Changing Colors, Growing in Faith

Dear Sisters in Christ,

Happy September! This blessed month is punctuated by beautiful feast days, such as the Exaltation of the Holy Cross on the 14th and one of my favorites, the Feast of the Three Archangels—Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael—on the 29th. Can you imagine a more power-packed day?

St. Michael, the ultimate protector of our Church, protects us from the wickedness and snares of the devil. St. Gabriel is the messenger of God who brings the news of the Annunciation. St. Raphael is known for healing, as he is the one who taught Tobias how to restore his father’s sight.

Just thinking about the Feast of the Three Archangels brings me so much excitement because it reminds me of how deeply God protects His people. He provides us with three archangels, in addition to the armada of angels, to offer us protection, direct messaging, and healing. What more proof of His love for us can we ask for? Thank you, Jesus!

As if this were not enough, September also boasts the feast days of saints such as St. Gregory the Great (9/3), who was a Pope and Doctor of the Church; St. Teresa of Calcutta (9/5); and St. Padre Pio (9/23).

St. Teresa has no title behind her saintly name, and yet she was a mammoth saint who gave of herself tirelessly to the weak, lowly, infirm, and oppressed—a mammoth in faith, but tiny in stature. Padre Pio dedicated his days endlessly to hearing confessions so that more of us could be saved and enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

In the United States, September is viewed as the start of fall by meteorologists, and thanks to the fact that the autumnal equinox takes place around the 22nd, astronomers also view it as such. The start of fall—wow! Here in uber-warm Florida, it is hard to imagine, but it is happening.

Fall is here, and with it come many changes in our surroundings. In many parts of the United States, people will begin to see temperatures change, and leaves will begin to show signs of changing color. Some will go from green to yellow, others from yellow to orange, and others from orange to red. This makes for a beautiful kaleidoscope of colors.

Just think: people could be looking up through the trees, and their view will change from day to day. Magical!

My sisters, there is so much we can change within our hearts, our homes, and our spiritual lives. Think of something in your life that you would like to “change colors” in. Maybe you want to pray more. Maybe you want to make time for Adoration. Maybe you want to pray 10 Hail Marys every Friday with your family.

Change does not have to happen overnight. The most significant changes are usually gradual, like the leaves. Think about it and pray about it. Each one of you is worthy of achieving whatever change will bring you closer to God.

As for the teacher in me, I have already made an acronym for my fall change—CRISP: Catholics Rise In Spiritual Prayer.

It may sound corny, but I am going to set my alarm five minutes earlier, stand at my bedside, and pray before I head to the kitchen to make breakfast. I make breakfast while listening to Hillsong, so I feel as though I am adoring; but as I was writing this newsletter and calling for change, I realized that I could improve upon this, too.

After all, my songs often get interrupted by a text or a “change order” in my cafeteria/kitchen. I think these five silent minutes with God will give me a gift that, day by day, may change the colors of the leaves of my spiritual life.

Sisters, I ask you to pray for me in my quest for CRISP, and I promise to pray for you and for whatever your heart is longing for.

I send you much love.

Yours in faith,

Estefania

Love like Mary. Trust like Mary. Pray like Mary.