Thursday, July 29, 2010

Join the new digs for the SQPN Community! C'mon over!







It's fast and free, and its a place to meet other folks crazy about Catholic new media. Come find the Among Women group there!  Check it out!

This makes me think...

Human being are very much like icebergs -- we only see a small portion of them, and nothing of the hidden currents which drag them this way and that.


I fancy we would not sit and judge our neighbor so frequently as we do, did we but ponder well over the small amount of data we possess.  We perceive only the external act, but nothing of the motive activating it.


---Fr. David McAstocker, SJ



image credit

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Among Women on hiatus til August 10th


Among Women is on hiatus til Aug. 10.

The most recent episode is here.

Check out earlier episodes you may have missed: The master index to the archives is here.

Monday, July 26, 2010

Why Archbishop Chaput Stays in My "Must Read" feed...

Archbishop Charles J. Chaput OFM Cap. of Denver, is a gift to the Catholic Church -- not only as a bishop, but as a writer. In both roles, he fully embraces the role of a bishop to sanctify, to teach and to govern.  His latest written contribution is this gem, found over at First Things:
Scripture is passionate; it’s a love story, and it can only be absorbed by giving it everything we have: our mind, our heart and our will. It’s the one story that really matters; the story of God’s love for humanity. And like every great story, it has a structure. Talking about that structure and its meaning is my purpose here today.
A simple way of understanding God’s Word is to see that the beginning, middle and end of Scripture correspond to man’s creation, fall, and redemption. Creation opens Scripture, followed by the sin of Adam and the infidelity of Israel. This drama takes up the bulk of the biblical story until we reach a climax in the birth of Jesus and the redemption he brings. Thus, creation, fall, and redemption make up the three key acts of Scripture’s story, and they embody God’s plan for each of us.  

He continues by reviewing "the basics", and quotes one of my favorite lines from Pope St. Leo the Great -- the same great pope-saint who faced down Attila the Hun, and saved Rome from being sacked.


Therefore we succeed as disciples and as genuinely “human” beings only if we live in Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ works through us for our own salvation and the salvation of others. 
We do that by creating in our daily lives a time for prayer, silence, and for reading and studying the Word of God. We do it by worshipping together in the community of God’s people. And we do it by submitting our pride and our lives to our mater et magistra—the Church who is our “mother and teacher,” precisely because she is also ecclesiam suam, “his Church,” the Church Jesus Christ founded, guides and loves for the salvation of his people.
More than 15 centuries ago, St. Leo the Great said, “Christian, recognize your dignity, and now that you share in God’s own nature, do not return to your former base condition by sinning.” His words are equally true today. The story of Scripture is the greatest story ever told—a story of God’s creative power, man’s betrayal, God’s redemptive love; and a new destiny for humanity greater and more beautiful than anything any of us can imagine. What man has violated—including himself—God makes new and better.
 Read the whole brilliant piece here.  


FYI: Archbishop Chaput's weekly homilies can be heard here.

What I Love About Mary....

What do YOU love about Mary, the Mother of God?

Is it one of her titles?  Has she answered a prayer for you?  Do you have a special devotion to Mary?  Is there an anecdote that you'd be willing to share with others?


Among Women podcast is putting out the call for listeners to share "what they love about Mary"... let's do a show together that features the minds, hearts, and voices of our listeners -- and honor the Blessed Virgin Mary as we do so!

Phone it in to our voicemail line at 206-338-6077. (Don't be shy now -- write it out then read it if you have too!)

Or mail an email that Pat can share with others. Send it to amongwomenpodcast@me.com.

Deadline for entries:  Aug 3rd.

Let's go, girls!

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Eucharistic Reflections

What we celebrate at Sunday Mass, has deep, deep roots to the early church. A few friends are posting this video in their Facebook status boxes, and I thought it merited posting here:



Here's one about Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, and the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, featuring the words and images of Pope John Paul II, of happy memory, and our dear Pope Benedict XVI:



And then, if you still have time, listen to this talk given a while back by Catholic apologist Steve Ray, a former Baptist who now defends the Catholic Faith in the Eucharist in this talk.

This makes me think...

The Way God Approaches the Soul:
I come to my beloved as the dew on the flower.

--Mechthild of Magdeburg  (1208-1282 AD)

Friday, July 23, 2010

God Comes to Meet His Children

Just another foray into the Catechism of the Catholic Church.... this time about the Bible and the Word's impact on our relationship to God.  Read it here.

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Scandalous: Great Gals Talking about the Now and the Not Yet

The Anchoress, Elizabeth Scalia, is keeping the Symposium on Patheos' The Future of Catholicism spiced up with a few writers I admire:  NRO's Kathryn Lopez  and Happy Catholic blogger Julie Davis.  (Remember Julie from my "underwater" episode 49?)

Lopez wrote something that strikes at the heart of this Church-scandal era:

... being Catholic means there are doctrine and disciplines that, of course, challenge us. And I will fall as prominent members of and leaders of the Church have fallen and will fall. Some will be more hurtful and scandalous than others. But all are wounds on the Body of Christ. But not one of them means the end. For the future is the same as the past. It’s a story of sinful men who need redemption. Of unworthy men who are blessed by a most merciful father.
The solution to scandal and confusion and dismay is fidelity.  
Julie D's take on Judas reminds us that scandals today should come as no surprise:
I look at the past of Catholicism I see that it began simultaneously with the scandal of Judas. If that wasn’t a sign that the world shall always be with us and we shall have to keep going with God’s grace, then I don’t know what is. 
Hmmm.... fidelity.... grace.... Amen!

Go read both complete posts here.

Catholic Writers Guild Conference, August 4-6, Valley Forge, PA


Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Among Women Podcast #66

AW 66 features an extended conversation with Patti Mansfield, a longtime leader in Catholic renewal via the Catholic Charismatic Renewal.

<--That's Patti with Pope Benedict XVI in Rome. In 2006, Patti and her husband, Al, were the recipients of the papal medal, Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice (For the Church and the Pope), the highest honor bestowed on lay persons by the Church.  

On this program, Patti shares her early years and her initial powerful encounter with Christ, and she teaches on living a fuller life in union with the Holy Spirit, and enjoying a "personal pentecost"

Also, AW 65 looks at the long and venerable life of St. Birgitta (Bridget) of Sweden.

Monday, July 19, 2010

The Future of Catholicism, and more...l



In case your a newbie to the blogosphere, or don't click around much, let me introduce blogger extraordinaire, Elizabeth Scalia, aka, The Anchoress.  You'll find her in my favs in the side bar. She writes with a great wealth of soul, wit, and intellectual heft without being drain on the eyes and the brain. So, a good while back, when her solo blog was given a berth over at First Things, I for one, cheered.

Well, The Anchoress is casting a wider net yet again beyond her regular gig, with a new role over at Patheos, as the keeper and tender of the Catholicism portal.

The entire site is doing a week-by-week examination on the future of world religions, so folks from all over the world are reading and commenting.

I'm suggesting you peruse what's there and take a look at the Future of Catholicism, going on all this week!

Try Elizabeth's piece in the series, (and if you are a fan of the mission of SQPN, I think you'll really like her star/Magi theme) and another goodie not part of the series but if you love Jesus, you'll be blest by it.

But back to the Future of Catholicism series... I really enjoyed the essay Hugh Hewitts's essay, and this one by Father Barron.  The ever-brilliant and provocative Barbara Nicolosi is here too.

Take your time, enjoy the reads, leave a comment. You've got all week!

Oh, and don't look now, but yours truly got her two cents in in the daily symposium about one of her favorite's books:  The Catechism!  

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Coffee's On!


Only a coffee lover would understand!

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Relic of True Cross stolen from Holy Cross Cathedral

In Boston, we Catholics are sad about this.  Please pray for this archdiocese, and for the thief that they may have a change of heart.

Among Women Podcast #65

Among Women 65 looks at the extraordinary faith of St. Martha even though she sometimes gets distracted by her loving service.

Plus Pat's guest is Patty Harrison, a medical chaplain who shares her life and work among the dying in the ministry of hospice care.

Here's some special homework for AW listeners:

SHARE WHAT YOU LOVE ABOUT MARY!  This will be used for an upcoming episode!

Contact Pat Gohn via amongwomenpodcast@me.com
or send voice feedback to 206-338-6077.


Too Funny! Moms Rhapsodize!



Don't know how I missed this earlier over at Maria Johnson's blog. Thanks Maria! What a hoot!

Friday, July 9, 2010

If you dig the Catechism, here are some of my current articles online...

....over at Faith and Family, on the vocab we need to teach about the Trinity...

and about the transcendent power of Beauty, and how it can point us to God, over at Catholic Exchange's women's channel, Today's Catholic Woman.

See What You've Been Missing...

Here is the complete index of AW episodes listed by topic, saints profiled, and special guests. 

Here is just a partial list of topics covered in the past year on the Among Women Podcast.  See what you've been missing!

Abuse, by a parent
Abuse, sexual
Adoption
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
Adultery, woman caught in, 

Amazing Catechists

Anima Christi prayer
Angelus, prayer
Anger management
Angry with God
AIDS orphans
Apparitions
Augustine, St.
Ave Maria, sung
Ave Maris Stella
Beauty
Beginning Contemplative Prayer
Benedict of Nursia, Rule of
Bible study
Bible study for children
Billings Ovulation Method, NFP
Birth control, weaning off
Breast cancer

Camping
Campus ministry

Caritas in veritate
Carmelite spirituality
Catacombs 
Catechists
Catechism of the Catholic Church
CatholicMom.com
Catholic Exchange
Catholic Jukebox

Catholic Media Review
Catholic Moments podcast
Catholic new media

Catholic Writers Guild

Children, raising
Children with Down’s Syndrome
Chastity
Chesterton, GK, author,
Christifidelis Laici

Choose Life license plates, 
Church Fathers
Church scandals
College life, struggles in
Communication
Confession

Contemplative prayer
Convert from Atheism
Convert from Calvinism
Convert from Judaism
Convert from Lutheranism
Convert from Methodism
Couples’ ministry
Creation of man and woman
Creighton Model System, NFP
Crisis pregnancy
Cristo Rey Network
Daughters of St. Paul

Death 
Death of a child by suicide
Depression
Deus Caritas Est
Dignity of women,
Discerning vocation
Divine Mercy
Divorce, Jesus’ teaching on
Down’s Syndrome

Economy
ENDOW, Educating on the Dignity of Women

Exercise
Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist
Extraordinary Moms Network
Eucharist
Evangelization

Faith Formation
Fatima apparitions
Fellowship of Catholic University Students, (FOCUS)
Feminine genius
Feminism
Fertility
Financial worries
Fitness,
Forgotten Classics podcast

Francis, of Assisi
Franciscan Crown Rosary
Frustrations
Gaudium et spes
Genesis, man and woman, in
Gift of self (self-donation)

God’s plan for our life

God’s will
Gospel of Mark, The
Grapevine Online
“Grassroots theology”
Hail Mary, The, 
Handbook for Catholic Moms, The
Happy Catholic blog
Health care debate in the US
High School Students
Holy Childhood Association
Homeschooling
How Can I Keep from Singing? podcast
How to start a women’s group
Humanae Vitae

Humility
Illness
Infertility and NFP
Intercession
In vitro-fertization, alternative to
Issues facing younger women
Iraq, war with

John Paul II
Joy
Juan Diego
Just Another Day of Catholic Pondering blog
Karen Edmisten blog
Large families

Letter to Women, by John Paul II
Lectio Divina
Little Sisters of the Poor
Liturgical year
Living a Spirituality of Action
Louis de Montfort, True Devotion to Mary
Louis de Montfort, Secret of the Rosary
Lourdes
Love of neighbor
Lumen gentium
Magnificat, Mary’s Canticle
Make-over 
Marriage, 
Marriage, troubled 
Marriage, waiting for
Marvelous Exchange, the,

Mary’s Mediation
Mary’s “self-portrait” on the tilma
Mary, the “moon” that reflects Christ

Medical crisis
Merciful Mother
Miraculous Medal,
Missionaries of Charity
Mixed marriage
Momopoly blog

Money
Mothering
Mother Teresa and Me

Mothers’ Morning of Prayer

Mulieris Dignitatem
Mystics
Mystogogia
NaPro Technology
Native American saint
Natural Family Planning

Near death
New evangelization
New feminism
New media

Novo Millenio Inuente
Nun Blog
Nursing home, bringing communion to
Occultic activity
Openess to Life,
Orthodoxy, by GK Chesterton
Our Lady of Guadalupe
Our Lady of LaSalette
Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Pagan sacrifices
Patience
Parish involvement
Patristics 
Penance
Pentecost
Pilgrimage
Pontifical Mission Societies
Prayer
Prayer for abuse victims
Pregnancy
Priests

Pro-life activism

Readin
Real Women, Real Saints
Reconciliation, Sacrament of
Religious education
Respect life
Retirement, active lifestyle in
Retrouvaille, for troubled marriages
Reversion
Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA)
Rosary
Rosary “chicks”
Rosary prayer group
Rosary Workout, The
Saints
Scriptural Rosary
Secular Franciscan Order
Seven sorrows of Mary
Sexual abuse, and recovery from
Sexuality in Marriage
SFOMom blog

Single life, before marriage
Single mother’s story
Shrine of North American Martyrs
Shrine of St. Anne de Beaupre
Shrine of St. Katharine Drexel
Shrine at Fatima, Portugal
Social Action
Society for the Propagation of the Faith
Soul, beauty of the
Spiritual make-over
Spiritual mothering
Spiritual reading
Spiritual reading for children
Spiritual Woman blog
Spirituality of women
Stoning of Soraya M, The, movie
SQPN
St. Peregrine, Novena to
Teaching
Temperaments
Tertio Millennios Adveniente

Thanksgiving
Theology of the body
Theotokos
30 Day Spiritual Make-over
Treasury of Women Saints
Trinity
Universal call to holiness
Unrealistic expectations
USCCB
US Catholic Marriage Initiative
Vasectomy, and reversal
Vocation of woman
Vocation to religious life
War
Womanhood
Women of influence
Women saints
Women’s ministry
Works-in-progress
Writing

The new Roman Missal (click & learn about the coming changes):

Watch Catholic TV here! Find Women's programs: "WINGs" and "Woman at the Heart of the Church"

A Lovely Reminder for Every Day

Coffee drinkers! Support AW by drinking Mystic Monk Coffee!

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