through the Sacraments, through prayer, and through everyone I encounter, especially my friends. They say that you become like the 5 people who you spend the most time with, so Jesus definitely has to be one of those 5 people.
My prayer is that my friends continue to grow into the holy ladies and gentlemen that I see them becoming. I pray that I can always be the good friend that they need and that I can show them the love of Christ through me. If you struggle to find or keep friends, I pray that you find a friend in Jesus first. As you get to know him and follow him so closely that you become like him, I pray that you radiate his love and goodness so that you find your friends and community who will run towards Jesus with you. God delights in us alive with our friends, so look for his Son in your friends and share in his joy together as often as you can.
Madeline and Mikayla with sunflowers
Have a happy, beautiful, wonderful birthday, Mikayla! I thank God all the time that he gave me a friend like you! I love you tons and I’ll see you again before you know it!
Click the links below to visit Radiant with Joy’s social media and Etsy Shop!
Tell everybody that God gives graces through the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Tell them to ask graces from her and that the Heart of Jesus wishes to be venerated together with the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Ask them to plead for peace from the Immaculate Heart of Mary, for the Lord has confided the peace of the world to her.
St. Jacinta of Fatima
Growing up with the Immaculate Heart of Mary I grew up around images of Jesus’s most Sacred Heart, and most of them were right next to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Because of this, I grew in love and devotion to Mary’s Immaculate Heart along with the Sacred Heart. In Catholic school and at home, it seemed like the Immaculate Heart of Mary was everywhere. From a young age, I loved the Immaculate Heart of Mary. I loved how it was surrounded by roses, and how it was on fire with love. As I got older and learned more about Mary and her heart, I loved them both more and more.
Immaculate Imagery Like the image of Jesus’ most Sacred Heart, the Immaculate Heart of Mary helps us to visualize and understand her love for us. The sword is a nod to the Prophecy of Simeon. In Luke 2:35, Simeon tells Mary that a sword will pierce her heart, foreshadowing the sorrows that she would endure, especially during Jesus’ Passion. Some images of Mary’s Heart have seven swords pierced in it, symbolizing her seven sorrows. The roses that surround Mary’s Immaculate Heart express her love, beauty, and purity. I’ve heard that the roses that circle Mary’s Immaculate Heart are the ones plucked from the branches that formed Jesus’ Crown of Thorns. Finally, the fire above the Immaculate Heart of Mary burns with love for all of her children.
The Children of Fatima The devotion to Mary’s Immaculate Heart was one of the secrets that she gave to the children of Fatima. When Mary appeared to Sts Jacinta and Francisco and Bl. Lucia, she told them about her Immaculate Heart. She said that our Heavenly Father desires her heart to be adored next to Jesus’ Sacred Heart and she wants the faithful to devote themselves to her Immaculate Heart. Jacinta’s final words to Lucia (quoted at the beginning of this post) were about Mary’s Immaculate Heart. She reminded her of the power of her Heart and the beautiful graces that it offers. She encouraged Lucia to spread the devotion to Mary’s Immaculate heart so that the world could have peace and share in her grace.
Enjoying this post? Subscribe to Radiant with Joy!
St. Teresa of Calcutta’s Prayer While I was preparing for my Marian Consecration, I read about St. Teresa of Calcutta and how she loved Mary and her Immaculate Heart. She would ask Mary to “Lend me your heart and keep me in your most Immaculate Heart.” This prayer is what helped her stay loving, patient, and service-oriented as she served the poor in Calcutta. When I incorporate this prayer into my day, I feel Mary outpouring her graces for me. She gives me peace and when she “lends me her heart,” she helps me to love everyone as my brothers and sisters in Christ. When she “keeps me in her most Immaculate Heart,” I’m able to run to her like a child and rest in her motherly love. She surrounds me in her mantle, directs me towards Jesus, and guides me as I do his will for my life.
Because August is dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I’ve been beholding and contemplating her Heart a little more lately. I invite you to join me in praying St. Teresa’s prayer to the Immaculate Heart. Our Blessed Mother has an unlimited amount of grace. She can’t wait to give it to you, and all you have to do is ask.
Mary, lend me your Heart and keep me in your most Immaculate Heart.
Click the links below to visit Radiant with Joy’s social media and Etsy Shop!
At that time, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman of that district came and called out, “Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon.” But Jesus did not say a word in answer to her. Jesus’ disciples came and asked him, “Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us.” He said in reply, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But the woman came and did Jesus homage, saying, “Lord, help me.” He said in reply, “It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters.” Then Jesus said to her in reply, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And the woman’s daughter was healed from that hour.
Enjoying this post? Subscribe to Radiant with Joy!
Have you ever noticed a loved one acting differently? Have you ever had to tell a friend “you haven’t been yourself lately?” Jesus doesn’t really act like Jesus in this Sunday’s Gospel. He turns a woman away when she asks him to help her daughter. This is something out of character for Jesus, but he had a reason for this refusal. Of course he wanted to take the demon out of her daughter, but he wanted to see how strong her faith was first. I’m sure he would have gladly healed her daughter regardless, but he was even more pleased with the woman when he witnessed her faith and dedication. How often do we ask Jesus for something and give up? Do we pray with expectant faith and persist with our intentions? Although Jesus would never withhold good things from us, sometimes he allows us to wait so that we can grow in faith and trust in him. If you’re waiting for a sign or for a prayer to be answered, make your faith dynamic while you wait. Take this season as an opportunity to grow so that Jesus can grant you not only your intention, but the grace to strengthen your faith in him.
Click the links below to visit Radiant with Joy’s social media and Etsy Shop!
Radiant with Joy 