“Do you really believe what you are proclaiming? Do you live what you believe? Do you really preach what you live? The witness of life has become more than ever an essential condition for real effectiveness in preaching.” Pope St. Paul VI
St. Paul was an effective preacher and converted thousands to the Catholic faith, because he was an authentic and convinced Christian who had a very deep and a very personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Inspirational thoughts
Look to the cross
“To maintain any thread in the novel there must be a view of the world behind it & the most important single item under this view of the world is conception of love—divine, natural, & perverted. It is probably possible to say that when a view of love is present—a broad enough view—no more need be added to make the world view.” – Flannery O’Connor
What greater example of love than Jesus dying on the cross for me and you and the whole world…
Perseverance!
“Real courage is when you know you’re licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what.” To Kill a Mockingbird- Harper Lee
This quote makes me think of running a marathon with a lofty “pr” goal…you know what’s ahead, but you’ve put in the training, and you will “see it through no matter what.” It helps me to have an intention for which to offer up the pain! My next marathon will be on Sunday, December 6th on the C&O Canal in DC!
The gift of the cross
“One cannot desire freedom from the cross when one is especially chosen for the cross.” St. Theresa Benedicta of the Cross
God and Mary step into the void..
“When someone leaves, it’s because someone else is about to arrive” Paulo Coelho
God and Mary know when we lose a loved one, and they are quick to jump into that void and fill it with their love!
Wait a bit…
“It sounds plausible enough tonight, but wait until tomorrow. Wait for the common sense of the morning.” The Time Machine-H.G. Wells
Holy parents…
“As the children grow up you feel that you are an example, a support for them; that even after you die your children will always keep your thoughts and feelings, because they have received them from you, they will take on your semblance and likeness. So you see this is a great duty.” Fyodor Doestovsky
I could never thank my mom and dad enough for putting Christ first, their marriage second and for their selfless dedication to their 4 children…so grateful!!
Good use of time
“When I look back at the past and think how much time has been wasted in vain, how much time was lost in delusions, in errors, in idleness, in ignorance of how to live, how I did not value time, how often I sinned against my heart and spirit—my heart bleeds. Life is a gift, life is happiness, each minute might have been an age of happiness… not to be downhearted nor to fall in whatever misfortunes may befall me—this is life; this is the task of life.” Fyodor Doestoevsky
Meeting a Saint!
“We sometimes encounter people, even perfect strangers, who begin to interest us at first sight, somehow suddenly, all at once, before a word has been spoken.” — Fyodor Dostoyevsky
I had the privilege of personally meeting St. John Paul 5 times during my time in Rome…such a powerful experience of Christ’s love!
Leaving your comfort zone…
Taking a new step, uttering a new word, is what people fear most.” Fyodor Doestoevsky