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Five Mother's Day Gifts That Keep on Giving | sarahdamm.com
Five Mother’s Day Gifts That Keep on Giving

Five Mother’s Day Gifts That Keep on Giving

The vocation of motherhood is a beautiful one. In Mulieris Dignitatem, St. John Paul II writes, “Each and every time that motherhood is repeated in human history, it is always related to the Covenant which God established with the human race through the motherhood of the Mother of God.” Wow! To think that every pregnancy points to the Incarnation is nothing less than amazing! As beautiful as motherhood is, it also can be difficult and even painful. [Motherhood] is constituted more…

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Hail Mary: Recognizing the Mother of God as My Mother, Too | sarahdamm.com
Hail Mary: Recognizing the Mother of God as My Mother, Too

Hail Mary: Recognizing the Mother of God as My Mother, Too

“We never give more honor to Jesus than when we honor his Mother, and we honor her simply and solely to honor him all the more perfectly. We go to her only as a way leading to the goal we seek—Jesus, her Son.” (St. Louis de Montfort) The seeds of my devotion to the Blessed Mother were planted years and years ago. I can look back on my 40+ years of life and see significant moments when those seeds were…

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Keeping the Sabbath Holy: Six Tips for Living Sunday Differently | sarahdamm.com
Keeping the Sabbath Holy: Six Tips for Living Sunday Differently

Keeping the Sabbath Holy: Six Tips for Living Sunday Differently

Remember the sabbath day — keep it holy. Six days you may labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath of the LORD your God. You shall not do any work, either you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your work animal, or the resident alien within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them; but on the seventh…

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The Genius of Women and Our Role in the Church | sarahdamm.com
The Genius of Women and Our Role in the Church

The Genius of Women and Our Role in the Church

Growing up, I heard all sorts of things about women and the church. Much of it was not positive. And I honestly did not understand why. As a cradle Catholic, I always felt well loved and well respected within the Catholic Church. Even before I learned the Church’s exact teaching on the dignity of women, I intuitively knew that God loved me. And as a little girl, I knew that if God loved me, than I was important. There was…

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A Day at the Beach: Learning to be at Peace With Myself | sarahdamm.com
A Day at the Beach: Learning to be at Peace With Myself

A Day at the Beach: Learning to be at Peace With Myself

Perfectionism is a struggle that comes in all shapes and sizes. It often accuses us of being less than and hinders us from being true to the unique creations God made us to be. And as a result, we put on masks, cover up flaws, and slowly and steadily forget who we truly are. One thing perfectionism is not, however: It is not from God. And He showed that to me quite clearly one day on the beach of Hilton Head Island,…

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The Kingdom of God is at Hand: Abandoning Our Nets to Follow Jesus | sarahdamm.com
The Kingdom of God is at Hand: Abandoning Our Nets to Follow Jesus

The Kingdom of God is at Hand: Abandoning Our Nets to Follow Jesus

“Then they abandoned their nets and followed him.” (Mark 1:18) The place looks familiar. There is a swing set in the background and a metal merry-go-round in the middle. No one is on the playground, and everything is still and quiet, like that audible quiet one hears when it is snowing. I look around, and there is Jesus, standing in the middle of the playground. His dancing eyes are on me. His smile is full of delight and joy. His arms are…

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5 Simple Ways to Encourage Vocations Within the Family | sarahdamm.com
5 Simple Ways to Encourage Vocations Within the Family

5 Simple Ways to Encourage Vocations Within the Family

O, God, we earnestly ask you to bless this archdiocese with many priests, deacons, brothers and sisters … At every Sunday Mass, my parish prays two special prayers for vocations. We begin with a prayer for marriage and family, asking St. Joseph to intercede for us. After the Prayers of the Faithful, we pray another prayer that begins with the words with which I began this blog post. It has been a long-standing tradition to pray for and foster vocations…

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Lessons I Learned This Advent and How I Can Apply Them to My Ordinary Life | sarahdamm.com
Advent Lessons I Learned and How I Can Apply Them to My Ordinary Life

Advent Lessons I Learned and How I Can Apply Them to My Ordinary Life

Two and a half weeks ago, my family and I gathered around our Christmas tree. Excitement and joy mingled with the festive scents of hot coffee, cinnamon rolls, and pine needles. The kids piled their gifts next to them and eagerly wondered what was inside each wrapped box. As I sipped my coffee and breathed in Christmas goodness, I felt grateful. For the first time in forever, I felt like Christmas had arrived and I had arrived with it. I…

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Let Us Adore Him: Embracing the Babe, Embracing the Cross | sarahdamm.com
Let Us Adore Him: Embracing the Babe, Embracing the Cross

Let Us Adore Him: Embracing the Babe, Embracing the Cross

As I sit in the Eucharistic Adoration chapel, I am graced with this very visual meditation of the life of Christ. As if the very heartbeat of Christ in the monstrance isn’t enough, today I also get to praise and adore the infant Jesus, who the shepherds worshiped and who the magi traveled far to find, honor, and present gifts fit for a King. There He is before me. In my prayer, I recall how I waited and watched for Him…

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Being Called Beloved: A Reflection on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord | sarahdamm.com
Being Called Beloved: A Reflection on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord

Being Called Beloved: A Reflection on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord

“And this is the marvel of marvels, that He called me Beloved.” (C.S. Lewis) The warm sun is shining, and there is not a cloud in the sky. I wear a white robe, and I am standing in chest-deep water. It is the perfect temperature—comfortable and refreshing at the same time. I have been following John for awhile, and his message of repentance resonates deep in my heart. I wonder how I can apply his words—“Prepare the way of the…

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