Shows
Just One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 140: Marian DogmanExplore with me how I came to know, believe and love the Church’s teaching on Mary! Thank you for listening to the Just One Small Thing Podcast. Tuning in each week means so very much! Want to hear more great Catholic content perfect for the whole family? Make sure to tune in each day to the CATHOLIC SPROUTS PODCAST. https://catholicsprouts.com/catholic-sprouts-podcast/ Looking for a way to support this podcast? Here are some ideas: Say a prayer for us! This would be SUCH a gift! Share this pod...
2023-08-1415 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 139: Dominic and the RosaryStorytime! Since we are talking about the saints celebrating their feast days this week, including St. Dominic, I took this opportunity to share my own Dominic/Holy Rosary stories. Both take place in France outside of Toulouse, but they are set about 10 years apart. In part one, I am a solo traveler to rural France where I realize my High School French is 0% helpful and no one there speaks English at all. Through a strange and beautiful prayer exercise in the “green cathedral,” I am introduced to St. Dominic. In part two I a...
2023-08-0722 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 138: Clubhouse DetailsThis week on the Catholic Sprouts Podcast we are exploring what it means to be Catholic. This is an important question to tackle as we build and nurture our identity as Catholics. It is our goal to nurture our identity as Catholics here at Catholic Sprouts, which is why we are launching the CLUBHOUSE today. The CLUBHOUSE is a membership for Catholic kids, and I’m explaining all of the details in this episode. You can learn more and join us (doors open 8-1!) right here: https://catholicsprouts.com/clubhouse/ Thank you for listening to...
2023-07-3123 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 137: Saints and the History of the ChurchWell, I decided to spill the beans on a project that we have been working on for a long time, and I am hopeful will come into being this fall: a church history book told through biographies of the saints. I have grown frustrated with how many church history books tell history either through secular leaders (like emperors) or heretics. So, we decided to write a history of the church told through the movement of the Holy Spirit as demonstrated through the lives of the saints. This week on the Catholic Sprouts podcast I talk th...
2023-07-2420 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 136: FriendshipWe are finally done with all of the CST topics! Yay! From here forward this podcast will be weekly, and will explore, in a more adult way, the topics we are covering on the Catholic Sprouts podcast. The plan is to hit record on this podcast as soon as I finish recording the Catholic Sprouts Podcast, and that is exactly what I did today! So, friendship. I have often felt like I was a “bad friend”, simply because I have been blessed with so many amazing friends! In my rambling way, in this episode I discu...
2023-07-1717 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 135: Stewardship of the Land and AnimalsThis is the last episode covering the topics of Catholic Social Teaching! Yay!!! Thank you for following along, and I hope you enjoy this last episode. This episode explores the fact that the land and animals are a gift from God, and how amazing that truth is to hold onto as we interact with nature and animals. Also, we become co-workers with God when we plant a seed of care for an animal. I share about how experiencing the death of a beloved animal was so powerful for me, and helped me see the difference be...
2023-07-1215 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 134: RacismThe Church teaches that all people, regardless of race, are created in the image and likeness of God. Also, Christ died and shed His blood for ALL people. Therefore, all people are worthy of love and should enjoy equal rights. Also, we are not called to simply “tolerate” people. We are called to love them. Unfortunately, we all will need to teach very clearly on the issue of race. This came to the front in my family after the murder of Geroge Floyd. We also need to make sure that our children see race in the r...
2023-07-1023 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 133: TerrorismTerrorism is the use of violence against non-military people for political or personal gain. Terrorism attempts to control or change through fear. 9-11 Was the greatest act of terrorism this country has seen, and when our children learn about the events of that day, we need to be clear that terrorism is wrong. However, the Bishops teach that when terrorism occurs, we need to look for causes in our own behavior. Why did this group feel that the only course of action they could take was an act of terrorism. Also, the only way for u...
2023-07-0514 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 132: WarAs the Church teachers, war is a terrible phenomenon that should be avoided at all costs. To illustrate this, the Church offers us the “Just War Doctrine” something that applies to every few modern conflicts. In order for a war to be “just” it must: Be the result of damage by the aggressor that is lasting, grave and certain. All other means of resolution must have been exhausted There must be a serious prospect of success and peace following the conflict. The war must produce less evil that it seeks to eliminat...
2023-07-0317 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 131: Dignity of Work and Worker's RightsToday’s episode explores the fifth theme of Catholic Social Teaching as laid out by the US Bishops. I am discussing both topics, Dignity of Work and Workers Rights, together in this episode. Above all else, I desire for my children to learn that work has dignity--and this applies to all work: jobs, chores around the house and school work. We are like our Creator when we work, and we are often allowed to be co-creators through our work. Therefore, our work gives us dignity. Also, through our work we are refined and made better ver...
2023-06-2817 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 130: Care for those who are HomelessAccording to a recent study, up to 3 Million Americans are currently homeless. The US Bishops refer to this as a tragedy, which we are all asked to help remedy. Afterall, as JPII said, a home is not just a roof and four walls. A home is where life takes place, and each human person has a right to a home. In this episode I share my own experience with homelessness, which I witnessed as a teacher for at-risk youth. Modern homelessness often looks like “couch-surfing” and places youth at terrible risk for abuse.
2023-06-2617 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 129: Care for those suffering with Drug AddictionThe fourth theme of Catholic Social Teaching asks us to care also for those addicted to drugs. They too were created in the image and likeness of God and even drug addiction does not remove that dignity. This topic can be hard for many of us as we wrestle with feelings that drug addiction is the addict’s fault and, in a way, it serves them right. This, of course, is not how we are called to treat those suffering with addictions. Teaching about drug addiction, however, gives us a great opportunity to speak to our...
2023-06-2120 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 128: Care for EldersOnce again, we are called to love and care for our elders because all humans, no matter how old or infirmed they may be, are still children of God and because of this filled with a special God-given dignity. Caring for our elders is also part of the 4th commandment. Care for elders also touches on an important Catholic concept: Memento Mori, or our call to remember our death. Often we neglect our elders because their decline reminds us of our own death, and that makes us uncomfortable. However, as Catholics we are called to r...
2023-06-1919 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 127: Care for Those with DisabilitiesFor several years Pope Francis has been outspoken about the love and care we should offer those with disabilities, in particular, we need to make sure that those who are disabled have access to the sacraments. This means more than having functional elevators and sign language interpreters. It means welcoming those with sometimes several mental disabilities. The care for those who are disabled is based on the truth that ALL humans are created in the image and likeness of God. Because of this we have a special dignity, and that dignity can never be diminished o...
2023-06-1415 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 126: HealthcareHealth Care is the first of five that the US Bishops include in the fourth theme of Catholic Social Teaching: Care for the Poor and Vulnerable. JPII reminds us that we should not only care for the poor, but practice a preference for the poor and vulnerable, as often they need special defending in our world. The Church defends that Healthcare is a basic human right. Since all humans were made in the image and likeness of God we all should have access to life-saving medicine regardless of race, education or financial status. Providing Healthcare fo...
2023-06-1218 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 125: Freedom of ReligionToday we are tackling the third and final topic in the Rights and Responsibility section of Catholic Social Teaching, as laid out by the USCCB: Freedom of Religion. Following the Second Vatican Council, the Church taught that all people have a right FROM and FOR religion. This means that we can’t force people to be part of a certain religion. It also means that a person can not be hindered or prevented from practicing a certain religion, unless they are endangering or infringing on the rights of other people. Therefore, all people must be fre...
2023-06-0720 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 124: ImmigrationToday’s discussion dives into Immigration, which the USCCB has placed under the third theme of Catholic Social Teaching: Rights and Responsibilities. Immigration is a tricky topic that is regularly in the news, especially in this moment as Title 42 expires here in the US, and around the world as war engulf the Sudan and many countries are struggling with terrible famines. The USCCB lay out three principles we much keep in mind as we discuss Immigration: Each person has a basic right to move (or migrate) in an effort to find a better lif...
2023-06-0518 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 123: Criminal JusticeCriminal Justice is the first topic we are discussing under the third theme of Catholic Social Teaching as laid out by the USCCB. The third theme is called Rights and Responsibilities. In this section we investigate the rights each person is entitled to, simply because they are human and created in God’s own images. But, it is not enough to simply defend our own rights. We also have a responsibility to work to defend the rights of others, especially those who are small, weak, overlooked or abused. Criminal Justice sits at the intersection of Rig...
2023-05-3118 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 122: Civic Duty & Political ActivisimThe second theme of Catholic Social Teaching laid out by the USCCB is the call to family and community. Although the topics we have been talking about recently might sound quite different from Civic Duty and Political Activism, they are related. Humans are social beings and we need each other. We are training in the family--the school of love--but at some point we need to go beyond our family and look to the rights of all people. Civic Duty describes the grass-roots activism we are all called to, an activism that works to care for t...
2023-05-2920 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 121: CST Same Sex MarriageToday’s discussion will equip you to discuss marriage and same-sex marriage with your children. Too often we think that Homosexuality and (Same-Sex) Marriage are the same topic, but they are not. Here are some important points to keep in mind as you discuss (Same-Sex) Marriage: Marriage is a covenant relationship between a man and a woman ordered toward the creation of children and formation of a family. Marriage benefits society because the family is the best place to raise a healthy and productive next generation. The Church and the World have very di...
2023-05-2418 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 120: CST HomosexualityToday we are discussing an important and emotional topic: Homosexuality. With family and friends living homosexual lifestyles, this will likely be one of the first topics we have to cover with our children (unfortunately) and we need to be ready! A few important things to note on the topics of homosexuality: We need to differentiate between homosexual attraction and homosexual acts. The Church describes homosexual acts as “gravely disordered” because they are outside of natural law. We should never define ourselves or other people based on who they are sexual...
2023-05-2224 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 119: CST DivorceToday we are continuing our discussion of our call to marriage and family, as laid out by the USCCB and discussed in our new book, CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING FOR YOUTH. Divorce is likely the very first topic from this book that you will need to address with your children. That’s how it worked for us! Unfortunately many people we know, both family and friends, have been through divorce, and that is so confusing for kids. In these moments we need to reminds our kids of the following truths: Love...
2023-05-1717 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 118: CST Being Open to LifeIn today’s episode we continue to discuss issues laid out by the USCCB that define our call to marriage and family. This topic specially discusses the use of artificial birth control and why using anything to prevent conceiving a child, inside or outside of marriage, is always wrong. The Church teaches beautifully on this point, specifically through JPII’s Theology of the Body. Sex and marriage demand a total gift of self, and when we use contraception we are refusing to receive another person’s fertility and a future with them. It is...
2023-05-1521 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 117: CST Sex Outside of MarriageFor the next several episodes we will be exploring God’s plan for marriage and family and the variety of ways Satan’s lies attack that plan. Today we start with sex outside of marriage. Now, it is important that we don’t just teach the “rule”. Instead we need to share with our children what is good and beautiful. God’s plan for sex is so good! The reason why we know that sex outside of marriage is harmful is because we know what sex is supposed to look like! And sex only makes sense and is...
2023-05-1018 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 116: CST ChastityAll of Christ’s faithful are called to the virtue of chastity. Chastity allows us to love in an appropriate way everyone that we encounter. Chastity is how we honor God’s plan for our own sexuality and the sexuality of others. Chastity is not just abstinence. In order to be chaste we must make sure that everything we do is pure, from the way we dress to our thoughts and our speech. All people in all vocations are called to live chastely. Even married people must be governed by chastity. In the...
2023-05-0818 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 115: CST TransgenderismToday we are taking on what is likely the most controversial and emotional topic of our time: Transgenderism. Much has been said about transgenderism and it needs to be noted that they Church has yet to issue an official teaching on this topic. However, using what the Church has already said, let’s explore a Catholic response to this issue, both on the societal level and when it comes up in our personal relationships. First, we must remember that our primary vocation is love, and we must lead with love, no matter what the conversation may...
2023-05-0518 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 114: PornographyToday’s episode of the Just One Small Thing Podcast explores pornography. Pornography is a big deal (despite what society might claim) and it violates the dignity of three different groups of human beings: The actors/models used as objects for the lustful desires of others. The consumer who is settling for a counterfeit of love, when they were made for so much more. The spouse (or future spouse) of the consumer whose relationship is violated and compromised by the use of pornography. Pornography is so powerful because the huma...
2023-05-0327 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 113: Slavery and Human TraffickingIn this episode of the Just One Small Thing Podcast we are exploring slavery and human trafficking and why treating a person as an object and denying the freedom to direct their own life is a sin against the dignity of that human person. A few important points made in this episode: Slavery still exists in the world today. It is more often called human trafficking. Today millions of people are trafficked as domestic servants or sex slaves. What the Bible refers to as “slavery” is more like indentured servitude. It is no...
2023-05-0124 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 112: Medical EthicsLet’s continue our exploration of Catholic Social Teaching as we await the launch of our new book, CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING FOR YOUTH, which will be available sometime in May. Stay tuned! Today’s episode explores the BIG topic of Medical Ethics. Basically, how do catholics decide if a specific medical procedure or treatment is ethical? To this end, the Church has outlined for criteria which we can use to evaluate medicine: The technology must not use one person as an object to benefit another. The technology must say “yes!” to life, and...
2023-04-2821 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 111: SuicideSuicide is, unfortunately, something that has touched each of our lives. Whether it was a family member, friend, classmate or just someone in our community, we have all felt the deep sadness when someone chooses to take their own lives. Speaking about suicide in the context of Catholic Social Teaching is a bit different than other topics. Where we need to argue that Abortion or the Death Penalty is wrong, everyone (for the most part) understands that suicide is a terrible and desperate choice. In our bones we all agree with Catholic Social Teaching that e...
2023-04-2623 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 110: CST EuthanaisaAlthough most of us will not have to deal directly with the issues of Euthanaisa or Doctor Assisted Suicide, other issues that are closely related, like the topics of death, chornic illness and suffering are things we will have to deal with. And, even more importantly, we will have to teach our children about these topics in a way that is life-giving and true to the Catholic Faith. In this episode I share personal stories to help you discover your own stories that will be helpful as you teach your kids about these issues. I s...
2023-04-2425 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 109: CST Death PenaltyIn this episode we continue on in our series on Catholic Social Teaching. Today we discuss the 2nd (of 31 topics), the Death Penalty The Death Penalty is interesting because Catholic Social Teaching on this topic has changed! As the world advances and in most places societies have the ability to keep a violent, dangerous person away from the population, the Church no longer sees the use of the death penalty as acceptable, and urges us all to work to eliminate its practice. Again, sharing personal stories in an effort to help yo...
2023-04-2120 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 108: CST AbortionToday we are starting on a 31 episode long series that explores ALL of Catholic Social Teaching. We are kicking things off with Abortion. It is my hope that the stories I share here will help you recall and share your own stories as you discuss this important topic with your children. I have no memory of my parents first telling me about abortion. It is just something we always spoke about. I also share my first real encounter with the terrible situation many women are in when they consider an abortion. Finally, I discuss many i...
2023-04-1921 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 107: Catholic Social Teaching IntroductionReady to hear about the BIG project we have been working on the past 2 years?!?!?!? Catholic Social Teaching for Youth is a massive book (with an IMPRIMATUR from the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis) that covers ALL of the sticky moral and social issues we are navigating today. From transgender to abortion to death penalty to workers rights, animal rights, health care, immigration, war, contraception, same sex marriage, pornography…all 31 topics laid out by the USCCB. In today’s episodes I discuss the mission of this book: to equip parents so they might KNOW THE T...
2023-04-1726 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 106: Encountering Jesus's LoveThis is the fifth episode in a row where I have been talking about the Sacred Heart of Jesus. All of the episodes leading up to this one have been important, but this one tops them all. Today we will be discussing the incredible way that Jesus loves us. Afterall, at the most basic level, a devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is an exploration in the love of Jesus Christ. We fall deeper and deeper into this love as we grow closer to Jesus and His heart. In this ep...
2023-03-2826 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 105: The Five Obstacles to full Devotion to Jesus and His HeartThere is still work to do once we leave the confessional. This is a hard truth that I have been learning as I dig deeper into a devotion to Jesus and His Heart. There are actually a lot of things we need to clear away before we can be open to receiving the love of Jesus Christ. In this episode we investigate 5 obstacles that will keep us from being fully united with the Sacred Heart of Jesus. These obstacles include: Lukewarm Faith Selfishness Pride Sinful Desires A...
2023-03-2325 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 104: The Five Parts of a Devotion to Jesus and His HeartLet’s dive deep into the five key parts of a devotion to Jesus and His Most Sacred Heart. As outlined in this episode, these parts are: Rejection of Sin Faith in Jesus Desire to Love Jesus Development of the Interior Life Total (even Reckless) Trust in God In this episode I look at each of these parts and investigate my own need to be more fully converted. Do I protect myself from even the possibility of sin? Do I believe that Jesus’ will for my life is b...
2023-03-2126 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 103: Sacred Heart DevotionExplore with me a few key areas of devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. And, please remember, that most of this has grown out of my own prayer and relationship with Jesus. I hope that you find it helpful, but please don’t be limited by what I share. I’m sure there are many depths which I have not reached. The Eucharist is the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This has been proven through several Eucharistic miracles and been a powerful point of contemplation for me in Adoration each week. The Sac...
2023-03-1620 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 102: A Developing Relationship with the Sacred Heart of JesusMy relationship with the Sacred Heart of Jesus has developed a lot in recent years. For much of my life I didn’t think much of the Sacred Heart. I associated it mostly with what felt like an out-dated devotion and strange Italian-looking versions of Jesus in art. This started to change after I read a biography of Blessed Charles of Austria (https://a.co/d/cWu4ny1). From there I dove head first into this personal devotion. Eventually I developed a personal devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This past year...
2023-03-1421 min
Domestic Church Project PodcastThe Domestic Church Project PodcastWelcome to our podcast! We are Bill and Nancy Bandzuch. We live outside of Minneapolis, and we are busy raising 5 young kids. We certainly aren't experts, but we are passionate about building our own Domestic Church, and helping other parents do the same. More than anything else, we'd like to invite you to join us. Join us in this hard but important work of raising saints. On the podcast we plan to talk about everything involved in teaching the Catholic Faith at home. We will share our struggles and small victories. We also will have...
2020-12-1101 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 101: Guest Meg Hunter-Kilmer aka Hobo for Christ and Praying for your TemperamentHappy New Year, Friends! Today we're tackling a fascinating topic, and one that could possibly help you achieve some New Year's Goals: Praying for Your Temperament. This episode started as a conversation pre-recording a few months ago... sharing how novenas appeal to some people but for others they are impossible to stick with. "I wonder if that's a temperament thing..." lead us to Google which lead us to discover Meg Hunter-Kilmer's blog series on a book called "Prayer and Temperament: Different Prayer Forms for Different Personality Types" by Chester P Michael. Apparently it IS a temp...
2020-01-0639 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 100: Advent Book Study Pt 2Hey Friends! Happy Fourth Week of Advent! Today we are wrapping up our book study on Interior Freedom, and sticking with the theme of 'we can only control what is within ourselves,' Nancy is without a voice this week so it's just me, Katie. This episode focuses on the last third of the book (that first section was so huge!!). And for me, the two words that kept popping out were HOPE and IDENTITY, so they are the focus of the episode as well. Fr. Jacques Philippe defines hope as, "the virtue of...
2019-12-2319 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 099: 12 Day of ChristmasFollowing the theme of 'we can't control things outside ourselves,' we're needing to take a week off from the Advent Book Study of Interior Freedom and instead, we're sharing something else... The 12 Days of Christmas! Hoping that sharing this week gives you time to prepare a few 'liturgical living' activities but also gets you excited for the days following December 25th. As Catholics, the Christmas Season doesn't actually begin until the Christmas Vigil and doesn't end till Epiphany (or if you'd rather, Candlemas on February 2nd). This is a perfect justification to be 'slow' putt...
2019-12-1642 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 098: Advent Book Study on Interior FreedomWelcome back from our Thanksgiving break and welcome into Advent! We hope you had a beautiful "Turkey Day" and that the first week of Advent has been somewhat peaceful and prayerful. During Advent, we will be doing a three part series on the tiny but powerful book, Interior Freedom, by Fr. Jacques Philippe. If you don't have it yet, you can grab it here and join in on the fun. For this episode, we focused on the first section (through pg 81). Even if you don't plan on reading the book at all, this episode still has...
2019-12-0935 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 097: NovenasHey Friends! Before we dive into this week's topic, two quick announcements! One: We will NOT be releasing a new episode next weekend. We're taking a week off for Thanksgiving. BUT (two), we will be back the First Sunday of ADVENT with the first episode of our book study series! The book we're reading is Interior Freedom by Fr. Jacques Philippe. You can snag it right here! This week, we're discussing another one of those Special Catholic Things: Novenas. What is a novena? Where do we get the tradition? Do I have to start a noven...
2019-11-1835 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 094: Relics Part Two** Before we jump into this week’s episode, we want to let you know that we’ll be doing a book study this upcoming Advent!!! The book is Interior Freedom by Fr. Jacques Philippe. Have you read anything by Fr. Philippe yet? He is AMAZING. Such a gentle, yet wise voice… our hope is this study will help us all stay centered this Advent on what (or WHO!) truly matters. You can snag a copy here. First episode/discussion will be on December 1st!! ** And we're back with Part 2 of our Mini Series on Relic...
2019-11-1146 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 094: Radical Relics Part 1Welcome back! Today, we start a two part series on relics... What are they? Are there different kinds? Why do Catholics hang on to pieces of dead people? It might surprise you to find out that the practice of keeping relics is not something that started with the early martyrs, or even with Christ. No! The first example of relics we found in scripture is in the second book of Kings (13:20-21). Some men were burying a dead man when they were attacked by Moabites. They threw the body into the tomb to flee and the bo...
2019-11-0437 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 093: All Soul's DayWelcome back to another week of the Just One Small Thing Podcast!! Continuing on our 'Fall Triduum' theme, we're discussing All Soul's Day today. Although the last day of this great Triduum of our Faith, it seems to be the 'middle child' in some ways... It's not an eve. It's not a Holy Day of Obligation. It's also kind of sad. We all have people we have known and loved and they've passed on and we're not exactly sure where they are... Did they go straight to Heaven? Are they still in purgatory? How exactly are...
2019-10-2840 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 092: Is Halloween Evil?Hi There! We're getting seasonal today and tackling Halloween... If you're like us, you probably remember the annual struggle to narrow down your costume ideas to a single CHOICE and then the excitement of running door to door to get candy (FOR FREE) from strangers. Halloween was quite different as we went on college and post-graduation life. Halloween seemed like nothing more than an invitation to dress immodestly and drink to excess, so no thank you, Halloween, we'll just move on to All Soul's Day. Through Katie's husband's obsession with the history of Al...
2019-10-211h 10Just One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 091: The Litte FlowerHi Friends! Happy Feast Day of Fatima (if you're checking this out Sunday evening). October 13th, 1917 is "The Day the Sun Danced." It's a great day to pray the rosary! Speaking of roses.... It's October and we'd be remiss if we didn't share about one of our favorite saints, St. Therese of Lisieux, The Little Flower. Before St. Therese died, she declared "I will send down a shower of roses from the heavens, I will spend my heaven by doing good on earth." Since then, many Catholics have asked St. Therese's intercession and have received roses, b...
2019-10-1438 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 090: Miracles of the RosaryHi Friends! Happy October!!! You probably know that October is considered the month of the Holy Rosary, but do you know why? If you're listening the evening this episode goes live, it's the eve of Our Lady of Victory's feast day, also known as Our Lady of the Rosary! This feast day was established during the pontificate of Pope Pius V after an astounding victory of Christian forces against the Ottoman Turks on October 7th, 1571. The Battle of Lepanto! The Christian forces by all accounts shouldn't have won... They were outnumbered and fairly inexperienced with naval battle. But t...
2019-10-0741 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 089: Our Lady of Where?Hey Listeners! Welcome back and happy New Week to you! What's your favorite Marian Apparition? Is it Lourdes or Guadalupe or Fatima? (both ours are one of those so don't feel bad for being 'predictable') This week we are exploring some lesser know apparitions. Ones you didn't hear about in Catholic School. Ones Nancy and I found out about through an amazing lecture by Fr. Don Calloway (see link below) and then read more about in his amazing book Champions of the Rosary. In a way, Marian Apparitions and Miracles of the Rosary are...
2019-09-3039 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 88: Natural Family PlanningHi Friends! This week we're diving into Natural Family Planning or NFP. What is NFP, you may be wondering? NFP is any method of observing your monthly fertility signs and using them to plan when to 'renew your vows' with your husband. Fertility Awareness is not just for deciding when to try for a baby though. Many health issues can be traced back to cycle or hormonal abnormalities, so women of all ages and stages can benefit from becoming aware of their fertility signs. Today we have a special guest, Katherine Young, a real l...
2019-09-2341 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 087: The Seven Sorrows of Mary and InfertilityHello Friends! With yesterday being the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, in today's episode, we're taking a closer look at the Seven Sorrows of Mary along with the concept of being open to life, even if it leaves your arms empty (or emptier than you want them to be). We're talking specifically about infertility but as Catholic Women, practicing natural family planning can leave our families looking very different than we've envisioned, so everyone can get something from this episode (we hope :-) ) The devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows is closely connected with t...
2019-09-1641 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 086: Creating a Catholic Home with Sterling JaquithHello!! Sterling is back with the Just One Small Thing Podcast, joining the select few who have been guests TWICE (Sterling, your certificate is in the mail ;-) ). You might know Sterling from her Catholic Minimalism Facebook Group or her podcast Coffee and Pearls. Or maybe you’ve read some of her books? Today, the three of us discuss how to make a Catholic Home without breaking the bank as well as how to create an atmosphere of peace and hospitality. Home decorating, just like the spiritual life, this is NOT a task that can be acc...
2019-09-0946 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 082: The ScapularNext in our Sacramental Series, we’re learning about Scapulars. We’ll talk specifically about the Brown Scapular today but there are several different color scapulars each with their own particular devotion. The Scapular is a beautiful tradition of our Church started with the Carmelite Order. The Carmelites, unlike many of the orders founded around the same time, have no saintly founder that we know of. Instead, the order was founded by laymen who were former crusaders. Their community began on Mt. Carmel in Palestine, the same mountain on which Elijah defended the faith in One True...
2019-08-2640 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 084: VeilingToday, we’re diving into another sacramental of our Faith: the Chapel Veil. Reminder from last week: Sacramentals do not confer the grace of the Holy Spirit in the way that sacraments do, but by the Church's prayer, they prepare us to receive grace and dispose us to cooperate with it. (CC1670) Wearing a veil at mass will not give you special graces the way a Sacrament does, but some women find it helps open them up to receive the graces of the Sacrament of the Eucharist. Did you grow up in a pari...
2019-08-1940 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 083: The Miraculous MedalFor the next four weeks, we’re diving into Sacramentals. What are they? Why do we have them? How did each particular devotion come to be? To begin, let’s take a look at this line from the Catechism: Sacramentals do not confer the grace of the Holy Spirit in the way that sacraments do, but by the Church's prayer, they prepare us to receive grace and dispose us to cooperate with it. (CC1670) Sacramentals can be an object (such as Miraculous Medal or Holy Water) or an action (like the Sign of the Cross or the...
2019-08-1234 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 082: Letting the Eucharist LeadHello and welcome back to the second season of The Just One Small Thing Podcast: Everyday Wisdom for Catholic Women! In today’s episode you’ll get to meet my friend and New Co-Host, Katie Wood, while we talk about this season’s motto: Let the Eucharist Lead. To be honest, this might be our motto forever and ever because how can you beat it? Isn’t this what it means to be Catholic? Christ in the Eucharist is at the center of it all, whether in Adoration or the Celebration of the Mass. He is truly pre...
2019-08-0545 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 081: Friendship with MaryHey there friends! It's a big day around this small corner of the internet. Today I am sharing the LAST installment of the VIRTUES OF THE ROSARY. I can hardly believe it! I started discussing these virtues last summer, and here we are finishing them up as we approach another summer. So, today is all about the virtue attached to the final Glorious Mystery: the Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth. The virtue for this mystery is FRIENDSHIP WITH MARY. Since I feel like I have been talking about being...
2019-05-2631 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 080: Union with JesusWelcome back to another installment of the Virtues of the Rosary on the Just One Small Thing Podcast. I have really loved attaching a virtue to each mystery of the Rosary, and I hope these episodes have been helpful and enriched your own praying of the Rosary. And, we are in the 2nd to the last episode in this series! Can you believe it?!? Today's episode is all about the fourth Glorious Mystery, the Assumption of Mary into heaven. The virtue attached to this mystery is Union with Jesus. And, what I talk about mostly in this...
2019-05-1930 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 079: Zeal for the MissionHey there! Welcome back to another episode of the Just One Small Thing Podcast. I am working my way through the final VIRTUES OF THE ROSARY. This episode discusses the virtues attached to the third Glorious Mystery, the Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles at Pentecost. The virtue attached to this mystery is Courage...or Zeal for the Mission...or just being Open to the Spirit. Sorry if I sound a little bit all over the place, but as I prepared for this episode I realized that there is no way to discuss o...
2019-05-1231 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 078: HopeHey there! Let's continue on with our investigation of the virtues of the Rosary! Head hereif you would like beautiful coloring pages with the virtues of the Rosary and right hereif you would like to grab a Rosary Booklet of your very own. Today's podcast is all about hope, but not hope in the sense that we use the word every day. In common usage, hope is like optimism. We might say, "I hope I'm not late." Now, it is perfectly fine to be optimistic, but optimism is not a virtue. Hope as...
2019-05-0517 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 077: FaithHey there, friends! Today we are getting back to a topic I love: The Rosary. Over a year ago I put a little rosary booklet with the help of Annie from Paper Monastery. The Rosary Booklet is a collection of ways to pray and reflect on the rosary.Over 3,000 copies of that book have been shipped all over the world (holy cow!), but more importantly, just putting that book together has had a big impact on the way I pray this incredible prayer. And through that, of course, changed my entire life! My favorite thing t...
2019-04-2823 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 076: Rise with me through PrayerHey there, friends! This week the Just One Small Thing Podcast is a challenge for you (and for me!). Since we are in the Easter season I think it is the PERFECT time to take stock of life and our faith life. Have we been moving forward? Do we actually, deeply believe the things we processed during Holy Week and on Easter Sunday? And, perhaps as important as anything, am I committed to prayer? Because, as I have learned over the last year, it all comes down to prayer. In the podcast I...
2019-04-2137 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 075: 10 Things I've Learned About PrayerHey there! The Just One Small Thing Podcast is all new TWO WEEKS IN A ROW! I am so excited and hopeful that we can keep this up! This week I am sharing 10 things that I've learned about prayer over the last two years. Many of the concepts are ones that I have touched on in previous podcasts, but they are all so important! Here is a quick rundown of the list: Family Prayer is not enough. I need to have private, personal time for prayer. Starting the morning with prayer, and reflection on s...
2019-04-1429 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 073: A Year in Review: Embracing WeaknessI am big on looking back...and then looking forward at the end of the year. I know this is way over done right now, but I find it helpful since I usually am to "stuck in the moment" to really understand what I am experiencing when I experience it. So, today's episode is a little personal as I look at the ways I have changed and grown and struggled this past year. I hope you find it helpful! With the help of a great book, Fire and Light by Fr. Jacques Philippe, I have bee...
2018-12-1922 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 072: A Year LaterHey there friends! I am taking a break from all of the wonderful guests (I hope you loved hearing from them as much as I enjoyed talking with them!). So, instead of having a guest, I am taking minute to share personally (yikes!). I am actually an introvert, and would rather talk about other people, but since it has been a year since we lost Max at 20 weeks. That loss was a tremendously transformative event. I talk about the amazing experience I had while loosing that baby in this episode: https://www.dosmallthingswithlove.com/2017/12/j1st-0...
2018-12-0521 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 071: Building a Ministry with Jenna Guizar from Blessed Is SheHey there! I am sure that you know about the amazing ministry, Blessed Is She. This beautiful ministry for Catholic Women has created so many incredible resources for Catholic Women--communities, daily reflections, liturgical studies, beautiful planners, and so much more. It feels like Blessed Is She has just always existed (what did we do before their daily emails?) but the truth is that this ministry is only 4 years old! That's right, just 4 years ago, Jenna Guizar, a busy Momma, decided that we Catholic Ladies needed a beautiful ministry, similar to the ones she had seen...
2018-11-2138 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 069: The Holiness of Keeping a Budget with Mary HarrellHey friends! Welcome back to another episode of the Just One Small Thing Podcast. I hope you have been enjoying all of the wonderful ladies that I have had on lately. It has been so much chatting with them all and tapping into their unique wisdom! I have another great lady to share with you today, and I have a feeling that her message will be as challenging for some of you as it was for me! Mary Harrell from Domestic Apologistis here today to talk about...budgets. I know...ugh, budgeting. When...
2018-10-3139 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 068: Grieving Together with Laura Kelly FanucciHey there! Well, today we are making Just One Small Thing Podcast history! My guest today, Laura Kelly Fanucci, is becoming the very first person to be on the podcast TWICE! Not sure if it's an honor or simply proof that she is a good friend and she allows me to twist her arm! If you don't know Laura yet, she is incredible. She is a beautiful writer on the topics of parenting and our Catholic Faith. She has many published books and shares often over on her blog, Mothering Spirit. Laura is o...
2018-10-2443 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 066: The Grace of Enough with Haley StewartHey there! Welcome back to the Just One Small Thing Podcast. One of my good friends is joining us this week, the amazing Haley Stewart. Haley is a mom, wife, Catholic writer and podcaster. You likely know her from her blog, Carrots for Michaelmas or her podcast Fountains of Carrots. Haley is a remarkable, engaging, faith-filled lady, and I know you are going to love this episode with her. Haley is joining us on the podcast to talk about her new book, The Grace of Enough: Pursuing Less and Living More in a Throwaway Culture. Th...
2018-10-1037 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 065: LoveHey there friends! Well, we've made it. Today I am sharing with you the final installment in the virtues of the sorrowful mysteries of the Rosary. Today I'm talking about the 5th sorrowful mystery, the Crucifixion, and how the virtue assigned to this mystery is Love. I have to be honest, I felt totally intimated recording this episode. It just felt crazy that I, little old Nancy, was going to speak about the meaning of the crucifixion and attempt to put it into human terms that we can imitated. If you listen in you will hear this...
2018-10-0331 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 064: PerseveranceHey friends! Welcome back to the Just One Small Thing Podcast and our series on the virtues of the rosary. I hope you have been enjoying this series and that it has given you plenty to think about and contemplate as you pray your daily rosary. Today we are moving onto the 4th Sorrowful Mystery, Jesus Carries His Cross. The virtue assigned to this mystery is perseverance. As just a quick reminder, I did not dream up the idea of assigning a virtue to each mystery of the rosary--I'm just promoting something taught...
2018-09-2626 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 063: HumilityToday we are continuing on with the Virtues of the Rosary series on the Just One Small Thing Podcast. Today I am tackling the virtue of Humility which is assigned to the 3rd Sorrowful Mystery, the Crowing of Thorns. As just a quick reminder, I did not dream up the idea of assigning a virtue to each mystery of the rosary–I’m just promoting something taught by many great saints included St. Padre Pio, St. John Paul II and St. Mother Teresa. It my hope that this series gives you lots to think about as you pray...
2018-09-1928 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 062: MortificationWelcome back! We are continuing on with our series on the virtues of the rosary today. If you scroll back through previous episodes, you will see that I have already talked about the virtues for the Joyful and Luminous mysteries, so today we are moving onto the second sorrowful mystery, The Scourging at the Pillar. The virtue assigned to this mystery is Mortification. Gulp, I know! As just a quick reminder, I did not dream up the idea of assigning a virtue to each mystery of the rosary--I'm just promoting something taught by...
2018-09-1228 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 061: ObedienceHey friends! I'm excited to jump back into the series on the virtues of the Rosary today. If you scroll back through previous episodes, you will see that I have already talked about the virtues for the Joyful and Luminous mysteries, so today we are moving onto the first sorrowful mystery, The Agony in the Garden. The virtue assigned to this mystery is Obedience. As just a quick reminder, I did not dream up the idea of assigning a virtue to each mystery of the rosary--I'm just promoting something taught by many great...
2018-09-0529 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 060: Our Children At MassHey friends! I have a wonderful guest on the podcast today. Jennifer Sharpe, a recent convert and author of a few wonderful Catholic resource on the mass for children is here to day. Now, I know that for many of you (myself included), although you are dedicated to bringing your children to mass each week, it is HARD to manage them while at mass...and sometimes even harder to teaching them about what is happening at mass. Jennifer offers some beautiful help by reminding us that all of mass (and our faith) can be boiled down to...
2018-08-2946 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 059: Humanae VitaReady for a beautiful, meaningful episode? Well, Lizzy Grayson, a mom of little ones, practitioner of NFP and fellow podcast listener delivers a beautiful, little episode for you today! A few weeks back Lizzy emailed me asking if I would consider doing an episode on Humanae Vitae. Sure, I said, if you come on as a guest and share about it! You see, I read Humanae Vitaein college...a million years ago, and Lizzy said something so interesting--she said that this Papal Document had profoundly impacted her and her husband. This surprised me because I have heard...
2018-08-2246 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 058: DisciplineToday on the Just One Small Thing Podcast, I am talking with Diana from Luck of the Irish Mom, and we are digging into the issue of discipline. Diana is a runner and ran her first marathon shortly before meeting her husband. She shares with us how all of the skills of discipline she learned while training for and running a marathon transferred to the discipline required in waiting for a good Catholic husband, living out a holy Catholic marriage, maintaining a prayer life, and surviving all the twists and turns of motherhood. As you might have...
2018-08-1530 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 057: The Eucharist and ThankfulnessHey there friends- Before I dive in to the topic of today's podcast I want you to think back to when you were preparing for First Communion. Remember how we all learned that Eucharist comes for the Greek word meaning Thanksgiving? I distinctly remember learning that and, in that moment, thinking, "Well, that's sort of strange."But then I quickly dismissed the strangeness telling myself only that Eucharist must be Thanksgiving simply because we are SO thankful that God is truly present in the Eucharist. And so I moved on and didn't really think about...
2018-08-0826 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 056: Wonder and AweHey there! Before I jump into it, today's podcast is sponsored by an INCREDIBLE Catholic Company: TINY SAINTS! Tiny Saints offers the most incredibly cute and meaningful images of the saints imaginable. Seriously, head to their website and check it out. They offer these saints as charms, rosaries and board books AND they are offering all Just One Small Thing Podcast Listeners 20% off their purchase with the code ONESMALLTHING. The code is good now through 8-8-18. The reason I decided to work with this company is because when I shared this picture of my p...
2018-08-0128 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 055: RepentanceWelcome back, friends! And, before I even get into things I just want you to know that today's episode is so good. SO GOOD! I was shocked because today's topic is Repentance. It is the virtue assigned to the 3rd Luminous Mystery, the Preaching of the Kingdom. At first glance it doesn't seem like there would be much to say about repentance, right? I mean, feel sorry for what you did, and accept forgiveness. But here is the thing. As people that have been lucky enough to grow up with the idea of repentance and f...
2018-07-2526 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 054: RespectHey there friends! Today's podcast episode looks at Respect as the virtue associated with the fourth Luminous Mystery, the Wedding at Cana. Now, as I mentioned last week, I had to think up and assign many of the virtues I'm using for the Luminous mysteries, mostly because Padre Pio, whom I am taking most of the virtues, never prayed the Luminous Mysteries! And in a way it still feels like these mysteries are very new--but what a joy to have them! In the past I have spoke a lot about what a key role Respect...
2018-07-1827 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 053: Being BelovedHey there! Today we are jumping back into the Virtues of the Rosary series! We already walked through all of the virtues associated with the Joyful Mysteries, so this episode talks about the first Luminous Mystery: The Baptism of Christ in the Jordan. It was, admitted, a little bit more difficult to assign virtues to the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary. As I have already shared, I have taken most of the virtues I share with you from the writings of St. Padre Pio. However, since the Luminous Mysteries came after the time of Padre P...
2018-07-1128 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 052: The Temperaments with Alex DeRoseReady to learn more about you (and your kids and husband?). Well, you are in luck! I have a wonderful, fun (sanguine) woman on the podcast to introduce you to and get you excited about the four Temperaments. If you have yet to look into the four temperaments, I encourage you to listen in. Chances you are you won't be a "pure" temperament. More likely you will have two strong temperaments, but looking into this help you understand your own strengths and temptations. Because remember, any pure quest to know ourselves better will bring us closer to God.
2018-07-0449 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 051: Doing God's Work Hey there my friends! Welcome back to our series on the virtues of the Rosary. Today we are wrapping up our walk through the virtues of the Joyful Mysteries. We have already talked about the Annunciation (joy), the Visitation (service), the Nativity (detachment from the world) and the Presentation (consecration). So, that leaves only the 5th Joyful Mystery, Finding the Child Jesus in the Temple. The virtue for this mystery is Doing God's Work. This episode turned out sort of interesting. In many ways it is simply an explanation o...
2018-06-2725 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 050: Consecration Hey there my friends! Welcome back to our series on the virtues of the Rosary. This week we are discussing the 4th Joyful Mystery, the Presentation. The virtue for this mystery is Consecration. I really enjoyed researching and recording this episode because of all the connections I found with sacraments. The connection between the Presentation and Baptism is clear, but there is always a really cool link to marriage and Holy Orders as well. As those Baptized we are called to renew our baptismal promises and strive to keep ou...
2018-06-2032 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 049: Detachment from the World Hey there my friends! Today we are continuing on with our little Virtues of the Rosaryseries on the Just One Small Thing Podcast. I love doing series, especially powerful series like this one that not only digs deep into the virtuous life we are all called to, but also offers real material for us all as we pray the Rosary--or at least that is my hope! Today we are tackling the 3rd Joyful Mystery of the Rosary, The Nativity. The virtue for this mystery is DETACHMENT FROM THE WORLD. G...
2018-06-1327 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 048: The Lifelong Call To ServeWelcome back to the Just One Small Thing Podcast, my friends! Today we are going to continue to dig into the virtues assigned to each decade of the Rosary. Last week we talked about Joy for the first Joyful mystery. Today we are going to talk about SERVICE for the second joyful mystery, the Visitation. Once again, you can find all of these virtues as well as scripture, reflections and prayers in my Rosary Booklet, if you would like! I also created a FREE set of 20 coloring pages to help you reflect on...
2018-06-0629 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 046: When Trust Seems FoolishHey friends! Today's podcast is a little different, and perhaps a little more personal that usual. We recently went through another miscarriage and are dealing with that. This loss is particularly hard because we are still grieving the loss of a baby at 20 weeks, who died on Thanksgiving of last year. I thought about not mentioning this recent loss at all on the podcast, but you all have so generously shared with me and I know that healing can only take place when we open up and share what has happened to us. This episode w...
2018-05-2323 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 045: Praying for PriestsHey friends! I am excited to share today's episode of the podcast with you! It features one of my favorite people--my beloved cousin Jodi--and discusses a SUPER important topic: Praying for Priest. But, instead of just generally trying to inspire you to pray for priests (which we all should be doing) this episode discusses a super specific and wonderful way to REALLY support the priests that serve you. But first, a little backstory. Jodi, the wonderful Catholic lady joining me for this episode, is my cousin, a dear friend from college and our hosts whenever...
2018-05-1632 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 044: Mental HolinessHoliness is a lifelong journey and I have come to understand that, at least for me, much of this battle will be fought in the mind. Most of my sins occur only in my mind. My attitude, my anger, my daydreams, and my laziness are very often things that others, even those close to me, never know about me. And yet, we know that true holiness requires consecrating every part of ourselves, including the secrets of our mind, to God. So for this reason I decided to dedicate this week's podcast episode to the topic of Mental Ho...
2018-05-0927 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 043: The Giants in FaithHey there! So, I just finished reading Catherine of Sienaby Sigrid Undset. The book was incredible--but I still can hardly believe how insane the life of Catherine of Siena was. I went into reading this book knowing embarrassingly little about St. Catherine of Siena. She seemed pretty meek, and lived way back in the 1300's so I was worried that I would find her boring. But I was so wrong. She had daily mystical experiences, she never slept and the only food she consumed was the Eucharist. She had invisible stigmata that became v...
2018-05-0222 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 042: FatimaMy husband and I just got back from a week in Fatima and I am so excited to share a little about it with you. Now, I bet that most of you have very little interest in the details of our travels, so instead of blabbing on and on about that, this episode shares three key ideas from Fatima that are just as relevant for those that have never travel there. These ideas are also just as important today as they were 100 years ago when Mary appeared to 3 poor children as they watched their sheep. ...
2018-04-2520 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 041: The Call to HolinessHey there! Today I am, once again, proving that I have no fear. I am tackling a BIG topic: holiness. Why am I tackling this topic? Because I'm perfect? Because I have some sort of saintly-insight to share with you? Nope. I'm talking about holiness because I too am a sinner, but, like all of you, I am called to holiness. The call to holiness is universal. The spiritual journey is THE MOST IMPORTANT journey and work of our lives. Therefore, let's see if we can walk a bit of the way together.
2018-04-2046 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 040: The Importance of NOWHey there my friends! Today's podcast episode was born out of a little project I have been working hard on behind the scenes. For the past few weeks I have been reading everything I can get my hands on about prayer so that I can help you (and me) really understand what prayer is and how to grow in holiness through prayer. But, while doing this study on the topic of prayer I was struck again and again by the IMPORTANCE OF NOW. Now, the importance of now, or living in...
2018-04-1824 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 039: Self Care Amid SufferingHey friends- Today's podcast episode is a bit of a personal one, so if you are sick of hearing me share about the baby I lost last fall, you might want to skip this episode. You see, although we have been infinitely blessed by and through the still-birth loss of our little Maximilian on Thanksgiving Day of last year, we are approaching his due date, and suddenly the pain is very real once more. Although I have weeks and months to get my mind around the idea that he won't be joining our family here...
2018-04-1026 minJust One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 037: GreedHey there my friend! First things first, happy Holy Week! I LOVE Holy Week. I love all the pomp and incense and long services and drama. I just LOVE IT. Isn't it so great to be Catholic and belong to a church that really let's us enter into the Passion each and every year? Praise be to God! On a much smaller note, the latest episode of the Podcast is up and ready for you. The episode discusses the vice of GREED and is the final episode in our Lenten Series on the Po...
2018-03-2820 min
Just One Small Thing Podcast for Catholic ParentsJ1ST 000--Nancy on The Feminine GeniusAnd so it begins! The first episode of the Just One Small Thing podcast details the podcast's origin. After meeting so many wonderful Catholic Women I have come to believe something very strongly: every single women has at least one tiny bit of wisdom to share with us. And, if we open ourselves up to learn from each other, and share what we have learned, we will be able to come closer to what JPII spoke about when he described The Feminine Genius. For this first episode you will hear just from me, bu...
2017-05-0911 min