Forward in Joy

A little online space to collect inspiration for my vocation as a Secular Ursuline

[roratecaeli]

Saint Catherine of Alexandria by Guido Reni, circa 1606

[viktoronko-deactivated20260413]

The only one who doesn't misunderstand me is the Lord

[icaseybaybee]

[biblicalgirl]

"𝐆𝐨𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐧, 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐢𝐦... 𝐌𝐲 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐧, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐰𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐚𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐭, 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐆𝐨𝐝, 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞. 𝐆𝐨𝐝 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐜𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐬 𝐇𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮. 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐆𝐨𝐝 𝐅𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫, 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐅𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨𝐨."

- St. Cosmas of Aetolia

[luckism]

A Franciscan monk taking a break from tending to the fields to pet a cat (2004)

Captured by photographer Steve McCurry at the Sanctuary of Santa Maria della Foresta in Rieti, Italy.

[beginners-mind]

“Enough of the idolatry of self and money! Enough of the display of power! Enough of war!”

Pope Leo XIV

[legitimately]

Psalms 65:8a NLT // “The Sun” by Edvard Munch // “The Indian Ocean with the setting sun” by Jan Willem ‘Willy’ Sluiter // Psalms 65:8b NLT

[capricornpropaganda]

I think we all deserve something heart shaped today

[caffeinatedrosary]

[patron-saint-of-lesbeans]

God have mercy. God have mercy. God have mercy. God have mercy. God have mercy. God have mercy. God have mercy.

[patron-saint-of-lesbeans]

Jesus I trust in you. Jesus I trust in you. Jesus I trust in you.

[patron-saint-of-lesbeans]

I am never not thinking about the three wise men.

[patron-saint-of-lesbeans]

I mean, we generally assume they came from different pagan kingdoms. At what point did they find each other? At what point did they converse enough to realize they were all looking for the same thing?

I still think about the fact that they traveled to find Christ at all. They left their homes, their families and livelihoods to follow a star of prophecy, promising a prince not meant for them? Did anyone try to stop them? Why was this foreigners’ new king so important? So worthy of such toil and time and effort?

They had different ideas about what they were going to find; they didn’t coordinate their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Did the one that brought gold feel any confusion when they found the star rested over the home of peasants? Did the one with frankincense wonder what life this carpenter’s son would lead to become a great priest? Did the one with myrrh feel horror when they reckoned with the child their gift of embalming was meant for?

I wonder if they heard of Herod’s slaughter of the innocents. If safe at their own kingdoms, they heard the cries of mourning mothers and murdered infants. Did they feel any guilt for following the Lord’s instruction? Did they worry the newborn prince they found had fallen victim to the king’s jealous wrath?

[rawcunningmaster]

[forward-in-joy]

Happy Feast of St. Ursula and Companions to all who claim her as patron saint!

[musings-of-a-prodigal]

Something about Our Lady of Guadalupe just speaks to me. The choice to appear to an Indigenous Mexican man rather than a Spanish colonist. The way this factors into the initial disbelief when Juan Diego shares what he has seen— the subtext of the Blessed Virgin wouldn't appear to someone like you. The fact she appears as Indigenous and pregnant, identifying herself with the oppressed. "Am I not here, I who am your mother?"

[chirhos]

no, you are not "running from God". He's in front of you

[chirhos]

you're running laps on a track and He is sitting in the inner field waiting for you to tire yourself out and come sit with Him

[luxperpetualuceateis]

he's in the grass braiding dandelions together and once you're ready to rest he'll put the flower crown on you

[psalmlover]

- ingrid goff-maidoff

[traumacatholic]

When someone posts "I don't usually ask for prayers" "I don't usually ask for help" etc. Especially encourage them, especially share their requests for prayers/help. So that they might be comforted and strengthened, and that in the future, they will not hesitate to ask for help. They will not forget the goodness you have done to them.

[forward-in-joy]

Take 5 for Faith - Monday, 7 July 2025

When in doubt

Some people seem to be born with the gift of deep faith. They appear to have an intuitive grasp of the spiritual side of life and to know God is always with them. The rest of us must endure long periods of doubt and uncertainty that are only occasionally interrupted by brief moments of spiritual clarity. Saint John of the Cross advises us to “Live in faith and hope, though it be in darkness, for in this darkness God protects the soul.” Ask yourself, “Where am I on the continuum between faith and doubt?” Is it possible that the Lord is with you and you don’t know it? Ask God to shine his light into your darkness.

Today's readings: Genesis 28:10-22a; Matthew 9:18-26 (383).

“Truly, the Lord is in this spot, although I did not know it!”