Love Letters to Lukewarm Souls

It was a different kind of birthday experience I had this year. You see, this past weekend, just a day before my birthday, I admitted myself last Sunday in the wee hours (2am/3am 1st day of DST that day, too) of the morning to the ER because of stomach pain since Friday night. The ER were jam-packed. Spent all Sunday morning and better part of the afternoon in the ER hallway waiting (my own version of "no rooms in the inn" misfortune). It was diagnosed that I have an acute appendicitis. And to think this all happened during Lent—somehow, and fittingly, an opportunity opened up to deepen both me and my wife's Lenten practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving during my ordeal in the hospital. I got to offer up my pain and suffering, and an opportunity to pray quietly for the healing of all the sick I saw in the ER, as well as all the current patients at that hospital while waiting almost 15 hours before to getting a room; I also got to fast for more than 24-36 hours witho...

𝙀𝙫𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙯𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙚𝙧 Through the years at work, I've learned that wearing a Jesus (or Mary or a saint) medallion or crucifix seemed to capture my clients' attention, and without me even trying, it elicits them to open up, ask and talk about faith, prayer or church conversations. I find many people are living in quiet desperation, longing for something transcendent. As an introvert, this is one simple way of evangelizing and sanctifying my workplace especially working on a setting or system that is imperfect. Excited to hear your #holymoments story, too. Who knows, "you may be the only Jesus some people see."   CHECK OUT SAINTLY CATHOLIC CHRISTIANS GIFTS & MERCH:  Amazon.com/author/domchu Artjuniverse.redbubble.com Teepublic.com/user/artjuniverse

One of the noblest aspects of praising the Lord, such as in a prayer meeting, is that it fosters the virtue of humility within us. It cultivates a "sacrificial heart." We basically pray in four ways: to adore or praise God, to thank Him, to ask for pardon for our sins, and to ask Him for something. In those last three, it involves ourselves in the picture when we pray. We pray because we hope to benefit from something in our prayer. But in the first type of prayer, when we praise God, it's all about Him. We devote our minds and hearts to forget ourselves and think of God alone. If I give thanks, it is because I have received something. If I ask for forgiveness, it is because I have sinned. If I ask for something, it's because I need something. But in the prayer of adoration or praising God, the only person we consider is God alone. There is no element of "me, myself, and I" in this type of prayer. That is why when we sing praises to the Lord, it ...

Catholics Saints have been revered for their healing powers for centuries. Here are twelve of the most powerful Catholic saints with amazing healing abilities. Saints Short Stories - A Picture Book for Saints in the Making 1. Saint Francis of Assisi is known for his miraculous healings of the sick and injured. He is said to have had a special gift for healing animals, as well. 2. Saint Anthony of Padua is known as the Saint of Miracles for his many healing miracles. He is also known for his powerful preaching and for his devotion to the Blessed Sacrament. 3. Saint Catherine of Siena is known for her many healings of the body and soul. She was also known for her great wisdom and for her deep devotion to Jesus Christ. 4. Saint Gerard Majella is known for his miracles of healing the sick and saving unborn children. He is also known for his great love of the Eucharist and his deep devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. 5. Saint John Bosco is known for his healing of the sick and ...

In the book, "Life is Messy" by Matthew Kelly, there was this powerful true story by a friend he knew in Australia who knew two siblings: a brother and sister. The sister's name is Clare, and the brother's name John. Clare grew up in Australia before moving to the United States and getting married. Each year, she saved every penny she could to go home to Australia for a month with her son. During that month, she would visit her relatives; she especially looked forward to spending time with her brother John. John loves his sister and would do anything for her. But year after year, the sister who returned was different from the year before... and very different from the sister he remembered growing up with. After several years, John decided he needed to do something or say something, but he didn't know what. On the last day of Clare's visit that year, he invited her to take a drive with him. They drove around for awhile talking about lots of things, and then Joh...

A FISH PREACHER. A HEAD CARRIER. A BIRD WHISPERER. All Game Changers! "Saints Short Stories" is NOW on AMAZON https://amzn.to/3oa2u0Q   Available in BOTH Paperback and Kindle Ebook versions! Saints Short Stories is your little child’s first introduction to Saints!   Each Saint is illustrated in a fun, colorful, stylized, and cartoony, full-page portrait with their respective biographical information and saintly anecdote that is simple, short, and sweet, easily memorable and inspiring for your child. The Saint's feast day and patronage are also included in each entry. Indeed, a picture book of Catholic Saints for your little Saint in the making!   Great for bedtime stories! A perfect gift for First Communion and Confirmation, too.   Whilst "Cute Catholic Kawaii Saints Coloring Book" link here https://amzn.to/3gtdthH is an activity book, "Saints Short Stories" is its reading book option, similar in content but printed in vibrantly color...

The Bible in a Year podcast is a gem for me. Like most of us in some big or small ways, I have been facing with some sort of a debilitating physical condition for the past several months now. Of course, there are a number of moments wherein I would fall into hopelessness and despair. Once again, hearing the word of God (thru the BIAY) reminds me and gives me a sense of comfort and pushes me to move forward despite and inspite of my personal circumstances. Like in chapter 43 of Isaiah. It's a long chapter but I will just give you the 1st 3 verses that I think in essence serves my point for today. Isaiah 43:1-3 But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob,     he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you;     I have called you by name, you are mine. 2 When you pass through the waters I will be with you;     and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through...

A NEW COLORING BOOK FOR CATHOLIC KIDS now on Amazon! Click link for a copy 👉 https://amzn.to/2WxkiYt 👨‍🏫 A resourceful way to keep kids away from too much screentime and a fun companion to bring to Mass! 👩‍🏫 Kids will have fun coloring while learning some fascinating facts about each saint to encourage and inspire children to emulate!  👨‍🏫 This makes a great gift for young artists, a creative teaching tool for your family at home or in Sunday School classes. 👩‍🏫 Includes 40 pages of cuteness with the saints' feast days and what/where they are a patron saint of. 👨‍🏫 Get a copy and share this along to other parents! Click here to get a copy 👉 https://amzn.to/2WxkiYt #catholicbooks #christianbooks #catholicsaints #coloringbook #homeschoollife

"My Nightly Examination of Conscience: A Prayer, Meditation, Examen & Gratitude Journal in One to Intentionally Cultivate Saintly Virtue, Grow in Holiness & Transform your Life Before Bedtime" is now available at Amazon. The only companion you'll need for your evening prayer, meditation, examen and gratitude journaling, all in one notebook!   Get a copy by clicking this link: https://amzn.to/3go5ti4 or click the image above.   This multi-purpose journal book is created with the following objectives in mind:   Contains only the necessary, useful, self-explanatory, and straightforward guided prayer prompts to get you started right off the bat and help you cultivate a more productive and efficacious prayer time and reflection to grow in your faith and holiness.   The format is inspired by the spiritual exercises and principles of St. Josemaria Escriva, St. Ignatius of Loyola, and Catholic contemporary Matthew Kelly. The Opening and Clo...

Taken from my community gathering exhortation (April 18, 2021). Edited for the purpose of this blog. I heard Fr. Mike Schmitz's Bible in a year (a.k.a. BIAY) is taking the podcast by storm. It started just this January of this year 2021. If you aren't familiar with Fr. Mike's BIAY podcast, basically each episode he would read a book or two from the Bible, chapters and verses based off of Jeff Cavin's Great Bible Adventure color-coded Bible reading plan or timeline as a guide, and then he would follow it up with a short commentary. Each episode runs around 20 minutes on average. In a few of Fr. Mike's commentaries after reading the book of Exodus, book of Numbers and Judges, he would mentioned Judah a few times. Judah was the 4th of the 12 sons of Jacob. The 12 sons of which the 12 tribes of Israel originated. If you are familiar with Joseph the dreamer, Judah is one of Joseph's older brothers. Anyway, I learned from Fr. Mike that the name Judah means "Pra...

This lenten season, it's a perfect time to try using Catholic apps to help organize and strengthen our interior need and Catholic faith. We are living in the modern era of digital tech, after all. Here's my top Catholic apps I am using that I hope you might like, or even love. In no particular order... ESCRIVA LITE If you are a St. Josemaria Escriva and Opus Dei fan like I am, this free app is for you. The app contains daily mass readings in a clean, bold, super organized, minimalist interface, with St. Escriva related excerpts according to the readings of that day, taken from his various books and homilies, which are a gem of St. Escriva freebies of wisdom. Get yours here on Apple or Google Play app links provided below.   DOWNLOAD Escriva Lite HERE: https://apple.co/3ssgId1 DOWNLOAD Escriva Lite Here: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=appleia.com.escrivalite   GREAT CATHOLIC MUSIC Looking for all Catholic Songs, Hymns or Music? This non-stop, livest...