Category: Catholic Journey

The Season of Renewal: Celebrating Baptism at Easter

by rejoiceandpraise, posted in Baptism, Bible, Catholic Faith, Catholic Journey, Catholicism, Christian Blogger, Christianity, Faith, Happy Easter, inspiration, Jesus, Spiritual Journey

As we head into Holy Week and the season of Easter, let us take the time to reflect on its meaning – a time for renewal and rebirth. Celebrate by all Christians worldwide, its’ significance is that it marks the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Easter is also associated with the sacrament of baptism.

Baptism, is a rite of initiation into the Christian faith, and symbolizes purification – the washing away of the old to welcome the new.

Baptism for adults also represents a milestone in one’s journey of faith by embracing the Catholic faith through the sacred rite of Baptism. It is also an overt celebration of one’s spiritual journey through the acceptance and symbolization of purification, rebirth, as well as the profound commitment to walk in the footsteps of faith.

This step is a formality and a profound expression of your commitment to a set of beliefs within a faith based community.

Baptism is a symbol of renewal, a fresh start where you are cleansed, reborn, and welcomed into a new family:

Galatians 2:20 NIV

20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God,who loved me and gave himself for me.

Just as Jesus Christ rose from the dead, those getting baptized this Easter are rising to a new life. This beautiful parallel can only enhance your spiritual journey.

In this ceremony, the baptized candidate is accompanied by family, friends, and members of the Catholic community. This is a testament to the supportive community that surrounds the newly baptized.

Let us pray for all baptismal candidates this Easter. May they have hope, joy, and love, as they embark on this sacred path. It is also a reminder that the cross offers us opportunities for transformation and blessings. May each person being baptized feel the warmth of divine grace and the strength of their convictions.

As we extend our best wishes to those being baptized, let’s also remember the spirit of Easter—a time to renew our own commitments, to cherish our loved ones, and to spread kindness and compassion in around us.

Happy Easter, and may God bless each and every soul stepping into the light of faith this year.

Embracing a New Journey: Inspirations for the Newly Baptized

For those who have recently embraced this sacred rite, the Bible offers a treasure trove of verses that inspire and guide.

One such verse is Acts 2:38, which encapsulates the essence of baptism, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” This verse is a powerful reminder of the transformative power of baptism, not just as a physical act, but as a spiritual awakening that brings one closer to the divine.

Similarly, 1 Peter 3:21 speaks to the inner change that baptism heralds: “Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” It’s a call to embrace a life of righteousness, with a clear conscience and a heart aligned with God’s will.

The act of baptism is beautifully depicted in Romans 6:3-4, “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” This passage invites the newly baptized to partake in the resurrection of Christ, to rise above the old self, and to celebrate the new life that awaits.

Let these verses be beacons of hope, and a light that shines on the path of spiritual growth and devotion.

God Bless 🩷🙏

Hourly Prayers of Saint John Chrysostom

by rejoiceandpraise, posted in Catholic Faith, Catholic Journey, Catholicism, Christian Blogger, Christianity, Hourly Prayers of Saint John Chrysostom, Praise, prayer

When words fail me…for many weeks I can’t seem to find the words when I pray. It’s been days of long sights and grunts. This morning my friend Katherine sent me this beautiful prayer that bespeaks the depth of my heart.

I feel the movement of the Holy Spirit as it guides me to get it right with God.

Praise be to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit🙏💕

Hourly Prayers of Saint John Chrysostom

A set of 24 short prayers attributed to St John Chrysostom. The shortness is deliberate –– when it comes to personal devotion, many of the Fathers teach the efficacy of an “arrow prayer” that is easily remembered and easily meant whole-heartedly. 
They are, like the day’s hours, divided into two sections of twelve apiece.

O Lord, of Thy heavenly bounties, deprive me not.

O Lord, deliver me from the eternal torments.

O Lord, forgive me if I have sinned in my mind or my thought, whether in word or in deed.

O Lord, free me from all ignorance and forgetfulness, from despondency and stony insensibility.

O Lord, deliver me from every temptation.

O lord, enlighten my heart which evil desires have darkened.

O Lord, as a man have I sinned, have Thou mercy on me, as the God full of compassion, seeing the feebleness of my soul.

O Lord, send down Thy grace to help me, that I may glorify Thy name.

O Lord Jesus Christ, write me down in the book of life and grant unto me a good end.

O Lord my God, even if I had not done anything good before Thee, do Thou help me, in Thy grace, to make a good beginning.

O Lord, sprinkle into my heart the dew of Thy grace.

O Lord of heaven and earth, remember me, Thy sinful servant, full of shame and impurity, in Thy kingdom. Amen.

O Lord, receive me in penitence.

O Lord, forsake me not.

O Lord, lead me not into misfortune.

O Lord, quicken in me a good thought.

O Lord, give me tears and remembrance of death, and contrition.

O Lord, make me solicitous of confessing my sins.

O Lord, give me humility, chastity, and obedience.

O Lord, give me patience, magnanimity, and meekness.

O Lord, implant in my the root of all good–Thy fear in my heart.

O Lord, vouchsafe that I may love thee from all my soul and mind and in everything do Thy will.

O Lord, shelter me from certain men, from demons and passions, and from any other unbecoming thing.

O Lord, Thou knowest that Thou dost as Thou wilt, let then Thy will be done in me, a sinner, for blessed art Thou unto the ages. Amen.

Spiritual Preparedness amidst all the din on Social Media (internet)

by rejoiceandpraise, posted in Bible, Catholic Faith, Catholic Journey, Catholic Teaching, Catholicism, Christian Blogger, Christianity, Jesus

There has been a lot of internet waves about the coming solar eclipse (April 8th) that falls a day before the Jewish Nisan on April 9th.

All over TikTok, YouTube and other social media platforms- there are warnings of this eclipse, 3 days of darkness and end times. There are stories about the mapping of star charts and they give interesting spins on upcoming upheavals. They create anxiety and fear.

Spiritual Preparedness

Personally I have no idea if they are true or not. I do know that our focus should be on Jesus and spiritual preparedness.

I have been going through my own 40 days in the wilderness and combating my own demons. The noise in the internet only adds to my confusion. It is only when I focus on the word of God that my heart is calm.

Matthew 25:1-12 (NIV)
The Parable of the Ten Virgins

25 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

6 “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’

7 “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’

9 “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’

10 “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.

11 “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’

12 “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’

Thief in the Night

The return of Jesus Christ is likened to the coming of a thief in the night. This is an analogy that appears in three places the the New Testament:

Matthew 24:43

“Understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into,”

1 Thessalonians 5:2

“You know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.”

2 Peter 3:10,

“the day of the Lord will come like a thief.“

In Matthew 24, Jesus speaks of His second coming at the end of the tribulation. Paul calls it “the day of the Lord” in 1 Thessalonians 5. This is a day of divine retribution featuring astronomical upheaval and the visible “sign of the Son of Man” in the heavens (Matthew 24:29–30). Jesus says it will happen “after the tribulation of those days” (verse 29, ESV), a description that distinguishes this event from the rapture, which happens before the tribulation.

The second coming will be like a thief in the night. No one will know when He will return. Just as a thief catches a household by surprise, Jesus will catch the unbelieving world by surprise when He returns in judgment. People will be “eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage” (verse 38), just as if they have all the time in the world. Unexpectedly Judgment Day will be upon them (verses 40–41). Paul puts it this way: “While people are saying, ‘Peace and safety,’ destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape” (1 Thessalonians 5:3).

The believer does not fear this swift and sudden judgment; the “thief in the night” will not catch us by surprise. Christians are in a separate category: “But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief” (1 Thessalonians 5:4). It is only those in darkness who will be taken unawares, and we “are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness” (verse 5). Praise the Lord, “God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ” (verse 9).

The unsaved should heed Jesus’ warning: “Be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him” (Matthew 24:44). How can you be ready? God has provided the way for you to escape the judgment. That way is Jesus Christ (John 14:6). By accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you are granted forgiveness of sins, mercy, and salvation with the promise of everlasting life (John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8–9). The “thief” is coming, but you can be a child of the day. Don’t put it off; this is “the year of the Lord’s favor” (Luke 4:19). (From (https://www.gotquestions.org/thief-in-the-night.html)

Please mediate upon these verses and pray upon them🩷🙏

God Bless each of you as you go through your own 40 days in the desert 🏜️ trust in Jesus to help you out of it.

Journey with Jesus to the Cross

by rejoiceandpraise, posted in Catholic Faith, Catholic Journey, Catholicism, Christian Blogger, Christianity, Lent, prayer

The Stations of the Cross, also known as the Way of Sorrows or the Via Crucis, refer to a series of images depicting Jesus Christ on the day of his crucifixion. These images are accompanied by prayers. Partaking in this visual and auditory combination is a powerful devotional practice for all Christians.

The concept of the Stations of the Cross grew out of imitations of the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem. The Via Dolorosa is a traditional processional route symbolizing the path Jesus walked to Mount Calvary. The objective of the Stations is to guide Christian faithful in a spiritual pilgrimage through contemplation of the Passion of Christ.

In summary, these powerful images and prayers allow Christians to spiritually journey alongside Jesus during his final hours, reflecting on his sacrifice and love for humanity.

Take the time this Lent to prayerfully meditate on the Stations of the Cross. PDF download below:

Click to access stations-of-the-cross.pdf

I invite each of you to pray the Stations of the Cross with me 🙏💖

Lenten Challenge

by rejoiceandpraise, posted in Catholic Journey, Catholicism, Christian Blogger, Christianity, Gospel of John, Lent

Certainly! I’m excited to share with you a Lenten challenge that will help you dive deeper into the Gospel of John. Lent is a season of reflection, preparation, and spiritual growth leading up to Easter, and what better way to engage with Scripture than by reading the Gospel of John?

Read a Chapter a Day from the Gospel of John: Lenten Challenge

Starting the day after Ash Wednesday (February 14, 2024) and concluding just before Palm Sunday (March 24), I invite you to join me in this enriching practice. Here’s how it works:

  1. Daily Reading: Read one chapter from the Gospel of John each day. You can use your own Bible or receive daily emails with the designated chapter.
  2. Exploration and Reflection: As you read, take time to reflect on the themes, stories, and teachings within each chapter. Consider how they speak to your heart and life.
  3. Community Engagement: Invite others to participate! Whether it’s your entire church congregation, prayer partners, Bible study group, or even young people (children, youth), this challenge can be intergenerational and unifying.
  4. Catch Up Gracefully: If you miss a day or two, don’t worry—simply catch up when you can. The goal is to engage with God’s Word consistently.

Why the Gospel of John?

The Gospel of John is rich in symbolism, theological depth, and profound encounters with Jesus. Here are some reasons why I find it particularly meaningful:

  • Seven Signs: John highlights seven miraculous signs performed by Jesus, revealing His identity as the Son of God.
  • Johannine Community: The Gospel emphasizes the role of the community in passing on Jesus’ stories and teachings.
  • Beloved Disciple: The mysterious “beloved disciple” invites us all into a living dialogue with our souls as we engage with these verses.

Light Shining in Darkness

John’s Gospel beautifully intertwines two central themes: light and life. Jesus is portrayed as the light that shines in our darkness—whether spiritual blindness or evil—and dispels it. Just as we appreciate light more when we recognize darkness, understanding our need for Jesus deepens our faith journey.

As you read through John’s Gospel during Lent, remember what Jesus has done for you: His suffering, death on the cross, and resurrection. By Easter Sunday, you’ll have journeyed through His life as recorded in this powerful Gospel.

So grab your Bible – it’s time to immerse yourself in the transformative words of John!

(Aside)

A little cheat on my part is a chapter a day via this YouTube link (King James Version):

God Bless 🙏💗

The Temptation

by rejoiceandpraise, posted in Catholic Faith, Catholic Journey, Catholic Teaching, Catholicism, Christian Blogger, Christianity, Fulton J. Sheen, Jesus, temptation

My friend Katherine sent this except from Fulton Sheen’s teaching.

Fr. Fulton Sheen was not only insightful, but his prophetic visions are thought provoking and spot on – especially as predicted 50 years later:

The Temptation of Jesus

4 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. 3 The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4 But he answered, “It is written,

‘One does not live by bread alone,
    but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written,

‘He will command his angels concerning you,’
    and ‘On their hands they will bear you up,
so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’”

7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor; 9 and he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” 10 Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! for it is written,

‘Worship the Lord your God,
    and serve only him.’”

11 Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.

Matthew 4, NSVCE

It is easy to be seduced by the world. I have faltered many times. I have been tested many times. Each time, the Holy Spirit lifts me back up. Yes, there are consequences, but there is also forgiveness – to sin no more.

Know that you as faithful believers in Jesus are protected:

13 No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13

God bless each of you as we go through our day trusting in Jesus 💕🙏

Stand Your Ground

by rejoiceandpraise, posted in Bible, Blessings, Catholic Faith, Catholic Journey, Catholicism, Chastisement, Christian Blogger, Christianity, Jonathan Cahn, Pope Francis, prophecy, Prophetic
Whom to Fear

26 “So have no fear of them; for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. 27 What I tell you in the dark, utter in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim upon the housetops. 28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

Matthew 10:26-28

There has been an increase in personal revelations, prophecies, Marian Apparitions, warnings from Saints, Blessed, and the mores dating back to ancient times. One in 1871, was from an approved Catholic French mystic, Marie-Julie Jahenny (Purple Scapular). Jesus appeared to her regarding the protection of the purple scapular in times of chasetiment, disasters, and during the 3 Days of Darkness.

Warnings of supernatural chasetiment continues, and have multiplied in the last few year. Not only have I had my own personal revelations and insights, but they match and are similar to others. Personal revelations are warnings that help in keeping us on a righteous path. The lifting of veils, give deeper insights into the Bible and God. It also helps guard our souls from being sucked into the darkness of sin. This is the work of the Holy Spirit giving an inner awareness to focus on God’s path. The lines can be thin between the path of sin and apostasy. Here the guidance from the Holy Spirit to discern is needed. Is it consolation or desolation?

Prophecy also creates controversy especially among Catholic skeptics, Christians and unbelievers. Those following the main narrative are easily manipulated. There is no discernment. Oftentimes, the word of God is twisted to meet unholy agendas.

Know your Bible, read it, meditate on it and above all ask for guidance from the Holy Spirit. Understand the Old Testament points to Jesus in the New Testament.

Of late, I have also been researching the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Book of Enoch, the Targum Bible, the Book of Jubilee, and other ancient Jewish books. They offer a deeper insight into God, fallen angels, giants and monsters, the spiritual war, prophecies and revelations. History has been on repeat time and time again. They help in my own understanding of why evil exists in our world, and what is to come as a consequence of a world gone haywire. They not only help in understanding our world today, but help in preparing our souls for the end of time.

Establish your journey and foundation with God. A foundation in the scriptures will help in battling the secularism in our world today and keep you on the path of righteousness.

I received the following YouTube video from my friend Katherine. I watched it, and its message is spot on. Johnathan Cahn is insightful. I imagine this will snowball right into the lap of those seeking to dismantle the church and God. Johnathan Cahn is the author of The Return of the Gods, and I truly see the return of these gods in our world as they intertwined in the desecration of the not only the Catholic Church and Christianity, but it will deconstruct the very core of our belief. I can foresee a future when I and many others will need to stand our ground.

https://rejoiceandpraise.ca/2023/06/16/the-return-of-the-gods/

His latest video is a must watch:

This is a challenging one for me. On the one hand Pope Francis is a Vicar of Jesus, but on the other, if it’s not officially coming from the Vatican as law, then we must based these suggested directives on our own discernment. During the Covid Pandemic all Catholics were encouraged by Pope Francis to get the Covid vaccine as an act of love. I did not believe in the vaccination for many reasons and my family opted out of it. It was my choice in light of a personal revelation I had which I was asked to share with family and friends. Well I will not go into all the fallouts I had for standing my ground.

Personal viewpoints from the Pope and the Vatican, are just that. Knowing there is a choice: to follow the mass narrative or discern based on Scripture, gives us the freedom to act of not. One can stand firm to the word of God, or one can reinterpret concepts such as marriage, family, fornication, and twist meanings to suit mainstream narratives. In which, case my unfiltered tongue will with the help of the Holy Spirit point to God’s path.

God Bless 💕🙏

I know many of us must decide to take a stand or not.

Psalm 27:1

“The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?”

Moving Forward

by rejoiceandpraise, posted in awareness, Blessings, Catholic Faith, Catholic Journey, Catholicism, Christian Blogger, Christianity, Faith, prayer

2023 has passed quickly.

My spiritual walk with God has had many challenges in 2023. There were days I knew I was close to him, and others when I drifted away not wanting to read and meditate upon his word. Sometimes God’s revelations to me took days and weeks to process. Meditating upon certain passages for a week at a time I could feel that there were mysteries I was not ready to see. Eventually, with perseverance comes understanding. I can personally say that meditating over verses for a period of time has revealed a deeper understanding of God’s will in my life, as well as my own growth as his child.

Regardless of the spiritual ups and downs – God was always with me and like a sculptor slowly chiselling away my rough edges.

I thank God for taking care of my family, friends, and especially my readers and me throughout 2023. Personally, his hands guided me to be a more mindful and loving person. Guiding me to be a more understanding mom to my kids, and a supportive wife to my husband of over 40 years, sister and daughter.

I pray that the hand of God will guide each of us in the coming year. I believe 2024 will be a challenging one for many in every facet of life including the spiritual. Guard your hearts to the rumblings within the church. Remember the Pope still sits in the seat of the Holy See. No one is perfect, and if we recall, St. Peter also denied Jesus 3 times and was at times faint of heart (walking on water, and as soon as his eyes were off Jesus, he sank). Keeping our eyes on Jesus is the key that will help us discern in our chaotic world.

Gifts of the Holy Spirit

Pray for the graces of God (which grace do you need in your life?):

When my students ask me to define “Fear of God,” I tell them that God abhors sin, and I think about keeping on his good side by staying away from it. I don’t want to be standing before God upon my death having all my sins recounted.

All the graces of the Holy Spirit (the helper) are free, we only need to ask. It’s that simple.

It’s a spiritual battle in our world, in our lives and in our spiritual walk with God. Stand firm in your faith wearing the armour of God: Ephesians 6:10-18

The Armor of God

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,but against the rulers, against the authorities,against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit,which is the word of God.

18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

Concerning Prayer

Rejoice and pray all the time:

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Matthew 6:5-15

5 “And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. 6 But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.[a]

7 “When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

9 “Pray then in this way:

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
10 Your kingdom come.
Your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And do not bring us to the time of trial,
but rescue us from the evil one.

14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; 15 but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

My prayer for all is that we can rejoice and give thanks to God for guiding us as we move into 2024 with our eyes wide opened and focused on Jesus. May our walk with Jesus draw us into a deeper relationship with him. May the hand of God to help us discern, stand firm in our faith and withstand the false narratives of the evil one. May the peace of God descend upon our world. May the light within us draw others to know Jesus.

Amen 🙏

1 Chronicles 4:10

…Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.”

Amen 🙏