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Courtship and the Saints

June 5, 2023 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Book Review, Marriage, Saint Quotes, Spiritual Reflections, Uncategorized Leave a Comment

There are now coaches for everything — including wellness, finances, and life at large. But where are the elders, specifically the Titus II Men & Women?

We must seek out all we can to sanctify our lives, marriages, families — our entirety. This book gives excellent examples for us to live holy lives as we court and marry. It provides marriage coaching of sorts from our heavenly Titus II Men & Women — the best kind, that which leads us to our final goal.

It has been a perfect antidote for me during this season of exhaustion as we end another homeschool year while juggling all the demands that summer brings and constantly being confronted by the gloom of the current state of affairs with glimpses that we may be nearing end times more rapidly than once perceived. In fact, I was going to share such a warning from a holy shepherd. Instead, my recent efforts to work on gratitude while asking for the grace to live my state of life to the fullest led me to reading this book.

It definitely filled my cup, reading like multiple good love stories, much better than any romantic comedy. No over romanticizing led by passions of the flesh or wasted time on earthly things — all holy inspiration that led me to a deeper gratitude, love for my beloved spouse, and desire to be a better wife & mother — all for the LOVE OF GOD.

So, while we must wade through all the troubles that are riddling the present day, let us use all that the Good Lord has provided for us. Let us seek holy encouragement as we journey home.

Order Courtship of the Saints: How the Saints Met their Spouses from @tan_books — from here. Use the discount code JOYFILLED15 for a savings.

It is easy to read and reference as needed. Great for young people, those discerning, marriages in all states (all must be tended to), and parents who have a duty to instruct on such matters.

Drop a heart ❤️ or leave a message if you regularly tend to improving your marriage or had a blessed courtship. Leave a double heart 💕 if you’re in the season of discernment. We will keep each of you in our prayers!

+AMDG+

💗 Lena

Mission Santa Clara

April 22, 2023 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Uncategorized Leave a Comment

We had a glorious Friday outing on the feast of St. Anselm.

We visited one of the California missions with our beloved Sisters and friends — all to venerate the miraculous Catalá Crucifix.

➕

O God, let me know you and love you so that I may find joy in you; and if I cannot do so fully in this life, let me at least make some progress every day, until at last that knowledge, love and joy come to me in all their plenitude.

While I am here on earth let me know you fully; let my love for you grow deeper here, so that there I may love you fully. On earth then I shall have great joy in hope, and in heaven complete joy in the fulfillment of my hope.

O, Lord, through your Son you command us, no, you counsel us to ask, and you promise that you will hear us so that our joy may be complete. Give me then what you promise to give through your Truth. You, O God, are faithful; grant that I may receive my request, so that my joy may be complete. #stanselm

The Last Week of Advent

December 23, 2022 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Advent, Fourth Week of Advent, Uncategorized Leave a Comment

I’ve learned that this is how it has been culturally celebrated amongst many Mexican families. We were not one of those families growing up. We got together with all the relatives at my grandmother’s house and feasted on all the food & presents. Some would “attend” Midnight Mass together.

It looked nothing like how we do it now — we don’t even put gifts under our tree during Advent. The focus is never on the material gifts for us, only preparing our hearts to give to the Christ Child.

The Merry Christmas Beggar’s is now a favorite of my boys who get to listen to it at bedtime with Dad. It works outs since we do we away with technology & TV aside from a few occasional holy options.

A new tradition that has seemed to takeover the Nutcracker play, setting up a nativity at our State Capitol.

This year’s tree is slightly taller than our 12 foot artificial tree. We’re hoping that there are no allergy issues. But we’ll probably not keep it up for the entire Christmas season (40 days until the Purification of The BVM/Candlemas – Feb 2) to be on the safe side.