Watch this video on YouTube.

Vancouver, BC, May.1, 2013 — MV Studios and Airace Productions are pleased to announce, after 7 months of production the short film “Letter to a Priest”. Motivated by the Year of Faith and the Catholics Come Home campaign, director Clayton Richard Long set out to create a film that would attract souls to Christ. “The film is only 12 mins in length, with a short running time it can be a challenge to create an engaging, thought provoking film, the key to this was keeping our visuals fresh and our action moving at a constant pace.”

“The ‘door of faith’ (Acts14: 27) is always open for us, ushering us into the life of communion with God and offering entry into his Church.”—Pope Benedict XVI, Apostolic Letter Porta Fidei for the Induction of the Year of Faith.

Letter to a Priest is a short film inspired by “Lettre à un Religieux”, a book by French philosopher Simone Weil.

A scene from “Letter to a Priest”

The film centers around “Jenny” a university student who, in refusing to be baptized, takes Simone Weil as the model for her life, she comes into conflict with her former boyfriend when she finds out that he, a formerly lapsed Catholic, is now planning to get married in the Catholic Church with his new fiancée, an Evangelical now converting to Catholicism.

Follow “Letter to a Priest” on Facebook for news and screening information.

Watch this video on YouTube.

The winner of The American Bible Challenge Fan Favorite contest will be announced during the show, as well, and will receive $10,000 for their team’s charity.

Should they win, the Dominican Sisters will use their winnings from the show to provide for the treatment and care of the aging Sisters in the Order, and to ensure that they are provided for as they advance into retirement.

They’ve had a terrific run on the show – surely their “winning attitude” has taught many about today’s Religious Sisters and the beauty of our Faith. We’ll be cheering for you tonight Sisters! Good luck!

Watch the Game Show Network’s “The American Bible Challenge” finale tonight at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT.

Persistent Prayerful Silence

We have this little bird house hanging under our carport. Every year one little Mama bird is brave enough to venture close enough to make her nest in it and each spring we get to hear the babies chirp and cry out until she comes with a worm, cricket, or whatever other kind of morsel of food for them to snack on.

Today I watched as she came back over and over and OVER again with food. She barely fits inside her house because the babies take up most of the room. She nervously darts around watching my boys and our cats carefully each time she comes back to feed her young. I think she left and came back 10 times in hour we were outside. Finally, she settled the bird house for her own lunch and rest time.

I admired her quiet persistence. That Momma bird just went about her job of feeding her young and had such a purpose and determination to do it! It made me picture myself, fixing lunch for my family. So often and how I complain out loud if I have to get up to get something for somebody else fourteen times before I even get to take a bite.

I hope to learn from this small creature. I want to go about my daily jobs more quietly. I love to talk on the phone way too much or sometimes, I just fill up the air with words when I probably could accomplish my task in a more prayerful silence, listening to the children instead of talking over them.

My own three little boys are growing, changing and giving me great joy. I see the joy they bring people when we go out. Especially when my youngest makes eye contact or approaches those we just met I often get many comments about how lucky I am to see his face each day. They are absolutely right!!

This week has been full of new babies, with my sister and best friend having babies a day a part! No matter how many children are in my life, each one is exciting in its own way. The more I get to know my kids, nieces, nephews and my friend’s kids I realize it doesn’t matter how many people there are out there, each one is unique and has something special to offer this world. When holding a baby, it is easier to be quiet, knowing they mostly take comfort in your presence and touch.

Do you sometimes struggle with persistent prayerful silence? I think more of this in my day could lead me closer to Christ.

Copyright 2013 Laura Buller

21 Ways to Worship

If the thought of a book about Eucharistic Adoration makes you feel guilty, sleepy, overwhelmed or uncomfortable, prepare to have your mind changed. That’s what happened to me when I picked up 21 Ways to Worship: A Guide to Eucharistic Adoration by best-selling author Vinny Flynn.

It’s probably a big, fat, sinful faux pas for for me to admit it, but I have suffered over the years from a bit of a guilt complex when it comes to the topic of Eucharistic Adoration.

My parish is blessed with a lovely 24 hour adoration chapel where I can luxuriate in Christ’s true presence, but I’ve declined to commit to a regularly-scheduled hour because of my sporadic travel schedule. For that reason, I don’t have access to the “key” that unlocks our chapel (sadly, secured because of prior acts of desecration). So my visits to that chapel are less frequent than I’d like. I’ve hesitated to “pop in” unscheduled in the past year, because I can rarely commit to an entire “holy hour”. Instead, I frequently visit a nearby chapel where I can make a visit to an unlocked chapel during the day, pray in Christ’s presence and move in and out quietly without disrupting other adorers.

OK, enough of “true confessions of Catholic Mom”. And enter Vinny Flynn’s amazing book 21 Ways to Worship: A Guide to Eucharistic Adoration. From it’s bright purple cover to its amazingly inviting tone, this is the book that will smash your previously held misconceptions of Adoration. Vinny’s tone is fun, inviting, and actually infectious. His sharing of his own personal experiences will have you nodding, smiling, and feeling less guilty than perhaps you’ve felt in the past. Adoration is a gift — indeed the greatest gift we can receive — and Vinny is the friend who wants to hold your hand and lead you to its riches.

My favorite chapter in this book is joyfully called, “Please don’t snore!” In it, Vinny Flynn addresses the concern that so many moms share on the fear that once they finally find two minutes to quietly pray, they run the risk of falling asleep. Vinny reminds us how we would feel if one of our beloved children slept (or worked, or played) lovingly in our presence — how filled with joy our hearts would be at the mere pleasure of their presence. And doesn’t God, our Father, desire the very same of you and I?

21 Ways to Worship: A Guide to Eucharistic Adoration is the perfect companion for those of us who need a reminder that we are “good enough” — just as we are — to deserve time in the presence of the God who loves us so greatly. If you’ve been away from Adoration for some reason, this book will be your faithful companion as you journey home. If you are already in the practice of praying in the presence of the Eucharist regularly, you too will benefit from Flynn’s work. There’s truly something for everyone between the covers of this book.

I’m pleased to be a small part of Vinny Flynn’s ongoing blog tour. To read what others are saying about this book, visit the rest of the tour.

Vinny Flynn

Known internationally as the best-selling author of 7 Secrets of the Eucharist, 21 Ways to Worship, and as the man who sings the Divine Mercy Chaplet on EWTN, Vinny Flynn is also a popular speaker at parish missions, conferences, and retreats. Formerly the Executive Editor at the Marian Helpers Center and General Manager of Divine Mercy International, Vinny is one of the foremost experts on the message of The Divine Mercy and is now the Executive Director of MercySong Ministries of Healing. His relatable style and his powerful teachings on the Sacraments, Our Lady, Divine Mercy, and the Father’s love have been called “Healing” “Uplifting” and “Life-changing. Visit him at www.VinnyFlynn.com. 

Order 21 Ways to Worship: A Guide to Eucharistic Adoration and support CatholicMom.com with your purchase

Be sure to check out our Book Notes archive.

Want to win a free copy of 21 Ways To Worship? Simply leave a comment below by midnight (Pacific time) on Monday, May 26, 2013. One winner randomly selected.

Copyright 2013 Lisa M. Hendey

Homeschooling or Unschooling?

I’ve heard bits and pieces about unschooling from some of you since Ifirst began this homeschooling journey.  It never really sounded like it was for us (I’m a ‘routine’ kind of gal, and if it’s not a plan set in stone, it likely isn’t going to happen around here), but incorporating pieces and parts of it might not be so bad.

Something inside of me wonders if I’ll look back and wish I had ‘gotten it’ sooner about unschooling, the way I wish I had ‘gotten it’ sooner about homeschooling.

Continue reading My World Is Rocked (I Need Your Thoughts on Unschooling and Giving Kids Free Reign on Screen Time)

Arts & Faith from Loyola Press

A religion teacher who prays while singing opera. A lieutenant in Afghanistan who brings spiritual healing to soldiers through artwork. A young dancer who uses movement to interpret Scripture. A Jesuit who studies Mexican drug ballads to find God’s presence. These are a few of the fascinating stories we’ll be bringing you in Loyola Press’s new series, Arts and Faith.

Arts and Faith is a collection of stories from Catholics around the globe who demonstrate the inspiring—and surprising—ways art expresses and deepens their relationship with God.

The special series kicks off on LoyolaPress.com with daily articles, videos, slide shows, podcasts and more from four categories of interpretive art: Music, Dance, Drama and Visual Arts.

Arts and Faith covers a wide scope of the personal and public ways faith is shared. A catechist explains why and how arts and crafts should be used in the classroom. A twenty-something describes his ministry of playing the organ at multiple parishes every weekend. A faith formation leader reflects on how she prays a form of the Examen through photography. Whether you’re a catechist, an artist, or a creative soul, you’re sure to find inspiration and meaning in the stories you’ll hear.

The stories in Arts and Faith capture snapshots of how spirituality is explored, revealed and ultimately, celebrated in our faith communities. We hope these 40+ stories inspire you to tap your own talents to express your faith through sewing, sculpting, design, fashion, cooking, collage, spoken word, photography, poetry, modern dance, and so on.

As our series illustrates, you don’t have to be a Monet to participate in the arts. Jump in, explore the stories, and share the creative ways you’re expressing your faith!

See http://www.loyolapress.com/arts-and-faith.htm

Advice from Marybeth Hicks

To: Marybeth
From: Opposed to cohabiting

Can you offer any advice for my young adult daughters about why not to live with their boyfriends? I feel strongly that living together is to be saved for marriage, but it is hard for them to understand because “everyone is doing it” and they think I’m just old fashioned. They are (or will soon be) independent adults, making good choices otherwise. So far we haven’t had to cross this bridge, but I’d like to be ready with some great advice and suggestions.

To: Opposed
From: Mb

If only “everyone” always made smart decisions. It would be so much easier to go along with what’s cool and current, wouldn’t it?

Unfortunately, changing societal attitudes about marriage have taken a toll on the institution itself, and even young adults who have been raised with the example of a healthy, traditional marriage exhibit skepticism — if not cynicism — about the value of it’s traditions, especially about the importance of establishing a home in the context of marriage.

When your daughters say “everyone is doing it,” it’s possible that everyone they know really is. A recent study from the National Center for Health Statistics says from 2006 to 2010 nearly half (48 percent) of women 15 to 44 years old cohabited outside of marriage. That number is up from 43 percent in 2002 and 34 percent in 1995. So the trend is for greater numbers of women to move in with a partner before marriage.

In fact, less than a quarter of “first unions,” defined as a first marriage or first cohabitation, were marriages during the span of the study.

Additionally, cohabiting couples are delaying marriage for longer periods of time. If young women believe that moving in with a boyfriend will speed up the process of getting married, the statistics indicate otherwise. In 1995, the average length of living together before marriage was 14 months. In the CHS study, the average was 21 months.

And a full 20 percent of cohabiting women became pregnant in their first year of cohabitation. Forty percent of first-year cohabitations transitioned into marriage within three years, but 27 percent dissolved within five years.

Yet statistics aren’t what compel young adults when it comes to decisions about marriage and living together. Love and optimism go hand-in-hand, after all, and all the data in the world won’t convince them that moving in with a boyfriend isn’t in their best interests, especially if they also cite pragmatic concerns such as the cost of maintaining two apartments.

You’re smart to look ahead and have conversations about this subject well before the time when such decisions are being made. But rather than focus your comments on the mistake you think it would be to cohabit, reinforce your confidence in the good decisions your daughters are making, and on your belief in the institution of marriage.

Obviously, you can’t control the actions of independent adults, and trying to do so (think: withholding love, support, future wedding funds) is unlikely to result in anything but strife. Instead, share these thoughts with your daughters early and often:

“I believe with all my heart that establishing your home in the context of marriage is the best step you can take to commit to your loved one and begin your life together. I’m here to do anything I can to support your decision to get married and to create a home. I love you and I want what’s best for you, and while you are free to make your own choices, I want you to know that I believe your happiness and the stability of your love will be greatest if you marry before you move in together.”

Just in case, you might want to memorize some statistics, too.

Have a question about parenting in today’s culture? Email marybeth@marybethhicks.com.

Copyright 2013 Marybeth Hicks

The Rosary App

By Jackson Egan; Available on iOS (99-cents); Official Website

I am easily distracted from my prayers. You know the dog from “Up!”? If that were a person, it would be me.

I have four or five ways to pray the rosary on my phone so when this app was originally brought to my attention, I thought, “Well, that’s just what I need. Another app.”

What sold me on trying it out was the claim to a distraction free way to pray the rosary on your iPhone. I really do need that.

And Rosary App delivers.

The screen is clean. There is nothing on the screen but a picture of a wooden bead with chain links connecting it to the next bead and a reminder of what mystery you’re on. The clock on your phone does not appear at all.  In most of my other rosary apps, the clock is there and I am always flicking my eyes up to it.

There is a “i” button at the top left where you can set the mystery and the language (English, Spanish or Latin – or just a numeral) and whether or not you want it to vibrate at each bead and at each decade. Set it and you’re off and bead running.

By the way, the numeral setting is great if you want to use your virtual beads for the Chaplet of Divine Mercy or any other chaplet that uses rosary beads as a basis.

It does not have any prayers of the rosary written out for you to follow and it also does not have a key to tell you which mysteries go on which days, (Sunday: Glorious, Monday: Joyful, etc…) In other words, you have to know something about saying the rosary in order to use this app.  Because of this, it’s a great app for people who are familiar with the devotion, but I wouldn’t recommend it for a new convert or someone who is not very comfortable with the rosary already.

I use this app for my morning rosary and, as advertised in the App Store, I can do it with my eyes shut and that allows me to really concentrate on the prayers and not everything going on around me.  It was a real help when I added a daily rosary to my morning prayers for Lent.

The $.99 price tag was initially hard to swallow, as it has a very, very simple function. But as I have used it, I have decided that it’s a small price to pay for the lack of distraction.

Think of it this way: It’s the price of a plastic rosary at the religious goods store but it won’t get tangled in your keys at the bottom of your purse. And, should you get distracted by your toddler pulling the sugar off of the top shelf of your cabinets, it holds your spot. It’s a small price to pay for a little extra help with your prayer life.

Simple and elegant: Well played, Jackson Egan.

Read more of our Tech Talk columns.

Copyright 2013 Katie O’Keefe

• Today’s Scriptures
• USCCB Video Reflection
• Saints of the Day

Ben Sira (Sirach) uses words that are rather sharp and pointed. They are meant for our growth in wisdom. These are the ones that caught my attention and made me wake up to the call of wisdom this morning, “Delay not your conversion to the Lord, put it not off from day to day.”  That is a call from the inspired words of God for me to take advantage of each day as a new turning part, a daily conversion, and a change of heart and mind toward any thought or deed that is an obstacle to God working within my life.  No matter who we are, there is always an area within us that needs to be opened to change and to a daily conversion of any of our selfish desires and thoughts of pride.  The Scriptures help us to face ourselves each day.  To look into the mirror of our life and to see who really is there.

We are also assisted in knowing who we are by our friends, our spiritual guides, and our confessor or spiritual director.  We can learn much from many channels of wisdom that God gives us each day.  Spiritual reading that speaks to the soul is another great help.  Prayer to the Holy Spirit, the Giver of all good gifts is a primary source for wisdom which puts all things in order and helps us to see God’s bigger picture for ourselves, others, and the world.

I personally love Psalm One for it is clear, direct, and a great start for opening our minds and hearts to the rest of the 149 Psalms.  It is a wisdom psalm that helps us  to see clearly the path  of life that leads to friendship with God.  Its first line bestows a blessing on those who follow its advice; it assures us of happiness with who we are and what we do and how we can continue on in life doing good things.  It is a path to God using the right departure point on our journey and staying on the course as we move through life each day.  It promotes the blessing by having us meditate on the Torah (the teaching, the law, the gift).  It suggests we keep pondering over God’s words in our hearts in order to sense the blessing of happiness and wholeness.  We are like trees planted near flesh flowing waters.  We are not chaff blown by the wind.  I equated the words of the Psalm to what I learned in grade school from a bit of memorizing parts of the catechism.  God made us to love God, to serve God, and to be happy with God in this life and in the next.”

The first word in the Psalm can mean “Happy” as well as Blessed. The Psalm is a great way of praying and opening up the whole book of  psalms for an ongoing taste of the fruits of wisdom.  “ The twenty-six beatitudes in the Psalter are not magical formulas, nor are they recipes for happiness, but they do take the question seriously and endeavor to find some solution that can make happiness possible.” (Prevost, A Short Dictionary of the Psalms, p.21) Amen.

Copyright 2013 Fr. Bertrand Buby, S.M. 

Is “pure fashion” an oxymoron?

Modesty is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, an outward sign of God working within us.  As with other fruits like patience and charity, modesty is manifested in what we do — in our works, the actions we seek to perform that help us recognize the presence of God.  It’s not always easy.

Anyone who strives for modesty and also has a daughter over size 6X will lament with me the lack of appropriate clothing choices at most mainstream shopping venues.  You see, I adhere to the sensible modesty guidelines set forth by Pure Fashion.  Most retailers do not.

I discovered Pure Fashion when my oldest daughter was five.  As we began to venture into the size 7 – 16 clothing section, I was relieved to have found practical guidelines that other Catholic moms use with their daughters.  Pure Fashion’s emphasis on modest clothing is a huge step in the right direction for our culture, and accolades for developing a system for clothing selection are well deserved.

But as I gained more exposure to the organization, I realized that the “fashion” aspect showcased at its events showed an incomplete understanding of the multi-faceted virtue of modesty.  A girl on a catwalk, no matter how pristinely clad, is still a girl on a catwalk—expecting eyes centered on her, seeking the attention of the crowd, and imitating an industry that emphasizes appearance as the sole measure of a thereby disordered femininity.

While Pure Fashion aims to teach girls to be poised, graceful, and confident, they do so through modeling.  Poise and grace do not celebrate self.  They are humble.  And as Catholic women, we should beware the phrase “self confidence.”  Our confidence, the “bold confidence” of the Little Way of St. Therese, should remain solely in Him.

There is much to like about the Pure Fashion philosophy and its desire to teach girls to value modesty in dress.  Adult leaders explain modesty as it reflects on the dignity of the human person using the CCC as a resource.  But the program’s final celebration, the fashion show, reflects an emphasis on a narrow definition of modesty.  Modesty as a virtue is much larger than clothing selection.

Fashion, by its very nature, is of this world.  Without extensively defining the virtue of purity here, to me the phrase “pure fashion” seems an oxymoron.

Copyright 2013 Sharon Rayner

Financial Fitness Tips for the Mom Entrepreneur

One of the greatest gifts of being an entrepreneur is the opportunity to flex your financial muscles. It’s also one of the greatest challenges for me personally. In fact, many entrepreneurs make the decision to start their own business because they have a certain skill or talent – or an idea for a product. They don’t know anything about the financial aspects of business – like payroll, budgeting, P&L statements, profitability, cash flow, taxes, etc. So what happens? We learn as we go! We rely on the experts. And we develop those financial muscles.

Many of the moms I work with are creative types – writers, photographers, caterers, artists, graphic designers, fitness trainers, dieticians, chiropractors, counselors… and the financial aspects of business don’t come naturally. Very few of them are “in the business of money.” Yet, all of them are in business for themselves. And if you’re a mom entrepreneur…if you own a business of any kind…no matter what your company is…no matter what service you provide or product you sell, as a business owner, it’s YOUR JOB to know about the money. And if there’s something you don’t know, your job is to find someone you trust who does know. It’s a challenge for some of us to accept this responsibility, but we can’t have a thriving business unless we do.

Here are five financial fitness tips to help you develop those financial muscles and stay in good financial shape.

Financial Fitness Tips for the Mom Entrepreneur

1. Open a separate checking account for your business. This is the single most important step you can take to turn your hobby into a business. For some reason, this simple task is a huge ordeal for many moms when they are just getting started in business. They put it off until they are making money. Or they convince themselves that it’s going to take a long time and require a ton of paperwork, so it’s not worth the effort. The truth is it takes about 30 minutes to go to the bank and open a business checking account and in most cases all you need is your tax ID number, some identification and an initial deposit. Having that separate account not only makes things cleaner for you at tax time, but it also helps you to take your business seriously.

2. Pay yourself a salary – even if it’s a small amount. Here’s another step that many entrepreneurs tend to skip in start up phase. They pay their vendors, employees and bills and then pray there is enough left over to take a distribution for themselves. I understand that when there is little or no profit and you’re bootstrapping the business you may not feel right about taking a salary. But, hear me on this – you WILL burn out if you don’t have a reasonable steady salary coming in! And you can choose to invest it all back in the company if you want to – but it should still be coming to you on paper. And I know it’s a stretch to think about this now, but if you ever plan to sell the company – or seek investors – you’re going to need an accurate operating budget, which would include your salary.

3. Hire a bookkeeper and CPA. For most entrepreneurs, this is one of the first responsibilities we need to outsource. That’s because we are not experts in finances, taxes and bookkeeping. Yet many of us insist on trying to do it ourselves. I did this for several years before I realized that it caused a strain in my marriage. One day I was working on the books with my husband and we could hear the kids playing in another room with a babysitter we had hired so we could prepare our tax return. We sat in the office for about three hours, getting frustrated and irritated with each other while the kids laughed and played. I decided that we would never again miss out on a day of fun with our children so we could do something we weren’t very good at doing and didn’t enjoy doing at all. I immediately hired a bookkeeper and a CPA and have never regretted it. Remember, when we let go of something we are not called to do in our business, we have an opportunity to bless another business owner who is called to serve others in that capacity. And – we free up our own time to focus on what we are called to do in business and at home!

4. Watch your numbers to determine ROI and manage cash flow. If you are the type of mompreneur who gets wrapped up in the creative side of business and ignores the finances, this is going to be a challenge. But just like a new exercise routine, you start small and make a commitment to be consistent. The idea is to schedule a specific time every day, week or month (depending on your business) to review your financial statements. This is easier to do when you have a bookkeeper setting up your books with you. And it doesn’t have to be a complicated process – you can create a simple spreadsheet or dashboard that allows you to track the numbers you want to monitor, such as sales, expenses, returns, accounts receivable, etc. This dashboard will be different for every business, but keep it simple and focus only on the numbers that will help you make better decisions in your business.

5. Set boundaries around your time and money. This is one that’s difficult for women because we’re people pleasers and we don’t like to say no. But if we want to run a profitable business, we have to set boundaries around our time and our money. When you set boundaries around your time and our money, you are able to:

• Charge what you are worth for your services
• Outsource or delegate tasks
• Stop saying yes to volunteer projects that steal your joy and leave you filled with resentment
• Identify the charitable contributions and in-kind donations (pro-bono work) you can commit to for the year and say no to others
• Stop attending networking meetings that aren’t bringing you an ROI
• Collect on unpaid invoices
• Require payment in advance for your services
• Attract clients and customers who value your time and will pay what you are worth

What am I missing? Share your financial fitness tips with us here!

Copyright 2013 Theresa Ceniccola

She sees what she wants to get done
and loves with her accomplishments.
A gift to her child,
a blessing for her husband.
Too busy to see how much
has already been done,
too concerned with tomorrow
to enjoy today.

Forcing herself to compete
and check off tasks
on an arbitrary list.
Gaining nothing of value,
yet missing the essence
of a child’s love.

A hug,
a kiss,
three small words
getting lost in the hustle.
A smile,
a laugh,
a story
too short to miss.

A mother’s love is strong,
yet weak in the busyness of life.
Letting priorities get shifted
and looking ahead
instead of down at her child.

Too fast,
too soon,
it will be tomorrow.
Regrets will then set in,
and she will mourn the days she wasted.
Her child will be grown
and she will be old,
but her love will still be inside
waiting to flourish through her eyes.

Copyright 2013 Tanya Weitzel

Spring Cleaning

It began innocently enough – two moms sharing the woes of spice cupboards-you know, the ones whose little glass bottles immediately spill over when one is looking for that last illusive ingredient for supper at six and it is now five forty(okay so this is my issue, my friend’s cupboard is infinitely more precise and user friendly). Anyhow, next thing I know Leslie bursts forth with many practical, smart and easy ideas for changes that would certainly bring new life and joy to my tiny, yet lovable and lived-in kitchen.

She graciously gives me a full afternoon of precious mom time to aid me in a thorough clean out and re-organization! Lots of items to recycle… I now have a pantry and everything seems close at hand and convenient.

Providentially, I also had a visit with another smart and savvy mom I know who introduced me to “Joy of Less” by Francine Jay. Lena’s home (mom of four youngsters under the age of 6)is remarkably neat, clean and free of clutter so, of course, I sought her “secret”. Over the last few years, Lena has made lots of decisions about “material stuff” motivated and inspired by Francine’s tips about considering the usefulness and lovability of all material goods. Does this particular item really deserve a place in our home? Is this something I use on a regular basis? Clear surfaces, a place for everything and everything in its place are mantras we have all come across but at the right time for our families, they may resound more loudly.

Managing a household of six children (an eclectic mix of ages, stages, passions and temperaments) and celebrating 25 years of marriage and mourning our baby Francis and sifting through all that I was “saving” for him-now seems to be the right  time for this Mom.

Another friend, Holly, shared with me her wardrobe transformation… project 333, that is: 33 items (clothes, shoes, outerwear, jewelry) for 3 months. Box the rest up until a re-assessment in a few months. Yes, ladies-I have a neat closet with more open space. Everything coordinates and makes picking an outfit easy and fun. I am also making more use of these items in new creative ways and it’s fun!

It is remarkably satisfying moving about in a home that is more efficient and user-friendly. As a homeschooling family we make a lot of use of all of our spaces. Conscious decision-making about what is and what is not important in our day-to-day walk is a skill I want to pass along to my children.

How I use this renewed sense of space and time will undoubtedly be a challenge. May God guide me to a spiritual spring cleaning that will help me prepare for my real home in eternity.

Blessings to you and yours for a warm and happy springtime!

Copyright 2013 Cathy Craig

I am well familiar with some seasons being easier than others, but children learn best how to behave in church by being there, in the sanctuary, EVERY. SINGLE. WEEK.   And better yet, try to attend daily Mass on a regular basis, too.  There was a time where my husband was able to attend daily Mass most days of the week and that was when my oldest learned how to behave in church.   Since then, our daily Mass attendance has been sporadic at best, but it is excellent for the children since they can usually see more of what’s going on.  In addition to that, there is just something about the extra graces provided by attending an extra Mass with the kids by yourself.  I’m filled with joy every time we go; even if it’s a struggle the whole time .

Consistency is also a key.   We used to let our oldest crawl and walk all around the pew.   That totally did not work.   She is 5 and still has trouble facing forward and not being a little monkey!    With our next, we got a little wiser and I decided that she was going to be a lap-baby until she was at least 2 years old.   If we are in church, she is on somebody’s lap.  Period.  If she struggled, we squeezed her thigh and told her, “no, we sit quietly in church.”  If she resisted again, we told her “no” and squeezed her again.   The next time, we took her out, disciplined her and then went right back in.   There were a few times we went out more than once (or twice or three times), but under no circumstances did we let her run around in the vestibule, go to the cry room, or take her for a walk.  It didn’t take long before she sat as quietly as you can expect from a small child.   On the plus side, it also meant that we never had to take out a screaming child who had fallen and gotten hurt again J.

Lastly, if you have a domestic church, it makes it much easier to teach respect for God and prayer time in ALL settings, not just during Mass.  Our children are required to be respectful and participate as much as they are able while we are saying grace, doing a family rosary, and even reading the Bible.  We also teach respect for Holy items in church such as Bible’s never being thrown or put on the floor or not wearing Rosaries as jewelry.   When they are instructed from birth about these objects and behaviors it almost becomes a part of who they are and how they behave and it makes attending Mass an extension of the Church.

As a practical manner, here is how we cope with and address issues with children during Mass

Birth

• They attend Mass and are usually held or put in a sling.   If they are asleep in a carrier, we have done that on occasion, as well.
• A soft (quiet) toy to grasp is also helpful.

Age 1

• Still on the lap!
• Remember a pre-church snack!    I try to feed them before we leave, although we now have crackers in the van for the ride over (and back) since we attend the late Mass each week now.  This is especially important when the child is not nursing as much or when you’ve decided they are old enough that they no longer need to be nursed during Mass (about 15-18 months in our home).
• A religious beanie baby or stuffed toy.   We used to bring a book or other quiet toy, but it became annoying when they dropped it at the quietest point of the Mass J.

Age 2

• Off the lap as they are able to sit quietly.  So far, mine still prefer to be on a lap most of the time.
• A small notebook & pencil, a ring of holy cards, or small beanie baby or other stuffed toy.

Age 3

• Off the lap.   Facing front.
• A small notebook & pencil, a ring of holy cards, or small beanie baby or other stuffed toy.

Age 4.

• Off the lap.   Following the motions as desired or sitting in the pew.
• Participate in giving Peace and saying the Our Father.
• A small notebook & pencil or a ring of holy cards.

Age 5

• Following the motions of Mass – standing, sitting, kneeling.
• Participating in the Peace and Our Father.

We have also made some listening pages for our 4-5 year olds to use during Mass that helps them follow along, yet have something to keep their hands busy.   There is a different one for each liturgical season and I have made them for both the Novus Ordo and the Traditional Latin Masses since we attend each depending on our mood and schedule.   You can find them on my blog today — Catholic Mass Listening Pages — Novus Ordo and Traditional Latin Mass.

How do you keep your little ones in the sanctuary during Mass?

Copyright 2013 Jen Steed

Is it a sin of envy to read a book, weep tears of love, and at the same time fall prey to green-eyed envy that you weren’t the one who penned the words between the covers? Yes, it likely is.

And yet I have to confess that this is what I felt much of the time while reading Bakhita: From Slave to Saint by Roberto Italo Zanini. As a devotee of St. Bakhita, I fell in love all over again with her as I devoured Zanini’s book. The English version of a memoir originally penned in Italian, Bakhita brings to life this amazing woman’s story of grace, forgiveness and absolute love. I truly believe that this book could be for St. Bakhita what Story of a Soul was for St. Therese of Lisieux — the vehicle by which so many could come to know and seek an intercessory relationship with a spiritual role model. Please check out the publisher’s information on this book below and consider it as a great option for inspirational summer reading.

From Ignatius Press:

SAN FRANCISCO, May 14, 2013 – The life story of an exceptional saint, Josephine Bakhita, is sure to be an inspiration to anyone who reads it. The new English edition of her biography, entitled Bakhita: From Slave to Saint, vividly recounts the unique details, tragedy, and virtues of her life. When she was about nine years old, Josephine Bakhita was kidnapped near Darfur, Sudan, by Arab slave traders. For several years she was subjected to brutal and humiliating treatment until she was ransomed and taken to Venice, Italy, where she eventually converted to Catholicism and became a nun.

Joyfully and serenely Bakhita served in a convent, school and infirmary run by Canossian sisters in a small, obscure town in northern Italy until her death in 1947. Then something even more remarkable than her redemption happened.

Hundreds of ordinary people came to see Bakhita lying in state, and along with these visits came stories about how the simple nun had given comfort, advice and encouragement as she went about her tasks as cook, doorkeeper, nurse, etc. Almost immediately graces and miracles attributed to Bakhita’s intercession began to be reported.

Ever since, the place where Bakhita died and the wonders began has been a shrine visited by people from all over the world. They come to seek the intercession of one who was no stranger to loss and suffering and yet had given herself with complete confidence to the Lord. It is here, in this sparsely furnished room, where Italian journalist Roberto Italo Zanini begins his story of Bakhita and her journey from slavery to sainthood.

Based on Bakhita’s autobiography, which she dictated to a Canossian sister in obedience to her superior, the canonization files and many other sources, Zanini records the life, virtues and miracles of this daughter of Africa who has become a sister to the whole world.

Mother Dolores Hart, Prioress at Regina Laudis Abbey and co-author of the book The Ear of The Heart: An Actress’ Journey from Hollywood to Holy Vows, says, “Every story of sanctity is that of a person who takes her whole life – the gifts and the sorrows, wounds, and wonders all – and opens to the grace of God. Such is the story of Saint Josephine Bakhita told beautifully and with careful scholarship by Roberto Zanini. By choosing Christ and choosing forgiveness, Bakhita illuminates the darkest shadows of the human condition with the transforming light of faith in the one true Master.”

Anthony Ryan, Director of Sales and Marketing for Ignatius Press, says, “Ignatius Press is pleased to offer this definitive biography of St. Josephine Bakhita, which vividly describes her amazing journey from being kidnapped by slave-traders, to her conversion to the Catholic Faith and path to sainthood. This inspirational book, which includes 16 pages of photographs from her exceptional life, is sure to encourage readers to imitate Bakhita’s heroic example of forgiveness and sanctity.”

About the Author

Roberto Italo Zanini is an editor and writer for Avvenire, the daily newspaper of the Italian bishops. His articles have appeared in many Italian publications, both Catholic and secular.

Order Bakhita: From Slave to Saint and support CatholicMom.com with your purchase

Be sure to check out our Book Notes archive.

Copyright 2013 Lisa M. Hendey

St. Bernardino of Siena

God has sent me a friend, I think.  He showed up about a week ago, and I’m not sure how long he’s going to stay.

He’s a Franciscan, a preacher, a theologian, and a canonist.  And he lived 600 years ago.

St. Bernadino of Siena arrived on my scene last week through his bio in the Magnificat.  I’ve quickly fallen in love with the Holy Name ever since reading Fr. Paul O’Sullivan’s book The Wonders of the Holy Name some weeks ago, and it was striking to me that the saint featured in this month’s Magnficat would be someone who was so totally devoted to the Holy Name that he carried a staff with the initials IHS on top and who indeed worked many wonders in the Name of Jesus.  The timing caught my attention and my heart and I felt an instant connection with and affection for him, despite the years between us and our many differences.  I’ve felt him in our house ever since, close at hand, in my thoughts, pointing out ways that the Holy Name is glorified, bringing me to today when my husband called from work to wish me a happy Feast of St. Bernadino and my heart inexplicably leapt.

What I’ve learned about our guest is that in 1417 he began preaching in Milan and Lombardy and later travelled to other parts of Italy, always on foot.  (He had to practice extensively to train his weak voice to become strong enough to be heard in churches and open-air pulpits.)  He preached on the person of Christ and focused on the common sins of his day: witchcraft, usury, gambling, and superstition, advocating for penance and voluntary poverty to help ward off these evils (Butlers Lives of the Saints, May, pg. 107).

St. Bernadino preached that “speech ought to be a holy activity free of salaciousness and vulgarity” and that “malicious gossip…triggered warfare”.

Of all words he most cherished the Holy Name, saying:

The name of Jesus is the glory of preachers, because the shining splendor of that name causes his word to be proclaimed and heard.  And how do you think such an immense, sudden, and dazzling light of faith came into the world, if not because Jesus was preached?  Was it not through the brilliance and sweet savor of this name that God called us into His marvelous light? (Magnficat, Vol. 15, No.3)

And so this good mendicant friar from the middle ages is with us for the time being.  I’m not quite sure what he wants or why the Lord has sent him in particular.  With a typical houseguest (okay, so really only a grandparent or brother has been willing/brave enough to stay with us overnight), I’d be concerned about what to feed him, how to entertain him, and making sure no tiny people were wandering into his room at 5:30 in the morning to see what were in his bags and to find out if maybe he’d like to play stuffed animals right now.  But how to ensure that a saintly visitor is pleased with the hospitality?  I’m not sure.  I suppose I could ask him, but I’m a little nervous about what he’ll say.  Despite his endlessly-good nature, he might prove the most difficult to please.

Do you have any ideas?  Have you had any saintly visitors lately and how have you cared for them in your home?

Copyright 2013 Meg Matenaer

Janice Carbon

Sometimes Life Comes with Bumps and Bruises

There are times in our lives when we may need professional counseling.It may come in a situation with one of our children that we are not so sure how to handle. Or it may be that there are issues in our marriage that we want to talk over with a trusted, independent person who has the appropriate knowledge to help. Or it can simply be that we want to improve ourselves and our lives. We may be feeling stuck in a rut and not sure what we need to do to get ourselves free so that we can be the person God created us to be.

How to Find the Right Professional

With so many professionals out there, how do you pick the right person to work with?  

The single most important factor is to find someone who understands and shares your core value base. For us Catholics, that means someone who is a practicing Catholic, living a life true to the Magisterium of the Church. You want someone who not only knows, but cherishes, our Catholic faith.

Your pastor or parish office might have a list of Catholic therapists in your area. If not, you can search for Catholic therapists in your area at CatholicTherapists.com.

Why a Catholic Professional Is so Important

One of the main problems with secular counseling is that psychology puts the self at the center of things. It is all about discovering the self and actualizing the self.  The problem is that everything is directed by what the self wants. In simple terms, the approach taken by secular counseling comes down to “my will be done.”

Catholics, on the other hand, respect the life and unique personhood of each individual. And we see our lives in a much larger context.

• We have an eternal perspective.
• We see ourselves as sons and daughters of a loving God.
• We are creatures created by a divine Creator.
• We believe that we are created by Love, out of Love, and for Love.

This is worlds away from the secular outlook!

As Catholics, we cannot settle for “my will be done.” We know that only leads to frustration. Instead, we must consider God’s will, as in “Thy will be done,” for we know that true and lasting happiness can only be found in God.

There Is No Such Thing as Neutral

Secular therapists say that they are “value neutral.” As a society, we have been drowning in this secular nonsense for decades. But we know the truth: God is good! God is the source of all goodness, and no good exists outside of God! And if this is case, then another truth naturally follows: All healing comes from God! And since God is the source of all healing; there is no healing outside of Him. This is why it is so important to seek counseling from a professional that shares your Catholic faith. To seek healing without God can only end in frustration.

If you find yourself in need of counseling, pray to God and seek help from your pastor, your parish family, and from a Catholic therapist.

Janice Carbon is a Catholic Counseling Professional. She is also the author of Fully Alive! now available through Tau Publishing.

Copyright 2013 Janice Carbon

Abbey Dupuy

Editor’s note: Today, we welcome Abbey Dupuy to our family of writers. Abbey blogs at Surviving Our Blessings and is a busy mom of twins and a preschooler. I look forward to learning from her! Please join me in giving Abbey a warm CatholicMom.com welcome! LMH

My parish used to take the water out of the holy water font during Lent.

Although they stopped doing that a number of years ago, I still remember the feeling of oddly-dry fingers on the way in to Mass that accompanied the stripped-down altar and the absent Alleluia.

I came to the Catholic Church incrementally, but part of what drew me in was the quiet, prayerful holiness of the Mass and the diversity of prayer practice in the tradition. My introverted soul craves quiet contemplation, longs to rest in silence and drink it all in. I remember the days when I used to arrive early to Mass just to kneel and soak it up, letting my soul stretch and reach upward as everyone was arriving. I felt I connected with God at every turn then, and when I left Mass each week, I carried the fiercely burning light of Christ at the very center of my being, so hot that I could physically feel it behind my breastbone.

In the Gospel story of Mary and Martha, I was Mary all the way…sitting at Jesus’ feet and hanging on his every word.

Fast forward to now, and I feel like it’s all passing me by. I’m exhausted. I’m surrounded by clamor and chaos, and it’s my job to restore order. I’m in full-Martha survival mode.

Getting us all to church each week feels like an epic challenge, managed only by my most careful planning and hard work. I try to streamline Sunday morning as much as possible, but by breakfast, we’re often running late. We are never early (partly because we run late almost everywhere these days, and partly because getting to church early just means our little people have to stay put in the pews longer), but I wish we were on time more often.

When we arrive, we park and unload everyone, lugging them into church from the parking garage with the huge diaper bag stocked with distractions and extra clothes and diapers, praying that we will make it through the Mass without at least one child needing to be removed for tears or tantrums. We spend our time not sitting in quiet prayer, but bouncing, walking, whispering, shushing, swaying, pointing at words in books, turning pages, rescuing runaway crayons, preventing people from rolling on the floor, and trying not to be distracting. There are weeks when we spend the entire Mass out in the foyer with toddlers who are driven to walk, to climb, to chatter about everything they see.

I know that’s how God created toddlers. That’s how they experience the world – it’s what they do at this stage in their lives. They are too young to understand about sitting for that long, and we are outnumbered. We bring things to occupy them, but the laws of toddler physics are inevitable: eventually, a toddler-not-in-motion will become a toddler-in-motion…and woe to the mother who tries to impede that toddler.

If we are in the foyer, I always sneak back into the church for Eucharist carrying whichever child is least likely to make a scene. The priest often makes comments in his lengthy almost-the-end-of-Mass announcements about how people should stay through the final hymn, but we usually sneak out again.

When I was Mary, I always stayed through the final hymn. (Honestly, I even judged other people for leaving before the final words had been sung.)

Now Martha is in charge, and she knows that sometimes, we need to cut our losses and get out of there as quickly as possible.

By the time we reverse our arrival process, stuffing our frustrated children back into the car before grabbing lunch quickly in our attempt to make it home before nap time (so we can collapse when the children are sleeping), I’m often in tears, sweaty with exertion. I’m exhausted from the struggle of managing it all. Sometimes my arms are actually shaking from the physical effort of keeping everything together. Most weeks, I only know what the readings are if I managed to read them ahead of time (as the chances of my absorbing much of what is said are low).

Parenting on Sundays sometimes feels like as much work as all the other days added together.

My friends who are not churchgoers wonder why we do this every week. If it’s so hard, why are we putting ourselves through it? Surely God would understand if we stopped bringing them to Mass for a while, if I went by myself while my children stayed home with their dad, if our family came back all together in a couple of years when everyone was better able to handle it?

God would probably understand, yes. But it’s not God I’m worried about.

It’s me.

Although I do believe it benefits our littlest ones to be in church with us, when it comes down to it, I’m the one who really needs to be there. I need to dip my fingers in the font. (There’s plenty of water there now; it’s my soul that is parched.) I need to sing, even if I don’t remember all the words and can’t manage holding a hymnal (or am caught in the foyer without one). I need to lock eyes with the child that is challenging me most and say, “Peace be with you.” I need to encounter Christ. And in that one small moment after receiving Eucharist, I need to take a deep breath, look into the face of Jesus on the cross and say, “Yes.” Or maybe, “Lord, have mercy.” Or maybe nothing at all.

I need to be Mary again, just for a second.

Even if I’m struggling the entire time, in that one moment, there is strength to sustain me. I can keep going for the rest of that day, for another day, for another week. I am not alone in my work of mothering these children. My work is God’s work. My children are God’s children. God loves them infinitely more than I do, and God loves them through me and in spite of me…and as long as I remember that, I cannot fail them entirely.

I’m so grateful for the gifts of their lives. I tuck them in every single night with a blessing and the words, “I’m so thankful to be your mama.” I’m working hard, and I’m learning to manage, and I’m a Martha-among-Marthas most days: capable, organized, and on top of my game.

But sometimes, the Mary in my soul would really, really like to just rest quietly at Jesus’ feet and drink her fill.

Copyright 2013 Abbey Dupuy 

There are currently efforts in our government to pass sales tax regulations for Internet purchases, and many consumers are worried.  In tough economic times, can we afford an increase in taxes?

First, let me begin by saying that I am politically impartial to the topic.  Honestly, I care less what the prevailing thought is on either the blue or red side of the fence.  This topic primarily concerns me as a professional in the IT industry and as a consumer, nothing more.

Next, let me share a little secret with you: in many states (if not most), you should already be paying taxes on your Internet purchases.  Shocked?  I was too.

Have you ever heard of use tax?  You have probably heard the word in the phrase sales and use tax because generally, they go hand-in-hand.

Here’s how it works.  When you make a purchase in another state (including online), that retailer has the option of collecting sales tax from you – they may even be required to.  However, if they don’t, you pay a use tax back in your home state, usually at your state’s normal sales tax rate.

For example, if I purchase a book from an online store for $20, but they do not collect sales tax, Illinois (my home state) requires me to pay a $1.25 use tax on it that can be added to my yearly 1040.  In fact, Illinois adds that if they charge me too little, say 5% instead of the state’s 6.25%, I should pay them the $0.25 difference.

Confused yet?  Me too.

Well, let’s put it simply.  If you do not pay sales taxes on your Internet purchases, there is a good chance you should be paying use tax instead.

Why doesn’t the online retailer collect it for us?  Because they are as confused by all of this as we are, and they would rather put the ball in our court – putting us on the hook to pay our own taxes.  How nice of them!

Retailers also choose not to collect taxes because it gives them an advantage over their brick-and-mortar counterparts.  Many times, the money saved on taxes makes up for the cost of shipping – driving more customers online for convenience.  With free shipping, consumers believe they are saving money, but in reality, they aren’t (with the cost of use tax).

Anyway, the bills being introduced would force retailers to collect the taxes, which takes the burden off of us.  So this is not really a tax increase; it is collecting taxes that are technically due already, but putting the burden on the retailer and not on us.

This is a good step in the right direction, but of course, the lawmakers could have made it a lot easier.  The laws for each state are complex, and some collect state, county, and municipal taxes.  Imagine being a small company trying to navigate that mess across 50 states!

The government could, at least, force states into one tax rate across the state – dropping county and municipal taxes.  If they did, more online retailers would be likely to comply.  It’s so difficult now that many choose not to.  Simplifying the process, and flattening the rates, would actually increase revenues for many states.

Why does any of this matter to a tech guy like me?  Because managing these extra tax burdens on ecommerce sites is difficult, to say the least.  Trying to keep up with the constantly changing tax landscapes across 50 states is anything but easy.

It has also affected jobs.  For instance, when my lovely governor passed an Internet tax bill in Illinois a few years back, it sent a lot of tech jobs to other states.  The law is so strict that I cannot even place ads on my website for companies like Amazon without it causing a taxable event.  Thank you, Mr. Governor.

There are many points to consider with instituting a nationwide Internet sales tax, but I’m not overly impressed with the currently introduced legislation.   I think our political leaders could have done a better job at drafting a bill that helps states collect revenues while streamlining the process at the same time.

Regardless of what happens with this bill, or the next, Internet taxes are coming, one way or another, so be ready for it.

Read more of our Tech Talk columns.

Copyright 2013 Chad R. Torgerson

• Today’s Scriptures
• USCCB Video Reflection
• Saints of the Day

Our liturgical readings taken from the wisdom thought of Sirach is supplemented by the Psalms chosen for our response and meditation.  They are psalms that are from the wisdom lineage of the Temple prayers and songs.  We see this in the frequent use of Psalm 1, Psalm 19 A and B, and Psalm 119 the longest in the Psalter.  They help us ponder over the wisdom writings with a prayer and with our own meditation on the themes expressed in the first reading.

Jesus is often called Wisdom by contemporary theologians.  He is filled with the wisdom coming from the Holy Spirit. Today he is teaching wisdom to his disciples by making sure they are tolerant of others who share in special gifts from God and done in Jesus’ name.  His disciples need wisdom in learning how to be tolerant of others and not judgmental or jealous.  Maybe the two are related in lack of tolerance.  The case at hand is that a man is casting out demons in the name of Jesus even though he is not a disciple of Jesus.  Jesus teaches his disciples practical wisdom seen in good judgment.  The tells them, “Anyone who is not against us, is for us.”

Sirach illustrates the role of wisdom in the lives who are seeking her (Sophia, Wisdom personified).  Her wisdom is to be received and acted upon in those who love her; it again is practical wisdom and down to earth.

Not only individuals but communities are called to be followers of wisdom.  Members are to be alert to forms of prejudice, rash judgment of others,  virulent backbiting,  hurtful sarcasm.  Arrogance or a feeling that we are better than others is also a part of the picture when a group lacks wisdom.  Tolerance is a gift that fosters honesty and transparency; it listens to the others, enters into dialogue with them, stays at table with them and has no pretense of knowing all things.  Like the disciples we too need to realize that those who are not with us may not be against us.

We pray for the gift of Wisdom from the Holy Spirit.  We learn to never despise anyone.  We praise those who praise God and Jesus.  We learn from them.  Wisdom is an ongoing process and thus it fits in with the liturgical concept of ordinary time.  Wisdom however is not ordinary; it is extraordinary and a graced gift from God. Amen.

Copyright 2013 Fr. Bertrand Buby, S.M.