In Philippians 4:12, St. Paul tells us that he has learned the secret of being happy at any time in everything that happens. His happiness stems from his acceptance of Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. So is the secret to happiness that easy? Yes is the answer! Asking Jesus Christ to take over your life is truly a life-changing experience. Allowing the conversation between you and Jesus to never end is a very important part of this transformation. Not only in prayer and adoration but in ongoing conversation. Allowing Jesus and his beatitudes to guide us through life is truly the secret to happiness. St. Paul experienced many hardships, not the least of which was his initial blinding, as he began his conversion from persecutor to Christian. I enjoyed the depiction presented two Sundays ago on A.D. the Series. Saul's anguish and confusion was carefully depicted. His complete and utter surrender to the power of Christ is a great example to all of us. Too often the story of St. Paul gets lost to us as we read through his many letters in the Bible. But his story, his journey, his conversion experience provides us with the perfect path to Jesus Christ. His allegiance, loyalty and devotion show us how even a simple man, like us, can become a saint. St. Paul's past transgressions did not prevent him for living forever with Jesus Christ in heaven. We should not allow our past, whatever it is, to prevent us from this wonderful grace. Saying yes to Jesus Christ is easy. Let the happy life begin today for you by saying yes.
Born during the turbulent era of the French Revolution, Saint Jeanne Jugan rose above hardship and a lack of formal schooling to become a profound vessel of Christ’s mercy. After losing her father at a young age and working through her youth as a kitchen maid and nurse, her life radically changed one freezing night when she encountered a blind, paralyzed elderly woman with nowhere to go. Jeanne carried the woman back to her own home, placed her in her own bed, and began a lifelong mission of radical hospitality. This act of profound love blossomed into the Little Sisters of the Poor , a thriving community dedicated to sheltering and honoring the destitute elderly. Despite later facing heavy trials—including being unjustly sidelined and stripped of her leadership by a controlling chaplain—Jeanne accepted her obscurity and exile with a joyful spirit, resting her complete trust in God's hidden providence until her death in 1879. In our daily lives, Saint Jeanne Jugan invites us to lo...