That’s right. One of our profs was just as fierce and expressive as Gordon Ramsay or any of those drill-sergeant tyrants in the most shocking of reality show contests. This was architecture school, and the prize wasn’t a million dollars; the prize was just making it through with another credit towards a 5 year degree and hopefully holding on to a shred of confidence for surviving the ordeal.

Impressed by a handful of people in my program who maintained some connection to Christian Faith, and went to Church regularly, I felt compelled to find some young adults who were grounded in the Catholic Faith. After all, I was Catholic, even if I hadn’t really yet taken ownership of my Faith and couldn’t give a compelling reason for why I made it to Mass every week. I returned home for the summer after my second year, and took a chance and went to my first Young Adults meeting at a neighboring parish.

I remember waiting in that church hall with a group of others. We were sitting in chairs, politely smiling and wondering when the meeting was going to start. Suddenly, Bill walked in, formally dressed from work, with all the confidence and entertainment of a stand-up comic (or maybe an inspirational speaker). The meeting was now in full motion. Everyone was suddenly at ease, having fun and laughing.

Now, I wasn’t looking for a romantic relationship and when Bill innocently asked me if I’d like one of the ten tickets he had received from work for the circus, I assumed that this was another group event. When he arrived in his two seater Fiero, (1980′s sportscar that now sits in our driveway, solely for the climbing enjoyment of the kids) to meet only one other couple, I realized that this was essentially a double date. I laughed more in that evening than I had laughed for two years in my architecture program.

In fact, I laughed so much that I lost my voice! The circus was fun, but the company was even better. I didn’t suspect that this was more than a fun, entertaining friendship until the ride home. Suddenly, in the midst of what had been a laugh-filled evening, Bill got serious and explained how important His Catholic Faith was to him. He was cute and funny …and he was unapologetically Catholic. This could get serious.

Within a few short weeks, it was serious. By the end of that summer, I think we both suspected we would one day get married. The next 8 months we wrote letters as Bill worked and travelled from Toronto and I was in school in Ottawa. Bill sent a lot of letters that cheered me on and postcards from places he was working; places we hoped to visit together someday. My letters were usually written within photocopy collages with fragments of photos mixed with parts of my projects. I saved all of our letters and compiled them into a special scrapbook for our 5th anniversary, before scrapbooking had its’ own aisle at the craft store.

After another great summer, I prepared for my fourth year, anticipating my most difficult year yet. I think partially just to remind me of my life outside of architecture school, Bill suggested that we begin planning our wedding for the following summer.

Despite the fact that we weren’t officially engaged and couldn’t announce our plans, we met with my pastor who set the date for the following summer! Given that my mom was a part time secretary at the church with full access to the Church calendar where weddings were recorded, this was a daring move!

We knew that there were many things that needed to fall in place, and God did in fact take care of all the details. Bill was admitted to the MBA program at The University of Ottawa, after taking his GMAT. Bill received a leave from work, including a paid contract that would help with our expenses. He received full credit for his already-completed half of his MBA from one university and was transferred to the other university in the same city where I was attending school. Bill also met with my parents the night before we got engaged, but that wasn’t exactly a hurdle as my parents happily accepted him into our family.

Bill’s travel with work miraculously brought him to the city I was studying in, or cities only an hour away. He was able to visit me regularly and was happy to help me in any way he could, even if it meant watching me work, driving me around to pick up project supplies and being my ‘glue-boy’, tediously finishing the cardboard edges of whatever model I was working on.

We attended a marriage preparation class on the first weekend of my study break in February…minutes after a romantic dinner at our favorite Italian restaurant, where Bill (finally) officially proposed! We were a half an hour late for our retreat, but we were quickly forgiven when we announced that we had just moments before gotten engaged.

We had a beautiful wedding in my home parish, a wonderful honeymoon in the Keys and Disney, and then returned to prepare for school 5 hours away.
We settled into a beautiful little condo…miraculously available for the exact 8 months we needed to finish our degrees. We went to an awesome parish and further developed some special friendships that are still very important to us today.

We will celebrate our 19th Wedding Anniversary this July! We have 5 children (plus 3 in Heaven).

Bill still makes me (and our kids) laugh every day. I rely on him for his even-temper, good nature, people skills, business sense, diplomacy, tutoring of the kids~ no matter what subject (he remembers everything he has ever learned!), his ability to get the house under control from clutter and mess, entertain a crowd, act goofy with the kids and turn a near-tantrum (usually the kids’, but sometimes mine) into a (distracted) humorous action-packed adventure.

His unwavering Faith and good judgement guide our family and I think we make a great team as we raise all of these kids and run our Catholic family apostolate Arma Dei: Equipping Catholic Families.

Happy Father’s Day, Billy!

*originally published over at Written By the Finger of God as part of the Real Catholic Love Stories series.

Copyright 2013 Monica McConkey

The Catholic Baby Name Book

My friend, Patrice, of Spiritual Woman and Catholic Lane requested that I review her brand new, hot off the press, The Catholic Baby Name Book, published by Ave Maria Press. To say I am honored is an understatement.

I have called you by name and you are mine. ~ Isaiah 43:1

So begins the brilliantly researched and thorough reference which is sure to become well loved and dog-eared as it graces the shelves of many an expectant family… And many a family who will enjoy being enlightened by the roots of their children’s names.

Mrs. MacArthur’s in-depth survey of saints’ biographical information at 526 pages and over 10,000 names is intriguing and reads like no other baby name book you have ever perused. This is readily apparent as one initially becomes engrossed in the engaging foreword by Lisa Hendey, of Catholic Mom, which includes a story of her website development as well as thankfulness for the many friends she has gathered along the way AND her personal anecdotes relative to naming.

These thoughts flow beautifully, so much so, that one may feel as if she is sitting at her kitchen table chatting with friends, into Mrs. MacArthur’s “Introduction,” followed by “How to Use this Book,” (a section I positively love for its comprehensive explanation) and eventually to the masterfully compiled list of Catholic names, separated by section into gender.

You will be compelled to keep those pages turning from the boys’ listings of Aaren ~ Zygysundo to the girls’ Aami ~ Zytka, as well as the historical information within the appendices as to Recently Canonized Saints, Top 100 Names (of 2011) and Most Popular Catholic Names By Decade (1960s to 2000s).

Let me give you a glimpse into the listing for “Veronica,” my favorite saint (and my confirmation name), so that you can determine just how intriguing the collection is:

Veronica
Saint
(the name may be that of a saint or virtue or come from the Old or New Testament
Latin
(the language of the name’s origin)
true image
(the meaning)
(many variations of the name are provided here
and for “Veronica,” there are 33!)
St. Veronica,
St Veronica Giuliani
(saints with this name)
St Veronica (1st century)
was a woman from Jerusalem who wiped the face of Jesus as He carried the cross on his way to be crucified. The cloth was imprinted with Jesus’s face. According to legend, Veronica later used the cloth to cure Emperor Tiberius of an illness.
Her act of kindness toward Jesus is remembered in the Stations of the Cross.
(Commentary about the life of the most prominent saint with this name)

Mrs. Hendey’s and Mrs. MacArthur’s styles are enchanting… So much so that a reader may feel as if she knows them forever. I am, in fact, honored to count them among my friends, although we have not met (yet) face to face. Yes, I know well the connection which is referenced in the foreword. I know beyond a doubt that many who read this lovely book will feel the same, as well as new friends who will gather through this lovely collection.

Order The Catholic Baby Name Book and support CatholicMom.com with your purchase

Copyright 2013 Christine Capolino

Delivering Themselves from Evil

My daughters are afraid of things that are … scary.  There, I’ve said it.  I’ve completely failed to desensitize them to all of the horror that the entertainment media is so eager to show them.

They refuse to walk down the dark, narrow hallways at the movie theater because on previous such treks they have glimpsed posters of people on fire and vampires with blood dripping from their mouths.  For this, they’ve been called “timid.”  At Disneyland, they prefer the carousel to the Tower of Terror, causing some to question their “willingness to try new things.”  Perhaps my kids are just too literal–after all, the word “Terror” is in the title.  Daughter #1 once corrected an adult who tried to placate her fear of war by telling her that the only modern wars are being fought in other countries, far away from the United States.  Daughter #1 knows better:  her Mama lost a cousin in the Twin Towers, and her Daddy travels to New York too often for her liking.  Daughter #2′s radar for evil is so finely tuned that she actually leaves the vicinity of the TV when Curious George starts to misbehave.  She knows that the Man in the Yellow Hat is not George’s father, but she’s convinced the fourth commandment applies anyway.

When did fearlessness become the measure of a child?  What about prudence and rationality?

Many around me subscribe to the idea that a well-rounded child will try anything once, and that her failure to do so foreshadows a narrow life.  I am teaching mine that they don’t have to do anything that seems evil or unnatural.  I tell them that under normal circumstances they control what their eyes see and what their ears hear, and as a result I have seen them consistently refuse to be assaulted by the negative visual and auditory stimuli that many take for granted.  I am teaching them that evil is aberrant–that we are sinners, but that we were made for good, not bad.  And I do this while the entertainment media culture tries repeatedly to teach them that evil is commonplace, unavoidable, and nothing to get upset about.

In addition to teaching my children about the dangers of evil, I know that another parenting goal must be to instill in their hearts these words that come directly from the mouth of Christ:  Be not afraid.  But for now, we are focusing on the recognition of evil, which must become second nature in order to triumph over it.  Right now, they recognize evil through their fear, and they will go to great lengths to avoid it.  I don’t call that “too timid”.  I call that step one.

Copyright 2013 Sharon Rayner

I sit on my front porch swing and take all this in, in between chapters and responsibilities and kids screaming. (The last is not ideal, but I’m keepin it real here. Don’t want you to give me more credit than I’m due.)

Recent Reads

On Heaven and Earth: Pope Francis on Faith, Family, and the Church in the Twenty-First Century, by Jorge Bergoglio (Pope Francis) & Abraham Skorka (Image Books, 2013)

My rating: 5 out of 5 stars

I read this as spiritual reading for the last month or so, and I can’t emphasize enough how wonderful a read it is. The book is a conversation between Pope Francis (back when he was Cardinal Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Jorge Bergoglio) and Rabbi Abraham Skorka. They cover all sorts of topics, some of which I had no interest in until I read what they had to say. I found myself highlight as much of Skorka’s thought as I did Bergoglio’s. Overall, highly recommended.

Current Reads

Rapunzel Let Down: A Fairy Tale Retold (Book 6), by Regina Doman (Chesterton Press, 2013, fiction)

Oh. My. Word. I’m a longstanding fan of Regina Doman’s work and I was anticipating this book in a biiiiig way. I’m about halfway through and I don’t think I’ll quit shaking my head. How does Doman DO THAT?!?!? If you haven’t started reading the Fairy Tale Novels, don’t wait. Here’s your summer reading tip from me: READ THEM. And I’ll be back next week with a lengthier review of Rapunzel.

Anna Mei: Blessing in Disguise, by Carol Grund (Pauline Books & Media, 2011, middle grade fiction)

I meant to finish this before I started anything else, but you can see what happened…I put it down to whip through Rapunzel Let Down, and I haven’t picked it back up (because Rapunzel owns me right now).

Youcat: Youth Prayer Book (Ignatius, 2013)

It’s rare that I review a book before I’m finished, but then, this is a rare sort of book. I reviewed it in full last week, but I’m still working my way through it, because yes, I really want to read the whole thing. And I’m really, REALLY enjoying it.

What have YOU been reading lately?

*Are you on Goodreads? I’ll see you there!

Curious about what my ratings mean? Here’s an explanation of what the stars mean to me.

Be sure to check out our Book Notes archive.

Copyright 2013, Sarah Reinhard

Being Your Kid’s P.A.R.A. (Part 4)

In my last blog, I explained how we can’t help our loved ones alone  as I told the story about my middle schooler.  To help us, during Ian’s IEP (Individual Education Plan) the deaf itinerant teacher got personal.

She explained that her son was very much like Ian.  Upon encountering the middle school free-fall, she had him do his homework at the kitchen table in her presence.  She made him call other kids or return to school when he did not bring home the correct material. She held the leash tight, until about two years later at the end of his eighth grade year when everything fell into place.  Her Arrangements had enabled him to develop the valuable habits of success.  Today her son leads other men in his role in the military, noted in his unit for his outstanding organizational and life skills.

With the endorsement to be a temporary helicopter-style parent to our wayward Ian, Joe, I and Ian’s para-educator Jenny dug in arranging a life of full accountability for Ian.  We communicated with Jenny and Ian’s teachers to make sure he had the materials we needed and that we were aware of his upcoming exams and clear on our expectations to assist him in preparing for those.  Additional arranging included the uncharacteristic move of having Ian attend his own parent-teacher conference with us.  While gentle and compassionate, his teachers generously commented on Ian’s strengths,, held him accountable, and clarified with him his future expectations.

Admittedly, at times with our busy schedules  some requirements slipped through the gap. Ian would find a way to  sabotage his academic success.  I Paid Attention that Ian had his eye on two of his close friends who were doing even worse than him in school.  He expressed worry that those friends might not advance.  It seemed he feared what would happen to those relationships if he did well in school.

Steadily the grades went up.  Ian did extremely well on difficult tests.  Putting a little more time  into homework produced good marks.  With the rising grades came the surge of self-sabotaging behaviors:  assignments not turned in,  needed materials in the backpack, etc. But this time, we had made the proper Arrangements.  A missed or incomplete assignment prompted Ian’s para to keep him in  for recess or lunch to complete it.  I was on the PowerSchool, holding Ian accountable for unacceptable work.

By using the Mary at the Wedding at Cana approach to parenting (paying attention, responding, and arranging), Ian is succeeding despite himself.  With three weeks left in the school year he is within striking distance  to getting all As and Bs. As we count down weeks Ian gets As and Bs on all tests and assignments, permitting him to play on the Xbox on the weekend.  Checking PowerSchool every weekday embeds my daily routine.

I can taste what every Mary at the Wedding of Cana Arranger loves.   My child’s external reality (good grades) are challenging and transforming his inner reality (that he’s successful, smart, and an excellent student).  With more Arranging and life experience the internal and external truths will be one, and Ian will be well on his way to becoming his best for God.

The Catholic Women’s Guide to Healthy Relationships Tip:  When a loved one is floundering, make sure you are clear on what you should and shouldn’t do and take action.

Copyright 2013 Christina M. Weber

Tithing: Time and Talent Count Too

When thinking of tithing we often reach for our wallets, pulling out whatever we have or are willing to give that won’t hurt too much to do without.  Tithing can also be thought of in regards to time and talent.   Time and talents are valuables gift of tithing.  Many programs in the parish require time to be donated instead of money.  I bet many of you have heard of the idea of tithing your time and talents in lieu of tithing money.

When I think about tithing, I am also reminded of the story about the poor widow, Mark 12:42- “A poor widow came and put in two small coins, the equivalent of a penny.  Then he called his disciples and said to them, ‘In truth I tell you, this poor widow has put more in than all who have contributed to the treasury; for they have all put in money they could spare, but she in her poverty has put in everything she possessed, all she had to live on.’“  Giving everything is not part of our thought process in today’s society and I don’t believe each of us are called to abandon everything, like St. Francis of Assisi, but we are called to give of ourselves as the widow did, to give from our livelihood, which may be monetary or in the form of time and talent.  It is up to each of us to evaluate what we can give and give from our hearts.

When I see someone give of themselves freely, it truly speaks volumes to me.  I think it is much easier to write a check than to commit to giving of one’s time.  When a person says yes to a church program it almost always requires more time than initially thought.  You end up at the church before people arrive and well after everyone else has gone home.  Time is giving up, giving to and giving of one’s heart.  It’s a labor of love, a labor that a price cannot be tied to.

Copyright 2013 Lorrie Lane Dyer

Tell us about yourself in five words or less.

Jesuit Priest, New Media Missionary.

Of your pursuits, what’s your favorite?

My favorite pursuit, technologically speaking, is exploring the innovations happening, specifically as they apply to education and faith. New tools are being developed every day, which is very exciting, especially for educators!

My latest project, underscored by Pope Francis’ embrace of technology for the New Evangelization, is We Parent More, a new smartphone app for young Catholic parents. The app, which is the first of its kind, allows parents of young children to find resources for raising kids in a healthy, Catholic environment. It incorporates masstimes.org data and even enables parents to register for sacraments at local parishes.

The official unveiling of the We Parent More Catholic app will be on June 19, 2013 at the 2013 Catholic Media Conference in Denver hosted by the Catholic Press Association. We are very excited!

When you think of the New Evangelization from your approach as a “Catholic Techie,” what excites you? What makes you want to continue?

The incredible development of technology in the past decade has been very exciting. The Holy Fathers and the various Synods on the New Evangelization and Communication continue to urge us to embrace these communication tools to spread the message of the Gospel. Catholics are eagerly responding to that call in ways never before imagined–it’s truly inspiring.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of your work?

The idea of breaking language barriers and empowering parish communities to evangelize in ways that weren’t possible when I first became a priest energizes me to continue spreading the good news of Jesus Christ.

In your spare time, what are we likely to find you doing? Do you have a gadget in hand or do you go native and screenless?

Spare time? If anything, I’m screenless in the sacristy.

Read more of our Tech Talk columns.

Copyright 2013 Sarah Reinhard

Watch this video on YouTube.

National Council of Catholic Women Urges Participation in Fortnight for Freedom to Support Religious Liberty

(Arlington, VA)—At their meeting May 31- June 1, the Board of Directors of the National Council of Catholic Women (NCCW) urged members and friends of NCCW to support the U.S. Bishops’ Fortnight for Freedom,June 21 – July 4, through personal and family prayer and active participation in their local churches and dioceses.

On June 5, NCCW President Rebecca Woodhull met with members of the Knights of Columbus staff to finalize plans for NCCW’s participation with the Knights and the USCCB for the Fortnight for Freedom. Participants in the meeting at the Blessed John Paul II Shrine included Timothy Saccoccia, Knights of Columbus (KC) Policy Coordinator; Garret Girmus, KC Fortnight Coordinator; Rebecca, Scott Lloyd, Sr. Policy Coordinator; and Patrick Kelly, Executive Director, Blessed John Paul II Shrine.

“NCCW and the Knights of Columbus are logical partners in the observance of the Fortnight of Freedom,” Dr. Woodhull noted.  “Lay women and men all over the country want to express their support for the U.S. Bishops’ principled stand on religious freedom and conscience protections. And many of those women and men belong to parishes whose members affiliate with NCCW, the Knights, or both. I am confident that our members will actively support their diocesan and parish observances of the Fortnight and partner with the Knights where possible.”

In preparation for the Fortnight for Freedom, NCCW sponsored an advocacy call for its members on June 5. During the conference call, NCCW members suggested and endorsed a number of ways to participate in the Fortnight including: ask Adoration Teams to devote an hour to this intention, pray the Rosary for religious freedom, read the bishop’s document, “Our First, Most Cherished Freedom” (www.usccb.org), sign up for the alerts from the USCCB via their website, write a letter to the editor from your diocesan or parish council stating the NCCW position on religious liberty, ask your pastors to have a Mass for the protection of religious freedom, and pray as a family.

Other ideas encouraged by individual members of NCCW included:

• Use this as a “teachable moment” where the basis of our faith beliefs can be explained more fully and focus CCW meetings on religious freedom and the consequences of ignoring threats to it.

• Hold a potluck or BBQ with a program on the need to stand up for our faith. This is an opportunity for people to grow in their faith.

• Most important, call your representatives in Congress when key decisions or votes are pending. It may be easier to send a postcard and that is good method of contact.  But when you call, your call is recorded immediately, and mail can be delayed. Don’t worry, your representatives in Congress will not be answering the phone, and you don’t have to say anything but “I would like Senator [name] to vote NO/YES on bill #____.”

Dr. Woodhull summarized by saying, “We are so blessed in this country that we think nothing will really change or harm us in the practice of our faith…but we are wrong.  If ever an issue needed the attention and action of NCCW members–this is it!”

My Heart is Not in Stuff

A  month ago,  a WordPress Daily Prompt asked writers if we could only take five objects from a burning house, what would be the most difficult things for us to leave behind?  Well really, the only objects I consider to be important are photos of family, my computer, passport and ID, a bible and bank card, assuming that I am wearing my wedding ring and gold cross like always. That’s it.

As for regrets, I really do not think that my heart is in things. Since I was a little girl, I have felt content with what I have materially. Even now, when my nine kids ask me what I want for Christmas, I pause for a moment with a blank mind. I have to search to come up with a list.

Rather a strange state to be in because this is not the result of spiritual striving, fasting or prayer, it is just how I am. Living with little people has only strengthened an innate tendency to enjoy the little things, to be grateful to be alive and in communion with the Spirit. In addition, as a large family with barely enough cash but many blessings, we have experienced many incidents of God’s providence. This scripture resonates within all of us.

MATTHEW 6:25-34

DO NOT WORRY

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Kids understand these words, reminding me that the key to happiness and joy is not stuff but thankfulness and appreciation for the beauty that surrounds us. There is much to be grateful for if we will simply stop for a moment and really see what actually surround us every day. Children delight in the plethora of tiny details all around them. They are born with a sense of wonder and the ability to enjoy simple pleasures.  Perhaps it is because they are closer to the ground when we tried to go for a walk but they stopped at every flower and bug, especially a bug on a flower. As  they look, touch, smell, even lick each wonderful new discovery, all their attention is riveted on that one thing. At first it was difficult to slow down during our walks and let the toddlers set the pace but it was a wonderful instruction in how to relax and become fully present to the moment.

At first I was only capable of enjoying whatever captured my children’s notice bu t now I realize that they were experiencing so much more than I initially thought. In their silent, non-verbal attention to nature, they were in deep communion with God Himself as He is present in His creation. Adults struggle for years to merely glimpse the intimacy that little children have naturally with God. They do not need to strive or work for this state of contemplation because they are without guile, prior opinions or expectations; they are open and look with trust, ready to absorb the love, joy and peace that envelopes them. Children are grateful for everything.

Ah, to live in a constant state of gratitude and thankfulness is a taste of heaven. Even if I were to live in the midst of a concrete jungle, I could at least stop for a moment, look up and give thanks. I simply need to remind myself to glance upwards, above my little busy world and enjoy the sky. The sky alone is an extravagant present that continually fills me with the joy if I remember to take a break from my ‘important’ business. Every time we attend mass, we are constantly reminded to give thanks to a Heavenly Father simply because life in, with and through Him is a joyful experience no matter what our situation.

“The Eucharist is a sacrifice of thanksgiving to the Father, a blessing by which the Church expresses her gratitude to God for all his benefits, for all that he has accomplished through creation, redemption, and sanctification.  Eucharist means first of all ‘thanksgiving’” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1360).

Copyright 2013 Melanie Jean Juneau

When a person is beatified, it means they are blessed. But wait – aren’t we all blessed? Yes…but we are blessed in a different way than the how it is intended here. To be considered truly blessed, a person must not only have lived a life centered around Christian values but they must also have performed a miracle.

Now, while getting home from work in less than thirty minutes on a Friday night may *seem* like a miracle, there are also specific regulations around what constitutes a true miracle. For something to be a miracle, it has to be instant, comprehensive, and lasting. There’s a good chance our Friday traffic will be back the following week, so it is neither comprehensive or lasting.

Once it is shown that a person has led a solid Christian-focused life and has performed a miracle (or were martyred for their faith), they can be venerated in their local diocese. (For more information on veneration and worship, click here).

To become canonized, a second miracle must take place. Only a pope can issue the decree that a person is indeed holy and in heaven with God. Once canonized, a person can be remembered at liturgies through the year at any parish and not just the one in their hometown. They can also have a church dedicated in their name without consent of the Vatican.

So, it really comes down to a few key differences:

So, now that we’ve cleared that up, back to the original question: do all popes become saints? The answer is no. While more popes have been canonized than those that remain “only” beatified, becoming a Pope does not guarantee you will become a saint.

Copyright 2013 Jen Frost

I assured her we did. And I assure you that she’s as techie as they come, though I think she’s not quite in touch with labeling herself as such.

Martina Kreitzer is part of the awesomeness known as Catholic Sistas. She’s a cradle Catholic, wife, and mother who was part of creating Catholic Sistas to continue the camaraderie of an existing women’s group. You’ll also find her blogging and on the board of Austin Catholic New Media and all over the social networks.

Martina may not consider herself a techie, but I think you’ll see why she’s a perfect fit for this interview…

Tell us about yourself in five words or less.

Motherhood-ing and blogging with one hand.

Of your pursuits, what’s your favorite?

I always feel like I should say God and my family first…because it’s true. But, that’s a given. After that, I’d have to say the iPad mini my awesome husband got me for my birthday last month has become my THE dedicated all things Catholic Sistas device.

At first, I wasn’t sure how I would incorporate it into my already device-filled apostolate – between my iPhone and MacBook, I sometimes feel like I have social media bleeding out of my eyes. Can you relate? So, I was a bit of a skeptic. If you know how Mac products work, you have to bring all your existing apps and goodies over to your new device.

It ended up being a clean slate and before I knew it, it became my absolute sole blogging {and all other apostolates} device. I can tweet, pin, Facebook, create memes, post pics – especially for our ongoing prayer campaign – on Instagram, and even do half-decent photography {as a photographer for 20+ years, saying half-decent is major props to the ever-improving technology of these devices}. I had ZERO experience going into this blogging gig, so that I am able to do this all on one device and – here’s the best part – it all fits in my purse is…amazing. Simply. Amazing.

When you think of the New Evangelization from your approach as a “Catholic Techie,” what excites you? What makes you want to continue?

I look around and see so much inspiration from others who are working hard at their particular craft and apostolate. I look to their enthusiasm to help me brainstorm ideas and projects that are both relevant and needed for the specific audience that Catholic Sistas tries to capture. There is no worry of an over-saturated market, and that allows us to dream big and do big things – with the help of the Holy Spirit – when it comes to proclaiming the core Gospel message.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of your work?

I receive e-mails and prayer requests frequently from readers because we keep an ongoing prayer list. Knowing that the blog is having a positive impact on someone’s spiritual life is edifying and fuels the desire to continue doing what we’re doing. And there are a lot of rough days when the Evil One would rather I quit altogether, so the communication with readers is very valuable and always appreciated.

In your spare time, what are we likely to find you doing? Do you have a gadget in hand or do you go native and screenless?

Spare time. Does not compute! Haha! Ok, since we moved last year, I have become a bit of a project hound. I like small projects that don’t take long to complete. You can usually find me in the garage with my iPhone in hand {playing music, of course!} and digging through boxes and asking my worker bee kiddos to help move stuff into the house. I also love to be in our yard and have some vegetables growing, despite my brown thumb. Because of my love of photography and humor, I usually have my phone handy to snap funny pics of the kids, but I do like to go “screenless” when possible.

Read more of our Tech Talk columns.

Copyright 2013 Sarah Reinhard

-Isaiah 66:11

Baby Joseph

Until I started breastfeeding my first child about six weeks ago, I don’t think I fully understood this verse. I remember when I was younger I thought this verse was awkward and I sort of skipped over it if I was in something I was reading. Classic teenager…

Anyway, since beginning to beast feed, I have learned a lot about sacrifice, the genius of the human body and the comfort a child feels when being fed. It’s incredible how Joseph can be screaming at the top of his lungs and seem inconsolable and yet, as soon as he latches on, the crying subsides, his breathing slows and his little body relaxes. He feels safe and secure. He feels comforted. As adults we don’t remember his experience, but feeding a young one or watching one find consolation in his mother can easily remind us of this reality. It really is incredible what God had planned for the human body. A completely natural way of connecting mother and child. A way which reminds us that in God we can find comfort and consolation as deeply and as quickly as a small child who nurses at his mother’s breasts. This verse wasn’t just a nice piece of poetry, but is instead a glimpse into the truth of our existence and dependence on God.

Gods beautiful plan for breast feeding also explains why the verse says suck fully. This was really the part that struck me as I read up on the science behind breast feeding. I am the type of person who needs to know as much as possible about everything I am involved in and that knowledge usually leads me to a deeper understanding of my existence…this time it was no different.

When a child nurses, there are actually two different types of milk which come from the mother. At first, the fore milk is released. This usually comes quickly when he starts the feeding and is pretty abundant. As he continues to nurse, the hind milk comes down. This milk is not as plentiful but it is much richer with all the nutrients he needs. It also helps to keep him fuller longer. The downside is that to get to the best milk, it takes patience and perseverance.

And that is where the lesson for today lies. At the beginning of our walk with the Lord,  everything can seem easy and grace can seem to be so abundant. There are still challenges of course, but we feel Gods presence and seem to be growing so quickly in our faith. This, however, is not the end of the story. God asks us to continue to be faithful and to persevere. It is often difficult to continue the path set before us and it can require a lot more work and sacrifice. On the other hand, we can also find that the toughest parts of our journey are the most rewarding. Just as a child must persevere in nursing to get the most nutritious milk, we too must persevere in the spiritual life to see all that God has planned for us!

It really is a wonderful path that has been set before us! Yes, there are many hardships. Waking every two to three hours to feed my newborn is not easy (mostly because I rank sleep near the top of the list of things I enjoy most on life), but there are many moments when I hold Joseph at two in the morning an I thank God for the times he has given me with my precious child. In the end, I wouldn’t have it any other way. Taking the easy way out would not be nearly as rewarding.

May God be praised!

Copyright 2013 Stephanie Gulya

Not Lukewarm

I have the privilege to be on a team for a Cursillo weekend later this month.  As part of building our team and getting to know each other each week we answer a question about ourselves in regard to our faith.  One week the question was “What is your favorite scripture verse and why?”

We began and I saw a pattern quickly emerge until I shared my verse.  The pattern re-emerged as the other ten or so women answered the question.  Each woman gave a lovely verse, filled with peace, love, dedication or seeking God in the stillness.  Except me.  My favorite verse is, “So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.” (Revelation 3:16)  Why? It is my goal or guiding principle of my life to be not- lukewarm in my life, especially in my faith.  Think about that verse for just a second and imagine being spit out of Jesus’ mouth.  It is not a pretty picture.  I do not want to be spit out, literally or figuratively, from Jesus’ mouth.

While I stand by my verse, it still made me feel un-womanly since it is such a strong sentiment.  All the other verses were gentle, positively leading you to God and a deeper relationship with him.  Am I afraid of Jesus and his reaction to me if I fail? No.  I take comfort in his love and mercy, knowing that failure is part of my journey as is asking for forgiveness.  I think this verse speaks to me because it is practical and gives me a sense of action.  It compels me to live out my faith in the world in a very active way.

What is your favorite verse and why?

Copyright 2013 Deanna Bartalini

We Are There

We sit in the sun, in the pouring rain, in the cold with blankets, on the hard metal bleachers every Saturday and Sunday and on evenings scattered throughout the week, we sit and we watch. We are the parents who choose to be in those stands watching, cheering and supporting our children on the court and on the fields of any and all sporting events that happen. Some of us are screaming and cheering and others just watching but no matter how loud or quiet our voice is we are there. We are there not to be entertained, although many times we are. We are there, not to socialize with other parents but it is a great way to get to know others. We are there to support our children whether they are the stars of the team or the bench warmers. We are there because we love them.

Our being there does so much more than at this moment we could ever know.

As a child my parents were always there but many of my friends were just dropped off. My parent’s presence gave me confidence and belief that what I was doing mattered to them and was important. They built my self esteem and hugged me and let me cry when I was horrible and hugged me and smiled when I was not.

We are parents and we are there on those bleachers because our presence signifies love support and confidence for our children for the rest of their lives; simply because we are there.

Copyright 2013 Lori Hadorn-Disselkamp

Here are the Tech Talk highlights from last week.

Catholic Blogger Elizabeth Scalia

It’s the first in a new series of interviews we’ll be doing as part of Tech Talk: Catholic blogger highlights! This week, Elizabeth Scalia wows us and delights us.

Puzzlejuice Addiction

Do we thank the folks at Starbucks for the addiction they’ve introduced with their free promo card for this app, or do we hunt them down? The jury’s out.

My Consecration App

It’s not a brand-new app, but it is the one we like best so far. Here’s why.

Using Lists to Manage Your Twitter Time

Here’s one easy way we’ve found to manage our time on Twitter better.

Getting the Most out of Online Homilies

From a master connoisseur of homilies, some advice for both those who upload and share homilies and those who listen to them.

Read all of our Tech Talk columns.

Copyright 2013 Sarah Reinhard

Why Call God “Father”?

A hundred years ago this month, Father’s Day was first observed in Spokane, Washington.  This June not only the USA but 55 other countries around the world will honor the roles fathers play in the family and the community.  This modern secular holiday invites us to ask a very important question – what does it mean to call God “Father?”

Most of the great religions of the world believe in one God and teach the gist of the Ten Commandments.

But that the supreme Being is not just “King of the Universe” or  “Master” but “Father,” that he desires us to have a close, familiar relationship with Him–these ideas you don’t find anywhere outside the teaching of Jesus.

To call God “Father” does not mean to say, of course, that he is an old man with a white beard.  Only the second person of the Blessed Trinity wedded himself to a male human nature in the womb of Mary.  The Father and the Holy Spirit are pure Spirit and transcend male and female, masculine and feminine (CCC 239).  This is no new insight brought to Christianity by the feminist movement.  It has always been taught that the word “Father,” applied to God, is used by way of analogy.  Analogies tell us something very true despite being imperfect.  Until recently, the father was recognized by Western society as origin, head and provider of the family.  To call the first person of the Trinity “Father” means that he is the origin and transcendent authority of all and cares for the needs of all.

But we all instinctively know that a father who does no more than bark orders and pay the bills is leaving something out.  We expect a dad to have an intimate, affectionate relationship with his children, to spend “quality time” with them.  To call God “Father” means, then, that he is near to us, intimately concerned with us, fond of us, even crazy about us.  He is not the distant, clockmaker God of Thomas Jefferson and his Deist friends.   This aloof God of the philosophers created the world to run by virtue of its own natural laws so that he could withdraw and occupy himself with more interesting pursuits.

No, the God whom Jesus calls Father cares about us and knows us intimately.  “Every hair on your head is numbered (Matthew 10:30).”  He loves us more than we love ourselves and knows us better than we know ourselves.

Now, this does not mean that He makes all things go smoothly for us.  He loves us so much that He made us in His image and likeness, which means He made us free.  And through the free choice of the first man, evil and death were invited into our world.  God does not shield us from all the troublesome consequences of this “original sin” which each of us, sadly, has ratified with our own personal sin.  But He sent us prophets, like Jeremiah, to wake us up and warn us of the horrible consequences of disobedience.  And finally He sent his firstborn Son to be a new Adam, to pay the price of that disobedience and give the human race an undeserved new start.

The most horrible consequence of sin, eternal death (Gehenna), has been graciously removed for all who accept the free gift of salvation that comes by way of the cross of Christ.  But evil is still at large in the world, and evil brings trials and tribulations.  Our Father will not shelter us from these anymore than He sheltered Jeremiah (Jer 20:10-13) or Jesus.  A good father doesn’t protect his children forever from the harsh realities of life, but helps them as they progress through various stages of development to face the challenges and grow through the difficulties.  Scripture says that even Jesus learned obedience through what he suffered (Hebrews 5:8-9).  How much more do we need to learn and mature, and some learning can only take place through suffering.

So as a true Father, he loves us too much to take us out of the fray.  But there’s one thing we can be sure of–He’ll never leave us to fight our battles alone

This essay is offered as a reflection upon the readings for the 11^th Sunday in Ordinary Time, liturgical cycles A,B,and C  which normally occurs on or near the secular observance of Father’s Day in the USA and 55 other countries around the world.  It is reproduced here with the permission of the author.

Copyright 2013 Marcellino D’Ambrosio, Ph.D.

What I Love about Being a Mom

The hubby and the kids are asleep and I thought I’d wax sentimental for a bit and write about why I love being a mom. Indeed, motherhood really does change you — in more ways than you realize — not just for one day, but forever.

I have been a mean mom too many times since Lent began. In an attempt to “be all and do all,” I have forgotten again that my main purpose and mission in life is to mold my children’s little hearts and souls to be “after God’s own heart.” (Forgive me, Lord!)

Which is why I want to write about being a mom. And why, despite the countless days when I wonder what I ever did to deserve my kids, I am grateful to God for blessing me with them. Little Timothy and Therese, this one is for you!

10 Things I Love about Being a Mom

1. Motherhood makes me grateful for God’s perfect, unconditional love (and aware of my oh-so-imperfect-conditional love) every day. And makes me yearn for Him even more.

2. After having given birth naturally to both kids and breastfeeding each child for more than two years, I know for a fact that God created us male and female for a specific purpose and divine design. Being a mom has made me love being a woman more.

3. No matter how many times I scold, shout, spank (oh yes! we sometimes spank our kids but not much anymore), spit out commands and unkind words and sin, at the end of the day, I am forgiven. By my kids and by my God. (As long as I sincerely and humbly seek their forgiveness.)

4. Hugs, kisses, smiles, whispers, 20 (and more!) questions, hours of reading books aloud become the highlights of my day (when I am not at the office).

5. Seeing the two kids snuggle with their Papa while he’s reading them a favorite “Dad-and-Child” book makes me fall in love all over again — with all three of them!

6. Funnily enough, being a mom has opened up a whole new world for me — writing. Not just on my personal blog but elsewhere online and offline. Motherhood has helped me discover my core gift, my true passion for communication. And life has never been the same again.

7. Motherhood connects you with other women who are also moms — suddenly, you’re part of this “unofficial, worldwide club” of women who have borne the gift of life in their wombs and are {shakily, reverently, cluelessly} doing their best to raise their children. And you know that you are not alone in this journey.

8. Being a mom gives you the excuse to have those few extra inches on your waistline (Hello?! I grew an entire person inside of my body, so it has a right to be stretched and imperfect in some places!). Because no matter what you look like on the outside, you will always be beautiful in your kids’ eyes.

9. I love that I can witness how my children learn, absorb, pick up, apply everything they see and hear around them (not always a good thing, I know! Especially when Mama is not being kind or patient). Although we have been quite lax many times with our homeschool lessons, learning seems to never stop at home, and the kids, by God’s grace, are growing in wisdom and knowledge every day. At least I hope they are!

All these I consider to be pure grace and God’s miracles - simply because I am an unworthy, broken, sinful mother, and by my own strength and {lack of} virtues, I cannot do much.

10. The last, but certainly not the least (and certainly not the very, very last) thing I love about being a mom: I am constantly reminded that I am here on this earth for a very special purpose; I am not here by accident; I am called to be a parent (and wife) for eternal life. And everything I think, say and do should be in accordance with this calling, which, admittedly, I am often guilty of not doing, but, by God’s grace, I know I can do it.

There are so many other things I love about being a mother — both big and small, some seemingly insignificant. Yes, I thank God every day for calling me to be a mom to my children (and a wife to my husband). Although there are dark, difficult days where I despair and fail and fall and lose sight of this call, I am forever grateful.

How about you, dear friend? If you’re a mom (or dad), what do you love about being one? If you’re not a mom (or dad), what do you love about the life you have now? God created each of us for a special purpose. May He lead you to know what that is and bless you as you strive to fulfill it. (Do pray for me, too, that I may live out my role as a mother to the best that I can, by God’s amazing grace!)

Copyright 2013 Tina Santiago-Rodriguez

Rapunzel Let Down

Like her other novels, Regina Doman’s new book is based on a fairy tale, this time Rapunzel. As usual, Doman puts a modern spin to the story.  To her credit, though, she is able to give us a totally different story filled with twists and turns while at the same time keeping it close enough to the original tale.  In the summary of the book, the author asks “Can sex destroy love?”

Hermes and his family are spending the summer in their New England summer house.  Hermes is 18 and has been raised in a faithful Catholic family and his father is a prominent politician. Hermes is “sick and tired of sharing his life with his father’s political career and his overbearing older brothers.” He and his brothers eventually discover a house nearby with a tower; one of his brothers dares him to climb the tower.  The dare ends up with Hermes falling, but not before discovering there is a girl in the tower.

Hermes eventually climbs the tower successfully. He meets and becomes infatuated with 15-year-old Raphaela, a girl with unusually long hair, smart but innocent. She is kept in the tower supposedly for protection by her adoptive mother, a radical feminist doctor who is part of “Womyn,” a group that believes men are the reason for whatever is wrong in the world.

However, Hermes can’t seem to stay away from Raphaela, despite the fact that visiting her is dangerous for a variety of reasons.  This attraction leads him to make selfish choices and the couple eventually become sexually active (these scenes are brilliantly done, without graphic description). The answer to the author’s question “Can sex destroy love,” is illustrated as we journey with the characters throughout the rest of the story.

Surprisingly enough, Hermes’ secret visits to Raphaela continue for weeks; that is, until Raphaela begins exhibiting nausea, fatigue, breast tenderness. Her mother, the radical feminist doctor, recognizes the symptoms, asks her when her last period was, then gives her a pregnancy test which turns out to be positive.  Knowing that an unknown male has made her daughter pregnant, she sets a trap.  Hermes is eventually arrested and Raphaela taken away.  Raphaela, the previously sheltered naive girl, is surprised to be pregnant but happy until her mother and feminist friends convince her that she should have an abortion.  The mother’s friend is the local District Attorney and convinces Raphaela to file charges not only for statutory rape of a minor, but of violent first degree rape and kidnapping.  Raphaela does not want to have the abortion, so she makes an agreement to sign the complaint and statement, knowing that the statement is not true, that Hermes did not violently rape her or kidnap her against her will.  Eventually, she comes to realize that, despite her signing the papers, her mother is going to force her to abort.  So she escapes to keep her unborn baby safe. She disguises herself and spends times in various places in order to stay hidden from her mother and her radical feminist friends.

In the interim, Hermes becomes blind and is put in prison to await his trial.  The courtroom sequences are well done and believable. When the trial takes place, Raphaela does not show up, so most of the charges are dropped and Hermes is only found guilty of statutory rape.  With time served, he will need to serve less than the year.

Eventually, Raphaela visits Hermes in prison and they agree to start their relationship over. This time, Hermes promises her that there will be no sex until they are married.

On the day Hermes is scheduled to be released from prison, Raphaela is kidnapped by her mother and taken to an undisclosed location.  Hermes realizes something is wrong.  Of course, her feminist mother treats her badly in order to get her to give her babies up for adoption.  The climax of the novel was compelling and I was clicking ahead quickly on my Kindle to read.

The strength of this particular book is Doman’s ability to illustrate the consequences of immoral sexual behavior.  Even though this was the darkest of her Fairy Tale novels, this has become my favorite.  I had a hard time putting this book down. It is written beautifully, the characters are well-developed and believable, the story fast-paced.

Note to parents: this novel deals with mature themes and there are scenes of sexuality and violence (although not graphic). 

Highly recommended for 18 and up.

Order Rapunzel Let Down and support CatholicMom.com with your purchase 

Copyright 2013 Ellen Gable Hrkach

How Christlike It Is To Share!

As I write this, the lilacs are in bloom here in Michigan in all different shades of lavender and white. They smell heavenly. They look like purple candy. I’ve always loved the smell of lilacs, and every spring when I see and smell them, I am reminded of a story from my childhood.

I was a girl of about eleven or so when my best friend Jenny and I discovered a wooded area near our houses with the largest lilac bushes imaginable. And more than one bush; there were several that were absolutely covered in lilacs from top to bottom. We couldn’t believe our luck when we came across them, and in our youthful innocence, decided to bring some home to our mothers as a little present. We tried to snap off a few but realized that we needed scissors of some type. I had remembered seeing some clippers in our garage. We ran back to my house, retrieved the clippers, and hurried back to the bushes, eager to create lovely bouquets for our mothers. It was a beautiful spring day, and upon arriving back at the lilacs, we took in their sweet, floral scent. Happily, we snipped a few clips here and there and headed home with our treasures. My mother put hers in a little bud vase in our bathroom. She was absolutely delighted to receive them. She kept talking about how beautiful they smelled, and wondered where we had gotten them. The flowers made her very happy, which in turn made me very happy.

I told her about the wooded area by our neighborhood. In those days, kids would roam free for hours, so unlike today when parents barely let their children out of their sight for more than a few minutes. We had no cell phones for our parents to keep track of us, and you just sort of knew when dinnertime was, since it was the same time every day, when the sun looked a certain way in the sky. My brother’s friend would come home at the sound of a long, sharp whistle his dad would make around 6:00. Whenever you heard that whistle emanating through the streets, you knew it was time for John to go home for dinner. You didn’t think anything of it; it was dinnertime at John’s house.

Naturally, Jenny and I went back to the lilac bushes when the lilacs in our houses started to wilt after a couple of days, clippers in hand, to snip off a few more branches.

We arrived at the bushes and found ourselves face to face with an angry woman, hands on her hips.

“SO,” she said angrily. “You’re the ones who have been cutting my lilacs!”

We stood there in shock. I froze, clippers in hand, and glanced at the enormous bushes, so full of lilacs, enough for dozens of little girls to take home to their mothers. We had barely made a dent in the bushes, but apparently she had noticed some missing.

“I didn’t know they belonged to anybody,” I said, my lip trembling. “We thought they were wild.” I was very sensitive and could cry at the drop of a hat. Having this strange woman being angry at us was more than I could take.

“Well, they’re not wild; they are MY bushes,” she said, “and I don’t want anyone clipping them! Now go on home.”

Jenny and I walked away, dejected. Apparently we had stolen the lilacs, and we didn’t even realize it.

“We stole them,” I said, unbelieving it. “I thought they were wild,” I repeated.

This was a lot to take in. We were thieves, apparently. Lilac thieves. It was sad after that, because we had no more lilacs to smell in our homes. Neither of us had lilac bushes growing in our yards. Jenny’s mother grew swiss chard and zucchini, and my mother grew tomatoes and geraniums. None of those plants had the sweet, intoxicating smell as the lilacs.

Jenny and I both agreed that the lady was really mean for yelling at us like that.

“She has so many!” I wailed to my mom afterward. “What is she going to do with all of those lilacs? She can’t possibly use them all!” No more little lilac bouquets for the bud vases. It was so sad.

“Well,” my mom said sadly, “if they belong to her, then they belong to her. Nothing you can do about it.”

“But she should share!” I said. “Why can’t she share them with people? We didn’t even cut from the front of the bush; we cut from the back where nobody can even see them!”

It was a tough lesson in sharing—or lack thereof. I was used to generous people in my little world. Family was generous and gave of themselves. Friends were generous as well. Our neighbors were generous, letting us cut through their yards on our way to friends’ houses. We were generous with others in return. But you can’t force people to share. Not that I would want to. There’s something very wrong with forcing people to share.

To this day, whenever I see lilacs, I am taken back to that spring day when that lady would not share. It was her right not to, of course. They were her lilac bushes. I still think that it would have been nice of her to snip a few for us, in a gesture of springtime goodwill. How we would have remembered that about her!

And what if she would have told us how old the bushes were, how to take care of them, how many varieties of lilacs there are, what kind of birds are attracted to lilac bushes? That would have been such a pleasant memory. And what if she would have said, “You know, I don’t mind you girls taking a few, but please ask first, okay?” That would have been such a lovely memory. Instead, I think of her yelling at us to leave. What an opportunity she missed, to have shown compassion. There are people with so much who give so little. There are also people who have so little who give so much. And then there are the people in between.

I read a story of a chef who recently won a $10,000 prize in a cooking contest. His opponent was trying to win the money so she could visit her beloved dying grandmother in France, to see her one last time. He and his wife had bills to pay, so when he won the prize, he was ecstatic.

“What are you going to do with the prize money?” they asked him.

He smiled and asked for his opponent to come back out on the stage. He offered her enough of his share so that she could buy an airline ticket to see her dying grandmother, which she did gratefully. I was really taken by this show of Christlike compassion. It was a beautiful thing to do.

This is true sharing: sharing when we don’t have to, want to, or when it is not expected of us. It is not easy to do; I realize that. It is not easy to follow Christ, to love like He does. After all, He shares everything: He shares and gives us Himself in His Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity.

There are some days we want to keep all of the lilacs, all of the prize money, for ourselves. But what happens when we hoard God’s gifts? I always wondered what that woman did with all of those many, many lilacs. I am sure most of them just died off naturally, giving joy to no one else but her.

Yes, had we known the lilac bushes belonged to someone, we would have asked first. You don’t just go clipping flowers from people’s property.

But it sure would have been nice—and so Christlike—if that lady would have shared her abundance with us.

Copyright 2013 Nancy Carabio Belanger