Life, Love, & Light: Reflections by Veronica Mary Rolf
In the FIRST SEASON of Life, Love, & Light podcasts, we explore the wisdom of the beloved fourteenth century mystic, Julian of Norwich, to discover how she may encourage, teach, and guide us during this pain-filled time of our lives. Julian received sixteen Revelations of Divine Love from Christ on the cross and set them down in the first book ever written in English by a woman. She is best known for the words she heard Christ speak to her: "All shall be well, and all shall be well, and thou shalt see thyself that all manner of thing shall be well." But there is so much more to learn from Julian’s Revelations—about the unconditional love and mercy of God, the nature of prayer, the Motherhood of God, and the ways in which Christ transforms all our sufferings into glory. Julian is our contemplative guide--especially since she knew so much about "sheltering in place" for over twenty-five years as an enclosed anchorite and living through four cycles of the Bubonic plague! Each week, we delve into one of Julian's sixteen Revelations and discover how it is directly related to the suffering, fear, plagues, and protests of our own time. Each segment also includes a Guided Meditation at the end. I invite you to make this “Virtual Retreat with Julian of Norwich" and I sincerely hope that Julian will inspire and reassure you, granting renewed hope and trust that "all shall be well."
To begin the "Julian of Norwich" season, scroll down to the first episode: "Sheltering in Place." SEE BELOW.
In the SECOND SEASON of Life, Love, & Light podcasts, we explore a fascinating variety of Biblical Mystics--the very mystics who inspired and guided Julian of Norwich, whose Revelations of Divine Love we explored during our First Season of podcasts. Indeed, mystics throughout the ages have always been steeped in and nurtured by the stories and characters of sacred Scripture. We meet men and women who faced major challenges and crises in their lives . . . made some really big mistakes . . . were forgiven . . . received mystical revelations . . . and then dared to act on those revelations. These biblical mystics were not ready made saints. They were ordinary and imperfect people just like us who hoped and struggled, questioned and doubted, and sometimes even despaired. They did not always make the right choices. But because they were willing to listen to divine guidance within and to learn from their mistakes, eventually, they were given the light and grace to follow the path that was revealed to them and to obey the call of God. I hope their stories will become powerful inspirations for you in your own times of crisis, fear, and uncertainty, and that these biblical mystics will become personal spiritual guides. Exploring the stories of biblical mystics may also help us recall and re-evaluate the ways in which God has spoken to us in the past . . . and is speaking to us right now.
For the "Biblical Mystics" Season, scroll down to the first episode: "Abram: Father of Faith." SEE BELOW.
In our THIRD SEASON of "Life, Love, & Light " podcasts, we explore "The Mystical Path." We discuss what is involved in following such a path – not only through the practice of contemplative prayer – but in every aspect of our daily lives. I also offer Guided Meditations at the end of each podcast. These are forms of meditation that great mystics of the past, both East and West, have promised can inform and radically transform our lives. I hope these meditations will enrich your own daily practice. In the first episode, we consider "What is Mysticism?" in its scriptural, liturgical, and contemplative dimensions. We define mysticism in psychological and personal terms and question when mystical life begins. In examining the course of our spiritual development, we realize that the deep yearning for a mystical life is the result of a profound "conversion" of heart. We want to experience that Christ is really here, now, with us – within us – on this path. More and more radically, we want to surrender – not out of desperation, but out of love. We choose to live now not our own lives, but his. Finally, we consider the signs of true mysticism and discover that Christian Mysticism is really not a path at all . . . but a profound love relationship with a person: the person of Jesus Christ.
For "The Mystical Path" Season scroll down to the first episode: "What is Mysticism? SEE BELOW.
In the FOURTH SEASON of Life, Love, & Light podcasts, we delve into the all-important but rarely discussed topic of Resurrection, based on my recent award winning book, Living Resurrected Lives: What it Means and Why it Matters, co-authored by my daughter, Eva Natanya, PhD. In the first episode -- entitled What is Resurrection? -- we consider ancient Greek, Roman, Egyptian, and Hebrew ideas about the afterlife: what it was, what it was not. Then we examine biblical references to life after death in the psalms, prophets, apocalyptic literature, and the Book of Wisdom. In the process, we discover that faith in the resurrection of the body and soul of the whole person to new life after death was based not on human merits or worthiness, but rather on the goodness and steadfastness of Yahweh. Hope in the eventual triumph of divine life over human death was grounded in the certainty that the Creator is all-powerful. What God creates, God can and will redeem and recreate. Sin and death have no hold over Yahweh. Future podcasts will closely examine the four biblical accounts of Christ's resurrection to discover the bedrock of Christian belief in bodily resurrection. We will also consider how we may begin living resurrected lives even now, as sons and daughters of the resurrection.
Please let your friends know about this new season of Life, Love, & Light podcasts. At this time of great disharmony, fear, crisis, and suffering in our world, one thing remains certain: The love of God is everlasting.
NOTE: The podcasts may be listened to on this website or downloaded from Apple and Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Pandora, iHeartRadio, Amazon, and a host of other directories, as well as on https://lifelovelight.buzzsprout.com/.
Be sure to click SUBSCRIBE or FOLLOW to receive Notifications of new podcasts.
PLEASE SHARE these podcasts with your family and friends who may be seeking the Lord’s will in their own lives, or who may be full of doubts about their path, or who may need to be reminded that the Lord speaks to us through our own circumstances . . . at every stage of our spiritual journey.
Also: Visit my new "dedicated" podcast website: https://www.lifelovelightpodcast.com/ https
And if you wish to make a Donation to support the preparation, recording, and cost of maintaining the websites for these free podcasts, I would be very grateful. (And when you see Donate to "Roni," that's short for VeRONIca.) Thanks so much!
In the FIRST SEASON of Life, Love, & Light podcasts, we explore the wisdom of the beloved fourteenth century mystic, Julian of Norwich, to discover how she may encourage, teach, and guide us during this pain-filled time of our lives. Julian received sixteen Revelations of Divine Love from Christ on the cross and set them down in the first book ever written in English by a woman. She is best known for the words she heard Christ speak to her: "All shall be well, and all shall be well, and thou shalt see thyself that all manner of thing shall be well." But there is so much more to learn from Julian’s Revelations—about the unconditional love and mercy of God, the nature of prayer, the Motherhood of God, and the ways in which Christ transforms all our sufferings into glory. Julian is our contemplative guide--especially since she knew so much about "sheltering in place" for over twenty-five years as an enclosed anchorite and living through four cycles of the Bubonic plague! Each week, we delve into one of Julian's sixteen Revelations and discover how it is directly related to the suffering, fear, plagues, and protests of our own time. Each segment also includes a Guided Meditation at the end. I invite you to make this “Virtual Retreat with Julian of Norwich" and I sincerely hope that Julian will inspire and reassure you, granting renewed hope and trust that "all shall be well."
To begin the "Julian of Norwich" season, scroll down to the first episode: "Sheltering in Place." SEE BELOW.
In the SECOND SEASON of Life, Love, & Light podcasts, we explore a fascinating variety of Biblical Mystics--the very mystics who inspired and guided Julian of Norwich, whose Revelations of Divine Love we explored during our First Season of podcasts. Indeed, mystics throughout the ages have always been steeped in and nurtured by the stories and characters of sacred Scripture. We meet men and women who faced major challenges and crises in their lives . . . made some really big mistakes . . . were forgiven . . . received mystical revelations . . . and then dared to act on those revelations. These biblical mystics were not ready made saints. They were ordinary and imperfect people just like us who hoped and struggled, questioned and doubted, and sometimes even despaired. They did not always make the right choices. But because they were willing to listen to divine guidance within and to learn from their mistakes, eventually, they were given the light and grace to follow the path that was revealed to them and to obey the call of God. I hope their stories will become powerful inspirations for you in your own times of crisis, fear, and uncertainty, and that these biblical mystics will become personal spiritual guides. Exploring the stories of biblical mystics may also help us recall and re-evaluate the ways in which God has spoken to us in the past . . . and is speaking to us right now.
For the "Biblical Mystics" Season, scroll down to the first episode: "Abram: Father of Faith." SEE BELOW.
In our THIRD SEASON of "Life, Love, & Light " podcasts, we explore "The Mystical Path." We discuss what is involved in following such a path – not only through the practice of contemplative prayer – but in every aspect of our daily lives. I also offer Guided Meditations at the end of each podcast. These are forms of meditation that great mystics of the past, both East and West, have promised can inform and radically transform our lives. I hope these meditations will enrich your own daily practice. In the first episode, we consider "What is Mysticism?" in its scriptural, liturgical, and contemplative dimensions. We define mysticism in psychological and personal terms and question when mystical life begins. In examining the course of our spiritual development, we realize that the deep yearning for a mystical life is the result of a profound "conversion" of heart. We want to experience that Christ is really here, now, with us – within us – on this path. More and more radically, we want to surrender – not out of desperation, but out of love. We choose to live now not our own lives, but his. Finally, we consider the signs of true mysticism and discover that Christian Mysticism is really not a path at all . . . but a profound love relationship with a person: the person of Jesus Christ.
For "The Mystical Path" Season scroll down to the first episode: "What is Mysticism? SEE BELOW.
In the FOURTH SEASON of Life, Love, & Light podcasts, we delve into the all-important but rarely discussed topic of Resurrection, based on my recent award winning book, Living Resurrected Lives: What it Means and Why it Matters, co-authored by my daughter, Eva Natanya, PhD. In the first episode -- entitled What is Resurrection? -- we consider ancient Greek, Roman, Egyptian, and Hebrew ideas about the afterlife: what it was, what it was not. Then we examine biblical references to life after death in the psalms, prophets, apocalyptic literature, and the Book of Wisdom. In the process, we discover that faith in the resurrection of the body and soul of the whole person to new life after death was based not on human merits or worthiness, but rather on the goodness and steadfastness of Yahweh. Hope in the eventual triumph of divine life over human death was grounded in the certainty that the Creator is all-powerful. What God creates, God can and will redeem and recreate. Sin and death have no hold over Yahweh. Future podcasts will closely examine the four biblical accounts of Christ's resurrection to discover the bedrock of Christian belief in bodily resurrection. We will also consider how we may begin living resurrected lives even now, as sons and daughters of the resurrection.
Please let your friends know about this new season of Life, Love, & Light podcasts. At this time of great disharmony, fear, crisis, and suffering in our world, one thing remains certain: The love of God is everlasting.
NOTE: The podcasts may be listened to on this website or downloaded from Apple and Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Pandora, iHeartRadio, Amazon, and a host of other directories, as well as on https://lifelovelight.buzzsprout.com/.
Be sure to click SUBSCRIBE or FOLLOW to receive Notifications of new podcasts.
PLEASE SHARE these podcasts with your family and friends who may be seeking the Lord’s will in their own lives, or who may be full of doubts about their path, or who may need to be reminded that the Lord speaks to us through our own circumstances . . . at every stage of our spiritual journey.
Also: Visit my new "dedicated" podcast website: https://www.lifelovelightpodcast.com/ https
And if you wish to make a Donation to support the preparation, recording, and cost of maintaining the websites for these free podcasts, I would be very grateful. (And when you see Donate to "Roni," that's short for VeRONIca.) Thanks so much!