Reordering Your Life

This Advent, I am using the book Rejoice! Advent Meditations with Joseph by Fr. Mark Toups. This book is proving to be extremely powerful in not only getting to know Joseph better but also in doing some real soul-searching. One entry, in particular, laid heavy on my heart. I've thought of it before, but seeing it on paper helped me to understand what I've been feeling and what I am called to do.

Figuring it out

What is the order of your life? Fr. Toups indicates that most men order their lives with the mission being first, followed by identity, then relationship. The same could be said for women as well. What would happen if we changed our order? If Relationship with God came first? If we put the relationship with God first, then identify from God and mission for God would follow.

It makes perfect sense, doesn't it? If "mission" is first, my identity becomes based on it. If "relationship with God" is first, the mission refocuses. We become who we are because of whose we are. (pages 9-10) When putting it into the perspective of my occupation, I am still a Speech Pathologist, but that ends up as secondary. Instead of my occupation coming first, it's last. My main mission is to be a Child of God and to live accordingly. The mission is also the identity. It all begins with Relationship and having that focused, strong relationship.

Reordering = Refocusing

If I reorder my life and put Relationship with God first, every aspect of my life shifts. I'm no longer spending time away from my husband doing work-related things. My focus goes back to him and paying attention to him. I'm no longer stressed at work because my main focus is on God. That's not to say that I don't do my job to the best of my ability; rather, I recognize that the source of my ability is God. I think I actually am more focused at work when I put my relationship with God first. I'm more productive because I've put my life in the right perspective; as soon as I leave school my focus is on my husband and doing what I need to do at home.

So...how about you? Is it time to reorder your life? What changes do you expect to happen? As I wrote that last question, I wondered how many unexpected changes will also happen. Put your relationship with God first and see how He works in your life!

When We Wait, We Stray

Photo by Serkan Göktay from Pexels

Waiting. We wait and if we have to wait for very long, we stray. Luke 12:32-48 urges us to be vigilant and don't give up. We don't know when He will come again; when he will rescue us from our visiting place so we will finally reach our heavenly home- our ultimate destination.

A lifetime of waiting

It seems as though we are always waiting. As children, we are told to wait. As teenagers, we can't wait to be out on our own. As adults, we can't wait for the next vacation. Expectant women can't wait for their child to be born (and to not be pregnant any longer!). Parents can't wait until their babies are out of diapers. The elderly wait to pass from this life.
So much waiting; the Bible even talks about it and tells us how to wait. Oh, but it tells us what we're waiting for and promises us that we're in for something more beautiful than we could ever imagine.

I wish instead of I can't wait

I'm guilty of being impatient. While I honestly wasn't one of those teenagers who couldn't wait to get away from my parents (although I thoroughly enjoyed the freedom during my college years), I am one who counts the weeks until vacation. I was also that mom who couldn't wait for that next stage in my sons' lives. It's easy to look back and say "I wish" instead of "I can't wait". I wish I had listened to my parents more when I was growing up. I wish I had enjoyed each phase of my sons' lives. I wish I had enjoyed my job more and looked at it from the angle of "I only have x weeks until the break to have my students grasp this concept or be able to make this sound." We spend our whole lives waiting and wishing about self-centered things. Why do we waste our lives that way? Why do we want things to be easier, less stressful? It's human nature, for sure. Even Jesus asked for the outcome of His life to be different, but He knew it was His purpose; He knew it was God's will. (Matthew 26:39)

He is coming

Be not afraid is in the Bible over 300 times. What a powerful message we are being sent by God in this messy period of history. The devil is rampant in the USA, desperate to take over this country. Yet God is telling us to not be afraid. Have faith in Him. Be vigilant in our faith. Continue to wait for Him, to wait with patience. To live as He wants us to live, always looking to Heaven because He will come.  He is coming!

How an Adoration Chapel Spawned a Miracle Halfway Around the World

This is the story of how a small, humble Eucharistic Adoration Chapel in the Southeastern United States spawned a miracle halfway around the world. The Chapel, sadly, is not a "Perpetual Adoration Chapel" because there isn't someone scheduled 24/7. My hope is that this story will change that.
A Monsignor from Nigeria has visited my parish for over a decade. From what I understand, he is friends with a couple who lived 2 hours away. They moved into the area, so when the priest visited, he kept coming back. He was so moved by our humble little Adoration Chapel that he began one in his home parish. There are now 11 Chapels in his diocese, all because he fell in love with our Chapel. But that's not the miracle.
The Monsignor tells us that there is a man in his parish who, for three years, stopped in as he went by the Chapel. He didn't stay long, maybe not even 5 minutes. Just long enough to say "Hi" to Jesus and to let him know someone knew He is there. One day, the man was on the roof of his house, and he had a tumble. The result: He broke his neck and his vertebrae. He was paralyzed with no hope of being able to walk again. A few months later, he was alone in his hospital bed when a man in white came in. He told the paralytic that he hadn't seen him in a while, and wanted to stop in to say "hi". When the man in white left, the paralytic got out of bed and walked around his room. His wife came in and saw him and yelled for medical personnel. When his wife asked what happened, the man said, "I don't know. A man in white came in and said he wanted to say "hi" and then I could walk."
I have said numerous times how much it makes my heart hurt that people walk by the Adoration Chapel and don't just pop in. Some people think they can't go in if they don't have an hour. Some people don't even realize Jesus is there, waiting for us with open arms. He's waiting for us to acknowledge He's there. My parish just finished 40 hours of Adoration leading up to Corpus Christi. One of our current priests is working hard for an understanding of Adoration, and the graces we receive from it.
Since the miracle occurred, the Monsignor said they have people, Catholics and Non-Catholics, stopping by the Adoration Chapels. In a country where Christians are being persecuted, I think Jesus is getting His message across.

June Reads: Books Read During the Month of June

Are there some good books out there, or what? Unfortunately, my stack of books to read is growing instead of dwindling. Following below are brief reviews from books I read during the month of June. Get ready to add to your "To Read" shelf!

📗 Hungry Souls: Supernatural Visits, Messages, and Warnings from Purgatory      
     (Gerard J.M. Van Den Aardweg- TAN Books)
If you want to get a glimpse of purgatory and realize the importance of praying for the deceased, this is the book.  This book was fascinating. Purgatory is a difficult concept for Catholics and Non-Catholics to grasp, but this book did an excellent job of making that concept a little more concrete. There are saints' and laypersons' accounts of being visited, as well as how prayers and penance aided these souls during their time in Purgatory.

My recommendation: 👍

📗 Pope Joan (Donna Woolfolk Cross- Three Rivers Press)

Before I say anything about this book, I have to say that the author clearly states

that this book is fiction. In the back of the book, the author notes that there is some speculation that Joan was, in fact, a real person, and she makes some strong evidence to suggest that there may have been a Pope Joan. But, as I said, this book is fiction. Was there really a Pope Joan? That's just one of the answers we'll have when we get to Heaven!

My recommendation: 👍

📗 Knight of the Holy Ghost- A Short HIstory of G.K.Chesterton (Dale Ahlquist- Ignatius Press)

Yes, I knew who G.K. Chesterton was before I read this book...kind of. I knew he was an author, but this book delves into everything he was: The Man, The Writer, and The Saint. He was before his time; things that he said about the early 1900's still hold true today. For example, in the book What's Wrong With the World, he identifies four main things that are wrong with the world: big government, big business, feminism, and public education. His reasoning is that all of these things undermine the family, which is the basic unit of society, the thing that must be stable for society to be stable, the thing that must be strong for society to be strong, and the thing that is most under attack in our society today. (page 73) There are quite a few prophetic things that he wrote that are of specific interest.

The man was constantly writing, if not with pen & paper, then in his head. Constantly. If he wasn't writing books, he was writing poetry or articles for newspapers.  I was pleasantly surprised to read that G.K. is the author of the Father Brown series, which I have watched all the way through on Netflix. I had no idea he wrote the books, which now I think I have to start reading. 

Biographies are one of my favorite genres to read, especially one that is well written. I learned a lot about G.K. Chesterton by reading this short history, so much that I want to start reading some of his books. I dog-eared quite a few pages in this book so I can take notes on it and refer back to as needed. 

My recommendation: 👍

📗 Letters to a Suffering Church (Bishop Robert Barron- Word on Fire)

This little book packs a punch in explaining why, during this critical time in Church history, you should stay instead of jumping ship. Chapters touch on how this scandal is a "diabolical masterpiece", what scripture says about human sexuality, former history of scandals, dimensions of the treasure that explains why we should stay with the Church, and what we can do to fight for the Church. This is a short book (only 102 pages) and a very easy read. Bishop Barron hits the nail on the head when he says the Eucharist is the single most important reason for staying faithful to the Catholic Church. You can't find it anywhere else; and no wickedness on the part of priests or bishops can affect it. (page 74) One other thing about this book: it's free; you only pay shipping & handling. You can order it here.

My recommendation: 👍

I Have a Winner in the Catholic Planner Debate

In a previous post, I compared two planners. At that time, I wasn't sure how my CTTY (Catholic Through The Year) planner was going to hold up. As a full-time public school Speech Language Pathologist, I travel between a couple of schools and my planner gets thrown into my bag at the end of the day. I wasn't sure how the coil binding was going to do as the year marched on, but I was extremely pleased with how well it held up.

My planner on the last day of school.

As you can see, the planner held up famously! It looks as good on the last day of school as it did on the first. I pre-ordered one for next school year as soon as I received the email that pre-orders began.

Advantages to Disc Binding

There are some differences, but I'd say the differences are definitely for the better! One major difference is the binding. Martina has given a choice of having the planner already punched for using a disc system, or, if you prefer, you can have the planner without holes so you can bind as you wish. She has also given a choice of colors for the cover.

I use the disc system for my therapy book at work, so I went with the disc. There are at least a couple of advantages for using the disc system

1. If there are pages you won't use, it's super easy to take them out. You can save them in case you decide you want to use them, then it's really simple to put them back in the planner.    

   

   These are some pages that I don't think I will use, so I took them out.

2. Don't like the way the planner is organized? You can rearrange the pages so they will be just the way you want them! 

Looking Inside the Daybook Planner

The monthly views have remained the same, but there are a couple of subtle changes in weekly views.

2018-2019 Planner

2019-2020 Planner

The Notes, Daily Examen, and Monthly Quote are on the opposite page from the previous one. A nice little feature has been added: bubbles to mark off daily water intake. There are 8 bubbles per day.

But that's not all you'll receive! In addition to the monthly/weekly views, you'll receive a bundle. This includes a whole slew of extras! There are some features that were in the previous planner:

The Spiritual Sketch pages were in the front of the previous version of the planner, but can easily be placed wherever you prefer them to be.

 The Monthly Devotion pages were just before the monthly and weekly views. Again, they can be moved wherever you prefer them.

 New Pages in the Bundle

 In addition to a Daily Examen on the weekly view, there is a more extensive Examination of Conscience included. This takes the 10 Commandments and breaks them down for a more thorough examination.

There are 5 pages of "to do list". With the disc, I can move a page from week to week so I don't forget anything.

 A "mood tracker" and "habit tracker" are included, 1 for each month. Will I use the mood tracker? It's doubtful at this stage in my life, but I definitely see how it could be very useful for NFP.

 There are note pages all of the place in this planner. Very helpful, indeed! Again, with the disc system, I can pop these pages out and in where I need them. If I had to pick one thing I didn't like about this planner, it would be that there are no lines on these pages, just graphs with dots. It's definitely not a deal-breaker for me!

I absolutely love this feature! I can write the names of the books in my ever-growing stack of books to read, then color them when I finished it. Great idea to include this page!

There's one thing I added on my own: a pocket for my stickers. I took a piece of card stock, punched it using my disc puncher, folded the bottom up a bit then stapled it. I had to trim the side off a little before I stapled it, but I think it will do. (If you don't have a disc puncher, you can use a single hole puncher, punch the holes in it, then clip an opening to fit it on the disc.)

There are additional bundles that are available for purchase: Household Management, Homeschool, Blogger, and Fitness. There are also half-sheet bundles to help with meal-planning, self-care, to do, and organization. AND, there are blank pages available: graph, blank, lined (yay!), and dotted. 

Is this the perfect planner for you? I honestly can't answer that question; what's best for one person may not be the best for another but I would definitely give this one a try. At $40, it is less expensive than another popular Catholic Planner, and in my experience, holds up much better. Now the question is: Will the discbound hold up as well as the coil bound? I'll be able to answer that question better at the end of the school year, but at least I know if it doesn't, I can take next year's planner down to an office supply store and have them bind it for me. This is absolutely, hands-down, the best planner I've used!

There is an option to download Daybook as a pdf for only $12. I'm not sure how much it would cost to have a professional print it out for you but if you have a  decent printer, this may be the option for you.

Is Jesus Really Present in a Wafer?

Photo by Josh Applegate on Unsplash

While looking through some Instagram posts, this comment on a priest's post caught my eye: Jesus isn't in a wafer. At first I chuckled, but then I felt sad for the person who posted the comment. I felt sad because he thought he had to post that comment. I felt sad that he doesn't know The Truth. I prayed for him that one day he will come to know Jesus in the Daily Sacrifice of the Mass.
Another reaction I had to the post was Oh! But He is!

The Long(ish) Answer

Yes, there are "wafers" (hosts) on the altar, but during the Mass, something spectacular happens: Those "wafers" turn into the Body of Christ with the priest being in persona Cristi. During the Consecration, the priest says the same words that Jesus himself said during the Last Supper (in bold):

Take this, all of you, and eat of it,

For this is My Body,

Which will be given up for you.

and:

Take this, all of you, and drink from it,

For this is the chalice of My Blood,

The Blood of the new and eternal covenant,

Which will be poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.

Do this in memory of me.

In 4 different books of the Bible, the verse is identical: This is My Body. (Matthew 26:26, Luke 22:19, Mark 14:22, and 1 Corinthians 11:24). As the USCCB website points out:  As St. Thomas Aquinas observed, Christ is not quoted as saying "This bread is my body" but "This is my body". (Summa Theologiae, III q. 78, a. 5)  

Mary & Joseph's Adoration was hidden in Nazareth in their home. They couldn't go out and announce to their neighbors that their son was God. We adore Jesus as He is hidden in the tabernacle, in the Holy Eucharist, but we can go out and tell people we adore Christ in the Eucharist. We don't have to be quiet about it as Mary & Joseph had to.

The Apostles didn't understand when Jesus said, A little while and you will no longer see me, and again a little while later and you will see me. (John16:16) During a homily, the priest said that if we look in other people we see Jesus. In people we don't like, we should see Jesus. That makes perfect sense. They wouldn't see Jesus after his Ascension but would see Him through the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. We see Jesus in the Holy Eucharist. What a privilege to be able to partake in this most Holy Sacrament! To be able to see Jesus in the "wafer".

In the book 100 Holy Hours for Women (Mother Mary Raphael Lubowidzka, TAN Books), I read at least a couple of quotes that say it much better than I am able:

• The great love of our Savior hidden in the Holy Eucharist is, indeed, above the comprehension of the world that Jesus embraces with His perfections. (page 28)
• Exalted above the Heavens, He conceals HImself under the appearance of bread and wine, for the purpose of giving Himself to souls and of strengthening them with His body and blood. (page 29)

Bottom line: We can't understand how Jesus is present in the host. It is a complete mystery that can only be explained by faith. Receiving the Eucharist and truly believing that He is present strengthens our faith.

The Short Answer

So, the short answer to the question Is Jesus in a wafer? would be "no". But the long answer: After the "wafer" has been consecrated, He certainly is. He is also present in the chalice which before consecration was wine.

Podcasts: My Top 10 List for the Catholic Woman

Photo by William Iven on Unsplash

Lately, I've been listening to a lot of podcasts. Instead of having the radio on in the car, I turn on a podcast. A friend told me about a Christian podcast, so after that, I started looking for some Catholic ones. I was a bit surprised at how many good ones there are out there! Here are a few that I found that I really enjoy listening to; they're not just for Catholic women.

1. Abiding Together
     This one is my top podcast! 3 women: 2 laypersons and 1 Sister who are friends
     share their faith and open up their hearts to their listeners.

2. Bible Study Evangelista
     How I love Sonja Corbitt! A Southern Baptist turned Catholic, she knows the Bible
    and can bring it down to my level. Every time I listen to an episode I learn
    something new and find myself saying "Wow!"

3. Catholic Momcast
     If you're familiar with CatholicMom.com, you'll want to listen in. I like that the
     hosts of this show have older children, so they are more relatable to me than
     "younger" shows.

4. Ask Father Josh
    Father Josh is a young priest from Louisiana who humbly starts each podcast by
    saying that if his advice isn't helpful, you can reject it.  I will often listen as I'm in
    the park & I wonder if the people I pass wonder why I'm laughing. (It's usually
    when he breaks out in song and then doesn't know the words.)

5. Jesus Calling
     This isn't a Catholic podcast, but it doesn't matter. Uplifting stories about how
     God is working in the lives of some people you may have heard of.

6. Shoot the Shitake
     I had the pleasure of meeting Father Leo Patalinghug a few years ago. He's also
     known as the "cooking priest" who won a throwdown against Bobby Flay. His
    guests are sometimes controversial but he doesn't shy away from asking tough
    questions.

7. Jeff Cavins
     I just started listening to this podcast, but I've already found that a lot of what     
    Jeff says hits home. I find myself wanting to take notes on most of his episodes.

8. Fr. Mike Schmitz
     Who doesn't love Father Mike? This is a relatively short podcast that is his youtube
     clip in podcast form.

9. Pints with Aquinas
     Matt Frad's Australian accent is easy on the ears, but he gives some great insight
    into the Catholic Faith.

10. The Tightrope
     Just have around 5 minutes? This is quick but very thought-provoking. The
    description says this podcast "takes 3 to 5 minutes to see and embrace the
    opportunities embedded in our busy, messy lives that are meant to help us move
    towards heaven." that would just about sum it up!

If you'll notice, a lot of the podcasts are hosted by Ascension Presents, so check out the other podcasts they offer. These would be great to listen to while you're traveling, or just doing your daily chores. What are your favorite podcasts?

What Has Happened to Respect?

Photo by Ric Rodrigues from Pexels

What has happened to respect with the Church? My parents raised all of their children to be respectful when attending Mass, and to be respectful to the clergy and religious. When did people forget how to act during Mass?

Modesty, Mouthies, and Name-Calling

At a recent Confirmation practice, one of the Sponsors (who I estimate to be in his late teens/early twenties) walked into the Sanctuary with a big cup of soda. I asked him politely if he would take the cup out of the Sanctuary. He did, but I was at the receiving end of some glares. I mean, really? You're going to disrespect Jesus by bringing that in the Sanctuary and by sipping on it? Our Eucharistic Chapel has a sign on the door:

Do people not understand that our Lord is present in the Holy Eucharist? Sure, He may be hidden away in the tabernacle, but check the red candle, people!

A Catholic Priest got slammed (and his account taken down) on Twitter for requesting that women cover their shoulders when attending Mass. Granted, most of the people angrily responding to him probably weren't practicing Catholics. His reasoning could have been communicated differently: Instead of saying it was to "protect the purity of the men", he could have said, " out of respect for the Holy Eucharist". Some tweeters are calling for women to show up to Mass in his parish wearing tube tops. REALLY??? You're going to disrespect Jesus like that? Oh, how the devil is surely eating this up. It's not okay to come to Mass in ripped jeans (no matter how much they cost you), short skirts/shorts, or with half of your upper body/stomach exposed. IT'S. JUST.NOT. Show some respect!

It's also not okay to chew gum during Mass. You may not have technically had anything to eat 1 hour before Communion, but you're about to put Jesus in your mouth. Wrigleys and Jesus don't mix. I was especially appalled to see a grown woman chewing gum while in the line to receive Communion. Did she swallow it, or did she receive the Eucharist with the gum still in her mouth? I was equally appalled to see a later elementary-aged child smacking away on his gum while in line for Communion.

And what is with people calling priests & nuns/sisters by their first names, deleting "Father" or "Sister"? I read an article written by a Sister of Mercy. When the commenters mentioned her name, they left off "Sister". Out of my mother's 7 siblings, 3 were priests and 1 was a nun/sister. My grandmother called each of them "Father" and "Sister". There was no calling them by their given or chosen name. I've spoken with people who have aunts and uncles who are priests and sisters, and they all call them by their name, leaving off their title. The sister at my parish and I have become close friends. She told me I didn't have to call her "Sister" but I told her that I certainly did. Yes, I know some priests have done some horrific things, but that doesn't change the fact that each of those men and women consecrated their lives to Jesus. The Sisters have married Jesus, and the priests have married the Church. That in itself is something to be respected.

Just pure ignorance...

I just don't get it. I don't understand where this is coming from. It has to be a lack of education. People are just ignorant of what the consecrated host really is. They are ignorant about how they should conduct themselves in the house of the Lord. I've heard, "Jesus doesn't care how I come to Church; he just cares that I'm there." True to a point, but would you go to a banquet with holes in your jeans or in a tube top? There are times when I don't wear my "Sunday best" to Mass, and there are times I show up to Daily Mass in a t-shirt, but you certainly won't see me in ripped clothing or with part of my upper body showing. Even when I was a lot younger, I wouldn't have dared to show up to Mass like that. Why wouldn't you be respectful to Him who gave his life for all of us so we will have everlasting life? It's time we started educating people (in a non-judgemental way) to respect the Church.

Book Review: Girl Arise

I was a little leery of the term "Catholic Feminist" because of its negative connotation, especially with an ultra-conservative as myself. What exactly does that term mean? Claire Swinarski clarifies the term in her book, Girl, Arise!

To be a Catholic Feminist is to love the Church and to love our sisters, those next to us in the pew and those on the other side of the world. (Introduction, page xiv) Basically, our idea of a "real Catholic woman" has to change. This phrase takes on different looks because we're all different; God has given us gifts and calls us to use them in our unique way.

Getting Involved

There were a couple of things that bothered me at first.
1) She used the word y'all in the introduction of the book. My initial thought: She's a southern woman! Wrong. It always irks me just a little when a non-Southerner uses that word. But, she did spell it correctly and even used it appropriately so I'll cut her some slack! After doing a little bit of digging I discovered that she spent some time at Tulane University in New Orleans, so I'm okay with her using that word.
2) In the 2nd Chapter, Claire references a biography on Dorothy Day. She then asks, "Where are the Catholics when it comes to sex-trafficking, immigration issues, along with sexual harassment, equal pay, and rape culture?" Inside my head, I was screaming "NCCW!" (National Council of Catholic Women) (One look at their Commissions page and you'll see everything CCW is involved with at the local, deanery, diocesan, and national level. Want to get involved? CCW is the perfect place to start!) Claire did go on to say she has had supporters of these topics on her podcast. I didn't see any hosts from NCCW as I took a quick look over past episodes, so maybe that may be a suggestion?

Claire challenges women in Chapter 3 when thinking about serving: 1) To serve is to be like Christ. 2) Don't run away. 3) Recognize the service you're already performing. She continues to say that we can't act as Christ's presence if we're afraid of a five-letter word. (page 29) But, what is that word? Labor? Serve? Maybe I'm just daft, but I had a hard time figuring that out, even after I re-read that section several times.

Staying True to the Catholic Faith

I really liked how Claire discussed women of the Bible as leaders. When she brought up the point about women not being priests, I have to admit I held my breath. But, she did an excellent job of providing alternative ways women can be leaders in their own parishes. She stayed true to the Church on this topic.

Reading the Chapter on pro-life, I can tell this is an issue that she feels strongly about. She has definite opinions and is able to back them up with good, solid reasoning (at least to me). I love, love, love this line on page 49: Adoption is incredibly complicated and difficult. But it doesn't end a life. It begins a new family.

Stepping Away

At one point in the book, Claire suggests that it's okay to step away from the noise, no matter if it's Church organizations, social media, or a community. I couldn't agree more. Your relationship with Jesus is so much more important and as she says, all of those things will be there once you get right with Him. Think about it: Most Nuns/Sisters, Brothers, and Priests go on annual retreats. As a single/married woman/mom, why don't we do that as part of our vocation? We all need to step away from the world for a while to rejuvenate our relationship with Christ. Fr. Josh Johnson says he takes a day from time to time where he turns all electronics off. He lets people know ahead of time that his phone won't be on and he won't be checking emails or social media. We all need that time to turn off the noise and listen.

Claire calls us to action in our own communities. We shouldn't think spouting off on Twitter or Facebook is enough. She devotes a whole chapter to describing what loving your neighbor doesn't look like(pages 86-89) and gives suggestions on how to remedy it.

Conclusion

In conclusion: Claire makes some excellent points all throughout her book. But why do we have to give ourselves the title of "feminist"? Aren't all of her suggestions what all Catholics and Christians should be striving for? Maybe it's just the fact that she's a 20-something Catholic woman and I'm a 50-something Catholic woman, but just seeing the word "feminist" kind of gets under my skin. I think I would rather call myself a  "Real Catholic Woman". Once I got past the whole "feminist" terminology, I thoroughly enjoyed the book and would definitely recommend it to other Catholic women...whether I perceive them to be "real" or not!

May Reads: Books Read During the Month of May

May is always a busy month for me. The end of the school year is "crunch time". My word of the year is "READ" (chosen for me by Jennifer Fulwiler's Word of the Year Generator), so during Lent, I began reading during my lunchtime. I continued it (for the most part) during the Easter Season. Here's a run-down of the books read in May:

📙 Hildegard of Bingen, Doctor of the Church: A Spiritual Reader  (Carmen Acevedo Butcher). I knew nothing of St. Hildegard until I listened to the Abiding Together Podcast series on Women Doctors of the Church. This book was recommended on the podcast and it did not disappoint. Included are excerpts from her songs, visions, plays, and letters.  It took me a while to read this; there was a lot of soul-stirring going on. I wanted to take my time and take it all in. Be aware: this book will leave you craving to learn more about our newest Doctor of the Church!

 My recommendation: 👍

📙 Learning to Love with the Saints: A Spiritual Memoir (Jean M. Heimann). I was a bit disappointed in this book since it wasn't what I was expecting. I expected it to be more of a "how Saints encouraged me through my life" instead of a story of a person's personal life. At the beginning of each chapter, there is a quote (most of them are from St. Therese of Lisieux, St. Pope John Paull II, and St. Terese of Avila); however, the author fails to connect these saints and the quotes with what was going on in her life. It wasn't until around the halfway mark of the book that I felt the book was going in the direction I was led to believe it was about. That's when she really pulled the Saints into her life and discussed how they helped her get through her difficulties. That's what I expected the book to be about after reading the descriptions.

I have a hard time getting over a published book with "print" errors, and there were two towards the front of the book. I was annoyed at the beginning of the book: I wasn't expecting a book that was a "look at me, look how wonderful my life is" kind of book. Even when she discusses her troubled marriage, I was annoyed. Personally, this just wasn't my kind of book. Information that was given toward the front of the book was repeated in chapters toward the end of the book. 

My recommendation: 👎

📙 Be Brave in the Scared: How I Learned to Trust God During the Most Difficult Days of My Life (Mary E. Lenaburg). For a more in-depth review, please read this post. If you're looking for a "REAL" book to read, this is it. Mary is a wife and mom to 2 children: Courtney is her special needs daughter. She hits on some tough experiences in her life and doesn't sugar-coat anything. I had a hard time putting this book down. Make sure you have the tissues ready!

My recommendation: 👍

📙 Broken + Blessed: An Invitation to My Generation (Fr. Josh Johnson). I first heard Fr. Josh on the same podcast that recommended the St. Hildegard book. He has his own podcast (Ask Fr. Josh)and is just incredibly humble and wise. This book was fantastic! Fr. Josh gave some very practical suggestions for anyone, regardless of age or stage of life, to use in order to increase their personal relationship with God. For a more in-depth review, read this post.

My recommendation: 👍

Now that school is out, I have more time to read. I hope to have more reviews (both monthly and individually) soon, so make sure you come back! If you have any suggestions for books to read, leave them in the comments.

Book Review: Broken + Blessed: An Invitation to My Generation

The following is a review of the book "Broken + Blessed: An Invitation to My Generation" by Father Josh Johnson. I received no compensation for this review; all opinions are my own.

This book may be designated as an invitation to Fr. Josh Johnson's generation, but don't let that stop you if you are old enough to be his parent or even his grandparent. I heard of Fr. Josh from a podcast and then subscribed to the Ask Fr. Josh podcast. It is so uplifting to see a young priest who just wants people of any age to know God and to have a personal relationship with Him. That is what this book is all about. Fr. Josh intertwines his own experiences with scripture, Saints, and practical ways to get closer to God. The personal experiences keep it relatable, no matter your age.

Perfect for Small Groups or Individuals

I enjoyed the format of the book. First, Fr. Josh identifies a difficulty and then relates it to a personal experience. Each chapter ends with an Invitation to Prayer followed by questions, which makes it a perfect book for small groups. Or, individuals can reflect on the questions and use one, some, or all of them as journal prompts. I found each chapter to be very interesting and came away with ways to increase my prayer life and grow closer to God.

Even though he hasn't been a priest for a long time, Fr. Josh has such words of wisdom. Yet he remains so humble. He talks about his struggles with his own prayer life and his life in general. I saw a lot of myself in situations that he spoke of. Millennials have such an advantage over my generation: They have access to priests on social media that we didn't have.

Breaking Down the Book

In the Introduction, Father Mike Schmitz describes Fr. Josh as "authentic". The reader definitely gets that vibe from this book. Here is a man who understands that his brokenness is just like ours.

In the chapter Intimacy with God, Fr. talks about knowing who God is versus actually knowing God. He puts it in completely understandable language. He is able to use pop culture so it is relatable to everyone, regardless of age. He also brings in the lives of the Saints to drive his message home.

This book hits on so many different topics: humility, truly knowing God, Lectio Divina, the brokenness of the Catholic Church as an institution, divorce & annulment, inviting God into your life completely (despite the messiness), vices, praying the Rosary, suggestions on how to pray, as well as how to make prayer a priority.

In the chapter Breaking the Chains of Sin, we are given excellent advice on how to break out of the trap of envy. Included is the Litany of Humility with the suggestion of substituting the person's name for "other". Also included in the Invitation to Prayer section at the end of this chapter is an excellent examen of conscience using 1 Corinthians:13:4-6.

I often will give a book away after I have finished reading it, telling the person to pass it on. Not this book. I will keep it to refer back to; however, I plan on buying a couple of copies to give to my sons to read...just in case!

Tying Preparation To the Ascension

We are always being prepared for our future whether we realize it or not. I have been working as a Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) for 35 years; 33 of those years have been in the schools. The other two were spent working for a company who contracted to nursing homes. When I left that position to go back to work in the schools, I thought I had wasted those two years. At the very least, I thought the only thing I got out of it was the necessity of making sure I was able to "CYA" (Cover Your A_ _) with paperwork to keep from receiving insurance denials as well as to make sure I wasn't sued.  It wasn't until 20+ years later that I realized why God wanted me in that setting: my dad got sick.

We (my siblings and I) were on the receiving end of God's mercy because it wasn't a prolonged illness. He went into the hospital with pneumonia on 01/01/2017 and passed away 02/01/17. At one point, he was actually diagnosed with "aspiration pneumonia" and a swallow study was ordered. If I had not worked in a nursing home, I wouldn't have had any idea about some of the medical stuff one of us should have known to make sure daddy was receiving the best care. I was able to go with him to the swallow study and was allowed to watch the study being performed. When the cardiologist visited daddy later that day, I was able to tell him that he did, indeed aspirate. I was able to thicken daddy's liquids and show my brother how to do it. I was able to make sure daddy correctly used the techniques recommended by the hospital SLP during his meals.

If I hadn't worked in the nursing home, I would have had no clue about the study or the recommendations (swallowing wasn't a course in my graduate program way back in the stone ages). How does this tie in with the Ascension? When the apostles were just looking up at the clouds, the angels gave them a shove and basically told them to get on with it. Jesus prepared them for this moment. They were ready to take what they learned and spread the Word. He prepares all of us for what we need; we just don't realize it. He won't let us down, especially if we rely on the Holy Spirit to guide us.

As I said in a previous post, the apostles were told to "Go do something". As I get older, I look back at certain periods in my life & realize that He prepared me. Little things that happened are just a piece of the bigger picture. I challenge you to take a few minutes and think of how something that seemed insignificant prepared you for something bigger. I'd love to hear how God has prepared you.

Be Brave in the Scared: A Book Review

Mary E. Lenaburg (author of Be Brave in the Scared: How I learned to trust God during the most difficult days of my life) defines "Being Brave in the Scared" as facing the hard challenges that we can't escape no matter how hard we try. I have to admit that I started following Mary on Instagram after I saw a post about her daughter, Courtney, as she was in the last phase of her life. Me, being as selfish as I am, said a prayer but then went on with my life. The posts didn't pop up in my feed and I soon forgot about Courtney...until I started receiving posts about the book. Being a Speech Language Pathologist, I've worked with children with severe disabilities before. (My current position does not allow me that privilege.) I can't imagine what the families' daily lives are like: the appointments, the feeling of siblings being left out, the medications, etc. Courtney being an individual with special needs drew me to the book.

Keeping It REAL

I halfway expected this book to be another Oh, life is just wonderful. God took care of all our needs and feelings, and once we accepted Courtney as she is everything was roses. Boy, was I wrong! Mary kept it real in this book. I can't imagine how hard it was for her to revisit difficulties in her marriage and put it out there for all of us to read. It had to have been hard for her husband as well, to admit some not so proud moments of their Christian lives. If I had to summarize this book in one word, it would be REAL. Because it was. It wasn't preachy and Mary doesn't pretend to have all of the answers. She doesn't make herself out to be some saint who sacrificed for over 20 years to give Courtney the care she required. It's just...REAL.

Tissues Required

I cried toward the end of the book. I cried for Mary's marriage. I cried when she wrote about Courtney dying. I cried when I read about her feelings about not knowing who she is without Courtney. I had those same feelings when my youngest was beginning his high school years. I remember standing in the kitchen one afternoon after getting home from work. My oldest was away at college, my middle was at football practice, and my youngest was at band practice. I just stood there not knowing what to do with myself. I told my husband that I questioned what I would do when no one needed me. Mary's feelings had to be magnified a gazillion times more than what I felt!

All the Feels

Mary laid out her feelings for all of us to feel. She laid out her experiences and exposed feelings that I felt, although probably not on the same level as hers. She opened up herself and her family so we can experience Courtney and know that we have a saint in heaven that we can call on for intercession. I can honestly say that when I work with students with disabilities, I will certainly be calling on Courtney to give me patience and understanding during my therapy sessions. Thank you, Mary E. Lenaburg for writing this book. Thank you for writing it from the heart and for giving of yourself and your family. You certainly could have sugar-coated the whole thing. You certainly could have made it "preachy", but you exposed all of the ugliness that many see in their daily lives. We are all struggling to be the saints we are called to be. Thank you for sharing Courtney with us!

Finding Peace and Joy in the Midst of Rejection

Rejection. Paul and Barnabas were thrown out of the city because of their preaching. They were rejected by their own people, so they turned to the Gentiles who drank up all they said and relished that the tables had turned- they now had a chance at salvation if they truly believed that Jesus died for our sins and that he rose-just like Scriptures said He would.

Feeling Joy After Rejection?

How did Paul and Barnabas deal with that rejection?  They shook the dust from their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium. The disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.  (Acts 13:51-52) Rejection is a part of life. No one can escape it. Jesus even knew how it felt to be rejected. What a great example of how we should deal with it! It's easier said than done, to "shake the dust off our sandals", or in other words, to disassociate with those who reject us. Or, to just say, "Yes, I'm hurt/bothered by the rejection, but obviously, God has other plans for me." It's really hard to feel joy after being so hurt from rejection.

Inexpressible Peace and Interior Freedom

Paul and Barnabas were in it together. They had each other to lean on, and they had the presence of Jesus. We have that presence as well, as long as we can put our trust in Him and let his love shine through. He will give us peace if we trust in Him. Father Jacques Philippe in Searching for and Maintaining Peace says "...he who accepts to put everything into the hands of God, to allow Him to give and take according to His good pleasure, this individual finds an inexpressible peace and interior freedom." THAT is what Paul and Barnabas had and that's why they were "filled with joy and the Holy Spirit". Yes, it's harder for us because Paul and Barnabas saw Jesus first-hand. But isn't that the beauty of faith? To believe what we haven't seen. To believe because those who have gone before us didn't stop when they were rejected. They knew there would be people who wouldn't believe them. They knew there would be people who were scared of what they were saying. They responded by shrugging their shoulders and maintaining their peace.

Accepting the Rejection

We have that same choice: to turn away or to stay joyful. In those times of rejection, may we turn to Jesus and say "Yes, Lord. I accept the rejection because it turns me back to You and helps me to maintain my peace and joy."

Feeling Let Down After Easter Sunday?

Photo courtesy of Negative Space

“Stop holding on to me.” (John 20:17) The past few Lents have been very meaningful to me. I’ve not only learned a lot about God, but also about myself. I hate to admit it, but this has resulted in me feeling a bit of a let-down after Easter Sunday. I should feel joyous, right? As St. John Paul II said, “We are an Easter people.” So why am I not feeling it?

An "AHA" Moment

As I reflected on Jesus telling Mary Magdalene “Stop holding on to me,” I had that “AHA”  moment. It was as though Jesus was speaking to ME, telling me to let Lent go and rejoice. Easter Sunday is an end, not only an end to death, but an end of Lent, of fasting, and, in my case, of doing something extra, sacrificing something to spend more time with the Lord. I feel a little lost trying not to fall back into my Pre-Lenten habits so I can focus on the ultimate goal.
Maybe that’s why I’m having trouble finding the joy: I was so wrapped up in everything I did for Lent that I was focusing on the fight (suffering) and not the prize (the Resurrection). I know I over-extended myself this Lent. (See this post.) I was caught up with my fear of being left out that I took on too much and lost focus of Easter Sunday.

Plenty of Time

But thankfully, it’s not too late. One of the great things about being Catholic is that, after sacrificing for 40 days, we rejoice in the Resurrection for 40 days. Easter isn’t just 1 day; we follow the apostles for 40 days during the Easter Season until the Ascension, then 10 more days until Pentecost. We travel with them as Jesus’ ministry becomes theirs. We watch and learn how our Catholic faith began. Exciting stuff, isn’t it?
It’s time to let go of Lent and rejoice in the Resurrection. It’s time to get excited about learning how Christianity- and Catholicism began. Easter Sunday is an end, but also a huge beginning.