Agape Counseling & Consulting, LLC

04/18/2025

From the desk of Ian:

"I have been listening to Hallow's Holy Week in the Holy Land podcast and while visiting the Garden of Gethsemane, Jeff Cavins made the point that suffering cannot be avoided, but only transformed.

So much of our distress often comes from putting effort into changing suffering. While I am in the business of alleviating suffering and pain, there are also some crosses that are impossible to avoid, like an unexpected loss or a medical complication or circumstances out of our control. If those situations can't be avoided, really the only answer is to transform them and give them meaning. From a Christian perspective, this is only possible by offering them and uniting them to Christ."

04/16/2025

03/27/2025

It was such a gift working with these students as they answered the call to become mental health counselors. Please keep the students and staff of Divine Mercy University in your prayers.

03/25/2025

We just went on a couple's retreat at San Damiano Retreat Center this past weekend. It enriched our marriage and helped us to refocus on what we firmly believe is core of our marriage and all our work.... Christ in the Eucharist. We are grateful for all we learned through the preaching of Fr. Edouard Guilloux and Fr. Stephen Vaccaro.

San Damiano Retreat center offers many retreats for men and women and couples. We highly recommend you considering and praying about going on a retreat as well. Here is the link:

https://www.arlingtondiocese.org/retreat-events

03/17/2025

May the grace of God be with you today and in future plans!

02/26/2025

You are courageous.

Many people don't understand the depth of inner struggle Mother Teresa experienced, often referred to as a "dark night of the soul," where she felt a profound sense of spiritual desolation and doubt despite outwardly appearing joyful and dedicated to her work, demonstrating the immense strength it took to persevere through such internal darkness while continuing to serve others.

01/30/2025

Food for thought today! What are you called to do to make a difference for someone today?

01/24/2025

Something to consider as we celebrate life today....What is God calling you to do with your life today?

A quote from Pope Francis:

"I know that some of you will ask me: 'Father, yes, you tell us to look at the horizon and to remember things, but today, what do I do?' Live your life to the full! Today, take life as it comes and do good to others. In the world today, a game is being played out in which there is no room for substitutes: either you are in the team or you are out. Take the memories you have inherited, look towards the horizon and today, grasp life and carry it forward, use it productively, make it fruitful. God calls you to be fruitful! God calls you to transmit this life to others. God calls you to create hope. God calls you to receive mercy and show mercy to others. God calls you to be happy. Do not be afraid! Do not be afraid. Play life to the full! That is life."

-- Message to young people of Brownsville, Texas, July 27, 2016

Picture from:
https://www.facebook.com/BishopRobertBarron

01/23/2025

Human dignity is the idea that every person has an inherent worth that is sacred and cannot be taken away. The human dignity of people of all ages needs to be respected...

"When it comes to human dignity, we cannot make compromises."

Angela Merkel

Picture from:
https://www.focusonthefamily.com/pro-life/kindness-quotes-for-being-pro-life/

01/14/2025

Understanding the meaning of suffering helps us to view our suffering from a deeper perspective. God never wants our suffering. He is the master of making that suffering bear the most fruit in our lives, if we allow.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tR25hk8NVio

01/06/2025

Welcome to our new office! We have a physical location in downtown Culpeper. Thank you to everyone who made this possible.