• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Prayer Wine Chocolate

a spiritual journey to motherhood & beyond

  • Home
  • Wine and Chocolate
  • Faith
  • CSMI
  • Adoption
  • Life
  • Prayer Journaling
  • Resources
  • About
  • Contact
  • Be Yourself!: A Journal for Catholic Girls
  • Donate a Be Yourself Journal
  • Catholic Coloring Pages
  • Shop

Jan 2, 2017
Catholic Influencers· Faith

Five Presents You Can Open in His Presence

On Christmas Eve, our pastor, Father Connors, encouraged us to “open the gifts our faith gives us”!  I loved his homily.  Father Connors had all of us envision children running to the gifts under the tree Christmas morning . . . then just standing there, looking at them, but not opening them.  He said, “that would never happen!!!”  We all couldn’t help but imagine what really happens – lots of wrapping paper tearing and excitement.  Father then encouraged us to open the gifts our faith gives us – whether it be prayer, the Sacraments, a bible study or Eucharistic Adoration.  I then started to think of the gifts I have received from spending time in Eucharistic Adoration.  In this new year, I plan to visit Jesus in the Adoration Chapel more . . . and enthusiastically open these gifts! Is there a gift faith or prayer has given you?  Please share in the comments!

There are affiliate links in this article.  If you click the link and purchase the product, I make a small commission.  Your purchases allow me to continue to write – so thank you so much!

adoration.jpg

Friendship

I once read a quote that described friendship in the following way:

“the best kind of friend is someone you could sit on a porch and swing with, never say a word, and then walk away feeling like it was the best conversation you ever had.”

I don’t know who originally stated that opinion, but it holds a lot of truth.  In Eucharistic Adoration, Jesus is that best friend.  True, he always is our best friend; but during adoration, it’s perfectly okay to pray with many words; or to just be present.  Just being close to Him, allowing his peace to enter our hearts, is a gift in and of itself.  He is there.  He knows every hair on our head, every worry in our hearts, every thought in our minds . . . and He is there to hold all of it.  Spending time with a friend has value beyond words.

Time to “Be Still”

Depending upon our circumstances in our daily lives, some may not need this gift of “time to be still” given in Eucharistic Adoration.  I have a four year old; a four year old boy; with ants in his pants. He is a wonderful gift and I love him with all my heart, I do.  However, unless he is asleep, he is incapable of stillness.  Before he came into my life I was a teacher and moderator and coach of high school students.  Adoration gave me time then to “be still” as well.  I am and was constantly “running”. It is totally true that I could plan and create time to “be still” early in the morning or at some other point in the day or week – but, time tends to get away from me.  Committing one hour a week to be in the adoration chapel creates accountability on my part and ensures that I will get there.

bestillandpray.jpeg

Heavenly Wisdom

Our adoration chapel has a small bookshelf with resources about the saints; pamphlets about how to pray the Rosary; and other spiritual reading.  It was in adoration that I read some of St. Therese’s Story of a Soul . . . and how I found out that she absolutely loved snow. That fact made her more endearing to me.  There was a time recently when I was working on a project and I went to adoration before I went somewhere to write.  I prayed for wisdom and it came to me in a very concrete way.  The exact information came to me by way of a resource on that bookshelf. Twice this happened. I recall those times with awe and wonder.  I know God always gives us what we need – but it was pretty obvious those times.  Our God is truly an awesome God! (Here is one of the books I found that was really interesting and inspiring: 15 Days of Prayer with Saint Catherine of Siena)

Health

Stress causes health issues – both mentally and physically.  Taking time to decompress and simply breathe or -even better – meditate, is good for our overall health.  My favorite forms of meditation are praying the Rosary and simply repeating the name of Jesus, over and over again.  Studies have repeatedly shown how incredibly beneficial meditation is to our health.  On top of that, if you are a student, meditation has been proven to help improve academic success. Our fast paced society tends to provide distractions everywhere we go – even when we have the best of intentions.  The stimulation within the adoration chapel is simple and silent.  It’s the perfect place to pray and meditate.

An Escape

adorationchapel

There are very few physical locations where I can say I never look at -or for -my phone. Church is one of those places.  As I write this article I can think of the people I should text back and call; pictures I should post on our adoption profiles; and email accounts I should open and check.  Technology has allowed me to always keep in touch with people – which I love; but sometimes, I need a break.  I need a break from checking, looking, texting, calling, messaging and scrolling.  It’s overstimulating and I there is always one more person I didn’t yet get back too. When I am at Eucharistic Adoration, my mind is at peace.  I know I’m talking to the most important person, Jesus – my Lord and Savior.  I desire His guidance and love.  I trust that He will help me get done what needs to get done once I leave.  I appreciate the time I get to spend with Him.

Do you attend Eucharistic Adoration?  How do you fit it in and what would you say to someone who has never gone? Please share!

 


Share151
Tweet
Pin9
Share1
160 Shares
Previous Post: « Five Perfect Prayers for the New Year
Next Post: This Year, I’m Planning on Making God Laugh! »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Candy Hartmann says

    January 2, 2017 at 3:45 pm

    Great post! Thanks for the great ideas and words of wisdom. Happy New Year!

    • Amy says

      January 2, 2017 at 4:32 pm

      Happy New Year to you as well Candy!

  2. Anni says

    January 2, 2017 at 11:47 pm

    Isn’t it amazing how “still” we can get when we go to a Adoration without our children? How AWE-some it can be for us, and how rewarding and beneficial? I like to think it helps recharge my batteries when I go by myself.

    That said, it looks like this week three of us are going – myself, along with my two sidekicks. Because, I am a firm believer that Mama needs her “Jesus time!”

    Also, do you like the “Watching An Hour…” book? I have considered it in the past, but wasn’t too sure on it…

    • Amy says

      January 3, 2017 at 6:44 am

      I don’t know much about that book – I honestly have only used the freebies on the shelf at my church! How do you get your sidekicks to sit still?? lol

  3. Ginny says

    January 3, 2017 at 7:48 am

    I really struggle with the phone issue! I think it has had a truly negative impact on my faith life, sadly. My homeschool group has a holy hour for children on Wednesdays. I should start going!

    • Amy says

      January 3, 2017 at 7:50 am

      I understand – the struggle is so real! I hope you give the Wednesday holy hour a try!

  4. Kerry says

    January 3, 2017 at 8:12 am

    I giggled when I pictured myself running and tearing open the gifts that God gives us. Thanks for sharing!

    • Amy says

      January 3, 2017 at 8:28 am

      Haha! Glad you had a giggle!!!

  5. Brittany says

    January 3, 2017 at 9:37 am

    We have perpetual adoration at our church and it started last year. I have yet to spend much time in the chapel but this year I am putting BOTH kids in daycare one day a week so that I can go to a women’s faith-sharing group and do adoration afterward. Like you the house is always loud and moving – I’m a little nervous about what I might hear in all that quiet!

    • Amy says

      January 3, 2017 at 2:06 pm

      Aww man – don’t be nervous! I’m excited for you – it’s going to be a great year!

  6. Sara says

    January 3, 2017 at 10:57 am

    Um, wow! Thanks for the reminder to look at these things as gifts! I think of all the times I have these things in my life right now, and how often I take them for granted. I’m totally ready to look at them with the renewed sense of joy and gratitude for the gift they truly are!

    • Amy says

      January 3, 2017 at 2:07 pm

      You’re so awesome Sara! Enjoy!!

Primary Sidebar

       

Amy is the Co-Founder of CatholicsOnline.net

10 Free resources

10 Free resources

10 free resources for subscribers!

10 free resources for subscribers!

GUIDE: How to Plan your Own Prayer Wine Chocolate Retreat

Be Yourself! Journal

Journal for tweens and teens

prayerwinechocolate

Easter is the perfect time to encourage prayer wit Easter is the perfect time to encourage prayer with a gift!
These gifts and more available in my little shop!

#Catholicshop #Catholickids #Catholicwife #CatholicChristian #CatholicEaster
Easter gift ideas for Catholic boys… #Catholicbo Easter gift ideas for Catholic boys…
#Catholicboymom #Catholicmom #Catholic #Catholics #Confirmationgift #CatholicChristian #catholicmemes #catholicreels
Be Yourself Journal on sale for $17.00… today on Be Yourself Journal on sale for $17.00… today only!!!
“Be who you are and be that well. So that you may bring honor to the Master Craftsman whose handiwork you are.”
~Saint Francis DeSales 

#Catholicbooks #CatholicSaints #CatholicMom #Catholicgifts #boystomen #Catholickid #Catholictween ##Catholickids #saintquotes
Striving for Sainthood can be as simple as this… Striving for Sainthood can be as simple as this… 

This type of advice can be really helpful for all of us… especially for a young girl navigating middle school or her early teens.

This advice would have helped me.
Why?

Because it takes some pressure off the high expectations often felt by us as individuals.

It makes God’s will for us feel achievable and realistic.

It’s totally relevant to a student in junior high
(And a slightly stressed out adult)

This page in the Be Yourself embraces scrapbooking fun- just like the back cover. Only this page encourages photographs. Yes, actual printed ones 🎞️📸

Take a deep breath.
Love the next person that comes near you.
#Catholicmom #Catholicsaints #middleschool #juniorhigh #Catholicquotes #inspirationalquotes
A prayer and the story behind the picture… Oh S A prayer and the story behind the picture…

Oh St. Joseph whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the throne of God, 

I place in you all my interests and desires. Oh St. Joseph do assist me by your powerful intercession and obtain for me from your divine son all spiritual blessings through Jesus Christ, our Lord; 

so that having engaged here below your heavenly power I may offer my thanksgiving and homage to the most loving of fathers. 

Oh St. Joseph, I never weary contemplating you and Jesus asleep in your arms. I dare not approach while he reposes near your heart. Press him in my name and kiss his fine head for me, and ask him to return the kiss when I draw my dying breath. 

St. Joseph, patron of departing souls, pray for us.
Amen.

My children had off from school on Friday. I had committed to an hour of Eucharistic Adoration on Fridays from to 2 to 3 during Lent… so since they had off, they had to come with me.
It was stressful.
They CAN NOT sit still.
Once I got one to stop walking around or talking, another one started.
But in the middle of all this… I witnessed a sweet moment.
I hesitated to pull out my phone because I really try not to during Adoration.
But, the beauty of the moment struck me, and I had to capture it.
📸 
Motherhood is hard. Parenting is difficult.
But I’m often reminded it’s like farming… and I’m planting seeds.

I just hope and pray I’m planting more good seeds then bad ones.

Thank goodness we can pray and ask for prayers from others!

Saint Joseph, pray for us!
#Catholic #Catholicmom #mustardseedfaith #catholicteacher #CatholicChristian #CatholicSaint #CatholicSaints #catholicparenting #liturgicalliving
THANK YOU! Thank you! Thank you! If you have left THANK YOU! Thank you!
Thank you!

If you have left a review on Amazon for either of the Be Yourself Journals… thank you from the bottom of my heart!

When you leave a review on Amazon it makes me SO HAPPY… plus it sends a signal to Amazon to show more people these books!
I’d love for more girls to get this book in their Easter Basket this year!

I’m so grateful this book is being used and appreciated!

God is good!

If you like this book and haven’t left a review, please write one! It’s okay if you didn’t buy it from there!

Tag someone with a 10 or 11 year old girl!

#Catholic #Catholicmom #liturgicalliving #litany #Wwp #CatholocChristian #CatholicEaster #CatholicEasterbasket #ComeHolySpirit #trueidentity
I can’t believe in the past week I’ve posted 4 I can’t believe in the past week I’ve posted 4 videos on YouTube!

And last week’s interview with Dr. Matthew Breuninger (@askacatholictherapist ) still has me thinking about the “psychology of prayer journaling “!

The last 4 videos posted consist of two new interviews (Jessica Castillo from @athrivingcatholic and Dr. John Spitzer @johnspitzermd ); 

a box opening of @pinksaltriot ‘s latest JOY BOX and finally 

a “how to” video that demonstrates how girls can design the back cover of Be Yourself: a Journal for Catholic Girls!
Whew!

Dr. John Spitzer shared parenting advice for moms and dads of tweens;

Jessica Castillo shared how our physical and spiritual health are connected;

The Joy Box had some fun surprises… one will be going in my daughter’s Easter Basket;
And my friend’s daughter was the perfect co-host in the “how to design “ video!

Tell me which topic interests you the most… maybe I’ll dedicate an Instagram post highlighting that content!

#Catholic #BeYourselfJournal #CatholicYouTube #Catholicyouth #CatholicsOnline #catholicsofinstagram #Catholicblog #Catholicauthor #Catholicblogger #catholicinspiration #Catholictalk #joybox
FLASH SALE ON BOY’S Journal ends tonight!!! Link FLASH SALE ON BOY’S Journal ends tonight!!!
Link in bio!
#Catholic #Lent #bhlent2023
“I got this for my 10 yr old daughter’s Easter “I got this for my 10 yr old daughter’s Easter basket. She immediately was attracted to it. Later, she came to me and said that it was her favorite item in her basket. She loves it and really has spent time with it. It is motivational, inspirational, engaging and most importantly, designed to encourage a habit of prayer and meditation at a young age. All while focusing on God’s love for us and our uniqueness…”
Review left on Amazon about Be Yourself:a Journal for Catholic Girls
#Catholic #RomanCatholic #BeYourselfJournal #BeYourself #Catholicmom #Catholicgift #Christianyouth #Catholicyouth #journal #prayerjournal #catholiccrafts #Catholics #Tweengirls #tweengirl #Youthministry #bookstagram #Catholicfamily #catholicphotography #Catholicprayers #catholicreels
FLASH SALE!!!! Boy’s journal sale ends MONDAY!!! FLASH SALE!!!!
Boy’s journal sale ends MONDAY!!!
Finish up Lent strong… and add this fun book to an Easter Basket!
Link in bio!
#Catholickids #Catholicmom #Catholicyouth #CatholicChristian #Catholic #catholicyouthministry #Catholicdad #Catholicgift #Eastergift #Easterbook #Easter #easterbasket #Lent
I adore you Jesus, true God, and true man, pres I  adore you Jesus, 
true God, and true man, 
present in the Holy Eucharist, 
kneeling before you 
and united in spirit 
with all the faithful on earth 
and all the saints in heaven. 

In gratitude for so great a blessing, 
I love you with all my heart, 
for you are worthy of all praise 
and adoration. 

Lord Jesus Christ, may I never offend you with my lack of love. 

May your Eucharistic presence refresh me in body and soul. 

Mary, Mother of the Eucharistic Lord, pray for me 
and obtain for me a greater love for Jesus. Amen.

#EucharisticAdoration #Lent #EucharisticRevival #BlessedSacrament #40hours #prayforvocations #Catholicmom #Catholicsonline #manyhailmarysatatime #catholicsofinstagram #Holyhour
Seriously, if all the @catholicsonline shops had a Seriously, if all the @catholicsonline shops had a mall I’d… I don’t even know… it would be AMAZING!!!
#RomanCatholic #Catholicgifts #Catholicmom #Catholicwoman #Catholicwife #Christiangifts #SaintJude #CatholicSaints #Catholicshop #Eastergift #Eastergifts #Catholicsonline #Catholicreels #catholicsofinstagram #prolife
Have you ever seen a statistic and thought… thes Have you ever seen a statistic and thought… these numbers are NOT in my favor?

Years ago, I was lonely, depressed and wondering if I would ever not be lonely and depressed.

I dreamed of falling in love and getting married.

But, I wanted to marry a faithful Catholic man… and I believe I saw that only 22% (?) of Americans were Catholic.

And then I thought…
Half of them aren’t men, a large percentage are not practicing and … also how many are BOOMERS?

Lucky for me, God math goes like this…
5 loaves 
2 fish
=
5,000 meals and leftovers 

This is my handsome husband and our awesome nephew with the Bishop that Confirmed him on Friday.
Matt was -and is- such a proud Sponsor and Uncle!
God bless Grayson Patrick FRANCIS!

Thank you God for all of your gifts!!!
“You pay God a compliment when you ask big things of Him.” ~ Saint Teresa of Avila

#Catholic #confirmationsponsor #CatholicSacraments #EucharisticRevival #EucharisticAdoration #ComeHolySpirit #Saintquotes #CatholicSaints
Don’t you love when a plan comes together for a Don’t you love when a plan comes together for a retreat and you see joyful faces! 

Listen, this is the best retreat hack for Catholic girls!
****The Be Yourself Journal Scrapbooking activity.****

Give each girl a Be Yourself Journal.
Explain how, “We are all called to holiness but we take different paths.” ~ Saint Katharine Drexel.

Have each girl pick out a Holy card and two Catholic stickers.

Put scrapbooking paper and Catholic washi-tape (thank you @thestumpofjesse ) on the tables and get them started with decorating the back of their journals.

As they work add more stickers and quote cards to their table.

Point out that they were all given the same set of instructions… yet each cover design is unique.

The same is true for their calling!
God has a unique mission for each individual.

He calls us to follow the Commandments, embrace His Word and trust the teachings of the Church…
same set of basic instructions, different yet BEAUTIFUL results when followed!
“Be who God meant you to be and you’ll set the world on fire!” ~Saint Catherine of Siena
Huge thank you to the women who donated journals and holy cards!!!
#holycards #Catholickids #Saintquotes #BeYourselfJournal #Catholic #Catholicstickers #Catholiccrafts #Saintquotes #Catholicyouth #Catholicyouthgroup #Catholicretreat #Confirmationretreat #Catholicretreat #catholicteacher
Not sure what to do with all those prayer cards? Not sure what to do with all those prayer cards? 

Holy cards can be a fantastic prayer journal prompt. 

Copy the prayer off the back and glue the card to the page ;next to, underneath or above where you wrote the prayer).

Follow me for more prayer journaling tips!
#Catholicjournal #biblejournal #Prayerjournal #prayerjournaling #bissisterhood #Catholicsonline #Jesusandcoffee #Lentideas
Getting ready for a Confirmation Retreat this week Getting ready for a Confirmation Retreat this weekend!

So excited to help these young Catholics see that each is called to holiness… but each mission is unique and unrepeatable!

Huge thank you to the women who donated journals for the retreat (11 donated!!!) and the women from my Bible study group who donated Holy cards!

If you would like to donate a Journal for one of the girls attending the retreat this weekend… send me a private message and I’ll explain how!

Holy cards are GREAT prayer journal prompts!

Which Holy card would you put in your prayer journal?
#prayerjournal #Catholicsaint #Confirmationretreat #Catholicretreat #catholicprayer
Keep at it!!! Don’t give up and Don’t give in! Keep at it!!! Don’t give up and Don’t give in!!! “The world offers you comfort… but you were not made for comfort, you were made for GREATNESS!”
Pope Benedict XVI
#Catholic #Saintquotes #prayfastgive #Lent #Catholicreels #Catholicmeme #Catholicmemes #catholicsofinstagram #Catholicmom #faithandfamily
New post up on the blog!! I found some awesome Hol New post up on the blog!!
I found some awesome Holy Spirit themed gift ideas!
Link in bio!
#catholicgiftguide #ComeHolySpirit #Catholicmom #religiouseducation #Catholicgifts #shopCatholic #catholicsonline
Holy Spirit activate!!! New gift guide up!!! One m Holy Spirit activate!!!
New gift guide up!!!
One might say … these gifts are on FIRE!!!!
Check it out… link in bio!!!
#holyspiritactivate #Catholicgifts #Catholic #confirmationgift #Catholic #youthministry #Catholicyouth #Catholicteen
Need Lent? #Catholicreels #Catholics #CatholicChri Need Lent?
#Catholicreels #Catholics #CatholicChristian #Catholicmeme #Catholicmemes #liturgicalliving
Load More Follow on Instagram

Footer

       
a spiritual journey to motherhood & beyond

Copyright © 2023 · Cultivate Theme theme by Restored 316