As we celebrate the momentous occasion of the election of our new pope, Pope Leo XIV, I am filled with a sense of new beginnings for myself, for my parish and for the Church. I hope for you too :).

A Pope for Every Season

Credit Edgar Beltrán / The Pillar

I converted to Catholicism Easter 2013, and shortly after, Pope Francis was elected. It was a joyous occasion for me, as a new Catholic, to witness this historic moment and to embark on my own Catholic journey as he embarked upon his journey as pope. For that reason, I felt a special endearment to Pope Francis and felt like he was MY pope :).

So as we say goodbye to Pope Francis and the baton passes to another successor of St. Peter, I can’t help but feel a rush of emotion (I cried during Pope Leo’s first speech on the balcony at St. Peter’s) that is a mix of gratitude for being called to Catholicism, awe at the history of our Church and its popes, and excitement for what the future holds.

It feels like a new beginning.

“Always we begin again.” – St. Benedict

A New Book, Not Just a New Chapter

For me personally, I feel like an entire book has been written from Part 1 of my journey of Catholicism… my time as a new Catholic over these last 12 years, learning and discovering and accompanying many souls. Death, life, my kids growing into adults, entering into midlife, entrepreneurial ebbs and flows, illness and health. In a word: Life.

And now I feel that book has closed, the ink has dried on its final page, and I put pen to paper for a new one. Not even a new chapter, but an entirely new book. Of course, I’m not the author — God is. I’m simply holding the pen, trusting His hand to guide the words.

The Preface: A Time of Transition

I’ve spent the last year or so in transition. I liken it to writing the “preface” for this new book. Figuring out where I’m going, what the theme might be, what the chapters could hold — and who the characters will be.

The old me seems to almost be fully behind, and God has poured His spirit into the fresh wineskin of my soul. And in this new wineskin, He begins to write again — a new story, in His words, on the pages of my life.

What has that transition looked like?

It’s been multi-faceted. Working on my health: Understanding peri-menopause and what was happening with my body. Getting my blood sugar from swinging violently to a more steady source of energy. In general, feeling healthy and energetic again.

Navigating the shift into a less active role of motherhood with one son having flown the coop and the other driving and independent. It’s a odd thing to go from always taking someone somewhere to near complete freedom of time. Strangely unnerving after years of that habit. But I think I’ve emerged from that period of adjustment to the other side.

Listening, finally, to that deep desire within my soul to study theology without any understanding of the utility of that study and an acceptance that it may have none aside from the great joy I derive from learning. I took a big swing applying to Notre Dame’s Master’s in Theology program — and the joy of being accepted into a school I’ve long admired feels like living a dream.

“Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire.” – St. Catherine of Siena

Notre Dame’s acceptance came right at our parish mission, which was focused on a revitalization and renewal of our parish, and I suspect deep down that somehow my studies have a role to play there.

Honoring my love of travel — especially of Europe, its history and its languages — and recognizing that call as I set the intention to explore as much as I am able in this second half of life.

Now Begins the Writing

Saint Ambrose by Rutilio di Lorenzo Manetti, Wikimedia Images

And so the preface has come to a conclusion, and now it’s time to start writing the book with God alongside me. As I sat watching the new pope introduce himself to his people, I knew the time had come for me too to begin this new journey.

I feel a renewed sense of mission, of purpose, of momentum, of KNOWING deep down it has begun. Time to step forward, to take action, to do the things that I’ve been tossing around in this old brain for years.

The preparation work is complete; action calls. I trust the Author — and say yes to the next line He’s already begun. The ink is flowing. It’s time to write what He’s been whispering for years.

“God has created me to do Him some definite service. He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another.” – St. John Henry Newman

What Is God Writing in You?

So I invite you to think about what new beginnings are in store for you as we walk this journey with our new pope. What is God calling you to right now that perhaps you’ve been thinking about, putting off, preparing for, transitioning into? Is it time to put actual pen to paper and stop planning? To move forward boldly, knowing God’s providence is guiding you?

I’d love to hear what it is — by writing it here, you can more concretely commit yourself. But if not here, write it in a journal or whisper it in prayer — but name it. Begin.

I hope you’ll continue to follow me as I do the same.  Let’s get out our pens and get to work alongside our new pope!

Credit ViewingMalta.com

Before my Catholic conversion began, there were several stand-out moments where I felt drawn to the faith. There were other moments, which at the time I did not recognize, but in which I now see God’s providence working!

I had a light bulb moment when writing a travel article about a beautiful Mediterranean island called Gozo I was blessed enough to visit for my work back in 2006.

I was not remotely interested in Catholicism at that time; however, this island, which is next to Malta in the Mediterranean, is very Catholic and filled from end to end with gorgeous Catholic churches.

We visited one in particular called Ta’ Pinu Basilica. At the time, I just remember going in the church and feeling an amazing sense of peace. I would describe it as the same peace I felt when I first went to mass of my own accord. I really had thought nothing of it until I was writing an article and went back to look at my notes.

Turns out, this church is a Shrine to Mary and is built where two villagers said they heard the voice of Our Lady. Many miracles are said to have happened to people who visited and prayed there.

Here is the story, according to the shrine’s website:

On the 22nd June 1883, Karmela Grima a forty-five year-old spinster and great devotee of the Blessed Virgin, heard a call, while passing by the chapel on her return home from the fields which surrounded the chapel. “Come, come,” she heard a woman’s voice say. She was confused and frightened, and began to run away from the place. The voice called again, and this time Karmela realised that the voice was coming from within the chapel. She went inside and said her usual prayers. The voice which had come from the image of the Blessed Virgin asked her to recite three Ave Marias in honour of the three days Her body remained in the tomb before Assumption to Heaven.

Karmela did as the voice asked and went on her way. Shortly afterwards, Karmela fell ill and remained confined to her bed for more than a year. After this time, Karmela revealed her secret to a friend, Francesco Portelli, who in turn told her that about the same time he also heard a woman’s voice asking him to pray from within the chapel. Shortly after this mysterious call, Francesco’s mother was miraculously healed by the intercession of Our Lady of Ta` Pinu. The lonely chapel became a place of pilgrimage for many people on the island and beyond.

St. Pope John Paul II even visited the shrine in 1990, praying in the Chapel, celebrating mass and decorating an image of Our Lady with five golden stars.

Pope Benedict XVI also mentioned Our Lady of Ta’ Pinu on a visit to Malta in 2010.

I am convinced this is a VERY special place that I had no idea of at the time. I walked where St. Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI prayed and celebrated mass!

So it left me to wonder if perhaps some heavenly grace and prayers from our Mother Mary and St. Pope John Paul II, who died in 2005, were granted me upon that visit.

It truly was not long thereafter, perhaps not even a year, that I began to feel that calling to go to the Catholic Church.

Mother Mary, you are amazing and I thank you for your blessings! St. Pope John Paul II, pray for us!

To read more of my travel articles, head over to my travel site, FamiliesTravelFree.com.

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As Catholics and non-Catholics alike get ready to welcome the leader of our worldwide Church here on American soil, the media is literally going ga-ga. Headlines and cartoons and analysts galore are filling the airwaves with all sorts of anticipation of what Pope Francis might say or do as he meets President Obama, speaks to Congress and visits the United Nations. Is he going to allow gay marriage? Divorce? Condemn capitalism?

But, reader, tweeter, listener, watcher … beware! The non-Catholic media wants to turn Pope Francis into a man who is going to turn the Catholic church on its head. But, as Teresa Tomeo likes to say: “Newsflash, the Pope is still Catholic” — and he’s not going to change a thing about Catholic church teaching, which has been held since Jesus walked the earth. We can speculate and infer and twist his words to our culture’s liking all we want, but it just isn’t happening.

I say all this to encourage everyone — Catholics and non-Catholics — to get your news about Pope Francis’ visit straight from the source … and that would be The Vatican. Go to Vatican.va and READ FOR YOURSELF what Pope Francis said. Please don’t read what the New  York Times or ABC News or NPR said he said. Nine times out of 10 they get it flat wrong.

There are lots of other great Catholic-based media sources that will also provide you with accurate information from experts and journalists who are well versed in Catholic teaching, who have covered popes for decades and who understand Church law and history.

Here are a few Catholic news sources I recommend during Pope Francis’ U.S. visit:

• EWTN — It doesn’t get any better for television or radio than the Eternal Word (ie Jesus) Television Network. They will have around the clock coverage of the World Meeting of Families, Pope Francis’ whereabouts and the Synod on the Family. Find out what’s on when here.
• Teresa Tomeo — One of my favorite journalists for telling it like it is, but with a sense of humor :). She’ll be broadcasting her Ave Maria Radio/EWTN Radio show Catholic Connection LIVE from the World Meeting of Families this week 8-10 a.m. Eastern on Catholic radio stations. You can also stream it live via the EWTN app, tune to Sirius-XM 130 or listen online.
• Al Kresta – Al hosts a weekday afternoon drive time show on EWTN/Ave Maria Radio from 4-6 p.m. called Kresta in the Afternoon. He’ll provide a recap of the news of Pope Francis’ visit each day.
• The Catholic Channel on Sirius-XM 129 – They are changing themselves to Pope Radio this week. 🙂 Lots of great shows airing all day long.
• Catholic News Agency – Continually updated coverage on all things Pope Francis and the Vatican
• Joan Lewis – As the Rome correspondent for EWTN, Joan knows about everything there is to know about the Pope and the Vatican. Follow along on her blog.
• Aleteia – A fairly new website with a more contemporary slant newly edited by Elizabeth Scalia. They sponsored the adorable Popemojis (emoticons & emojis for your smartphone) and will provide more youthful coverage of the Pope’s visit.
• National Catholic Register – Solid Catholic news coverage online and in newspaper format.

What did I miss? What are your favorite Catholic news sources that get Pope Francis right and provide fair and balanced coverage?

Remember, take non-Catholic news coverage with a grain of salt and read the REAL story for yourself so you can make informed judgments and commentary on Pope Francis’ historic visit to America.

OK, Catholics (and ALL people for that matter), you already know this, but I’m here to remind you that you NEED to read Laudato Si, Pope Francis’ new encyclical letter On Care for Our Common Home. Why? Sure, you can read everyone else’s summaries, but you need to read Pope Francis’ words for yourself, rather than accept someone else’s interpretation.

You want to be especially careful you are not accepting the interpretations of secular media, who so frequently take Pope Francis’ comments out of context, turning them into something they are not. Teresa Tomeo posted a great list of reliable Catholic sources on her blog.

Format Options

How can you read Laudato Si? Here are some format choices:

1) Laudate App on your smartphone – Download the free app, then select Vatican Documents, scroll to Encyclical Letter and select the top one, Laudato si’. Easy as pie!

2) Vatican website – Read it directly online here.

3) Read as a book – You can buy Laudato Si in book format from Amazon.

4) Read it as an ebook – Download Laudato Si as an ebook to your Kindle or other e-reader.

Now you know HOW to read it, let’s put together a plan to actually read it. Because it’s divided into 246 parts and, as a book, is 176 pages, plus the fact that it’s written by a pope, can make it a bit intimidating to delve into. But I’m here to tell you, I’ve started reading it, and you don’t need a doctorate to get through it. Sure, you’ll need to concentrate, but you won’t need to whip out a dictionary to understand it.

My Reading Plan

My suggestion is to make it as easy as possible to read by having it on your phone, carrying your Kindle with you, packing the book in your bag, etc., so when you get a free moment, you can pop it out and read it. Having it in multiple formats can be helpful as well, so you can switch between ereading on your phone or Kindle to the physical book.

Tackle it in bits of 12-15 parts per day. At a rate of 15 parts, you’ll be done in 17 days, and at a rate of 12 parts, you’ll be done in 21 days — either way, you’ll have read it in less than a month in free bits of time here and there.

Great Quotes from Laudato Si Thus Far

I’m just at the beginning, but I’ve already found so many wonderful things in Laudto Si. Here are just a few samplings to inspire you to read (note: my favorite parts are in bold):

• Pope Benedict asked us to recognize that the natural environment has been gravely damaged by our irresponsible behaviour. The social environment has also suffered damage. Both are ultimately due to the same evil: the notion that there are no indisputable truths to guide our lives, and hence human freedom is limitless. (Part 6)
• [Patriarch Bartholomew] asks us to replace consumption with sacrifice, greed with generosity, wastefulness with a spirit of sharing, an asceticism which “entails learning to give, and not simply to give up. It is a way of loving, of moving gradually away from what I want to what God’s world needs. It is liberation from fear, greed and compulsion.” (Part 9)
• “It is our humble conviction that the divine and the human meet in the slightest detail in the seamless garment of God’s creation, in the last speck of dust of our planet” (Part 9, quoting Patriarch Bartholomew, I believe) — How amazingly well written is that sentence?!
• What is more, Saint Francis, faithful to Scripture, invites us to see nature as a magnificent book in which God speaks to us and grants us a glimpse of his infinite beauty and goodness. (Part 12)

Let us not waste the wise words of our wonderful Pope Francis by failing to read them! Now, let’s get started…