Write In Between

The Last Post

2009-09-01T02:57:00.001-04:00

It is time for this.

It is time to say goodbye to what was my first address on the world wide web.

Back in 2005, I was foolin' around with idea of going back to writing more regularly, after many years of mothering and working in church ministry. And slowly, I did. More and more.

If you've been reading this blog over the years, you saw the growth. You've seen the links to my articles. You watched me graduate from college. You watched me launch in new directions.

But you also saw the shifts, and the fits and starts, and the wondering, just what little niche this blog could fill. Suffice to say, I was a generalist. I wrote what I wanted, when I wanted. And for a very long while, I was perfectly content with the content.

But during this past year, I had this nagging notion that more should be done. And after a while it became a little like a nice closet that you really need to empty out and re-sort, and keep what it good and usable, and toss the rest.

And so, kind readers, having prayerfully and carefully, and little bit tearfully, re-sorted the items in this little corner closet on the web, I'm packing up my best stuff and moving it over to AMONG WOMEN.

I hope it will provide a more coherent focus and a greater harmony for all the work I'm doing in women's ministries in new media and in print. I hope you will enjoy the move. It's always a risk, this thing called starting over.

Please look me up at that new address, and check out my other addresses that I'll list at the bottom of this page.

Thanks for your readership and your friendship. I trust we'll meet again at the new blog.

The Door is OPEN.

------
Join me at:
www.patgohn.com
www.amongwomenpodcast.com
http://amongwomenpodcast.blogspot.com

Peace be with you!

I am 13.

2009-08-31T21:03:00.001-04:00

My latest over at CatholicMom.com.

Older posts on this subject are here and here.

Write In Between Word Cloud

2009-08-30T01:24:00.000-04:00

This was fun... this is the word cloud generated by Wordle about this blog.

Beautiful Video of JPII and Children

2009-08-29T08:44:00.000-04:00

Click on this link and visit at Faith & Family Live... you'll enjoy a great video posted by Danielle Bean that she found, and if you haven't already, spend a little time at that fine site. (Especially you mothers out there!)

BLEEDER, a brief review

2009-08-29T08:24:00.006-04:00

Last Sunday I gave myself the luxury of a quiet afternoon. The needs of the family had been met and they were all feverishly engaged in a few activities that did not have to include me... so I curled up on our back porch and read John Desjarlais' newest book, a mystery entitled Bleeder (Sophia Institute, August 2009.)

As I usually review non-fiction works in this space, and works of theology, I can tell you that I was pleasantly surprised to find the Christian message and the Catholic theology alluded to in this book remarkably intact. Not to mention, I enjoyed the characters, the scenery, the pace and timing, and the turns the plot took.

What's more, I immediately identified with the main character, who had undergone major surgery on his hip, and as part of his recovery, escaped out to a little cabin in the middle of nowhere to "write".... something I had done just last year after my hip surgery.

As for the finer details of the story, I'll let the book synopsis do that for me:

When classics professor Reed Stubblefield is disabled in a school shooting, he retreats to a rural Illinois cabin to recover and to write a book on Aristotle in peace. Oddly, in the chill of early March, the campgrounds and motels of tiny River Falls are filled with the ill and infirm -- all seeking the healing touch of the town’s new parish priest, reputed to be a stigmatic. Skeptical about religion since his wife’s death from leukemia, Reed is nevertheless drawn into a friendship with the cleric, Rev. Ray Boudreau, an amiable Aquinas scholar with a fine library -- who collapses and bleeds to death on Good Friday in front of horrified parishioners. A miracle? Or bloody murder? Once Reed becomes the prime 'person of interest' in the mysterious death, he seeks the truth with the help of an attractive local reporter and Aristotle’s logic before he is arrested or killed -- because not everyone in town wants this mystery solved...

This book celebrates the fact that God, and people's faith in him is alive and well. And yet, while people still believe in the healing power of God, sometimes such faith can be misdirected... by placing it in people, rather than in the Almighty.

I also appreciated that this book is rated PG, if I can compare it to the movie ratings systems. It did not offend my senses with gratuitous licentiousness or vulgarities.

Bleeder's mystery is well-crafted, and a perfect escape for adults and teens. You can buy Bleeder, or read an excerpt, here.

I was introduced to John and his writing at the Catholic Writer's Guild summer conference a few weeks ago. Find out about more about author John Desjarlais, and his other books here. After Bleeder, I'm looking forward to reading his earlier works!

My latest on Today's Catholic Woman

2009-08-28T16:19:00.001-04:00

Embracing the "Adult Catechism"

AMONG WOMEN Podcast Joins SQPN

2009-08-26T22:18:00.004-04:00

I'm humbled (and, don't get me wrong, positively thrilled) with the press release today, as well as with Fr. Roderick's Daily Breakfast podcast announcing that AMONG WOMEN has been asked to become an affiliate of SQPN, which is the Star Quest Production Network.

So, let me take a moment and thank God for the gift of this new affiliation, but most of all for all his tender mercies. I'd also like to thank Mary, the Mother of God, the patron of AW, (for, the idea for the podcast really belongs to her, for it is she who is blessed AMONG WOMEN, and our go-to gal for inspirational discipleship! Go, Mom!)

Also inducted this week, the delicious Catholic Foodie, and the young and hip In Between Sundays.

Run, don't walk, to iTunes or MyCatholicVoice.com (in the sidebar) and subscribe!

Writer's Wednesday -- St. Catherine of Genoa

2009-08-26T00:35:00.002-04:00

God let her hear these words in her soul,

"From now on, don't look at anything but love.

Fix your eyes on love.

No matter what happens to you or others --

within or without --

look on love alone.

And live."

---Catherine of Genoa, (1447-1510) Vita.

Among Women Podcast #22 (click here!)

2009-08-25T23:26:00.000-04:00

Click on the link above for this week's podcast! Episode 22 talks about the strength and steadfastness of St. Monica, the patron of women in difficult marriages, and the patron saint of mothers with difficult children.

And Pat spends time speaking with Susie Weiss, whose marriage was saved by the grace of God and a wonderful program for troubled marriages called Retrouvaille.

National Catholic BioEthics Center weighs in on Healt Care Reform

2009-08-24T01:22:00.000-04:00

See their commentary here.

Queenship Of Mary

2009-08-22T11:15:00.002-04:00

Check out this video of our "Mother" and "Queen".

Two Great Popes = One Major Catechism

2009-08-20T10:03:00.001-04:00

Read my latest over at Faith & Family Live by clicking on the link above!

Writer's Wednesday -- St. Clare of Assisi

2009-08-19T12:14:00.002-04:00

Look upon Him Who became contemptible for you,

and follow Him, making yourself contemptible in this world for Him.

Your spouse, though more beautiful than the children of men (Psalms 44:3),

became for your salvation, the lowest of men, was despised, struck, scourged untold times

throughout his entire body, and then died amid the suffering of the Cross.

O most noble Queen,

gaze upon Him,

consider Him,

contemplate Him,

as you desire to imitate Him.

If you suffer with Him, you will reign with Him.

If you week with Him, you shall rejoice with Him;

if you die with Him on the cross of tribulation,

you shall possess heavenly mansions in the splendor of the saints

and, in the Book of Life, your name shall be called

glorious among men.

--St. Clare, Second Letter to Agnes of Prague, circa 1234 AD.

Among Women Podcast #21 (click here!)

2009-08-19T11:52:00.002-04:00

This week's episode tells the tale of St. Helen'a conversion and ultimate quest for unearthing the True Cross of Christ. Plus, meet members of the Catholic Writers Guild as they share their passion for their Faith and the writing craft.

Perpetual Adoration found in Boston!

2009-08-18T15:44:00.002-04:00

So says the Boston Globe (click on link above), in an article 'above the fold' last week.

HT: Susan Bailey at Sung Rosary... who is also featuring some reprints of earlier articles I have written on the subject of the rosary! Thanks Susan!

Catholic Vitamins!

2009-08-17T08:53:00.005-04:00

Catholic Vitamins??

Coming this September.... a new podcast dedicated to increasing the vitality and strength of your Christian life: Catholic Vitamins with Deacon Tom Fox, and his lovely wife, Dee!

Each week, we'll learn of a new "vitamin" for our spiritual diets! Stay tuned!

Happy Feast of the Assumption!

2009-08-15T21:32:00.001-04:00

Nothing like lookin' at Momma Mary for inspiration!

2 cool links!

2009-08-15T21:27:00.003-04:00

Ok, here's a neat little site that will help us all take a deep breath and re-focus every day! Click on the icon above or in the sidebar.

And for all those rosary devotees, check this out!

Writer's Wednesday -- Benedict XVI

2009-08-12T22:30:00.002-04:00

Benedict really is a poet... and he teaches so compactly....

The Eucharist is the Sacrament in which the whole work of Redemption is concentrated: in Jesus as Eucharist we can contemplate the transformation of death into life, of violence into love. Hidden beneath the veils of the bread and the wine, we recognize through the eyes of faith the same glory that was manifested to the Apostles after the Resurrection.

---Benedict XVI, homily, July 4, 2009

Archbishop Chaput weighs in on health care!

2009-08-12T22:18:00.000-04:00

Book review-- Come & See: Genesis

2009-08-11T15:45:00.007-04:00

I first met this series in The Synoptics about two years ago. I liked the material, so I was happy to order this newer book.

This study Come and See, Genesis, by Fr. Joseph L. Panessa and Laurie Watson Manhardt, is set up very well for the first-time bible reader, but it is truly designed for group study in a 60-90 minute format. It would benefit personal study, small group study, or advanced home-schoolers in the later grades toward middle school and above.

It's broken down in 22 comprehensive lessons that cover the 50 chapters of Genesis. Each lesson offers very good summaries, about 6 pages per lesson. At the end of each lesson, there are about 20 questions for review.

What I like most about it is that the lessons are keyed to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and other pertinent Church documents including Pope John Paul II's audiences on "Theology of the Body", much of which is drawn from Genesis. There are even works from Benedict XVI.

Even if you did not use this with a group, there is much fruitful reading to be found in its pages.

This review is part of the Catholic Company's reviewer program.

The Bishops want us to contact Congress on Health Care

2009-08-11T15:29:00.004-04:00

See the link above, but also read this letter sent to Congress by Bishop William Murphy.

Then let your own voice be heard on the matter. Catholics are urged to stand for healthcare that advocates life and the dignity of the human person, plus access to medical care for all.

Easy email contact to Congress, recommended by the US Bishops here.

Among Women Podcast #20

2009-08-11T15:19:00.003-04:00

Got the Rosary?

Pat welcomes Karen Edmisten, author of The Rosary, Keeping Company with Jesus and Mary, for a lively discussion of the benefits of this ancient prayer. Pat also teaches the theological understanding behind the Feast of Mary's Assumption, which we celebrate on August 15th.

Inspiring Architecture

2009-08-06T06:22:00.002-04:00

My lastest at Faith & Family Live gives an overview of the Catechism of the Catholic Church that you can read in 5 minutes!

Writer's Wednesday -- John Paul II

2009-08-05T00:14:00.001-04:00

(The simplicity of this message floors me. I must remember this everyday!)

Dear friends,

may friendship with Jesus,

our Redeemer,

always illumine your lives!

Stay united to him

by listening to his Word

and actively participating in the Eucharistic Banquet.

Be his faithful witnesses, especially among your peers.

---John Paul II, From his last Wednesday audience, March 30, 2005.

Among Women Podcast #19

2009-08-04T11:23:00.003-04:00

This week's episode features a reflection on the "bent over" woman from Luke 13, and her encounter with Jesus. My interview is with Catholic Exchange writer, Jennifer Senour, who is a part of the leadership team of the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS).

Writer's Wednesday -- Tertullian

2009-07-29T02:57:00.002-04:00

"That's impossible!"

To which Tertullian (third century) would have said, "That proves it!" As a matter of fact he did say, in De Carne Christi, "Certum est quia impossibile est" (It is certain because it is impossible.) That line may not work every time, but it's still true that the apparent impossibility of a truth of Christian mystery is not an automatic arguement for its rejection. Faith goes beyond reason.

----The Catholic Source Book (2000).

Among Women Podcast #18

2009-07-28T07:23:00.005-04:00

To listen, click on the link above.

This week at Among Women, Pat shares about the amazing life story of modern American saint, St. Katharine Drexel of Philadephia, a woman of wealth and privilege... who gave it all up at the prompting of a pope to become a missionary. She not only founded a religious order, but founded over 60 Catholic schools in America, with ministry to the most needy in mind.

Pat also interviews Melissa Weiksnar, who shares some of her own amazing journey, as she describes God's call in her life moving her beyond a successful corporate career, to using her gifts in the Cristo Rey network, bringing a college-prep Catholic education to those in need.

The first word in the Catechism is the word "FATHER"

2009-07-23T13:38:00.001-04:00

Read my article at the link above.

Summer Conferences at Franciscan University!

2009-07-23T01:34:00.000-04:00

Going back to my alma mater in a week's time... to attend the Applied Biblical Studies Conference and the Defending the Faith Conference.

If you are going, let me know!

Among Women Podcast #17

2009-07-22T04:39:00.003-04:00

Among Women gives a little background on St. Patricia, (one of my patron saints) and then we converse with Gina Loehr, who shares about her book Real Women, Real Saints: Friends the Spiritual Journey

Writer's Wednesday -- Benedict XVI

2009-07-22T01:40:00.009-04:00

Openness to life is at the centre of true development. When a society moves towards the denial or suppression of life, it ends up no longer finding the necessary motivation and energy to strive for man's true good. If personal and social sensitivity towards the acceptance of a new life is lost, then other forms of acceptance that are valuable for society also wither away. The acceptance of life strengthens moral fibre and makes people capable of mutual help. By cultivating openness to life, wealthy peoples can better understand the needs of poor ones, they can avoid employing huge economic and intellectual resources to satisfy the selfish desires of their own citizens, and instead, they can promote virtuous action within the perspective of production that is morally sound and marked by solidarity, respecting the fundamental right to life of every people and every individual…

The way humanity treats the environment influences the way it treats itself, and vice versa. This invites contemporary society to a serious review of its life-style, which, in many parts of the world, is prone to hedonism and consumerism, regardless of their harmful consequences. What is needed is an effective shift in mentality which can lead to the adoption of new life-styles “in which the quest for truth, beauty, goodness and communion with others for the sake of common growth are the factors which determine consumer choices, savings and investments…

The deterioration of nature is in fact closely connected to the culture that shapes human coexistence: when “human ecology”is respected within society, environmental ecology also benefits….

If there is a lack of respect for the right to life and to a natural death, if human conception, gestation and birth are made artificial, if human embryos are sacrificed to research, the conscience of society ends up losing the concept of human ecology and, along with it, that of environmental ecology. It is contradictory to insist that future generations respect the natural environment when our educational systems and laws do not help them to respect themselves. The book of nature is one and indivisible: it takes in not only the environment but also life, sexuality, marriage, the family, social relations: in a word, integral human development. Our duties towards the environment are linked to our duties towards the human person, considered in himself and in relation to others. It would be wrong to uphold one set of duties while trampling on the other. Herein lies a grave contradiction in our mentality and practice today: one which demeans the person, disrupts the environment and damages society.

The greatest service to development, then, is a Christian humanism that enkindles charity and takes its lead from truth, accepting both as a lasting gift from God. Openness to God makes us open towards our brothers and sisters and towards an understanding of life as a joyful task to be accomplished in a spirit of solidarity. On the other hand, ideological rejection of God and an atheism of indifference, oblivious to the Creator and at risk of becoming equally oblivious to human values, constitute some of the chief obstacles to development today.

A humanism which excludes God is an inhuman humanism. Only a humanism open to the Absolute can guide us in the promotion and building of forms of social and civic life — structures, institutions, culture and ethos — without exposing us to the risk of becoming ensnared by the fashions of the moment.

Awareness of God's undying love sustains us in our laborious and stimulating work for justice and the development of peoples, amid successes and failures, in the ceaseless pursuit of a just ordering of human affairs. God's love calls us to move beyond the limited and the ephemeral, it gives us the courage to continue seeking and working for the benefit of all, even if this cannot be achieved immediately and if what we are able to achieve, alongside political authorities and those working in the field of economics, is always less than we might wish. God gives us the strength to fight and to suffer for love of the common good, because he is our All, our greatest hope.

----Pope Benedict XVI's new encyclical Caritas in Veritate. These excerpts are from paragraphs 28, 51 and 78.

Catholic Writers Guild coming up in NJ --Aug 5-7

2009-07-21T17:45:00.000-04:00

There's still to attend the Catholic Writer's Guild Conference in Somerset NJ. I'll be there! I hope you might be too! Get the details here!

Stop the Abortion Mandate NOW! Listen this Thursday!

2009-07-20T21:21:00.004-04:00

GET ALL THE DETAILS HERE!

This national webcast will include Catholic and Christian pro-life leaders like Fr. Frank Pavone of Priests for Life, Wendy Wright of Concerned Women of America, Tom Minnerty of Focus on the Family, Margarie Dannenfelser of Susan B. Anthony, Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council, Doug Johnson of the National RTL Committee, and Congressmen Chris Dodds (NJ) and Joe Pitts (PA).

In all my days, I'm not sure I've ever seen such a collaborative group in one place.

Umbilical Cord Blood Banks and Why We Need Them!

2009-07-20T14:53:00.005-04:00

Full disclosure: I'm a breast-cancer survivor. I'm also a Christian who is strongly pro-life. So when I see steps in medicine that help fight disease while not offending my pro-life values, I have to stand up and applaud.

Here in Boston, we've got our first public umbilical cord blood bank.

The Physician for Life website offers all these explanations as to why this is important, but it boils down to that stem cells collected from umbilical cord blood from a donated cord after the birth of a baby is an ethical way to harvest stem cells for the prevention and curing of diseases.

You can also check out the cord registry site here. But more important, >here is the list of over 60 diseases that have been treated using cord blood since 1988.

Donations centers for cord blood listed here.

It's NFP* Awareness Week!

2009-07-19T09:12:00.003-04:00

*NFP = Natural Family Planning

Hello folks, and welcome to the joy of sex for Christians (and anyone else who'd like to refrain from the moral and physical dangers of contraception!)

Now that we've got your attention... enjoy these links about this subject:

An overview from the US Bishops

The Couple to Couple League

Faith and Family Live does a weekly discussion every Wednesday on this. See a sample here.

~~~~

Church teaching has long guided the approach to NFP... to read some, try these links:

Humanae Vitae also known as "On Human Life."

Evangelium Vitae also known as "The Gospel of Life".

Vacation, Rest and Relaxation for the Glory of God

2009-07-17T14:58:00.006-04:00

My latest article from Today's Catholic Woman. Click on the title link above.

Writer's Wednesday -- Benedict XVI

2009-07-15T01:27:00.002-04:00

Charity in truth, to which Jesus Christ bore witness … is the principal driving force behind the authentic development of every person and of all humanity. Love — caritas — is an extraordinary force which leads people to opt for courageous and generous engagement in the field of justice and peace. ….

All people feel the interior impulse to love authentically: love and truth never abandon them completely, because these are the vocation planted by God in the heart and mind of every human person. The search for love and truth is purified and liberated by Jesus Christ…and he reveals to us in all its fullness the initiative of love and the plan for true life that God has prepared for us.

In Christ, charity in truth becomes the Face of his Person, a vocation for us to love our brothers and sisters in the truth of his plan.

-----

Charity is at the heart of the Church's social doctrine. .. according to the teaching of Jesus… It gives real substance to the personal relationship with God and with neighbour; it is the principle not only of micro-relationships (with friends, with family members or within small groups) but also of macro-relationships (social, economic and political ones). ..

For the Church…. instructed by the Gospel, charity is everything because… everything has its origin in God's love, everything is shaped by it, everything is directed towards it. Love is God's greatest gift to humanity, it is his promise and our hope.

-----

Only in truth does charity shine forth, only in truth can charity be authentically lived. Truth is the light that gives meaning and value to charity. That light is both the light of reason and the light of faith, through which the intellect attains to the natural and supernatural truth of charity: it grasps its meaning as gift, acceptance, and communion.

Without truth, charity degenerates into sentimentality. Love becomes an empty shell, to be filled in an arbitrary way.

In a culture without truth, this is the fatal risk facing love. It falls prey to contingent subjective emotions and opinions, the word “love” is abused and distorted, to the point where it comes to mean the opposite.

-----

A Christianity of charity without truth would be more or less interchangeable with a pool of good sentiments, helpful for social cohesion, but of little relevance. In other words, there would no longer be any real place for God in the world.

---Pope Benedict XVI's new social encyclical Caritas in Veritate ("Love in Truth.") The quotes above are excerpts from paragraphs 1, 2, 3, and 4.

[Photo credit].

Among Women Podcast #16

2009-07-14T18:27:00.004-04:00

Join us for this week's Among Women podcast. Topics include how women can change the world. Plus Pat offers a brief reading of excerpts from Pope Benedict XVI's new social encyclical Caritas in Veritate.

"Blessed are They" features Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha's feast day (today), and "Among Women" discusses Christian service and "action" with Franciscan sister and professor, Sr. Joan Mueller, author of "Living a Spirituality of Action: A Woman's Perspective".

The Domestic Church (and House and Garden)

2009-07-13T17:59:00.004-04:00

My latest on CatholicMom.com is linked above.

(True confession.... this was inspired by the combox over at Faith & Family Live... but I had way too much to say to fit in that forum!)

About persevering in faith....

2009-07-10T07:12:00.002-04:00

My article at Today's Catholic Woman.

Wading into the Catechism

2009-07-09T07:24:00.003-04:00

Today, I'm featured over at Faith & Family Live!

Writer's Wednesday - Blessed Mariam Baouardy

2009-07-08T02:18:00.001-04:00

My enraptured spirit contemplates all you works.

Who can speak of You, O God so great!

Omnipotent ONe, my soul is carried away!

His wonderful beauty delights my soul.

Who can tell what the Almighty looks upon?

One look!

You who gaze at me, come to me, a little nothing,

I cannot remain here on earth, my soul longing.

Call me close to You, awaken me.

You alone, my God, my All.

The heavens, the earth, the sun rejoice at your Name so great.

I see You, supreme goodness: you gaze is maternal.

My Father, my Mother, it is in You that I sleep,

It is in You that I breathe. Awaken!

My soul is mad with yearning, it can do no more, take it.

When will we see Him forever world without end!

----A hymn of praise from Blessed Mariam Baouardy;

excerpt from Rhonda Chervin's Prayers of the Women Mystics.

Among Women Podcast #15

2009-07-07T11:57:00.003-04:00

This week's episode features some thoughts about Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, and also a book giveaway of her writings. Among Women's guest is writer/blogger Kate Wicker. Kate and Pat discuss the struggles and joys of mothering young families.

Envoy Institute Conference is next weekend!!

2009-07-05T05:40:00.000-04:00

Sign up now for Envoy Institute's Answering Atheism and the Culture of Doubt! Great speakers include Patrick Madrid, Dawn Eden, Ken Hensley and more.

Still Proud to be an American

2009-07-04T02:52:00.000-04:00

Among Women, runner up to Catholic Moments (and all is right with the world!)

2009-07-03T21:55:00.002-04:00

Who could complain coming in second to the incomparable Lisa Hendey of the Catholic Moments? Not me! Lisa has been a source of inspiration through my entire initiation into the podcasting world. It is a pleasure to be in her good company. Indeed, I'm her fan. But I'm most honored to be her friend.

Thanks to those who took the time to vote!

(And yes, AW also placed 4th in both the "Best New Podcast" and the "Most Spiritual" categories.) Again, thanks to you! Click on the title link above to see all the results.

I've been writing about faith lately

2009-07-03T09:49:00.002-04:00

Here's a few recent article on Today's Catholic Woman regarding the characteristics of faith:

"What Does Our Faith in God Imply?"

"Faith is your RSVP to God"

"The Duet of Faith and Reason"

Twick or Tweet!

2009-07-03T09:22:00.002-04:00

More scary than halloween.... I'm now on Twitter.

Writer's Wednesday - Edith Stein

2009-07-01T01:03:00.000-04:00

When the bride gives her consent at the wedding.... she becomes a special organ in the Mystical Body of Christ.

The Church subsists on the life of grace streaming from Christ... it transmits to ever new members in perpetual fruitfulness. So is the woman -- as a visible symbol of the Church -- called to increase the number of God's children by imparting natural life and the life of grace. She is, in consequence, an essential organ of the fruitfulness of the Church. She is strengthened by grace for her vocation, as long as she does her utmost to remain a living member of the Church and to lead a married life in the sense of the Church.

--- Edith Stein, Essays on Woman, Collected Works.

Among Women Podcast, episode #14

2009-06-30T23:42:00.002-04:00

The latest Among Women podcast features discussion on the new movie, The Stoning of Soraya M, and a reflection on the adulterous woman in John 8.

Our guest is Catholic professor Ann Orlando of St. John's Seminary in Brighton MA. Dr. Orlando's field of study is patristics theology -- the study of the Church Fathers. Join us for a discussion on the relevancy of the Church Fathers for our life and times today!

Back from Texas!

2009-06-30T13:34:00.004-04:00

I've been off-line for a few days, enjoying the Catholic New Media Celebration down in San Antonio. Standing on my left in the photo is my husband's delightful cousin, Irene Chard, who, together with her charming husband Randy (the photographer), hosted me and chauffeured me around for the weekend. We are pictured at the famous Riverwalk in downtown San Antonio, a few steps from the Alamo... we are en route to margeritas and a Tex-Mex supper! (And you can barely tell it was over 100 degrees out!)

For video of the talks and events that I experienced in person, go here. I'll be talking about it on the next Among Women podcast, episode 14. You can also find more pics at the Among Women Podcast Friends group on Facebook.

The Catholic New Media celebration was great day to meet with Catholic bloggers and podcaster from around the globe!

I just got back last night, thanks to hours of flight delays due to storms in the Dallas-Fort Worth area... but glad to be back in the saddle here in rainy New England, where we continue to have a very damp June!

Watch the Catholic New Media Celebration in San Antonio

2009-06-26T08:08:00.001-04:00

As this posts, I'm packing my bag to get ready to fly down to San Antonio, Texas to take part of the Catholic New Media Celebration... looking forward to meeting Catholic bloggers and podcasters from around the USA and the world.

Use this link to see the UStream version of the Celebration on Friday and Saturday!

Writer's Wednesday - Hadewijch

2009-06-24T03:49:00.000-04:00

No matter how sad the season and silent the birds,

brave hearts enduring pain willingly --

for Love -- have no need of sadness.

They know and understand all things instead --

sweetness and cruelty, joy and sorrow --

they know everything must be lived through for Love's sake.

Patience.

--- Hadewijch, a Christian mystic. (1150-1200 ad.)

[Photo Credit.]

Among Women Podcast, episode #12

2009-06-23T13:31:00.000-04:00

This week's episode features the life and writing of Christian mystic, St. Gertrude the Great. Our guest is Joy Davis. Together, Pat and Joy discuss Joy's life of faith and her journey from the Baptist Church into the Catholic Church, where she now serves as a Director of Religious Education and a Youth Minister.

Find Among Women podcast links in the sidebar, or search iTunes!

Visit CatholicMom.com today....

2009-06-23T10:54:00.003-04:00

...the creators of The Meal Box are talking it up on how we can have better exchanges over the family meal times!

Ask questions! Make comments! Get over there!

Recent articles on Today's Catholic Woman

2009-06-22T21:39:00.003-04:00

My recent articles answer these questions:

What Does our Faith Imply?

What does it mean in practice for a person to believe in God?

Get the RSS feed for my weekly column here.

Writer's Wednesday - Blessed Teresa of Calcutta

2009-06-17T05:07:00.001-04:00

Prayer is not asking. Prayer is putting oneself in the hands of God, at his disposition, and listening to his voice in the depths of our hearts.

~~~~~~~~

We must improve our prayer and, flowing from that, our charity toward others. It can be difficult to pray when we don't know how, but we can help ourselves through the use of silence. Souls of prayer are souls of great silence. The silence takes a lot of sacrifice, but if we really want to pray, we must be ready to take that step now. Without this first step toward silence, we will not be able to reach our goal, which is union with God.

----Mother Teresa, Mother Teresa, Her Essential Wisdom, Edited by Carol Kelly-Gangi.

Among Women makes a headline at Catholic Exchange

2009-06-12T09:13:00.002-04:00

Check out Cheryl Dickow's article about Among Women at the link above, and then pass me a hanky so I can wipe the tear from eye!

Cheryl-- I can feel the love! Thank you!

Also, my latest article over at Catholic Exchange is up today too!

Writer's Wednesday - Henri de Lubac

2009-06-10T04:06:00.001-04:00

The development of dogma is an objective phenomenon which has unfolded down through the centuries. But it really does not lead us any farther than the Creed itself. All it ever does is to clarify it. Contrary to what the expression might suggest, it does not involve either any true growth or continued progress. It is much less a linear unfolding than a perpetual reaction to surrounding circumstances, as history endlessly changes them, in view of maintaining, protecting and making the faith relevant.

----Henri De Lubac, The Christian Faith.

Among Women Podcast, episode #11

2009-06-09T18:03:00.003-04:00

This week's episode features the life and times of pro-life saint, mother, and physician, St. Gianna Beretta Molla. And our guest is the delightful writer and blogger, Sarah Reinhard.

Check it out here or at iTunes.

Don't forget, the Catholic New Media Awards await your vote for the best blogs and podcasts!

I've never been to Texas!

2009-06-09T00:05:00.005-04:00

I'm happy to announce that I'm traveling to San Antonio for the June 27th Catholic New Media Celebration. I had a great time last year, and was inspired to produce Among Women, which is still a neophyte podcast after only 12 weeks in production. But I'm looking forward to learning more, and to meeting up with fans and friends in the ever-growing community within Catholic New Media!

Actually this is really an answered prayer... for a variety of reasons, our finances did permit such a luxury this summer, but some frequent flyer miles combined with the generosity of family members putting me up in their San Antonio home, and well, it all came together...

Not to mention Fr. Jay Finelli -- the iPadre -- told me he was going to pray for my financial situation, so I have him to thank as well!

I feel so blessed to take this trip -- I hope I might see you there, too!

If you were stranded on a desert island... what few books would you wish had with you?

2009-06-06T11:19:00.007-04:00

I recently asked this question of fellow bibliophile Sarah Reinhard, a guest on episode 11 of Among Women, being published on June 9, 2009. While there are many more we could have added, (with the Bible being a 'given').... here are our wish lists:

From Sarah:

Theology of the Body by Christopher West

Man and Woman He Created Them by John Paul II, translation by Michael Waldstein

The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis

The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkein

From Pat:

Life of the Beloved by Henri Nouwen

The Return of the Prodigal Son by Henri Nouwen

Confessions by St. Augustine

Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis de Sales

and, Sarah and I both concur, that we'd both desire a copy of True Devotion to Mary by St. Louis de Montfort.

If you've never read any of these, you might check them out over the summer by clicking on the icon below!

Not Silent on the Subject, Just Been Praying

2009-06-04T00:09:00.004-04:00

There have been a great many eloquent voices in the pro-life movement who have already weighed in on the the tragic death of George Tiller, the abortion provider, who was gunned down while he attended a church service this past week.

Allow me to add my voice to theirs: in NO WAY is the heinous murder of Dr. Tiller justified. Period. May we all pray for this man and for his family. We pray also for the gunman facing charges. By praying for these men, we do not justify their causes, we just commit them to God.

That being said, while I have been praying, and asking the Lord what I can do/say in the midst of this, I came to three things: for the moment, I can write, I can speak, and I can link. These are what I normally do.

And so I am writing. At least my random thoughts, such that they are.

At times like this, all I can offer is my own witness: I am a mother of three children. I believe in the sanctity of life from the womb to the tomb. I do not believe in contraception and I do not believe in abortion as an option to escape from an unwanted pregnancy. I have worked as a Birthright volunteer. I've met the heroic women of all ages who have decided to give birth to their babies. Some were raised by their mothers, some were adopted. Either decision requires heroic virtue on the part of the mother.

I have seen the witness of those who have gone before me. My mother gave birth to me despite a very tumultuous birth experience, and it is only by the grace of God that I survived it. Fortunately, in time, she also gave birth to my two sisters. I'm sure she cried bitter tears over the five miscarriages she and my father suffered through.

Finally, if you are reading this post, it is because your mother gave birth to you. I am typing this post because my mother gave birth to me. Neither one of us is a mistake. God had a plan for us to come into this world, and that plan exists still for all the babies who are in all the wombs of the women around the world. Yes, even the "unwanted" ones. Babies, and women, that is.

And I am "speaking"... the next Among Women podcast, episode 11, will have a few more thoughts on the subject, and I pray for the grace to do just that.

And finally, I can link...

To find Church Teaching regarding abortion, go here.

To answer pro-abortion rhetoric, go here.

Three simple things you can do are here.

If you have lost a child due to abortion, miscarriage, or still birth, go here.

Writer's Wednesday - Edward P. Sri

2009-06-03T03:12:00.000-04:00

A young Protestant man... while flipping through the television stations, came across a strange sight on his TV screen: a Catholic priest talking about the Mass. Struck by the oddity of finding this on television, the young man decided to stop and listen to what the priest had to say. In those few moments his life began to change.

The next morning, he rushed into the office to find a coworker whom he knew to be Catholic. Awestruck by what the priest on TV had said about the Eucharist, the young Protestant needed to share his excitement with somebody who might understand. So with great enthusiasm he told his Catholic friend all he had learned about the Mass.

"I had no idea you Catholics believe Jesus is really present in the Eucharist!"

The Catholic responded, "Yeah, we do."

"That's amazing! So when there's a Mass, you Catholics believe God really becomes present on the altar, that the bread and wine really become Jesus' body and blood, and that you actually receive Him in Communion?"

"Yeah... I think that sounds right."

"So how often does this happen? Once a year? Easter? Christmas?"

The Catholic answered matter-of-factly, "Actually, I think there are Masses every day of the week at most churches, but we only have to go once a week, on Sunday."

"Have to go? What do you mean have to go? If I were Catholic, I'd want to go and receive as I often as I could!!!"

-----Edward P. Sri, "The Heart of the Home: Eucharist and the Bible, Catholic For a Reason

Among Women Podcast, episode #10

2009-06-02T13:22:00.005-04:00

The latest AW, episode 10, (link above) features a reflection about the young martyrdom of St. Maria Goretti and a prayer for survivors of abuse.

Our guest is Cheryl Dickow, publisher at Bezalel books, introducing a great series for Catholic girls (for "tweens"): "All Things Girl".

Don't forget to cast your vote for Among Women, and all your favorite podcasts and blogs over that the Catholic New Media Awards.

Thanks to those who nominated AW... we are grateful for your support!

Three articles on Mary!

2009-06-02T13:12:00.003-04:00

In case you missed it, here's my series from Today's Catholic Woman on Mary in the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

Part 1: "Mary, Hope of Salvation, Obedient in Faith".

Part 2: "The Four Marian Dogmas".

Part 3: "The Masterwork of God".

Among Women podcast is nominated for 5 Catholic New Media Awards!

2009-05-29T10:15:00.003-04:00

AMONG WOMEN: Nominee, Best New Podcast
AMONG WOMEN: Nominee, Best Podcast by a Woman

AMONG WOMEN: Nominee, Best Produced Podcast

AMONG WOMEN: Nominee, Most Spiritual

AMONG WOMEN: Nominee, People's Choice

Okay, so like, now I'm... very much humbled. I thought the little-podcast-that-could had a shot in the New Podcast category... just cuz we are like one of the newest of the newbies on the Catholic Podcasting block, and there are not that many in that category this year, save the lovable Faith and Family Live gals and the wonderful Carmelites. Oh yeah, it's like an honor just to be in their company!

But hey -- who knew? Me thinks we's filling a niche.

So this is really just a Big Fat Smoochy Kiss and Hug out to all the listeners and subscribers out there -- thanks to you for all your loving support. And to all who nominated AW, whoever you are, bless your hearts!

Check out all the nominees here.

And, by all means, cast your votes during June here.

Let's lift up Jesus and bring honor to his mother and ours -- Mary! And pray a rosary together while we're at it!

Writer's Wednesday - Benedict XVI

2009-05-27T01:16:00.001-04:00

From the 43rd World Day of Communications

and the

Pope's New Website (linked above)

The desire for connectedness and the instinct for communication that are so obvious in contemporary culture are best understood as modern manifestations of the basic and enduring propensity of humans to reach beyond themselves and to seek communion with others. In reality, when we open ourselves to others, we are fulfilling our deepest need and becoming more fully human. Loving is, in fact, what we are designed for by our Creator. Naturally, I am not talking about fleeting, shallow relationships, I am talking about the real love that is at the very heart of Jesus’ moral teaching: "You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength" and "You must love your neighbour as yourself" (cf. Mk 12:30-31). In this light, reflecting on the significance of the new technologies, it is important to focus not just on their undoubted capacity to foster contact between people, but on the quality of the content that is put into circulation using these means. I would encourage all people of good will who are active in the emerging environment of digital communication to commit themselves to promoting a culture of respect, dialogue and friendship.

Those who are active in the production and dissemination of new media content, therefore, should strive to respect the dignity and worth of the human person. If the new technologies are to serve the good of individuals and of society, all users will avoid the sharing of words and images that are degrading of human beings, that promote hatred and intolerance, that debase the goodness and intimacy of human sexuality or that exploit the weak and vulnerable.

The new technologies have also opened the way for dialogue between people from different countries, cultures and religions. The new digital arena, the so-called cyberspace, allows them to encounter and to know each other’s traditions and values. Such encounters, if they are to be fruitful, require honest and appropriate forms of expression together with attentive and respectful listening. The dialogue must be rooted in a genuine and mutual searching for truth if it is to realize its potential to promote growth in understanding and tolerance. Life is not just a succession of events or experiences: it is a search for the true, the good and the beautiful. It is to this end that we make our choices; it is for this that we exercise our freedom; it is in this - in truth, in goodness, and in beauty - that we find happiness and joy.

----Benedict XVI

Among Women Podcast, episode #9!

2009-05-26T22:21:00.004-04:00

The latest episode of Among Women features a look at the life of St. Therese of Lisieux, and we visit with Rose Connolly, a wife-mother-CPA who gives us her take on faith, family, and finances!

To listen or download, go to My Catholic Voice, listed in the sidebar, or iTunes. Or visit the Among Women homepage.

Among Women Podcast is NEW & NOTABLE at iTunes!

2009-05-26T22:15:00.005-04:00

As of today, Among Women appeared on Page One of the iTunes "New and Notable" Podcasts in the "Christianity" division, and on Page Three in the "Religion and Spirituality" division.

Thank you for all of your support, and for subscribing, listening, praying, and pushing play.

I am humbled, and grateful. Please pray for this ministry as we go forward together! Feel free to leave a comment below... or better yet -- leave one on the iTunes homepage for AW!

Implanting

2009-05-26T08:23:00.001-04:00

I am a living witness to the miracle of modern medical implant technology. I have three implants, to be precise. None of which were on my life’s “to do” list. All of which were results of unexpected medical maladies. Despite my scars, I’ve learned what God implants in us, is more important and requires more faith than what it takes to submit to reconstructive surgery.

(Note: If you are squeamish about medical procedures, skip over the next paragraph.)

Most recently, I’ve had a new tooth implanted into my jawbone by a skilled periodontist. But that was pretty small compared to the work my orthopedist did: implanting a new titanium hip replacing the one that was ruining my gait for years. And back in ‘96, an amazing medical team removed tissue and muscle from one side of my body and re-implanted it on the other side to aid my recovery from breast cancer.

Each implant renewed my life in some way, reclaiming it from disease and deformity.

In each case success was not measured by the skills of the surgeons, important as that may be. Success was first measured by how well what was implanted worked in “natural” harmony with my body, and how strongly the implant bonded with my bones. But the ultimate success came later, measured by what I could do following the implant. Could I do new things that I previously could not? Was I changed for the better?

This has application to the spiritual life. Especially when things in our life are broken.

If we let God in and give him access to our most difficult and hurting parts of life, he will supply what we need most.

If we let God touch and treat what is hurting in us, he will act as a gentle, loving, and compassionate surgeon – taking us through the hard thing with hope – by correcting what is diseased or deformed in us.

In time, the scars will fade and we will find ourselves able to do new things.

But first, we have to humbly submit to the work God wants to do in us. He wants to bring us to wholeness (and holiness) because He loves us.

Sometimes Christians call this idea “being open to the action of the Holy Spirit.”

Maybe the surgical implant analogy is too strong for all cases.

How about the work of the farmer, or the tiller of the soil? They cut and break open the soil in order to have it receive the seed.

Recall Jesus and the Parable of the Sower (Luke 8: 5-15 NAB): The good soil gives the greatest yield, for it was most open and best prepared to receive the seed – the word of God. The rich soil allows the seed to take root, and grow into a study plant.

In fact, Jesus compares the good soil to the persons “who, when they have heard the word, embrace it with a generous and good heart, and bear fruit through perseverance (v.15).”

This implies that being open to the word is not always easy, but worthy of the effort.

Sometimes the Holy Spirit gives us a word from the Lord that we to need to take in yet have trouble heeding. Sometimes a hard-yet-loving word requires some kind of permanent change in us. But it is for our own good – for our flourishing. Intuitively, we know this deep down, and can almost feel the relief it brings.

Conversion, renewal, and even, healing, begins when we humbly accept that word of God… by opening ourselves up, as the earth accepts the seed, or more radically, like giving our consent for the surgeon’s scalpel.

After taking it in, we must let God’s holy word (his will for us) take root, or perhaps, let it fuse with our bones. This way, God’s word becomes one with us, so we can live and move with it “naturally”.

What is God planting in you these days? Is there an opening for his word to get inside of you?

Openness, and then surrender to the word – to what God is planting in us – is the key to Christian life. Nothing will ever grow, and certainly, nothing will ever get healed in us, unless we first surrender.

God can plant his word in us, but it bears fruit when we cooperate and act with it. Our actions must become one with that word. James 1: 21b-22 NAB emphatically reminds us:

“Humbly welcome the word that has been planted in you and is able to save your souls. Be doers of the word and not hearers only.”

God’s got his own miracle to implant in you: Receive the word. Then do it.

ALL for Mary!

2009-05-25T09:36:00.003-04:00

There's a "Mary Moments"Carnival over at Sarah Reinhard's Just Another Day of Catholic Pondering... so check it out! Yours truly has submitted an archived piece on how Mary has "mothered" me. Other bloggers are participating throughout the day, so check back now and then.

Also Sarah is also a guest blogger this week over at Faith and Family Live. Her topics will revolve around Mary, as we close out this month of Mary, so check out her first post!

The Catholic Writer's Conference -- this August 5-7!

2009-05-23T13:30:00.003-04:00

Calling all Catholic Writers! The Catholic Writer's Guild Conference should be part of your summer plans.

Check it out!

Writer's Wednesday - Alan Schreck

2009-05-20T02:39:00.000-04:00

Jesus called the church "my church'... (Mt 16:18).

Jesus will never leave or abandon his church because he loves it to the point of dying for it on the cross...

The fulfilment of Jesus' work of preparing his bride, the church, for himself is described in the Book of Revelation. Christ, the Lamb of God, weds his bride, the church, at the end of time:

"'... the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to be clothed with fine linen, bright and pure'--for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints." (Rev. 19:7-8).

This is what God is doing in human history. He is forming a people, a bride for his Son Jesus Christ, and purifying the church so it will be ready when Christ comes again in glory. We know the work of purification is not yet complete. Although we can see the "the righteous deeds of the saints," we also know that there is still sin in the church, for Christ came not to call the righteous, but sinners (Lk. 5:32). Yet in spite of the evident sin and weakness of the church, Christ still loves it enough to die on the cross for his people, the church.

It is evident that the history of the church is marked by both sin and weakness as well as by the grace and protection of God. This is because the church is not only a divine reality but also human, like Jesus himself. Unlike Jesus, however, the church is not totally free from sin and being conformed into the image of Jesus, the head of the church. The Gospels are full of stories of sinners being redeemed -- prostitutes, the self-righteous, and even apostles like Peter. All of them needed mercy and forgiveness. What is true in the Gospels is true in the church throughout history.

In spite of the sin in the church today and in history, Christians are not called to criticize or to sit in judgment over the church but to love the church as Jesus does. We, as members of the church, are sinners ourselves. Yet Jesus loves us enough to die for us to free us from our sin and weakness. The same is true of the church as a whole. Despite it's sinfulness, Christ loves the church and looks upon it as his beloved Bride. God is at work to purify and renew his people, his church. Each of us should say, with Cardinal Suenens, "I love the church, wrinkles and all!" We love the church, in spite of imperfections, because Jesus Christ loves it and died to redeem his people.

-----Alan Schreck, href="http://www.catholiccompany.com/catholic-books/1011847/Compact-History-Catholic-Church/?aid=1951">The Compact History of the Catholic Church.

Among Women Podcast, episode #8

2009-05-19T15:20:00.002-04:00

This week's episode features a look at the life of St. Rita of Cascia, who is the patron of lost causes and impossible situations, especially as they apply to marriages. Then, we talk with Dr. Mary Healy, a scripture scholar and author, as she delves into the first volume, The Gospel of Mark, of a new Catholic Commentary series. In it, she unlocks some of Jesus' teaching on marriage as found in Mark 10.

If you are not much of a bible reader, but would like to be, I invite you to listen to this podcast and check out Dr. Healy's suggestions for getting to know God's Word!

Listen online at AmongWomenPodcast.com or click on the sidebar for MyCatholicVoice.com. Or, search iTunes for AMONG WOMEN.

May honors Mary!

2009-05-19T15:17:00.001-04:00

Check out my latest on Catholic Exchange.

The Stoning of Soraya M.

2009-05-15T15:44:00.004-04:00

I went to a Boston pre-screening for this powerful film.

Sitting next to me was my pal, movie reviewer Leticia Velasquez, so, please read her accurate review here.

I was deeply moved and affected by this film, just as I was by The Passion of the Christ. People openly wept in the theatre.

Put it on your must-see list when it opens June 26th.

A few caveats:

1) This is R-rated, and not a film for children or for impressionable younger teens. This is one of those that if you think you want your teens to view it, go view it first yourself as a parent, then decide.

2) While being promoted to many Christian markets, this is not about Christianity. In fact, the main characters are Muslims. Yet it is more than a film about them. It's about humanity. And our inhumanity to one another because of sin. Therefore, there are many universal themes and moral lessons applicable to people of all faiths and ethnicities and cultures.

3) You will want to make sure this one innocent woman, Soraya, did not die in vain.

4) You will want to pray deeply over this passage from John 8:7...

And [Jesus]... stood up and said to them, "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her."

An Immediate Day Brightener!

2009-05-15T15:42:00.003-04:00

Click on the above link for an inspiring video.

HT: Lisa @ CatholicMom.com.

Among Women Podcast, episode #7

2009-05-13T15:51:00.003-04:00

Click on the title link to hear the latest episode of Among Women. (Or find it on iTunes.) (Or download it from My Catholic Voice.) It features an extended look at the message of Fatima, plus a conversation recounting my own pilgrimage to Fatima back in 1998 with my guest, Jane Richard.

Trivia: that picture above of Our Lady of Fatima is a photo of the 30" statue I brought back on the plane from that trip.

Writer's Wednesday - Sr. Lucia, Visionary of Fatima

2009-05-13T00:30:00.000-04:00

Today is the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima.

On May 13, 1917, the Blessed Virgin Mary began a series of apparitions to three peasant children, calling for much prayer and penance. Two of the visionaries, Jacinta and Francisco Marto, died at young ages and have already been beatified, and the third, Lucia, who died recently has be "fast-tracked" toward beatification by Benedict XVI.

Lucia was the oldest, and she lived until recently, dying in her 90s. Here is a short excerpt from her memoirs, (but there is so much more to learn about the message of Fatima, please use the links below.)

Our Lady told me that she would never forsake me, and that her Immaculate Heart would be my refuge and the way that would lead me to God. As she spoke these words, she opened her hands, and from them streamed a light that penetrated to our inmost hearts. I think that, on that day, the main purpose of that light was to infuse in us a special knowledge and love for the Immaculate Heart of Mary... from that day onwards, our hearts were filled with a more ardent love for the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

----These words are taken from Sr. Lucia's memoirs, Fatima in Lucia's Own Words, but this version may be out of print, but there are many available in later editions.

+++++++

Everything you want to know about Fatima, is here on the official Shrine page.

Allow me to point you toward this video of a procession of Mary "walking" amid here children (pilgrims) at the Fatima Shrine on a feast day.

For a virtual photo tour of Fatima today, go here.

Joy as the Fruit of the Holy Spirit

2009-05-11T14:22:00.001-04:00

My latest at Today's Catholic Woman.

Catch up on Joy

2009-05-07T01:18:00.000-04:00

Here's an update of some of my recent articles over at Today's Catholic Woman:

Rediscovering Sunday as a day of Joy

The Joy List

Send this to your pastor and bishop and other Catholic men and women of influence

2009-05-06T17:37:00.006-04:00

The link about is a primer presentation (audio, plus powerpoint) on Catholic New Media called "The Church of Tomorrow Today". It features the founder of My Catholic Voice, and it is really geared for people (especially clergy) who may not be initiated in Web 2.0 -- the new media.

(Especially for us 40+ folks--Lord help us!-- like me.)

In the waning weeks of the Year of St. Paul... let's get busy and take our evangelizing to the new media.

BTW, if you want to download my Among Women podcast from a format other than using iTunes, click on the link to My Catholic Voice in the side bar. I really want to support this new ministry that is striving to serve the Church with safeguards that cannot be found on You Tube or iTunes.

Among Women Podcast, episode #6

2009-05-06T16:56:00.003-04:00

Among Women introduces the newest Catholic saints. Plus we welcome Catholic writer/bloggers Leticia Velasquez and Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur. (That's them in the photo, l to r, with yours truly.)

Check it out at the link above, at AmongWomenPodcast.com, or download it from MyCatholicVoice.com.

Writer's Wednesday - Pope John Paul II

2009-05-06T04:40:00.002-04:00

Do not fear to take Mary as your mother on the journey of life! May Mary be a model for your of how to follow Jesus. Do not be afraid of confiding in her, of entrusting to her maternal hands every problem, every anxiety, every expectation, and every project. Above all, trust her with the project that concerns your whole life: your vocation, in the sincere gift of what you are, for your own self-fulfillment.

-----Pope John Paul II, John Paul II, A Marian Treasury.

[About the photo: This is the "Totus Tuus" icon in St. Peter's Square in the Vatican. John Paul II commissioned this image after the assassination attempt on his life, in gratitude for the Madonna's protection and assistance during his recovery."]

MSNBC Poll on the motto "In God We Trust"

2009-05-05T10:56:00.002-04:00

It will be interesting to see if the results of this poll get reported. The question posed by MSNBC is:

Should the motto "In God We Trust" be removed from U.S. currency?

Why not take a moment and vote? At this posting, there have been over 14 million responses.

Among Women Podcast, episode #5

2009-04-29T07:30:00.004-04:00

The topic's this week include the inspiration of Mary Magdalene's post-resurrection exclamation, "I have seen the Lord", and guest Colette Crowley and myself discuss ministries for mothers.

You can also enter a drawing for this CD, Praying the Way of the Cross.

Writer's Wednesday - Vincenzia Krymow & M. Jean Frisk

2009-04-29T03:28:00.003-04:00

Strawberry

Fragaria vesca

a plant that symbolizes the fruitfulness of Mary

Sometimes medieval artists painted Mary in a robe woven with strawberry patterns. The strawberry is a fruit that has no stone [pit], no thorns and can be eaten whole. Hence it is a reminder of paradise, where the gifts were gathered in love's effortless toil. Its white blossom signified to the painter Christ's incarnation in the Spirit-filled fruitfulness of the Virgin Mary whose cooperation helps restore the lost garden.

The strawberry pattern, symbolizing abundant fruitfulness and woven into Mary's garment, also reminds us of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. We do not keep them for ourselves; they are meant to be shared, poured out for the wholesomeness of the Church and all her children.

The lowly strawberry sends its runners quietly along the ground looking for places to attach itself and form a new plant. In our gardens, the strawberry takes patience and work. Its runners must be carefully transplanted to ensure new growth. It is the same with divine gifts. Mary, show us how to cultivate them and share them.

---From Mary's Flowers, by Vincenzia Krymow (with meditations by M. Jean Frisk). (2002).

Among Women Podcast, episode #4

2009-04-28T09:48:00.002-04:00

Last week's show features a look at St. Catherine of Siena (whose feast day it is today!) Plus a conversation with Dr. Elizabeth Dreyer, and her new book series Called to Holiness for Catholic women.

This week's show should be posted later tonight!

Ambassador Mary Ann Glendon declines Notre Dame's award and invitation to speak at commencement alongside Pres. Obama

2009-04-27T17:37:00.002-04:00

From Proverbs 31: 25- 31.

[25] Strength and dignity are her clothing,
and she laughs at the time to come.
[26] She opens her mouth with wisdom,
and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
[27] She looks well to the ways of her household,
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
[28] Her children rise up and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
[29] "Many women have done excellently,
but you surpass them all."
[30] Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
[31] Give her of the fruit of her hands,
and let her works praise her in the gates.

Writer's Wednesdays - Esther Burroughs

2009-04-22T02:55:00.000-04:00

While this book is for women who may become mentors of other women, in terms of spiritual direction... it has a lot to say to us to all Church members:

In today's world, the best models for many are not their fathers and mothers, but their teachers, coaches, and other outside influences. There is a real need for the church family to choose to become involved in whta has become known as spiritual parenting. Parents in this culture, living a distance from their immediate families, need spiritual parenting. The Church has so much to share, to model, and to use in mentoring.

We are in desparate need of mature women -- I mean mature mentally and spiritually, not physically -- who are willing to show God at work in their lives. Age is not a determining factor.

I have a friend named Beth whose longtime walk with God has been tested in the fires of hurt -- a wayward daughter, a son struggling to find work, another daughter with a metally handicapped child, and a mother with Alzheimer's disease. Her strength through crises and her approachable manner have marked her a woman to call for compassionate counsel. Many women consider Beth their mentor.

Don't let age be an issue. Let life's lessons be the qualifier. Mature women will cultivate love in another woman's life because of the King's presence in her life...

Age is not nearly as important as what you have to give. Mentoring, in many ways, means using the best part of yourself to help another see and become the best they can be. Using what you know and what you have experienced, draw up alongside another woman and work side-by-side with her, teaching her and guiding her as you go!

---Esther Burroughs, A Garden Path to Mentoring. (1997)

[Photo credit.]

Today is Divine Mercy Sunday!

2009-04-19T01:12:00.001-04:00

Easter Saturday - God's Word to Act On

2009-04-18T01:08:00.000-04:00

It is impossible for us not to speak about
what we have seen and heard.

--St. Peter and St. John, Acts 4:20.

The Quantum Leap, of Days and Years

2009-04-17T23:23:00.003-04:00

When you are closer to being 50-something, rather than 40-something, as I am, you start to pay attention to numbers. (And I don’t just mean your weight, your blood pressure, and cholesterol numbers.)

Recently I’ve been reflecting on my 40s, and realized that they had a great many similarities to “the 40s” I’ve encountered in my bible reading and recent spiritual journeying. In other words, they’ve been a real preparation and testing for what God has in store for me next. These days, my personal life is curiously reflecting the liturgical calendar.

But back to the Bible for a moment…

Noah experienced 40 days and nights of rain before the clouds parted. The Hebrew people had 40 years of wandering in the desert before entering the Promised Land. Even Jesus spent 40 days in the desert before his public ministry, not to mention encountering temptation by the devil out there. Am I seeing any patterns here?

Recently, we as a Church have come through 40 days of Lent, in preparation for the celebration of Easter, a liturgical cycle we Catholics repeat annually.

Now, without sharing the annoying details, it is sufficient to say that my life has had its own share of depressing amounts of “rainfall.” At times, there have been extended “desert trials”, and certainly, aimless wandering about. The devil has even tripped me up a time or two. But, still we press on, right? We hope in God’s promises and his mercies being new every morning. (Cf. Lamentations 3: 21-24.)

This year, my Lent, while fruitful, had me pining for Easter more zealously than in previous years.

Thankfully, at Easter, I had a real experience of Easter joy bursting forth, and breaking out. Like a new era dawning, the Easter renewal I experienced was more than a day… but a new reality… a new beginning timed to this new stage of life that I’m entering… almost reaching 50 and beyond.

Again, something “liturgical” kept my rapt attention: the Church keeps celebrating the joy of the resurrection long after the Easter candy is gone. In fact, Eastertide, in the liturgical calendar is a 50-day season – longer than the 40 days of Lent – just to prove a point.

The Catechism tells us “beginning with the Easter Triduum as its source of light, the new age of the Resurrection fills the whole liturgical year with its brilliance.” (CCC 1168.)

This Easter light and joy is ever unfolding and expansive, as we find in the Scripture readings associated with this part of the liturgical cycle. We note the Holy Spirit works overtime to expand and transform the Church from a small band of disciples to a tour de force within the Roman Empire.

This joy is meant to expand our own lives as well, transforming us by the power of the Holy Spirit being unleashed in new ways.

The Catechism continues, “Easter is not simply one feast among others, but the ‘Feast of feasts,’ the ‘Solemnity of solemnities,’ just as the Eucharist is the ‘Sacrament of sacraments’…. The mystery of the Resurrection, in which Christ crushed death, permeates with its powerful energy our old time, until all is subjected to him.” [Bold emphasis mine.] (CCC 1169.)

Got that? The power of the Resurrection permeates and energizes our “old” time.

Through Jesus’ glorious redemption of us, the old is passing, the new is coming. What’s “old” about us, paradoxically, is being changed.

There is a quantum leap being made in my life these days.

From a time of planting to a time of harvesting… from a time of preparation to a time of fulfillment… from a time of waiting and wondering, to a time of gratefully experiencing the ride as well as the ultimate destination.

My children are older now. (I have two in their 20s, the other 16.) The “Mommy” I once was is morphing into the mature “Mom” I am. Indeed, the shift is on, and with it, entire new avenues are opening up in my life, giving me more time for prayer, for pursuing new passions, and for work and ministry of a different sort from my Mommy years.

I am just beginning to savor the joy of life as it expands into my 50s. Okay, call it maturity, or hormones, or settling into my own skin. But I call it joy. If fifty is the “downside of the hill” in our youth-entrenched culture, I ought to be picking up speed!

Here’s one more encouraging thought.

I often find the number “50” mentioned in the scripture referencing “jubilee.” The Jubilee came after 50 years. It was a time of deep joy and blessing, of freedom and forgiveness.

Our liturgical calendar places the coming of the Holy Spirit to the Church at Pentecost at 50 days past Easter.

Our society celebrates 50^th anniversaries of marriages and birthdays. Even businesses make note of such a milestone.

I’m still pondering all these things. I’m not making any grand predictions about what’s coming next in my life. But I am looking to embrace this next phase of life, and mothering, as the phase that interprets everything in terms of the radiant light of Easter, and looks eagerly for what the Holy Spirit is up to. Everything, every day, has more meaning when seen in that light.

You may think, what’s the big deal? Isn’t this the normal course of life for a Christian?

Well, let’s just say, yes, I knew this before, but now I know it. The one thing maturity teaches you is that there is a heck of a difference between knowing something intellectually, and knowing something by experience.

Lord Jesus, let me live these 50 days, and all my 50s, with Easter joy: jubilant, radiant, and with deep gratitude for all that’s in store! Amen! Alleluia!

Easter Friday - God's Word to Act On

2009-04-17T01:02:00.000-04:00

There is no salvation through anyone else,
nor is there any other name
under heaven given to the human race
by which we are to be saved.

--St. Peter, Acts 4:12.

Easter Thursday: God's Word to Act On

2009-04-16T01:55:00.000-04:00

[Jesus said:]

Touch me and see...

You are witnesses of these things.

(Luke 24: 39; 48.)

Easter Wednesday: God's Word to Act On

2009-04-15T01:54:00.003-04:00

They urged him, "Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over." So he went in to stay with them.

And it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them.

With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight.

(Luke 24: 29-31.)

Writer's Wednesday - Blessed Teresa of Calcutta

2009-04-15T01:33:00.003-04:00

Who is Jesus to Me?

Jesus is the Word made Flesh.

Jesus is the Bread of Life.

Jesus is the Victim offered for our sins on the Cross.

Jesus is the Sacrifice offered at the Holy Mass for the sins of the world and mine.

Jesus is the Word - to be spoken.

Jesus is the Truth - to be told.

Jesus is the Way - to be walked in.

Jesus is the Light - to be lit.

Jesus is the Life - to be lived.

Jesus is the Love - to be loved.

Jesus is the Joy - to be shared.

Jesus is the Sacrifice - to be offered.

Jesus is the Peace - to be given.

Jesus is the Bread of Life - to be eaten.

Jesus is the Thirsty - to be satiated.

Jesus is the Naked - to be clothed.

Jesus is the Homeless - to be taken in.

Jesus is the Sick - to be healed.

Jesus is the Lonely -to be loved.

---Mother Teresa of Calcutta, A Fruitful Branch on the Vine, JESUS. (2000).

Among Women, Episode #3, now available here and at iTunes.

2009-04-14T16:58:00.001-04:00