Time for another Catholic Meme Monday. βοΈ π
π¦π·πYep! πͺ½πAsk for understanding from the Holy Spirit. ππππππTolkien is awesome!! πππππππ³ππEven superhero realize who the real savior of the world is. πππππParenthood is both the toughest and most rewarding things I’ll ever do.
Thatβs all I have this week. Stay tuned for next weekβs Catholic Meme Monday. Receive updates straight to your email inbox by subscribing to The Simple Catholic blog.
P.S. If you prefer receiving quality Catholic humor in daily doses follow me on Instagram @thesimplecatholic.
Time for another Catholic Meme Monday. βοΈ π
ππππPretty accurate. πππThe Gospel According to Luke (Skywalker). β¨ππSaint Pope John Paul II pray for us! “Loved the world, God did, His only Son gave, so that not perish, but have eternal life, those who believe in him might.” – Yoda reading John 3:16The origin of Halloween is rooted in Catholicism.πππOur Lady of “It’s been a Day” pray for us! πππFor my fellow Lord of the Rings geeks out there. ππππͺ Perfect outfit for the All-Saints Day Party! ππππ₯³πππOur defense against the Devil. πππEpic!! Last Star Wars Catholic meme I promise. ππβ¨If you agree, then please share today’s post. ππ
Thatβs all I have this week. Stay tuned for next weekβs Catholic Meme Monday. Receive updates straight to your email inbox by subscribing to The Simple Catholic blog.
P.S. If you prefer receiving quality Catholic humor in daily doses follow me on Instagram @thesimplecatholic.
π²This month marks a significant milestone for me as my freelance work has exceeded my “day job” monthly income.
How did this happen?
It’s much simpler (not necessarily easier) than you think.
In 2015, I started my blogging journey, which served as a way to cope with the grief of losing my unborn child due to miscarriage and to continue my mission of spreading knowledge about the Catholic faith.
Writing has been a lifelong passion for me. π
As a kid I developed a deep love for reading I used to visit the library weekly, borrowing 20-30 books.
The stories that I read fed my creativity and led to my desire to write.
At the age of 7 I started writing adventures on my mom’s typewriter.
In college, I fostered the skills of reading and writing when I earned a Bachelor’s degree in history (and minor in philosophy).
I completed my Master’s Degree in theology in 2014.
But my higher education credentials aren’t what got me freelance work.
Sure it helped but it wasn’t the main reason.
Instead of merely talking about my expertise, I demonstrated it through consistent daily writing.
It’s easy to tell others about the degrees, programs, or certifcations you amassed.
But it’s more effective to SHOW that you know the subject matter.
And how do you show others?
In the case of my field (content writing), it meant “showing” up everyday.
Over the past 8 years, I’ve been writing daily, whether on my website, through social media, in my notebooks, or in the margins of the books I was reading. ππ
I also proactively reached out to websites in my niche, writing guest posts while managing “The Simple Catholic” blog.
Even those numerous unfinished drafts played a role in my freelance success.
One unique aspect of my work is my ability to connect almost anything back to the Catholic Church and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Here’s a few things I can tie back to Catholicism:
π¦ Hedgehogs
π Tetherball
πͺ Boomerangs
β¨ Grand Admiral Thrawn
ποΈ The Office
π Kaleidoscopes
βοΈ Board games
π Paper football
βΎ Baseball
π¦ Cardboard boxes
I even captured the attention of a client who saw a post I wrote about John the Baptist and eating locusts (with honey of course)!
Success occurs when your passion intersects with your skill and you hone your craft over time.
Repetition is soooooo key.
If you’re a Catholic small business owner seeking engaging, faithful Catholic content for your website, reach out to me yesterday (or today) if you’re behind schedule. π
Editor’s Note: Post originally published on April 23, 2021.
As a someone who graduated with a history majory for my undergraduate degree, Saint Luke has always held a special place in my academic heart. Althoug Saint John’s Gospel starts with a beautiful and theological exposition, nothing truly compares to how the “beloved physician” begins his Gospel!
Β Know your Audience
Luke dedicates his gospel to a person named Theophilus. Scholars hold that this name may be referring to a singular person or a general audience. The reason for believing the latter possibility is because the Greek word Theophilus translates to βlover of Godβ. Regardless of Lukeβs intention, I found it interesting and significant that he adds this dedication. Along with the dedication, Luke gives us the purpose of his writing his account. Here is the exact text of his dedication to Theophilus:
1 Since many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the events that have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as those who were eyewitnesses from the beginning and ministers of the word have handed them down to us,3 I too have decided, after investigating everything accurately anew, to write it down in an orderly sequence for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 so that you may realize the certainty of the teachings you have received (Luke 1:1-4).
Credibility
From the onset of his Gospel Luke provides his sources. Relying on eyewitness testimonies, Luke is likely a second-generation Christian who had some contact with the original Twelve Apostles.
Additionally, Luke seems to take careful time to sift through these sources utilizing both his reason and gift of the Holy Spirit which inspired him. Luke says, βit seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past (1:3 Revised Standard Edition). What this means is that Luke carefully examined his sources like any reasonable historian.
Β Conclusion
St. Luke is unique among the gospels in that his writing is the only one that specifically details his sources and authorial aim. I firmly believe that one of the reasons for the Lucan text to be included in the New Testament canon was to appeal to people who rely first and foremost on reason. People like myself crave a rationale basis for various ideas. I love St. Lukeβs gospel because of its faith-filled content and intellectual appeal. I hope to discuss Luke second work, the Acts of the Apostlesβespecially in celebration of this Easter season!
P.S. Calling all history buffs and fellow “Theophiluses”! If you’re a fan of faith-filled content with a side of intellectual appeal, you don’t want to miss out on more fascinating insights from the Gospel of Luke and beyond. Became an email subscriber today.
Time for anotherΒ Catholic Meme Monday. βοΈ π
πππMeme I made inspired by a scene from The Office. πππLooks about right. πππI think about Jesus and the Catholic Church He founded hourly. πβοΈβ₯οΈHere’s a fun Catholic fact for you. π πΉοΈWho else typed in this search before?! πΉοΈ π πSuffering can transform us and unite us to Christ. Accurate. ππβ₯οΈπ𦦠π πThis meme made me bust out laughing (goes to confession later). πππBiblically accurate angel. π¦πͺ½ππLove the book of Sirach! β₯οΈπThis is me as an introvert. ππ€¦ββοΈππGod has a plan. πππ
Thatβs all I have this week. Stay tuned for next weekβs Catholic Meme Monday. Receive updates straight to your email inbox by subscribing to The Simple Catholic blog.
P.S. If you prefer receiving quality Catholic humor in daily doses follow me on Instagram @thesimplecatholic.
Time for another Catholic Meme Mondayβ the 100th episode!!! βοΈπ
π―An epic comforter! πππThere is power in the name of Jesus. πHappy Belated Feast of Saint Denis! Holy Halloween! ππLife is sacred: from womb to tomb. ππππππEven penguins can preach the Gospel. π§πJael was a boss. One of my favorite memes I created. πππ€«Jesus is without sin(e). Sorry it was too punny for me not to make a joke about. π π π ΟYes!!! A niche meme for fans of Nehemiah. 𧱠ππAmen! βοΈ β₯οΈ βοΈ π
Thatβs all I have this week. Stay tuned for next weekβs Catholic Meme Monday. Receive updates straight to your email inbox by subscribing to The Simple Catholic blog.
P.S. If you prefer receiving quality Catholic humor in daily doses follow me on Instagram @thesimplecatholic.
βAutumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower,β stated Albert Camus the 20th century French Novelist. Fall is my favorite time of the year. Colorful leaves carpet the lawns in my neighborhood. I enjoy seeing the visible transformation occur on trees and watching animals prepare for winter. My wifeβs birthday is during Octoberβthe middle of fall. I am indebted to God for the gift of my marriage. Without my wife, my fervor for Divine Mercy and St. Maria Faustinaβher confirmation saintβ may not exist!
Reflecting on autumn, my wife, and the Polish saint allowed for me to have a profound revelation: October contains an all-star line-up for saint feast days!
Five of my personal favorite saints, and historical favorites among Catholics as well, have a feast day in the first part of October. On top of this amazing realization, October is also dedicated to the Holy Rosary and respect for all life. I will be dedicating other posts on these topics so I will focus on the seven feast days of stellar saintly role models:
Guardian Angels
My children and I ask for the intercession of our guardian angels every night before bedtime. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church number 336, βFrom its beginning until death, human life is surrounded by their watchful care and intercession.202 βBeside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life.β203 Already here on earth the Christian life shares by faith in the blessed company of angels and men united in God.β God sends his messengers from Heaven to keep us safe and remind us of His Presence.
Therese of Lisieux
According to St. Therese, “Our Lord does not so much look at the greatness of our actions, or even at their difficulty, as at the love with which we do them.” Known as the Little Flower, the saintβs words provide a fresh perspective on my daily living and struggles. As a person who focuses on problems as something to be overcome, I sometimes place an emphasis on the amount of effort I have to put forth on a task. I also struggle with desiring recognition toward my works. Instead, if I focus on love as St. Therese teaches us, my life will be more joyful!
Francis of Assisi
Francis serves as an example of holiness, but for me, it is a personal reminder for my college days. I attended Franciscan University graduate schooling. The legacy the Italian saint left on me is truly immeasurable.
His transformation from a wealthy individual to a beggar of Christ is a tangible example of the Gospel lived out. Struggling with envy and greed myself, I am able to look to Francis of Assisi as a role model. Lord make me an instrument of peace like your servant Francis!
Maria Faustina
No other 20th century saint, besides John Paul II and Maximilian, has impacted me as much as St. Maria Faustina. Known as the Apostle of Divine Mercy, the Polish nun is to the 20th century what St. Paul was to the 1st century Churchβthe evangelizer of truth to the Gentiles! Sister Faustina helped console my wife after a good friend from high school died suddenly.
The Polish sister led my wife to convert to the Catholic faith as well! She has been instrumental in deepening my relationship with God over the past decade. St. Faustina is probably the biggest influence on viewing God first as a merciful Father as opposed to a vengeful Judge. Through St. Maria Faustina I heard Godβs truth in her words, βSuffering is the greatest treasure on earth; it purifies the soul. In suffering, we learn who our true friend is.β
Our Lady of the Rosary
While the entire month of October is dedicated to the Rosary (another reason to love this month!), Catholics celebrate Our Lady of the Rosary on October 7th.
Our Lady of the Rosary holds immense importance in the Catholic faith and Christian tradition. This title honors the Virgin Mary as the Queen of Heaven and a powerful intercessor. The rosary, a centuries-old prayer practice, is closely linked to this devotion, believed to have been revealed by Mary to Saint Dominic in the 13th century.
Beyond its historical roots, Our Lady of the Rosary plays a vital role in the daily lives of Catholics. Many turn to Mary for guidance, protection, and assistance. The rosary, a tool for meditation and reflection, deepens the connection with God and fosters unity among believers worldwide. It serves as a symbol of faith, hope, and unity, reminding us of Mary’s enduring grace and mercy.
Teresa of Avila
Another example of heroic holiness in October is Saint Teresa of Avila. Her life differs from Maria and Therese as the Spanish saint lived a much longer life. Teresa also experienced more of a 180Β°-type of conversion.
As a young adult, Teresa enjoyed the allure of the world. It wasn’t until her entry into the convent that the Spanish nun learned the importance of meditative prayer. Teresaβs The Interior Castle is a profound spiritual work that explores the vastness of our spiritual journey. This spiritual treatise has helped aid me on my journey.
Saint Luke
The Catholic Church celebrates the Feast of Saint Luke on October 18th. As a writer of one of the four Gospels, Luke had a special role in the early Church. He was also a traveling companion to Saint Paul and penned the Acts of the Apostles. Paul makes reference to Luke’s profession as a doctor (Colossians 4:14) and the Lord had even bigger plans for this saint. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, Luke provides us with an amazing account of Jesus’ life and shares parables like the Prodigal Son and Lost Sheep.
Saint Luke is an advocate for passing on the faith. Celebrate his feast by reading from his gospel account or from Acts of the Apostles.
While autumn is akin to a second springtime, my communion with the saints during October is like a second spiritual springtime for me. My guardian angel, Therese of Lisieux, Francis of Assisi, Maria Faustina, Luke the Evangelist, Teresa of Avila, and the Blessed Virgin Mary reflect Godβs merciful and transforming love.
Through communion with these exemplary role models I am given hope that my personal vices of greed, envy, and pride are able to be overcome! The Church teaches βWe worship Christ as God’s Son; we love the martyrs as the Lord’s disciples and imitators, and rightly so because of their matchless devotion towards their king and master. May we also be their companions and fellow disciples!β (CCC 957). I pray the communion of saints will continue to guide you in your path toward holiness and ultimately lead us closer to God.
Obviously, the answer is yes π (who doesn’t want more information about Therese of Lisieux πΈπ?!)
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Thank you for reading and hope you have a blessed day!
