"There's nothing in the world that compares to this." | Valerie Powell

A life of pain and hardship could not keep Valerie away from the presence of Jesus. Although she was given the gift of catechesis as a young child, her family didn’t foster devotion to Jesus, and, after being abused as a young girl, Valerie turned to drugs and a life of the occult to maintain some sense of control over her life. She returned to the Church once, but left again, after experiencing great challenges and losses with her loved ones. Yet, in the midst of COVID, she returned again and fully encountered the love that is now the source of her strength every day, in the Blessed Sacrament.

Show notes: 

(00:39) We meet guest Valerie Powell, a caregiver and devoted parishioner at Assumption Grotto. She shares a bit about her upbringing and her childhood devotion to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. She goes on to share that she was abused as a child and carried that burden with her for a very long time. As a result, she turned to drugs and the occult during her teen years. 

(03:46) Valerie shares her first experience of returning to the Catholic faith, when she encountered a priest who helped her get off drugs, leave an unhealthy work environment, and have her marriage blessed. She goes on to share that she continued to struggle and, again, left the Church many years later.  

(07:57) Following her father’s death and her husband’s several strokes, Valerie describes herself becoming very angry with God and returning to bad habits and diving deeper into the occult. 

(11:32) Valerie shares how during COVID, after losing her brother and then quitting her job to become the caretaker of her mother, she started going back to church and sitting in the parking lot, since the doors to the church were locked. Again, an encounter with a priest reminded her that Jesus loved her. 

(14:46) Following the invitation of that priest, Valerie began attending adoration regularly and telling Jesus in the Eucharist everything. Valerie describes her deep devotion to Jesus in the Eucharist, and the ways he loves her intimately, in spite of her past. 

(17:59) Valerie shares the practical steps she took to move away from a life of sin, noting in particular the power of daily Mass, adoration, Reconciliation, the Blessed Mother, holy priests, community, and therapy.

(25:54) Valerie describes her extraordinary devotion to the Eucharist, describing it as the source of her strength every day. She shares how she spends her time (usually two hours, daily) in adoration, and encourages listeners to go and encounter Jesus’ love in his real presence.