We have some exciting news to share! In 2015, the bishop of the Diocese of Phoenix, AZ, Bishop Thomas Olmstead, wrote a letter to the men of his diocese called Into the Breach. The phrase “into the breach” comes from the Bible, specifically, from the Book of the Prophet Ezekiel: “And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I
What is grief? How does it impact the person? What can you do to help a friend who is grieving? In order to help someone who is grieving, we must first attempt to understand what it means to walk in their shoes. One of my goals with this blog is to show you, with words, what grief is like. Leave behind the “I could never imagine” and begin to imagine with me for just one
As I type the title to this latest blog post it shocks me to my core and I dissolve into tears. In a million years I never would have thought that I would be advising other grieving families on their child’s gravesite. It is something I had never stopped to imagine or consider and I know that most people don’t. It’s just not a normal thing to think about. As I have walked this path
Let’s talk about overwhelm. I cannot speak to what men experience but I can speak to what so many women experience. We are consistently exhausted and overwhelmed by the many demands life places on us. When grief is added into this mix all of these thoughts swirling around in our heads are suddenly exacerbated one hundredfold. How do I get the laundry folded when I can’t stop crying? How do I show my children peace
We can and we will conquer the desert.
"I remember telling some friends who were staying in touch with me over those 28.5 hours, “My baby went to Heaven to be with Jesus” as I cried and smiled. Oh, in that moment of death you are witnessing something so incredible that you cannot help but mingle tears of agony and joy. To stand on the very edge of earth and Heaven is an experience unlike any other. God did not wipe away my tears in those moments. God has not wiped away my tears since those moments. And I am ok with that. Tears mean that I love my daughter. As my husband said to me recently, “We love her through death.”
Read more here >>> joyfullikemaggie.com/when-god-doesnt-wipe-away-the-tears/
It took 3 attempts but we finally recorded this episode! Podcasting with a family is not easy. LOL! But we were determined to sit down and discuss what it has been like the past year trying to grow an apostolate. We were prompted to have this discussion by a big milestone. We reached 1,000 likes on our Facebook page (and even more since we recorded)!
We talk about how Maggie's witness is inextricably bound to our family life. We also talk about what it means to have a living witness; one not bound to a moment in time, but one that lives, grows, and perseveres each day, week, month and year by the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
We also have a fairly in-depth conversation about how the gospel brings victory in the very relationships between Christians by making these relationships unbreakable and metaphysical. Christian relationships are not defined by or bound to the earthly and physical, but actually reach into heaven.
LISTEN HERE >>>>https://joyfullikemaggie.com/podcast/
Today is the Feast Day of St. Mary Magdalene. To put it simply this is a special day on which the Catholic Church, and many other Christian around the world, honors St. Mary Magdalene and her love for our Lord. We celebrated with a special cake, scripture readings, and family fun.
It was Mary Magdalene who was with the few who accompanied Jesus to the cross and tomb. It was she who wept over His beautiful Body broken for us. It was she who anointed this same Body at the gravesite. It was she who delivered the news with joyous exclamation, "I have seen the Lord!"
"Tell us Mary, what did you see on the way?
I saw the glory of the risen Christ, I saw his empty tomb."
You see, Mary Magdalene is a witness, even today, to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is she who is remembered throughout all of history as proclaiming that Jesus is no longer dead. It is no mistake we named our own Magdalene Thérèse after this faithful follower of Christ. You see, our Maggie is also a witness to His resurrection. We do not want people to only see sadness when they think of Maggie. We want people to see and hear what Maggie is now proclaiming. "See!? Death has no sting! The devil has no power! The grave is conquered!"
Arise and be filled with courage dear friends. Our victory is at hand. Jesus has conquered the grave and the devil holds no power over us. Be hopeful for the day will come when there are no more tears. Until that day, may we all persevere as bravely as Mary Magdalene and Magdalene Thérèse Ramirez.
If you would like to read more about St. Mary Magdalene today's gospel of John 20:1-2 and 11-18 is a good place to start.
St. Mary Magdalene, pray for us.
Maggie, pray for us.
Part 2 of Padre Pio is out and ready for you to listen to!
joyfullikemaggie.com/podcast/
This sweet girl was modeling with clay when she yelled, "Mama! It's a heart!" She doesn't know how to make a heart yet she finds them almost daily.
Ever since Maggie died we have found hearts from the most common of places to the strangest of places. And we know they are a simple sign from our girl. It doesn't surprise me that she uses hearts as this is where joy springs from. Today, I choose joy.
"Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy!" - Psalm 126:5
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