Blog

WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 4916 [post_author] => 17 [post_date] => 2020-11-28 02:28:38 [post_date_gmt] => 2020-11-28 02:28:38 [post_content] => <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">As we meditate and ponder the miracle of Jesus’ birth this Advent season, we’re partnering with <a href="https://versoministries.com/">Verso Ministries</a> to offer one lucky winner the opportunity to experience the very place where Jesus was born — The Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">Of course, that’s just one of the many stops you will make in the Holy Land, a place where you become immersed in the story of Jesus; where you see, taste, and explore your way through one of the most fascinating areas of the world.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">During Advent, we wait in the expectation of Jesus coming down as a baby. It’s a time filled with tradition, wonder, and celebration, but sometimes the spirit of Christmas — even faith itself — can feel far away.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">God feels extraordinarily near in the Holy Land. When you visit Bethlehem, that spirit of Christmas is palpable all year round. When you step inside the Church of the Nativity, for many, their faith feels more powerful than ever before.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"justify","className":"","fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-text-align-justify has-small-font-size"><em>"While our group was waiting at the Church of the Nativity, I was struck with awe as I looked at the hundreds of faces around me. There were people representing many different races, religious backgrounds, and age groups. ⁠</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"justify","className":"","fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-text-align-justify has-small-font-size"><em>As groups started to make their way down to the grotto where Jesus was born, </em><strong><em>I noticed the immense joy that filled the hearts of those around me</em></strong><em>. Too often we forget the joy that Christ’s birth can bring to our lives not only during the Christmas season but every season of our life.”&nbsp;</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"center","className":"","fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-text-align-center has-small-font-size"><em>⁠-</em><em> </em><em>Mckenzy Stilger, Verso Pilgrim</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">When you <strong>refer a friend to Hallow this Advent</strong>, you’re helping send them on a path of peace, self-discovery, and connection with God.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">When you do, you now also have a chance to go on another kind of life-changing journey: pilgrimage. Pilgrimage is a chance to get out of your daily surroundings and encounter the places where God has moved in time and space throughout history.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">Refer a friend to Hallow, and when they begin a free trial, you’ll be entered to win a free trip to the Holy Land with Verso Ministries.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">To automatically be entered into the drawing, all you have to do is refer a friend to become a Hallow app user or start a free trial yourself. For each friend you refer that joins Hallow, you’ll receive an entry. To learn more about how to refer someone to Hallow, check out this article <a href="https://intercom.help/hallow-inc/en/articles/4673534-referring-friends-family-to-hallow">here</a>. <em>The person who you refer must begin a free trial in order for you to qualify. </em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class=""><strong>We’ll be accepting entries until Midnight on December 24, so make sure you’re in time! We’ll announce the winner on December 29.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class=""><strong>Prayer, Meet Pilgrimage</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">What would it look like to go on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land with your Hallow app in hand?<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"className":""} --> <figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/IqnHEcrFgRN6maoHE5dPV3KN3_E6gE6L_4_A0xLpMZ_MSj4Zu2BT6sFr3th2tzMpY3Etq_9118LHnZDE5ULVuNfMGUka1hRrPQknW5m720bm6zL5wjC62bGknbJrM0ae-w4l-wLA" alt=""/></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class=""><strong>Meditate on Mary, at the Church of the Annunciation</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">When you’re at the magnificent church that celebrates the angel’s announcement to Mary, open up the app and be led through a meditation on Mary.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"className":""} --> <figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/KdXjzZk99mywBW27W-4EdhFswsYjVmriefA9vv9ildlDQc_JZytWxt3SGgDv_7lFxFXUsbQfwo0Cd32uyvfK7tqkpRayJzQsdEfHbH1TtnTWiaGXA624RCwsfh0wQ5IE73OQusmj" alt=""/></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class=""><strong>Experience Calm on the Sea of Galilee</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">While you’re on the shore or out on a boat in the middle of the still waters, find peace as you listen to a Lectio Divina.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"className":""} --> <figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/Ooj3X6aWSihQQ9MBHgtdfDzCoRJAWwXgFWuFlqN5woMnlJbHnAKAj9iA36bvqjWBb-eQAwauwZie5oqZXYlNh2PvkjSJUNjI5v-TygbmRnnj1rnsG9fkppK4BkRb6jjkO6Qv7KBr" alt=""/></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class=""><strong>Journal at the Church of the Nativity</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">In Bethlehem, where it’s Christmas all year long, take a moment to write in your journal about what it means to you that Jesus was born in this very place.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class=""><strong>Who is Verso Ministries?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">Like Hallow, Verso Ministries is taking a time-honored tradition and making it new. Just as Hallow is breathing new life into the experience of meditation, Verso is reimagining the practice of pilgrimage.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">Verso melds the historical practice of pilgrimage with expertise in modern travel. When you journey with Verso, you’ll experience the fullness of life, Catholic faith, and everything a destination has to offer. See the holy sites, taste the food, and dive into the culture.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class=""><strong>See yourself on a pilgrimage at </strong><a href="https://versoministries.com/"><strong>versoministries.com</strong></a><strong>.&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">Wondering what travel will look like in 2021? <a href="https://versoministries.com/covid-19-response/">See Verso’s SafelySent program</a>.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class=""><strong><em>Grand Prize Winner:</em></strong><em> One winner for the Grand Prize will be randomly drawn from among all eligible entries received, with the Grand Prize drawing to occur on or around</em><em> December 29, 2020.</em><em> The Grand Prize winner will receive a Travel Voucher in the amount of $4,000 to be applied towards any travel (valid for payment of published registration fees, as well as the following fees and expenses for services arranged on behalf of the traveler by Verso Ministries: single room supplement, optional add-ons, optional extension packages, private transfers, pre- and post-stays in lodging, hotel upgrades, and private tours) through Verso Ministries of equal or lesser value. The Grand Prize Winner must use the credit no later than 11:59:59 PM EST on January 31, 2021. Credit must be applied to a pilgrimage departing prior to 11:59:59 PM EST on December 31, 2022. The travel voucher is not valid for payments towards the following fees and expenses: airfare costs, airline seats or upgrades, personal expenses, visa or passport fees, meals, drinks, travel insurance, tips or donations not included in package, and anything else not explicitly listed as a valid fee or expense. It has no cash value and cannot be redeemed for cash, check, gift certificate, or credit back to a charge card. The winning credit may not be transferred to any other person, may only be used for one trip, and has no other cash value. Any unused balance will be forfeited. If the Grand Prize winner claims and uses the travel voucher, for tax purposes they will receive a 1099-MISC form from Verso Ministries during the year the travel took place. All travel arranged using the winning credit must comply with all other Verso Ministries’ policies, procedures, terms, and conditions as found at the Verso Ministries website at </em><a href="http://www.versoministries.com/terms"><em>www.VersoMinistries.com/terms</em></a><em>.&nbsp;</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> [post_title] => Hallow + Verso Ministries Pilgrimage Giveaway [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => hallow-verso-ministries-pilgrimage-giveaway [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2020-11-29 00:04:20 [post_modified_gmt] => 2020-11-29 00:04:20 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://hallow.com/?p=4916 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw )

WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 4912 [post_author] => 17 [post_date] => 2020-11-28 02:19:35 [post_date_gmt] => 2020-11-28 02:19:35 [post_content] => <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">Advent is time of prayerful preparation, but also a time of joyous anticipation of the birth of Our Lord in a manger. It is usually a time for peace, hope, love, and faith, often spent with family and friends.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">This Advent however, might look a bit different. Please know that we are praying for you and your families in a special way during this not-so-normal Christmas.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">To add some extra joy to the season, this year we are partnering up with some of the most wonderful Catholic brands to bring you 25 days of Advent giveaways. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">In addition to supporting you and your families, we wanted to find a way to recognize these amazing Catholic companies who have worked tirelessly on their missions this year amidst all the challenges of 2020. Thank you to all of the brands who joined us in this effort, we are grateful for your support, partnership, and dedication to your ministry.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">Each day, we will post a different giveaway on our Instagram @hallowapp. To enter that day's giveaway, make sure you are following our account and the other brand of that giveaway's account and tag a friend (or multiple) in the comments. For an additional entry, share as a post/story and tag us PLUS the account of the partner that is part of that day’s giveaway. We will message you to get your information for the prize if you are selected!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">Here is some extra info on each of the brands participating in the giveaway. We encourage you to support these brands this Christmas and beyond. Their ministries are truly wonderful.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3,"className":""} --> <h3 class=""><a href="https://versoministries.com/">Verso Ministries</a></h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">Verso melds the historical practice of pilgrimage with expertise in modern travel. When you journey with Verso, you’ll experience the fullness of life, Catholic faith, and everything a destination has to offer. See the holy sites, taste the food, and dive into the culture. For the end of our 25 Days of Advent giveaways, Verso is giving you a $4,000 voucher for a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. The Verso giveaway is so special to us, and we are so grateful for what Verso is offering. The entry rules for Verso are a bit different, they are based on how many friends you refer to sign up for Hallow. Check out <a href="https://hallow.com/blog/hallow-verso-ministries-pilgrimage-giveaway/">this article</a> for more information on Verso and this giveaway. Also, learn about all their pilgrimages here <a href="http://www.versoministries.com">www.versoministries.com</a>.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3,"className":""} --> <h3 class=""><a href="https://sockreligious.com/">Sock Religious</a></h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">Sock Religious aims to bring the faith to the workplace and to spice up your Sunday best. They are an amazing Catholic company with the most fun socks including Advent candle socks and socks of all your favorite Saints. Sock Religious will be giving away some awesome St. Joseph socks. You can check them out at <a href="http://www.sockreligious.com">www.sockreligious.com</a>!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3,"className":""} --> <h3 class=""><a href="https://www.catholicmatch.com/">Catholic Match</a></h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">The mission of Catholic Match is to provide an online space for single Catholics to meet people they would not otherwise meet for Faith Focused Dating that leads to sacramental marriage. They also serve as a community of support, and provide education on living out the single state more fully, as well as dating more purposefully, in order to fulfill your vocation. They will be giving away 6-months of Catholic Match. Check them out at <a href="http://www.catholicmatch.com">www.catholicmatch.com</a>!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3,"className":""} --> <h3 class=""><a href="https://monkmanual.com/">Monk Manual</a></h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">The Monk Manual is a quarterly planner inspired by monks and designed to help you live a fuller life. By combining best practices in psychology, productivity and spiritual growth, the Monk Manual provides a daily system upon which you can build an intentional daily life. To get your year started right, win a beautiful Monk Manual. Get one for someone you love at <a href="http://www.monkmanual.com">www.monkmanual.com</a>.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3,"className":""} --> <h3 class=""><a href="https://justloveprints.com/">Just Love Prints</a></h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">We love the prints from Just Love Prints, especially their children’s alphabet flash cards and temporary tattoos! Your support of Just Love Prints supports a family of four who quit their jobs to build their dream in a beautiful vocation. Just Love Prints will be giving away one of their amazing Holy Family Prints, perfect for Christmas. Go look at all her amazing designs at <a href="http://www.justloveprints.com">www.justloveprints.com</a>.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3,"className":""} --> <h3 class=""><a href="https://emwilsonmusic.com/">Emily Wilson Ministries&nbsp;</a></h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">If you have not seen one of Emily Wilson’s new devotionals, Awaken My Heart, you are missing out! Emily is an incredible Catholic mom, speaker, and writer. She has other books including an amazing children's book. Emily has so generously offered the winner her new Awaken My Heart devotional, which is bound to change your life next year. You can get all of Emily’s books at <a href="https://www.avemariapress.com/products/awaken-my-heart">Ave Maria Press</a>.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3,"className":""} --> <h3 class=""><a href="https://shininglightdolls.com/">Shining Light Dolls</a></h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">Shining Light Dolls' award-winning Catholic books, toys and more are the fun and easy way to grow a strong, lifelong relationship with Jesus and His Saints. Premium toys designed to nurture the hearts and imaginations of children! Saints are an amazing part of the Catholic faith; they show us what it means to live the life of Christ no matter who you are, what time in history it is, or where in the world you live. Shining Light Dolls is a Catholic family owned small business. Shining Light Dolls is giving away a $150 gift card to their shop, which is so amazing! I personally love the plush dolls. Find all their wonderful toys and gifts at <a href="http://www.shininglightdolls.com">www.shininglightdolls.com</a>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3,"className":""} --> <h3 class=""><a href="https://guadaluperoastery.com/">Guadalupe Roastery</a></h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">Guadalupe Roastery is an amazing sustainable coffee company that focuses on the lives and wellbeing of their farmers and communities they live in. They also have delicious coffee that is sourced with the common good in mind. They are giving away an awesome gift pack, but check out their single sourced coffee at <a href="http://www.guadaluperoastery.com">www.guadaluperoastery.com</a>.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3,"className":""} --> <h3 class=""><a href="https://www.catholicpapergoods.com/">Catholic Paper Goods</a></h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">Shari at Catholic Paper Goods is an incredible designer and hand-lettering artist. Catholic Paper Goods has one-of-a-kind Catholic greeting cards, art prints, invitations, printables, downloadables and much more. Catholic Paper Goods is giving away a beautiful sticker of Mary and baby Jesus. You can find more of her beautiful designs at <a href="http://www.catholicpapergoods.com">www.catholicpapergoods.com</a>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3,"className":""} --> <h3 class=""><a href="https://catholicwoodworker.com/">Catholic Woodworker</a></h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">The Catholic Woodworker exists to equip men for battle in the modern world.&nbsp; They do this by creating beautiful and masculine spiritual weapons, like handmade wooden rosaries, that inspire a continuous conversion in the hearts of men. We are so grateful that the Catholic Woodworker is giving away a beautiful wooden home altar. You can check out all their beautiful carved wooden products at <a href="http://www.catholicwoodworker.com">www.catholicwoodworker.com</a>.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3,"className":""} --> <h3 class=""><a href="https://www.mission2launch.com/">Mission to Launch</a></h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">Mission to Launch is an experience that equips Catholic professionals to thrive in the workplace, with courses in dreaming, negotiation, interviewing, mindset, networking taught by instructors from the Stanford Graduate School of Business, Harvard, and IMD. Mission to Launch has alt-mentorship from the top 1% of leadership in the world, community, and internships. Mission to Launch is considered the premium version of MasterClass for Catholics who want to level up in their personal and professional lives.&nbsp; Mission to Launch will be giving a 30% discount to their course as well as 2 hours of coaching from Mission to Launch mentors. Get more info on the full program at <a href="http://www.mission2launch.com">www.mission2launch.com</a>.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3,"className":""} --> <h3 class=""><a href="https://thelittlecatholicbox.com/">Little Catholic Box</a></h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">The Little Catholic Box is a wonderful subscription box for Catholic Women. They curate a new, unique selection of items each quarter that celebrate the beauty of our Catholic faith and support other small Catholic businesses. The Little Catholic Box has quarterly subscription options in addition to single box purchases. They will be giving away their Fourth Quarter Box, which includes the coolest travel coffee mug. You can find all their boxes at <a href="http://www.thelittlecatholicbox.com">www.thelittlecatholicbox.com</a>.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3,"className":""} --> <h3 class=""><a href="https://shop.chastity.com/products/forged">Jason Evert</a></h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">Jason Evert has so generously offered two pairs of his new men’s book and study, Forged. Forged is a 33-day exercise designed to purify, heal, and strengthen a man, gradually replacing old vices with new virtues. Each day offers a unique weapon that belongs in every man’s arsenal against the world, the flesh, and the devil. After completing the 33 days, a man will be well equipped for the battles ahead. Get your copy of Forged at <a href="https://shop.chastity.com/products/forged">https://shop.chastity.com/products/forged</a>.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3,"className":""} --> <h3 class=""><a href="https://amandazurface.com/">Amanda Zurface</a></h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">Amanda is a canon lawyer and spiritual director focusing on prayer, discernment, single life, purity, and chastity. Amanda is offering 3 free spiritual direction sessions as part of the giveaway. Check out her awesome blog and learn more about all her services at <a href="http://www.amandazurface.com">www.amandazurface.com</a>.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3,"className":""} --> <h3 class=""><a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/JenOlsonIllustration?utm_source=google&amp;utm_medium=cpc&amp;utm_campaign=Search_US_DSA_GGL_Categories_Art-Collectibles_New&amp;utm_ag=Illustration&amp;utm_custom1=_k_CjwKCAiA5IL-BRAzEiwA0lcWYj7LeTBiEhrJQF7UEUE3sed-CLzvMHr-M_dQOAltoWtw20UwtIGtXRoCv8EQAvD_BwE_k_&amp;utm_content=go_2046745892_69845423902_448744069870_dsa-71843307457_c_&amp;utm_custom2=2046745892&amp;gclid=CjwKCAiA5IL-BRAzEiwA0lcWYj7LeTBiEhrJQF7UEUE3sed-CLzvMHr-M_dQOAltoWtw20UwtIGtXRoCv8EQAvD_BwE">Jen Olson Illustration</a></h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">Jen Olson is an incredible artist and illustrator. She has such beautiful paintings and prints, many of which are available in a digital download format for those looking for last minute gifts! She is giving away a beautifully illustrated portrait of the Holy Family. You can find her shop <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/JenOlsonIllustration?utm_source=google&amp;utm_medium=cpc&amp;utm_campaign=Search_US_DSA_GGL_Categories_Art-Collectibles_New&amp;utm_ag=Illustration&amp;utm_custom1=_k_CjwKCAiA5IL-BRAzEiwA0lcWYj7LeTBiEhrJQF7UEUE3sed-CLzvMHr-M_dQOAltoWtw20UwtIGtXRoCv8EQAvD_BwE_k_&amp;utm_content=go_2046745892_69845423902_448744069870_dsa-71843307457_c_&amp;utm_custom2=2046745892&amp;gclid=CjwKCAiA5IL-BRAzEiwA0lcWYj7LeTBiEhrJQF7UEUE3sed-CLzvMHr-M_dQOAltoWtw20UwtIGtXRoCv8EQAvD_BwE">here</a> on Etsy!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3,"className":""} --> <h3 class=""><a href="https://carryyourcross.com/">Carry Your Cross</a></h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">Carry Your Cross is a team of young Catholic trailblazers with a fire for spreading the faith. Their high quality apparel with fresh, “not your average christian brand” designs struck a chord with believers around the world. They don’t just create apparel. They create apparel with a message the world needs to hear. They are giving away an awesome long sleeve tee, but see all their clothes at <a href="http://www.carryyourcross.com">www.carryyourcross.com</a>.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3,"className":""} --> <h3 class=""><a href="https://www.augustineinstitute.org/">Augustine Institute</a></h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">The Augustine Institute exists to help you and your loved ones better understand, live and share your faith. They create innovative and engaging materials that help all Catholics deepen their relationship with God and His Church to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ. From FORMED.org (the Catholic media platform) to children’s content, books, curriculum, parish programs, bible studies, and graduate school they are there to support you at every level of your faith journey. Augustine Institute will be giving away a beautiful leather bound Bible for you to start your new year off in faith. Learn more about all their programs and ministries at <a href="http://www.augustineinstitute.org">www.augustineinstitute.org</a>.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3,"className":""} --> <h3 class=""><a href="https://www.marekmade.com/">Marek Made</a></h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">Marek Made has some of the most beautiful handmade dolls, which unfortunately are currently sold out, but definitely follow her on social media for updated releases. However, they are giving away awesome Saint Stickers and prints. Keep up to date on all the Marek Made items at <a href="http://www.marekmade.com">www.marekmade.com</a>.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3,"className":""} --> <h3 class=""><a href="https://blessedisshe.net/">Blessed is She</a></h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">Blessed is She is a sisterhood of women who want to grow together in their Catholic faith. They create beautiful and accessible resources, products, and experiences to foster community and deepen faith, both online and in person. We are so blessed that they are giving away two of their amazing planners this Advent. Blessed is She has amazing resources and articles, and beautiful products available on their site <a href="http://www.blessedisshe.net">www.blessedisshe.net</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3,"className":""} --> <h3 class=""><a href="https://www.thelittlecatholic.com/">The Little Catholic</a></h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">The Little Catholic empowers women through hand-crafted, meaningful pieces that cultivate deeper faith and evangelization through beauty. They believe in creating uniquely beautiful jewelry and rosaries that are ethically and lovingly made by hand. Their impact extends beyond jewelry and empowering women. They also empower and partner with non-profits around the globe, designing beautiful pieces unique to their cause and donating a portion of all proceeds back to their mission. Find more of their products at <a href="http://www.thelittlecatholic.com">www.thelittlecatholic.com</a>.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3,"className":""} --> <h3 class=""><a href="https://hallow.com/">Hallow</a></h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">Hallow is the number 1 Catholic prayer and meditation app, here to guide you through this Advent season with amazing meditations on the Gospel of Matthew in our #Pray25 challenge. We want to thank all of our users for their support and generosity towards our mission. For our part of the giveaway, we are giving out our swag boxes featuring some super awesome Hallow gear and a free year of Hallow Plus.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">Thank you for participating in our 25 Days of Advent giveaway and for supporting us and all these incredible Catholic brands. We hope you have a wonderful Advent and a joyous Christmas.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">May Peace be with you!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> [post_title] => Hallow's 25 Days of Advent Giveaway [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => hallows-25-days-of-advent-giveaway [to_ping] => [pinged] => https://hallow.com/2020/11/28/hallow-verso-ministries-pilgrimage-giveaway/ [post_modified] => 2020-12-28 22:51:15 [post_modified_gmt] => 2020-12-28 22:51:15 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://hallow.com/?p=4912 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw )

WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 4728 [post_author] => 4 [post_date] => 2020-11-12 22:59:57 [post_date_gmt] => 2020-11-12 22:59:57 [post_content] => <!-- wp:heading {"level":4,"className":""} --> <h4 class=""><em>Get to know Jesus through the Gospel of Matthew this Advent with Hallow’s #Pray25</em></h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">This Advent, join the Hallow community as we pray through <strong>every chapter of Matthew</strong>. Most days are one chapter, but we’ve combined a few to fit the 28 chapters of Matthew into the 25 days of Advent.<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">Each day, we’ll read a passage from the chapter of the day, reflect on it together, and then offer prompts for you to bring to God. There will be 5, 10, and 15-minute options to fit every schedule. You are welcome to read the entire chapter on your own, but it’s not required!<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class=""><strong>Why did we choose the Gospel of Matthew for Advent?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">The Gospel of Matthew begins with the angel declaring “you shall name him Emmanuel,” which means <em>“God is with us.”</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">And the Gospel of Matthew ends with Jesus declaring, <em>“I will be with you always</em>, until the end of the age.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">From the first chapter to the last, the Gospel of Matthew reveals what God wants us to know: <strong>He is with us</strong>. In Advent, we prepare ourselves for the coming of God in three ways: at Christmas 2,000 years ago, into our lives today, and at the end of time.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">That’s why, during Advent, we sing “O come, O come Emmanuel.” We pray: Come, God who is with us. Come into our hearts, come into our world. Transform us. Bring us closer to your Son. Breathe in us your Holy Spirit. Fill us with your grace to live out the sacrificial love you modeled for us. And at the end of our earthly life, bring us home to you.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">This Advent, we hope to read the story of Jesus anew, in a way we haven’t done before yet on Hallow. We hope to see Jesus’ coming on Christmas in light of the whole picture – from his miraculous birth to his teachings, his death, and finally, to his triumphant Resurrection.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3,"className":""} --> <h3 class=""><strong>Week by Week</strong></h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":5,"className":""} --> <h5 class=""><em>Week 1: Hope</em></h5> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"id":4729,"sizeSlug":"large","className":""} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://hallow.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/advent-week-1-1024x611.png" alt="" class="wp-image-4729"/></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">We begin Advent as we light the first purple candle, which symbolizes hope. This candle is called the “Prophecy Candle” in reference to the prophets, especially Isaiah, who foretold the birth of Christ. In the Gospel of Matthew, the author refers to the Old Testament over 100 times, reminding readers that all of salvation history has pointed towards Jesus from the beginning.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">During this week in #pray25, we’ll pray through chapters 1-7. We begin with the angel announcing Jesus’ coming, witness the wisemen meeting the Holy Family, Jesus’ baptism and temptation in the desert, and end with Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. These chapters reveal who Jesus is: the long hoped for Messiah.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":5,"className":""} --> <h5 class=""><em>Week 2: Faith</em></h5> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"id":4730,"sizeSlug":"large","className":""} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://hallow.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/advent-week-2-1024x611.png" alt="" class="wp-image-4730"/></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">This week, we light the second candle, called the “Bethlehem Candle.” This candle represents faith, reminding us of the faith of Mary and Joseph as they journeyed to Bethlehem. This week, we also begin the next section of Gospel of Matthew: Jesus’ ministry in Galilee. In these chapters (8-17), we witness great moments of faith: Jesus healing both physical and spiritual ailments, inviting Peter onto the water, feeding the 4,000, and asking Peter: “Who do you say I am?” We end the week with the Transfiguration, a moment of glory to again remind us that Jesus is not just a great prophet or teacher, but the Son of God.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":5,"className":""} --> <h5 class=""><em>Week 3: Joy</em></h5> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"id":4731,"sizeSlug":"large","className":""} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://hallow.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/advent-week-3-1024x611.png" alt="" class="wp-image-4731"/></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">This week, the Church lights the rose-colored candle, which symbolizes joy. This week is meant to remind us of the joy the world experienced at the birth of Jesus, as well as the joy of being halfway through Advent. This candle is often called the “Shepherd’s Candle,” and to start off the week, we read about the Good Shepherd from Matthew chapter 18. Over the course of the week, we read through chapter 24, and we experience both the joy of discipleship and the humility discipleship calls us to.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":5,"className":""} --> <h5 class=""><em>Week 4: Peace</em></h5> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"id":4732,"sizeSlug":"large","className":""} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://hallow.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/advent-week-4-1024x611.png" alt="" class="wp-image-4732"/></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">During the fourth week of Advent, we light the final candle, often called the “Angel’s Candle,” which symbolizes peace. As we begin the final week of Advent with chapter 25, Jesus describes how we will be judged in His kingdom, where the last are first and the first are last; a kingdom that ultimately will bring true peace. Then, in chapters 26 and 27, we witness Jesus’ final meal with his disciples and his Passion and Death. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">It may seem strange to meditate on Jesus’ death so close to Christmas. But Jesus’ birth and life, death and resurrection cannot be separated from each other. When God sent his Son, he knew what was coming. He knew he had to suffer, but he also knew that through his suffering and death he’d bring about a greater joy – the joy of heaven opening up to all of us. The cross, then, though a cause for great sorrow, is also a great cause for hope, faith, joy, and peace. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">And we celebrate this during the final two days of #pray25 as we pray with the final chapter of the Gospel of Matthew. In this chapter, we rejoice at the Resurrection, and then on Christmas Eve, we hear Jesus tell us “I am with you always, until the end of the age.” He is truly Emmanuel, God with us.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">We hope that journeying through the Gospel of Matthew with Hallow this Advent draws you closer to God, and helps you celebrate with newfound joy on Christmas. We are so excited and grateful to pray with you.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"className":""} --> <h2 class=""><strong>Related Prayers</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list {"className":""} --> <ul class=""><li><a href="https://hallow.com/2022/09/30/advent-prayers-catholic-meditations/">Advent Prayers</a></li><li><a href="https://hallow.com/blog/thanksgiving-prayer/">Thanksgiving Prayers</a></li><li><a href="https://hallow.com/blog/christmas-prayer-catholic-blessings/">Christmas Prayers</a></li><li><a href="https://hallow.com/blog/how-to-pray-the-hail-mary/">Hail Mary Prayer</a></li><li><a href="https://hallow.com/blog/how-to-pray/-our-father/">Our Father Prayer</a></li></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> [post_title] => 2020 Advent Challenge: Re-discover Christ through Scripture [post_excerpt] => Get to know Jesus through the Gospel of Matthew. [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => advent2020 [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2022-10-26 17:16:48 [post_modified_gmt] => 2022-10-26 17:16:48 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://hallow.com/?p=4728 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw )

WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 1727 [post_author] => 7 [post_date] => 2020-10-15 18:43:04 [post_date_gmt] => 2020-10-15 18:43:04 [post_content] => <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">As a proud graduate of Catholic grade school, I vividly remember going to class dressed up as a saint in the week leading up to Halloween. I also remember feeling excited, but also a bit annoyed. Any day not in my uniform was a win, but all of my public school friends got to wear their actual Halloween costumes. And although I knew St. Francis was pretty cool, I’m not sure I would have chosen to dress like him over Woody from Toy Story, if given the choice.<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">Looking back on those memories and seeing pictures of my little cousins, nephews, and nieces dressed up as saints this year, I’m struck by how much more inspirational the Christian’s Halloween can be vs. the main-stream <a href="https://www.wordonfire.org/resources/blog/its-time-for-catholics-to-embrace-halloween/25715/">“annual fright fest”</a>, as Fr. Steve Grunow at Word on Fire describes it. <br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">Without Jesus, we go out tonight with smiles and empty baskets just to wake up tomorrow with frowns pointing to tummy aches and masking cavities in the making. We work up a willing suspension of disbelief as we put on our Stranger Things costumes, our Netflix &amp; Chill signs, or our Joker makeup, but we wake up realizing that it was an empty charade, only alive until the sweaty costumes come off. Next up? 3 weeks until Thanksgiving, or for the more aggressive, time for Christmas music.<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">But we know as Christians that that is not the fullness of the reality we embrace. Our big event is not tonight, but tomorrow. Halloween after all is “All Hallows Eve”. The eve of what? <strong>All Saints Day</strong>, that sneaky holy day of obligation where we celebrate all those that have answered God’s call to know, love, and serve him in this life so that they could be with Him in the next. <br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">What’s so inspirational about that? Well no matter how many times I wore my Woody costume, I knew that I would never <em>become</em> him. Our Christian faith however, calls us to believe that by embracing the lives of the saints, we can actually receive the grace to join them in the everlasting joy of heaven. After all, isn’t that the whole point, that we are all called to strive to become saints?<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">Now of course there is nothing wrong with having fun on Halloween, but as you prepare, here are 4 quick ways you can let God hallow your evening.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true,"className":""} --> <ol class=""><li><strong>Go out with a full basket</strong> - Trick or treating will look differently this year, but one thing we all can do is see Halloween as an opportunity to build community and give back. In addition to going out with an empty basket to collect your candy, consider also bringing a full basket of food to a local homeless shelter or giving resources to those you see living on the street. (As long as you can do so in a socially distant, safe way!)</li><li><strong>Remember those without neighborhoods</strong> - Consider making a stop on your trick-or-treating route at a local retirement home to drop off handmade cards, or give homebound family members a call. On top of the fact that you will make their day, remember that Jesus tells us that it is the little ones that bear the face of God. Help those that are confined see Him today.</li><li><strong>Pray for those who aren’t around to go trick-or-treating anymore</strong> - There are no doubt many people who we know and love that are no longer with us. Before you go out, take the time to share stories and pray in thanksgiving for their impact on your life. You could pray on Hallow with the "Litany for the dead" in the Litanies praylist, or offer up a prayer from the Gratitude praylist.</li><li><strong>And finally, learn more and pray with the saints! </strong>Challenge each member of your family to learn about a new saint and share with everyone else - you can check out Hallow's Saint Challenge for some inspiration. One fun activity could be to make your own Litany of Saints: have each member of your family choose their favorite saint, write them down, and pray together “St. (fill in name), pray for us.” </li></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">God Bless and Happy Halloween,</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">Alessandro</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class=""></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> [post_title] => 4 Ways to Put the Hallow Back In Halloween [post_excerpt] => Ideas for how to make Halloween holy. [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => halloween [to_ping] => [pinged] => https://www.wordonfire.org/resources/blog/its-time-for-catholics-to-embrace-halloween/25715/ [post_modified] => 2020-10-22 13:45:40 [post_modified_gmt] => 2020-10-22 13:45:40 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://hallow.com/?p=1727 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw )

WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 3587 [post_author] => 17 [post_date] => 2020-09-02 23:21:03 [post_date_gmt] => 2020-09-02 23:21:03 [post_content] => <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">Why is prayer like coffee?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">My morning coffee is one of my favorite daily rituals. There is nothing like the smell of freshly ground coffee to invigorate your day. To me, coffee and prayer go hand-in-hand. My prayer ritual is actually quite similar to my coffee ritual. Coffee is not a fast process in our house; my husband and I don't even own a traditional or Keurig coffee maker. It is slow, intentional, and involves all of the senses, just like prayer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">Each morning, one of us wakes up and grinds fresh coffee beans. Our current grind is <a href="https://guadaluperoastery.com/about/">Guadalupe Roastery</a>, a sustainable roaster focused on fair wages for farmers. Choosing the right coffee is like choosing the right prayer. Some moments I’m in the mood for a light, flavorful roast, but others I prefer a darker roast that I mix with almond milk. With prayer, sometimes I want something more reflective like a <a href="https://hallow.com/blog/how-to-pray/-christian-meditation/">Christian Meditation</a> or <a href="https://hallow.com/blog/how-to-pray-lectio-divina/">Lectio Divina</a>, but other times, I desire to go deeper with a <a href="https://hallow.com/blog/how-to-pray-christian-meditation/">Rosary</a> or <a href="https://hallow.com/blog/how-to-pray-divine-mercy-chaplet/">Divine Mercy Chaplet</a>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">Once the beans are ready, we heat the water and prepare the filter and vessel. Before I begin in prayer, I also need to prepare my vessel. Taking a few deep breaths, turning my attention towards God, thanking Him for the time we are able to spend together each day, are all ways that I can be ready to meet with Him.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">After the water is heated, the coffee brewing begins. My husband and I brew coffee with a Chemex, which is a slow and beautiful process. The first step of the process is called the bloom, a chemical reaction that releases gases from the beans. From the bloom, starts the extraction where a tiny bean becomes a delicious liquid. That process is a bit like <a href="https://hallow.com/blog/is-it-okay-to-meditate-as-a-catholic/">prayer</a>. Starting a prayer journey begins with a bloom that blossoms over time into something extraordinary. Every prayer you pray is another pour into the vessel that is your soul, filling you up until you overflow with God’s love.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">The first sip of a morning coffee is objectively one of the greatest things (next to prayer of course), especially after a long night with a baby. That initial injection of caffeine is like a spark that makes you want to say, “I LIVE”. Those first few moments with God (with that first sip of coffee) are also awe-inspiring. Feelings of pure gratitude, a fullness of grace, knowledge of eternal love are the flavors that wake you up and get you going for the day. Spending time with God in prayer allows you to start your day focused on all of the blessings in your life and invites God to walk with you throughout the remaining hours.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">Choosing a prayer can feel like choosing a coffee: where do you even start?! At Hallow, we provide <a href="https://hallow.com/portal/#/PrayerPlan">suggested prayers</a> based on how you prefer to talk to God in that particular moment. If you are new to prayer, Hallow can be your Keurig, making it easy for you to pray. If you want to go deeper, Hallow can be your Chemex, extracting out new depth you’ve never experienced. Whatever your flavor of prayer, Hallow has it. Some of my favorite morning prayers are the Daily Gospel, the <a href="https://hallow.com/blog/how-to-pray-the-examen/">Examen</a>, the Divine Mercy Chaplet, and the Daily Meditation. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> [post_title] => Prayer as a Morning Cup of Coffee [post_excerpt] => How a daily coffee ritual is like prayer [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => prayer-as-a-morning-cup-of-coffee [to_ping] => [pinged] => https://hallow.com/2019/09/07/how-to-pray-christian-meditation/ https://hallow.com/2020/01/09/how-to-pray-lectio-divina/ https://hallow.com/2019/09/23/how-to-pray-the-rosary/ https://hallow.com/2019/02/26/is-it-okay-to-meditate-as-a-catholic/ [post_modified] => 2023-08-17 20:35:50 [post_modified_gmt] => 2023-08-17 20:35:50 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://hallow.com/?p=3587 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw )

WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 2910 [post_author] => 15 [post_date] => 2020-05-21 15:57:42 [post_date_gmt] => 2020-05-21 15:57:42 [post_content] => <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class=""><strong>Read time: ~4.2 minutes</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">I grew up as an only child, so I was always the first person awake in my house on Christmas morning. However, on that wonderful holiday morning in 2017, I didn’t wake up with uncontrollable excitement like I had when I was a boy. Instead, I was woken up by the blast of a suicide bomber that attacked our outpost in Kabul, Afghanistan. The impact of him driving his vehicle-borne improvised explosive device into one of our perimeter defense positions shook our entire compound. And with that, I was reminded that this Christmas would be much different than all the others before it.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">Life often hits us with the unexpected. Some people say the only consistent thing in life is inconsistency. Despite knowing that, we still allow ourselves to build homes within our comfort zones, hoping that we won’t ever be forced to adapt or change. The thing that gives a warrior great confidence in battle is all the training that he or she must undergo before being deemed ready to fight. We practice dealing with unforeseen scenarios that force us to respond in ways that sometimes mean life or death. We vigorously push ourselves because we know that we will never rise to the occasion, but rather we will fall to the level of our training.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">Prayer and the sacraments are the first training grounds of the soul. We all find ourselves in the midst of the battle between good and evil daily. You may be like me, resting in your bed on a holiday in hopes that today will be an easy day, and then BOOM! your world is thrust into chaos. In the moments we find ourselves surprised, afraid, and unsure how to act, the only thing we know to do is rely on our instincts. These instincts must be formed far before they are truly needed in battle.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">This is why God invites us to spend time with Him in prayer and in His Word on a daily basis. This is why He comes to fill us with grace through the sacraments. This is why He provides us with weapons like the rosary. It’s because God knows that, whether we want it to or not, life is going to hit us hard someday. And when it does, whether it’s losing a loved one, losing your job, depression, anxiety, a temptation to sin, you name it, we are either going to be trained to put on the full armor of God and fight, or we will cower and give ourselves up to the Enemy.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">The choice is yours. Are you going to commit to putting yourself through a prayer boot camp? Maybe you’re in a place in life where you need more of a spiritual Ranger School to be challenged to develop as a leader. No matter what stage of the journey you find yourself in, you know deep in your heart that you are called to fight. You were made for a battle like this, in times such as these. Therefore, make time each day to prepare for battle, because you never know when you’ll wake up to suddenly find yourself in the biggest fight of your life.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">---</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">In support of the many service men and women that have served and are still serving our country, Hallow provides one-year subscription to all active duty military and veterans. You can learn more <a href="https://hallow.com/military/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> [post_title] => Training Ground for the Soul [post_excerpt] => Spiritual bootcamp: how prayer prepares us for the unexpected [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => training-ground-for-the-soul [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2024-09-18 15:25:36 [post_modified_gmt] => 2024-09-18 15:25:36 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://hallow.com/?p=2910 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw )

WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 2676 [post_author] => 8 [post_date] => 2020-04-08 17:35:52 [post_date_gmt] => 2020-04-08 17:35:52 [post_content] => <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class=""><strong>Read time: ~5.3 minutes</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">God never intended for us to be socially distanced.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">He said, from the very beginning, “It is not good for man to be alone” (Gen. 2:18).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">Being Himself a communion of Persons, God created a world in which <em>being-with</em> brings forth life and makes love grow. That’s why the Garden of Eden was so idyllic, lush, and green – God Himself dwelled there with Adam and Eve, and they lived in true harmony.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">All of Creation was meant to move more and more toward perfect communion, but its progress became woefully disrupted by the introduction of sin and its consequent deaths.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">As a result of the Fall, Adam and Eve experienced disintegration within themselves, disconnect in their relationship, disharmony with the created world, and estrangement in their friendship with God.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class=""><br>We are today experiencing the pangs of those same effects as this global pandemic affects our interpersonal communion in abrasive ways.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">The current practice of social distancing is both prudent and loving, but we nevertheless feel the pain of separation when we learn about the increase of deaths, when loved ones are away laboring on the frontlines, when we stand six feet apart, when we avoid each other on sidewalks, when we communicate remotely, and when we shelter in place alone all-day.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">God does not and did not want anything like this to be our end. So, after the Fall, He undertook a thousands-of-years project to restore what had been lost. The entire Old Testament tells the story of a God who will stop at nothing to save and renew the communion He had first established.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">God worked patiently through human history before bringing everything to culmination in Jesus Christ. Jesus became the perfect bridge between God and man, being Himself both fully God and fully man.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">In our upcoming holy days, we see into the heart of this God-man, who comes down from Heaven to bring us back to one another and draw us to himself.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">On Thursday, Jesus gives us the gift of his own Body and Blood, substantiating his longing to be <em>with</em> us and <em>in </em>us; revealing, too, his profound desire for us to live in <em>him</em>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">On Good Friday, he suffers the greatest agony man will ever experience, in total separation from God as a result of death.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">Jesus’ body will be isolated on Holy Saturday, and we will mourn, prevented from coming near him because of a large stone and protocols of the day.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class=""><br>Then, in the morning, Jesus will rise.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">On Sunday, Jesus destroys the one thing that could keep us from him. He opens the gates of Heaven and thereby makes possible our living <em>with</em> and <em>in </em>him for all eternity.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">There is a dissonance we feel, however, given our current situation, since most of us will not be able to physically celebrate this Easter triumph in our churches. Most of us will have to continue staying at home and live-streaming from afar.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">Although we may not, for the foreseeable future, be able to pray together in person – to lift our voices in one song of praise and receive Jesus’ Body and Blood into our beings – we wait <em>together</em>. We prepare for the day when we will finally be allowed to leave our homes and run, like Mary Magdalene and John, to meet Christ at the empty tomb.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">We remember, too, that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Heb. 13:8).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">This Jesus is the same God who asks, “Where are you?” and never stops searching until we’re found (Gen. 3:9).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">This Jesus is the same God who, well into the darkness of night, walks on water and saves his disciples from the storm (cf. Matt. 14:22-33).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">This Jesus is the same God who passes through locked doors to reach his disciples and speak his peace, with no longer bloodied wounds (cf. John 20:19-23).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">By the victory of his Resurrection, Jesus has overcome any form of social distancing.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">Nothing, not even death, can stop him from finding a way to his people and bringing us into communion.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> [post_title] => Where is God in our Easter Social Distancing? [post_excerpt] => Walk through Holy Week, and realize God is with us [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => where-is-god-in-our-easter-social-distancing [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2020-10-05 13:28:51 [post_modified_gmt] => 2020-10-05 13:28:51 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://hallow.com/?p=2676 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw )

WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 2388 [post_author] => 6 [post_date] => 2020-02-25 17:46:17 [post_date_gmt] => 2020-02-25 17:46:17 [post_content] => <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class=""><a href="https://hallow.com/2021/01/15/holydaypackage-lent/">Lent</a> starts tomorrow (!!) and (technically) ends on Thursday April 9^th before the beginning of Good Friday. We wanted to share some ideas below to help you think through and prepare for Lent! As Jesus fasted in the desert for 40 days, we also take 40 days to reflect on our own spiritual journey during this time. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">There are three big parts of the season, which are intended to help us prepare for the celebration of Easter Sunday: Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true,"className":""} --> <ol class=""><li><strong>Prayer</strong>: while we should always strive to pray everyday, Lent is a great time to really focus on your relationship with God. You can start by setting aside 10 minutes before you go to bed or just after you wake to pray. If you aren’t sure where to start, Hallow offers a 9 day intro challenge that is a great way to try out new prayer techniques like Lectio Divina, the Examen, and Christian Meditation. If you want to commit to praying everyday this Lent, join our #pray40 challenge in the community tab of the app. #pray40 helps you set aside time in prayer everyday alongside thousands of others so you aren’t alone on the journey. <br> <br> </li><li><strong>Fasting:</strong> this is the one most people think of when they talk about Lent: what to give up! In the past, I thought the goal of fasting was to make me feel guilty about enjoying certain things. I’ve learned that it’s much more about realizing how we may be taking things for granted and to remind ourselves that we love Jesus more than we love anything else. I’ve found that fasting is very similar to exercising. It may be uncomfortable at the time, but it helps strengthen our self-control and spiritual muscles which is a worthwhile pursuit. Here are some ideas if you are looking for things to give up this Lent: hot showers, snacking, drinking alcohol, buying things for yourself (i.e., something you don’t need but want), or coffee. <br> <br> </li><li><strong>Almsgiving-</strong> this one involves giving things away to others. It helps us remember that everything in our life is a gift, and that the purpose of life is to love God and love others. Almsgiving could involve giving money to charity or your parish, but it could also involve giving something more valuable than money: time. You could devote a certain day to volunteer at a local food pantry or offer to spend some time helping your parish office as well. You could even explore supporting a local group like a<a href="https://www.kofc.org/en/index.html"> Knights of Columbus</a>,<a href="https://www.youngcatholicprofessionals.org/"> Young Catholic Professionals</a>, or<a href="https://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/"> Catholic Charities</a>.</li></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">So, if you’re anything like me and haven’t quite figured out what to do this Lent, take a few minutes to prayerfully consider how God may be calling you to pray, fast, and give this Lent. We look forward to praying with you this Lent!&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> [post_title] => Last Minute Lent Prep [post_excerpt] => Lent snuck up on you? We have ideas! [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => last-minute-lent-prep [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2022-02-06 01:58:57 [post_modified_gmt] => 2022-02-06 01:58:57 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://hallow.com/?p=2388 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw )

WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 2253 [post_author] => 7 [post_date] => 2020-01-31 16:24:36 [post_date_gmt] => 2020-01-31 16:24:36 [post_content] => <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class=""><strong>~4 min read</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">All great teachers, regardless of where they teach, are automatically front-runners for sainthood in my book. Right along with healthcare workers and emergency personnel, teachers are absolutely critical for the functioning of society. They deal with the good, the bad, and the ugly of small mammals, used to regular naps, growing into self-sufficient and productive members of society. They see it all and serve every day of their professional careers. <br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">This Catholic Schools Week however, I want to send out a special thank you to all Catholic school teachers.<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">Other than a year at a Christian preschool (which was also awesome), I was blessed with a Catholic school education K-College and while I would never make the claim that my experience was generic-ly “better” than that of my friends at public school, I am particularly thankful for a handful of uniquely Catholic school experiences I encountered:<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class=""><strong>The Living Gospel</strong> - Along with my classmates, I participated in presentations of <a href="https://catechistsjourney.loyolapress.com/2009/02/living-stations-of-the-cross-scripts/">Living Stations</a> both in 3rd and 8th grades. In 3rd grade I was Jesus and in 8th grade I was the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caiaphas">High Priest</a>. In addition to the deep life insight of being both the condemned and the condemner, I am extremely thankful for the all the hours my teachers spent corralling us in rehearsal so that we could all internalize that the Gospel isn’t just a historical epic, but a real human story and is alive in each of our lives today. <br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class=""><strong>Equality in Christ</strong> - In 8th grade I was part of a team responsible for making sure that there were always 3 altar servers at funerals in the parish. In reality, that meant 2 friends and I served at every funeral in the parish for an entire academic year. Despite some extremely hard funerals, including those of infants and children, I learned an extremely important theological lesson in those services. Regardless of whether there were 1 or 1,000 people in the pews at the funeral, our liturgy and God’s overwhelming love was exactly the same for each of the deceased. We are all equal in God’s eyes. He loves us all and wants each and every one of us to accept his love. <br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class=""><strong>The Grace of the Sacraments</strong> - It wasn’t until much later in my post-college life that I realized how awesome it was to receive the sacraments with my classmates. Friday masses were a staple of my formative years and I am particularly thankful for quarterly confessions in high school. Those priests that made the trek from the suburbs to my high school downtown, 4 times a year, carried me through some tough times when I didn’t realize how much I needed them.<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class=""><strong>Family of Faith</strong> - Freshman year of high school I lost my cousin, mentor, and confirmation sponsor. He was in his early 30s and left behind two young children. My senior year, I lost my grandfather who had lived with my family since I was born. In the weeks after each death, I remember breaking down in tears before and during classes. I will be eternally grateful for the many teachers and classmates that not only came to the funerals, but that continued to take class time to pray together as a family of faith.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class=""><br>To all the teachers out there continuing to <a href="https://careertrend.com/info-7801133-average-teacher-salary-charter-school.html">sacrifice significant earnings</a> by choosing to teach at Catholic schools, thank you.<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class=""> We love you and we appreciate your service.<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class=""> God bless,<br> Alessandro </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> [post_title] => To All Catholic School Teachers: Thank You! [post_excerpt] => Alessandro reflects on his Catholic school experience [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => to-all-catholic-school-teachers-thank-you [to_ping] => [pinged] => https://catechistsjourney.loyolapress.com/2009/02/living-stations-of-the-cross-scripts/ [post_modified] => 2020-10-05 13:51:33 [post_modified_gmt] => 2020-10-05 13:51:33 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://hallow.com/?p=2253 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw )

WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 2225 [post_author] => 8 [post_date] => 2020-01-28 00:20:44 [post_date_gmt] => 2020-01-28 00:20:44 [post_content] => <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class=""><strong>~3 minute read</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">I still remember walking into school the day after each of those five NBA championships – the halls abuzz with shouts and high-fives, my friends decked out in their purple and gold.<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">I’ll never forget seeing the Lakers in person for the very first time as a junior in high school. There was nothing like watching one of the all-time greats play the game he loved with his unrivaled tenacity and passion. <br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">For years I witnessed the magic and cheered along with family and friends. We, Southern California natives, were the heart of Lakers Nation.<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">When Kobe’s career came to a close, I watched again as both #8 and #24 were hoisted up to the heights of Staples Center. We celebrated his countless wins and immortalized his legacy forever.<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">Kobe’s death this past Sunday hit close to home.<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">Only four days earlier, my closest childhood friend came to visit, and Kobe Bryant happened to come up in conversation.<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">My friend and Kobe were both members of the same Catholic Church in Orange County, CA. My friend told me how he saw Kobe at the morning Mass faithfully every Sunday. With his 6’ 6” frame, he was hard to miss.<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">Kobe and his wife, Vanessa, witnessed to the strength that comes from prayer and the Sacraments, remaining together in marriage all these years in spite of trials that rocked their past.<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">As a couple, they loved their four daughters dearly, and they went beyond themselves to build up the youth and families both in their home parish and in the wider community.<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">On the day Kobe’s third daughter, Bianka, was baptized, my childhood friend happened to walk into the church in the middle of the ceremony. He saw Kobe and Vanessa surrounded by loved ones and proudly holding Bianka, dressed in her beautiful white garments. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">Kobe and my friend talked for a brief moment afterward, and all Kobe could talk about wasn’t basketball, but family.<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">Few people could match the worldly accomplishments of Kobe Bryant. Yet, this icon and legend knew what was most important.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class=""></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">Through baptism, he gave all of his children over to God. And every Sunday, even on the morning of the crash, Kobe went to Church – to pray and to give his life over to Christ.<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">It seems that, to Kobe, the illuminated purple-gold jerseys and his five championship rings were second to the white robes of Heaven and the imperishable crown of Christ. (cf. Rev. 7:9; 1 Cor. 9:25).<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">May Kobe and all the faithful departed be raised to the heights of Heaven, whereby the enduring victory of Christ, they will be of that number, immortalized with God forever.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class=""></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class=""><em>+ John, Keri, and Alyssa Altobelli</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class=""><em>+ Kobe and Gianna Bryant</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class=""><em>+ Sarah and Payton Chester</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class=""><em>+ Christina Mauser</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class=""><em>+ Ara Zobayan</em><br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class=""><em>Eternal rest, grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class=""><em>May they rest in peace.</em><br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">Please pray for Vanessa, the Bryant children (Natalia, Bianka, &amp; Capri), and all their families.<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> [post_title] => A Tribute to Kobe Bryant [post_excerpt] => Eternal rest, grant unto them, O Lord. [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => a-tribute-to-kobe-bryant [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2020-10-05 13:52:32 [post_modified_gmt] => 2020-10-05 13:52:32 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://hallow.com/?p=2225 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw )

WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 2189 [post_author] => 14 [post_date] => 2020-01-23 01:36:05 [post_date_gmt] => 2020-01-23 01:36:05 [post_content] => <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class=""><strong>~5 min read</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">Holistic health is my business. As an occupational therapist of almost 20 years, a mother to three (with another on the way), a stepmother to 2, wife and amateur runner- this is a solid fit for me. As a Catholic, however, it’s a major challenge. The world of holistic health is dominated by moral relativism, pseudoscience, and resistance to acknowledge God as the Almighty Creator.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">My personal and professional wellness journey began after graduating from college. I moved to New York and began working with adults diagnosed with cognitive impairment and mental illness. I went on to work in the school system and then a continuing care retirement community. I was in my early twenties and had begun to suffer panic attacks and my first acute autoimmune disease flare that went undiagnosed for over a year. As more of my joints became swollen and painful, I sought out alternative therapies over traditional pharmaceutical solutions. I found some success, but also discovered that the world of holistic health was often not spiritually aligned with my faith. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">A few years passed and I moved to Maryland and then North Carolina working in subacute rehabilitation facilities and home health. Around this time, I began researching epigenetics and nutrigenomics. Following the completion of the human genome project, the opportunities for personalized medicine and preventative health informed by our own unique DNA provided brand new opportunities to advance every aspect of wellness.&nbsp; Epigenetics is the study of turning genes off and on and we now know that while you cannot change the genes that you were born with, you can influence which genes are active versus dormant in many ways. Nutrigenomics is the study of how food interacts with our specific set of DNA. Not only has this science given us the information to improve advanced medicine, but I was seeing more clearly how I could apply what I was learning to myself, my children and my patients. God’s gift of this science and His amazing design for us and our environment allowed me to eliminate my pain and autoimmune symptoms, resolve my son’s anxiety, help friends and family with various issues and identify major deficiencies for various family members that had never been tested for. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">After treating thousands of patients and becoming familiar with the effect of genetic variations on physical and mental health, I left my traditional practice to develop a more effective preventative practice from a clinical perspective. I was more inspired than ever to find better ways to be holistically healthy according to God’s design and to help as many other people as I could.&nbsp; Inspired by my new goals, I wrote a book outlining my thoughts so that I could better explain the consistency between my Catholic faith and the healthcare work that I felt called to do. Of course, modern medicine and all of its treatments are also a great gift to us, but we must also seek to achieve wellness and prevent disease whenever possible.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">One of the most fascinating wellness discoveries that I sought to incorporate into my own personal practice as well as my professional practice is that of meditation. Of course, meditation itself is not new at all, but recent discoveries about exactly how meditation improves our health at a cellular level have greatly increased general participation in meditative practices. This is great news for health and wellness, but for me, the challenge of finding resources that are both Catholic and good quality was somewhat frustrating. There is no shortage of scientific-based meditation apps, new age studios or secular self- help books. There is, however, a major shortage of holistic health resources and practitioners who place God at the center of it all- and that’s exactly where He should be. He designed each of us to be physically, mentally and spiritually well in order to pursue truth and purpose. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">I do use some great Catholic prayer apps, but after looking more closely at meditative practice, I was hoping to find an app that could deliver both solid meditation and an opportunity to grow closer to God. I can’t tell you how excited I was to find Hallow. This is exactly what I’ve been looking for and I finally have a resource that I can confidently share with my family and my clients. This app has everything that I was looking for and is perfect for both beginner and advanced meditators of all ages. For me, staying healthy in order to care for my family and treat my patients is a top priority.  The benefits of meditation are evident in physical, mental and of course spiritual practice, but we cannot be holistically well without acknowledging and worshipping our Creator. These days, controlling my autoimmune flares and staying healthy during my fourth pregnancy is a challenge that I most certainly cannot take on alone. I am so thankful to have Hallow as a guide to keep me on track!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class=""><strong>MORE PRAYERS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"className":""} --> <ul class=""><li><a href="https://hallow.com/blog/prayers-for-anxiety/">Prayers for Anxiety</a></li><li><a href="https://hallow.com/blog/prayers-for-strength/">Prayers for Strength</a></li><li><a href="https://hallow.com/blog/prayers-for-healing/">Prayers for Healing</a></li><li><a href="https://hallow.com/blog/prayers-for-sleep/">Prayers for Sleep</a></li></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">_____</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p class="">If you're interested in learning more about Erin's work, you can check out the website link here: <em><a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="http://designedtobewell.com/" target="_blank">designedtobewell.com</a></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> [post_title] => Hallow Spotlight: Exploring How Holistic Health and Hallow Meet [post_excerpt] => Discussing the benefits of Christian meditation [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => hallow-spotlight-exploring-how-holistic-health-and-hallow-meet [to_ping] => [pinged] => https://hallow.com/2021/08/10/prayers-for-healing/ [post_modified] => 2022-09-14 00:06:06 [post_modified_gmt] => 2022-09-14 00:06:06 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://hallow.com/?p=2189 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw )