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Here. At the Foot of the Cross.

Reflections on Faith, Hope & Love.

Love letters to the King...

Sarah Raad

Freelance Writer

When my little niece was born with a rare and severe congenital heart defect, we had no hope other than to prostrate ourselves at the Foot of the Cross and beg for prayers. Somehow, in the days and weeks and months that followed, by Grace and the Infinite Goodness of God, my faith, the size of a mustard seed grew into a tree. Now I pray that this faith, which is such a new and glorious gift for me, will shelter others and give them hope in the Goodness and Love of God.

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Work

I have found myself wondering over the years how many businessmen become Saints.

Sarah Raad

4 hours ago2 min read

Hidden

“Mary, teacher of the sacrifice that is hidden and silent! See her, nearly always in the background, co-operating with her Son; she knows, yet says nothing.” (Saint Josemaria, “The Way”, at 509).

Sarah Raad

1 day ago3 min read

Heavy

“The Cross is not pain, or annoyance, or bitterness. It is the holy wood on which Jesus Christ triumphs... and where we triumph too, when we receive what He sends us with cheerful and generous hearts.” (Saint Josemaria, “The Forge”, at 788).

Sarah Raad

2 days ago3 min read

Near

“Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.” (John 19:25).

Sarah Raad

3 days ago3 min read

Worth

My faith has made me strong enough and humble enough to trust in God whether He walks into my home or not!

Sarah Raad

5 days ago2 min read

Lukewarm

“All the graces that I pour out upon them flow off them as off the face of a rock. I cannot stand them, because they are neither good or bad.” (Saint Faustina, “Diary”, Entry 1702).

Sarah Raad

6 days ago3 min read

Time

For now, I must work – for I have no time to waste…

Sarah Raad

Dec 103 min read

Really

I have been thinking of that – that terrible suffering – as I have been reflecting that I really REALLY want to be a Saint!

Sarah Raad

Dec 93 min read

Interior

“I see clearly with the interior eye, that the sweet God loves with a pure love the creature that He has created, and has a hatred for nothing but sin, which is more opposed to Him than can be thought or imagined.” (Saint Catherine of Genoa).

Sarah Raad

Dec 83 min read

Temple

“‘‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’” (Matthew 21:14).

Sarah Raad

Dec 62 min read

Sensed

“Jesus looked at them and said, ‘For human beings this is impossible, but for God all things are possible.’” (Matthew 19:26).

Sarah Raad

Dec 53 min read

Darkness

If I died tomorrow, then that is because my death at that time and place would result in the best possible ETERNAL outcome for myself and my children and perhaps for a million billion other souls.(Matthew 19:26).

Sarah Raad

Dec 43 min read

Plentifully

God does not need to receive anything from me. But I need to give everything to Him.

Sarah Raad

Dec 33 min read

Company

“It is in the company of Jesus that you work for the glory of God.” (Saint John Baptist de la Salle).

Sarah Raad

Dec 23 min read

Acts

Those acts (exhausting as they are) are the tools of my love…

Sarah Raad

Dec 12 min read

Fortitude

“Fortitude is the moral virtue that ensures firmness in difficulties and constancy in the pursuit of the good.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, Paragraph 1808).

Sarah Raad

Nov 303 min read

Repent

There is a perfect example of humility given to me with love by the Father, and instead of repenting of my sins, I spend my days trying to justify them…(Catechism of the Catholic Church, Paragraph 1808).

Sarah Raad

Nov 293 min read

Regret

“Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin.” (Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta).

Sarah Raad

Nov 283 min read

Innocence

It is estimated that Saint Peter Claver personally baptised over three hundred thousand people.

Sarah Raad

Nov 272 min read

Stages

“There are in truth three states of the converted: the beginning, the middle, and the perfection. In the beginning they experience the charms of sweetness; in the middle the contests of temptation; and in the end the fullness of perfection.” (Pope Saint Gregory the Great).

Sarah Raad

Nov 263 min read

Tutor

“If then we have angels, let us be sober, as though we were in the presence of tutors; for there is a demon present also.” (Saint John Chrysostom).

Sarah Raad

Nov 253 min read

Traitor

“…who became a traitor.” (Luke 6:19).

Sarah Raad

Nov 243 min read

Bad

Whoever knew that all those little BAD things that I have been doing have created such a chasm between me and my God?

Sarah Raad

Nov 233 min read

Sickness

I have been blessed with this weakness of mine – more blessed than I could ever realise…

Sarah Raad

Nov 223 min read

Believe

“Then Jesus told him, ‘Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’” (John 20:29).

Sarah Raad

Nov 214 min read

Dignity

“It is the duty of every man to uphold the dignity of every woman.” (Pope Saint John Paul II).

Sarah Raad

Nov 203 min read

Word

“‘What is this word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.’” (Luke 4:37).

Sarah Raad

Nov 193 min read

Trying

“For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have more than enough. But from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.” (Matthew 25:29).

Sarah Raad

Nov 173 min read

Bishop

“‘I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other cities also; for I was sent for this purpose.’” (Luke 4:44).

Sarah Raad

Nov 173 min read

Moment

It takes a lifetime of preparation to be ready for the MOMENT that God asks to jump on the boat.

Sarah Raad

Nov 163 min read

Matching

“‘But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins’.” (Luke 5:33-39).

Sarah Raad

Nov 152 min read

Difference

“But some of the Pharisees said, ‘Why are you doing what is not lawful to do on the sabbath?’” (Luke 6:1-5).

Sarah Raad

Nov 143 min read

Symphony

“‘…I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’” (Matthew 25:30).

Sarah Raad

Nov 133 min read

Glad

Were it not for the mercy of God, I too – like Herod – would be martyring a Saint…

Sarah Raad

Nov 122 min read

Healing

Who is the Infinite Healer, capable of all things…?

Sarah Raad

Nov 112 min read

Pass

“And they rose up and put him out of the city, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw him down headlong. But passing through the midst of them he went away.” (Luke 4:30).

Sarah Raad

Nov 103 min read

Humility

“And Mary said, ‘My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour…’” (Luke 1:46-47).

Sarah Raad

Nov 92 min read

Tears

There is such beauty in pain – if only I had the faith to see it…

Sarah Raad

Nov 83 min read

Hope

I must have HOPE in the mercy of God.

Sarah Raad

Nov 72 min read

Seven

I must have HOPE in the mercy of God.

Sarah Raad

Nov 63 min read

Correction

Saint Paul the Apostle told the Corinthians, to “exhort one another”.

Sarah Raad

Nov 52 min read

Greatness

If I could see what I JUSTLY deserved – without the cover of INFINITE MERCY and FORGIVENESS and LOVE – I would die, instantly, of shame…

Sarah Raad

Nov 42 min read

Copy of Greatness

The queenship of the Blessed Virgin is established through her proximity to her Son…

Sarah Raad

Nov 33 min read

Tax

“The collectors of the half-shekel tax went up to Peter and said, ‘Does not your teacher pay the tax?’ He said, ‘Yes.’” (Matthew 17:22).

Sarah Raad

Nov 22 min read

Ingratitude

“Or do you begrudge my generosity?’ So the last will be first, and the first last.” (Matthew 20:16).

Sarah Raad

Nov 13 min read

Calm

“You need to think about your life calmly and without scruples, to ask for forgiveness.” (Saint Josemaria, “The Forge”, at 115).

Sarah Raad

Oct 314 min read

Purity

“This greatest male Saint who ever lived was not a deacon, not a priest, not a bishop, not a pope, not a hermit, not a monk… he was a husband, father, and a worker.” (Saint Josemaria).

Sarah Raad

Oct 303 min read