Radical Love Apostolate
A Heart-Centered Apostolate Facilitating Relationship with God through Personal Prayer, Meditation, and Community
We embody God's grace and sanctify our hearts with the presence and transformative power of God's Love, a love that is full, all encompassing, and unconditional. ​It is not something we need to seek out because God's love is always fully present to us through Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, Sacred Scripture, the Sacraments, and Prayer.
We do, however, need to be actively engaged in our relationship with God by spending dedicated time with Him in dialog and opening our hearts to the flow of His love directly to us and through others. As spiritually inclined individuals, we do that in various ways, depending upon our faith, beliefs, and spiritual path.
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The interior life consisting of prayer and meditation in its various forms is universal in its ability to draw us closer to and experience God directly so that His grace might stimulate our growth as loving virtuous humans.When we exercise free will to take such action, it exposes our true purpose in life: to become Love itself as God intended and as Jesus modeled for us.
Everything else in our lives then flows and evolves from that: our physical, mental, and emotional well-being; our relationships and love for self and others; our passions; our creativity, all of which ignites and sends forth the light that we are meant to be in the world.​​
God was radical in His love for mankind creating us for the purpose of relationship and proven by the sacrifice of His only Son for OUR salvation. Jesus radically loved His Father expressed in His obedience to God's Will and His personal surrender to suffering and sacrifice of His human life. These are extreme examples of Radical Love. What can it look like in our mere mortal lives?
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Radical Love is unconditional. It is unmotivated by the desire for reciprocation or reward. It expresses itself as selflessness, compassion, understanding, and gratitude.
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Radical Love is NOT an emotional love but a love that arises from a Love relationship with God. It is a Divine Love for all people and all that we are blessed to encounter on earth knowing that it is all interconnected and interdependently united as One under God.
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Radical Love is the capability of loving deliberately and consciously. It is not the feeling of "falling in love" or "chemistry". It perseveres in difficult times and lives in joy.
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Radical Love is a truthful love that does not tolerate abuse of self or others. It is a love that speaks up with conviction and compassion. It gives rise to social justice with Heart and Consciousness.
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Lastly, Radical Love generates an unmistakable ALIVENESS in individuals as the Creative Life Force of the Holy Spirit takes up residence in our hearts and souls manifesting lives of well-being, abundance, freedom, and joy.
INTENTIONS OF THE APOSTOLATE
In accordance with God's will, to support you in your own unique personal relationship with God by nourishing an interior life of prayer, meditation, and contemplation that coexists with and enhances your worldly existence of family, friends, work, creativity, and faith and brings together a community of contemporary souls who are like-minded in their desire to openly know God, to embody Christ, and to grow into sainthood.
What is an apostolate?
An apostolate is
"every activity of the Mystical Body that aims to spread the Kingdom of God” (CCC 864). It's secular in nature vs. the ordained, religious community in that it flows from baptism and confirmation and is proper and peculiar to the laity contributing to the sanctification of the world. (Lumen Gentium, §31).
Linda K. Saxton
Catholic Convert and Spiritual Formation Practitioner
WHAT IT IS AND FOR WHOM
Radical Love is a "heart-centered apostolate of Christian Spirituality" that emerged out of my years of meditative spiritual practices and eventual conversion to Catholicism where I discovered a passion for interior life teachings of Carmelite Spirituality, the wisdom writings of the church fathers and saints, and in contemporary heart-centered religious and lay Catholic writers, thinkers, and practitioners. This apostolate intends to align with the authentic teachings of the Catholic church through traditional and contemporary teachings, its sacraments, sacred scripture, different types of prayer, and guides you in exploring inner, meditative prayer practices that will assist you in growing spiritually as you consciously relate to the unceasing "living presence" of Christ.
I welcome anyone who longs to develop a relationship with God, to experience His Love, and to grow spiritually into their unique selves while following God's plan for them. In addition to the practicing and non-practicing lay Catholic community and Catholic religious, I welcome all Christians of all denominations and curious non-Christians, non-believers, and those who are "spiritual, but not religious" to come together to explore how we can relate to God and each other through His Grace and Wisdom.
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EDUCATION, PRACTICE, AND COMMUNITY
The Radical Love apostolate offers introductory classes in Christian Prayer and Meditation that encompass how to pray vocally; through inner dialog and surrender to God; scripture reading; reflection, imagination, and contemplation. You can participate in weekly and monthly prayer groups in devotional vocal prayer and meditation. The intention is to help you open and engage your heart and provide enough information and guidance to satisfy your curiosity and understanding of your spiritual purpose and growth.
Throughout the year, programs on sacred scripture, book/media studies, retreats and special events are offered in support of your interior life pathways. Radical Love's introductory scripture program is the St. Paul Institute's video/book study Genesis to Jesus - the Story of Salvation produced by Scott Hahn and Matthew Leonard. Doing this study was a life changing event for me bringing into focus God's plan for humanity, our failures, God's mercy, and Jesus's and Mary's roles in our salvation yesterday and today.
Other offerings will evolve from the interests/spiritual needs of participants and participants. You will find more detailed descriptions, schedule, and class registration options by clicking on Book Online here or in the menu at the top of the page.​ Class and group offerings are hosted live via Zoom or in-person in Petaluma, CA. The link/address will be sent to you automatically once you register.
The Radical Love Apostolate community, KOINONIA, Greek for "Communion with God or Christian Fellowship" offers a free membership that puts you on the email list and gives you access to basic offerings without charge such as weekly or monthly meditation/prayer groups. A paid membership opens the way to more offerings and gives discounts on special events, programs.
Have you ever wanted to encourage others to open the door to God by sharing your passion for Christian Spirituality or to facilitate prayer/meditation practices for others?
Individuals and groups are invited to do so through Radical Love. To start, I encourage others to lead a recurring, scheduled devotional prayer.
For details or if interested, email: linda.radicallove@gmail.com
We have to learn to pray as if we were learning this art ever anew from the lips of the Divine Master himself, like the first disciples: 'Lord, teach us to pray!' (Lk 11:1)
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John Paul II, in his program for the new millennium,
revealed at the 42nd "World Day of Prayer"
INDIVIDUAL OFFERINGS
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Private sessions with Linda for personal Spiritual Formation or a Spiritual Healing are available through the Book Online link in the menu bar at the top. Individual sessions are offered per an agreed upon fee. You will not be turned away for lack of funds. Contact Linda for more information at: linda.radicallove@gmail.com.
Together we will encourage the presence of the Holy Spirit in your quest to grow spiritually. I will listen to you, pray with and for you, be in silence with the Lord together, offer resources to help your understanding and approaches to removing negative forces that turn you away from God. In addition, I may offer insight into your discernment of what the Holy Spirit is calling you to do in your life. The intention in Spiritual Facilitation is to validate your unique spiritual path and experience, not to duplicate any one else's journey.
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A Spiritual Healing session is guided by the Holy Spirit and may take the form of healing prayers, spiritual healing touch, or holy breath-work. This practice was initiated when Jesus sent forth his disciples in twos to teach and to heal. (Mark 6: 7-13)
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All individual sessions are confidential and may be held in-person, by phone or doxy.he, a free encrypted video conference application to secure your privacy.
Click the button below to explore Radical Love's offerings.