Bookshelf

Finding True Happiness

Most people are still searching for true and lasting happiness. But according to Archbishop Fulton Sheen, they're looking in the wrong places.

In his book, "Finding True Happiness", Sheen states: "It's easy to be misled into believing that happiness is found in money, rank, or renown. While these things aren't inherently bad...they will, in the final analysis, not bring happiness that endures."

Here is an excerpt from Finding True Happiness:

"Look at your heart. It tells the story of why you were made. It is not perfect in shape. There seems to be a small piece missing from the side of every heart. I think the reason for this is that when God made the human heart, He found it so good and lovable that He kept a small sample of it in Heaven. He sent the rest of it into the world to enjoy His gifts, and to use them as stepping stones back to Him.

In order to love with your whole heart, in order to be really peaceful, in order to be really wholehearted, you must go back to God to recover the piece. He's been keeping it for you."

Venerable Fulton John Sheen was a Bishop and Archbishop known for his preaching and especially his work on television and radio. His cause for canonization as a saint was officially opened in 2002. In June 2012, Pope Benedict XVI officially recognized a decree from the Congregation for the Causes of Saints stating that he lived a life of "heroic virtues" – a major step towards beatification – so he is now referred to as "Venerable."

It Will Be Okay

In the end, it will be okay, because God is always with us.

Are your children afraid of change? Are you looking for a way to discuss change with your family?

Check out the book written by New York Times bestselling author, Lysa TerKeurst, It Will Be Okay: Trusting God Through Fear and Change.

It will help kids discover that in the end, it really will be okay, because we have a God who is good and kind and always with us.

True Devotion to Mary

“If you put all the love of all the mothers into one heart it still would not equal the love of the Heart of Mary for her children.”

Pope St. John Paul II had a strong love for Mary.

When he was nearly fatally shot during his papacy, he credited the intercession of the Virgin Mary, specifically Our Lady of Fatima, with the miraculous saving of his life.

Growing up, Pope John Paul II was influenced in his faith by his local parish and the nearby Carmelites. He also had a very faithful father who regularly took him on pilgrimages to local Marian shrines.

As a young adult, he singled out one overwhelming influence with whom he says changed his life. He developed a strong devotion to Mary because of a book by Saint Louis de Montfort, True Devotion to Mary.

This book had such a lasting influence on him that when he was elected Pope, he chose his papal motto, Totus Tuus, from words written by St. Louis De Montfort:

“As is well known, (in) my episcopal coat of arms … the motto Totus tuus is inspired by the teaching of St. Louis Marie Grignion de Montfort. These two words express total belonging to Jesus through Mary: “Tuus totus ego sum, et omnia mea tua sunt.” (“I am all Yours, and all that I have is Yours.”).