Association Of Catholic Bloggers

What is Advent?  According to  Merriam Webster's Dictionary , it is " the period beginning four Sundays before Christmas and observed by some Christians as a season of prayer and fasting ," and " the coming of Christ at the Incarnation. " Please go to Being Catholic ... Really to read the rest of the article.  Happy Advent to you!

33 Days to Morning Glory by Fr. Michael E. Gaily, MIC (on  Amazon  and at  Barnes & Noble ) is a do-it-yourself retreat to prepare for your Marian Consecration. Why consecrate yourself to Mary? As I read the introduction to this book, it is the pathway for all of us to become saints. Please read the rest at  Catholic365.com  and join us at Being Catholic ... Really on Facebook for the discussion of the book!

I mentioned that I would be hosting a link up (my first ever) on March 16th in last week's post . Well, your dyslexic blogger got her dates confused and it's up today! Never fear, if you're not ready to share your Marian consecration reflections, you have until the actual day of consecration (March 25th, The Annunciation) to link up with us. By us, I mean Elizabeth Reardon of Theology is a Verb . Isn't that a great blog title? I've always loved it. This is my third time making consecration and I have used a couple of different books to do it. This year, I went back to my favorite, 33 Days to Morning Glory by Fr. Michael Gaitley . Before we get ahead of ourselves though, what is Marian Consecration anyway? Read more at Filling My Prayer Closet and if you are making consecration now, consider linking up your post !

Delivered... Because I'm truly Yours!   Thinking back, one year ago, January 2013, do you remember where you were in life; more-so, where you were in your prayer life? Surprisingly I do!  But this is because it involved a very special series of prayers for me (a “novena") dedicated to Our Lady, Undoer of Knots . So there I was, one year ago, on the 1st of January, Day 1, entrusting my very own ribbon,  with all its messy knots,  into the hands of our Blessed Mother.  And it just so happened at this same time, I was also reading Fr. Michael Gaitley’s “ 33 Days to Morning Glory ” (so good!) .   But what about these knots of mine? …Which one knot entangled my life the most?   It was a big one... ► Click HERE to read more at The Way to Nourish for Life including an Audrey Assad song .►

Oftentimes the seasons of Lent and Advent are filled with our good intentions about what we will do, what we will read, and the changes we will make in our daily lives. The weeks stretch out ahead of us and we begin with great plans and an eagerness to experience the holy season in a new way. Then reality sets in and our original plans for a “different” experience evaporate. I can’t tell you how many Lenten books sit on my shelf partially read and how many Advent wreaths are in the closet, half finished. That all changed last year when I purchased  The Sacred Heart for Lent by Fr. Thomas Williams  and  33 Days to Morning Glory by Fr. Michael Gaitley.   I read  The Sacred Heart for Lent  on my own and cajoled my husband into the Marian Consecration by Gaitley. It was all such a blessing that this Lent I wanted to share those resources with others. Last Lent it quickly became obvious to me that a priest brings something very unique to a book: a priest brings to his work