"You will cast all of our sins into the depths of the sea." --Micah 7:19

Belshazar’s Debt

A long time ago in a land far, far away, Belshazar had a problem. A big problem. He had incurred an astronomical debt with King Darius—what today would be roughly a billion dollars. One day, royal soldiers dragged him before the king.

“What have you done? Squandered my wealth with nothing to show for it? You and your family shall be sold into slavery to pay the debt.”

Belshazar fell to his knees. “No, my lord. Please—have mercy!”

The king paused, then said, “Because you have sought my mercy, you shall have it. Be gone from my sight.”

And Belshazar smiled as he left the king’s presence.

Alone on a sandy atoll, Jasmine felt the sun burn her skin. No shelter. No food. The only water around her was the sea. In a random act of defiance, she scooped up a handful of sand and tossed it into the ocean. Then another, and another. All day, every day. Each throw made her feel a little stronger. Did it make a difference? She didn’t care. It felt right.

Jesus’ Promise of Mercy

Jesus came not to condemn the world, but to save it. And the only way to save a fallen world was with mercy.

In the Old Testament, two Hebrew words describe God’s mercy:

• Rahamim — “motherly, life-giving mercy.” When Jesus said, “I came that they might have life, and have it more abundantly,” He was speaking of rahamim.
• Hesed — “heroic, life-saving mercy.” When the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery and Jesus replied, “Let the one without sin cast the first stone,” He was showing hesed.

This is the mystery of divine mercy: it is both life-giving and life-saving. And it is ours as disciples of Jesus Christ.

Beneath the sand, Jasmine found sharp rocks. She hurled one into the ocean. This time the water splashed her skin. The salt stung—yet it also exhilarated her. She tried again, letting her hand linger in the water. Yes, there was pain. But also cleansing. Healing. And something more?

The Four Levels of Love

Jesus teaches: “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.” To understand this from our human perspective, we can approach mercy through the lens of love.

Scholars describe four levels of love:

1. Need-love (childlike love): “I love you because I need you,” like a baby for its mother.
2. Trade-love (conditional love): “I’ll do this if you do that.” A love that keeps score.
3. Mature love (unconditional love): “I love you because I love you.” Freely chosen, even costly, yet rich in reward.
4. Divine love (mercy): Love that remains even when wronged—when love is met with scorn, rejection, betrayal, or abandonment. Mercy is not enabling; it calls with compassion, yet with truth: “Repent. Turn back to Me. I have grace for you.”

At last, Jasmine had enough of sand and rocks. She flung herself into the sea. She held her breath, expecting to drown. She didn’t. She discovered she belonged there—not to the barren sand, but to the sea. The ocean embraced her, and she knew she was finally home.

Belshazar’s Betrayal

Leaving the king’s presence, Belshazar encountered his colleague Aminadab.

“You scoundrel! You owe me $1,000. Pay up—or I’ll have you and your family sold into slavery!”

“My friend, I cannot pay today. Give me a week, and I will repay you in full.”

But Belshazar sneered. “Guards! Seize him!”

When King Darius heard of it, he was outraged. “Wicked servant! After I forgave you, how could you not forgive your fellow? The measure you use will be measured back to you. Guards—take him away to be sold as a slave!”

Conclusion

Each of us desperately needs mercy—from God, and from others. In Jesus, mercy has already been offered us through His death on the Cross. Now we face the same choice: will we remain on the barren sand, clinging to resentment and despair, or will we plunge into the boundless ocean of mercy—where we truly belong?

If you are someone who finds worksheets helpful, print this one out: Into the Ocean of Mercy Reflection Worksheet

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In a world that often feels unpredictable and overwhelming, establishing a daily routine might seem too simple to make a real difference. However routines, those small, repeated actions we build into our lives, can be powerful tools for supporting mental health. 

Whether you're navigating stress, struggling with anxiety or depression, or simply trying to feel more grounded in your daily life, a consistent routine can provide the stability your mind and body crave.

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Routines do more than simply keep us organized; they give shape and meaning to our days. When we know what to expect, our brains don’t have to expend as much energy in making decisions or managing uncertainty–reducing the cognitive load that can contribute to stress or cause burnout. 

Routines that include healthy habits like a regular wake time, daily movement, healthy meals, prayer, connection with others, and a restful bedtime routine offers numerous mental health benefits, including:

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Lower Stress and Anxiety 

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Predictable rhythms offer a sense of stability in an unpredictable world. When the basic structure of your day is already in place, your mind feels more at ease—and less prone to racing thoughts or worry.

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Better Sleep Quality

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Regular sleep and wake times help to regulate your body’s circadian rhythm, making it easier to go to sleep and feel rested. Quality sleep is deeply connected to emotional resilience, concentration, and overall mental well-being.

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Stronger Emotional Regulation

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Routines support self-care practices like prayer, exercise, and quiet time—all of which help you stay grounded and respond to life’s challenges with more patience, clarity, and grace.

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Increased Productivity and Motivation

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When healthy habits are built into your day, you’re less likely to waste time or feel overwhelmed by decisions. Instead, you gain momentum through small, repeated actions that move you forward.

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Greater Sense of Purpose and Interior Peace

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Simple routines help you live intentionally. Even ordinary tasks—like making breakfast or going for a walk—can become opportunities for reflection, presence, and gratitude when done with purpose.

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Order in the external things of life often cultivates order in the soul. St. Benedict believed that peace was found not by escaping daily duties, but by entering into them with intentionality and devotion. A well-lived routine can calm the interior noise and make us more attentive to God’s voice.

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Feeling of Closeness to God

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When your day has structure, it’s easier to recognize moments when God is near. Whether it’s through morning prayer, a quiet cup of tea, or an evening examen, routines provide a framework that helps you pause, notice, and receive God's presence.

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How to Create a Routine that Works for You

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If you’re starting from scratch, don’t try to overhaul your whole day at once. Begin by anchoring one or two key parts of your day; the morning or the evening are the easiest times of the day to do this. 

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Here are some tips to get you started: 

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• Start small. Choose one area to focus on first.
• Be realistic. Aim for progress, not perfection.
• Track your rhythm. Use a planner or journal to notice what’s working.
• Celebrate consistency. Every small success is worth acknowledging.

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Keep in mind that your routines are meant to support you, not stress you out. Life changes. Kids get sick. Schedules shift. So make sure you keep your routine flexible. 

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Creating a routine gives you a steady foundation in which to thrive. When you experience seasons of higher stress or greater uncertainty, a well-built routine can help you maintain a sense of peace and order. 

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Many of us carry quiet heartaches—children who have drifted from the faith, spouses who are indifferent to God, friends who seem lost in the noise of the world. We pray. We wait. We wonder if it matters.

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Like in so many moments of our life, we can turn to the example of the saints to know firstly that we are not alone in our experiences, but also that there is always hope; no one is ever too far lost. 

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One of the most powerful stories we have in the Church that exemplifies persistence in prayer and radical conversion of heart is that of St. Monica and St. Augustine.

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St. Monica was a Christian woman in the 4th century with a deep, abiding love for God and for her family. But her life wasn’t easy. Her husband was pagan, often angry, and resistant to her faith, while her son, Augustine, rejected the faith of his childhood, chasing after worldly pleasures and false philosophies.

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Monica prayed for Augustine’s conversion for many years. She followed him from North Africa to Italy, pleaded with priests to speak to him, and wept countless tears for his soul.

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When she once asked a bishop to intervene, he famously told her: At present the heart of the young man is too stubborn, but God's time will come. It is not possible that the son of so many tears should perish."

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Augustine eventually experienced a profound conversion of heart and was baptized at the age of 32 by St. Ambrose. He went on to become one of the Church’s greatest theologians, a Doctor of the Church, and a witness to God’s incredible mercy.

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The Power of Patient Prayer

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The story of Sts. Monica and Augustine reminds us that God often works in hidden, mysterious ways. Augustine’s transformation didn’t happen overnight—he wrestled with truth, resisted grace, and wandered far. Yet through it all, Monica remained faithful. 

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Her steady, trusting prayer became a quiet force of love that shaped not only her son’s conversion, but the entire Church. 

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If you have been praying for your loved ones to come (or perhaps come back) to the faith, this story offers a lot of wisdom and comfort for you. 

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As we see with St. Augustine, no one is ever beyond God’s reach. However, as we learn from Monica, you cannot force anyone to love and accept Christ. 

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You can (and should) join her in the holy work of intercession for your loved ones but you must humbly and totally surrender to them to the will and care of the Father who loves them more than you ever could. 

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How to Pray for the Conversion of a Loved One:

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Persevere

Don’t give up, even when there are no signs of change. Conversion often happens beneath the surface, in quiet, interior ways that take time. Continue to pray daily, even when your heart feels tired or discouraged. Every prayer is heard. God is always at work, even in the silence.

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Fast and intercede

Offer small sacrifices throughout your day—whether it’s giving up your favorite drink, taking on an extra chore, or bearing a frustration without complaint—for your loved one’s return to God. Uniting your sufferings to Christ’s gives them redemptive power. These hidden offerings become seeds of grace planted in the soul you are praying for.

Entrust them to Mary

Our Blessed Mother is tender, merciful, and relentless in her motherly care. She loves your loved one more than you do and desires to lead him/her to her Son. Entrust your loved one to her Immaculate Heart each day, asking her to guide them gently home and to whisper your prayers in the ear of her Son.

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Ask for St. Monica’s intercession

Turn to St. Monica, not only as a model of perseverance but as a true intercessor. She knows your grief, your tears, your longing. Invite her to pray with you and for you. Ask her to walk beside your loved one and to storm Heaven until their heart is softened by grace.

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Trust in the Goodness of the Lord

It can be tempting to pray from a place of fear or desperation—but God invites you to pray from a place of love and trust. He desires your loved one’s salvation even more than you do. Trust that He is pursuing them, even now. Let your prayers be filled with hope, confident that the Lord is good, merciful, and faithful to complete the good work He has begun.

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“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”

“What’s the point? This is not a fulfilling life…it’s not fulfilling from a sense of the deepest places of your heart.” —Scottie Scheffler after winning the 2025 British Open

The Biggest Problem in the World

One day Terry was sweeping his floors, getting ready to mop, when the doorbell rang. It was Fr. Sal from down the street. Fr. Sal was bald, walked with a slight limp, but had a youthful twinkle in his eye.

“Terry,” he said, “let’s go for a walk.”

“Just let me mop the floor real quick, Father, and I’ll be right with you.”

They strolled to a nearby park and sat on a bench. Fr. Sal turned to Terry and asked, “What’s the biggest problem in the world?”

Terry blinked. He could tell there was a “right” answer, but had no idea what it might be. He gave it a shot: “Sin, Father?”

“Well yes,” said Fr. Sal, “but what’s at the root of sin?”

“Selfishness. Disordered self-love?”

Fr. Sal nodded. “Yes, but even before that. What’s the biggest problem in the world?”

Terry racked his brain, finally conceding: “I don’t know. Why don’t you tell me?”

“Ah,” Fr. Sal smiled, “the biggest problem is formation.”

What Is Formation?

Formation is the process of becoming the person God made you to be—and living the life He meant for you to live.

The biggest problem for most of us isn’t where we’re at. If you’re reading this, you’re likely in a decent place. Maybe even a good one. Perhaps you’ve walked through fire and come out stronger. And yet… maybe you’ve hit a plateau. You start to think:

“I’ve arrived. This is it. It can’t get better than this.”

That sense of arrival is spiritual death. Because all living things are meant to grow.

This is not to belittle your journey. It’s to name the ache you already feel: you’re not done yet. There’s another level. There’s always another level.

The 4 Thirsts

St. John Paul II, with his deep insight into the human heart, named four universal thirsts—four inner hungers placed there by God Himself:

1. Intimacy with God  

2. Virtuous communion with others  

3. A clear vision of reality  

4. A sense of meaning or purpose

These thirsts are hardwired into you. You can try to ignore them, numb them, or drown them out with busyness, shallow relationships, distractions, or even religious busywork—but those are just spiritual junk food. They cannot satisfy. They never will.

The 3 Kinds of Christians

In the Spiritual Exercises, St. Ignatius of Loyola describes three kinds of believers:

1. Big talkers – They say all the right things, but constantly procrastinate, make excuses, and play the blame game.  

2. Grudging givers – They’ll surrender something to God if absolutely necessary, but they’re still clinging tightly to their comfort, plans, and possessions.  

3. Tremendous lovers – These are the free ones. Detaching from created goods, they’re ready to follow God anywhere, anytime, no matter the cost.

So ask yourself:  

Up till now, who have you been?  

Starting today, who do you want to be?

The 4 Pillars of Formation

To satisfy those four thirsts, JP2 proposed four dimensions of growth—four “pillars” of human and spiritual formation:

1. Spiritual formation – satisfies our thirst for intimacy with God.  

2. Human formation – satisfies our thirst for virtuous relationships.  

3. Intellectual formation – satisfies our thirst for a vision of reality.  

4. Apostolic formation – satisfies our thirst for meaning and mission.

If we want full hearts, we need to feed the hunger. Otherwise, we’re just talking a good game. And it’s not enough to say you want to be a radical disciple. You have to train like one.

“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?” —Jesus (Luke 6:46)

Training Isn’t Glamorous

What Jesus tells us to do is often the spiritual equivalent of “eat your vegetables.” It’s not glamorous. Not exciting. It doesn’t always feel good. But it is good for you. It will help you grow—to become wiser, stronger, more compassionate, more human… more divine.

And just like vegetables, formation can be doctored. If butter or ketchup helps your kids eat their broccoli, you use it—because you care about their growth and don’t want them to suffer unnecessarily.

Jesus doesn’t want you to suffer unnecessarily either. But He does want you to grow. Which is why He built a hunger for growth into your very soul. You can’t escape it. But you can learn to respond to it intentionally.

Try Something

Here’s the good news: You don’t have to have it all figured out. There’s a foolproof way to discover what God wants you to do next—try something.

Yes, just like when you make your kids try the food they’re convinced they’ll hate—just try. Especially when it comes to your intimacy with God:

- Maybe you’ve tried daily Mass but couldn’t make it work.  

- Maybe you’ve tried journaling.  

- Maybe you’ve tried incense, icons, devotionals, or pilgrimages.  

- Maybe your most prayerful moments come sitting with coffee at sunrise.

Maybe. Maybe not. The point is: try it. Run the experiment. Then check the fruit.

“When it comes to prayer, sisters, try everything.” —St. Teresa of Avila

Conclusion: Satisfied Hearts Begin with Hungry Souls

You were made to hunger. Not for fleeting pleasures or surface-level comfort, but for the deep, soul-shaping fulfillment that only comes through formation. And here’s the promise: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”

If your heart is restless, if your life feels dry or directionless, that hunger is not a sign of failure—it’s a sign of life. God has planted it there to call you deeper, further, higher.

So don’t ignore it. Don’t numb it. Don’t settle.

Start somewhere. Anywhere. Try something. Eat the vegetables. Do the reps. Take the walk. Say the prayer. Ask the hard question. Have the honest conversation.

Because the moment you choose to grow is the moment you come alive.

Let your hunger lead you to the One who alone can satisfy.

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January came with fresh resolutions, big plans, and a hopeful spark. Many of us set spiritual goals alongside our physical or wellness intentions: maybe it was to pray the Rosary daily, get to Confession monthly, or spend more time in silence. But now, halfway through the year, you may have found yourself drifting from your goals.

Mid-year is the perfect time to pause, take inventory, and realign our intentions with Christ to finish out the year strong. 

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Step 1: Reflect

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Start by inviting the Holy Spirit into this moment. Ask for the grace of honesty, gentleness with yourself, and clarity. Then consider:

• What spiritual goals did I set at the beginning of the year?
  
  
• How have I grown in my relationship with God?
  
  
• Where have I struggled or fallen short?
  
  
• What unexpected blessings or challenges shaped my journey?

Write your reflections down in a journal or spend time in prayer with them. The goal here isn’t to judge yourself, but to notice the movements of grace and areas for renewal.

Spend a moment to thank God for what He’s done in your heart so far this year and ask Him to help you as you move forward.

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Step 2: Recommit

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If you feel like you’ve veered off track, take heart. Saints were not perfect—they were persistent.

Mid-year is a wonderful time to recommit to a few small, meaningful practices:

• Start with simplicity. Choose one spiritual habit to revive or begin again—daily prayer, weekly adoration, Scripture reading, etc.
  
  
• Pair it with your wellness routine. Offer your workout as a prayer, meditate on a verse during cool-downs, or unite physical discipline with spiritual intention.
  
  
• Sacramental strength. Make Confession a priority. Receive the Eucharist more intentionally. The Sacraments give graces that will overflow into every aspect of your life. 

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Step 3: Renew Your Vision

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With clarity from reflection and grace from recommitment, you're now ready for the most hopeful part of this check-in: renewal. This step isn’t about doing more—it’s about asking God to refresh your vision for the months ahead.

Having looked back and rooted yourself again in His mercy, you can now look forward with spiritual intention, asking not just what you should do, but who God is calling you to become.

This is the heart of spiritual growth. Faith is not a spiritual to-do list, but a relationship with a loving Father. 

Our Heavenly Father desires to form you into someone who loves more deeply, trusts more fully, and walks more freely in His grace. Renewing your vision is what moves your spiritual life from obligation to transformation.

Take time in prayer to ask:

• What virtue do I sense the Lord calling me to grow in right now?
• What cross am I being asked to carry—and how can I carry it with love?
• Where do I feel resistance in my spiritual life? Where do I feel peace?
• How can I let God lead in my wellness journey—not just spiritually, but physically and emotionally?

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Bonus: A Mid-Year Liturgical Boost

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The Church, in her wisdom, provides us with natural “resets” throughout the year: Advent, Lent, Easter, Ordinary Time. Summer is a great time to re-engage with the liturgical rhythm. 

Celebrate feast days. Learn about a new saint. Pray with the Psalms. Let the Church calendar guide your days.

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You’re Not Behind. You’re Being Invited.

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This check-in isn’t about measuring up. It’s about responding anew to the invitation Jesus gives each of us: Come, follow Me.

If your first half of the year was messy, inconsistent, or dry, you’re in good company. God delights in new beginnings—and you don’t have to wait until January to begin walking with Him.

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Take a breath. Say a prayer. Begin again.

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While summer brings sunshine, barefoot adventures, and backyard cookouts, it also has its share of seasonal discomforts. 

You should take the necessary steps to safely enjoy time in the sun this summer; however, if you do experience these common ailments, nature offers a rich medicine cabinet of remedies that can soothe, heal, and support your health—all without harsh chemicals.

Here are some simple, effective, and natural ways to treat the most common summer conditions, so you can enjoy the season feeling your best.

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Sunburn

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Too much fun in the sun can leave you with more than just golden memories. Sunburn, one of the most common summer woe, is a painful experience that can easily occur without the proper precautions.

Aloe vera is a classic go-to, and for good reason: it cools the skin, reduces inflammation, and speeds healing. Keep a plant on hand or use a pure gel with no added fragrances. You can also use Witch Hazel or apply cool compresses soaked in chamomile tea or apple cider vinegar diluted with water to soothe the skin.

Drinking plenty of water and eating more fruits and vegetables can help nourish your skin and further calm irritation from the inside out.

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Heat Stroke and Dehydration

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Long hours outdoors, especially during peak sun, can quickly lead to dehydration or even heat exhaustion.

At the first signs of dizziness, rapid heartbeat, or nausea, move to a shaded area, sip water slowly, and place cool, damp cloths on the body. Natural electrolyte drinks made with coconut water, sea salt, and a splash of citrus juice can help restore balance.

For daily prevention, stay hydrated, wear breathable fabrics, and avoid intense activity during the hottest part of the day. You can also incorporate these hydrating foods into your diet or try these indoor workouts to keep you safe.

Insect Bites

Mosquitoes, ants, and other summer pests can leave behind itchy, inflamed bites.

A dab of lavender essential oil or tea tree oil (always diluted with a carrier oil) can reduce swelling and fight bacteria. Baking soda paste (baking soda + water) offers quick itch relief, as does a slice of raw onion or a few drops of apple cider vinegar.

For natural prevention, try a homemade bug spray with witch hazel, citronella and lemongrass oils, and apple cider vinegar.

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Swimmer’s Ear

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After a day at the pool or lake, water trapped in the ear can cause discomfort or even infection.

You can avoid Swimmer’s Ear by drying your ears thoroughly after swimming; you can also consider using preventative ear drops made of a mixture of 1 part white vinegar to 1 part rubbing alcohol. Pouring 1 tsp of this mixture into your ear may promote drying and prevent the growth of bacteria.

For mild symptoms, warm compresses and garlic-infused oil (just a drop, carefully applied) can ease pain and inflammation. However, you should seek medical attention if symptoms worsen or persist.

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Seasonal Allergies

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Summer pollen can turn a beautiful day into a sneezy, itchy mess.

Local raw honey, taken regularly, may help the body build tolerance to pollen in your region. Quercetin-rich foods (like apples and onions) act as natural antihistamines, and nettle tea is a time-honored herbal remedy for allergy relief.

Rinsing your sinuses with a saline nasal spray or neti pot can also help flush out allergens after outdoor activities.

You can find more Natural Remedies for Seasonal Allergies in this post from our Archives.

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Summer is a season meant for making good memories, not uncomfortable ones. While the season comes with its share of challenges, these natural remedies offer simple, effective ways to care for your body using what God has already provided through creation.

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Keep a few of these time-tested remedies in your summer toolkit and you’ll be ready to face whatever comes your way.

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Blessed Are You Who Hunger Now, for You Will Be Satisfied

When you’re lost, out and walking in the dark

Look down and light those embers in your heart

— "Fire Inside" by City Wolf

Seeing God

Years ago, a young man came to a hermit and said, “Master, I want to see God.”

“Very well, my son. Pray, ‘My God, I love you,’ one hundred times a day, and you will see God.”

The next week he returned. “Master, I prayed it one hundred times a day. Nothing happened. I want to see God.”

The old man smiled. “Well done. This week, pray it 1,000 times a day, and you will see God.”

Another week passed. “Master, I prayed it 1,000 times a day. Still nothing. I want to see God.”

The hermit nodded. “Very well. This week, pray it 10,000 times a day.”

When the young man came back again, he was deflated, sad, and angry.

“Master, I prayed the prayer 10,000 times a day—and still, nothing.”

“Nothing?” said the old man. “Come with me.”

He led the young man to a river.

“Do you want to see God?”

“Yes.”

“Then follow me.”

The hermit waded into the river—first up to his calves, then his waist, then his neck. The young man followed until he could barely touch the bottom. He started to speak: “Master, I don’t understand. I want to—”

Before he could finish, the hermit plunged his head underwater. The young man fought, clawed, struggled—but to no avail. His strength began to fail.

Then, the hermit pulled him up.

“My son, when you want to see God as desperately as you just wanted to breathe, then your desire will be satisfied.”

Created from—and for—Desire

“God, in a plan of sheer goodness, created man to share in his own blessed life.”

— Catechism of the Catholic Church, §1

God had a dream when He created you. A desire. The Church calls this the universal call to holiness, and those who answer that call are honored as saints. That call is inscribed deep in our hearts. It’s what we refer to as a vocation—a calling to become who we were made to be.

And as St. Thomas Aquinas once said:

“Man is desire.”

One Problem, Three Responses

Desire is a fact. It’s not good or bad by itself—it simply is. So the question becomes: What do we do with it?

Christopher West describes three typical responses to desire:

1. The Addict indulges every craving, often in shallow or destructive ways, harming others and ultimately himself.

2. The Stoic sees the addict’s wreckage and concludes that desire itself is dangerous. He tries to tame it with control and moderation—but never lives fully.

3. The Mystic seeks to fulfill desire in God and His will.

On paper, the Stoic and the Mystic might seem similar. But history tells a different story. Where is the Stoic Mother Teresa? The Buddhist Francis of Assisi? The Stoic Catherine of Siena? The Buddhist Augustine?

They do not exist.

Their lives—if they can be called lives—are a slow waiting-to-die.

So we’re left with a tension: we want to unleash our desires, yet we fear their power to destroy us.

What are we to do?

Follow the Path of Life

Would it be wise to purify our desires before we act on them? Absolutely.

But here’s the problem:

It’s our desires that need to be purified.

And we can’t purify them unless we first become aware of them.

So let’s start by letting them out.

Bring superficial desires to light. Examine them. Dig into them. And when you do, you’ll often discover that what seemed shallow was pointing to something deep.

Imagine your 12-year-old daughter asks for a smartphone.

The Stoic mom says, “No.”

The Mystic mom says, “Why?”

“To talk to my friends and keep up on social media.”

“And why do you want that?”

“To feel closer to them. To connect.”

“And why do you want that?”

“Because I want real friendship.”

And that—the longing for intimacy—is a good and holy desire.

Maybe you still say no to the phone. Or maybe you talk about how phones can get in the way when people are together but distracted. Maybe you get a dumb phone. The important thing is:

When you dig into a superficial desire,

You uncover a deeper one.

Dig In

The young man said he wanted to see God. But did he?

Did he want it the way he wanted air when he was drowning?

If you asked a drowning man why he wants air, he might say, “Because I want to live.” Ask him why he wants to live, and he might just say, “What else is there?”

But ask that same man why he wants to see God, and he might not have an answer. Perhaps no one led him to ask that question deeply. He was taught to want God—and that’s better than nothing—but it’s not the same as discovering that desire for himself.

This is why journaling is so powerful.

Journaling lets us unleash our desires on paper. It’s safer than acting them out. It also helps us evaluate those desires before we act. If you’d like help exploring your desires:

Check out the “Life Begins with a Dream” worksheet.

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“And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”

-Luke 22:19

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As Catholics we believe that when Jesus said these words in Sacred Scripture that He truly meant them. The Eucharist is not merely a symbol, but really the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus Christ. It is an incredible gift given to each one of us that we can lovingly accept at each and every Mass. 

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Throughout Church history, God has confirmed this great mystery in extraordinary ways. These Eucharistic Miracles serve as powerful reminders of Christ’s real presence among us.

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So this month, as we celebrate the Feast of Corpus Christi, or the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, let’s explore some of these great miracles.

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Lanciano, Italy 

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The Miracle at Lanciano is one of the oldest Eucharistic Miracle dating back to the 8th Century. A priest experiencing doubt about the True Presence found that, while praying the words of Consecration at Mass, the bread and wine turned into human flesh and blood. 

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The blood coagulated into five globules, which many believe represents the five wounds of Christ. 

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Studies conducted in the 1970s and 1980s by doctors of human anatomy and histology, as well as the World Health Organization, found that the flesh was fresh (rather than 1200 years old) and had the same structure as human heart tissue. The globules of blood were determined to be of type AB. 

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Having remained preserved until this day, you can still visit the flesh and blood at Lanciano’s Church of San Francesco.

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Betania, Venezuela

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Studies conducted on a 1991 miracle that took place in Venezuela had similar findings. 

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During the consecration at Mass, a priest broke the host into four sections and consumed one piece himself; one of the remaining pieces began to bleed. The studies confirmed that the blood was taken from a living heart and was of type AB. 

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This miraculous host is on display at the Augustinian Recollects convent of the nuns of the Sacred Heart in Los Teques.

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Santarém, Portugal

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In the 13th Century, a woman sought help from a sorceress when she found out her husband had been unfaithful to her. The sorceress promised to make her husband loving again for the price of one consecrated host. The woman agreed.

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She managed to smuggle a host out of mass in a handkerchief; however, before she could return it to the sorceress, the cloth became stained with blood. Frightened, the woman hid the host and the cloth in a drawer. That night, the drawer emitted a bright light.

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The woman repented and returned the host to the Church, now called the Church of the Holy Miracle.

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Chirattakonam, India

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The Church has still seen its share of Eucharistic Miracles even in our current century, like the 2001 miracle at a parish church in Chirattakonam, India. 

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The priest at St. Mary’s Church exposed the Blessed Sacrament before mass one morning, and quickly noticed three dots appearing on the Host. When he returned, vested for mass, he found that there was now the image of man’s face–an image that became more clearly the image of Christ crowned with thorns. 

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The Archbishop who investigated this event wrote: “For us believers what we have seen is something that we have always believed…”

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The host still remains enshrined in the Church.

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Legnica, Poland

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One of the most recent Eucharistic miracles occurred on Christmas Day 2013 at St. Hyacinth’s Shrine in Legnica, Poland when a consecrated host fell on the floor. Following the procedure, the host was placed in water to dissolve when suddenly, a reddish color appeared on it. 

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Various research institutes including the Department of Forensic Medicine in Szczecin which found the contained tissue from a human heart. Other tests found that this tissue showed signs that the tissue had experienced great distress or agony.

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It was approved for veneration in 2016.

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These are only a few of the extraordinary miracles God has given us to confirm Christ’ true presence here on earth. 

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In fact, Blessed Carlo Acutis who described the Eucharist as “my highway to heaven” created a website to highlight miracles of the Eucharist around the world. 

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You can still visit this site to read more about the profound love of Jesus in the Eucharist.

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