Women Of Grace with Johnnette Williams - 05/07/26

Added: 2026-05-09

[00:00:00]Trump told reporters at the White House yesterday there have been very good talks over the previous day. Iran's foreign ministry spokesman confirmed his government was reviewing a US plan. And the Dascese of Springfield, Illinois has announced a new initiative to create a shrine to the first black priest in the United States who's on the path to saintthood. Venerable Augustine Tolton was born a slave and after ordination began his ministry in Quincy where the shrine will be established at St. from Bonafice Church. The national fundraising effort got underway last week. For more news with a Catholic perspective, visit EWTN news.com.

[00:00:39]Women of Grace with John Williams starts now.

[00:00:47]This is Women of Grace Live, discussing issues important to your life and faith, spiritual insight, practical wisdom.

[00:00:57]Join us as we transform the world one woman at a time, Women of Grace for such a time as this. Now, here's your host, Janette Williams.

[00:01:10]>> Well, good morning everyone and welcome to Women of Grace Live. I am Jonet Williams. Very happy to be with you today on this beautiful day that the Lord has made, this beautiful day that he has entrusted to each one of us. And you know, that is so very true. I like to sit there and think about that sometimes. I don't know about you, but I like to sit there and think about the fact that God has entrusted this day to me and me to this day. And so, obviously, this God who always has, you know, a a divine purpose, who is never thinking about doing something, but always doing something. This God who is a God of intentionality, clearly there is something in this day that he wants for me to receive from him. And there's something in this day that he wants me to give back to him. And so, you know, it's a great way to begin your morning offering just to ask him for that. Lord, you've entrusted this day to me and me to this day. You know, I I hope to be open. Help me to be open to receive every spiritual blessing in the heavens that you want me to receive. Help me to be open, Lord God, to see you showing up uh in in in the beautiful wonder of nature, uh in the beautiful wonder of circumstances that come my way in situations. Help me to always find you with me. May I be with you and in being with you, Lord God, may I offer myself to you. May I receive from you and give back to you. Isn't that a beautiful thing? Uh, you know, so today he's got something in this day for you. He really does. And I hope that by the end of the day, you know, as you're lying in bed perhaps and you're doing your uh evening moment of recollection, you know, perhaps going through a an examination of conscience, uh that that you look for that how, Father God, you know, how how was it? What did I receive from you today? And and see what it was and give him praise and thanksgiving for it.

[00:02:58]That's really what he wants back from you is praise and thanksgiving. Not because he needs it, but because when we give it, we are actually opening ourselves up to receive more from him.

[00:03:09]You know, the spiritual laws of heaven, the way in which God operates, you know, are are never changing. The they're they're always the same. There's this grand consistency in God. We're the ones who fluctuate, not God. God is steady.

[00:03:22]He is who he is. Who he is who he is. I am who am. That's how he defines himself. I am who am. And in that we discover that this God is an unchangeable God. And this is why you know uh you know the the the advice and counsel of great saints certainly scripture comes to our aid because we discover more about God. But God is always always always giving him giving of himself. We simply need to be open to receive it. Well there you have it.

[00:03:50]833288 EWTN. That's 833-2883986.

[00:03:56]That's the way that you can join us live here on Women of Grace Live where we do love having holy conversation with you.

[00:04:01]Again, that's 833288 EWTN. It's toll-free for you right here in North America. We invite you to use it. Give us a call. Your questions, comments gratefully received. I'm so happy to receive them. I surely am. Also want to remind you that you use that very same number to send your text message to us. So, you can text us. Text us at 8332883986.

[00:04:25]That's 833288 EWTN. We're available for you as well out there at EWTN Radio's YouTube channel. Simply inviting you to join us there. You can see me. I'm waving to you. Very happy. Wish I could see you. I can't, but I can imagine you, but you can actually see me. So, there you go. It's very, very good to see you.

[00:04:44]I'll tell you something funny. years and years ago, I was in a grocery store uh in in my local area and uh I had been on our local radio station for a while and apparently there had been some kind of a listenership that grew up about it. Uh and uh there I was, I was in this grocery store and I was checking out and I was chitchatting with the cashier as I frequently do. So I was having this little pleasant conversation and this man uh was behind me with a buggy and he said to me uh he said, "I know you. I know who you are. I know your voice. And uh and I said, "You do?" And he said, "Yes." He said, "You're Jonet Benovic."

[00:05:18]And that's who I was at the time. That was my last name, married to my late husband. And I said, "That's absolutely right." And then he looked at me, you know, like with at first a bit of a perplexed expression and then kind of like with a sad expression and he said, "It's just that I always thought you were a brunette."

[00:05:37]So isn't it funny how it is that that we kind of you know make up the way a person looks by the way in which we hear uh their voice and you know it's often uh you know very contrary to to our imaginative image of them when we meet them in person but you can see me right now. So there you go. 833288 EWTN.

[00:05:59]That's 8332883986.

[00:06:02]That's the way that you can join us here. It's very funny. I mean I just find it so amazing you know having uh uh you know these kinds of interactions with people and generally speaking it's it's all most of the time it's wonderful. There are times when it's like oh boy she just unloaded on me you know he just gave me a piece of his mind you know uh it can be rather surprising but those are few and far between. So I do want to encourage you to get on to our website womenofgrace.com. We've got all kinds of things happening. I keep telling you about every single one of them. Uh I'm trying to uh you know spend time a little bit each day going through some of the ones that are actually coming up really soon. And we've got a couple of things coming up really soon.

[00:06:44]We have our morning of grace that's coming up uh on May the 12th and we have our evening of grace coming up on May the 14th. Now these are online events.

[00:06:54]Uh we invite you to sign up and join one. They're free of charge. uh and we invite you to come and and share with us uh in these beautiful beautiful opportunities to dig more deeply into our faith and really to be inspired to be inspired uh you know it's it's one thing to uh allow ourselves to to have that that intellectual curiosity about the faith and that's a good thing uh because that helps us to dig deeply into the truths of the faith helps us to dig deeply into sacred scripture and it's very beneficial for our life of faith but it's a whole another thing to experience it in the you know, uh to experience it in the heart uh involves an aspect of our being that the intellect sometimes does not stimulate. It can stimulate it, but when we're inspired, when something is inspirational, why it leads us, I think, uh into a taste of the Lord, it leads us into a desire for him. It leads us into less of an academic intellectual pursuit and more of a heart pursuit that that we want to know him that we want to love him that that we want to give ourselves to him right uh so we love inspiring people I mean that that is what we do uh you know and I hope that that's what we do I mean that's that's what our our you know desire is is to inspire people to inspire people to enter more deeply in if they're inspired they're going to naturally intellectually investigate Okay. But if that's the whole, you know, aspect of of of their relationship with God is an intellectual pursuit, it can leave them a little cold interiorly. And God doesn't want that. He wants us to experience the warmth and the breadth of his Holy Spirit. So, uh, these mornings of grace, evenings of grace are designed to to do that for you, to bring you into a place where you can really begin to hopefully be uh, moved in the heart to an engagement with the Lord. Moved in the heart to an engagement with the Lord. You know, it's one thing to find out about somebody. It's another thing to know them, to know them well. That's what we want for you. We want for you to know our Lord well. So, get out there to our website, womenofgrace.com. Sign up for our morning of grace, our evening of grace. We think you're going to love it.

[00:09:05]Uh I do want to tell you about some other wonderful things that are coming up in the near future when we come back from the break. But most of all, what do I want to do? Most of all, I want to hear from you. Yes, I do. 833288 EWTN.

[00:09:18]That's 833-2883986 is the way you can call us. Call us.

[00:09:22]Call us. Uh we'll receive your call.

[00:09:24]Matthew Gubensky. We'll get you up on the board. I'll be able to talk with you. Uh we'll get your text message up on the board. It's the same number 833288 EWTN. And uh yeah, we're coming right back. So stay with us.

[00:09:46]Become formed in the heart of our mother with the moments with Mary study series available through women of grace. This study series unpacks the beauty and mystery of our blessed mother. In the first study, who is Mary? We answer that very question and come to know our blessed mother as never before. This six week study is one that you pray through.

[00:10:06]It can be used in a group setting or explored individually. With the purchase of your study guide, you will receive online access to study teaching videos with Jet Williams and Father Hugh Gillespie. Through these videos, enlightening articles, your daily time of prayerful meditation, and daily reflection videos with Jonette, you will be immersed into the treasure that is our blessed mother. Whether you join a group, start a group, or study on your own, you are sure to deepen your relationship with Mary. Order your copy of Moments with Mary, who is Mary, today through religious catalog, www.ewtnligiouscatalog.com.

[00:10:46]The Easter season is 7 weeks and EWTN's award-winning National Catholic Register is here for you to inform your mind and inspire your heart so you can better live out your faith each day. Get one year for the discounted price of just 125 per issue. The National Catholic Register delivered to your home, office, or parish. Gain a deeper understanding of God's love and providence by reading the register. Subscribe today and get one year for the greatly discounted price of just $1.25 per issue. That's 26 issues delivered to your home, office, or parish. Order online at ncregister.com/radio or call 800421-3230 and mention code radio. That's ncregister.com/radio or call 800421-3230 and mention code radio for your discount. The National Catholic Register. Read faithfully.

[00:11:47]>> Join in on the conversation. The Women of Grace phone lines are open.

[00:11:51]1833288EWTN 18332883986.

[00:11:59]Welcome back everybody. You are listening to Women of Grace Live. I am Janet Williams. I'm very happy to be with you today and I'm really looking forward to hearing from you. Uh, I invite you to use this toll-free number to join us live here on Women of Grace Live today. 833-288 EWTN. That's 833-2883986.

[00:12:19]That is the way that you can join us.

[00:12:20]And you know, I love having holy conversation with you. So, let's chitchat together today. Please use that number and give us a call. You use that very same number for your text message.

[00:12:30]So, you can send your text to us and we'll address it on the air. That number again, 833-2883986.

[00:12:37]We'll get that text message. Matthew Gensky answering the phones today. Pedro Keelles out there on social media. We're with you via EWTN Radio's YouTube channel. Uh I'm waving to you there. You can see us there, but we're brought to you by so many wonderful affiliates throughout the United States and beyond.

[00:12:55]We are so grateful too to be with you on a variety of other platforms. It's always good just to be together. It is indeed. Hey, today is a very special day. Today is the birthday of Father John Paul, Mary Zeller. Yes, it is. You know, Father John Paul, uh he is frequently seen on EWTN on various programs and of course you'll see him celebrating the mass and have the pleasure of hearing his homalies. Uh he also is very very actively engaged at EWTN's YouTube channel and also uh through the friars's YouTube channel. So we invite you to get to know Father John Paul if you don't know him already. I know him, known him for a long, long time. And so delighted to wish him a happy birthday today right here on the air. So happy birthday to you, Father John Paul. Happy birthday. Happy birthday. Happy birthday. So delighted.

[00:13:46]I I had a chance to see him on campus yesterday. I was there for production.

[00:13:50]I'm back in production today. And his mom is in town for his birthday. It's a big birthday for father. And uh so she was there and I had a chance to chitchat with her and to uh see the father John Paul. So, we want to wish him a happy happy birthday. And I would ask you please to wing a prayer his way today.

[00:14:06]How about just sending a Hail Mary uh up to the heavens on his behalf. I think that that would be a beautiful beautiful birthday present for him. 833288 EWTN.

[00:14:16]That's 8332883986 is the way that you can join us right here on Women of Grace Live where we love having that holy conversation with you. Do want to uh just mention a couple of other events that are coming up at Women of Grace. Uh we're really excited about this. You know, we go to Melvin every year. Melvin is outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. We have our annual retreat there uh every year. And uh we also have in conjunction with a retreat a Benedicta enrichment seminar.

[00:14:44]You know that the Benedicta Institute for Women is sort of like our educational arm if you will of women of grace. And this year I'm very excited about uh this enrichment se seminar coming up. I'm always excited about them. Uh but I'm very very happy because Dr. Robert Enight is going to be with us and Dr. Robert Enight is the founder of the forgiveness institute and has just uh really done breakthrough research on the relationship between forgiveness and mental health. It's really quite fascinating. It's really quite engaging.

[00:15:17]He's going to be leading our seminar this year and it's going to be on that uh so on that topic. So I want to invite you to join us uh you know the for this uh beautiful beautiful Benedicta enrichment seminar. Now that precedes our retreat. This begins on Thursday July the 23rd runs through Thursday beginning at around 9:00 a.m. Uh you know we've got 8 a.m. on the website that's probably more accurate. Uh beginning around 8:00 a.m. and then uh you know continuing on on Friday up until about 2:00 p.m. Then we get ready for our retreat. So join us for the benedicta and join us for the uh for the retreat itself. Uh this is a a a very I think interesting topic that we're going to be exploring through our time together at this retreat. It's emotional balance in an upside down world.

[00:16:08]Emotional balance in an upside down world. We're very very uh happy to be presenting this theme. It's an unusual one for us but it's a very very important one. absolutely very important and we're going to be looking at emotional balance as given to us by uh the teachings of the church uh obviously in sacred scripture uh but also by some of the saints and and and some of the beautiful spiritualities that are available and how they help for us to experience emotional balance in an upside down world. Uh currently the three speakers that we have lined up, Vivian Accel, very excited to have her joining us. We're going to be looking at emotional balance in light of the ignation uh exercises and the ignation spirituality. Dr. Robert Enight will also be presenting. I'll be presenting and Gary Zimick is going to be with us too and he's going to be presenting. So I want you to get out there and take a look at it. I think that this is going to be just a an absolutely wonderful time in the Lord. So, I sure did want to mention that to you. So, we're open for registration there. We already have a lot of people signed up. Uh, you know, we kind of are limited in space there.

[00:17:18]So, if if uh you know, you want to come, I'm just encouraging you to consider it and and to get about the business of signing up while we still have room available. 833288 EWTN. That's 833-2883986 is the way that you could join us. Now, Marie from the northeast of the United States uh got in touch with us two days ago, and I was hoping that we would be able to address her question yesterday, but it was actually wacky Wednesday, and we weren't able to get to it. We ran out of time on Tuesday. So, I have it here.

[00:17:54]Uh and this was a text message that she sent in. And I thought we should start our program today in terms of questions with hers. So, I want to invite you though, call 833-288 EWTN. That's 833-288-3986.

[00:18:08]Uh, this is what Marie says. She says, "I need guidance on a serious matter. My sister and I are in our early 40s. Our parents were married about 36 years when our dad passed away from illness in 2016. Now, the situation is that our dear mom has a recent diagnosis of a lifelimiting illness. My sister first initial is N is living a sinful lifestyle uh with of living with a guy she thinks she loves. They have been cohabitating for a couple of years. We were raised strong Catholics. My sister has renounced the faith and is spreading falsehoods about the Catholic faith. An is now demanding that upon our mom's death, she wants her boyfriend listed as her significant other and listed by name in the obituary. They have not made any commitment to each other and the boyfriend has no faith at all. He doesn't support my sister and to attend mass near her so she doesn't attend anymore. Please guide me as I do not uh I do not support listing the boyfriend in the obituary. Well, you know, Marie, I you know, this is uh this is a very pertinent issue that you're bringing up today and it's a very sensitive issue and we live in a day and time unfortunately where our culture has embraced cohabitation. And unfortunately, many people within the church have embraced cohabitation.

[00:19:30]But we know that cohabitating living with someone as man and wife prior to uh the the the sacrament of matrimony is forboden uh not just by the church. The church is enforcing what our god tells us in sacred scripture. And so I understand your your concern and and I think that it's obvious though it's not stated you know uh specifically within your question here. Your ultimate concern is for the eternal welfare and salvation of your sister and for her to uh have an opportunity to look at the reality of of what she's doing and to break with the lifestyle and to come out of that lifestyle. Uh and I I sympathize with you in this. I I I I know that this has got to be a very difficult moment for you and it's probably been difficult for the last couple of years. uh at the beginning point of her cohabitating with this man. I'm not surprised that she's fallen away from the faith because you know here's the thing. When we're living a sinful lifestyle, it's very difficult to be in the light. We go to the holy sacrifice of the mass and the holy sacrifice of the mass is filled with the light of God. It's filled with the life of God. And when we're living in sin, we don't want to come into that light. It's hard. It hurts. It's like walking into the bright sunlight after having been in a darkened room for 24 hours. It hurts the eyes. And in the same way, when we are living in the darkness of sin, the light of truth and the life of God hurts our spiritual eyes.

[00:21:20]We either feel convicted or we run away.

[00:21:24]It's one of the two. And in this case, your sister has run away. She's left the light of truth. She doesn't want to come into the light. And so, what do people do when they're outside of the light?

[00:21:40]They argue for their preference.

[00:21:43]They argue for the darkness that they're engaged in.

[00:21:46]They want to in some way make it right.

[00:21:50]They want the world to see it right.

[00:21:52]They're in the midst of rationalizing themselves and they want to try to convince everybody that what they're doing is okay. Typically, that need to want to convince everybody that what you're doing is okay comes from a guilty conscience.

[00:22:08]So, the fact that your sister is trying to justify this and trying to get acclamation for this is an indication to me that her conscience is not dead.

[00:22:20]She's trying to kill it, but it's not dead or she wouldn't be clamoring so much. So I think that in a in a kind of a via the way of negativa, you know, via negativa from the negative, you know, reality, there's almost a positive that can be seen here. So I want you to be uh strengthened in in your desire for her and for your in your hope for her. And I want you to be encouraged in your prayer for her.

[00:22:54]continue to pray for her. Now, I don't know what your mother's stance is with regard to this relationship. I would hope that your mother uh is is standing firm in her desire for your sister to come out of this lifestyle. Often times, parents will capitulate, however, because they don't want to break the relationship with the child. And I well understand that once that relationship with the child is broken, the lines of communication generally are broken. We don't want for that. By the same token, we have to love our child enough to speak truth to our child. Always in love, of course, but to speak truth and to acknowledge even in the speaking of truth that I know that this could potentially or even end our relationship, but I love you too much not to speak truth to you. And this isn't good. And if this guy really loved you, this guy would be willing to marry you. and maybe it's time for you to find out how much he really does love you by putting it on the line. That's a risk and sometimes some people are not willing to take that risk. But um I hope that your sister at least at some point in time will come to take that risk. Now what you do about this? I think that, you know, this desire for her for her uh boyfriend uh to be acknowledged in the obituary is another attempt to bring some kind of uh social acceptance to their situation. And I have to say say that this has become more common. I have seen this in obituaries uh where they name a significant other and sometimes it's surprising you know what what you read there but this is you know an issue that that obviously has got to be sorted out and I cannot tell you how to decide on this. I think it's important for you uh to to do a little ignation exercise. And the little ignation exercise that I'm going to offer you is one that I've offered frequently on the air here. And it was one that was given to me uh by Father Mitch when I was discerning a very important move in my life uh some years ago. And he said that this is the way in which St. Ignatius of Loyola advises that we discern when we really are striving to find out what is God's will for us. And yet we're in a quandry. We haven't figured it out. And the first step is to do something that has been, you know, acknowledged really within you secular the secular world for many many years, generations really. Uh probably going back to Benjamin Franklin. Uh but uh what it is is to do a list of pros and cons. And when you do the list of pros and cons, you know, you look at the very practical realities, but you look at in addition to the practical realities, you look at the the more intuitive, psychological, and emotional realities as well. And so you list the pros and you list the cons. So I would encourage you list the pros of of of putting this person's name in the obituary according to your sister's desires and then list the cons. And here you want the practical realities as well as the softer realities. One of the practical realities that I would say would be that you know you you you want to remain uh you want to remain uh a sister a good sister to your sibling. Uh now that good sisterhood in a very practical sense means that you maintain a relationship with her. But it also on on the more you know spiritual intuitive you know emotional side means that you want the best for her and clearly living in mortal sin is not the best for her.

[00:26:41]So that might find its way into both the pro and the con column. You go through that you see how many pros do you have how many cons do you have and that generally will help you to make a decision. But if it doesn't you do this you sit with the Lord. I would recommend that you get into the presence of the Lord if you can. Uh go into a church, sit before the tabernacle. If there's an opportunity for uh you to sit before our Lord in exposition when he's exposed, I would encourage that. And you sit there now and you bring this dilemma to the Lord and you you you're straight up with him. This is what my sister wants to do.

[00:27:19]This is what she's really insisting upon. And you know that I am not in favor of this. And so now, Lord, I present it to you and then use the gift of your imagination.

[00:27:30]Um, and this is this is straight up Ignatius. You know, he encourages us when we're praying to put ourselves into the scene that that we're doing lexo with or when we're praying our rosary into the scene.

[00:27:41]So, here you are now, and you put yourself into the scene. And here's the scene that you put yourself into. You put yourself into the scene of this particular obituary being written with the person's name in it, excuse me, listed as your sister's significant other.

[00:28:02]And you sit with that. Maybe you even picture it in print and there it is.

[00:28:06]Bring it into your imagination. Now, Ignatius would have you pay attention to what's operative in you at that moment.

[00:28:16]what's working in you at that moment, what spirits or spirit presents itself and what is it bringing forth? And one way that we test that is by how do I feel right now? Am I comfortable or uncomfortable?

[00:28:37]Am I antsy or am I at peace? Do am I experiencing peace?

[00:28:44]Is there a certain kind of interior resolve?

[00:28:48]Am I lacking anxiety?

[00:28:52]Test it against the fruit of the Holy Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22.

[00:28:58]And then do the opposite. Picture it not in there.

[00:29:04]See it not there.

[00:29:07]What does that bring up in you? Now be aware of the fact that in addition to seeing it there and not there, you also have to be in recognition of the fact that your sister is involved in this. What are your emotions towards your sister?

[00:29:26]Are they bringing up something of the Lord or are they bringing up something of darkness, angst, irritation, anxiety?

[00:29:36]More to come on the other side of the break. 833288 EWTN is the way that you can join us. We'll continue. Stay tuned.

[00:29:47]>> Here's another EWTN Real News Minute.

[00:29:50]>> The year 450 AD. Notorious, the patriarch of Constantinople, claims that there are two persons in Jesus Christ, one divine and one human. Notorious also objects to calling Mary the mother of god and renames her mother of the savior. In 431 AD, the emperor Theodosius II convenes the council of Ephesus which condemns Ntorius as a heretic. He is banished and dies in exile. 20 years later at the council of Calcidon, notorianism is finally vanquished with the proclamation that Jesus is one divine person with both divine and human natures. Jesus is true God and true man who was born, died, and resurrected. Therefore, Mary is indeed the mother of God.

[00:30:46]This is Colin Donovan. Do you have questions about theology? Then join me on Open Line Friday, tomorrow afternoon, 3 Eastern on EWTN Radio.

[00:30:58]This is Father Nicholas Vasco. The month of May is dedicated to the blessed mother. Let us pray. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

[00:31:25]>> Celebrating the precious gift of life.

[00:31:28]>> This is EWTN Radio.

[00:31:31]>> Hi, this is Sai Keller. We've got Joe Heshmire later today on Catholic Answers Live and you can ask whatever you like.

[00:31:36]Catholic Answers Live 6 p.m. Eastern on EWTN radio. Now back to Women of Grace with Jet Williams.

[00:31:46]Join in on the conversation. The Women of Grace phone lines are open. 1833288 EWTN 18332883986.

[00:31:59]Welcome back everybody. You're listening to Women of Grace Live. I am Janet Williams. Happy to be with you today and eager to get your phone calls. 833288 EWTN. That's 833-2883986.

[00:32:12]It is the way that you can join us live here. We love having holy conversation with you. Use that number also to get your question to us by text. 833288 EWTN is the way you text us as well.

[00:32:24]Makes it easy breezy for you. Hey, listen. Uh you know, we're going to get back to our question uh with Marie in just a moment, but I want to remind you about something. You know, everybody should have a Bible. You know, you should have a Bible. You should have a catechism. Uh EWTN's religious catalog has a beautiful family Bible, St. Joseph edition. It's black. Uh it is a translation of the complete Old and New Testaments. It's fresh, faithful, and reader friendly. Uh it is quite lovely.

[00:32:50]It's easy to read. It's inviting. It's in 13point type face. That's really big.

[00:32:56]That's really good. I could even read that without my reading glasses. The largest of any Catholic family Bible in a comparable side. Uh it is rich and it's extensive. It has really good footnotes in it that will help you. Uh it it comes in an impressive eight and a half by 11 page size with gilded edges.

[00:33:13]It's specifically designed uh with full color end papers. So it's very very pretty. It's got decorative ribbons.

[00:33:19]It's it's it's the it's the whole thing, right? It's the Mac Daddy of a Bible. So I want you to get out there to EWTN's religious catalog. That's EWTNRC.com and order your copy. It's there for you.

[00:33:31]It is indeed. Now back to Marie. So Marie is in this dilemma. Uh her father has passed away. Uh her mother has been diagnosed with a lifelimiting illness.

[00:33:43]Uh there is herself and her sibling, a sister. Um they are in their early 40s.

[00:33:48]Uh Marie's sister is living a sinful lifestyle with a with a man and uh she thinks she's in love with him. Uh they've been cohabitating for a couple of years. uh her sister is no longer practicing the faith and she doesn't know what to do because her sister says that when it's time to write mom's obituary she wants to list her boyfriend as her significant other. She wants him named there really giving status within the family and Marie is uncomfortable with this. So I was giving Marie some insight using the ignation exercises as a way to to solve her dilemma here. And the first of course is to do a procon and a listcon. The second is to picture yourself uh you know saying yes to this and then saying no to this seeing what rises up in you. Is it of the Lord or is it not of the Lord? What rises up in you? meaning that is it is it a spirit of consolation or is it a spirit of desolation? And even in considering that uh not only do you know I encouraged her to basically envision the obituary itself listing him and then not listing him but also to be aware of the fact uh you know that she's got you you need Marie to picture yourself presenting this to your sister and and living through the repercussions of it and then not presenting it to your sister and living through the repercussions of it.

[00:35:11]So there's that aspect. Finally, if we don't have an answer after that second step, then we take it to the third and there you are and it's your moment of judgment. You you you've died. You're standing before the throne of the Lord and you're bringing this to the Lord in that moment and what does he say to you about it and how do you feel? And that generally cinches the deal. So those were the the steps that uh Father Mitch Pacqua gave me at a time when I had to make a critical decision uh regarding a number of things that were going to influence and affect people's lives. And uh it really really did help me and it really really made it clear for me.

[00:35:48]Here's one other suggestion. However, your mother is still living and I'm assuming that your mother knows that she has this lifelimiting illness. Uh doctors do not keep that from patients anymore. They used to keep such things from patients. I don't know if you're aware of that, but they used to. Uh, but they're they don't do that anymore. So, your mother is probably aware of her situation. You might want to ask your mother.

[00:36:14]You know, mom, you know, what specifically would you like for me to include and what would you have me not include? Now, I'm assuming that you're the one that's making the the the ultimate decisions here. I don't know.

[00:36:28]But your mother is still living and and your mother can be very helpful, I think, in working through this with you.

[00:36:35]And I would not hesitate to to ask her.

[00:36:38]I would not. Uh so, you know, I I I can't tell you uh that it's uh I cannot tell you uh what to do. You have to make that decision for yourself. But I would encourage you to consider all of those options, Marie. and I'm sorry you're in this situation. You know, I think sometimes, you know, our our our anger uh and and and and you know, dissatisfaction with individuals is when they place us in very difficult situations, you know, uh they kind of throw a mess at us and and leave us to to to deal with the mess and it's very very difficult. What I would encourage you not to do is to allow the evil one to get to uh you know to get busy in this. keep him out of it. So, don't get angry, you know, try the anger is not a sin. Don't act out of anger.

[00:37:31]That's basically what I'm trying to say there. Don't let it get to resentment.

[00:37:35]Don't let it get to bitterness. Yes, you're in an uncomfortable position.

[00:37:39]It's not fair that your sister should put you in this position uh because she wants you to embrace her sinful lifestyle. You cannot do that. Uh but this is a nuanced matter here, I think.

[00:37:50]And uh I would also ask you know your your your your pastor you know if you have a spiritual director talk with your spiritual director about it. I hope that it helps you Maria. I hope I've given you some insight. I know it was a kind of a rambling kind of resolution for you there but but at least think about it.

[00:38:07]833288 EWTN that's 8332883986 is the way that you can join us today.

[00:38:15]You know, it's very important for us to consider uh the the decisions that we make, especially when it involves the the lives of others, other individuals.

[00:38:24]And I'm sure that this situation that Maria's facing is not one that you have not faced, if not in exactly the same manner, at least in some way. It becomes very very difficult uh given the mores of the day given the way in which uh you know our our our culture has embraced sin just across the board in all kinds of of manner and then you know family individuals are put into uncomfortable positions and they don't want to be there. So for you know those of us who find ourselves in those positions and I'm sure that we've all found ourselves there the important thing is for us to to to really take the decisions that we have to make regarding it to prayer and to really really seek the advice and the counsel of uh you know our pastors, our spiritual directors uh people that we know that live a life of faith uh before we make a rash decision. And that's the worst thing that we can do is to make a rash decision. Generally speaking, when the decision is a rash one, uh we end up regretting it. We don't want to act rashly. Uh rash judgment, for example, is really even a sin. So, we don't want to jump to conclusions either. 833288 EWTN, that's 833-2883986 is the way that you can join us today right here on Women of Grace Live. We are available to you, hoping you'll take advantage of the opportunity. I'm also hoping that you'll send us a text message. And as I mentioned to you, uh this whole business of text messaging is easy breezy because it's the very same number that you use for our phone call 833288 EWTN. Uh so today, let me just tell you a little bit about my day. I am going to be interviewing Dr. Richard uh Dr. Robert Stackpool. uh and he is uh just tremendous guy and he we're going to be talking about true devotion to our blessed lady given to us by St. Louis de Manford. So I've been doing some research and I had this little notion as I was preparing for the program that you know we we're seeing a resurgence of of true devotion. Uh this whole notion of consecrating ourselves to Jesus through Mary has enjoyed a great popularity in recent times. And I was wondering if since the rediscovery of St. Louis de Manford's true devotion to the blessed virgin Mary which happened in 1842 even though he had written it in the 1700s.

[00:40:49]It was hidden for like 150 years and it was discovered in 1842. Uh since that time it has enjoyed you know and this is this was the theory I was actually testing through my research. Did it enjoy uh great prominence at certain periods of time in certain periods of history? So I went out there and I did some research on that and this is what I discovered. I discovered that true devotion to Mary by St. Louis de Manford has undergone several distinct waves of remarkable influence and popularity and uh it it's interesting these these waves of influence and popularity uh the time periods of them. The first one happened and this would should be no surprise in the 19th century after it was rediscovered there was a revival uh following its rediscovery and its republication or its publication the work spread throughout France went into other parts of Europe uh there was a great renewed Marian devotion in the church uh with an emphasis on total consecration to Jesus through Mary it seemed to resonate strongly with the people of that day and time and it gave rise to a lot of different Marian endeavors. There were a lot of confraternities that grew up, pilgrimages to Marian sites grew up uh and there was a growing prominence of Marian apparitions and dogmatic reflection. So it's very interesting that time period and if you think about that historically you know Europe itself was undergoing a very difficult time. uh and so it's interesting that at that moment of discovery rediscovery that it was at that time and then this revival happened then I don't know that I want I want to say that it waned but but but you know there was this great surge and then this probably even keel for a period of time until the early 20th century when there was a great expansion and it received ecclesial endorsement and during that time the early 20th century again a great big resurgence of true devotion. Uh I thought that that was really interesting and part of that was due to the spread of Montford missionary communities and translations of true devotion into multiple languages. And so that significantly impacted uh it you know the the the the greater numbers of populations of people right uh but it also during that time received ecclesial endorsement. So Rome commented Rome said yes this this is this is a significant work uh there is nothing against faith and morals this is helpful uh for for individuals and for congregations in their spiritual life.

[00:43:44]So that was that also set off a big big time of of uh you know increased devotion to our blessed lady and to consecration to Jesus through Mary. And then again it kind of goes into you know more of a a bit of a law until the pontificate of now St. John Paul II in 1978.

[00:44:09]And this began perhaps the most significant surge in popular times of true devotion and consecration to Jesus through Mary because St. John Paul II openly acknowledged that it was by reading true devotion to Mary that uh a decisive turning point occurred in his spiritual life and that his entire priesthood as well as his papacy was truly founded on true devotion to Mary. It was his spirituality.

[00:44:45]So much so that he even took the the papal motto totis tuis in reference to true devotion to Mary and uh that has gone on to this moment with a great contemporary renewal through Mary and consecration movements. So I you know I found that really interesting. I don't know if you find it interesting. This is the month of Mary. So, I would encourage you if you have never consecrated yourself to Jesus through our blessed lady that you might want to, you know, think about it. I would really, really encourage you to do so. Uh, I think that it would really be quite helpful for you. I think it would be a a great way for you to enter ever more deeply into union with our Lord by way of his mother. We never have to fear loving our lady too much. It's an impossibility to do such a thing because our blessed lady of course always leads us to her son our lord Jesus Christ. And in this Marian month uh I think that uh beginning that consecration to Jesus through Mary uh would be a beautiful thing. Uh even if you don't finish it up obviously you can't. It's a 33-day preparation. So we're into May already. So you could finish it up next month. Uh I don't think that it matters. God is outside of time and space. Though it's very nice and significant when we can begin these things on special days. Uh it is not necessar necessary that we do so. So I would encourage you uh to consider this.

[00:46:13]It's it's a beautiful thing. I can tell you this. There's many fruits that come by way of uh you know consecration to Jesus through Mary. Many many fruits that come. You you will notice an increased affinity for prayer. You will notice uh a greater humility. Uh you will notice that there is a a growing uh attraction to the virtues and and a deeper desire to mortify ourselves to practice them to give up some of the things that that might be holding us back in terms of uh our behaviors and in terms of of uh you know our activities.

[00:46:50]So I think that that would be a great thing. I I I definitely know that it has a great uh opportunity for this um uh clearing out of of that which is not of God in our lives. Uh it it also I think gives us an increased um enthusiasm, zeal for apostolic endeavor. uh you know in true devotion we we discover that that we are not ancillary to God's plan but God desires to use us that we have a specific call a specific mission within the divine economy to bring the life of Jesus Christ to others uh that that we are the the the the chosen people for this time as we began our program today talking about this God's entrusted the day to us he's entrusted this day this 24-h hour period but he's entrusted this day in in its cultural significance to us as well. And he intends for us to be these individuals who rise above the fray um who are always pointing along with our blessed lady to life on high in Christ Jesus. And and that's the other thing you know what does our blessed mother want to do? What is what is the whole purpose of true devotion? Uh true devotion is is is an operation that comes about through our blessed mother and the holy spirit to to make us uh you know to make us apostles for our lord to to to really uh you know make us live out the reality of who we are that that that we contain within ourselves the god life and to give room to that god life to become in a sense another Christ uh which is what our baptism is all about.

[00:48:26]So our blessed mother and and the holy spirit you know and and she's never operative without the holy spirit uh who is her spouse right uh the one through whom she conceived the god life in her womb incarnationally right uh you know they want to form us that they want to shape us they they want to make us uh into those individuals that god has always desired us to be designed us to to be to bring about this this time of restoration, revival within us. Uh to to help us to get rid of the old man that we might rise up as the new man in Christ Jesus. So, you know, true devotion is very important to me. Uh it's it's it's a wonderful wonderful way to live a life. Uh and I know that uh some of the great Marian movements are have been founded on on St. Louis de Montford. chief among them I would say is the Legion of Mary uh which seeks to uh promote a deep Marian centered spirituality that's rooted in total consecration to Jesus through Mary and when we talk about a Marian centered spirituality what does that mean exactly it means that we strive to become like our lady who was available to the Lord who was receptive to the Lord who trusted in the Lord, who surrendered to the Lord. Mary, you know, is the perfect disciple.

[00:50:04]She's perfect in in in every way.

[00:50:08]She was conceived without the stain of original sin and she never sinned.

[00:50:12]She is immaculate.

[00:50:15]She is immaculate conception.

[00:50:19]It's a beautiful reality.

[00:50:22]who our lady is and what Father God would have us be would be children of Mary, trained by her, shaped by her, fashioned by her.

[00:50:42]She wants to train us up in the way in which we should go. That's her desire.

[00:50:49]Not to take us away from her son. No, no, no.

[00:50:54]But to lead us to her son.

[00:50:59]And if I could phrase it this way, in a certain way, to be the mother of the life of Jesus Christ in us as she was the mother of Jesus himself.

[00:51:15]Isn't that beautiful to think about?

[00:51:18]So, you never have to fear, never have to fear entrusting yourself to our blessed lady.

[00:51:28]She is the most perfect route to life on high in Christ Jesus.

[00:51:36]She is the easiest route to life on high in Christ Jesus.

[00:51:42]She is the shest route to life on high in Christ Jesus. And she is the securest route to life on high in Christ Jesus.

[00:51:55]That's what St. Louis de Manford tells us and it is indeed the truth.

[00:52:01]So never fear, never fear loving our lady too much. When you place yourself under our lady's mantle and you ask her to mother you, you ask her to help you, to guide you, to lead you, to teach you the ways of her son, I can assure you she will.

[00:52:24]And she's a gentle mother, but she can also be, you know, what's the word that I want to want to use? She can be a very, you know, straight up mom, right?

[00:52:37]She won't mince words with you, but she'll speak them very, very lovingly.

[00:52:42]So, I encourage you if you've never anticipated consecrating yourself to Jesus through our Lady, maybe be about the business of doing that. You know, isn't it the truth that at every major step of our Lord's life, the evangelists are very careful to acknowledge it.

[00:53:04]Now, that doesn't mean that our lady only showed up in our Lord's life at those key moments. No, of course not.

[00:53:11]But they were making a point. They were making a point that our blessed mother was always with our Lord and that our that our blessed mother was always mother to her son and that she stood with him and stood by him at every significant moment of his life. And here's a little challenge for you to do.

[00:53:32]just go through sacred scripture. Maybe you just sit in prayer and ask the Holy Spirit, you know, point out to me what were the key moments in our Lord's life.

[00:53:41]What were those key moments? Enumerate them.

[00:53:46]And then, you know, if you've got a whole bunch of them, boil them down to the significant moments and then go to scripture. And you're going to find at each one of them, our Lord was there. or excuse me, our lady was there with our Lord. She was right there by his side. She is always right by his side and she will then lead you to him. Well, it's been great being with you today. Hope you enjoyed the program.

[00:54:14]Looking forward to being with you tomorrow. Remember what tomorrow is. It is it is our glory to God day every Friday right here on Women of Grace Live. So, line up those blessings. I want to hear all about them tomorrow.

[00:54:26]Until we are together again, I'm encouraging you to get out to our website, womenofgrace.com. See all of the good things that are going on for you there. And don't forget to get to EWTN's website, too. EWTN.com.

[00:54:38]God bless you now. Bye-bye.

[00:54:48]Join us throughout the month of May as we honor the Blessed Virgin Mary with special devotions, prayers, and acts of veneration, plus our celebration of Mother's Day and of course, Catholic Radio's premier shows featuring Dr.