Saint of the Year: 2016

St. Kateri, pray for us!

For the past two years (2014 and 2015), I have used Jennifer Fulweiler's random saint generator to ask for a specific saint to intercede for me for the year. This year, Kateri Tekakwitha chose me! When I was younger, I adopted her as my name saint (Katlyn... Kateri... close enough?), but have seldom thought of her since those days. So... I'm excited to rekindle this relationship :)

I looked up her biography, and was reminded that she was canonized during my first semester at college, so her patronage for my final year of college is especially fitting. I also found out that she is the patroness of the environment, which, to be honest, I'm pretty ignorant of. Maybe this is God's way of pushing me to finally read "Laudato Si"? :)

Read more about St. Kateri here!

Hallelujah is Our Song.

Today was Pope John Paul II's second feast day as an official saint of the Church. *throws confetti* And we all know how great I am at writing blog posts at the last minute of a favorite saint's feast day (shout out to Mary Magdalene), so here we go.

My sister, best friend and I at St. John Paul's
National Shrine in Washington, DC.

What is so spectacular about JP2 for me is the fact that I actually remember him. I was alive while he was. Sadly, the biggest memory that sticks out to me was the day the day before he died.

My homeschool group was at daily mass, and after mass had ended, the associate priest came running into the sanctuary holding a big picture frame and an easel. He set up this picture, which was of the Holy Father, and announced to the confused congregation that Pope John Paul had lost consciousness and was in the last days of his life. I was around twelve at this time, but I remember being shocked, and immediately kneeling to pray.

As a child, I knew what a special man he was and what a loss the world would experience with his passing.

I wish I knew the moment that I fell in love with this amazing man and his mission, but it was in the last few years. I think it had to do with this video:

It's a silly and fun video, but it was my first introduction to his beautiful words of self-worth, love, and redemption. I eventually heard this quote, which changed my life:

We are not the sum of our weaknesses and failures; we are the sum of the Father's love for us and our real capacity to become the image of his son.

Wow. Just... wow.  How often do I need this reminder? Spoiler alert: Every single moment for my entire life.

Praying in front of  a relic of Saint John Paul's
at the National Shrine of the Immaculate
Conception in Washtington, DC.

No matter what mistakes we make, no matter what wrong paths we take, God's love for is is greater than us at our very very worst.

The Power of the cross is stronger than the power of our brokenness.

I literally need this reminder so frequently that it's my email signature. True story.

Another quote that changes me, whenever I read it, is:

“Do not abandon yourselves to despair. We are the Easter people and hallelujah is our song.” 

Again: wow. This man knew the human heart. I swear, these two quotes were said with me in mind. At the literal worst moment in human history, the mindless killing of the Messiah, it seemed like the end. But despite it all, Christ still rose. He defied human expectations and returned.

After the darkest night, the sun rose.

And so it is with our own lives. After our worst, darkest days, the sun of joy and hope will rise. Christ is with us.

St. John Paul II, thank you for reminding us that our darkness does not define us. That God loves us and sees us beyond our brokenness and shortcomings, that we are called to bask in the sunlight.

Friends, no matter where you are in life, know that you'll be okay. You've made it through every worst day you've already experienced. Go you! Sunrise is coming for you, nothing lasts forever, I'm glad you're here, and please, continue to fight the good fight.

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Here are some awesome images of some of my personal favorite JP2 quotes!

Patron Saint of the Fall 2015 Semester

St. Jude, pray for us!

So, I realized, four weeks into the school year, that I never chose a patron for the fall semester. For the past two semesters (Fall 2014 & Spring 2015), I've used Jennifer Fulweiler's Random Saint Generator to find a saint to intercede for me during the school semester. 

This semester, God gave me St. Jude. Also known as the patron saint of impossible causes. God's a funny one, isn't He?

Here's a brief biography about this amazing saint:

St. Jude, known as Thaddeus, was a brother of St. James the Less, a relative of Jesus, and one of His 12 Apostles 

He preached the Gospel in Judea, Samaria, Idumaea, Syria, Mesopot.amia, and Lybia. 

He returned to Jerusalem in 62 AD, and assisted at the election of his brother, St. Simeon, as Bishop of Jerusalem. 

He is an author of an epistle to the Churches of the East, particularly the Jewish converts, directed against the heresies of the Simonians, Nicolaites, and Gnostics. He is said to have suffered martyrdom in Armenia. The final conversion of the Armenian nation to Christianity did not take place until the third century. 

At the Last Supper, Jude asked Jesus why He would not manifest Himself to the whole world after His resurrection. Not much else is known about his life. 

He is invoked in desperate situations because his New Testament letter stresses that the faithful should persevere in the environment of harsh, difficult circumstances, just as their forefathers had done before them. He is the patron of desperate cases and his feast day is October 28th. 

To honor this beautiful man, I'll be praying to him daily, and reading his letter in the bible.

I took a quick look at it after he was chosen for me, and I was already blown away by how the first verse to catch my eye was exactly what I needed to hear, and actually what I talked about with my therapist yesterday:

"But you, beloved, build yourselves up in your most holy faith; pray in the holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in the love of God and wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life" - Jude 1:20-21

St. Jude, pray for this hopeless case made new in Christ as I embark on my senior year.

The Prostitute Who Never Was.

Today was the feast day of one of my favorite saints, St. Mary Magdalene. Not a whole lot is known for sure about Mary, but a lot is assumed. She is often times thought to be the woman who Christ saved from being stoned, a prostitute, or the woman who washed Jesus' feet with her hair and tears. There are only a few things that are known for certain: Jesus drove SEVEN (!!!) demons out of her, she stood at the foot of the cross during His passion, and she was the first person Christ

revealed Himself to after His resurrection. Although this isn't a lot to go off of, this speaks volumes about the type of person Mary was and the love and relationship between her and her Savior.

Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out. (Luke 8:2)

Demonic possession is no joke. You read stories about it today, and the Church still teaches that the demonic is never to be toyed with. Poor Mary. Can you imagine being plagued by such evil? For me, I imagine she must have felt what I often feel like when I'm in a depressive state. Empty, yet controlled by something that is not myself. Scared, broken. People probably thought she was crazy, and parents probably pointed her out to their children and told them to stay away. Her humanity was taken from her. But then, a man, an ordinary looking man reaches out to her, and he heals her, restores her humanity.

He set her free.

Whatever is on your heart, whatever you think you will never shake, give it to Jesus. He masters demons and sends them back to hell, as shown in the Gospel of Luke through the example of Mary Magdalene (the boss).

Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. (John 19:25)

After being freed by Christ, Mary recognized His power and became a dedicated disciple. When all His friends ran and denied knowing Him, she stayed. She watched as the man who saved her life was
brutally killed before her eyes. She showed her faithfulness and gratitude for the great things He had done for her by waiting with Him.

When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him... Now after he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons. (Matthew 16:1,9) 

Even when all seemed lost, Mary continued to show her faithfulness to her Lord by tending to his body. And Christ showed His love and respect for her by appearing to her, and asking her to spread the news to the rest of the disciples. And she did.

Mary was so in love with Christ that death couldn't take that love away. And when hope and love returned... she ran to spread the amazing news.

Mary's story is one of healing and redemption, one which can fit into our own lives. No matter what ails us, or what false god we turn to, Christ wants us, just the way we are. He wants to hurt with us, and rejoice with us. To bring healing after hurt, and light in the darkness.

Only one question remains: will you let Him into your heart so He can transform you?