also, defend life. Defend those who defend life. Support those who help moms and dads who seek help as they bring new life into this world.

amen.

My anxiety returns but luckily I know what to do. Or at least I figure it out after allowing my anxiety to drive an interaction with my dear husband.

How focusing on God’s plan is helping me lessen daily anxiety

This is not easy to do but it’s important for us to try.

We’re praying for you every day.

I'll be moving to a weekly format after today's episode and along with the podcast, will be sharing free #printables you can use in your faith journey.

Today, I talk about how we can be like the Pharisees in today's gospel. Ready to trip others up, rejoicing when they fall, getting angry when they don't. It happens more often than you may expect.

I also ask that you remember you have just consumed the Body of Christ when you leave Mass. Don't run over your fellow parishioners or push past them on your way to breakfast. Maybe even say hi to a few of them. And let your pastor or deacon know how much you appreciate their homily. Most of them don't "wing it" - they spend a lot of time preparing.

I'm praying for you today!

Pax et Bonum

In today's episode, I talk about God being for us, not against us and what that means in our day to day life.

I also discuss how journaling while praying can help you through some of your toughest moments.

I am working on creating free, downloadable prayer journal pages for you to use. These are coming soon!

I am praying for you today.

Pax et Bonum

In today's #HackingHoliness podcast, I share a personal reflection from this morning's Three 3's (Saying the Our Father and then writing down 3 Gratitudes, 3 Personal Intentions, 3 Intentions for Others).

If your life is filled with challenging situations, consider asking God not only for a resolution to those challenges but also the grace to rely on Him. He is our hope & our salvation.

This doesn't mean that He will solve your challenge or make it go away but relying on God to support you as you deal with the challenge can lessen your stress and anxiety.

I am praying for you today.

Pax et Bonum

The Litany of Humility

O Jesus! meek and humble of heart, Hear me.

From the desire of being esteemed,

Deliver me, Jesus.

From the desire of being loved...

From the desire of being extolled ...

From the desire of being honored ...

From the desire of being praised ...

From the desire of being preferred to others...

From the desire of being consulted ...

From the desire of being approved ...

From the fear of being humiliated ...

From the fear of being despised...

From the fear of suffering rebukes ...

From the fear of being calumniated ...

From the fear of being forgotten ...

From the fear of being ridiculed ...

From the fear of being wronged ...

From the fear of being suspected ...

That others may be loved more than I,

Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

That others may be esteemed more than I ...

That, in the opinion of the world,

others may increase and I may decrease ...

That others may be chosen and I set aside ...

That others may be praised and I unnoticed ...

That others may be preferred to me in everything...

That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should…

Humility is an underrated, often misinterpreted virtue.

The best way to seek true humility, #GodFirst humility, is to pray for humility.

The Litany of Humility, was written by Rafael Cardinal Merry de Val, the Secretary of State for Pope Saint Pius X in 1863. It is said that he prayed it every day after celebrating mass.

It isn't an easy prayer to say. Our ego shows up as we pray, whispering that we're supposed to be loved, be seen, be praised and we're not supposed to be wronged or lied about or discarded. Many of us pray for love, for success, for protection from the very things this litany prays to overcome the fear of.

Even when your ego begs you to stop praying this litany - pray it anyways. Watch the change in your life as you say it daily.

I've made it a bit easier to do by recording it. Listen to the next episode and pray with me.

I will be praying for you today.

Pax et Bonum

Today is the Feast of the Archangels.

In today's episode I discuss Archangels and say a prayer with you to ask for their intercession in our lives.

If you'd like to learn more about this feast and the Archangels, click here.

I am praying for you today!

Pax et Bonum

In today's podcast I ask you to think about what's stopping you from living a God First life. This podcast isn't about perfection - I'm far (very far) from perfect. It's about progress. It's about making room in your day to put your relationship with God first in your life. If you still haven't committed to doing that, follow along with this episode and take a few minutes to reflect and write down what's holding you back from living each day focused on God and His plans for you.

• Begin by saying the Our Father. (I pray this with you during this episode)
• Write down your blockers
• Ask God to help you put Him first

As always, I'm praying for you.

Pax et Bonum

In today's episode, I share a tip on praying for others during your day to day activities. I call this tip Praying for the Speedy as I often use this tip when we're driving somewhere and other drivers seem to think they are the only ones on the road or we're in some real life Mad Max situation.

This is an easy one; as you go about your day, say a Hail Mary for people who:

• Cut you off in traffic
• Cut in line
• Got your coffee/food order wrong
• Take the parking spot you had your eye on
• Do something else that "bugs" you

Reflect on the fact that if this is how these people always behave, they actually need more of your prayers. Anyone who lives a life oblivious to the rest of humanity around them is unable to live a God First life.

In today's Podcast, we reflect on how we can say "Yes" to God every day in how we treat others as we go about our ordinary tasks.

• Be God's love in your interactions
• Seek Him out in every person you meet today

We are praying for you!

Today's podcast is about dealing with #CatholicGuilt.

Grab your notebook or journal. Say the Our Father and then make a list of your worries & troubles.

• Determine if you need to confess anything on your list
• Turn over your worries & troubles to God
• Pray for the courage to rely on Him

It isn't easy, but you will feel relief knowing that God's got this for you.

We're praying for you today!

Follow us on Social Media or connect with us on our website: https://theaccidentalsaint.com

Join me in praying the Angelus.

Traditionally, it is prayed 3 times a day: 9am, 12pm and 3pm

You can more about the origins of the Angelus by clicking here.

The Angelus

+In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The Angel of the Lord declared to Mary: 

And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Behold the handmaid of the Lord:

Be it done unto me according to Thy word.

Hail Mary...

And the Word was made Flesh:

And dwelt among us.

Hail Mary...

Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. 

Let us pray:

Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts; that we, to whom the incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by His Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of His Resurrection, through the same Christ Our Lord.

Amen. 

+In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

If you have never prayed the Angelus or it has been awhile, I've recorded the prayer for you which you can listen to by clicking here.

If you don't want to download an Angelus app to help you remember to pray the Angelus; set an alarm on your phone or watch for 9am, 12pm and 3pm in your local time zone. When the alarm goes off or as soon as you can after, pray the Angelus. It takes less than 2 minutes.

+In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The Angel of the Lord declared to Mary: 

And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Behold the handmaid of the Lord:

Be it done unto me according to Thy word.

Hail Mary...

And the Word was made Flesh:

And dwelt among us.

Hail Mary...

Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. 

Let us pray:

Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts; that we, to whom the incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by His Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of His Resurrection, through the same Christ Our Lord.

Amen. 

+In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Take a few minutes today to reflect and write down in your notebook or journal those who you're harboring ill will or resentment towards and then do the following:

• While reviewing the list, say the Our Father
• Meditate on the words "Forgive our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us"
• Ask God for the grace & courage to forgive them as He forgives you

PS. I like to write +JMJ+ at the top of our prayer journal pages. This helps me remember to ask for the intercession of the Holy Family as I journal and pray.

We're praying for you today!

Today, we're giving you one new tip in how to hack your way to holiness in less than 5 minutes a day!

Sign up at bible.usccb.org to receive the Daily Readings from the Lectionary.

Read each day's gospel in the morning with a short prayer asking God to help you find His message for you in that day's gospel. Most mornings, this shouldn't take you more than a couple of minutes and hopefully you can do this after you do your 3 Threes (3 Gratitudes, 3 Personal Intentions, 3 Intentions for Others).

We're praying for you!

Find some paper, preferably a small notebook or journal as you will use this routine daily (or as often as you remember to do it).

In the morning, say a quick prayer (the Our Father is a good one) and then write down.

3 things you're grateful for

3 things you need God's help with today

3 intentions for others

Read your list above and pray in gratitude for the first 3 and in supplication for the bottom 6.

Take the list with you or leave where you can review it again before bed.

After you review the list and reflect on your day, you can click here and say this wonderful evening prayer.

We're praying for you!

Today's #HackingHoliness Tip: If you have holy water at home, skip to the actions numbered below.

If you do not already have holy water at home, stop by your parish this week (or set a reminder to do this next Sunday) and bring a small, clean bottle to fill with holy water. If your parish doesn't have holy water available to fill a personal container, ask your pastor, priest or deacon for assistance in bringing holy water home for personal use.

Once you have your holy water:

1. Bless yourself.
2. Bless your family
3. Bless your home (entryways and rooms) with holy water. We found this home blessing online that you can use to bless your home.
4. Bless your cars
5. Bless the soil around your home
6. Repeat 1 and 2 daily each morning

You can also take your holy water to work and bless your workspace.

Installing a holy water font at each entry way and keeping them supplied with holy water is another way to make it easy to remember to bless yourself and your family every day.

If you need a holy water font, check out the ones available from Shop Mercy. Purchasing from this link, will support the Marian Priests & Brothers at the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy. This is not an affiliate link. We do not receive any commission from sales via this link.

We know you're busy. You know you're busy. Since you're going to Mass anyways, here's a quick tip on how to do a #SundayReset before Mass begins. Listen for God's message for you. He has one. It may not be the same as the message for those sitting around you, so it's important to ask and listen.

We're praying for you at Mass today.

When the opportunity to spend a few minutes with the Lord in Adoration, you should take it.

Sure, making a full holy hour is great but if you only have 5 minutes, take it. Go spend it sitting or kneeling in the physical presence of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist.

Many US diocese are blessed to have one or more than one parish offering perpetual adoration.

If you live in an area where there isn't a daily or weekly adoration offered, there are several 24/7 livestreams from churches around the world. Click here to go to the livestream from Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Doral, FL.

Everyone has a bad day now and then but you can reset your day in 60 seconds. Listen to today's #HackingHoliness tip to hear how.

Welcome to our first official episode!

I'm your host, Melissa Summitt. Today, we're spending just a few minutes talking about the Sacrament of Confession.

Resources to help:

• Multiple Examination of Conscience documents for children, young adults, single adults, married adults can be found on the USCCB website: Examination of Conscience docs
• Find Confession near you using MassTimes.Org