As I grew older and grew in my faith, I have come to see Lent in a different light. Lent is a time to unite ourselves more closely to Jesus. Our small offerings and sacrifices join in with Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross.  It is also a time to look more closely at ourselves – like an examination of conscience. How often during the year do we really stop and evaluate our spiritual lives? This is often why the church strongly encourages us to go to confession more frequently during Lent.  It is not easy. In fact Jesus pointed out in Mt 7:13 that the way to eternal life is through the narrow gate: “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.”

As a mom, I encourage the kids to go to confession with me. There are many ways for us and our children to examine our conscience, but on Feb 3, 2013, our parish priest offered a new way – one I never thought of before.  His suggestion moved me, so I wanted to share it with you.

At Mass that day, the second reading was from 1Corinthians. During the homily, Father highlighted this paragraph from 1Cor 13:4-8

Love is patient, love is kind.
It is not jealous, it is not pompous,
it is not inflated, it is not rude,
it does not seek its own interests,
it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury,
it does not rejoice over wrongdoing
but rejoices with the truth.
It bears all things, believes all things,
hopes all things, endures all things.

He pointed out how God is Love and therefore:

God is patient, God is kind.
He is not jealous, He is not pompous,
He is not inflated, He is not rude,
He does not seek His own interests,
He is not quick-tempered, He does not brood over injury,
He does not rejoice over wrongdoing
but rejoices with the truth.
He bears all things, believes all things,
hopes all things, endures all things.

Now, we look at ourselves. Where am I strong? Where am I weak? Can I replace the word “Love” with “I”?

I am patient, I am kind.
I am not jealous, I am not pompous,
I am not inflated, I am not rude,
I don’t seek my own interests,
I am not quick-tempered, I do not brood over injury,
I do not rejoice over wrongdoing
but rejoice  with the truth.
I bear all things, believe all things,
hope all things, endure all things.

Not many people can replace “Love” with “I” for everything all the time. However, this is a great way to motivate us to be more like Christ. He is the perfect example. We can use this reflection before Reconciliation, before we go to bed or even as we go through our day. By reflecting on these things, we are asking God, through prayer and reflection, “Am I serving you well?” By doing so, we trust we are heading toward the “narrow gate”.

Copyright 2013 Jennifer Gladen

I recently used a website titled Total Yearbooks. This is an interesting and fun site if you are like me and have a little “scrapbooking mom” in you. I used to scrapbook when my kids were babies, so I couldn’t resist trying this out. The result? Total fun!

Total Yearbooks is a website where you can create a memory book in “three easy steps” and have it shipped to your home. Its main purpose is to provide a means for home schools to create an affordable yearbook. However, there are other templates which can serve scrapbooking families.

For the purposes of this review, I went to the Total Yearbooks website and made a scrapbook of when my girls participated in the high school play “Wizard of Oz” in November.

First, I went to the Total Yearbooks website and created an account. Once I was logged in, it brought me to the “Create a New Project” page.

There were three choices: the “PDF Publisher Wizard,” “Book Designer,” or “Designer Templates.”

I chose Book Designer because here I could drag and drop my uploaded pictures in a template. The PDF wizard is great if you like to design your book from scratch and then upload it. This may be good if you have a specific look you want for the book.  The Designer Templates are for more advanced users who design their own templates and can even sell them.

The Book Designer feature was very easy to use. I played around with it for a few days to get the feel of how it works and uploaded the pictures I wanted to use.  In Book Designer, I easily switched around pages, deleted extras and added or removed photos from my template.

If you are just starting out with Total Yearbooks, I recommend starting with Book Designer. It makes it easy for you to move things around with it until you are happy with your creation.

The first step is to upload your pictures and add them to your template.

In Book Designer, they have a feature called “Auto Fill,” which will automatically add all your photos into your templates. That is a quick and easy way to get your book done, and very convenient if you don’t mind the order of the pictures. However, if you have a pre-planned sequence you want for your book, you should drag and drop each photo manually into the template.

When you’re finished you can add captions to your pages. You can select font, colo,r and size of the text you wish to display. Before clicking “Save,” you can scroll up the page a little bit and click on the text box. Then you can place the box wherever you like on the page.

What happens if you realized you have some pages out of order? Not a problem. Right next to the “Auto Fill” button is an “Arrange Pages” button. When you click on it you can drag the pages in the order your prefer.

Once you are finished designing the book, the second step is to design the cover.

You have an option to upload a picture or just use text. It’s all up to you.  I did find this step a little bit harder to do: I had a hard time figuring out how to change the background colors or go back to an older look I liked, etc.

Once your cover is finished you are ready for the third step, “Webstore Options.”

Since my book was a scrapbook and not a school yearbook, I opted to keep my book private instead of public. However, if your book is for a school or home school, this is the place where you can set up your book to be sold online. You will add your book title, enter a a description, and set a price. If your book is for sale online publicly, be sure to check the box at the bottom right of this page labeled “Availability.”  If it is private, be sure this box is NOT checked.

And that’s it.

When you’re ready, you can purchase your book. Checking out was easy and painless. Prices depended on style and how many pages are in the book.

Overall, I enjoyed using the website and designing a memory book.

It’s been years since I made one for my family, so I think they will enjoy it, too.  I liked how easy it was to upload the pictures and to drag and drop them in the templates. This feature was convenient and saved me a bunch of time.

I also loved how you could easily upload more pictures to your gallery – even while in the middle of the project. Often times I didn’t even have to leave the page I was working on.

My favorite feature on the website, however, is the hover feature. When you are about to drag a photo from your gallery into the template, if you hover for a second an enlarged icon of the photo pops up. This is great because you can see right away if the photo really is the photo you want on this page. It was a great time saver.

One thing I’d like to see more of is more kid-centered and more religious templates. Since this is designed to target home schools, I think both themes would fit in well.

This is a fun website and definitely worth a try.

Have you tried it yet?

Let me know what you think.

The fun for you: a giveaway!

We have a $50 gift certificate for one lucky winner! Leave your name in the comments by Midnight PST on February 14, 2013.

Additional savings: Right now, Total Yearbooks is having a promotion where you can get a free proof copy of your yearbook, no coupon needed. Check it out.

Read more of our Tech Talk columns.

Copyright 2013 Jennifer Gladen

With 2013 well under way now, we’ve had time to look more closely at our New Year resolutions.  Mine have been all over the place from writing a new children’s book, to meeting deadlines, to blogging more consistently to having a perfectly clean house…with three children running around.

Maybe it would have been easier to state, “For 2013 I will be Supermom and Super Writer while working full time.” With New Year’s resolutions, we tend to overdo it.

No matter how we plan to tackle it (yes, I actually searched for an Android app on keeping New Year resolutions), like anything else, if we take on too much we end up overwhelmed, frozen in place, and never really accomplishing much.

So what is one to do – especially if you’re like me and most of the resolutions are ones that need to be met?

As a Catholic Techie, the first place I looked was my Andriod App Store to see if there were any great apps. I saw some free ones, but they appeared to be just advertising boards. Sometimes, the tech world doesn’t have all the answers…yet. I’m sure someone will come up with an app loaded with features to help us meet our New Year’s resolutions. If so, I’d love to try it out and review it!

In the meantime, I have some old fashioned ways of tackling my monstrous resolution list.

Get organized.

Write it out on paper and make a list of your resolutions. Then break it down into easy steps are to meet that resolution.

For example, if your resolution is to have a tidy living room despite all the children who use it, there will be several steps needed to keep this resolution. You will need  one day a week where everyone  does their part to get the room clean:  dust, windex, gather toys that have wandered in the room, straighten blankets, etc. Next, you need to implement rules. For example, all toys must go up to the room after dinner.  Finally before settling in and watching that show the kids have been waiting for all week, have everyone do a quick “sweep” of the room.  Having a plan can help make the resolution manageable.

Plan it on your calendar.

If your resolution is like mine–to blog more or meet deadlines–the simple organizational tool of a calendar could be just the trick.

Plot out deadline dates on your calendar app on your phone. Be sure to set an alarm to remind you a few days ahead of time. This way if you “forgot,” you have some time to get that blog post done or meet that looming deadline. Plan it out as much in advance as possible. Once you get in the routine, this resolution should be easier to reach.

Procrastinate on the procrastination.

Part of my problem is I will procrastinate. “I’ll do it later. I have dishes to do.” Or, “Tomorrow will be better; I’m too tired today.” As Thomas Jefferson once said, “Never put off tomorrow what you can do today.”

Much of what we tell ourselves is an excuse. Many times, there will be time to reach that deadline AND do the dishes.  It’s better to procrastinate on the procrastination. Nobody will miss the habit of procrastinating. This ties in well with the suggestion above of having your goals listed in your phone’s calendar. Glancing at your calendar will definitely help negate the procrastination monger.

As you make your resolutions and try out ways to keep them, I pray these tips are helpful.

What are some ways you have used to keep your resolutions? 

Read more of our Tech Talk columns.

Copyright 2013 Jennifer Gladen

What’s the best way to connect with your child, grandchild or other close child family member? Reading them a story, of course.

Reading to children of all ages boosts language skills, embraces bonds, and teaches valuable life lessons. However, with our military being deployed, and families being separated by cities and multiple states, it can be tough to get a chance to cuddle up with that lovely little one and read a story together. After all, if you are overseas and your child is in Pittsburgh, how can you share a story together?

With the start of a wonderful company, Be There Bedtime Stories, it is now possible for people everywhere to share a bedtime story.

Be There Bedtime Stories is an online service where you purchase a book and record yourself  reading it. When you are finished recording it, you send it on to a lucky recipient. Not only will that child get a great bedtime story, they will get to hear it from a cherished family member who they don’t see everyday.

The creator, Allison Sansone, came up with the idea when she found herself across the country from her nieces who were growing up quickly.  She decided to find a way to read a story using a video camera and allowing her nieces to hear bedtime stories from her on the computer. Now her family could continue to bond, despite being miles apart.

Allison Sansone’s single idea is now a large presence on the internet with over several hundred books to choose from. All you need is a book choice, a webcam, and someone special to send the story to and you are on your way to creating happy moments with that special child (or children) in your life.

Creating a video is easy.

• First go to BeThereBedtimeStories.com and create an account.
• Go to My Account and then My Kids Info. There you can create a kid contact using an e-mail address where you will send the video to.
• Next, click the Bookstore Tab and choose the perfect book for the child you have in mind.
• Click on Try it Free. The Website will check to see if you have a web cam hooked up and will ask if you allow access to the webcam.
• Once you select ALLOW, you will be taken to the book. You should see yourself in the top square above the pages of the book. When you are ready, click record and start reading. If you mess up, don’t worry. You can re-record until you get it right.
• Once you are satisfied with the recording, click on Finish and then Send My Bedtime Story.
• From there, you will be taken to a page to select the child you are sending the book to.
• Click next and check out. Now your story is on its way to that special someone in your life.

Some authors, including yours truly, have a demo you can see before you purchase a book. Check your favorite author websites and facebook pages for exclusive links to some free previews.  Here’s my link to Teresa’s Shadow to start you off.

With the holidays coming up, Be There Bedtime Stories is planning some Buy One Get One offers. Who couldn’t use a good deal this time of year? They also will be doing a Military Family Donation Drive where you can buy a book for military families.

So, go ahead. Have some fun and try it out. Be there for that bedtime story.

Read more of our Tech Talk columns.

Copyright 2012 Jennifer Gladen

A Winning Team

“Let’s go, blue,” parents cheer from the sidelines of the Varsity CYO soccer field. Just a little further and the girls will get their first goal of the game. The ball travels up the field, and “blue” takes a shot at the goal. But the goalie jumps and tips the ball away. The whistle blows. End of the first half. The girls in blue jump up and down, hug each other, and congratulate each other on all their effort.

As I watched them high-five each other and gather around the coach for further instruction, I marvel at their attitude. Though the team hasn’t won many games this season, you would never know it.  No matter what the score is, they’re cheering each other on. “Great job out there,” they’ll say to a newbie on the team who is just learning the ropes.

Once, on a cool, rainy, fall night during a game, one of the girls fell and injured her leg. You could see her struggle to keep her head out of the muddy grass. As her teammates surrounded her, one of them ran behind her and held her head for her.  The girls lost that night, but they cheered each other on once again. Not once did they cast nasty looks at the opposing team. Instead, they displayed a good Christian attitude. They then hugged each other and yelled their team name with pride. They rejoiced in the accomplishments they did achieve.

Their team spirit is one I haven’t seen every day.  Although they haven’t won the most games in their division, this team truly is a winning team. As a Christian, it takes more than just pure skill to be a “winner” in sports – or anything we do.  I’ve learned from the girls that no matter what, it’s worth the effort to keep trying. Rejoice in your successes instead of dwelling in what you didn’t achieve. The girls have learned a valuable life lesson early in their lives. They’ve learned what it takes to truly be a winning team!

Copyright 2012 Jennifer Gladen

It seems we need our computers, phones, and iPods for every moment of the day. Recently something went wrong with my computer and it “forgot” the drivers which help it access the internet. One moment, we were connected. The next, were thrown back to the Pre-Internet Age.  We spent the next day and a half on the phone trying to fix the computer. (I had a deadline, after all.)

While technology is great for work and fun, it can cause an occasion of sin. How can our vital technological devices be an occasion of sin?  It is easy to turn them into an idol. If they become more important than God, our families, or our responsibilities, we could well be facing an occasion of sin.

They can tempt us to spend money on unnecessary things instead of the needs of the family. They can also steal time away from our families that otherwise may have been spent with them. We–or our children–may be exposed to inappropriate material.

There is always a temptation, especially on social networks, to be less than charitable with our neighbor. It happens in almost any conversation, but most often in conversations about religion and politics. It is easy to forget to evangelize online in a Christ-like way.

Having said that, we do live in a tech-savy world and our kids  are accessing the internet at younger and younger ages.

It has become a necessary part of our lives for work, school, and communication. I don’t know how many times I praised God for my family’s cell phones because I was still at work and needed to get in touch with my husband to pick up the kids.

So where can we look to for some protection and avoidance of the near occasion of sin that comes with technology and the internet?

First, I suggest asking your Guardian Angel for help. Our Guardian angel is always with us and is waiting for us to ask its help. No job is too big or too small.

Second, believe it or not, there is a patron saint of computer use. St. Isidore of Seville was a writer in the early 600s of Etymologies (types of dictionaries) which were structured like today’s databases.

The way he compiled and stored information contributed to why he is considered the patron saint of computer use and the internet. We could ask this great saint to intercede for use that we might use the internet and other technology responsibly.

Finally, in my research for this article, I found a prayer by Father Z from his blog What Does the Prayer Really Say. This is a wonderful prayer which we all can benefit from. Print it out, paste it on some colorful scrapbook paper, and post it by your computer.

Try to pray it each time you are logging on to the computer. Thank you, Father Z, for sharing this with us.

A prayer before logging onto the internet

Almighty and eternal God, who created us in Thine image and bade us to seek after all that is good, true and beautiful, especially in the divine person of Thine Only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, grant, we beseech Thee, that, through the intercession of Saint Isidore, Bishop and Doctor, during our journeys through the internet we will direct our hands and eyes only to that which is pleasing to Thee and treat with charity and patience all those souls whom we encounter. Through Christ our Lord.   Amen.

Read more of our Tech Talk columns.

Copyright 2012 Jennifer Gladen

Facebook. Twitter. Blogs. You Tube. Search engines. Online Games.

There are so many things online these days that grab not only our attention, but our children’s attentions.

It is easy for children to spend more time than necessary online. They get caught up in a game or searching the web, and before we know it, they have spent hours on the computer.

Technology is a good thing. It helps us keep in touch with family members who live far from us, or friends we haven’t seen in a while.

For some, such as authors, a great deal of time is needed on the computer for research and writing. We now use every aspect of the internet to spread the Gospel and participate in Pope John Paul’s New Evangelization. The internet is becoming a necessity.

However, as with all good things, it is important to remember the all important word: balance.

If we notice our children are beginning to spend too much time online (via computer, phone, Kindle/Nooks, etc), then we need to take a step back and see if they are over using the internet.

Are they neglecting their regular duties or chores? Is homework being pushed aside? Is the sentence “You’re always on the computer” a top ten saying in your home? Have your children procrastinated on a recent project that was due?

If the answer to any of these questions is “yes” then it just may be time to give the internet a “Time Out.”

Here are some suggestions for giving the internet a healthy Time Out in your home:

Set a reasonable time limit.

This can also help curve arguments among siblings about whose turn it is to use the computer.  Depending on how many siblings your children have, it may be necessary to limit turns to 20 minutes at a time. Keep a timer handy to keep track.

Keep the computer in a central location.

Children will be less likely to spend more time online (and likely accessing inappropriate material) if they know their content can easily be seen.

Get involved.

Be sure your children are involved in other activities besides the internet.  Do they like sports? Dance? Acting? Singing? Writing? There are so many things that our children can choose from to spend their free time.

Do a spontaneous Game Night.

This works especially well on the weekends. Get a favorite family game, popcorn and a drink and play a real life game together instead of a virtual game alone.

Encourage children to call their friends…

…instead of texting or chatting.

Get outside.

Dust off the bikes or soccer ball. Referee a race for the children.

Pull out some crafts.

Have the kids paint a picture or make a bracelet for a friend.

See if they are interested in volunteering.

Maybe they could help the religious education teachers at your parish or sing in the choir.

What else?

There are so many things our children can do instead of surfing the internet.

So, go on and do something different. Give the internet a Time Out!

Read more of our Tech Talk columns.

Copyright 2012 Jennifer Gladen

When we hear the term the “New Evangelization,” we think of large scale ways to spread the Gospel and the message of Christ. While most of the world may know about Jesus and His mission, the Bible and God’s mercy, there is still much to evangelize. Many people tend to fall away from their faith for several different reasons.

Blessed Pope John Paul II said every Christian is called to the New Evangelization. In responding to that call, we have many more tools available than they did back in apostolic times.  Today, we have technology to help us out. With a click of the mouse we can be well on our way to spreading the Good News to the entire world.

What are some ways we can use technology to answer this call?

Before I was aware of the call to the New Evangelization, I realized the need for children to understand the faith in their hearts as well as their minds in order to resist some of the world’s temptations. This led me to develop and run an online Catholic children’s magazine.  I heard the call in my heart and even though I was afraid it was too big for me I put my trust in God and answered the call.

This is a large scale way of evangelizing. However, we can participate in the New Evangelization on a smaller scale, yet still preach to the whole world. We can blog about our faith by setting up a free account on sites like Blogger, WordPress, or my favorite – St. Blogs. Many of my Facebook and Twitter friends have accounts and post articles, quotes, or inspirations all based on the faith and the Gospel.

One caution on social network sites is to always be charitable in comments. The loudest way we evangelize is also the most subtle – our behavior.

Where should you start?

If you’re not much of a writer, but still want to use technology, I suggest using Twitter. There you can post inspirations, links, and quotes up to 140 characters long.

One of the producers on the Son Rise Morning Show (Matt Swaim, @MattSwaim on Twitter) does daily grateful tweets in addition to his other posts. To get an idea, check out his posts or the hashtag #gratefultweet (he has a number of other people inspired to do the same).

Setting up your account is easy. Go to www.twitter.com  and follow these steps:

1. Fill in the form box.
2. Click the “sign up for twitter” button
3. Verify the information on the next page
4. Twitter will walk you through the set up process
5. Select some people to follow.  If you are setting up for the purpose of evangelizing, select some other Catholics to follow such as Lisa Hendey (@LisaHendey), Sarah Reinhard (@peerybingle) or even myself (@JenGl).
6. If there’s a step you want to skip, at the bottom of the page there’s a “skip this step”.  Click that and you’re on to the next step.
7. Upload a profile picture and put a little bio to tell people who you are and what you will tweet about.
8. Then you are done. Think of your first tweet and you are on your way to spreading the good news!

What’s great about Twitter is if you see tweet you liked, you can retweet it so your followers will see it as well.  Enjoy the ride. You can tweet as much or as little as you wish. Visit some of the people you follow for ideas on what to tweet about.

Happy evangelizing!

Read more of our Tech Talk columns.

Copyright 2012 Jennifer Gladen

Something interesting is happening at some of our Catholic and other elementary schools. Children gather, under the supervision of the technology teacher, to form a technology group – or crew. They are running malware checks. They are installing updates. They are meeting together after school to learn more information about computers and their technology.

Mrs. Robin Fisher, at Christ the King Elementary in Philadelphia, PA, calls her group the Tech Crew.  They meet after school once a week and learn about a technology skill in addition to performing routine maintenance in the computer lab.

“Each week,” says Mrs. Fisher, “I try to discuss a topic related to tech – developing software, putting in an operating system or even taking apart a computer to see what’s inside.”

In addition to their meetings, the tech crew has been known to show up in class to rescue a distressed computer –usually with a malware scan or installing important updates.

Inspired by an exhibit at the Pennsylvania Educational Technology Expo and Conference (PETE&C) Mrs. Fisher brought the Tech Crew to Christ the King school. Her crew, like many others, learns how to trouble shoot and repair problems, learns about computer networking, installs updates and software and does many other routine tasks.

Just this year the students learned how to Skype (use software to help participate in online video calls) with a Tech Crew at neighboring school, Our Lady of Calvary. To celebrate, near the end of the year, there was a big “Tech Party” between the two crews.

What a way to end the year – giving the kids a chance to socialize with other Tech Crew colleagues.

Tech Crew programs at these two schools, along with many others around the nation, are giving kids an edge for the future. The kids are learning technology skills which will serve them a lifetime.

“This,” said Mrs. Fisher, “provides another outlet for students to learn different and important skills necessary for the 21^st century.”

Read more of our Tech Talk columns.

Copyright 2012 Jennifer Gladen

Mary’s Cry — Poetry by Jennifer Gladen

I know why
Mother Mary cries.
It’s ‘cause her love
For us supplies,
Streaming tears
Over all our sin,
The block of our
Only Eternal win.

We dwell so tight,
In our desires
We proudly flaunt
Our freedom’s fires.
We hold fast and tight
To our only path.
Dare we Test
His mighty wrath?

Like all the soldiers
In time of old
We taunt Him, slap Him
And are bold.
We reject His Mercy,
Love and Plan
To follow the will
Of fallen man.

“I know better than Him-
Get the gist?”
The demon Pride
Shakes his fist.
“Ignore Humility’s
Desperate cries
Till the light in your soul
Diminishes and dies.”

“Help me, save me,”
We’ll cry at the Gate
But by then we’ll see-
It’s far too late.
We spent our life
Too proud to repent.
Now far from God
Eternity is spent.

These are the things
In her soul that tries.
Yes. This is why
Our Mary cries.

But it need not end
This way, my friend.
He gave us a way
To be free that day.

Just follow His Law
And you’ll be in Awe
Of all He’d do
To prepare for you.

Yes, He loves us all,
Despite how we fall
Heart filled to the brim
But we must choose Him.

So repent and be done
Spend life with her Son
That’s how we try
To stop Mary’s cry.

Copyright 2012 Jennifer Gladen

One of the first apps I installed on my phone was the official Divine Mercy app developed by the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception.

Based on the revelation given to St. Faustina in Poland during the 1930s, this app does more than help you pray the devotion.  While you can use it to pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, it has many other features as well.

The messages given to St. Faustina, including how and why Jesus asked us to use the devotion, are right there in the app.

Another bonus is list of themes from the Diary and the passages that go with them. In these passages we see Jesus discussing these themes and how important they are.  Just these passages alone help us learn much about mercy and kindness.

We begin to see how St. Faustina’s Diary is a good tool to help us change our lives and become more open to His Mercy.  Many lives are changed just by reading the words Jesus gave to St. Faustina.

Now, in this app, you can take them with you on your phone.  I find it great for some inspiration when I need it or a reminder to be charitable and merciful to others.

Under a separate tab is the Devotion section. This is where the Chaplet of Divine Mercy comes in. You can pray the chaplet silently by reading and praying along the beads in the Chaplet section.

There’s also an audio setting where the app reads the prayers aloud. This could be good for when you need your hands or are driving.

In addition to praying the chaplet, there are other icons you can click on to learn more about the history of the Divine Mercy messages. For example, there is information on the Feast of Mercy which we celebrate the Sunday after Easter, and the significance of the 3 o’clock devotion.

This free app is a must have.  It’s available on Android, iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. Search your app manager or go to the app website to download yours.

What better way to put your technology to work for you?

Read more of our Tech Talk columns.

Copyright 2012 Jennifer Gladen

But we can’t do it without our priests. Yes, a few have given the church and the priesthood a bad name. And as our priest said in today’s homily – those priests deserve justice. Without a doubt.
But there are so many unsung heroes in the Church – much more than the few who hurt the Church and its members. Our parish has been blessed with great priest after great priest. For me just their dedication, humility and faithfulness speaks the truth about what our Church is and what it stands for.

When you go to Church today – or any Sunday, listen to what your priest is saying to you. What message is he delivering to you in the Homily? What is Jesus saying to you in the Eucharist?  Yes, there are some “bad priests” out there and they will be held liable – to society and worse – to God.

However, there are many more here serving God justly and faithfully. Yes, there are more than just a “Few Good Priests” out there. They will lead us through the tough times which are imminent. They will help carve the great saints of our time.

Copyright 2012 Jennifer Gladen

Honor your Father and Mother. (Ex 20:12) This is one of the commandments given to Moses so long ago, which we still honor today. In anticipation of Mother’s Day, we celebrate our mothers who raised us, cared for us and nurtured us throughout our lives. They have been there in good times and in bad times. They nursed our bruises, played our games and read us stories at bedtime. They have loved us at our best and loved us at our worst.

It is fitting that Mother’s day occurs in the month of May – the month in which we celebrate Mary. When Jesus gave her to us on the cross (Jn 19:25-27), He gave us a great gift. We now not only have our earthly mothers to guide us through life, but we have our Heavenly mother who guides us to Jesus. Just as she interceded for the people at the Wedding at Cana (Jn 2:1-11), she intercedes for us now before her Son in Heaven.

One gift which she gave us so long ago, but still keeps on giving, is the Rosary. Souls have been saved, lives have been spared, and even wars have been won – all through the prayer of the Rosary. Why? The Rosary is all about meditating on the life of Jesus. Our Heavenly mother once again shows us the path to her Son.

This Mother’s Day, as we celebrate our mothers, take a few minutes and thank your heavenly mother and thank Jesus for giving us his mother. And just as you remember to call your mother here on earth, pick up a Rosary and call your heavenly mother. To think, on the Cross Jesus not only gave us our salvation, but He gave us His own mother. How He must love us so!

Copyright 2012 Jennifer Gladen

We recently passed the 39th anniversary of Roe V Wade On January 22, when abortion became legalized in the US. The amount of lives lost since then is staggering.  As a mom and Infant Teacher who works with babies all day long, I can’t imagine life without any one of these little gifts from Heaven.

One of my modern heroes of the day is Saint Gianna Beretta Molla. Saint Gianna was a wife, mother and physician. When she was pregnant with her fourth child, Gianna Emanuela Molla, serious complications arose. When doctors recommended an abortion as a possible solution to St. Gianna’s medical problems, St. Gianna adamantly refused.

She went on with her pregnancy and even gave strict instructions to her husband, “If you have to decide between me and the child, do not hesitate; I demand it, the child, save it.”

St. Gianna died several days later at the age of 39 from complications of the delivery.  Her daughter, Gianna Emanuela Molla, is now fully grown and following in her mother’s footsteps as a physician.

While Saint Gianna never got a chance to see her daughter grow up, she certainly left her with a great life lesson.  Saint Gianna is a true “Catholic Mom.”

Prayer of St. Gianna

Jesus, I promise You to submit myself to all that You permit to befall me,
make me only know Your will.

My most sweet Jesus, infinitely merciful God, most tender Father of souls, and in a particular way of the most weak, most miserable, most infirm which You carry with special tenderness between Your divine arms, I come to You to ask You, through the love and merits of Your Sacred Heart, the grace to comprehend and to do always Your holy will, the grace to confide in You, the grace to rest securely through time and eternity in Your loving divine arms.

Read more about Saint Gianna here:

• Official website
• Vatican Profile

Copyright 2012 Jennifer Gladen

Walking with Jesus

As we read along and “walk with Jesus”, we easily see similar good and not so good traits in ourselves. However, the passages often leave us with a sense of hope. No matter who was at the foot of the Cross, Jesus was continually seeking the people out. Not just as a group – but as individual people. Just as God knows each of us down to the hairs on our heads and has called us each by name, so Jesus sought each person, individually, from the cross.  As we read, we see these events are just as it is today. Jesus loves, and has died, for each of us – individually. What a great lesson of hope!

As a reader, I found myself breezing through the chapters without pause.  I laughed, I cried, and I smiled. Each chapter I found myself asking, “In what great way will meeting Jesus change this person’s life?” Often in the book, the change is a result from something simple Jesus said or did   – great, but simple.

This book is a must read for everyone, no matter where you are in your spiritual life.  I fully recommend Walking with Jesus to anyone seeking growth in their journey with Jesus.

Order Walking with Jesus at Amazon and support CatholicMom.com with your purchase or order it at the website of Monsignor Daniel Sullivan.

About Monsignor Daniel Sullivan:

Monsignor Daniel Sullivan has been a priest of the diocese of Trenton since 1975.  Learn more about him at: http://www.monsignordanielsullivan.com/My-Philosophy.html

Copyright 2011 Jennifer Gladen

Learn about Monsignor’s heroic mission here:

http://www.monsignordanielsullivan.com/Urgent-Needs-for-Sierra-Leone.html

How do we do that? We make God more than just our Sunday obligation. We must incorporate Him in our entire lives. Here are five suggestions to help you get started.

Read the Bible.  Reading scripture is the ultimate discussion with God. These are His words – The Word.  Just as when we read other things, when we read the Bible, it becomes part of us.

Receive the Eucharist.  As often as possible we should receive the Lord in the Eucharist. This encounter with Jesus welcomes Him into our hearts and soul. With Jesus inside us, we are holy.

Go to regular Confession. This may be the toughest one on the list, but it is essential. If our soul is bogged down with the baggage of sin, how can we lead a holy life? When we go to confession regularly it also helps us to pay more attention to our recurring sins and to stop the habit.

Pray the Rosary. The Rosary is filled with graces.  We are meditating on Jesus’ life and everything He has done for us. With His life always in the front of our minds, we are more likely to live according to God’s will.

Finally, read about the lives of the saints. Each saint lived their lives according to God’s will. Some endured great suffering and others did great deeds. Each story will show you a path to holiness.

Reviewed by Jennifer Gladen

I found this book to be one of the most captivating books I’ve read in a long time. Father Donald Calloway’s story of his journey of faith was inspiring. From the minute I picked up the book, I was hooked. This book can easily be read in a few short days with the way it captivates the reader.

The introduction was a general explanation of the journey toward God that Father Donald traveled. It warns of his “animal-like” behavior in his teen years and asks forgiveness in advance to what we are about to read. This introduction was no exaggeration. The next nine chapters detailed all of the negative events that plagued Father Calloway’s early life.

At one point in the book, he refers to a scene being like a scene in a movie. In fact the whole book seems like events from a movie. He vividly details his wrong doings from disrespecting his parents to drug and alcohol abuse to stealing and even nights in prison.

Just when you think the story couldn’t be any more captivating, you follow Father through his miraculous conversion. I found myself cheering Father along as he rushed in urgency to visit a priest.

We see many sides of Father throughout the book, however all his past experiences have given him the skills of perseverance and determination to pursue the priesthood.

The book was well written and I had a hard time putting it down.  I’ve managed to read it in just a few short days.

Father tells his story in such a personal way that you feel like you are there with him. This book also offers a bright beacon of hope for those who have family members in similar situations.

I highly recommend this book to everyone interested in Catholic spiritual reading. You won’t be sorry.

Order No Turning Back and support CatholicMom.com with your purchase

However, it will do us good to nurture our spiritual life as well. Recently I spent a weekend on retreat. Though I missed my family, I knew this is what I needed. It was a whole weekend of celebrating Mass, going to Confession, learning more about our faith, and participating in prayer sessions. A chapel was always down the hall, accessible at any hour of the night. It was a weekend for nurturing my relationship with God. I came back from the retreat feeling lighter than air. I felt all around giddy and happy.

Most of us might not have the opportunity to go to a retreat right away, but we can still do little things to foster our spiritual growth. In our busy day, we can sneak in a decade of the Rosary, offer thanks to God for a grace He just bestowed on us, or spend a half hour before bed reading the Bible or other spiritual books on the Catholic Faith. My nightstand is overflowing with books from the saints and other Catholic writers in addition to the Bible.

Often during the day if I hear someone take the Lord’s name in vain, I follow in my head with “Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” Sometimes, if a chore comes up which I don’t “feel like” doing, I can take that opportunity to “do it for God.”  All these little things help keep our relationship with God alive by involving Him in every aspect of our daily lives.

Perhaps the greatest and simplest way to make God part of our lives is to invite silence. When we are silent, God speaks to us. He’s that gentle knock on the door of your heart. He’s the soft whisper you hear in your soul.  When you hear him calling, answer the door and invite Him into your heart. With God as your nurturer, you are sure to grow.

Copyright 2010 Jennifer Gladen

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In the book of Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, we read about how there is a time and a place for everything: “There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every affair under the heavens. A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to uproot the plant.” This goes on for eight verses. I find this suitable for every day – for we all have routines in our lives and certain times to do things. On a deeper level, as I continue to hear all the news and the attacks on our Pope and Church, I think now is a time “to speak” as it says in Ecc 3:7.

When Jesus established His church before He ascended into Heaven, He also gave us our first Pope. Now Peter’s successor is under great attack. As I watch him go through these tough times, I’m humbled by his faithful service to the Church. Right now he needs us – the faithful – to stand together. He needs our prayers. Prayers for perseverance and prayers for strength.

In addition, let us remember Pope John Paul II’s call to the New Evangelization. This is the time: our time to speak. There are lies spread about our Pope. So let’s spread the truth. There is hatred against the Pope and the Church. So let’s spread love. There is persecution against the Pope and the Church, so let’s spread prayer. With all the faithful gathered together in support of Peter’s successor and the Bride of Christ, we can defeat the darkness. Now is the time to speak.


Copyright 2010 Jennifer Gladen

I suddenly felt the anxiety some of the children were likely feeling. When Father was talking to them, I felt God was using his words to speak to me as well. He reminded us that there aren’t many sins they haven’t heard before. It’s better to confess them and feel the peace of God’s forgiveness. So I got in line and waited. When it came time to confess my sins, I took a deep breath and let it all out.

Then something amazing happened. As the words left my mouth my soul felt like a large stone wall had exploded. Father gave me absolution for my sin and I felt free. I was sure my soul was so lightened that I could have easily floated away. I often don’t get emotional after confession, but this time I did. It was worth it to humble myself in order to gain absolution.

This Lent, make it a point to go to confession. Go even if you go every month.  And go especially if you haven’t gone in years. Take advantage of this grace God has waiting for you. It’s His gift custom designed just for you. The minute the words leave your mouth you will feel much better.  When your priests urge you to take time out to go to confession more, listen to them. They are leading you to a deeper spiritual life. Why not start now – in this season of Lent? It is the perfect opportunity – we just have to grab it.

Copyright 2010 Jennifer Gladen