I just bought the book How to Find Your Soulmate Without Losing Your Soul: 21 Secrets for Women by Jason and Crystallina Evert.
I am so glad they wrote this book, so that I wouldn’t have to!
This book is perfect for young women to help them recognize their dignity and worth, and to make a stand never to SETTLE!
I would even say guys should read it, to know what kind of man NOT to be, and what kind of woman they should look for: a woman who knows who she is in Christ and leads others to him, as well.
to buy the book
You can even buy in bulk (over 44 copies) at $2 per book, so if you want to do a book study at your church or girls’ group, you can do it for cheap! There are also downloadable study questions on their website.
for the study guide
This is a PERFECT way to continue a “girls’ session” you may have experienced at a conference, retreat or convention. It’s also a great GIFT for any young woman you know!
Rosary Novena Book
If I mentioned a 54-day Rosary novena that I did in a women’s session you were at, here is the book I used:
This novena is powerful, because Mama Mary’s intercession is powerful! (James 5:17)
When you pray for someone, pray with faith, for faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains!
God bless you!
Running the Race
EWTN: Life on the Rock
This Thursday, May 26th, I’ll be on the TV Show “Life on the Rock” on EWTN, 9pm CST (so 7pm for you California people!). (It will re-air on Friday, as well).
EWTN is the largest Catholic TV network in the world and reaches between 6 to 7 million viewers!
I am flying to Birmingham, Alabama to tape the show, and I will be singing 3 songs (2 from the first album, and 1 from the forthcoming album!).
I’m super excited!
Here is the link to “LIFE ON THE ROCK” page:
Here is the link to find out what station EWTN airs in your area:
peace and joy!
jackie
What’s the point of the Eucharist?
I hope your Holy Thursday is beautiful!
Music Runs in the Blood
I always joke that my family is like the VonTrapp family, singing in 3-part harmony at even the birthday song. But it’s true. Music runs through our blood.
My dad sings and taught himself how to play both guitar and piano. He also used to be a mean disco dancer back in the 70s, with his tight white John Travolta Saturday Night Fever-inspired suits, and he still can cut a rug out on the dance floor. There’s no doubt I get my moon-walking skills from him (see here: )
And over on my mom’s side (which is of Polish/German descent), half of the siblings formed a Polka band, and we can’t have any type of wedding reception, reunion or anniversary without doing the Polka!
My Uncle Bob, who is #4 out of 11 kids on my mom’s side, recently got inducted into the Concertina Hall of Fame!
I am so proud of him, and I have video, so you can see for yourself:
Why GLEE is wrong about SEX
After I saw last week’s Glee episode, i thought to myself, “No wonder tons of teens think it’s impossible to live a life of chastity.” When all we see are people on TV acting like sex-crazed animals, with no capacity for the virtue of self-control, how can we think that it’s possible to live otherwise? We need more examples in our culture (especially in Media) of people who are LIVING chastity in all relationships. Hopefully YOU who are reading this will use your gifts to build the Kingdom of God and a culture of LIFE-GIVING LOVE!
Here are my responses to the some of the scenes in the show:
MYTH: Chastity and Celibacy are the same thing
The writers of Glee are already showing their true colors when they call it a “CELIBACY CLUB” and not a “CHASTITY CLUB”: they have no idea what the difference is between the two C-words. TRUTH: Everyone is called to be CHASTE, but not all are called to be CELIBATE.
Chastity is the “successful integration of sexuality within the person” (CCC 2337) and, thus, the integration of body and soul. We are called to live chastely in all relationships: friendships, dating relationships, and married relationships. While celibacy simply means “not having sex,” chastity is a virtue that is lived out differently depending on our state of life (single, married, or consecrated). For instance, chastity for a single person (like myself) includes not having sex (or anything that arouses one to sex), while the married couple is not celibate, but is still chaste (e.g., staying faithful to each other, not viewing pornography, etc). Priests, religious (brothers and sisters), and consecrated men and women take a vow of celibacy, which is, therefore, one way chastity is lived out in their vocation. See the for more on this topic (especially #2331-2356).
MYTH: Chastity is a repression of sexual desires Emma Pillsbury (Teacher and Celibacy Club Leader): “I am very inspired how both of you are showing how celibacy is a viable option for teens who simply aren’t ready for intimacy…and for those who are older and terrified of the hose monster.” TRUTH: Chastity is not a REPRESSION nor an INDULGENCE of SEXUAL DESIRES, but a FULFILLMENT of them
I love food, and so my favorite analogy about our sexual desires is Christopher West’s: The STARVATION Gospel says, “Repress! Starve yourself. Shove those desires back down because they are bad!” The FAST-FOOD Gospel says, “Indulge in your desires and don’t worry about the consequences.” Fortunately there is another way. The WEDDING BANQUET Gospel (which is the real Gospel message) says, “Your desires are good, but need to be untwisted and redeemed.” It IS possible to be transformed in our sexual desires and not just give in to every temptation we encounter. When we do this, we will be more healthy with the virtues of peace, joy, love, etc., than when we turn to the fast-food and get sick with lust.
MYTH: Chastity is stupid and only for dull/boring people Holly Holiday (Sex-Ed Substitute): “[Celibacy] sounds pretty lame.” TRUTH: Giving into peer pressure and the “everybody is doing it” mentality is lame
I can say that the most joyful, peaceful people I have ever met are people who live a life of chastity and know that God alone satisfies all our desires–not another person, and not any thing. Personally, living a chaste life has NEVER been boring or dull.
MYTH: We are just animals with fiery instincts/passions and no self-control Emma: “So I’m curious as to why you don’t think celibacy is a valid choice for teenagers.”
Holly: “Well, I do, I think it’s a valid choice, I just don’t think it’s that realistic. It’s like saying vegetarianism is an option for lions.” TRUTH: We are human beings who have the choice to love people as children of God or USE people as objects
Pope John Paul said in his “Love and Responsibility” that the opposite of love is not “hate,” but “use.” Sexual love is a gift of self and demands tremendous humility and self-lessness. Lust and use, on the other hand, are all about “me” and what I can get from someone by way of pleasure. I can’t stand when people say, “Teens are going to do it anyway, so you should just give them condoms.” I say in response, “Actually, I’m 27 years-old and I’m a virgin, not because of circumstance, but because of choice.” We are not animals, but human beings who are called to life-giving love.
MYTH: Catholics are stupid, frigid, and naive about sex Holly: “We’ve got to educate these kids.”
Emma: “I strongly disagree. I don’t think that we should barrage these kids with graphic information: they’re kids. I don’t want to steal their innocence.”
Holly: “Are you, like, some crazy Pope lady?”
later scene… Rachel Berry: “What about those of us who choose to remain celibate?”
Holly: “Oh, well, I admire you. Although I think you are naive and possibly frigid, I do admire your choice.” TRUTH: The Catholic Church has the fullness of Truth based on Christ’s teachings and 2000 years of Tradition and knows the GOOD NEWS about SEX and MARRIAGE
God created sex to be GOOD, and the Church is a steward of handing on this Truth. However, sex is like fire (to use Pam Stenzel’s analogy). Fire within a fireplace is beautiful, cozy and can warm the house. Fire on the living room floor, on the other hand, is destructive. Sex is similar. Within the bounds of marriage between a husband and wife, sex can and should be beautiful and life-giving. Sex outside of marriage, however, can be very destructive (as we’ve seen with STDs, teen pregnancies, abortions, etc.)
MYTH: Sex is only about pleasure and what we can get out of it Brittany (Glee member): “When Artie and I are together we talk about stuff like feelings.”
Santana (Glee member): “Why?”
Brittany: “Because with feelings it’s better.”
Santana: “[Sex] is better when it doesn’t involve feelings. It’s better when it doesn’t involve eye contact.” TRUTH: Sex is a GIFT of self and its two purposes are 1. PROCREATION and 2. BONDING of a HUSBAND and WIFE
Our culture forgets about the whole “PROCREATION” biological purpose of sex, and just wants the pleasure. The truth is, sex is for having babies, so if you’re not ready to be a parent, you’re not ready to have sex.
MYTH: Only experienced people know how to have good sex Will Scheuster (Glee Teacher): “Go out with me.”
Holly: “You don’t want any of this. I’m damaged goods. Yes, it makes me terrific in bed, but, it also means I tend to break nice guys like you into wasa crackers.” TRUTH: Good sex is less about experience, and more about the selfless, sacrificial love between the husband and wife
There is a bodily chemical called oxytocin that is released in both a man and a woman during sex. This chemical BONDS the two together emotionally. The more people you have sex with, the more people you are bonded with. Is sex really better with someone who’s bonded to a whole bunch of other people? I think not. (In fact, the only truth presented by Glee was this: Holly: “So just remember whenever you have sex with someone, you’re having sex with everyone they’ve had sex with.”)
Also, if you HAVE had sex with a bunch of people, you are NOT damaged goods. God’s healing power and mercy are greater than any sin we have committed. Frequent the Sacraments (Reconciliation and the Eucharist, especially), and know that you are worth more than your sin.
I wish I could’ve written more about contraception as well, but this was a very quick response. Go to for more information and resources.
RESTORED Tour 2011 – Behind the Scenes
In a car with 6 boys for 10 days across 3 different states in 6 cities. What more could a girl want, right?! (As I chuckle at the daunting thought and the lovely smells of boys). Well, the drive ended up being a bit crazier than expected–a blown tire, smoking trailer brakes (and thus getting a rented U-Haul trailer), side-swiped car accident in L.A., etc. We jokingly called it the “Repair Tour.” BUT, as you’ll see in this video, the humor, faith, and joy of these guys kept us laughing and trusting God the whole way.
The RESTORED tour was a beautiful, exhausting, and trying experience. I had a blast and miss these brothers dearly already.
Coolest Catholic Youth Room Ever!
I made this video a few weeks back when I spoke/sang at Emmaus Catholic Church in Austin, TX.
Here’s what ensued:
What a Difference a Year Makes
This week is always like a fun, long party with Christmas, my birthday, and New Year celebrations squished into 7 joyful days of family, friends, and food.
When I think about this week last year, though, it feels like AGES ago. I feel like a completely different person. God took away some friends and gave me new ones. Ministry exploded from traveling 50,000 miles in 2009 to 110,000 in 2010. God crashed my spiritual life with a lot of pain and purification, only to replace it with beautiful, ecstatic joy and love.
Here are 3 things that made a year so different and life-changing:
3. Friendships
God taught me early on in 2010 to never place trust in people. I read a quote that said, “Love people and trust God.” People will fail us, disappoint us, and hurt us. We still need to love them. God alone never fails, never disappoints and never leaves. He alone gets our trust.
“How often have I not found faithfulness where I had thought myself sure of it. And how often, too, have I found it where I least expected it. It is vain, therefore, to trust in mortal beings; the safety of the righteous is in you alone, O God. Blessed are you, Lord God, in all things that happen to us.” – Imitation of Christ
On a more happy note, God brought some amazing people into my life this year who have become friends, prayer warriors, confidants. They have taught me how to be more child-like, more faithful, more steadfast in prayer, and more pure in heart. I am so grateful for these beautiful men and women who radiate the love of Christ.
2. Daily Adoration
During Lent, I decided to make a daily holy hour. I have been going to daily mass for the last 8 years of my life, which has brought tremendous discipline and spiritual growth, and an abundance of grace. However, I had never made the effort to make a daily holy hour. That would be an hour and a half out of my busy schedule. How could I ever dedicate that kind of time?!
Well, with the amount of craziness that comes with a LOT of travel–noise, long security lines, frustrations–I needed to have some peace and silence by myself. After Lent, I continued to go to adoration daily (even if it was only 45 minutes, or even if it was impossible and I had to turn some plane rides into “holy hours”). Those silent times have been so fruitful, and I have experienced a lot of conversion that will continue throughout my life (“I am confident of this, that the One who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Christ Jesus” – Philippians 1:6). With all the giving that comes with ministry, I was able to receive tremendous grace from God. And since the Marian posture must precede the Petrine posture (receiving before giving), this extra amount of prayer has kept me from extreme ministry/traveling/spiritual burnout.
If sitting in front of the Eucharist is like soaking in rays of the Sun, then i got quite the spiritual tan this year. Now I know why Fr. Ed admonished me in confession, saying, “You NEED to make a daily holy hour. No excuses. Find the time.” Smart man. Holy Priest.
1. Consecration to Jesus through Mary
Pope John Paul II was consecrated to Mary. Saint Maximilian Kolbe, Saint Padre Pio, and Mother Teresa were, too (just to name a few). Consecration is like jumping in the womb of Mary, where Christ was formed, so we might be formed as “little Christs,” too. Mary’s womb is the only place where Satan cannot penetrate, because Mary’s womb is the Tabernacle where the Bread of Life dwelt–it is the “Holy of Holies.”
My best friend, Julie, had been telling me for 5 years to do this consecration, and more specifically the 33-day St. Louis de Montfort “Preparation for Consecration.” I kept ignoring it all until my friend, Fr. Neil, who does a lot of deliverance ministry, actually placed the book into my hands October 2009.
So, on December 31st I began the 33 day preparation, which ended on February 2nd, the Feast of the Presentation of our Lord. Since Satan hates Mary and this consecration, my January was HELL. I have never had a worse month in my life. It was spiritually purifying, trying, and painful.
However, come February, I had never experienced so much joy, peace, and satisfaction in God alone. My spiritual life and ministry took off to new heights and depths.
Now, along with over 80 prayer warriors (who are on an email list), Mary has my back when I share the Gospel with people all over the country and bits of the world. I can’t say enough about this consecration, so try it yourself: to Jesus through Mary