--- title: The Quest | National Catholic Register Blog Series description: Enjoy this article extension series from The Quest, as seen on the National Catholic Register blog. Articles are written by Dr. Shannon Valenzuela, writer, director and narrater of The Quest, and Dr. Jonathan J. Sanford, president of the University of Dallas. image: https://quest.udallas.edu/hubfs/Quest_Ep4_Header_0722.jpg --- # The Quest Blog Series   [![As Seen on National Catholic Register](https://quest.udallas.edu/hs-fs/hubfs/AsSeenOnNCR_white.png?width=350&height=197&name=AsSeenOnNCR_white.png "As Seen on National Catholic Register")](https://www.ncregister.com/blog/a-quest-to-renew-culture) #### [Abide in God’s Love and Set the World on Fire](https://www.ncregister.com/blog/vine-and-branches-living-the-quest) [**Shannon Valenzuela | 6/15/2023** In the view of St. Catherine of Siena, being the light of the world means having the light to see who we are and what God expects us to do. What does it mean to live in the joy, confidence and abundance of God’s love for us? [Read More](https://www.ncregister.com/blog/vine-and-branches-living-the-quest) ](https://www.ncregister.com/blog/vine-and-branches-living-the-quest) #### [The Dark Wood: Courage in Suffering](https://www.ncregister.com/blog/dark-wood-courage-in-suffering) [**Shannon Valenzuela | 4/17/2023** If there is one experience that unites us as a human family, it is suffering. One of my favorite opening paragraphs of any work of literature has to be the description of Bilbo Baggins’ hobbit hole in J.R.R. Tolkien’s *The Hobbit*.... [Read More](https://www.ncregister.com/blog/dark-wood-courage-in-suffering) ](https://www.ncregister.com/blog/dark-wood-courage-in-suffering) #### [Love, Every Moment — Wisdom from Immaculée Ilibagiza](https://www.ncregister.com/blog/living-the-quest-love-every-moment) [**Shannon Valenzuela | 12/29/2022** In the end, as St. Teresa of Calcutta reminds us, love will be the measure of our lives. Nothing could be simpler than that. [Read More](https://www.ncregister.com/blog/living-the-quest-love-every-moment) ](https://www.ncregister.com/blog/living-the-quest-love-every-moment) #### [Sowing Talents: Stewardship of Our Gifts](https://www.ncregister.com/blog/sowing-talents-stewardship-of-our-gifts) [**Shannon Valenzuela | 11/2/2022** God’s call is not a trumpet blast followed by silence. God’s call is like a birdsong — a gentle and constant companion on our journey. Let’s be honest. It feels safer sometimes — maybe even most of the time... [Read More](https://www.ncregister.com/blog/sowing-talents-stewardship-of-our-gifts) ](https://www.ncregister.com/blog/sowing-talents-stewardship-of-our-gifts) #### [The Lily and the Jasmine: Beauty and Hope](https://www.ncregister.com/blog/the-quest-beauty-and-hope) [**Shannon Valenzuela | 3/27/2022** I have a bouquet of pink hydrangeas on my desk at the moment, and everything about them makes me happy: the striking contrast of the dark green leaves with the delicate pink petals, the way the petals are jumbled... [Read More](https://www.ncregister.com/blog/the-quest-beauty-and-hope) ](https://www.ncregister.com/blog/the-quest-beauty-and-hope) #### [‘The Quest’ Is a Quest to Renew Our Culture](https://www.ncregister.com/blog/a-quest-to-renew-culture) [**Jonathan J. Sanford | 3/26/2022 ** If one looks at the general state of student life in today’s American colleges and universities for any indication about the future of our culture, there is much to be worried about... [Read More](https://www.ncregister.com/blog/a-quest-to-renew-culture) ](https://www.ncregister.com/blog/a-quest-to-renew-culture) #### [“I am the Resurrection and the Life” — Sydney Carton, Love and Redemption](https://www.ncregister.com/blog/the-quest-episode-four) [**Shannon Valenzuela | 3/21/2022** If you’ve never fallen in love with a literary character, I’m truly sorry — and I hope you do someday. To me, falling in love with a character means... [Read More](https://www.ncregister.com/blog/the-quest-episode-four) ](https://www.ncregister.com/blog/the-quest-episode-four) #### [Love Rules: The Power of Personal Witness](https://www.ncregister.com/blog/the-quest-love-rules) [**Shannon Valenzuela | 3/14/2022** When St. Catherine of Alexandria was summoned to debate the ancient Roman Emperor Maxentius’s 50 best philosophers and scholars, she converted Maxentius’s own wife, Valeria... [Read More](https://www.ncregister.com/blog/the-quest-love-rules) ](https://www.ncregister.com/blog/the-quest-love-rules) #### [God as Storyteller: Scripture and Self-Understanding](https://www.ncregister.com/blog/the-quest-part-two) [**Shannon Valenzuela | 3/8/2022** I’m in the process right now of collecting my grandfather’s ghost stories from my mother and my aunt and anyone else I can think of who used to sit at his feet and listen to his deep voice... [Read More](https://www.ncregister.com/blog/the-quest-part-two) ](https://www.ncregister.com/blog/the-quest-part-two) #### [In Exitu Israel: Freedom and Happiness](https://www.ncregister.com/blog/the-quest-part-one) [**Shannon Valenzuela | 3/1/2022** We are fearfully and wonderfully made. We are creatures with a finite and time-bound body that obeys the relentless law of entropy — but we possess an immortal soul that animates us... [Read More](https://www.ncregister.com/blog/the-quest-part-one) ](https://www.ncregister.com/blog/the-quest-part-one) ## Watch *The Quest* Haven’t seen *The Quest* yet? Sign-up now for instant access to the FREE 5-part series that viewers are calling “a profound Catholic witness," "thought-provoking, challenging, and faith-filled" and a project that "can help save the world!” ![](https://play.vidyard.com/snWW8x8Tvu3NQyk6Vd1irb.jpg) ### I want to start *The Quest!* [![LivingTheQuest_EmailHeader_600x300_ADV_0422](https://quest.udallas.edu/hubfs/LivingTheQuest_EmailHeader_600x300_ADV_0422.jpg "LivingTheQuest_EmailHeader_600x300_ADV_0422")](https://quest.udallas.edu/living?hsLang=en) Join us for discussions between Shannon Valenzuela, writer and director of *The Quest*, and prominent Christian voices who will share their own personal stories of steadfast courage, hope, and love. [ Find Out More ](https://quest.udallas.edu/living?hsLang=en) ## Team Member Name ** ![team-member](https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/5377389/theme/images/stock-images/team-member-1.png) Team member bio information.