Catholic Church

7 Reasons Why October is an Extra Holy Time

/ chicoinematt

october.jpg

“Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower,” 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 wife’s birthday is during October—the 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 Faustina—her confirmation saint— 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 Angel meme

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, “From its beginning until death, human life is surrounded by their watchful care and intercession.202 ‘Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life.’203 Already here on earth the Christian life shares by faith in the blessed company of angels and men united in God.” God sends his messengers from Heaven to keep us safe and remind us of His Presence.

St. Therese of Liseux quote

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 saint’s 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!

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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 Church—the 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 God’s truth in her words, “Suffering is the greatest treasure on earth; it purifies the soul. In suffering, we learn who our true friend is.”

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.

Saint Teresa of Avila

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 180°-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. Teresa’s 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 God’s 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 “We 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!” (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.

journey

Related Links

3 Ways St. Maria Faustina Provided Buoyancy in the Overwhelming Ocean of Life

5 Astonishing Facts about Your Guardian Angel

St. Francis of Assisi: Lover of the Eucharist

Why I Absolutely Love Saint Therese Of Lisieux

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The Feast of the Presentation: Obedience and Faith

/ chicoinematt

By: Karen Estep

The Feast of the Presentation is an example of Mama Mary being obedient to
the Lord. Under Mosaic Law, women who have given birth have to wait a specified
amount of time to return to worship at the temple. In Mary’s case because Jesus was a
male child, she had to wait 40 days. Thus, this is the reason we celebrate the Feast of
the Presentation on February 2nd, 40 days after Christmas.

I imagine for a woman that had given her life over to the Lord not getting to
worship in His house may have seemed like a daunting task. It probably required a
good amount of patience and an enormous amount of obedience. I feel like even 2,000
years later, we, just like Mary, are being called to have such faith.

A Journey of Faith Across Denominations

I did not grow up Catholic. I was baptized at 2 months old into the Lutheran faith.
However, for various reasons, my family did not attend a church until I met my best
friend in 2nd grade. She invited me to attend the church where her parents were
pastors, The Salvation Army. I was invited to a VBS that they were running and that is
where I first encountered Jesus for myself.

After getting married, my husband and I decided that we wanted to attend a
Methodist church in our area. While that church was just what we needed as
newlyweds, as we matured in our faith and had our own family, we felt called to
something more. However, that something more would call us to be patient and
obedient due to COVID closing everything down.

Continue reading →
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The Assumption of Mary: Our Mother’s Triumph and Our Future Hope

/ chicoinematt

Every year on August 15, Catholics around the world celebrate one of the Church’s most beautiful feasts: the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Alongside the feasts of the Immaculate Conception (December 8) and Mary, Mother of God (January 1), this is a Holy Day of Obligation, a day when we gather for Mass to honor the Mother of God.

And let’s be clear — we venerate Mary, we do not worship her. All true Marian devotion leads us closer to Jesus. The Church teaches that the mysteries of Mary’s life inseparably connect to the mystery of Christ.

The Assumption celebrates that, at the end of her earthly life, God took Mary up body and soul into heavenly glory. This is not simply a personal privilege for her: it is a sign of what God desires for all of us. The Catechism describes it beautifully: Continue reading →

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Transfiguring Humanity—Reflections on the Transfiguration of Christ

/ chicoinematt

Editor’s Note: Post originally published on August 9, 2018.

Among the most bizarre, mysterious, and interesting accounts in the New Testament is the event of the Transfiguration of Jesus. The dictionary defines the word transfiguration as “a complete change of form or appearance into a more beautiful or spiritual state. Common synonyms for transfiguration include: metamorphosis, changeover, transformation, development, adjustment, and even mutation!! Growing up Catholic I have listened to the Gospel telling of this mysterious events many times.

Transfiguration

The Transfiguration of Jesus. After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, conversing with him. Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud cast a shadow over them, then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”  When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate and were very much afraid. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and do not be afraid.” And when the disciples raised their eyes, they saw no one else but Jesus alone.

Foretaste of Heavenly Reality

The primary purpose of the glory of Jesus shown [shone] to Peter, James, and John was meant as a means to prepare them for the glorification of God after the Resurrection and to hint at the beauty of transfigured humanity. According to Saint Pope Saint John Paul II in his 1999 homily for the Feast of the Transfiguration, “In the event of the Transfiguration we contemplate the mysterious encounter between history, which is being built every day, and the blessed inheritance that awaits us in heaven in full union with Christ, the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.”

Humanity’s Home in Heaven

Similar to the previous point is that fact that man is on a pilgrim journey, a sojourner on Earth—whose ultimate destination is union with God in Heaven. John Paul II echoed this truth as well,

“We, pilgrims on earth, are granted to rejoice in the company of the transfigured Lord when we immerse ourselves in the things of above through prayer and the celebration of the divine mysteries. But, like the disciples, we too must descend from Tabor into daily life where human events challenge our faith. On the mountain we saw; on the paths of life we are asked tirelessly to proclaim the Gospel which illuminates the steps of believers.”

I imagine the incredible letdown the Apostles must have felt in the moments after the dazzling and inexplicable event of the Transfiguration. Going back to following Jesus in an ordinary way, traveling from town to town, learning from him, and assisting the poor certainly did not compare to the splendor they witnessed on Mount Tabor. It definitely would have been challenging to transition back into that routine! Heck, Peter even desired to stay in the holy place when he declared, “If you wish, I will make three tents* here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

Peter camping Transfiguration meme

Let the Holy Spirit Transfigure Your Life

Coming out of Sunday liturgy, I leave with a similar wonder and awe as the inner circle of Jesus received on that original Transfiguration event. Housing the Real Presence of Lord after reception of the Eucharist provides me incredible peace and patient strength. In a way, we all undergo a momentary transfiguration—a foretaste of Heavenly reality in the Mass. Going back to our worldly affairs, we quickly lose sight and memory of our close encounter with God. May we continue to ask the Holy Spirit to guide us with clarity and strength on our pilgrimage toward Heaven!

Related Links

The Transfiguration of Christ- Catholic Answers

The Transfiguration and Our Lives

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An 888 Word Interview with Ana Munley

/ chicoinematt

Editor’s Note: Matthew Chicoine interviewed Ana Munley via phone call on June 26th, 2025. Some of the questions have been rearranged and edited to provide the best reader experience without losing any integrity of the answers given. 

How did you start your Tiktok?

I had a regular account I made in 2020. I posted something about reading the Bible in 2024 and it was flagged as a violation. It sat under review for several weeks. I was upset and feeling like I was being silenced about sharing my faith. So on December 15th, 2025 I decided to make a new TikTok and this one dedicated to my Catholic faith. 

For about a month I only had Tiktok, but with the ban looming, I went over onto Instagram in January 2025. 

Your Instagram bio says “Rooted in Christ. Built on Truth.” Can you share how that phrase became your personal mission and what it means in your day-to-day life?

I think it’s because growing up I was a cradle Catholic. My family was Catholic in name only. Being lukewarm, our life was about comfort over our actual faith.. but as I started to dig deep and look at the teachings I realized it is the way it is because it’s rooted in truth. Because of that, my faith was deepened and transformed. 

I like to describe the Catholic faith being like the railings on the side of a highway to keep you on the road and safe, to keep you from veering off the road.

I always want to stay rooted in truth. The tagline speaks to the content that I share and the intent I have with sharing it. 

You’ve grown a large following on Instagram and TikTok rather quickly. What do you think has resonated most with your audience—and what has surprised you about this journey?

The answer is the same one. What’s resonated with me the most is the rediscovery of my faith and hearing from cradle Catholics. It’s like you are re-catechetizing Catholics. 

Bishop Barron said we are taught this “Sunday school” type of catechesis in either OCIA or in Catholic schools,but there’s so much richness in the faith.

People want to learn more but don’t know where to start. I’m not here to debate people and tell them they’re wrong. 

My approach is more like bringing light to the truth instead of fighting darkness with more darkness. 

You’re the host of the AfterMass podcast. What inspired you to launch it, and what kinds of conversations or themes do you hope to bring to light through that platform?

My first episode comes out next week. I want to provide reverts and new converts more information about the faith in a long-form manner. It’s based on how to be a more devout Catholic and how you can be the best Catholic you can be. 

I want it to be a place to have conversations and not just a bite-sized version on the other platforms. 

Being an “Unapologetic Catholic” online isn’t always easy—how do you navigate pushback or criticism while staying grounded in truth and charity?

This is something I have taken to Confession. My priest has given me really good advice. When you deal with negative comments especially the ones that bash the Theology of the Catholic Church. My priest told me that the Catholic Church doesn’t need my defense, She has stood before you and will remain after you.

Another thing to realize is to keep it charitable for the sake of those people who are watching and reading the comments who may slightly think the same thing as the negative commenters. Can my response help the people reading/commenting? If not, then I don’t comment that way. 

I get feisty and a bit sassy at times (you can see that in some of my videos) but I always aim to have my responses be rooted in charity and truth for the sake of those reading.. And that is my approach.

Have there been any particular saints, devotions, or Church teachings that have deeply shaped your spiritual life and how you share your faith online?

Not necessarily any saints that shaped anything online, but Saint Rita has resonated with me. She is the patron saint of impossible causes (victims, the sick, etc). As far as my online work, Saint Maximlian Kolbe inspires me. He played a huge role in online evangelization and his life and death are a great example of not only how to spread the Good News of your faith but also how to live it.

What advice would you give to young Catholics who want to evangelize on social media but are nervous about being too “out there” with their faith?

My number one thing is to start with something that resonates with you. For example, if the Rosary is a devotion you are particularly passionate about and drawn to, start with that. 

There’s a way to deliver your faith from a place rooted in faith while also delivering it with love and charity. 

Looking ahead, what’s next for your ministry or digital presence? Any projects you’re especially excited about?

The podcast is definitely top of the list, and I am also working with a Catholic shop called Abundantly Yours in designing a Rosary (Saints Jude and Rita design). I’ll be sharing why these specific rosaries are important to me and sharing more of my personal struggles and how these Saints have helped me. 

Where’s the best place to learn more about your ministry? 

YouTube

TikTok

Instagram

Podcast

About Ana: 

Living in sunny Florida with my husband Joe and our two kids, Emilia and Lucas. I’m a Catholic content creator, corporate professional and host of After Mass, a podcast for Catholics who want more than just Sunday. First podcast episode drops 7/1! Follow along on TikTok & Instagram: @anamunley where I’m sharing Catholic truth with conviction, compassion and zero fluff.

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3 Reasons Why Peter and Paul Share the Same Feast Day

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Early on the history of the Catholic Church an admiration existed for Peter and Paul. Aside from Jesus Christ himself, these two men are the main characters in the New Testament. In his First Epistle to the Corinthians, church leader Clement of Rome tells of the leadership of Peter and Paul. He wrote,

There was Peter who by reason of unrighteous jealousy endured not one not one but many labors, and thus having borne his testimony went to his appointed place of glory. By reason of jealousy and strife Paul by his example pointed out the prize of patient endurance…Unto these men of holy lives was gathered a vast multitude of the elect, who through many indignities and tortures, being the victims of jealousy, set a brave example among ourselves (First Epistle of Clement of Rome to the Corinthians 5:4-6:1).

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Living in the 1st century A.D., Clement’s praise of the first leaders of the Church shows something special changed these men. God selected a simple fisherman and a reformed murderer to head the Catholic Church. I believe the Holy Spirit guided the Church to forever link these two saints lives through having the same feast day on June 29th.

Creativity of Truth [Saint Paul]

Having the ability to think outside the box and preach to vastly different audiences is a gift. St. Paul possessed both creativity and the flexibility to frame his thoughts to fit the needs and understanding of his particular audiences. Writer of almost 2/3 of the New Testament, St. Paul represents the creative aspect of the Catholic faith. He brings to the table dynamic, vibrant, creative theology to teach Christians in the early Church and today.

The Apostle of the Gentile used many tangible and relatable examples to teach the faith. One of my personal favorites comes from 1 Corinthians 12. Paul clearly and succinctly communicates the fact that unity is found within diversity. He provides the analogy of the Church consisting of one body with many parts and Jesus Christ as the ultimate head of the body.

Another clear and understandable example of the love and teaching of God is St. Paul’s frequent references to Christians as adopted children of God. In Romans 8:14-17 he writes,

For those who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.j15For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received a spirit of adoption, through which we cry, “Abba,* Father!”k 16The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,l 17and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if only we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.

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Stability of Truth [Saint Peter]

Unlike Paul who represents the intellectual, creative, and theological side of truth, Peter is a model for the consistency and enduring nature of Catholic teaching. Jesus instituted the papacy in Matthew 16:17-19. According to the evangelist the charge to the future pope went as follows,

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. 18k 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. 19l 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.

The lead up to this significant institutional passage is Peter’s realization of Jesus’ true identity as Christ. Through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, Peter led the Catholic Church after Jesus’ ascension to Heaven. He led the Council of Jerusalem in Acts 15 and displayed the ultimate mark of faith in his martyrdom. The Holy Spirit guides the papacy. This office acts as the supreme authority on matters related to faith and morality.

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Analogy of Tetherball

Truth is unchanging but our understanding of truth developed over the centuries. The genius of the Catholic Church is apparent in the consolidation of Peter and Paul’s feast on a single day. There is a schoolyard game that comes to mind to describe the relationship between the first pope and the great Apostle to the Gentiles—tetherball! Incidentally, it was not until my early twenties that I discovered the joy and fun this recess game provides despite its simplistic nature. I even purchased a tetherball at my local sporting goods store in hopes to eventually install a tetherball post in my background.

To get back from my tetherball tangent, the post in this game reminds me of the stability of the papacy of St. Peter provides. The ball and rope represent the creative theology of St. Paul. Both are essential aspects of the game [and the Catholic faith].

The Stable and Creative Church

Without the stability of the papacy, truth devolves into subjectivity and confusion ensues. Likewise, an absence of dynamic theological thought [represented by Paul] leads to staleness, rigidity, and irrelevancy of Catholic teaching. Remember kids recess is an important subject in school too—you never know when you can apply lessons from leisure to real life!

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Pope Francis on June 29th, 2017 declared, “The Fathers of the Church liked to compare the holy apostles Peter and Paul to two columns, on which the visible building of the Church rests. Both sealed with their own blood their testimony to Christ of preaching and service to the nascent Christian community.”

Saints Peter and Paul pray for us!!

Related Links

6 Amazing Things to Know About Saints Peter and Paul

Saints Peter and Paul- Catholic News Agency

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What You’re Probably Missing About The Eucharist

/ chicoinematt

By: Edalat Hope from Virtue Books

In 2019, the Catholic world was shaken to its core.

A study found that the majority of Catholics believed that the Eucharist was just a symbol. Despite there being errors in the research, the warning bells were loud enough. And the Church took notice.

Since then, we’ve seen something beautiful flourish. Last year, the National Eucharistic Congress was held in the United States. Eucharistic processions happened around the world. And here in Sydney, our Archbishop is leading a procession expected to draw over 20,000 people.

This is amazing progress. But even still…

We’re still missing something.

The early Church had such a rich and beautiful belief about the Eucharist. It was deeper, more transformative, and more profound than what many people hold to. Yet today, much of it has been forgotten by us. 

A true ‘Eucharistic Revival’ must revive this truth. And that is what we want to do today.

The Eucharist Is Love Himself

To understand Jesus in the Eucharist, you have to understand who God really is.

Scripture gives us two big claims;

  1. “God is Triune.” 
  2. “God is Love.” 

These two claims baffle many Christians. Personally, it took me years to understand what it meant. But once I did, the Eucharist made a lot more sense. 

Here’s what I realised; if you think about love, what do you need for it to exist? 

Well, obviously you need a lover. But this lover needs someone to also adore, ‘the beloved’. And then both of them can love each other deeply. 

God is like this.

  • The Father is the Lover. 
  • The Son is the Beloved. 
  • The Holy Spirit is the Love between them.

Yet, they all fully possess the same nature.

This Eucharist that you are receiving isn’t just Jesus. It’s Love Himself. And when you receive it worthily, you are swept up into this divine exchange of love.

A Mystery Lost in Translation

But for us English speakers we run into a problem.

Our language is inadequate. We say we ‘love’ chocolate, our friends, and God, we are all using the same word. To the Greek New Testament writers, that would have been unthinkable.

The Gospel writers use a very specific type of love when talking about God:

Agape.

Agape is not just love. But it is a total, sacrificial, self-emptying love. The kind of love that doesn’t hold anything back. 

This is the love God is.

You see this love most clearly on the cross. And we can also see that in the Eucharist.

“This is my body, given for you.” (Luke 22:19)

“My blood, which is poured out for you.” (Luke 22:20)

The Eucharist is more than simply a ritual. It’s Jesus pouring himself out specifically for you.

You Are What You Eat

Many Catholics just stop at level one:

“Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist.”

Whilst that’s true, for the early Church there was more to it than just that. It was about transformation. It was about becoming like God. A process they called theosis.

When you receive the host, you’re not just receiving Christ. Christ is receiving you. You are giving yourselves to each other. 

This is the self-sacrificial love that I was talking about before. And the more we partake in this love, the more we become like the God who is Love itself. We become like cleaned mirrors that clearly reflect the likeness of God. (Gen 1:26)

This is the very point of the Eucharist… and even the Incarnation. The great St Athanasius went as far as to say that “God became man so that Man might become like God.”

The Eucharist is something that consumes you with God’s love. And there is no one who knew any of this better than St Ignatius of Antioch.

The Man Who Became the Eucharist

St Ignatius of Antioch was one of the most famous and earliest Christians. As a bishop, he couldn’t stand when people said that the Eucharist was just symbolic. 

“They abstain from the Eucharist and from prayer because they do not confess that the Eucharist is the flesh of our Savior Jesus Christ, flesh which suffered for our sins… They who deny the gift of God are perishing in their disputes” (Letter to the Smyrnaeans 6:2–7:1).

This is what many faithful Catholics agree with and even use in apologetics.

However, St Ignatius of Antioch’s love for the Eucharist doesn’t end there. In the year 107 AD, he was arrested for his faith and sent to Rome to be massacred. 

Honestly, what the Romans did to St Ignatius should send shivers down your spine. But he wasn’t paralysed by fear. He knew that he would eventually be torn to pieces by hungry lions and… looked forward to it.

It wasn’t because he hated life. But because Christ had offered himself, and this was Ignatius’ opportunity to love him in return. This was a masterclass in theosis.

He became like the Eucharist.

“Suffer me to be the food of wild beasts, which are the means of my making my way to God. God’s wheat I am, and by the teeth of wild beasts I am to be ground that I may prove Christ’s pure bread.” (St. Ignatius, Epistle to the Romans 4.1)

This is what the Eucharist received well does to you. It fills you with a love so deep that not even death can overcome it. St Ignatius’ love is beautiful and an example to us all, but you’re probably thinking…

What about us now?

There aren’t too many lions in the US or Australia. And martyrdom isn’t that common anymore. But that doesn’t mean you’re off the hook.

The Eucharist still calls you to the same love. To become a living sacrifice, even in your everyday life. 

“Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God.” (Romans 12:1)

There are millions of ways to live this out. But here are just a few ideas to get you started

  • Work with diligence 
  • Choose to forgive and offer your resentment to God
  • Pray with your whole heart
  • Offer your Sundays to God
  • Practice a consecration to St Joseph or Mary (or even both!)
  • Give some of your time, money, and talents to charity and the Church
  • Discern whether religious life (eg. being a nun or priest) is worthwhile for you
  • Be honest with people about your failings
  • Go to Confession and offer your sins to God

In short, give everything to God and hold nothing back. You were made to be a total self-gift.

This Corpus Christi, when you march down in the procession, be proud. Be proud that our Eucharistic Lord gives himself wholly to you. But also be proud that God allows you to offer yourself to him.

And in the end, you can truly be called a “good and faithful servant”. (Matt 25:23)

References and Further Study

Augustine. “On the Trinity”. Augustine: On the Trinity: On the Trinity Books 8-15. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2008

Ignatius of Antioch. “The Epistles of St Ignatius of Antioch”. The Epistles of St Clement of Rome and St Ignatius of Antioch. New Jersey, Paulist Press International, 1946

“Wasting Your Life”. Fulton Sheen: Family Retreat, hosted by Ven. Fulton Sheen.

“Something’s Missing from the Eucharistic Revival” Youtube, uploaded by Breaking In The Habit, 17 Jan. 2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHBSVJPPyrs

Smith, G.A, “Just one-third of U.S. Catholics agree with their church that Eucharist is body, blood of Christ.” 5 Aug. 2019, https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2019/08/05/transubstantiation-eucharist-u-s-catholics/

McKeown, J., “New study suggests more than two-thirds of Catholics believe the Eucharist is truly Jesus.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/258013/new-study-suggests-more-than-two-thirds-of-catholics-believe-the-eucharist-is-truly-jesus

About Our Guest Blogger

Edalat Hope is a Catholic blog writer for ‘Virtue Books and Gifts’, an apostolate dedicated to deepening the love of God across Australia and beyond. His aim is to help make accessible the classic spiritual works and practices that have formed saints for generations. https://www.virtuebooks.com.au

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