Sr. Bethany Madonna: "Receiving the Promise" | SEEK 2017

FOCUS Catholic・2 minutes read

The speaker reflects on messages of cheerleaders, tattoos, Star Wars, and body art, emphasizing desires for encouragement, commitment, self-expression, and beauty, connecting it to God as the source of fulfillment. Various stories and reflections on God's love, repentance, acceptance of forgiveness, and transformation through faith and forgiveness are shared, highlighting the importance of empathy, confession, forgiveness, and personal healing.

Insights

  • The speaker reflects on the diverse messages conveyed by cheerleaders, tattoos, Star Wars, and body art, emphasizing themes of encouragement, commitment, self-expression, and beauty that resonate with human desires.
  • The importance of receiving gifts from God, such as life, a new heart, and the kingdom, is underscored, highlighting the individualized nature of God's love and care in creation, encouraging repentance, acceptance of forgiveness, and transformative experiences akin to Saint Agustin's journey.

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Recent questions

  • What was the symposium about?

    Being a prophetic witness to the world.

  • What did the speaker reflect on?

    Messages of cheerleaders, tattoos, Star Wars, and body art.

  • What did the speaker connect to God?

    Infinite beauty and eternal love.

  • What did the speaker discuss about gifts?

    Receiving gifts of life, a new heart, and the kingdom from God.

  • What was highlighted as a life-saving remedy?

    The sacrament of confession.

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Summary

00:00

"Finding Beauty and Love in Unexpected Places"

  • The speaker recalls attending a symposium for religious sisters at a hotel where cheerleaders and tattoo artists were also present.
  • At the symposium, the topic was about being a prophetic witness to the world.
  • The speaker and other sisters were offered vouchers due to an overbooked flight, leading them to stay at the hotel where new conventions were starting.
  • The new conventions at the hotel included a Star Wars convention and a body art exhibition.
  • The speaker reflects on the messages of cheerleaders, tattoos, Star Wars, and body art, highlighting desires for encouragement, commitment, self-expression, and beauty.
  • The speaker emphasizes the desire for infinite beauty and eternal love, connecting it to God as the source of such fulfillment.
  • A prayer is said to open hearts to the spirit, the Father, and the Son.
  • The speaker discusses the importance of receiving gifts, focusing on receiving the gifts of life, a new heart, and the kingdom from God.
  • The uniqueness of each individual's love and the care God puts into creation are highlighted.
  • The speaker shares stories and reflections on God's love, the orphan spirit, and the gift of a new heart, encouraging repentance and acceptance of God's forgiveness.

22:23

Transformation through faith, forgiveness, and confession.

  • Saint Agustin's decision to put on the Lord Jesus Christ led to his transformation into a bishop and doctor of the church.
  • Shame, according to Dr. Bernie Brown, thrives on silence, secrecy, and judgment, but empathy can counteract it.
  • The sacrament of confession is highlighted as a life-saving remedy for the deathly feeling of shame.
  • Saint Ignatius' 14 rules of discernment of spirits help differentiate movements from God or the evil one, emphasizing the importance of bringing struggles to light.
  • Jennifer's emotional journey to confession after two abortions showcases the battle against shame and the liberating power of confession.
  • Unforgiveness is likened to drinking poison, emphasizing the necessity of forgiveness for personal healing.
  • Patty's transformation from a Buddhist to a baptized Catholic, culminating in her son's baptism and her First Holy Communion, illustrates the profound impact of faith and forgiveness in her life.
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