Tag Archives: Catholic

*FAITH, Reviews

All about “Hallow”

Hallow. It’s another term for holy.

These days, Hallow is also the #1 prayer app in the world that helps Catholic Christians, like me, to connect with God despite being busy and whatnot.

I’ve been a Hallow user (I even paid for an annual subscription!) since 2022, that’s why I’m thrilled to announce that I’ve partnered with them just this month in “influencing” others to learn more about the faith and strengthen prayer lives. 🙂

I live in the Philippines — a predominantly Catholic country — but to be honest, it’s sad to say that the Catholic Christian faith has been taken for granted by most Filipinos, especially by the new generation. I mean don’t get me wrong, most of us are “Cradle Catholics” (born and raised with the faith) who eventually became “Cafeteria Catholics” (those who just choose to follow the teachings of the Church that suit them), and I guess it’s part of human nature to “ignore” something that has been bombarded to us since time immemorial. As they say, we never know the true value of something until it’s gone… or until we hit rock bottom.

Which is exactly what happened to me.

Sure, I went to Catholic schools from elementary to college, but I’ve nurtured my faith more outside the four walls of the classroom. I experienced God firsthand through my fair share of “rock bottoms” in life and it was only Him that sustained me through it all. That’s why faith is such a sensitive topic because more than being taught, it’s something to be experienced — which is unique for each person. I mean, for example, you can tell me all the wrong things you can think about Catholicism but I’ll just listen and move on because all the good things about it have been ingrained in my heart and mind because of my unique experience.

And no, I’m not perfect, I’m still a sinner who needs God’s grace and mercy every single day, heck I still don’t get to pray the rosary daily (the struggle is real, my friends!). That’s why it’s really refreshing to have faith-based apps like Hallow because it’s as simple as clicking a button and being reminded that I’m not alone in this journey.

Having said that, what do I really love about Hallow? Well, personally, these are what I use the app for:

PRAYERS – As mentioned, I struggle to pray the rosary every day. I know how powerful it is (during an exorcism, Satan admitted that each Hail Mary is a blow to his head — so imagine if we all pray the rosary! That’s why I can also imagine why it’s such a struggle to do so — there’s spiritual oppression in the background!). With Hallow, I just go to their Daily Rosary section, then choose a guide and length (I usually choose Jonathan Roumie who played Jesus in The Chosen series and the shortest option which is 18 minutes; I also include the “Light Piano” background music which is also an option in the app).

Aside from the rosary, it’s also now easier for me to pray the Divine Mercy chaplet as well as novenas because of one click of a button through Hallow!

COURSES – Similar to podcasts, Hallow also has a vast collection of exclusive audio series or courses you can listen to. The ones I already tried are Feminine Genius by Lisa Cotter and Routines Course by Leah Darrow.

MUSIC – Oh yes, there’s also Christian music in the Hallow app! From Gregorian chants and instrumental music to beautiful worship songs, you can explore Hallow‘s different playlists to incorporate in your day. My favorite track to listen to so far is Adoro Te Devote by Matt Maher.

AUDIOBOOKS – Some books written by Saints are quite long and to be honest, hard to read. So it’s good to have the audiobook versions of classics like Story of A Soul by St. Therese of Lisieux (narrated by Sr. Orianne) in Hallow.

I hope they also include audiobook versions of Confessions by St. Augustine of Hippo and Divine Mercy in My Soul a.k.a. Diary of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska soon! *hint, hint*

BIBLE – One of the main tabs in the app, the entire Catholic Bible can be accessed and read in Hallow (my favorite translation is NABRE). There’s also the Daily Readings section which is supplemented by an audio version of the readings and a reflection for further listening.

COMMUNITY – You can also create groups in Hallow. Similar to other messaging apps, you can create a group with certain people who also use Hallow. Once you create or join a group, you can then exchange messages and prayer requests, as well as reflections and sessions in the app you’ve completed.

Currenly, I’m part of Catholic Woman Daily (CWD) created by my friend and fellow sister in Christ, Carissa Roque-Magbiray — for my other fellow females out there who want to grow in their Catholic faith, I highly suggest you join us by using this group code: M31RP6. But first, you gotta download Hallow for free! ❤

CHALLENGES – Ah, one of the things I look forward to during the seasons of Advent and Lent — Hallow‘s prayer challenges! Ever since I started using Hallow two years ago, I’ve never missed joining one!

The current challenge as of this writing is called Lent Pray40: He Leadeth Me. It started on Ash Wednesday, but it’s not yet too late to join this! You can start by trying Hallow here. 😉

❤

So if you don’t have Hallow in your apps yet, this is your sign to download it. Haha! Seriously, though, it can make wonders for your faith life just as it did to mine.

And if you’re already a fellow Hallow user, maybe you can share some of the things you also love about Hallow. ‘Cause why not!

Kaya tara, dasal tayo! 🙂
#StayPrayedUp

TO GOD BE THE GLORY ALWAYS AND FOREVER!

❤

“for we walk by faith, not by sight.”
-2 Corinthians 5:7

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*FAITH

Apps for Our Faith Journey

With New Year comes resolutions and whatnot. It’s almost the end of January, how are your resolutions so far? I pray that you keep going and that on top of being physically healthy, we also strive to be spiritually strong too! 😉

Based on my experience, using apps to help me in my faith journey as a practicing Roman Catholic proved to be one of the advantages of our technology today. Being “busy” isn’t an excuse to put our faith at the back burner; in fact, the busier we get, the more we need to be intentional in carving out time with God because it’s not about not having enough time but about making time.

So if you’re wondering how to do that, you can start by playing the rosary or reading the Bible and more through one of these apps:

Ascencion app – The app of Ascension Press, here you can read the Bible as well as listen to podcasts. What I love about it is it has The Great Adventure Catholic Bible — the easiest way to learn about God’s Word, at least for me. 🙂 There’s a paid version monthly or annually to unlock some of the features, though.

Formed app – It’s basically like Netflix but purely with videos that’s all about the Catholic faith! Most of their content is produced by the Augustine Institute and it has a monthly or annual subscription option too.

Hallow app – Claiming as the “#1 prayer app in the world”, it’s no wonder because Hallow has “premium” content that offers a lot of options for its users. It also collaborates with artists such as Jonathan Roumie who played Jesus in The Chosen series, Mark Wahlberg, even Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle plus more! It has a free trial version for three months, then you can choose to continue by subscribing either monthly or annually.

Laudate app – This app is my go-to when I need to look for prayers and am too lazy to do a Google search. Haha. Seriously, I also love that it allows me to bookmark certain prayers, so it’s easier for me to just pray them when I prefer reading over listening. It’s free, too!

Tabella app – This is a FREE app for all your Catholic podcasts, prayers, etc. As in it doesn’t have a subscription fee, but I noticed that it’s purely streaming and offline downloads aren’t available. Still, if you don’t want to pay but want to have an app for all your faith needs, then this is the one for you!

The Feast app – This is my favorite among all the apps listed here! Save the best for last, no? Call me biased or not but as someone who’s been part of The Feast family since I was 14 years old (I started in the youth ministry), reading the devotionals, Companion / Didache / Sabbath, has been somewhat my own tradition and having them on an app has made things easier for me to keep up with them daily! This also has free and paid versions, but I suggest you go with the latter because it allows you to read a book by Bro. Bo Sanchez EVERY MONTH through the Growth Plans. And since it’s part of The Feast media arm, a portion of your subscription goes to The Feast Mercy Ministries too. Win-win!

For the record, I’m not paid for endorsing the aforementioned apps. They are apps that I use during my personal time and my observations are purely based on my experience. No more, no less.

I pray that this new year, whether or not you use these apps, you finally get to renew your relationship with God if not get closer. 🙂

TO GOD BE THE GLORY ALWAYS AND FOREVER!

❤

“Your word is a lamp for my feet,
    a light for my path.”
-Psalm 119:105

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FIAT & FAITH: Women Who Embody the "Feminine Genius"

FIAT & FAITH: Nour’s HeartBREAKTHROUGH Story

In today’s secular world, being a “woman of faith” and making it known (all for God’s glory) is no easy feat. I’ve known this month’s featured “female genius” (she’s actually my best friend! LOL) for several years now and I’m glad to say I saw how her faith journey developed (and continues to do so), the same way she witnessed mine.

Her name’s Nour. And here’s her story on how her faith helped turn her heartbreak into a breakthrough…

When I asked her when her “conversion” happened (as in her faith journey on how she became a devout and practicing Catholic/follower of Christ), she shared, “I grew up and was raised in a Catholic family. Attending Sunday Mass was a routine. There was a time in my life when it got boring. My mom is an active servant of the Lord in our church. I was secretly admiring yet curious where she’s getting all the fire in her heart. Until I heard myself telling God, ‘I want to know you more.’ It was a whisper within me but God heard it loud and clear.

“A failed (romantic) relationship left me devastated and broken. Little did I know that the cracks in my heart is where God’s light will shine. I finally decided to attend a Catholic charismatic community named Light of Jesus (LOJ), it has a weekly prayer meeting/gathering called The Feast. There, we pray, worship, and get free spiritual talks. It’s Sunday Mass done with a fun twist! But that was just the start. I can say that my faith journey was not a walk in the park. My relationship with Christ was one roller coaster ride. Eventually, God made a way for my stubborn heart to finally say yes in attending a Jesus Encounter retreat (facilitated by LOJ, too). In that retreat, I literally encountered Jesus. I encountered His love for me. Countless times, my belief was shaken, but God’s love remained unshakeable. That’s when I finally realized that it is no longer about how much I love Him but being still and knowing that I am loved.

“…it is no longer about how much I love Him but being still and knowing that I am loved”

“His Love changed my heart in every way possible. Today, I am still a work in progress. I stumble, I fall, I am imperfect. But God has made Himself known to me. In Exodus 3:14, it says ‘I am who I am’. He did not say ‘I was’ or ‘I will be’. He is not just a God of my past or my future. But He is a God of my present and all the seasons of my life.

“So, thank God for my mom! Indeed, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. My mom and I now share the same heart for Christ.”

ON BEING CATHOLIC AND PROUD

With all the struggles she has been through, including in her faith life, Nour is proud to be Catholic (just like me! Hehe!). When asked why the Catholic faith, she answered, “I believe in the Old Testament. There is a saying that the old is gone and the new has come; but the old is never gone. Because like our past, we don’t hold on to it, we learn from it. The ‘new’ would not exist without the ‘old.’ There will never be a plant without the soil. I came to understand Jesus in the ‘new’ through understanding the ‘old’ — the ‘old’ where my Heavenly Father has revealed Himself to me: strict, a disciplinarian, but also tender and loving. The Catholic Faith is rich in so many ways. The priests, the Sacraments (especially confession), the Saints, the love for Mama Mary, the Holy Rosary, and the Mass.

“Before there were prophets and kings, priests were the first messengers of God’s Word to the world, just like when He first chose Aaron to be the first priest because Moses stuttered.

“Then there’s the conventional celebration of the Catholic Mass; it is a divine appointment. To me, it is a weekly renewal of faith and a reminder of the salvation of the world and glorification to the Father. It is heartwarming knowing that God the Father speaks through the first reading, the Holy Spirit in the second reading, and Jesus in the Gospel. Wow, right? And of course, the consecration of the Holy Eucharist. Isn’t it amazing to be invited to witness God’s miracle with the bread and wine every single week? There is power every time the priest lifts the bread and says ‘this is no longer bread’ but ‘this is the body of Christ.’ The consecration and the power of the spirit are real and mind blowing! I am reminded that we are more in need of the bread of life instead of the food that perishes. When I took time to study the Catholic faith and how things work, I have never looked at the Holy Mass the same way again.

“…I took time to study the Catholic faith”

“Lastly, the Saints — I love them! They are my heavenly barkada [group of friends]. Saints are our helpers. And for me, it is good practice to humble ourselves and admit that we need help and prayers. This includes my heart for Mama Mary and the Holy Rosary. She has been a big part of the woman I am and thriving to become.”

Her favorite Saints include St. Jude Thaddeus, St. Benedict of Nursia, St. Pio of Pietrelcina, and of course, Mama Mary — the ultimate intercessor and example of the feminine genius. Nour believes that we don’t choose our Saints, rather, they choose us. “During trials, they show up through ways I never realized possible. They speak protection and hope in my heart.”

a sneak peek into Nour‘s personal altar [note: “Bambini” figurines are available at St Pauls stores nationwide.]

Having said that, it’s also no surprise that Nour reads the Bible! After all, it was St. Jerome (a Catholic Saint!) who once said, “Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ.” Her favorite verse is Jeremiah 29:11,

“For I know well the plans I have in mind for you — oracle of the Lord — plans for your welfare and not for woe, so as to give you a future of hope.”

She mentioned that this verse has spoken to her in so many ways. Then, another verse from the same book eventually led its way to her heart, thanks to the Holy Spirit:

“When you look for me, you will find me. Yes, when you seek me with all your heart,”
-Jeremiah 29:13

Nour said, “It made me believe in the power to intentionally seek Him with all of me. And today, this is where I found His plan for me. No matter what season I am in, I am comfortable, contented, joyous, and living in peace. Remember, if your story is not yet good, then it is not the end. He is faithful to His promise.”

SINGLE AND BASKING IN GOD’S LOVE

As of this writing, Nour‘s making the most out of her current life season as a single woman. “I am single and I am 35. Some say it is late, some say it is a curse, some say it is better. I can either frown and sink into the world’s standards, or believe that delays are not denials but only God’s timing. I believe that all seasons are temporary, including our life here on earth. I am not in this season alone because I am in a ‘dating’ season with God —- enjoying and immersing myself in an intimate relationship with Him through studying His word, praying, journaling, reading spiritual books, committing myself to journey with my fellow women in need of God’s mercy, and practicing daily life with a heart like Jesus’. Is it easy? No. It is challenging just like any relationship. But my life has never been fulfilling and joyful as it is today. I learned to rest my personal desires on His hand, trusting and hoping in obedience to Him.

“So to all my fellow single women out there, learn to submit yourself to God because only His love will teach us to submit to our future husbands.” I say amen to that! 😉

Aside from single women, what advice can she give to fellow Catholics struggling with their faith? “The Catholic mass is a form of God’s grace but the Catholic faith doesn’t start and end there. God blessed us with free will. Pray to God that He may give you the will, way, and wisdom to read and understand the Bible. This is your ‘manual,’ your ‘handbook’ in life. Know that even the most expensive gadget has a manual for us to know how to use it. This is exactly my journey in reading God’s Word. I randomly catch myself saying ‘I should have known this earlier in my life.’ Being a woman and mastering my self-worth has been quite a journey. With mercy and grace, God led me to His Word. I have known myself better through knowing my Creator. The Bible is the most treasured gift the world has and my prayer is more people would really take the time to read it. It is God’s love for us — never forced, freely given, and always available.

“Remember that you are created in His image and likeness. You are amazing as He is! So spread the good news.”

❤

Check out Nour‘s Youtube vlog channel HERE and continue to be inspired
(and laugh out loud at times! Haha!)

Here’s one she made for my wedding (as in we played it while guests were waiting during the reception!) 😛 ENJOOOY!

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For more about the “Fiat & Faith” blog series, click HERE.

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