Comments for The Catholic Counselor Lady

Comment on Feast Day of Our Lady of Lourdes Brings a Big Announcement by Shanna Carson

Shanna Carson — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 21:18:41 +0000

We may be religious or not, we may agree or disagree with Pope Benedict’s views, but I believe we have to admire a decision that places the best interest of the Catholic Church above his personal prestige.

Comment on A Pilgrim by Blood and by Heart: On the Discovery of My Mayflower Roots This Thanksgiving by Michelle Kratts

Michelle Kratts — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 02:49:29 +0000

This is amazing! Love it <3

Comment on A Pilgrim by Blood and by Heart: On the Discovery of My Mayflower Roots This Thanksgiving by Rosanne

Rosanne — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 02:15:04 +0000

Oh my Natalie, my heart practically skipped a beat, how amazing is this!

Comment on For the Poor in Spirit by Lucas Dawn

Lucas Dawn — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 21:51:40 +0000

It is also possible to translate Mt. 5:3 as blessed are the poor in the Spirit. The Greek article (the word “the”) is found before the word for spirit (pneuma), and so far in Matthew pneuma has referred to the Holy Spirit. As in 5:3, pneuma has also been closely connected with the coming (or presence) of the kingdom of heaven.

When John the Baptist announces the coming of the kingdom of heaven, and the stronger one (who will be king), he says that king will baptize with the Spirit. When Jesus comes to John to be baptized, John says he should be baptized (with the Spirit) by Jesus. As Jesus is baptized, the heavens open and the Spirit descends on him, anointing him as the new king. The kingdom from heaven has begun.

The Spirit then leads Jesus into the wilderness where he is hungry (poor) and tempted to become just another greedy king of Israel, or of all the kingdoms of the world. When he refuses the kingdoms of earth, he goes into Galilee and begins to announce his new kingdom of heaven. As Mt. 4:16 says, the light has dawned.

Then Jesus begins to call disciples, who leave families and businesses to follow this poor king. And when he begins his “sermon” for his new kingdom of disciples, he begins with: blessed are the poor in the Spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. So far Jesus is the only one who is poor in the Spirit; but in the future he will baptize his disciples with the Spirit and then they also will be among the poor in the Spirit, the new kingdom from heaven.

Comment on Seven Precious Gifts by Natalie Eden

Natalie Eden — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 13:13:46 +0000

Dear Lisa. I found your comment this morning and greatly appreciate your encouragement. I am so glad that you can use the information! God bless you as you work with the 8th grade kids and in your vocation as a mother of four. Your work is a calling as we truly need teachers that are faithful to the Church. Keep up the good work.

Comment on Seven Precious Gifts by Lisa Temple

Lisa Temple — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 03:23:44 +0000

Natalie,
So glad I stumbled on your website! I am 47 years old, mother of four and am volunteering at my parish tomorrow to lead a small group ” confirmation candidate sharing session” (8th grade kids) and I needed to be refreshed on the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Thanks for your insight. It’s just what I needed to take with me in guiding these candidates. Continue your work in your blogs…we need more Catholics like you to spread the word and the TRUTH of our faith.

Comment on Beyond Lives of Quiet Desperation: Moving from Surviving and Coping to Really Thriving by Rosanne

Rosanne — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 13:54:55 +0000

All I can say is WOW! Beautiful and so accurately written. Having had many challenging life experiences, I can relate to being in survival mode and somehow finding those were my times of thriving. God’s Grace is amazing and I believe it is the difference between surviving and thriving.

Comment on For All Who Have Difficulty Praying by Natalie Eden

Natalie Eden — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 21:35:04 +0000

Yep. So do I! It is a lifelong endeavor for sure! In the spiritual life we never stand still, we are either going forward or backwards. Unfortunately, sometimes it is taking big steps backwards and many little steps forward!

Comment on For All Who Have Difficulty Praying by Rosanne

Rosanne — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 20:46:26 +0000

Very cool Nat, I can relate to her. I need to develop a solid prayer ritual.

Comment on My Favorite Little Friar: St. Francis of Assisi by Rosanne

Rosanne — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 00:36:49 +0000

We love St Francis. We of course have a statue in our garden, which the girls love, but we also have a lovely children’s book that is definitley one of their very favorites. It’s about how he tames a wolf from the village of Gubbio, and how he transforms a feared beast to a endeared friend. It’s a wonderful way to introduce such a wonderful saint to the lives of my little ones.