Beauty and Reflections for Your Catholic Journey
Filling Your Heart with the Holy Spirit
by
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Introduction
How does the Holy Spirit help you? How do you make good decisions as a Christian? Why and how do you pray? This book has been compiled from some of the riches of Christian witness to the steadfast love of God over thousands of years to help you as you seek to draw nearer to God.
The journey that became this book began and ended in two very different places—a time of personal prayer with the Bible to a published book. I know without a doubt that it was entirely due to the workings of the Holy Spirit! Following the tugs of the Holy Spirit will always take you somewhere better, placing you where you didn’t even realize you wanted to go.
This journey began with reading the Bible in an ordered way to support my work with discipleship in the parish. I combined the order of the readings from Paul Thigpen’s My Daily Catholic Bible and Coming Home Network’s free guide, “Read the Bible and the Catechism in a Year,”
What started as a personal journey ended as a book written to engage Christians new to faith and those who desire to renew their faith. I hope that, by reading the verses and quotations that moved me, dear Reader, you might be inspired by the Holy Spirit to go further—to read more, to ask more, to embrace more. I hope that this book helps you along your own journey. My prayers are with you, beloved Reader, as you commit to a life in Christ. The readings and quotations are organized into four main categories: Gifts of the Holy Spirit, Life in Christ, Angels and Saints, and Prayer. I am not an academic theologian. These categories just seem right. When you pray, look to the Holy Spirit for inspiration and guidance. Look to Jesus for mercy, compassion, and matters of the heart. If you need strength and protection, imagine your guardian angel sitting beside you, and call on Mother Mary for all the times you need comfort and guidance in your family life. The saints provide motivation and teachings in our day to day world—their courage, their wisdom, their discipline. And focus your whole spiritual life on moments of prayer. Take your time with this book—it was never intended to be read in order from beginning to end. It is my hope that the writings in this book might jump out at you as you flip through the sections. Then, when that happens, pause. Be silent. Open your heart to the inspirations of the Holy Spirit. It is my deep desire that God will give you a heart to love Him. I hope that somewhere in these pages, a verse or a quotation will rest in your heart and give you the desire to read more, look farther, and take on the armor of your faith. Saint Paul will end this Introduction in words that speak to my heart and now, I hope, to yours. I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you,...For God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the compassion of Christ Jesus....Only, live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that, whether I come and see you or am absent and hear about you, I will know that you are standing firm in one spirit, striving side by side with one mind for the faith of the gospel, and are in no way intimidated by your opponents.
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Book Details
About the Book
Filling your heart with the Holy Spirit - Beginning Your Christian Journey: This book has been written to re-engage people with the Christian faith. It isn’t a book that is meant to be read from beginning to end. It is meant to be opened and browsed and once the eyes settle on a passage or a section, to let the heart move with the help of the Holy Spirit. There are introductions for each of the four sections which provide the theology related to the titles: Life in Christ, Gifts of the Holy Spirit, Life in Christ, Angels and Saints and Prayer.
Section 1 - Gifts of the Holy Spirit - Theology of the gifts of the Holy Spirit including scripture passages, and quotations from Catechism of the Catholic Church and saints (passages and quotations included in all sections).
Section 2 - Life in Christ - Theology of Grace, Theological and Cardinal Virtues.
Section 3 - Angels and Saints - Theology of angels including guardian angels and saints.
Section 4 - Prayer - Theology of prayer and prayers selected from saints, the bible and Catholic tradition.
About the Author
Elizabeth lives with her husband, Bruno, in Mississauga. She is an engineer who has worked internationally in senior management positions. She has developed a wonderful appreciation of the diversity of cultures through a career that has taken her to many countries including England, Germany, India and China.
Elizabeth retired from her position as Associate Dean for Electrical and Computer Engineering Technology and is spending her time as a writer and speaker. She was awarded the President’s Award from the Ontario Society of Professional Engineers for her volunteer work with their Diversity and Inclusion committee.
Elizabeth earned a Masters of Theological Studies degree and is an active member in her parish. She has led confirmation and youth ministries, hosted workshops on Saints and is currently the lead for parish discipleship and evangelization programs.
Elizabeth recently published two middle grade fiction books - The Case of the Robot Sabotage and The Case of the locker Room Thief - and credits her joy of storytelling to her grandchildren. She enjoys family time, writing, travel and needlework.