Blessed are the pure of heart...

"Blessed are the pure of heart for they will see God."
Matthew 5:8

God has a HUGE plan for every single one of us!! As Pope Benedict XVI says, "we were not created for comfort, but for greatness." God calls us on to greatness, he wants to see us do awesome and magnificent things.  I absolutely love this quote by Pope Benedict XVI, but sometimes I don't really feel strong enough to do what God calls me to do.

This ministry is extremely rewarding in the sense that I get to spread God's message to students all throughout the state of Wisconsin, but I also have taken so much from the students themselves.  I have truly discovered God's presence in each person I see on retreat. And it blows my mind the way God works.

This ministry also does have some costly side effects to it: lack of sleep, maybe some stress, and most of all spiritual warfare. We are going out and being Jesus to students that may have never experienced Him before which does not make Satan a happy camper.  So we face certain battles and struggles we need to overcome. But this is our Catholic faith!! Jesus overcame the cross, and we are called to fight these battles, whether physical or spiritual.

But I have found the only way you can truly be strong in fighting this type of warfare is by being pure of heart. Purity is our strength and our weapon! Which is why Satan has been attacking it and reducing it to a meaningless idea in society.

Purity, especially in today's world, seems to be an outdated and bizarre concept. "Just do what makes you feel good," or "YOLO" have become the anthem cries of our modern world. But as Catholics we are not called to be in the world.  Romans 12:2 says, "Do not conform to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your minds." As Catholics, we are called to be different!

Saint Joan of Arc, (one of my patron saints and my home girl), was 19 years old when she was called by God to lead the French army into battle. 19 years old! Even from a young age, she felt a strong and huge desire to remain pure of heart her whole life, this was the only way she truly felt close to God. Even after her father made plans for her to marry, she refused and said the only person she is fit for is God. This purity is what lead her into battle.  This purity is what kept her strong as she was martyred by being burned at the stake.  This purity is why allowed God St. Michael, St. Margaret, and St. Catherine appear to her and give her words of counsel and guidance. This purity is why Joan of Arc is a saint! She was called for greatness by God and her purity allowed her to accomplish this.

Our world is growing darker by the day. But we are called to be that light. We are called to be so much more than another generation in this society. We are called to live a life of greatness for our God. And the only way for us to accomplish this is through purity.

So my challenge for you is to pray for this virtue. Pray for the strength to live out purity. Pray to understand why this is such an awesome weapon in time of battle.

God can only speak to us if we are pure at heart. We can't accomplish His will if we do not live out and understand this wonderful virtue.

St. Joan of Arc, pray for us!