Fall Giveaway!!
Today, I’d like to offer you a Fall Giveaway!!
The winner will receive these lovely Soaps made by Theresa! And this lovely Kanzashi Flower made by Gin!
The bars are: Peppermint and Secret Garden…All Natural Ingredients!
For the flower…each petal takes undivided attention! First, it is cut and shaped, then burnt to ensure there will be no fraying. The petals are then folded and glued into a flower design and the finishing touches are then added.
The back of the flower has a clip that easily opens and holds firmly.
Leave a comment here and your name will be added to the hat! Winner will be announced next Friday, October 15th!
Comparison can quietly wound the heart of the one we love. Our husband or wife does not want to feel that he or she must measure up to someone else’s strengths or accomplishments in order to be appreciated. Each person comes into marriage with unique gifts, weaknesses, and a personality all his own.
“I can’t understand why he was offended.”
By Love Refined, Alice von Hildebrand
Dear Julie,
At first glance, it does seem strange that Michael got upset simply because you said your father could easily fix the radio that had defeated Michael’s repair attempts. There must be more to this than you realize. Try to discover why Michael was offended – especially since both of you love and admire your father.
No doubt, your relationship with your father has been a great gift in your life. It means much for a young girl to be able to look up to her father. I, for one, owe my own father a great deal. His exceptional reverence for the mystery of conception, child-bearing, and motherhood will remain with me for life.
But am I wrong in surmising that ever since you met Michael, you’ve often praised your father at length, perhaps unconsciously holding him up to Michael as a model? These are sheer assumptions on my part, but Michael may have the feeling that you wish he would become more like your father.
If this is so, his reaction is understandable. Unconsciously, Michael may assume you love him as a second edition of your father, and that the “author of your days” remains, in your heart and mind, your first love and ideal.
I think it’s worth your time to examine whether, in fact, you may have fallen into this error. I call it an error because each of us has his own unique gifts, talents, and callings, as well as his own unique temptations and failings. Our task in this life isn’t to imitate others in any absolute way (for we have only one ultimate model: Christ). Rather we must discover who we are meant to become.
We have to judge ourselves not by the standard of another person’s personality or accomplishments, but by the possibilities embedded in our own soul. In other words, we should never try simply to imitate others spiritually or otherwise. Each of us is a unique image of God; we can only reach sanctity by fully developing our own unique potential as an imitation of God.
I know of a husband who expected his wife to be a duplicate of his sister, a woman of extraordinary charm and talent who combined beauty, intelligence, and great artistic talents. He only succeeded in crushing his wife, who was more modestly endowed. Had he realized what he was doing, he would have been horrified, because he loved her.
You certainly get the picture: if Michael suspects you want him to become another type of person instead of becoming truly himself (which is the deepest longing of love), he’s understandably hurt and is right to oppose your expectations.
So try not to compare Michael to your father. Try rather to see the beautiful promise that he has within his own soul and help him daily to make that bright promise a reality.
With my fondest affection,
Lily
“There is no greater wealth than being queen of the home. It is royalty and riches combined. Her home is her little kingdom, her family her precious treasure, and her daily duties, faithfully performed for the love of God, the jewels in her crown.” ~ Finer Femininity
Come along for a cheerful little visit as Mrs. V reads from Catholic Mother Goose and talks about the simple lessons hidden within the rhymes.
In this episode, children will hear “A Dillar, A Dollar” and “Georgie Porgie,” along with sweet stories that help bring their lessons to life. We’ll talk about generosity, giving to God, kindness toward others, listening to our conscience, the beauty of Confession, and how—with God’s grace—we can always make a fresh start. With colorful storybook illustrations, gentle music, poems, and stories, Cheerful Chats for Catholic Children is meant to help little ones grow in their Catholic Faith while enjoying some good old-fashioned fun.
Gather the children, get comfortable, and join Mrs. V for storytime! God bless you from Mrs. V!
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Penal Rosaries!
Penal rosaries and crucifixes have a wonderful story behind them. They were used during the times when religious objects were forbidden and it was illegal to be Catholic. Being caught with a rosary could mean imprisonment or worse. A penal rosary is a single decade with the crucifix on one end and, oftentimes, a ring on the other. When praying the penal rosary you would start with the ring on your thumb and the beads and crucifix of the rosary in your sleeve, as you moved on to the next decade you moved the ring to your next finger and so on and so forth. This allowed people to pray the rosary without the fear of being detected.
Available here.
A little gift for those who pre-order my Traditional Catholic Planner!
With your pre-order, you’ll receive a pretty fold-out prayer guide with a prayer for your marriage for every day of the week. Keep it tucked inside your missal or spiritual reading so you’ll remember to pray each day for one of the most important relationships in your life—your marriage.
Printed on parchment paper, it’s a simple but beautiful little addition to your daily prayer life. Included FREE with every planner pre-order!
Order your planner here.
On Sale! The Road to Bethlehem: Daily Meditations for Advent and Christmas ~ Available here.
Prepare your heart for the coming of Christ by journeying through Advent and Christmas with one of the Church’s greatest spiritual masters. The Road to Bethlehem: Daily Meditations for Advent and Christmas draws from the timeless writings of St. Alphonsus Liguori, Doctor of the Church, leading readers from the first days of Advent through the Nativity and the Feast of the Epiphany.
Rooted in Sacred Scripture and overflowing with the saint’s pastoral warmth, these daily reflections invite you to contemplate the mystery of the Incarnation with renewed wonder. Meditate on Christ’s humility in becoming man, His poverty in the manger, His tears as the Divine Infant, and the love that would ultimately lead Him to Calvary. Filled with both joyful anticipation and reverent sorrow, these meditations deepen devotion to the Infant Jesus and prepare the soul to celebrate Christmas with greater faith and gratitude.
A Beautiful Book! My Daily Bread (Deluxe Edition) ~ Available here.
Hear Christ speak to you like never before. My Daily Bread is one of the most beloved Catholic devotionals ever written, offering short daily reflections designed to deepen your relationship with Jesus Christ and strengthen your spiritual life. Written with pastoral warmth by Fr. Anthony Paone, this classic devotional has helped more than one million readers grow in holiness through daily conversation with Christ.
Written as a dialogue with Jesus Himself, My Daily Bread gently leads readers through the three stages of the spiritual life: Purification, Imitation, and Union. Each reflection begins with Christ speaking directly to the reader, followed by practical considerations and concluding with a prayer to help you apply these truths in your daily life. Arranged for daily reading and conveniently sized for portability, this devotional becomes a faithful companion for your spiritual journey.
Filled with wisdom, encouragement, and practical guidance, My Daily Bread helps you overcome weaknesses, deepen your prayer life, and grow in union with Christ. Its timeless reflections make it an indispensable guide for anyone seeking to live the Christian life more faithfully.
- Follow daily reflections written as a dialogue with Christ
- Grow through the three stages of the spiritual life: Purification, Imitation, and Union
- Learn practical guidance for overcoming temptation and bad habits
- Deepen your prayer life and devotion to the Eucharist
- Carry a pocket-sized devotional for daily spiritual growth
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I am not sure if this comment is in the right place, but I would love to enter your Fall giveaway!
I love all the beautiful things your family makes! ❤️
Beautiful flower and soap! I have been enjoying your website for many years.
Pretty items!! Hopefully I’ll win😊
Thank you for all the resources and Catholic content!
It’s always great to read you content. I don’t always get the chance to read, despite getting daily emails of new content posted. It’s always great having it available to redirect our focus. I always feel humbled after reading.
The link to the Tan books isn’t working, Ill go check it out on their site directly.
Thank you for all your beautiful posts and inspirations! I need them so much and they help inspire me to be a better Catholic wife and daughter. May God reward you for all your efforts. God bless.
Thank you for letting me know! I will fix the link.
Thanks for the chance at the giveaway! Also, that devotional Road to Bethlehem ..is that written for a whole family with littles in mind? Or more suited towards adult readers only?
Here is what I found:
Adults: Excellent for daily spiritual reading during Advent.
Teenagers: Very suitable, especially if they are accustomed to spiritual reading.
Children ages 8–12: They could benefit if a parent reads a short selection and explains it.
Little ones under 8: Probably too difficult to hold their attention.
Beautiful! Thank you for the chance!
Beautiful! Thank you