“The fast of Lent has no advantage to us unless it brings about our spiritual renewal. It is necessary while fasting to change our whole life and practice virtue. Turning away from all wickedness means keeping our tongue in check, restraining our anger, avoiding all gossip, lying and swearing. To abstain from these things
— herein lies the true value of the fast.”
— St. John Chrysostom
KomaThinks
“Love is the most beautiful sentiment the Lord has put into the soul of men and women.”
— St. Gianna Molla
KomaThinks
How would you react if we told you that a natural power exists to bring your family together?
Or if we told you that this power has been used by God for millennia, and is given by Him to every family on earth?
It’s been proven to draw spouses and children together, almost irresistibly, right in their own home.
Would you want to harness such power and use it effectively?
So what is this mysterious power?
It’s the Family Meal.
God gave us bodies, with taste buds and stomachs, and a planet full of food of all flavors, which can be combined in endless and delicious ways.
Everyone loves to enjoy a good meal.
It is a vital part of each and every day.
If food is one of God’s bountiful blessings to His creatures, it only makes sense that the preparation and consumption of that food is also meant to be a blessing to our families.
The time spent preparing and eating a meal as a family offers unmatchable opportunities to learn from and talk to one another.
And this is exactly how God intended it.
Have you ever thought about how much God talks to us through meals?
Here are just a few examples from the Bible:
1. God fed Israel with miraculous manna in the wilderness
2. God established His covenant with Israel through the Passover meal
3. Jesus multiplied the loaves and fishes to feed the crowds – twice
4. Jesus ordained His 12 apostles at the Last Supper
5. Jesus gives us His body and blood to eat through the Eucharistic meal
6. We are invited to the “Wedding Supper of the Lamb” in eternity
Similarly, nearly every life celebration
centers upon a shared meal, in every culture, in all times.
Clearly, the family meal is big.
It matters.
Especially in today’s world, it’s more important than ever.
It’s time to better use this God-given tool to bring your family together.
And there’s a Catholic priest who specializes in just that.
He’s not only famous for being a world-class chef; he’s also a popular author and speaker, with his own apostolate centered on helping families to harness the power of the family meal.
In his popular book, Grace Before Meals, Fr. Leo Patalinghug isn’t just giving you great recipes; he’s inviting you to be a part of a movement that, at its heart, is designed to strengthen families around the dinner table,
encouraging them to talk, be present to one another, and share their lives together . . . and to learn how to cook!
“In today’s fast-paced society, many of us have adopted a fast-food mentality.
We have forgotten that food is supposed to do more than just fill our stomachs… Feeding each other is one of the greatest ways we can show love.” – Fr. Leo
About Grace Before Meals:
The book is structured around liturgical seasons, feast days, public holidays, and rites of passage.
Each chapter begins with a quote from Scripture followed by a brief lesson about that special day.
It contains unique recipes from Fr. Leo’s master chef skills to match the day’s theme.
It includes related questions to start meaningful family conversations.
How to use Grace Before Meals:
1. Use it as a recipe book
2. Use it to begin new family traditions to celebrate holidays and holy days
3. Use it as a conversation starter about the important things in life
4. Use it as a way to bring the Christian faith into your family meal
5. Use it to learn more about theology in a practical way
“No matter where I go, I see parents and children hungering for the same things: a deeper sense of what it means to be a family, a renewed sense of Faith, and more opportunities to celebrate love for one another.”– Fr. Leo
Make your family strong through the family meal.
Fr. Leo is passionate about his mission because he believes that sharing food —family communion— has the potential to heal and strengthen family relationships, and to prevent new wounds from occurring.
“I pray you see your family and relationships as gifts from God that nourish you in body, mind, and spirit.” -Fr. Leo
This power of food can be harnessed in a special way between the central bond of the family unit— the bond between the husband and wife.
In his book Spicing Up Married Life,
Fr. Leo offers couples—whether dating, engaged, young parents, or empty nesters— the chance to renew their love for each other and for God while sharing a delicious meal.
It’s so much more than a cookbook.
“As a Catholic priest, I offer this book about marriage and romantic meals as a gift to be shared by husbands and wives . . . It’s a collection of ideas, ingredients, and recipes to help married couples to experience all of the blessings that God has in store for them as they grow in faith.” – Fr. Leo
KomaThinks
“Blessed are those who trust in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. They shall be like a tree planted by water, sending out its roots by the stream. It shall not fear when heat comes, and its leaves shall stay green; in the year of drought it is not anxious, and it does not cease to bear fruit.”
Jeremiah 17:7-8
KomaThinks
“Just One”
One song can spark a moment.
One flower can wake the dream.
One tree can start a forest.
One bird can herald spring.
One smile begins a friendship;
One handclasp lifts a soul.
One star can guide a ship at sea.
One word can frame the goal.
One vote can change a nation.
One sunbeam lights a room;
One candle wipes out darkness.
One laugh will conquer gloom.
One step must start each journey.
One word must start each prayer.
One hope will raise our spirits;
One touch can show you care.
One voice can speak with wisdom;
One heart can know what’s true.
One life can make the difference…
That difference starts with you.
(Author unknown)
In today’s complex, fast–paced world, it’s not uncommon to find ourselves feeling overwhelmed, confused, and powerless. Social problems seem intractable; political gridlock seems hopeless; financial stress is rampant, and all of these issues serve to magnify our own personal or professional problems. Sometimes it feels like too much to handle. “What can I do?” we ask. “I’m just one person!”
This new book, How One Person Can Make a Difference by BJ Gallagher & Steve Ruttenberg, is a surefire antidote to those feelings of powerlessness and hopelessness.
It brings to mind what you already know, but forgot: that one person CAN make a difference, one action CAN transform a relationship, one word CAN change the conversation.
#BeTheOne #ThePowerOfOne
KomaThinks
Our days are numbered but we can’t count them…
“Like an hourglass with a certain number of grains of sand within it, God has appointed your life to last only a certain number of days, and you have absolutely no idea how many there are.
… In God’s presence, consider: I have no idea when my life will end. All I know is that death will come for me eventually. Am I doing anything to prepare for the real possibility that God may call me, sooner rather than later? If he called me into eternity today, would I be ready?”
— Patrick Madrid, p. 190
AN EXCERPT FROM
A Year with the Bible, p190
KomaThinks
“It is not the actual physical exertion that counts towards a man’s progress, nor the nature of the task, but by the spirit of faith with which it is undertaken.”
— St. Francis Xavier
KomaThinks
ST. VALENTINE
St. Valentine of Rome (c. 270) was a priest in Rome during the reign of Emperor Claudius II. Not much is known about his life with certainty, but according to legend he gave aid to martyrs imprisoned for their faith, and it was for this work, along with his own Christian beliefs, that he was arrested.
One account has it that the emperor banned all marriages and engagements in Rome believing this was the reason Roman men were unwilling to serve in the army. Valentine defied this unjust decree and continued to perform marriages for lovers in secret. He was arrested, and while in prison he restored sight to the jailer’s blind daughter, causing the jailer and his entire extended family, all 46 of them, to immediately convert to Christianity.
Upon hearing this, Emperor Claudius II ordered his execution. St. Valentine left a farewell note for the jailer’s daughter, who had become his friend, and signed it “From Your Valentine.”
He was beheaded on February 14th.
St, Valentine is the patron saint of bee keepers, betrothed and engaged couples, lovers, love, happy marriages, and young people.
His feast day is February 14th.
KomaThinks
Thinking... Thought 