Caroline Pignat - All I Am: A Catholic Devotional for Discovering Who You Are in God

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Caroline Pignat has prepared a wonderful reflection on Gods love for all people, inviting young people to take a closer look at the riches of our faith tradition. She includes words of wisdom from Sacred Scripture, saints, and gems from magisterial teaching. Caroline accompanies young people as they ponder their relationship with God, encouraging them to know how much God loves them and showing them how they were created to love, know, and serve God. This text is an excellent resource for anyone involved in youth ministry.

J OSEPHINE L OMBARDI , Ph.D., Associate Professor of Systematic and Pastoral Theology, Director of Lay Spiritual Formation, St. Augustines Seminary

I am pleased to endorse Caroline Pignats spiritual guide, All I Am. This accessible book for young people is grounded in Scripture, the lives and teachings of the saints, and the foundational truths of our faith about Gods goodness and his unconditional love for his creationsme and you! All I Am is a wonderful affirmation of the love God has for us and how we can respond in practical ways to the daily effects of his care. It is also an inspiring gift to give to any young person, not only to affirm their identity in God but also to help them discover their purpose as modern missionaries sent to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ in word and action.

M ARCEL D AMPHOUSSE , Archbishop of Ottawa-Cornwall

All I Am presents a wonderful journey for young readers seeking to understand lifes big questions. Through daily reflections, Caroline shows that it is possible and even essential to have a relationship with God.

T ED H URLEY , Coordinator of English Pastoral Services with the Archdiocese of Ottawa-Cornwall

Caroline Pignat takes the daily trials and tribulations of life and helps the reader realize that God is there for us, so we are never alone. Through prayers, reflections, and Scripture, we see that God wants us to be a messenger for his love. All I Am is a must read for teens trying to figure out who they are and where they fit into this world, providing both inspiration and hope for anyone working through the messiness of faith during their developmental years.

T OM DA MICO , Director of Education, Ottawa Catholic School Board

In this thought-provoking book of spiritual reflections and prayers, Caroline Pignat invites young readers to think of God as their GPS, acknowledging the challenges of adulting as our youth struggle to find meaning and courage in a world full of uncertainty and angst. With fresh ideas to inspire young people to connect with God through wisdom stories, Scripture, inspirational faith leaders, and saints throughout the ages, she urges teens to develop new images for God that resonate with their lives today. With God as their personal trainer, coaching them through spiritual reps to avoid the pitfalls of click bait, friendship drama, and the shame they carry and the forgiveness they find challenging, Caroline reminds her readers that Jesus walks into the middle of their mess and promises to stay.

M AUREEN D UFOUR , Chaplain, Ottawa Catholic School Board

Caroline Pignats mastery as a writer, expertise as an educator, and rich relationship with God have converged in this superb tool for teens. Insightful and practical, All I Am invites readers to encounter a close and loving God who shows them the beloved gift of themselves and their lives. This resource helps meet a great need for our teens and our times!

D R . C AROL K UZMOCHKA , Co-director and Lead Researcher, Centre for Religious Education and Catechesis, and part-time professor, Saint Paul University, Ottawa

More and more, teens are being tested and pushed to choose their battles, pick a side, stand up for what they believe. But how can anyone choose if they dont yet know what they believe about religion, politics, or social structures? To do that in any meaningful way, we first need to know what we believe about ourselveswho we are and what we want to be. All I Am helps readers do just that. By pairing contemplation and prayer with contemporary settings and situations that allow teens to reflect on their world, readers see themselves as Gods kids, like him in the ways that really matterloved, confident, blessed, and gifted.

C AROL B RYDEN , series consultant for Growing in Faith, Growing in Christ

ZONDERVAN

All I Am

Copyright 2022 by Caroline Pignat

Requests for information should be addressed to:

Zondervan, 3900 Sparks Dr. SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546

ISBN 9780310751533 (hardcover)

ISBN 978-0-310-14124-2 (audio download)

ISBN 9780310751571 (ebook)

Epub Edition April 2022 9780310751571

The Scripture quotations are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition. Copyright 1989, 1993 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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Art direction: Cindy Davis

Cover Design: Micah Kandros

Interior Design: Denise Froehlich

Printed in Korea

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W ho am I? Where do I belong? What am I good at? Why am I here? Why do I matter?

Its totally normal to have questions like these. But dont worry, no one expects you to know all the answers. Self-discovery is a lifelong adventure. And, good news, you dont have to do it alone. In fact, God doesnt want you to do it alone. He wants to be with you every step of the way.

People may try to answer those questions about themselves in lots of ways, but the truth is, if you really want to know who you are, why you matter, where you belong, and what you can doask the One who created you. God cant wait to tell you all about yourself. One way God does that is through his Word. Another is through his Holy Spirit, who is already at work in your life and in your heart. (Maybe thats why you ended up with a copy of this book.)

All I Am helps you better know who you areby better knowing who God is. For example, if God is lovingthat means you are loved. A lot! If God is Fatherthat makes you Gods kid. If God is Creatorthat means youre his one-of-a-kind masterpiece. As you dig into each section, youll discover more truths about God and about yourself.

Ready to start this amazing adventure?

Then make a promise to God and to yourself. For the next ninety days:

• Pray the prayers.
• Read the daily scriptures.
• Think about the reflections.
• Try the journal prompts.

These simple tools will help you dig a little deeper and start to uncover the real, full, and wonderful you. Each section has five days of readings to help you focus on one specific part of your God-given identity. Then, at the end of each section, theres an opportunity to take a day to Rest and Rememberbecause even God rested on the seventh day. Look back on the things you discovered over the week. Remember what you found. Theres no point in finding all that amazing treasure if you just leave it behind and forget about it. Thats why journaling helps. Its like digging with power tools.