A couple of weeks ago Beyonce was given the title of “World’s Most Beautiful Woman” from People Magazine. I feel like once you’ve got that award in your back pocket you can either:

• A) Finally allow yourself to wear sweatpants all the time (at which point you wouldn’t actually have a back pocket), or
• B) Gaze at yourself in the mirror for endless hours and let your pride shoot up like jack’s beanstalk.

No really, congrats Beyonce, you are gorgeous and have cleared up any confusion about how far I have to go to reach the plane you exist on.

. . . If I were trying to reach that level of beauty. But honestly, I can think of a lot titles I’d rather have than “World’s Most Beautiful.” (Like “Patron Saint of gluten free people.”) Beauty is just so fleeting.

I don’t know much about Beyonce (and I’m not giving my stamp of approval on everything she’s said and done) but it seems like she might agree. She said about receiving the award, “It’s really about who you are, the human being that makes you beautiful.” Then she said that the award means so much more to her since she was given the title after she became a mother.

Beyonce and Blue Ivy (The name Blue is no longer just for a cartoon dog!)

Guess what? Beyonce is un-knowingly (Or maybe knowingly? I don’t know if she reads apostolic letters in her free time . . . ) echoing Blessed John Paul II. He said in his letter “On the Dignity and Vocation of Women” that in motherhood a woman realizes and expresses her deepest “self” because of the gift of herself she’s made to another human being and the mystery she’s taken part in – the mystery of God allowing us to share in His creative act. (Mulieris Dignitatem, 18)

What also blows my mind is that every time motherhood happens, it’s like a renewal and reminder of the covenant that God made with us through the motherhood of Mary, which brought our Savior into the world. (Mulieris Dignitatem, 19) Moms get to follow in the footsteps of the Blessed Mother, who through her fiat blessed the role of motherhood forever.

World's Most Beautiful Woman for Eternity

Take that People Magazine. What you intended to be a superficial award, Beyonce and JPII took to the next level.

How amazing is that? A couple things to take from this:

1. Mary is truly the world’s most beautiful woman of ALL time because she said “Yes” to God and through her life and motherhood showed us what true femininity is.
2. Beyonce, while beautiful, had to admit that her motherhood makes her feel even more beautiful. She probably doesn’t realize it, but this is because Mary sanctified the role of mothers for all eternity and because motherhood is a share in God’s creation act and is a self-gift!
3. So in other words – it just sucks for me if I’m not a mother? No, God isn’t like that! There’s this awesome thing called “Spiritual Motherhood” which you can read about in Mulieris Dignitatem paragraph 21.
4. Do you realize what I’m saying? You don’t have to buy the best clothes, compare yourself to others, or spend hours at the gym to be happy, fulfilled, and draw others to you – in a word, to be beautiful. It’s about who you are, how you serve others, and how you cooperate with God’s plan for you.

I’m prettty sure that’s what Beyonce was saying . . . if you read between the lines.

Click here to download “A Mother’s Song” by Danielle Rose, from the Mysteries CD, courtesy of World Library Publications, wlpmusic.com

Why do you have a strong relationship with Mary?

When I was 19, I realized that although I knew a lot about Jesus, I did not know Him the way that I wanted to – to hear Him, see Him, touch Him, and be truly intimate with Him. I realized that there was someone who knew Him that way – Mary.

For the first time in my life, I spoke to Mary from my heart, and I asked her to please teach me and show me how she loved Him and knew Him. Our Mother Mary is very gentle; she waits for us to come to her and ask her for assistance.

I didn’t have any visions or hear any voices. A greater miracle happened. Mary quietly entered my heart and began to plant seeds of desire for prayer. I began to long to go to Daily Mass, confession, dates with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, and to pray the rosary. Instead of fitting prayer “into” my busy schedule, prayer became the #1 priority that everything else was ordered around. Through Mary’s heart, I fell in love with Jesus.

She knew that the intimacy I longed to find with Him was waiting for me in the Sacraments of the Catholic Church. Through her invitation, I began to know that Jesus was truly present in the Eucharist – and that I could receive Him each day and know Him, hear Him, touch Him, see Him – the way that Mary did. And once I knew Him as Mary knows Him – to hold and receive His Body and Blood just as she held Him in her womb, her arms, and her heart – then my relationship with Jesus was forever transformed.

Can you tell us about this song?

I didn’t pray the rosary growing up. It wasn’t until college that I discovered the creative wonders and joys of praying with Mary to ponder the life of Jesus. Praying the rosary is like having a bible study with Mary. We look through her eyes, and she walks with us to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. Mary helps us cooperate with the Holy Spirit to take up our cross daily and to say “Yes” to God in all the joys and sorrows of our lives.

The mysteries of the rosary are living, and when we ask Mary to help us turn to Jesus, we begin to see and experience these mysteries in the events of our own lives. In order to share with others what Mary has shared with me, I wanted to write a meditation song for each of the 20 mysteries of the rosary, so that others (especially young people) could receive the gift of this prayer coming alive in their hearts anew.

This particular song is the meditation for the 5th sorrowful mystery: the Crucifixion. The song is from the perspective of Mary at the foot of the cross, as she recalls her the story of loving Jesus from the cradle to the grave.

The next few weeks hold some of the most quintessential social events of high school: proms, graduations, and the last days with your friends from high school. Built up as the pinnacle of the year, they say these are the days you’ll remember forever and the make-or-break moment of high school. Stepping back, it’s a lot of pressure crammed into a few weeks.

At eighth grade sleepovers, in between freezing underwear and playing “truth or dare,” we’d steal prom magazines from the bedrooms of our older sisters and imagine what high school would be like.

We predicted that the boys would be tall, dark and handsome — ready to sweep us off our feet (instead of shorter than us, and trying to snap our bra straps like they did every day in middle school) and we would be thin, tan and glamorous in dresses imported from Paris (or at least bought new and not a hand-me-down). We would finally be adults and we’d remember it forever.

While it hasn’t been forever (more like a decade) I’m surprised by the memories that remain. High school held lots of choices and the consequences — for better or worse — remained long after the rental tuxes were returned and diplomas were framed. These are a few memories I’ve kept:

• What I remember: the moment we included someone who had been left out.

  When I look through the boxes of pictures I have from high school, I can’t remember the names of the girls that I desperately hoped would like me. I do remember Lauren, however. She stands a bit apart from the group in many snapshots, looking uncomfortable.

  One night we were all out for ice cream and when Lauren looked uncertain about where to sit, I gestured to the seat next to me and included her in the conversation.

  You know the Laurens in your school. Make the choice to make them welcome.

• What I remember: the friends who encouraged and respected me.
  

  How do you decide who your friends are? Scripture holds a lot of wisdom about friendship. A great meditation on how to be a blessing and be blessed by those in your company is Sirach 6.The author advises, “Faithful friends are a sturdy shelter, whoever finds one finds a treasure” (Sirach 6:14).

  A faithful friend wants what is best for you, what will ensure your safety and your health. A faithful friend encourages the truth in your relationship and your relationships with others (including your parents). Good friends reveal God. They are the ones you will keep.

  Make the choice to be a friend who reveals God, even if it means having fewer friends.

• What I remember: fun days, fun nights and mornings with no regrets.

  “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God?”

  You have probably heard this exhortation from St. Paul, to the Corinthians many times, in relation to the choices you make. Often left un-read is the second half of 1 Corinthians 6:19, “you are not your own.”

  In choosing what you do to commemorate these final days of school, whether after graduation, prom or band practice, at the forefront of our mind and hearts should be this reality that all is a gift from God, to be used for His glory. This doesn’t require walking around yelling, “hallelujah,” but it demands that our actions be a reflection of who we belong to. We are not our own.

  Make the decision, now, to walk away from any situation that includes drugs, alcohol or sexual temptation.

I thought the memories I’d take from high school would be of glamorous outfits, pretty people, and epic parties. My memories are of moments that I chose to do what was right, even when it wasn’t easy or popular. These choices — and their consequences — are what will stay with you from these last days of high school and form you into the adult you’re becoming.

How exactly do you thank your mother for being your mother?

I mean, seriously . . . this woman carried you in her body for nine months; she endured back-breaking, ankle-swelling discomfort, sleepless nights, weird food cravings, dramatic weight gain, and hormone fluctuations that make pinball machines appear tame.

That’s not even saying a thing, either, about the insanity of delivering you. Believe me, I’ve been in the delivery room multiple times. You could tell your mom “thank you” from here to eternity and it still wouldn’t be enough to communicate the gratitude she deserves for keeping you (in this abortion crazy culture), carrying you and giving birth to you.

So where does that leave you on Mother’s Day? What’s your plan to celebrate her motherhood?

Last year I wrote a blog entitled “Mother Always Knows Best” – sharing an idea for a low-cost Mother’s Day present that would bless your mom’s heart without emptying your wallet.

As a follow up, this year, I wanted to drop some Biblical wisdom that you might want to take to prayer and share with mom this weekend (or anytime, for that matter).

Here are some verses you might want to share within a card or note and some ideas for how you can tie them into a message fo’ yo’ mama:

• Thank your Mother for her constant example of faithfulness and for raising you in the faith. – Deuteronomy 6:7
• Thank her for the depth of her love. – 1 Peter 4:8
• This might also be a good time to pledge to be more obedient to your Mother’s authority and vow to change behavior, if necessary. – Ephesians 6:1-3
• You might want to point out how the very thought of her fills you with gratitude and joy. – Philippians 1:3
• Speak about how her example inspires you to live an even holier life. – Philippians 4:8
• Be specific. List the ways (and examples of times that) your Mother has exemplified love in action. Point to her virtue and affirm her for it. – Colossians 3:12-17, Galatians 5:22-23, 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, Romans 12:9-18
• Thank her for how her example of love has led you to more deeply understand the love of God the Father. – 1 John 4:7-8, Ephesians 3:16-19
• You might wish to praise her example of fidelity and womanhood, as wife and mother. – Proverbs 31:10, 25-30
• Instead of rolling your eyes or getting embarrassed the next time your mom talks about your childhood, thank your mother for giving you so many memorable moments over the years, for remembering them and bringing them up – even at inopportune times. The fact that she does shows not only that she cares, but how special you are. – Luke 2:19
• Assure her that you will remember all the things she taught you as you go away to school or move forward in your life. – Proverbs 6:20-22
• Echo the truth that you will praise her and be thanking her for the rest of your life . . . that you will seek to parent like her. – Proverbs 31:2
• If you’re looking for one for your grandmother . . . or if you’ve given your mother gray hair – Proverb 17:6

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At a conference for High School journalists, Dan Savage gave a talk that was supposed to be about anti-bullying. Instead it was anti-Christian. As he began to talk about the “bullish*t” of what can be found in the Bible, many Christian students stood up and walked out on him – a move he later called “pansy-assed.” Here’s the video. It’s about three minutes, but be forewarned there is some swearing going on in it (not suitable if kids are nearby).

The video has gone viral since being posted three days ago, the vast majority of people giving it a “like.” The comments below the video are horrifically anti-gay and only go to further the disgusting stereotype that Savage is bashing in his speech.

My first reaction to this video was shock. I couldn’t believe that someone could speak like that in such a public forum. If a speaker in a similar forum talked about how Jesus died for all of our sins he or she would have been rushed off the stage. But I quickly got over that. St. Peter wrote, “Don’t be surprised that a trial is occurring among you, as if something strange were happening to you.” (1 Peter 4:12) Christians should expect to be persecuted.

I Feel Bad For Dan Savage . . .

My next reaction was sympathy. There was a part of me that felt bad for him. Here is a man who has been abused by people claiming to be Christian. He references being insulted and physically beat up while others have died over this. And for him the source of blame is the Bible.

He suggests that we should overlook the prohibitions in the Bible regarding same sex activity just as we overlook things like stoning women who are adulterers. I teach a course on Scripture at Franciscan University of Steubenville and I’ll be honest: it’s hard to read things like that in Scripture. Interestingly enough, the reason we find it hard to read is because we’ve been transformed by Christ who we also learn about in the Bible. For there are many cultures (who don’t read the Bible) who would still agree with those kind of behaviors.

Barbaric Humanity

If the law of God seems barbaric in the Old Testament, we have to remember that it was because 3,500 years ago humanity was barbaric, at least by our Western civilization standards of the 21st century. When you hear of the genocides that still occur today you can argue that not much has changed in some places in the world.

God slowly revealed Himself to the Israelites so that through them the world might learn what it truly means to live and love through the example and teaching of Jesus Christ. We don’t stone women anymore for adultery—”Let he who is without sin cast the first stone” is one of the most famous lines of Jesus (John 8). In fact, we don’t believe in capital punishment at all (unless keeping the prisoner alive is a danger to society—an argument that makes more sense when prisoners were kept in tents and clay houses than billion dollar penitentiaries.)

Is the Bible Pro-Slavery?

Savage mentions that “the Bible is a radically pro-slavery document.” I believe this accusation to be purposefully ignorant. Yes, St. Paul wrote of the respect and duty that slaves should have for their masters and masters for their slaves. But while the term “slave” is used in broad terms in both the Old and New Testament, it is NEVER used in the way it was experienced in America (capturing people from their native land, selling them off for profit, denying rights, justifying abuse . . . ).

The Jewish people experienced that kind of slavery at the hand of the Egyptians and a strong part of their Law was to not do that to anyone else.

The Jewish people were strongly opposed to slavery since they were slaves themselves for years

In the Jewish custom, a slave was more like an indentured servant who could only sell themselves, not be sold by someone else. And after six years they’d have to be released unless they begged their master to be a servant for life (Exodus 21:5) and even then only the judges could decide if that could happen.

But I understand Savage’s deeper point. In the time of slavery in America, some slave owners used the Bible to justify their actions. They were wrong to do so. In our current time, there are many Americans who bully and discriminate against people with same sex attractions and use the Bible to justify their actions.

Guess what? They are wrong to do so, too.

Love One Another

Christianity has much to atone for in the way we have treated people with homosexual attractions. If only we were as shocked at the way the media portrays sinful heterosexual activity! It’s too easy to be shocked and disgusted at the sins we aren’t tempted to commit because we have no sympathy for the offender. (Whereas we are naturally kinder to people who struggle with our same issues.) Jesus didn’t say, “Love one another . . . except for the gays.”

We are all commanded by Christ to love as He loved us and to treat each other with the dignity that comes from being made in the image and likeness of God. It seems clear to me that Dan Savage has never experienced that love from people who claim to know Christ but instead has experienced the opposite. And that’s why I feel such sorrow when I hear him speak.

However, just because people get the Bible wrong doesn’t mean the Bible is wrong.

Savage (and others) think the Bible and Christianity is the problem. If that were true then cultures not formed on the Bible should be tolerant and accepting of homosexual behavior . . . but that is not always the case.

In a 2007 Pew Survey that asked if homosexuality should be accepted in society, Latin America, Western Europe, and Central Europe found about half agreeing with that idea. But Southern and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, huge portions of Asia and all of Africa strongly disagreed. It’s hard to suggest that the Bible has influenced predijuce in China and India. (See the study here, page 35.)

And though I feel some sympathy for the man, that doesn’t mean I sympathize at all with his position. He’s wrong and I think it was horrible that he used that opportunity with high school teenagers to bash the Bible. He would have been way more effective sharing with those teenagers the pain of being judged and condemned by people with religious beliefs than attacking Christianity. He was “fighting back” to a group of kids who hadn’t done him any harm. It was immature and inappropriate.

The Anti-Bully Bully

I was proud of the students who walked out on him. It wasn’t “pansy-assed.” It was just the opposite. In Savage’s attempt to teach teens about not discriminating against homosexuals, he became the bully.

Who's being the bully here?

The world won’t see it that way. His anti-Christian rhetoric will be justified as “righteous anger” that blames all people of faith for any unjust act done against a person with same-sex attraction. More and more in society today, people think to be Christian is to be a bigot. They think that we who believe that sex was made for a man and woman in marriage should hang our head in shame and stay home on voting day to atone for our sins.

Sadly, many Christians are doing just that. These issues are driving many away from the Church. It reminds me of something the artist formerly known as Ratzinger wrote in 1970 (from his book Faith and the Future, this quote taken from here) :

“The church will become small and will have to start afresh more or less from the beginning.

She will no longer be able to inhabit many of the edifices she built in prosperity. As the number of her adherents diminishes . . . she will lose many of her social privileges. . . As a small society, [the Church] will make much bigger demands on the initiative of her individual members…

The real crisis has scarcely begun. We will have to count on terrific upheavals. But I am equally certain about what will remain at the end: not the Church of the political cult, which is dead already, but the Church of faith. She may well no longer be the dominant social power to the extent that she was until recently; but she will enjoy a fresh blossoming and be seen as man’s home, where he will find life and hope beyond death.”

Smaller but stronger. A Church who’s strength is built not on the amount of her followers but the depth of her love for God and neighbor.

What Do We Do?

So how should we treat those who speak against us? With love.

How should we behave towards those with same sex attractions? Love.

What should we do to those who support and provide abortions? Love.

How should we treat our enemies? Love.

Jesus forgiving the sins of Mary Magdalen

But – and forgive me for using a phrase that Savage employed – not a “pansy-ass” love that says that everything is fine no matter what you do. A love that is rooted in truth. A love that is rooted in mercy. A love that is rooted in Jesus Christ.

Our love of God and neighbor means we can’t be silent on these issues, no matter what persecution we will face, no matter what people may think of us when we do. And when we speak we must do so “with gentleness and reverence, keeping your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who defame your good conduct in Christ may themselves be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that be the will of God, than from doing evil.” (1 Peter 3:16-17)

Don’t expect to be understood. Don’t be surprised at the trial. And don’t lose hope for this culture. “Love never fails.” (1 Corinthians 13:8)

Read more from Bob at his blog Bob-Rice.com

You know what will get you absolutely nowhere? Comparing yourself to other people. It’s pointless and Jesus doesn’t like it. I know He’s not a fan because He isn’t comparing us to everyone else (Psalm 139:14).

So why on earth do I want to compare myself to other people? I take that back. I don’t want to . . . my mind is obliged to compare myself to everyone. (Okay, so maybe that’s slightly dramatic.)

Last week I ran in a race and a couple times I was reduced to the “I feel hot and nauseous; I’m so over this” jog that is very slow (if you’ve never experienced it for yourself). And you know who did NOT motivate me? The 70 year old next to me who was speed walking at the same (if not a faster) pace than me. Come on. Really?

It’s in moments like this, and other times when I feel like I’m not good enough, that I ask myself, “Why can’t I be more like that person? They must be so much better than I am.”

But . . .

• What if St. Therese only wanted to be like St. Clare?
• What if there were no soccer players because they all thought football was cooler?
• What if everyone thought plaid or neon was cool so no one wore anything else? (Wait, bad example – that may or may not be actually happening.)
• What if we had no doctors because everyone just had to be interior designers?

The point is that God made us different and it just doesn’t help to compare yourself to other people. So let’s just stop. There will always be someone better than you at something. There will always be someone who you think it more attractive than you, or who in your mind has better talents. You have to constantly remind yourself of the truth that you are enough just as you are.

I have a hard time with comparing myself to everyone . . . in just about any situation. But I am uniquely me for a reason. You’re you for a reason. And Jesus wants us that way. Jesus doesn’t compare us because He’s so in love with who we are right now. Let’s ask for the grace to see ourselves like He sees us.

“If you are who you should be you will set the world on fire.” St. Catherine of Siena

I’m praying for you.

I’ve always thought the expression “people person” was kind of funny. I mean, I understand being a dog person or a cat person. You may like them and you may not. But how can you not like people? I guess I thought everyone was a people person! I consider myself a people person because I’ve always loved being around people and my friends make me so happy. However, sometimes I take this to extremes and rely on the people around me for everything.

In highschool, my family split up and I felt very alone. I didn’t realize that there’s a big difference between loneliness and being alone. We can often feel loneliness . . . but we are never alone.

God promises that He will never leave us. “Be strong and steadfast; have no fear or dread of them, for it is the LORD, your God, who marches with you; he will never fail you or forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6) Don’t take those words lightly.

An Emptiness

In the midst of this hard time in life, I felt a void and I looked everywhere for fulfillment, joy, and a sense of worth. One of the places I tried to find those things was in relationships. Even if the relationships seemed healthy, I was putting the other person before Christ and didn’t know how damaging it was.

A good friend once told me that Jesus should be the first person you want to talk to in the morning and the last person you want to talk to before bed. That really challenged me to ask myself: “Is He my focus? What if God is waiting anxiously for me to wake up so He can walk with me through another day, and I don’t even acknowledge Him?”

I found that how I felt about myself was directly related to what people around me say and think about me. My self-worth was constantly rising and falling. This might be the case for a lot of people, and it’s really twisted. I don’t know if you’ve been there, but I have.

You’re My Everything

In this particular relationship after my parent’s divorce, the girl I was dating became everything to me. I drew my worth from her compliments and her attention. I drew my joy from her company. I wasn’t simply finding joy in her and recognizing Christ in her, I was putting her first in my life before Christ.

She was the one I would go to with all my problems. I went to church to see her, not Jesus. And Jesus loved me through it all. When that relationship fell apart, so did I. For months, I considered myself friendless. I had pushed so many people aside to pursue one girl. Our Lord was there with me when it all came crumbling down.

I’m not saying you can’t find joy in your relationships. You should be able to recognize Jesus in the people around you, and that should bring you joy. What I’m saying is this: You need to go to Christ first.

End of story.

He alone can satisfy. I wish I knew this from reading it somewhere. The truth is, I know it from experience. I know it from putting Jesus last and trying to find my fulfillment in a relationship. I know Jesus fulfills because I tried everything else and I came up empty.

What About You?

Maybe some of this struck a chord with you. I want you to slow down. There’s no need for sudden change or worry. Just think about these questions, pray about them, and amend to make Jesus your first love and first priority in new ways. You’ve heard some of these questions before. Don’t just skim them. Accept the challenge.

• Do you feel like you’re constantly trying to earn love?
• Where do you find fulfillment?
• Is your relationship leading you to Jesus? Are you leading the other person to Jesus?
• Is love for God what drives you?
• Do you recognize Christ in the other person? Is Christ recognizable in you?
• Who is the first person you run to?

Please know that I’m praying for you, our Mother is guiding you, and God is fighting for you.

I’m a nanny and every so often the 4-year-old girl I take care of tells me about her future, “I’m gonna be a lizard babysitter… A chef that only makes soup… I’ll be big enough to hug you by your face” (all direct quotes). It seems that from the moment we can talk, we start thinking about the future . . . and wondering about our future too. That future-questioning mentality just grows stronger as we get older.

By the time I was in high school, I was so consumed by decisions and questions about the future. I found myself focusing on it so much that my prayer life turned into a giant mess of questions with no answers. I wanted to know what God desired me to do with my life—a very legitimate thing to be concerned with—however, instead of listening to what God wanted to tell me, I tried to figure His Will out on my own. I ended up focusing on my will, and hoping it just happened to be God’s will too.

Bad idea, my friends.

My Wake Up Call

It wasn’t until I was a summer missionary at Camp Covecrest that I began to realize I was doing the whole discernment thing completely wrong. One weekend, I had the opportunity to sit and talk with a fantastic priest, Fr. Peter, and I told him all about my questions about my future. “Should I be a missionary, a teacher, a youth minister, a wife, a nun, single?!” He sort of laughed at me and then told me, quite bluntly, to stop being so prideful. I was shocked, embarrassed, and super confused; but, then he explained.

Matthew 4:18-20

Fr. Peter led me through a meditation about how Jesus approached Peter, a man whose entire life revolved around fishing, and told him, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19). Peter immediately left his boat to follow Jesus (Matthew 4:20); there was no worry or question of what he would be doing. At first, I didn’t understand where Fr. Peter was going with this, but I was definitely intrigued.

Father’s point in all of this was simple; the focus of Peter’s first interaction with Jesus was never on what he was leaving, but on what he was going to do. What God desired for Peter’s life needed to come before what Peter thought his life was all about.

Come After Me

The most important part of all of this is in Jesus’ first three words to Peter, “Come after me.” With these words, Jesus is not only saying that Peter must physically follow him, but that Peter’s desires are to come after Jesus’ will. If we focus on doing what Jesus is asking us to do, our lives will change radically. Obviously, not all of us will become Pope, like Peter, but I guarantee that God will do far greater things with your life than you could ever do on your own.

After my conversation with Fr. Peter, my entire outlook of the future changed. Now, before I worry about the million questions and decisions that come through my head, I take a minute to pray. If you struggle with all these questions too, I encourage you to try this. Ask the Lord to show you how to come after Him, to conform your will with His Divine Will. When we stop worrying and simply ask God to show us His will, miracles happen.

Fishermen become fishers of men, students become disciples, and ordinary people become Saints.