If you find yourself praying in desperation for God to DO something to fix problems that seem far beyond your scope, don’t let fear enter the door of your heart. Instead, turn to Our Lord Jesus, who assured us in Chapter 16 of Gospel of John that He has already won the victory. Using the tools and resources that God has given us through Holy Mother Church under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we can build a fortress of trust in God that cannot be shaken.

The Divine Mercy Chaplet: “Jesus, I trust in You.”

Praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet is a powerful way and build trust in the saving power of Our Lord Jesus Christ. The Divine Mercy Chaplet is a Catholic devotion that implores the Father’s mercy by invoking the merits Jesus has won for us through his redemptive Sacrifice of Calvary. The chaplet focuses on Jesus’ Passion and on the Blood and Water that He shed as a fountain of mercy for us. The prayers in the Divine Mercy Chaplet come from the Diary of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska, a Polish nun who received private revelations from Jesus in the 1930s. The Chaplet of Divine Mercy is typically prayed using Catholic Rosary beads, and is particularly prayed at 3:00 p.m., the Hour of Mercy. It is a prayer of trust, intercession, and atonement, seeking forgiveness and healing for sinners and for the whole world.

Directions for how to pray the Chapel of Divine Mercy can be found online at DivineMercy.org. You can also find video recordings of the Divine Mercy Chaplet on YouTube.

The Litany of Trust: “Deliver me, Jesus.”

The Litany of Trust is a prayer composed by Sister Faustina Maria Pia of the Sisters of Life. In it, we ask Jesus to deliver us from the things that hold us bound, and we place our trust in His promises. It begins thus:

“From the belief that
I have to earn Your love
Deliver me, Jesus.

“From the fear that I am unlovable
Deliver me, Jesus.

“From the false security
that I have what it takes
Deliver me, Jesus.

“From the fear that trusting You
will leave me more destitute
Deliver me, Jesus…“

The Litany of Trust continues to include 28 invocations. The “Deliver me, Jesus,” prayers weed out pockets of fear, distrust, and resistance to grace. The litany then turns “to prayers for trust, asking Jesus to turn our insecurity, presumption, and pride into loving trust. For a free copy of the Litany of Trust, please visit The Sisters of Life online You can find video recordings of the Litany of Trust on YouTube as well.

Read Christus Vincit: Christ’s Triumph over the Darkness of the Age by Bishop Athanasius Schneider with Diane Montagna

Bishop Schneider’s book, published in 2019, came to me at a time when I was becoming increasingly aware of problems in the world and in the Church. I was looking for answers. I am grateful to have found many of my questions explained clearly and courageously by this holy bishop. Let me quote the blurb from the back cover of the paperback edition:

“In this absorbing interview, Bishop Athanasius Schneider offers a candid, incisive examination of controversies raging in the Church and the most pressing issues of our times, providing clarity and hope for beleaguered Catholics. He addresses such topics as widespread doctrinal confusion, the limits of papal authority, the documents of Vatican II, the Society of St. Pius X, anti-Christian ideologies and political threats, the third secret of Fatima, the traditional Roman rite, and the Amazon Synod, among many others. Like his fourth-century patron, St. Athanasius the Great, Bishop Schneider says things that others won’t, fearlessly following St. Paul’s advice: “Preach the word, be urgent in season and out of season, convince, rebuke, and exhort, be unfailing in patience and in teaching” (2 Tim 4:2). His insights into the challenges facing Christ’s flock today are essential reading for those who are, or wish to be, alert to the signs of the times.“

As Scott Hahn notes in his endorsement of the book, “To the various questions reagrding the crises we face (relativism, secularism, modernism, indifferentism), [Bishop Schneider] responds as a faithful pastor and a perspicacious theologian. I found myself inspired and challenged.”

Amen to that! For clarity in understanding the issues affecting the state of the world and the Church, I highly recommend this book.

Fasting: Giving Up to Go Deeper

Fasting usually means abstaining from food to focus on prayer and self-discipline. Many times, however, a more effective fast for me is to give up television, social media, and online news to limit the amount of negativity that I have to combat in my mind and heart. Tuning out bad news so that I can focus on the Good News of salvation in Jesus Christ can turn my mourning into dancing!

There even comes a point where fasting from discussing famous persons becomes beneficial to the soul. Being well informed and knowledgeable about the actions of our leaders can guide us to be responsible voters. In addition, awareness of current situations can motivate us to pray in earnest for God’s intervention and protection. To that end, communication within groups can be helpful. On the other hand, we have to be careful not to let the discussion turn into character assassination and sinful gossip. When it doubt, it may be better to say nothing at all by fasting from controversial discourse.

The Holy Rosary: The Life of Jesus through the Eyes of Mary

Praying the Rosary is my go-to prayer when I am seeking peace, whether I’m dealing with a sleepless night or a hectic day. The rhythm of the prayers and the meditations on the mysteries of Jesus’ life bring me a sense of calm with the assurance that everything works out according to God’s Providence.

The Rosary is a Scripture-based prayer that leads us to meditate on the life of Jesus through the eyes of Mother Mary. The word “rosary” means “garland of roses.” Also known as Our Lady of the Rosary, Mother Mary has urged everyone to pray the Rosary to help people grow in their faith, convert sinners, and bring about world peace.

The Rosary begins with the Apostles’ Creed, which summarizes the great mysteries of the Catholic faith. The Our Father, which introduces each mystery, is the prayer Jesus taught us in the Gospels. The first part of the Hail Mary is the angel’s words announcing Christ’s birth and Elizabeth’s greeting to Mary. St. Pius V officially added the second part of the Hail Mary. The Mysteries of the Rosary center on the events of Christ’s life. There are four sets of Mysteries that focus on the events of the life of Christ: Joyful, Sorrowful, Luminous, and Glorious Mysteries.

According to the tradition, Our Lady gave to a Dominican friar named Alanus de Rupe through a private revelation special promises to those who pray the Rosary devoutly. To read her promises, please click on the link: The 15 Promises of Our Lady to Those Who Pray the Rosary.

The Sacrament of Reconciliation: The Gift of Confession

A Catholic confession is a freeing experience to cleanse the soul, strengthen the will, and bring the penitent closer to God. When I have messed up and am in need of God’s forgiveness and healing, the Sacrament of Reconciliation brings peace and the grace to persevere as a true follower of Christ.

It is so easy to get off track, especially when my pride and stubbornness get in the way! If it weren’t for Confession, I would beat myself up for the times when I offend God and others by the ways I think or talk or act. On the other hand, without the Sacrament of Reconciliation, I might be tempted to sweep sins under the rug and then continue to trip over the mess. The best solution is to confess my sins to the priest, listen to his guidance, pray a good Act of Contrition, receive absolution of my sins, and do my penance. Set free, I am sent forth from the confessional with my soul cleansed of my sins and ready to start anew. A Catholic confession is a freeing experience to cleanse the soul, strengthen your will and bring you closer to God.

This quick, six-minute video explains the why’s and how’s of the Sacrament of Reconciliation and why Catholics confess their sins to a priest: The Sacrament of Reconciliation Explained.

The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass:

Before his crucifixion, Jesus told the disciples that He would not leave them orphaned. In Matthew 28:20, He promised to be with the Church “until the end of the age,” and He is! During the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, when the priests prays the words, “This is My Body” and “This is My Blood,” the bread and wine become the Real Presence of Jesus’ Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity through the power of the Holy Spirit. In the Mass, the perfect Sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross in complete obedience to the Father is made present again in our time.

“Through him, and with him, and in him, O God, almighty Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is yours, for ever and ever,” the priest says, to which we reply, “Amen!” as we unite ourselves to Jesus’ eternal offering to God the Father. Jesus even gives Himself to us in Holy Communion for our spiritual nourishment. How close Our Savior comes to us in that He gives Himself to us as “real food” and “real drink” for the life of our souls! What wondrous Love is this!

If you have not had the opportunity to worship God at Holy Mass, you can find the Mass times at a Catholic Church near you by clicking on this link: Find a Mass Near Me.