Simple Joys

To light, To watch, To pray

Hello, Friends!

I hope you and your dear ones are doing well! 2024 was a transformative year for me with the loss of my mom’s best friend and mother figure to me, Gina, followed quickly by my mom learning she had cancer.

When life becomes challenging and looks so different than it ever did before, simple joys become major consolations. The sight of a hawk flying majestically, a child splashing in water with utter presence and joy, or a bud unfurling into a leaf is charged with new joy.

Following my Simple Joys reflection from a few weeks ago, here are three more for you to consider.

Christ’s Peace & Joy,

Caitlan

To Light

I’m always looking for little changes that contribute to the health of our home. When cultivating health and holiness intersects, that’s a double win for me.

I love lighting a candle during my morning prayer, but scented candles can be on the toxic side of things. So, I recently switched to burning beeswax candles. I like the natural color and feel of these candles, and they burn well.

To Watch

It’s a Jubilee year and we are called by Pope Francis to be “pilgrims of hope!” What is a Jubilee year? And what does it mean to be a pilgrim of hope?

Take a minute (or seven) to watch this video from Fr. Mark-Mary, CFR. Our family watched it together and talked about what the Jubilee year means for us. Here’s our very fancy white board recording of our takeaways.

Above all, this is a year we can have a spiritual check-in and approach God and each other with love and hope for greater connection, healing, and wholeness.

To Pray

Sometimes we get in a rut with our prayer or experience spiritual laziness. When this happens for me, I find that praying a novena is just what I need. A novena is a nine day prayer with a special intention. There are so many novenas and Pray More Novenas is a great resource for accessing those.

Since lots of options can also be overwhelming, I recently loved praying the St. Peregrine novena. I prayed this novena for my awesome mama, who continues to heal from stage 4 lung cancer, as well as for a few other people I know who are currently navigating the cancer journey. Chances are you know someone who has cancer—consider praying this novena for them!

I will also often fast from a certain food (it can be anything—cream in your coffee, chocolate, peanut butter, chips, etc.) while praying the novena. Prayer and sacrifice are a powerful combo and I find I often need the spiritual benefits that fasting fosters (self-control, humility, gratitude, etc.).

Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash