Passion of Hope

Can The Bible Teach Us to Date? Part I

Julieanne Bartlett September 29, 2020 0 Comments

When I was in my mid-thirties, I started to seek God seriously regarding this marriage issue. I realized that God really did desire marriage for me, however, he was not going to just plant a spouse on my door and say, “Marry this one!” I was going to have to put myself out there and date. This truly was a stretch for me, pushing the limits of my emotional, physical, and social comfort...

The Blessed Virgin Mary Loves Marriage, Too

Julieanne Bartlett August 29, 2020 6 Comments

When I was single, I desperately prayed for a spouse. I prayed individual prayers and I prayed novenas. I asked St. Jude and St. Rita to intercede for me because I believed my situation was so hopeless and impossible. I prayed novenas to St. Martha and to St. Therese the Little Flower, as I was moved and encouraged by each of their stories. I also sought the assistance of St. Raphael the...

Prolonged Singleness: Are you Stuck in the Single State?

Julieanne Bartlett July 28, 2020 4 Comments

When I was in my mid-thirties and still single, I seriously started to seek God about this marriage issue. I think it was partly because I had just come out of a relationship and was confused as to why it did not work out. Also, I realized there had to be an answer: Did God want people to be married or not? Were some people called by God to just be single? If someone desired marriage and prayed...

Bible Study: Book of Acts!

Julieanne Bartlett July 27, 2020 2 Comments

Right from your own home! I’d like to introduce you to Deanna Bartalini, a speaker, write and retreat leader who loves scripture and the faith. In January, she began an online platform, Inform, Engage, Inspire, a place to gather and learn about the faith. What is Inform, Engage, Inspire? It is an online community of people interested in learning more about the Catholic faith. I have webinars...

No Wedding Song

Julieanne Bartlett June 15, 2020 0 Comments

I married my husband, Seth, at the age of 42. Before we met, I was very afraid that I would never marry. Do you desire marriage but have yet to see it fulfilled? If so, I want to encourage you. You are not alone regarding this desire. God created us this way, to be married. Both men and women are relational beings and God designed us with a communal yearning. In Genesis 2:18-25, it...

May 2020 Blog Post

Julieanne Bartlett May 31, 2020 2 Comments

I apologize that I was not able to write a blog post for the month of May as my father passed away. "For to me life is Christ and death is gain" -Philippians 1:21

God Loves Marriage: How Come? Part III

Julieanne Bartlett April 28, 2020 0 Comments

The wedding feast of the Lamb. It is the ultimate repast, the climax of our faith, what the faithful look forward to when this world is over. Revelation 19:5-9 describes it as follows: “Then there came from the throne the sound of a voice, saying, “Praise our God, all his servants and all people, both great and small, who have reverence for him!” Then I heard what sounded like a crowd,...

God Loves Marriage: How Come? Part II

Julieanne Bartlett March 20, 2020 0 Comments

St. Paul writes to the church in Ephesians Chapter 5, addressing the relationship between a husband and wife. He goes on to compare the relationship between a husband and a wife – marriage – to the relationship between Christ and his church. Let’s take a deep dive into the entire scripture passage: "Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave his life for it....

God Loves Marriage: How Come? Part I

Julieanne Bartlett February 15, 2020 0 Comments

We know that marriage is important to God because the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) indicates that it has been given the dignity of a sacrament by Jesus Christ (§1601). In addition, throughout scripture marriage is referred to not only as having its own significance, but as mirroring the relationship between Christ, the bridegroom and his church, the bride (see Ephesians 5:21-23). I...

Desiring Marriage: What Are We Really Talking About Here?

Julieanne Bartlett January 20, 2020 0 Comments

Desiring Marriage: Just What Are We Really Talking About Here? I believe that most of us desire marriage. I also believe this desire is good and right and God-given. Having struggled into my early forties to see my own desire for marriage fulfilled, I want to encourage others that hope can be found. As such, I think it would be a good idea to discuss what I mean when I use the word...

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