"It's beginning to look a lot like..."

     This past Saturday my husband and I went to a healing Mass at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. We couldn’t help but smile when Pastor Fr. Michael Renninger began singing “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…” He went on to tell us that he’d seen four Christmas trees up in a local department store where he went to buy a birthday card. He found it interesting that Christmas decorations were being set out in late September.
     The choir chimed in as did the rest of us when he started the Christmas carol again before answering the question which had popped into our minds—how is he going to tie this into the Gospel reading we’d just heard about Christ’s nativity and the reason for this particular Mass—the anointing of the sick?

The Loser Letters: A Comic Tale of Life, Death, and Atheism

This sassy, intellectually savvy, lingo-loaded satire turns theism and atheism inside out and upside down. Through a series of letters written by a female atheist to the leaders of the “New Atheism,” author Mary Eberstadt creates a character who’s ready to tell it like it is and how it should be. The heroine, who refers to herself in The Loser Letters as, A. F. Christian (A Former Christian), mixes present –day pop culture references to Facebook and YouTube trends, hit TV shows such as Project Runway and What Not to Wear, and plenty of texting/instant messaging shorthand, with a hard-hitting critique of key players in both the theistic and atheistic traditions across history.
   
Some reviewers have compared this to C. S. Lewis’ The Screwtape Letters, and I can certainly see some similarities in the satirical approach to winning more people over to the “dark side.” However, this series of letters all written by A. F. Christian to the powers that be in the Atheist world are more conversational, edgy and so deeply steeped in contemporary culture that youth and those up on technology and the latest fads will get the references to current trends and perhaps some of the historical ones. Others who are well-read in religion, literature, and the pro-life movement will likely find the strategic name-dropping and prominently placed academic references easier to identify with than the latest lingo. Those who are well-read and consider technology a BFF will be left reeling, writhing, and, at times, LOL.
    
Regardless of your religious or literary leanings, A.F. Christian is likely to press your buttons as she waxes philosophic about the hot topics of our time. Eberstadt digs deep to uncover the weak points of the arguments on both sides of the line. If you don’t find your mouth dropping open or your temperature rising at some point while reading this book, then you haven’t been paying attention.
    
Eberstadt gives new meaning to the term femme fatale. I highly recommend you read this book to find out why, how, and for what greater purpose she does this.
    
You can purchase this book here.
    
I wrote this review of The Loser Letters for the Tiber River Blogger Review program. Tiber River is the first Catholic book review site, started in 2000 to help you make informed decisions about Catholic book purchases.  I receive free product samples as compensation for writing reviews for Tiber River.

Now is the Time

     Now is the time for what? In Ecclesiastes 3:1-11, we are told that “there is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every thing under the heavens.” If there is a set time for each action and emotion under the sun, then what are we called to now?
     Regardless of the seasons of our lives, the actions we’re currently called to, and or the emotions we are presently experiencing, now is the time to have faith and hope in the Lord. Now is the time to grow in our ability to trust and rely on Jesus Christ’s ability to heal, forgive, and make new. Now is the time to “be still and know I am God” (Psalm 46:10).

Hiking the Camino: 500 Miles with Jesus

Though I’m not really much of an outdoorsy person, I knew I wanted to read Hiking the Camino: 500 Miles with Jesus as soon as my brother in Christ told me he was reading this book about a priest who goes on a walking pilgrimage across Spain as a way of thanking the Lord for his vocation as a priest.
    
I expected there to be some deep spiritual insights gleaned from more quiet time in nature than the average person usually has, and there are indeed plenty of those included which Fr. Dave Pivonka, T.O.R. had along the way. What I didn’t expect but absolutely love is that the tone and writing are so down-to-earth and genuine. More than once while reading Fr. Pivonka’s escapades and his subsequent reflections on them I was laughing right out loud, always something I appreciate in a book and in life.
   
The author’s very limited Spanish makes for some very amusing interactions with some of the locals he meets along the way. Plus, I loved the juxtaposition of really macho-sounding feats like running with the bulls alongside the stark reality that he was merely just walking with the cows. He also has some amusing epiphanies regarding the differences between men and women while he and Fr. Joe are on the trail and sharing rooms in albergues along the route with other pilgrims.
    
Reading this made me think of A Walk in the Woods not only because it’s another autobiographical book about a long hike made by someone who isn’t the professional mountain-climber type, but also due to the fact that in many ways the emotional highs and lows, mixed in with plenty of sarcasm and humility, and a smattering of meticulous detail was evident in Hiking the Camino: 500 Miles with Jesus.
    
Of course, adding the spiritual element made this book much more interesting to me. His quest for a closer relationship with Christ, his sincere desire to thank the Lord for his vocation as a priest, and his desire to grow in personal holiness are evident throughout the book in large and small observations about life, faith, people, and nature. The parallels to Scripture all flow quite naturally instead of being forced into the text at predetermined intervals whether they fit or not.
    
The conversational tone and steam-of-consciousness approach are perfect with someone who seems as friendly, funny, and humble as Fr. Pivonka does.
    
You can purchase this book here.
    
I wrote this review of Hiking the Camino for the Tiber River Blogger Review program.  Tiber River is the first Catholic book review site, started in 2000 to help you make informed decisions about Catholic book purchases. I receive free product samples as compensation for writing reviews for Tiber River.

A New Chapter: Theresa's off to College

My sister Theresa and I on the day of her high school graduation.

I’m still having trouble wrapping my mind around the fact that my youngest sister Theresa moved into her dorm room at The Ohio State University yesterday. I can’t honestly say it feels like just last week when Mary and I were out trick-or-treating with our neighbors when our baby sister was born. It feels like it was a long time ago, but it’s really strange having her go off to school.
   
This has been an interesting few weeks as the two little guys I nannied for had their first day of kindergarten, and my youngest sister who in many ways I was like an “other mother” to, especially when she was little, is off to college. I feel like I should go pull out the photo albums, look at the baby pictures, the toddler years, and marvel at how much she’s grown, how some things have really changed and how others have remained the same. Maybe I’ll wait and do that once my mom gets home from helping Theresa get settled in her dorm room, so we can ooh, aah, and reminisce together.    
It doesn’t feel all that long ago that Theresa was visiting me for a long weekend in the fall of 2002 while I going Hollins University. She was in fifth grade at the time, and was the same age/grade I was when she was born. We’re eleven years and five days apart. You can only tell us apart in some of our baby pictures because of the people and furniture around us.
   
She’s gone from being a Rebel, the mascot of her high school, to a Buckeye. Hopefully this switch from having a mascot that’s a troublemaker to one that’s simply a deciduous tree will be a smooth one.

Here are some excerpts from the letter I gave her before she left:

I honestly believe you’re going to be one of the people who really gets the most out of college in all areas. You’ll have fun making friends, come into your own as a dancer, find out what it’s like to live on your own, and figure out more about who you are at your core.
     
It’s okay and perfectly normal if you find yourself missing your friends, your room, your mom, and perhaps once in a great while even your sisters. It’s quite likely that the people around you will feel that, too, sometimes. Give yourself time to get used to living in a new place, making new friends, and taking college courses. It’s okay to feel whatever you feel about your new surroundings, new classmates, etc. In many ways, college is like the people closest to you, it will bring out the best in you and at times it will bring out the worst. It’s the whole wherever you go, there you are thing.
     
You went over to Europe and traveled around, enjoyed exploring, learning new things, had fun shopping, and got to do some adventuresome things, though you really enjoyed the family feel of being on the farm and having a big Sunday dinner and a grandmamma to fuss over you. You’re an adventuresome, upbeat type, so you’ll make this transition pretty smoothly, I’d imagine.
     
The more time you spend talking and hanging out with your new friends instead of talking to, texting or e-mailing your friends back home, the faster you’ll feel comfortable there and get into a new groove. The people you became close friends with in high school are going to grow and change, just like you will, but you’ll still be able to reconnect quickly during breaks and things when you’re all back in Richmond, because you’ve had so many years you’ve known each other.
    
Lord, please use these next four years of her life to draw her ever closer to You, help her to see the beauty she possesses inside and out, and develop the gifts and talents You have given her to glorify You. Amen.

A Catholic Woman's Book of Prayers

If I only knew Catholic wife, author, and mother of five Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle from reading her books, I would have been looking forward to receiving my copy of her latest one: A Catholic Woman’s Book of Prayers, but having met this woman in person, kept up with her blogs, and corresponded with her a bit, I was very eager to get mine in the mail.  Being a W-O-M-A-N, I was immediately attracted to the beautiful cover and compact size of this book. Both make this a perfect gift, easy to carry in your purse, and pull out to read during those times when God’s answer to your prayers is “wait.”

   
Donna-Marie covers a wide array of topics near and dear to the hearts of women. With brief reflections, carefully selected quotes, Scripture verses, and poignant prayers, she takes the reader through the joys and sorrows of what it means to live out our feminine genius in light of the Lord’s love, mercy, and grace.
    
This book is a great way to introduce someone to Donna-Marie’s work, since she includes in it some touching stories about her life, reveals her deep level of prayer and devotion to serving Christ, and clearly displays the importance of women in bringing about the sanctification of our families, neighborhoods, workplaces, and society as a whole.

    
She is sensitive to the many challenges women face and encourages us to turn to the Lord for the guidance, strength, love, joy, and gentleness we need to carry out our unique roles as wives, mothers, sisters, spiritual mothers, consecrated religious, grandmothers, and daughters of Our Blessed Mother Mary, the best example of total submission to God the Father and Jesus Christ His only Son.

    
I love that the quotes she uses throughout are from such a vast variety of sources, because this allows us to see that a number of holy men and women, including saints, popes, and other writers over the centuries have confirmed the dignity and goodness inherent in being female.

    
I am confident after this taste of Donna-Marie’s spiritual wisdom and steadfast faith that many will be eager to check out her web site, take a look at her blog, read her other books, listen to her on the radio, and tune in to her show on EWTN.

    
This review was written as part of the Catholic book reviewer program from The Catholic Company. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Visit The Catholic Company for more information on A Catholic Woman's Book of Prayers and be sure to check out their great selection of Mary statues while you’re there.

Another Rosary Wouldn't Mean As Much

Long before Kevin returned to the faith, I asked for a Rosary—I believe it was on my wish-list for my birthday. I was very surprised and touched when Kevin presented me with a pink Rosary. Even though he knew what it was, he didn’t know the significance of it as a spiritual aid for praying one of the most powerful groups of prayers in the world.
   
I was hopeful knowing he’d walked into a religious goods store and carefully selected a Rosary for me even if he still didn’t understand why I went to Mass at least once a week and prayed so often. He certainly didn’t know that I would use the very Rosary he gave me countless times over the years while praying for his conversion and return to the Catholic faith in which he was raised. I know it has been through Our Blessed Mother’s intercession that Kevin has not only returned to the Church, but has also become actively involved in a variety of ministries.
   
The other night after Kevin and I had both had a rough day, I asked him to pray with me in the Eucharist chapel at our church. He did. We sat praying silently for a few minutes before Kevin suggested we pray the Rosary together.
   
This was one of the few times, if not the very first time, Kevin’s been the one to suggest we pray the Rosary together. We’ve prayed it many times as a couple and in group, but I’m almost always the one to suggest it.
   
He pulled out the plastic Rosary he always keeps in his pocket and I dug my pouch out of my purse, got from it the Rosary box, a gift from my Mom with the Madonna and Infant Jesus on the front, and pulled out the pink Rosary Kevin had given me years before. I felt grateful he’s come so far in his spiritual journey.
   
We had one slight problem; my Rosary had somehow gotten tangled and knotted in the past 24-48 hours since I’d last used it and put it back in the box. I tried without success to undo the knots for a few minutes. Kevin pointed to the plastic Rosary someone had left in the book holder in front of my seat and suggested I just use that one instead, but I shook my head and kept working. Then he offered to help, and I shook my head again determined to get the knots out myself.
   
I obviously needed more of a lesson in humility, because I could not for the life of me get those stupid knots out. I had to laugh. I was already feeling really stressed out and had come in the chapel to calm down and pray, and now my Rosary was knotted. I mean really!
   
I finally handed the tangled beads over to Kevin to work on. He struggled for a few more minutes with it before suggesting for a third time that I just use the brown plastic one directly in front of me, but I really wanted to use the one from him, so God love him (and He does), he kept at it and eventually got it untangled and unknotted.
   
I linked my arm through his and scooted a little closer to him, and we finally prayed the Rosary. Later I realized the irony of God granting a prayer request I’d prayed for years ago in the midst of current trying times filled with new urgent prayer requests.
   
Lord, thank You for answering our prayers in the ways and in the time You know are best. Your thoughts are definitely not tangled, knotted, and twisted as ours can be at times. Please help us turn to You, be still, and really listen. Amen.

Mysteries of the Virgin Mary: Living Our Lady's Graces

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Mysteries of the Virgin Mary: Living Our Lady’s Graces by Fr. Peter John Cameron, O.P. One of the greatest treasures of the Catholic faith which has been passed on to me from both of my grandmothers and my parents is a very strong devotion to Our Blessed Mother. I have read a number of books on Marian prayer, apparitions, devotion, etc., yet I still found this book very enlightening and enriching.
     
The wide variety of quotes gathered from poets, popes, theologians, philosophers, saints…regarding the importance of Mary as Mediatrix of all graces from above are quite impressive. Not only has the author gathered together a number of very powerful statements made by holy men and women across the centuries about the role of Mary, but he has also managed to organize them in such a way that each insight compliments those that have come before it. The prose continues smoothly even with all of the citations.

    
I picked up this book on a Saturday morning and reading it made me feel like I was on a mini retreat. I’m sure not having anywhere I had to be or anything I had to do by a certain time added to that sense, but not all spiritual or religious books make me as meditative and peaceful just by reading them as this one did.

    
I knew much of the contents in the book would resonate with what I’ve learned through reading and prayer when I discovered that much of the wisdom about Mary is taken from the writings of St. Louis Marie de Monfort. When I was in my late teens, I read and did Preparation for Total Consecration according to Saint Louis Marie de Monfort. Over a year ago, a friend in my Cursillo group reunion suggested we each buy a copy of St. Louis de Monfort’s True Devotion: Consecration to Mary and go through it at the same time. I was surprised and delighted when I found a manila envelope in my mom’s attic with the original copy of my personal Consecration which I’d written out and signed ten years earlier.

    
I highly recommend this book for those who have read a great deal about Mary as well as those who are just beginning to learn about the importance of Our Blessed Mother as Mediatrix of all graces.

    
This review was written as part of the Catholic book reviewer program from The Catholic Company. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on Mysteries of the Virgin Mary and be sure to check out their great selection of Mary statues while you are there. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Better Part: Stages of Contemplative Living

     How beautifully fitting that the day after I looked for a book about having a heart more like the one Mary exhibits than Martha does, I sit down with The Better Part. The title of the book and the quote from it on the back didn’t clue me in that Keating would expand upon the stages of contemplative living by taking the reader back to Bethany to learn a few lessons from Mary, Martha, and Lazarus.
     Make no mistake, this quick read not only includes an in-depth look at the personalities and deeper meaning behind the accounts of the three siblings, but also delves into a much greater study of contemplative life as it has been experienced and recorded by some famous saints as well as spiritual greats from other faith traditions.
     I planned on reading a chapter or two of the book as part of my morning prayer time, but once I got into it, I didn’t want to stop. I already had some level of knowledge about centering prayer and lectio divina before picking up this book, but I enjoyed reading what Keating had to say about these two traditions as well as other forms of contemplative prayer. He tied in some of the most prominent observations, thoughts, and/or experiences of well-known saints such as John of the Cross, Teresa of Avila, and Francis of Assisi which I found intriguing after having read some of the books to which he made reference.
     The second to last chapter is made up of thirteen questions which Keating answers individually. Though this section was not written in the same format as the rest of the book, it provides a perfect framework for answering some fundamental questions about a variety of subjects such as: defining sin, the role of personal suffering in redemption, how to overcome obstacles to practicing contemplative prayer, and navigate through the world of meditation.
     The pleasant tone, feel, and flow of the prose fit perfectly with the freeing reminder that spiritual growth is unlimited. We always have the opportunity and potential to become increasingly more aware of the Lord’s presence in and around us.
     Lord, help us to be open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, so that we may become better vessels for Your multitude of blessings and are ready always to go forth and spread Your unconditional love for all of Your creation. Amen.

A Call to Joy

I had been hearing great things about Matthew Kelly from friends who had read his books or listened to his CDs, and now that I’ve finally gotten around to reading A Call to Joy: Living in the Presence of God, I’d have to say they’re right about him being an inspiration.
    
I’d describe this book as a collection of Kelly’s personal God incidents, the best of self-help books advice, Scripture to live by, and the wisdom of the saints, along with some anecdotes that serve as amusing, straightforward parables. Nothing in this book will strike an avid reader of religious and/or self-help books as being earth-shattering, brand new, or cutting-edge, however the work is a wonderful easy-to-read and digest anthology of sorts when it comes to spiritual, religious, and practical wisdom for how to make God first in your life and keep Him center-stage.   
     
The reminders of the keys to living a life in God’s love are ones I really appreciated. Many of the books I’ve read recently about the lives of the saints and the Catholic faith have had a strong focus on one or two specific aspects of living a life centered on God. This veritable overview of Biblical, popular self-improvement wisdom from the doctors of the church, infused with ah-ha God moments Matthew Kelly embraced and has allowed to change his heart, mind, and the direction of his life make for a good mix and an excellent jumping off point.
    
Some of the stories included as illustrations of main points are ones I’ve previously read in e-mails forwarded from friends, but they were the e-mails that I enjoyed and passed along to others as well.
    
The English major and copy editor in me was a bit disappointed with the typos and such, but there weren’t enough glaring errors to make even someone as anal about grammar as I can be at times toss the book aside.
    
The truths contained therein are often very simple, easy to remember ones we need to be reminded of numerous times throughout our lives. They are basic moral teachings, just like Jesus preached, that are easy enough to memorize but significantly more difficult to live out with every person and situation we meet. Kelly gives a number of practical Christ, saint, doctor, and mother-approved suggestions for fundamental ways to order our lives to achieve the happiness, joy, and fulfillment for which we yearn. He helps the reader identify the pitfalls to accepting God’s grace by pointing out what happens when we look in the wrong places and/or haven’t gotten the right balance of prayer, work, relaxation…that will nurture our growth and ability to glorify God in mind, body, and spirit.
    
This book is one I highly recommend since it hits the highlights of spiritual and religious fundamentals with practical suggestions on how to listen to, discern, and live out the Lord’s will for each of our lives.
    
You can purchase this book here. I wrote this review of A Call to Joy: Living in the Presence of God for the Tiber River Blogger Review program.  Tiber River is the first Catholic book review site, started in 2000 to help you make informed decisions about Catholic book purchases.  I receive free product samples as compensation for writing reviews for Tiber River.

Six Years Ago This Weekend...

Me giving Kevin the cross-stitch I did of our LAUGHING TOGETHER relationship menu.

     Kevin and I, through the sacrament of holy matrimony, committed our lives to loving and serving God and one another. On September 4, 2004, at Church of the Epiphany, we gathered with family and friends from far and near to celebrate our wedding Mass.

A Priest Forever: Nine Signs of Renewal and Hope

Though A Priest Forever: Nine Signs of Renewal and Hope is written by a priest to other priests, I found it to be an interesting read filled with a number of stories, excerpts from homilies, and official church documents that prove there are many more than just a few good men who have dedicated their lives to Christ and His people. Though I ultimately decided to read and review this book because I plan to give it to a brother in Christ who is discerning the priesthood, I also felt it would be wonderful to read some more of the positive aspects of the vocation since so often the media only brings out the worst when writing or talking about men of the cloth.
    
In this short, easy-to-read book, Alfred McBride, O. PRAEM., describes what he refers to as “the nine pathways to the resurrection of the priesthood.” He devotes an entire chapter to each of the following suggested pillars of the priesthood: 1.) stay close to Christ 2.) the Eucharist 3.) the Church’s social teachings 4.) prayer 5.) priestly identity 6.) faith-filled and faithful preaching 7.) forgiveness 8.) devotion to Mary 9.) chaste living. At the end of each chapter there are five reflection questions to help the reader, whom the author expects is a priest, meditate and evaluate his own relationship with Christ and His people. However, many of the questions are ones that would be good for any and all Catholics to ask themselves. Reflecting on certain ones of them would be a very good way of evaluating possible strengths and weaknesses when it comes to an individual’s spiritual growth.      The only drawbacks of this book are the number of typos and copy editing faux-pas. Because this book is so clearly written specifically for priests and is probably marketed as such, it’s likely to slip through the notice of many laypersons that would really enjoy it.
    
Because A Priest Forever: Nine Signs of Renewal and Hope underlines the aspects of the priesthood which make a servant of Christ strong in his vocation, this book deserves a wider audience than ordained Roman Catholic priests. Besides the more obvious people who could benefit from having this on their reading list, such as seminarians and deacons, laypersons in the church and clergy from other faiths could certainly glean some wisdom from these pages and would be inspired by the stories therein.
   
I would recommend reading this book. In exchange for an honest review, I received a free copy of A Priest Forever: Nine Signs of Renewal and Hope which you can purchase here from The Catholic Company.  Be sure to check out their great selection of Mary statues.

Thanks for the Suffering, God

     A couple weeks ago I went to daily Mass at St. Benedict’s, and I had a few ah-ha moments, some real revelations on the greater good that can come from our suffering. I found it interesting that since so many people were already there spread out through the pews, I ended up sitting farther back than usual and pillars were blocking my vision of both statues of Our Blessed Mother Mary that I can usually see, but that the Crucifix was directly in front of me.

Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander

     Once again I’ve been led to pick up a book that my favorite brother in Christ loaned me a while back at exactly the time God knew I would most benefit from reading it. I enjoyed reading Thomas Merton’s autobiographical work Seven Story Mountain as well as his other books on spiritual reflection and contemplation, so I figured I would like this book as well. Though unlike Merton’s other works in terms of format, some of the subject matter, and even writing style, I loved this work of his as much as his others.
     This piece includes a number of beautifully poetic snapshots of nature I’d classify as the prose poem equivalent of haiku in terms of subject matter and spiritual insight. There are a number of reflections from daily life occurrences, current events Merton processed and commented on through thoughtful prose, and some interesting commentary on works by writers and philosophers—those who were Christian, atheist, or agnostic. I found myself literally laughing out loud at some of the situations and observations Merton included about life in the monastery, modern day politics, religion, and the unusual, sometimes ridiculous antics of humans in general.
     I marked a number of pages, because I want to return to the nuggets of wisdom found on them. I like that it is such a mix of musings on the world, some serious, some humorous, some lyrical and concise, others thoughtful and opinionated.
     Even the title of the book is perfect for it. Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander lets the reader know right away that this is a collection of assumptions, naturally containing all of the author’s biases and religious, political leanings. While calling into question the blind acceptance of all technology as being good for the human race and signs of progress, he invites us to a deeper appreciation of nature, a new way of looking at the roles of machines in our lives, and gives us a view from the perspective of someone who was largely cut-off from mainstream media, though clearly affected by the mainstream thinking, current events, moral quandaries, and politics of his time.
     I highly recommend reading this book. You can purchase it at Amazon here.