Simply Holy with Marge Fenelon
Episodes
Have you ever heard the voice of Jesus? Those who have had that experience are quite fortunate. But some of us, seem never to heart his voice. Whether it be audibly, symbolically, or intuitively, we never seem able to perceive what God is saying to us either through circumstances, “coincidences,” or the still small voice within us. For a period of time, I was convinced that our Lord spoke to everyone else but me. In a moment of dis...
If someone asked you to describe yourself, what would be on your list of characteristics and attributes? How far down on that list would you mention your Catholic faith? Current events have sparked countless terse discussions in person and on line about what it means to be a Catholic. Can we profess one set of beliefs and then act contrarily in the public sphere? A frank look at the precepts and four marks of the Church and how we’...
In a vision, Christ told John that he will spit from his mouth those who are lukewarm in their faith (see Rev 3:15-16). Its hard to be on fire for the faith when the Church is under persecution. We fear shame and retaliation from those who oppose our beliefs. Being lukewarm seems like the safer route to take. Take heart! There are more faithful out there than you think and when they see you on fire, their hearts will burn for Chris...
Feeling discouraged? That’s not surprising given the current state of affairs in the world. Discouragement is a form of spiritual desolation and it’s during such times that people tend to back off on spiritual commitments and go easy on themselves. But, that’s exactly the time to step it up and increase your spiritual striving. In this episode, Marge explains why that is and how to effectively face discouragement and spiritual deso...
There’s so much to do during these last few days before Christmas! Your To-Do List is a mile long and you’ve only worked part way through it. But getting ready for Christmas actually has nothing to do with decorating, shopping, wrapping, baking, or anything else on your list. Here are the three most essential things to do before Christmas and how to tell if you’re really ready.
Christmas is under threat by officials seeking to limit our ability to attend Christmas Mass and gather with family and friends. Over social media and news outlets, there’s mention of efforts to “cancel” Christmas. The truth is, Christmas can’t be canceled and in this episode, Marge gives three concrete reasons why that’s true. Then she gives three things you can do to make a joy-filled Christmas happen for you and yours.
If you saw someone walking down the street dressed in camel’s hair and eating grasshoppers and honey. Would you consider that person a credible authority? Most likely not. You’d probably think that person was weird at best or perhaps mentally ill. It was a strange thin to do in Jesus’ time, too, but St. John the Baptist did just that, becoming the voice int eh desert that prepared others for the coming of the Savior. He spoke the t...
We’re facing more pandemic lockdowns, uncertainty about the future of our country, and the possibility of financial crisis for many. Add to that our Lord’s admonishment in the Gospels that we must be ready for his Second Coming at any moment. All of this can tempt you to give into fear and lose hope when in fact the opposite should and can be true. Here’s how to make fear backfire and Advent 2020 become a blessed time of spiritual...
You may not be able to gather with loved ones this Thanksgiving as you’d hoped, but there’s still much you can do to foster a grateful heart and observe a true Thanks-Giving. Marge outlines seven concrete steps to a grateful heart and a blessed Thanksgiving despite COVID restrictions.
You and your loved one already are divided over Church issues. Now with the upheaval of the 2020 Presidential Election, you’re further divided over political issues. What do you do? How do you approach your loved one amidst these volatile topics? In this episode, Marge gives nine practical steps for re=establishing and affirming your relationship despite your differences.
Are you worried about a loved one who has left the Catholic Church? These days it’s difficult to find someone whose family hasn’t been touched by this sadness in some way. This episode is straight talk about what NOT to do when someone you care about leaves the Church (The Three Don’ts) and how to frame your approach for meaningful dialog (The Three Do’s). Plus, a valuable resource for protection against evil. Parents and grandpare...
It seems like all we do is talk about freedom these days. Freedom from…freedom for… But did you know that it’s possible to be free on the outside yet bound on the inside? That’s right. Unless you’re interiorly free, exterior freedom doesn’t matter much at all. St. Paul wrote to the Romans, “ I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.” We all do that from time to time. Why? In th...
What do you do when someone hits you with a nasty comment or unwarranted accusation? When they make you so mad that you want to hit back? It seems we’re confronted with such situations left and right these days from people and angles we might never have expected. What is the Christian response when someone verbally attacks you either in person or online? You hit back – hard – with the most powerful weapon you have. Learn what that ...
What Will You Give Your Mother on Her Birthday? After a brief sabbatical to recover from the loss of her mother-in-law, Marge is back to bring you more joy, inspiration, and simply everyday spirituality. In this episode Marge asks the question, “What will you give your mother for her birthday?” The mother she’s referring to, however, isn’t your human mother. It’s your heavenly Mother – Mary – and her birthday is September 8. The N...