This episode of the Breakthrough of Grace Podcast features a talk by Julia Ibarra. During our conversation with Julie, you will hear about why she founded MagentaYou.com, what it means to her, and how it helps deepen women’s faith, health and fertility.

Married to a Lt Colonel (Retired) USMC, Helicopter Pilot, Jamie and Julia have seven Children. As a newlywed, Julie Ibarra was more than a little nervous about using Natural Family Planning (NFP). She had grown up, non-Catholic, with the assumption that the Pill would be part of her married life. Stepping away from that place felt insecure and raised a host of questions for her.

As she became more anxious, she found that there were a lack of resources available for newly married couples to learn about NFP. It wasn’t until she and her husband attended a Catholic marriage prep course that sparked her curiosity.

Ibarra’s challenging journey with NFP, inspired her to found Magenta. She did some research and realized that Magenta was the birthplace of pro-life heroin, Saint Gianna Molla. Magenta aims to make NFP, attractive, accessible, and understandable, and to be a memes for women to learn, and embrace their fertility.

Saint Giana Molla-

“The secret of happiness is to live moment by moment and to thank God for all that He, in His goodness, sends to us day after day.”

Website: MagentaYou.com Your body is beautiful. It's time to learn it, love it and take back ownership. Knowledge is power. Women are powerful. Let's elevate you to success, to understand it and love it!

“Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.”

Psalm 127:3-5

This talk was recorded at John Paul the Great Catholic University in Southern California with a small prayer group.

More resources: https://canfp.org

Reflection Question #1

Reflect on the words of Saint Giana Molla. “The secret of happiness is to live moment by moment and to thank God for all that He, in His goodness, sends to us day after day.”
What does this mean to live moment by moment?

Reflection Question #2

Mother Teresa was a staunch advocate for Natural Family Planning. She stated:

“God has created a world big enough for all the lives He wishes to be born. It is only

our hearts that are not big enough to want them and accept them... We are too

often afraid of the sacrifices we might have to make. But where there is love, there

is always sacrifice. Ånd when we love until it hurts, there is joy and peace.”

What does it mean to love until it hurts?

How can this type of love change your life?

Reflection from Pope St. Paul VI

Responsible parenthood requires that husband and wife understand God's design

for marriage—that it is love-giving (unitive) and life-giving (procreative). Spouses

ought to be well-formed in understanding Church teaching and reflect upon their

responsibilities toward each other, children already born, and the wider society

when deciding when to attempt to conceive or not (see Humanae vitae [HV], no. 10.

Simon Kyne draws on the Catechism, Holy Scripture and the teachings of the Church to provide an introduction to the virtue of Christian Trust. In this talk, we learn how the history of Salvation can be viewed as the long pursuit by God to restore holy trust in the hearts of believers. From Genesis, through Exodus, through the Psalms, to the Gospel Accounts of the Crucifixion and the Resurrection, we discover that trust in God was what was broken in our Original Fall, and trust in God was restored by Jesus's Ultimate Sacrifice. This talk concludes by invoking the Litany of Trust, composed by the religious community of the Sisters of Life. We pray this talk blesses you as much as it did us.

Reflection Questions:
Reflect on the conversion of heart, and the choice to trust, as embedded in the Gospel account of Mary Magdalene at the Tomb: See John 20:1-20

What stands out to you, and what is God offering to you today through this Scripture?

How is God calling you into deeper Christian trust? What of Simon's talk stood out to you - stay with that and invite the Holy Spirit to counsel you.

For the Litany of Trust, please see the link below. We invite you to share with friends and loved one:

https://sistersoflife.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Mobile-Litany-of-Trust-English-1.pdf

Audio Editing by ForteCatholic.com

This episode of the Breakthrough of Grace Podcast features reflections gathered and curated by Mark Kalpakgian. Mark’s talk is inspired by the life, the example and the witness of St. Mother Theresa of Calcutta- and in particular, by the recently pushed collection of stories and accounts from her life published in the book “To Love and Be Loved“ by Jim Tuohey. We venerate St. Mother Theresa as a Saint – and rightfully so. Jim Tuouy’s book, and Mark’s reflections on both it and on Mother Theresa’s impact on his own life, give us insight into what were the key attributes which caused St. Mother Theresa’s life to be holy – and in particular, in the less obvious ways? This talk was recorded at John Paul the Great University in Southern California with a small prayer group: we pray that it blesses you as much as it did us.

Reflect on this scripture which sets the tone for this talk:

17 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’[d]”

20 “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”

21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

What stands out to you, and what is God offering to you today through this Scripture?

In the chapel of the Motherhouse of the Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata, there is a large crucifix, and adjacent the crucifix the words of Christ from the Cross (John 19:38) “I Thirst”.

Mother Theresa taught the following,:

Why does Jesus say "I Thirst"? What does it mean? . . . If you remember anything from Mother's letter, remember this — 'I Thirst' is something much deeper than just Jesus saying 'I love you.' Until you know deep inside that Jesus thirsts for you — you can't begin to know who He wants to be for you. Or who He wants you to be for Him.

Spend some time in prayer reflecting on Mother Theresa’s words.

Meditation courtesy of CatholicEducation.org

I Thirst': Mother Teresa's Devotion to the Thirst of Jesus (catholiceducation.org)

Audio Editing by ForteCatholic.com