I am Dr. Scott Hahn, and I want to welcome you to the Road to Amas, a podcast from the St. Paul Center.

And here we are in the studios of the new St. Paul Center.

And I'm really excited because today I'm going to be interviewing our guest, Megan Helmstad,

who is the author of a book that is unique. I mean, it really is. Offer it up, discovering

the power and purpose of redemptive suffering.

Megan, you are a Catholic author, speaker, Army veteran, and West Point grad.

You're also the proud hockey mom residing in Denver with three children and your husband, Peter.

You're also a women's mentor and longtime team member of Blessed as She.

We are just so honored to have you here, not only for the lecture this evening, but also for

the conversation today. Welcome.

Thank you so much, Dr. Hahn.

It's such an honor and a privilege to be here with you and with the St. Paul Center.

You know, I have tried hard in preparation for our conversation to not just go from zero to 60.

I have some things I want to say about this book.

Now, I did offer an endorsement, and I can read that, but I'm going to hold back and then just start the conversation.

But here's what I said. In Offered Up, Megan Helmstad transforms a trite slogan,

Offer it up, into an invigorating battle cry. Those who are suffering in mind or body,

as well as their caretakers will find ample encouragement to embrace their cross and participate

more intimately in our Lord's saving mission.

That is understated, all right, and we can get to other things later on.

But let me just ask the obvious question.

Why did you write this book?

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