Have you ever read a book that stopped you in your tracks? A book that provided clarity and yet made you question past and present decisions? Even a book that left you with more questions and a greater yearning for truth than when you started?
This was my recent experience after reading “Spiritual Warfare Q&A” by Dr. Dan Schneider and Jesse Romero. I underlined, Googled, texted my spiritual director, spoke extensively with my husband and prayed continuously about the topics in this book during and after reading this book. It was that impactful!
Written in question-and-answer form, this book outlines topics such as exorcisms, deliverance ministry, the laying on of hands during prayer ministry, the occult, magic, horror films, yoga, haunted houses, Freemasonry, and much more.
It is well researched and filled with anecdotes from real exorcisms. However, the book is not meant to glorify the work of the enemy, but to give readers a clear understanding of the reality of the spiritual realm and the battle for our souls.
I know that might sound dramatic, but if you have ever been involved in any form of healing and deliverance prayer ministry or plan to be, I recommend you read this book. It will challenge what you know, enlighten you on what you may not know, and will leave you wanting to learn more.
Dr. Schneider is a wealth of knowledge on these topics, and it was a joy to speak with him about this book. He regularly assists with exorcisms and is a founding member of Liber Christo, a movement in conjunction with Fr. Chad Ripperger, SMD which provides tools and resources for priests and laity working in the apostolate of exorcism.
I’ll be honest, I’m still processing what I read in this book and discerning next steps and will continue to take it all to prayer. But this episode is for you if you want to learn more about the:
Role of authority in spiritual warfare
How to pray for healing (prudently)
Importance of spiritual order in the home
Power of the priesthood and the anointed hands of a priest
Impact of mental prayer on spiritual combat
Episode Resources:
Did you know you can also watch this episode on YouTube? Visit: https://www.youtube.com/@fiatcareercoaching.
To connect with Valentina, visit https://fiatcareercoaching.com/.
“Live in the mess.”
This is my favorite lines from my conversation with Jamie McAleer, the author of the new book, "I Will Come to You: A Story of Adoption and the Relentless Love of God”.
The book chronicles Jamie and her husband Jack’s journey to adopt their third child, Alexender, from Russia.
It is a journey filled with twists and turns and many steps forward and backwards. I love Jamie’s honest sharing of her struggles to trust God in the process and how her faith was stretched throughout the experience.
It is a heart-warming and encouraging read that will leave you feeling desired, chosen, wanted and loved by God.
One fun fact that plays into the story is that Jamie and her husband Jack were major players in the growth of the Krispy Kreme dynasty! I won’t be mad if you feel like eating a donut after reading this book ;).
Speaking to Jamie felt like sitting down to a warm cup of coffee with my grandmother.
I think you’ll find her endearing and a pleasure to listen to.
To connect with Valentina, visit: https://fiatcareercoaching.com/
I don’t know your situation as you read this, whether you’re in good health or in poor. Whether you’re overflowing with peace or barely getting through the day.
Wherever you find yourself, I want you know that Jesus is with you. I’ve seen broken bones restored, shortened legs extended, vertigo lifted, and painful memories healed. Not just once, but over and over again.
I’ve also experienced when physical healing doesn’t happen, even after many prayers and much time has passed. It is hard to wrestle with that and understandable to question where God is in the midst of that.
I had the supreme privilege of speaking with bestselling author and international speaker, Dr. Mary Healy about this topic of healing. Dr. Healy is a Professor of Scripture at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit and a woman I greatly admire!
She has a gift of preaching the Gospel in relatable ways and desires to bring everyone into a deep encounter with Christ.
In this episode we spoke about:
How to experience more of the power of the Holy Spirit in your life
Modern miracles and healings
The purpose of healing
Be sure to listen to the end where Dr. Healy prays for healing for all listeners. If you receive a healing after the prayer, please send me an email (valentina@fiatcareercoaching.com) so we can celebrate your healing!To learn more about Dr. Healy, visit https://www.drmaryhealy.com/.
To connect with Valentina, visit https://fiatcareercoaching.com/.
Exercising on a consistent basis is hard. For years I’ve told myself that I couldn’t possibly squeeze in any time to exercise while juggling life as a stay-at-home-mom to an active two-year old and managing our home and small business.
Plus, I reasoned, isn’t going up and down the stairs with a load of laundry considered cardio? Or hauling our son in and out of his car seat resistance training? Alas, the answer is no. I’ve come to see that I need to prioritize my physical health and the more I make it a priority the greater the ripple effects.
I’ve noticed the days that I run, I am more energized throughout the day, I have increased patience and charity, and I carry a spirit of gratitude during my time of prayer.
This is why I was so thrilled to read Chase Crouse and Dan Burke’s new book, “The God of Endurance: A Practical Guide for Incorporating Exercise and Nutrition into your Spiritual Journey”.
This very concrete book demystifies how to build a solid exercise routine that you can actually stick to and enjoy, the science behind building muscle and losing fat, and why taking care of the body God gave you is actually good for your soul.
It was fun speaking with Chase about what led him to start his company Hypuro Fit and what led him to integrate Theology of the Body with fitness.
So, tune into this episode if you want to learn more about:
The best kind of food to fuel your body
How exercising can help you combat habitual sin
What happens to your muscles after age 40
Why sleep is critical when trying to build muscle
I highly recommend this book if you’re looking for a reset on exercising or if you could use some ideas on how to improve your current exercising routine.This post includes affiliate links. If you buy through these links, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. However, please note that I only recommend books or programs that I personally believe in and have had made an impact on me.
- To purchase the book visit: https://sophiainstitute.com/product/the-god-of-endurance/?oid=784&affid=188
- Visit Chase's website: https://www.hypurofit.org/
- To connect with Valentina, visit: https://fiatcareercoaching.com/
Many women I know have at one time or another felt at odds with their bodies.
Whether it has done things we wish it wouldn’t do, like get too wide or too thin, or presented symptoms we didn’t understand, our bodies oftentimes feel like a mystery.
I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Leanne Jarvis who is on a mission to equip every woman with the knowledge, community, and natural care she needs to live her dignity fully so she can flourish in her body.
Leanne is a certified fertility awareness and hormone coach and is the founder of RoseFem, where she provides holistic, science-based solutions for every stage of a woman’s reproductive journey, from adolescent to the post-menopausal years.
In this episode we dive into the world of women’s wellness, as Leanne describes why it’s important to understand our hormonal cycles, the effect of stress on our bodies, and how to have a greater appreciation for our body.
Although this episode is geared towards women, we talk about the invaluable role that men have in these discussions as they support their spouses, sisters or female friends along this journey.
You can watch this episode on YouTube or listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
Resources Mentioned Today:
To connect with Valentina, visit https://fiatcareercoaching.com/.
You are called to be a saint.
You are not called to be a saint like Thomas Aquinas or Mary Magdelene, but you are called to be you, uniquely you.
I write this, and yet I sometimes fall into the trap of reading the lives of the saints or of some holy person and thinking, “Well, I can’t fast 10 hours a day like that person,” or “My perfectionism and natural playfulness is out of place in the spiritual life.”
And yet, I am reminded after conversations like this one with Rosemary McGuire Berry that God uses the messy and brilliant aspects of our nature to make as holy. Our weaknesses are not a hinderance to our holiness, but stepping stones to encountering Him.
Rosemary is the author of a new book titled, “Piety and Personality: The Temperaments of the Saints”. In it she shares stories of common and not-so-common saints who wrestled with aspects of their personality and used it all for the glory of God.
Tune into this episode if you’re curious about:
The 4 temperament styles and what yours might be
Why understanding the temperament styles of others might help improve your relationships
How each temperament style can overcome depression
Why joy is so important
To connect with Rosemary, visit her Substack: Tea, Talk & Tattered Pages: https://www.RosemaryMcGuireBerry.substack.com
Or follow her on Instagram @rosemary.writer.
To connect with Valentina, visit Fiat Career Coaching, LLC.
One person whom I would love to meet one day in heaven is Nathan Raun.
He was a 13-year-old boy from Lincoln, Nebraska who died of brain cancer in 1998. He loved sports and God and had a natural sense of humor that put others at ease.
Although Nathan died over 27 years ago, many people, (me included), have been recipients of answered prayers through his intercession in heaven.
I had the honor of speaking with his mother, Teresa Raun, whose mission is to share Nathan’s inspiring story with the world.
In this episode, Teresa shares about Nathan’s 10-month journey through cancer and the many miraculous stories of people whose lives he has changed, many years after his death.
To connect with Valentina, visit Fiat Career Coaching, LLC.
What can a 15-year-old videogame loving Italian boy teach us about living and dying well?
That was my question when I began reading the book, “God's Influencer: Holy Advice from St. Carlo Acutis,” by Andrea Acutis and Antonia Salzano, the parents of Carlo.
I began the book skeptical as to how I could possibly learn from him (prideful I know), to getting a few pages into the book and realizing the tremendous gift and example of Carlo’s life.
He was a humble and normal athletic boy who was in love with God. He was compassionate towards the poor, an effective and natural evangelizer, and someone I hope our son can one day emulate.
Reading his journal entries and various accounts of his life from his parents helped me to see why he is considered by many to be “the greatest saint of the century,” and why he was nicknamed “a Thomas Aquinas in blue jeans.”
I had the great joy of speaking with author Mary Beth Bracy, about the book and to share the stories that most touched us about his life.
If you would like to learn:
How to grow in sanctity one day at a time
How to guide your kids or friends to heaven
Why the Eucharist is so integral to our faith
Why Carlo Acutis is a boy worth emulating
Then this episode is for you.
To connect with Valentina, visit Fiat Career Coaching, LLC.
What if I told you that it was possible to experience the sacraments in a deeper way? That the sacraments of baptism and holy communion could heal deep-seated wounds of rejection or abandonment respectively?
My guest for today is, Dr. Bob Schuchts, author of the book, “Be Transformed: The Healing Power of the Sacraments,” and founder of the John Paul II Healing Center in Tallahassee, Florida.
In his book, Dr. Bob provides insight into how each of the seven sacraments (baptism, holy communion, confirmation, holy orders, matrimony, reconciliation, and the anointing of the sick) heal specific wounds we all face.
These wounds of rejection, abandonment, powerlessness, confusion, fear, shame, or hopelessness hinder us from recognizing our true identity and block us from living out our true mission. However, God in His mercy, has provided the 7 sacraments as antidotes to these wounds.
If you would like to experience a greater release of the power of the sacraments in your life, I highly recommend this book and this episode.
Resources Mentioned in this Episode:
Today is day 9, the last day of our novena praying for work through the intercession of St. Josemaria Escriva.
I pray you have received many blessings and consolations during this novena and that you find a job quickly. Please let me know when you do so I can celebrate with you!
To download the full text of the novena on the St. Josemaria Institute website, click here: https://stjosemaria.org/novena-for-work/.
Today is day 8 of our novena praying for work through the intercession of St. Josemaria Escriva.
To download the full text of the novena on the St. Josemaria Institute website, click here: https://stjosemaria.org/novena-for-work/.
Today is day 7 of our novena praying for work through the intercession of St. Josemaria Escriva.
To download the full text of the novena on the St. Josemaria Institute website, click here: https://stjosemaria.org/novena-for-work/.
Today is day 6 of our novena praying for work through the intercession of St. Josemaria Escriva.
To download the full text of the novena on the St. Josemaria Institute website, click here: https://stjosemaria.org/novena-for-work/.
Today is day 5 of our novena praying for work through the intercession of St. Josemaria Escriva.
To download the full text of the novena on the St. Josemaria Institute website, click here: https://stjosemaria.org/novena-for-work/.
Today is day 4 of our novena praying for work through the intercession of St. Josemaria Escriva.
To download the full text of the novena on the St. Josemaria Institute website, click here: https://stjosemaria.org/novena-for-work/.
Today is day 3 of our novena praying for work through the intercession of St. Josemaria Escriva.
You can pray along with me on YouTube or listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
To download the full text of the novena on the St. Josemaria Institute website, click here: https://stjosemaria.org/novena-for-work/.
Today is day 2 of our novena praying for work through the intercession of St. Josemaria Escriva.
You can pray along with me on YouTube or listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
Please subscribe to any of those channels to receive the daily prayers.
To download the full text of the novena on the St. Josemaria Institute website, click here.
Are you, or someone you know looking for a new job?
Today begins our novena praying for work through the intercession of St. Josemaria Escriva.
To follow along on this novena each day, please subscribe to my channel.
To download the full text of the novena on the St. Josemaria Institute website, click here.
A novena is prayer repeated for nine consecutive days, asking for God’s provision for a specific situation.
I prayed this novena several times over the past 10 years when I was looking for work. Although I can’t promise you that you will receive a job offer by the end of the novena, I can promise you that you will receive tremendous graces and peace in the process.
St. Josemaria Escriva (January 9, 1902 – June 26, 1975) was a Spanish priest who founded Opus Dei (The Work of God), a Personal Prelature of the Catholic Church, focused on promoting holiness in the midst of ordinary life.
I first learned about him when I lived in Spain my senior year of college. I had moved there to teach English and met several people involved with Opus Dei and became enamored by his writings.
He is a saint of our modern times and there are numerous videos of him on YouTube speaking to crowds all over the world. He is warm, funny, practical and a joy to listen to about becoming a saint through our work.
The prayers for the novena were written by the St. Josemaria Institute.
Be sure to subscribe to my channel for the daily prayers and share with a friend.
I pray you had a special Christmas Day! As we approach the new year and begin thinking about New Years resolutions and what we would do differently in 2025, I encourage you to think about investing in your personal healing journey.
This week I’m joined once again by my friend Dana Nygaard, who is the creator of “Be Smart, Date Smart,” a program helping single Catholic women heal their hearts, cultivate secure attachment and be ready for their Mr. Right in 90-days.
Dana is a Licensed Professional Counselor, speaker, and author who is on a mission to help single Catholic women date intentionally, stop settling, and avoid the trap of an unhappy marriage.
It is always a delight to speak with Dana, and I think you’ll enjoy learning about:
Common dating red flags
How attachment styles impact relationships
The power of forgiveness
The role of chastity
This is definitely one episode you want to bookmark and to share with a friend.
To access the free community on red flags that she mentions in the episode, visit https://clarityplease.com/.
To learn more about Dana, visit https://www.dananygaard.com/.
To connect with Valentina, visit https://fiatcareercoaching.com/.
Can I tell you about my friend Michelle Duppong?
At age 31 she died of cancer and was one of the most joyful people I have ever met. She was spontaneous, prayerful, and full of life.
I met her when I was a student at the University of Nebraska Lincoln, and she was serving there as a missionary.
I had the honor of being in her bible study and part of her discipleship chain with the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS).
Her life not only impacted mine, but also thousands of people, to the point that in 2022, her local bishop officially opened her cause for canonization.
I recently sat down with two friends to share stories about Michelle’s life and some of the lessons she taught us.
On Tuesday, November 12th, 2024, there will be a one day showing of a documentary about Michelle’s life, called “Radiating Joy: The Michelle Duppong Story”. You can purchase your tickets here!
I highly recommend watching this documentary and listening to this episode if you need some inspiration in your faith journey, or if you’re going through a particularly difficult moment and not sure what to do. I believe Michelle’s witness will be a source of encouragement.
To learn more about Michelle's life, visit: https://michelleduppongcause.org/.
To connect with Valentina, visit: https://fiatcareercoaching.com/.