Author: olacatholic416

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How to Stop Worrying About the Future (and Be in the Here and Now)

Your imagination is a powerful gift from God, and your freedom to focus carries immense responsibility. When we surrender our future to God, it can be tempting to focus on that unknown future instead of the here and now. It can be tempting to imagine what things might be like… especially for the worse.

Today, Fr. Mark-Mary challenges us to discipline our imaginations and focus the way that an athlete disciplines his or her own body, and gives us a few tips to stay grounded and present in the moment.

https://www.youtube.com/@AscensionPresents

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How to Strengthen Fragile Relationships

Navigating healthy relationships can be so difficult. Developing good relationships—whether friendships or romantic ones—and deepening them in a fragile world can be challenging.

We can be tempted to leave a relationship or dissolve a friendship when things become difficult or when we’re hurt by the other person. It can be challenging to work on deepening these relationships when others have said hurtful or difficult things—but that doesn’t mean we should throw in the towel.

Today, Fr. Mark-Mary challenges us to go beyond surface-level friendships and work on deepening our relationships—even though they can be fragile and hard to maintain.

https://www.youtube.com/@AscensionPresents

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3 Life-Changing Lessons We Learn from Mother Teresa

St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta has touched the hearts of millions, Catholics and non-Catholics alike, with her profound wisdom and unwavering call to serve and love Jesus in the poorest of the poor. Her words and deeds continue to inspire people around the globe to live with greater compassion and humility.

Today, Fr. Mark-Mary shares his 3 favorite quotes from Mother Teresa’s powerful book Come Be My Light. He passionately argues that the same spirit that fueled her incredible mission and selfless acts of love can ignite your own journey to holiness and sanctity. Listen to these unforgettable quotes, and discover how Mother Teresa can transform your life!

https://www.youtube.com/@AscensionPresents

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How to Be Grateful All the Time, No Matter What 

In the busyness of our lives, it can be easy to focus on the things we wish were different instead of the blessings we’ve been given. In fact, St. Ignatius actually thought that ingratitude was one of the gravest sins we could commit against God. So how can we grow in gratitude daily?

Today, Fr. Mark-Mary and Danielle Bean explain how we can practice being grateful all the time—no matter our circumstances or state of life.

https://www.youtube.com/@AscensionPresents

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How to Love Annoying People

People are annoying sometimes—and that’s okay. It’s impossible for us to get along with everyone we meet. But how can we approach people that annoy us with love and charity, so that it benefits our soul instead of hurting it?

Today, Fr. Mark-Mary and Danielle Bean offer some advice on how to love annoying people, and how God might be using it for your sanctification.

https://www.youtube.com/@AscensionPresents

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Loving People You Don’t Like (“Let Them Be Themselves”)

There are always going to be people we don’t like very much… people that “annoy” us. Friends, family members, people that are “always” this or that. It can become easy to define people by their faults. But that’s not what God does with us.

Today, Fr. Mark-Mary shows you how to love people like God loves people, by giving people permission to be themselves.

https://www.youtube.com/@AscensionPresents

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Feeling Sorry for Yourself?

What good does feeling sorry for yourself do? Fr. Mike points out a hard truth in saying—while you have the right to grieve when tragic things happen in your life—you never have the right, or permission, to feel sorry for yourself. All it does is shrink the universe down to the size of you. It blocks out the blessings God gave you that you should be thankful for, and paralyzes you from joyfully giving to others. When you feel the temptation to feel sorry for yourself coming on, in the words of St. Paul, Fr. Mike recommends:

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful” (Colossians 3:15).

https://www.youtube.com/@AscensionPresents

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Feeling Hopeless?

Fr. Mike offers insights on how to combat despair. If you feel like you’ve tried everything, see no way out, or think nothing matters, Fr. Mike reminds you of the true meaning of hope. He explains that we can always rely on God’s presence. Choosing hope means choosing to act with courage, even if that victory is as simple as getting out of bed.

Finally, he reminds us that one of the best ways to fight despair is to bring that hopelessness to God in Confession.

You are loved, you are valued, and you are absolutely irreplaceable. Our team at Ascension is thinking of you and praying for you. If you’re going through a difficult time or struggling with your mental health, don’t hesitate to reach out for help. Talk to someone you trust or seek support from a professional. You can also call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 (available 24/7).

https://www.youtube.com/@AscensionPresents

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How to Love Someone You Don’t Like

Some folks maintain the notion that Jesus said we “have to love people” but “don’t have to like them”. Besides the fact that Jesus never said this… there are other reasons this false idea is holding you back from loving the way you were made to love.

Today, Fr. Mark-Mary dives deep into what it means to “like” someone and how we can show true, authentic love to everyone (and… in fact… that is our calling).

https://www.youtube.com/@AscensionPresents