See her books like "Questions to God", "Mend My Broken Heart", "To Love an Invisible God", "Defending My Catholic Faith", "Of Waves and Butterflies: Poems on Grief" and more - click here.
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(You may freely quote excerpts from this website as long as due credit is given to author Jocelyn Soriano and the website itakeoffthemask.com)
From where I am
I can see you better now,
I’ll see you when you work and play,
I’ll see you even when you sleep.
Now there are no secrets you can keep,
Because I’ll see right through your heart.
So I’ll know when you weep
and I will see you when you laugh.
So carry on this life of yours,
knowing that someone sees.
And wherever you may go,
you will never be alone.
Someone watches over you
and my love will see you through.
Free Download “Short Poems on Grief and Loss”
The Catholic Church’s teachings on LGBT issues, particularly its stance on homosexual marriages, can sometimes be a source of deep pain and confusion, especially for parents of transgender and gay children. It is understandable that some parents might feel that the Church is judging or condemning their children, but it is essential to understand that the Church’s teachings, though often difficult to reconcile with contemporary views, are rooted in love—a love that extends to all people, including transgender children.
At the heart of the Church’s teachings is the belief in the inherent dignity of every human being, created in the image and likeness of God. This belief is central to Catholic doctrine and forms the basis of the Church’s approach to all moral and social issues. While the Church upholds a traditional understanding of marriage as a union between a man and a woman, it also affirms that every person, regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation, is loved by God and deserving of respect, compassion, and care.
The Church distinguishes between the person and the actions or inclinations that might be considered contrary to its teachings. This means that while the Church may teach that certain behaviors are not in accordance with its understanding of natural law, this does not diminish the worth or dignity of the person. The Church calls on all its members to treat others with love and to avoid any form of unjust discrimination.
For parents of transgender children, it is crucial to know that the Church’s approach is not one of rejection but of pastoral care. Pope Francis has spoken about the importance of accompanying individuals with love, especially those who may feel marginalized or misunderstood. The Church recognizes the complexities of gender identity and the profound challenges that transgender individuals and their families face.
The Church’s call to love and accompany does not mean that it condones all actions or choices; rather, it emphasizes the need to walk alongside individuals with compassion and understanding, offering guidance and support. The Church encourages parents to remain close to their children, to listen to them, and to seek to understand their experiences. This pastoral approach is about meeting people where they are, offering the love of Christ, and helping them to discern God’s will in their lives.
For some, the Church’s teachings on LGBT issues may seem at odds with the notion of love. However, the Church’s concept of love is rooted in the belief that true love seeks the good of the other. This means that the Church’s teachings, though challenging, are ultimately aimed at guiding people toward what it believes is the path to true happiness and fulfillment in God’s plan.
Parents may worry that the Church’s teachings could lead to their children feeling unloved or rejected. It is important to emphasize that the Church, in its authentic love, desires the best for every person. This includes recognizing the unique struggles that transgender individuals face and responding with care, sensitivity, and respect. The Church’s mission is to bring the light of Christ’s love into every situation, to offer hope, and to help people find their true identity as beloved children of God.
To parents who fear that the Church is judging or condemning their gay or transgender children, the Church offers a message of hope and trust. Trust that God’s love is greater than any struggle, and that the Church, despite its challenging teachings, seeks to walk with you and your children in faith. The Church invites you to engage in open and honest dialogue, to ask questions, and to seek understanding.
The Church’s teachings on gender and sexuality are complex and deeply rooted in its theological and philosophical traditions. However, this does not diminish the Church’s commitment to loving every person as Christ loves them. The Church’s pastoral care is about creating spaces where individuals and families can encounter this love, even amid difficult and painful situations.
The Catholic Church’s stance on LGBT issues, including its prohibition on homosexual marriages, is often a source of confusion and pain for many families. However, it is important to understand that these teachings are not meant to judge or condemn but to guide and to accompany. The Church’s authentic love for transgender children and all people is rooted in the belief in the dignity of every human person and the call to love as Christ loves.
As parents, you are called to be the primary witnesses of God’s love to your children. The Church stands with you in this mission, offering support, guidance, and a compassionate heart. In the end, the message is clear: the Church loves your children, and it seeks to help them—and you—experience the fullness of that love.
You may also want to read “What Do You Do When You’re a Catholic Parent With a Transgender Child?”
Jocelyn Soriano is the author of the book Defending My Catholic Faith.
“Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope.” – 1 Peter 3:15 (NABRE)
Lord, help me to realize more how much you love me. Theoretically, I know you died for me. And I’m sorry if even that doesn’t always melt the coldness of my heart. Help me to know that you didn’t die only for humanity as a whole but personally also for my sake.
The saints say that you would have died even for just one person. That means that you would have died even if just for me. Help me to believe that. That you would leave the ninety-nine sheep behind just so you could look for me.
Let me know that you love me uniquely and that you see me and care about me personally…intimately. Help me remember that gaze of love in your eyes…how you see me and know me through and through, even the very depths of my heart.
Your love is so wide, Lord, that encompasses all being. But your love is also deep, intimate and personal. Your love for me is so full that it could never be lessened by any creature in the whole of creation. Let me dwell always within you and may my heart be worthy enough so you may also dwell within me. Amen.
“O thou Omnipotent Good, thou carest for every one of us as if thou didst care for him only, and so for all as if they were but one!” – St. Augustine
“What do you think? If a shepherd has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray?”- Matthew 18:12 (NRSVCE)
“Jesus would have died for one person, for one sinner.” – Mother Teresa
Lord, I don’t know how much longer I can carry on. It’s so dark around me and within me. It’s as though the very air I breathe is suffocating me and I am terrified that I will completely lose my way.
You know, O Lord, that I am barely holding on. My heart feels empty, and my soul is dry. I’m clinging to the very last thread of hope!
Please, Lord, come rescue me quickly before I fall into utter despair! Everything is so overwhelming and I can see no help or comfort anywhere. It’s very painful just to go on that I don’t know how much longer I can endure it.
Reach out your strong and loving hand, pull me out of this pit I’m in. Draw me close to you, Lord where I can catch a glimpse of light once again.
You are my refuge, and my faithful Friend. Dear Jesus, embrace me in the warmth of your love and never let me go. Lead me and sustain me. For there is nothing impossible with Your power and love. Amen.
“My wanderings you have noted;
are my tears not stored in your flask,
recorded in your book?”
-Psalm 56:9 (NABRE)
“Be at peace, then, put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginations, and say continually: ‘The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart has trusted in Him and I am helped. He is not only with me but in me and I in Him.’”
– Saint Francis de Sales
May the above prayer help bring you out of despair as it leads you toward the light of hope!
Just a little light to find my way
A little light before the day
Through that crooked path as I walk
Through that dark night so cold.
Let me have a little hope
Let me see some stars
And no matter how frightening
The wind may howl,
Somehow I’d know
You’re never far.
I will look for that little light
A spark that flickers in the dark
It’ll be enough to guide my path
It’ll be enough to warm my heart.
You may want to download the book “Like Fireflies in the Rain”.
This is a collection of some of my most inspiring poems for those in despair. I have written many of them when I needed to endure the most painful moments, times when I had been grateful for the smallest ray of light I could find. I hope that like little fireflies that shine in the night, they also help you in your darkest hours. As you walk in the rain, all drenched and cold, may you find little sparks of hope to carry you through.
Have you ever been on the receiving end of a truthful revelation from a close friend and it just hurt so badly?
You knew deep inside that your friend was only pointing out a true defect or weakness he or she may have seen in you. You also know that your friend never meant you harm.
But why is it that it still hurt so much?
Aside from the issue of pride that is also often involved when it comes to criticism, there is another factor I have realized when it comes to hearing or speaking the truth.
Sometimes, the truth hurts because it isn’t the “complete” truth!
What does this mean? Does it mean that what you heard was also half a lie? Not at all! But it isn’t the fullness of truth either.
Let’s talk about an example.
One day, your friend may notice how you don’t seem to have a concrete goal in life and that is why your life is getting nowhere.
She said it out of real concern for you and there is some truth in it. But why does it hurt so much?
It’s because the indirect implications of the feedback seem to be saying that you’re somewhat too lazy to set those goals and that you don’t care about what happens in your life.
The truth, however, is that you have been trying to find your true purpose in life. You have reached that point when you wanted to live a meaningful life, a life that could be of service to other people. It just so happens that you are still in the process of determining how you can accomplish that.
You are not lazy. You are not selfish. In fact, you are trying your best to change.
And what your friend said hurt because it did not contain the complete truth of what you are going through.
I think we can learn from this when we try to counsel other people.
Although we may be speaking the truth in pointing out their shortcomings, we must not condemn the person as though we already knew everything about them.
We must always be willing to listen with our hearts so that we can see a better picture of our neighbor’s life.
Each person’s journey is unique. Each life is filled with many struggles and shades of both good and bad.
To lead another person, we must first empathize with their struggles. Do we even know how much they suffered in life? What problems did they encounter that influenced the choices they made through the years?
Let us not judge too quickly. And let us remember that the “fullness of truth” can only be found in love.
“Love builds a bridge over which truth can pass.” — Dan Burke
“Love and truth will meet;
justice and peace will kiss.
Truth will spring from the earth;
justice will look down from heaven.
Yes, the LORD will grant his bounty;
our land will yield its produce.
Justice will march before him,
and make a way for his footsteps.
-Psalm 85:11–14
Jocelyn Soriano is the author of the books Mend My Broken Heart and 366 Days of Compassion.
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