Glory Through Our Gifts 🎁

August 28, 20252025, Making Things Happen, UncategorizedEmily DeArdoComment

A Memory from Father Mark

From the July 2025 church bulletin by Father Mark (the Chaplain at Nationwide Children’s Hospital where Emily had her double lung transplant):

We wanted to share this special memory from Father Mark because it’s a beautiful reminder for us to never take our gifts, whether seen as big or small, for granted. If the Lord has given you the gift to sing, dance, compose music, create art or any other gift then don’t let it go to waste!

Just like the parable about the Master who gave 3 servants talents (another word for money) in Matthew 25:14-30, it’s important how we use what we’ve been given. These gifts have been placed in us to bring glory to God and give Him honor and praise.

Musicals to Inspire

Emily loved musicals and so we want to end this short, but inspiring, post with a link to some of her favorites. We hope you can take some time to enjoy them and sing along!

Phantom of the Opera (the most popular songs)

Beauty and the Beast (full musical)

The Wizard of Oz (Emily’s favorite)

Wicked (best views compilation)

Pick up a copy of Emily’s book:
Amazon
Ave Marie Press
Seton Shrine

Become a Patron!

Welcome!

Hi! I'm Emily. I'm glad you're here!I'm a 16 year double lung transplant survivor, cradle Catholic, and dedicated bibliophile.My book, Living Memento Mori: My Journey Through the Stations of the Cross (Ave Maria Press) is now available!I'm also a writer/editor/researcher for Take Up & Read. Cooking, knitting, music, travel, and writing are a few of my favorite things. — Emily M. DeArdo (1982–2023) was a Catholic writer and speaker who graduated in 2004 from Capital University with a bachelor’s degree in political science and English literature. She worked for the Ohio State Senate for ten years. At age eleven, DeArdo was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, a fatal genetic disease, and received a double-lung transplant at age twenty-three.
She wrote *Living Memento Mori: My Journey Through the Stations of the Cross.* She also contributed to several studies published by Take Up & Read in 2018 and 2019 and also self-published an eBook, *Catholic 101*. DeArdo was also a guest on *The Jennifer Fulwiler Show* on SiriusXM Radio. She was named Young Catholic Woman of the Year by the Diocese of Columbus in 2005. She was a contestant on Jeopardy! in 2016.
DeArdo, who is a Third Order Lay Dominican, lived in the Columbus, Ohio, area. Emily DeArdo has since passed away on December 31,2023 at the age of forty-one.
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” 2 Timothy 4:7

Catholic 101 (1).jpg — Catholicism, made accessible

**15% off for blog subscribers!**

Buy Now

The Catholic 101 Series

The Jeopardy! Experience

I am a participant in the Amazon Associates program. Links with an “*” after them are associate links, which means I get a small commission if you buy the product from that link. I only post products (99% of the time, books) that I love myself.

A Memory from Father Mark

Musicals to Inspire

Powered by Squarespace