Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Among Women Podcast #127 Captive Hearts Now Free

Among Women 127 tells remarkable stories of the faith of women imprisoned for the faith in our "Blessed are They" segment, as it relates the passion and death of Sts. Perpetua and Felicity, two martyrs who were jailed for their beliefs in Christ and executed in the arena. Their lives are forever memorialized in Eucharistic Prayer I, otherwise known as the Roman Canon.

In our "Among Women" segment, I bring an interview that is months in the making. "Tracy" from the sunny beach, is a longtime AW listener who came forward to share her story of faith and family triumph as she emerged from 8 years of separation from her husband who was imprisoned for a felony. Through her testimony "Tracy" talks about clinging to God's Word in the middle of the night, the sanctity of marriage vows, the power of loving friendships in the Body of Christ, and the reconciling graces of forgiveness.

"Tracy" reminds us that for every person who has ever served time, in many ways, their families serve the time too. Hear how she picked up the pieces and moved on one day at a time. 

Monday, February 27, 2012

This makes me think... about what I need this Lent...

Jesus is also so brilliant saying: love goodness, that is, seek and practice all the the virtues, [for example], the virtue of temperance in your use of food and drink. Select what you shall eat and drink in accordance with what is best for your health, not what might flatter your taste buds but damage your well-being and ability to serve others well. He is saying also: be moderate and realistically motivated. In other words, be converted. Give up your self-centeredness and love truth, goodness, and beauty. No matter how far you are advanced or how wayward you are in your spiritual life, if this fundamental change is taking place, you are on your way up, on your way to becoming beautiful. It may take time, but it can happen with the grace of God -- which is always present. 


Hence, our conclusion is that the remarkable resistance we experience in getting rid of our faults that we can control is radically rooted in our desperate need for... deep conversion [and] deep prayer.


The logical reaction at this point for any sincere reader understandably may be: "Help! I can't do this by myself." And of course that is perfectly true. The Lord took care of this problem too. Without his Holy Spirit, he told us, we can do nothing (1 Cor 12:3). Surely no one can become a saint without his aid. But the fact is that his help and grace are always present. It is up to us to use what he offers but never forces.

--Thomas Dubay, SM, Deep Conversion, Deep Prayer.

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Among Women ReadHER 2.25.12... where are the women? And some other cool links... on lent, nuns, mothers...


Among Women ReadHER 
2.25.12

Here We Are
By Helene Alvare and Kim Daniels
In response to "Where are the women?" in the contraception/HHS Mandate debate...

"God is the Bigger Elvis": A Documentary about an Actress turned Nun Nominated for Oscar
By Kevin J. Jones at Catholic News Agency
I love this story and would love to see the movie.


Save Us From Sour Faced Catholics and Silent Priests
By Lisa Schmidt at The Practicing Catholic
There's a lot here to consider, all delivered with a bit of holy chutzpah. If you missed my recent conversation with Lisa on Among Women 123, by all means go listen now! It was a goodie.

The Deception of Self Sufficient Susie
By Dorothy Pilarski at Catholic Register
An interesting exchange between Dorothy and philosophy prof Alice von Hildebrand. Hear Dorothy share about her book, Motherhood Matters, on Among Women 119.

10 Books for a Catholic Mothers Bookshelf
By Dianna Kennedy at Catholic Mothers Online
Nice list.


On the Single Life, Work, and Friendship
By Hallie Lord at her blog Betty Beguiles
Excerpts from Hallie's forthcoming book, Sex, Style and Substance. Hear Hallie's visit to Among Women 84 here.

Voting is open in the 2012 About Catholicism Awards
By Scott Richert at About.com
Have fun, go vote!


Fast, Pray, Give: Busted Halo's Lenten Calendar 
Posted at Busted Halo
Like an Advent Calendar, only for Lent!  And have you heard the Among Women Special Edition released this week? It's all about our listener's ideas for devotions and Lenten practices. Listen.




Fr. Barron gives a great framework for our Lenten thinking....

Friday, February 24, 2012

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Recovery Stories on Among Women

We've all had our fair share of heartache, pain, illness, broken dreams, and abuse... and yet, somehow we know we've got to find a way to recover... to find healing, hope, and a way to carry on.

Let this be an invitation to hear stories of faith and inspiration from women who tell their recovery stories in their own words. There's something here for every woman.

On Among Women 21, Lisa Hendey, founder of CatholicMom.com and I discuss recovery from breast cancer.

On Among Women 22, Susie Weiss shares how a broken marriage can recover using techniques from Retrovaille.

On Among Women 29, Kathleen Fitzpatrick talks honestly about her recovery from a one-night stand that changed her life. The resulting pregnancy was hard to handle at first, but with the help of her family, she decided to raise her son as a single mother.

On Among Women 47, "Margaret" describes her recovery from repeated episodes of sexual abuse.

On Among Women 57, Sr Kathryn Hermes discusses surviving depression and her book on that subject.

On Among Women 60, Dr Ronda Chervin offer steps to recovery from anger and its effects as we discuss her book Taming the Lion Within.

On Among Women 69, Anastasia Northrup shares her recovery from verbal abuse.

On Among Women 75, Dr Theresa Burke, a leading psychologist in the field of treating women suffering from the hurts of abortion, and the founder of Rachel's Vineyard Ministries, gives advice and a path toward healing. In a follow-up discussion, Dr Burke talks about healing from sexual abuse on AW 79.

On Among Women 87, Dorothy Consiglio talks about her recovery from an a car accident that killed two of her best friends, and severely injured her.

On Among Women 89, Ellen Gable Hrkach shares about her recovery from miscarriage.

On Among Women 97, Lisa Duffy of DivorcedCatholics.org deals candidly with divorce and its aftermath.

On Among Women 103, Rosario Rodriguez describes her amazing recovery from a gun shot wound to the chest, and her even greater recovery in terms of forgiveness toward her assailant.

UPDATE ON 4.2.2012: On Among Women 129 & 130 Author Karen Edmisten unpacks advice and counsel from her new book After Miscarriage, A Catholic woman's companion to healing and hope.

Lessons of confidence and courage from the saints in the face of death

In the aftermath of Ash Wednesday, when we consider our dustiness, and that to the dust that our mortal bodies will return, I'd like to suggest two articles that take those themes into consider, in light of the Gospel and in light of the heroic virtues found in the lives of the saints.

The first is Dying With the Confidence of a Saint... and here's a snippet:

Our society doesn’t like to think much about death. Yet, there is much to be gained, as a Christian, by reflecting on our death, and about our final destiny. This idea of uniting our death with the death of Jesus is the key to facing our own death with hope and, even, joy and peace. 
The saints show us the way. 
St. Therese of Lisieux, who died of disease as a young woman in her twenties, said this:  “I am not dying. I am entering eternal life.” 
Note the boldness of her statement: she is not dying!  She is merely passing through death on the way to the next phase of life! Was St. Therese being merely sentimental or foolish? No!  She saw the truth of this reality, and saw the opportunity to remind her loved ones of that fact. Recall that the Church underscores such truth by making Therese a Doctor of the Church. Her statement is found in the Catechism (Cf. CCC 1011.) 
St. Therese, and other saints like her, had a rich and vivid faith in the promise of everlasting life that we must strive to imitate. Death is only a threshold; it is not an end. 
St. Teresa of Avila is another great example. She, too, is matter of fact: “I want to see God and, in order to see him, I must die.” (Cf. CCC 1011.)  
If you read St. Paul’s epistles, you will again encounter this lively faith in Christ that gives positive meaning to Christian death: “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain (Phil 1:21.)”
You can read the rest here.

The second is taken from my archives, and it honors the saint that is honored in today's liturgy, Polycarp: An Unusual Name, A Remarkable Story...  here's an excerpt:


At the stake Polycarp seizes the opportunity to pray aloud before all the spectators. His 86 year-old heart swells as he calls upon the true God.
"O Lord God Almighty… I bless You because You have granted me this day and hour, that I might receive a portion amongst the number of martyrs in the cup of Your Christ unto resurrection of eternal life...
May I be received… in Your presence this day, as a rich and acceptable sacrifice, as You did prepare and reveal it beforehand, and have accomplished it, You that art the faithful and true God. (Martyrdom 14: 1-2.)
God answers Polycarp’s prayer in a most unusual way.

When he had offered up the Amen and finished his prayer, the firemen lighted the fire. And, a mighty flame flashing forth, we to whom it was given to see, saw a marvel, yea and we were preserved that we might relate to the rest what happened.
The fire, making the appearance of a vault, like the sail of a vessel filled by the wind, made a wall round about the body of the martyr; and it was there in the midst, not like flesh burning, but like a loaf in the oven or like gold and silver refined in a furnace. For we perceived such a fragrant smell, as if it were the wafted odor of frankincense or some other precious spice.
So at length the lawless men, seeing that his body could not be consumed by the fire, ordered an executioner to go up to him and stab him with a dagger. And when he had done this, there came forth [a dove and] a quantity of blood, so that it extinguished the fire; and all the multitude marveled that there should be so great a difference between the unbelievers and the elect.  (Martyrdom, 15:1 – 16:1.)
Imagine experiencing the satisfying aroma of bread baking in the oven when you should be observing a hideous death… imagine one man’s life being consumed by the Eucharistic majesty even as he prepares to breathe his last. 

Everything about Polycarp’s life declared: “I am a Christian.”

For years, scholars have written of the parallels between the suffering of Jesus’ passion and the final hours of Polycarp’s life… the prayer for the disciples, the final meal, the arrest, the interrogation, and the many people calling for his death. It is all of a piece in the will of God.

Tertullian, writing in the years following Polycarp’s death, declared, “the blood of the martyrs is the seed of Christians.” 

The death of martyrs did not put an end to Christianity as some opponents had hoped. It only served to fuel the faith of Christians for generations to come, whose sustenance and hope remains in the Eucharist to this day.

You can read more, here.

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Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Among Women Podcast #126 Special Edition: Lenten Practices and Devotions

Among Women 126 is a Special Edition featuring your host and cast of wonderful listeners and former guests sharing their favorite Lenten practices and devotions.

Special guests include:

Julie Davis of Happy Catholic
Maria Johnson of Catholic Weekend
Sarah Reinhard of Snoring Scholar
Kate Wicker of Kate Wicker.com

Listen!

Monday, February 20, 2012

This makes me think... really think about slowing it ALL down... Ahhh, Lent the time to be present...

Time to Be Present


Lord, let me find back
The lost treasure of time:
Time for gentle listening to a friend,
For sharing the play of a child,
For consoling a suffering person,
For thinking without strain,
For labor without pressure.
Time to delight in birds and flowers,
Blooming trees and lustrous green.
Time to enjoy music, friends, and meals,
Time to be silent and alone,
Time to be quietly at home,
Time to be present to Your mystery.
Free me from the tyranny 
Of time urgency.
Let time not possess me
Neither the pressure of daily concerns.
Let me not cram every moment 
With useful or exciting things
To do or say.
Let my life be a gentle preparation
For the pure and precious moments
Of listening to you
So that I may not drown
In the rushing waters
Of practical pursuits.

---Susan Muto & Adrian van Kaam, Practicing the Prayer of Presence, 1993, Resurrection Press.

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Among Women ReadHER 2.18.12 Hugs, Lent, Love, oh yeah and the HHS Mandate.


Among Women ReadHER 
2.18.12


Every Single Bishop has Condemned Obama's HHS Mandate
By Thomas Peters at CatholicVote.org
Stay informed.

Contraception and Understanding: Rebuilding the Foundation
By Elizabeth Duffy at her column at Patheos
Absolutely required reading if you have pre-teens and teens.

Statistics, Obamas, and Internet Memes
By Michael Flynn at his blog TOF
If you've been wondering about the figure being tossed around in the media about "98% of Catholic women using contraception"...it's bogus. You'll want to read this. It's a bit long, but really gets good about midway through it.

Lent is Next Week!
By Marika Donders, campus minister at the KSC blog
Marika gives some great suggestions... the best one: Keep it simple!


Lent and the Corporal Works of What, Now?
By Maria Morera Johnson, subbing in for "yours truly" at my column at Patheos
Maria Johnson challenges us to blast out of our comfort zones.


Lenten Link Up!
By Lacy Rabideau at Catholic Icing
Go imbibe!


Archbishop Dolan Makes Big Push for Twitter, Social Media in Rome
By Joanne Molloy at The New York Daily News
Rock on, Your Excellency!

Just Give Me a Hug!
By Anthony Buono at Catholic Lane
Just go on, you know you wanna...

The Witness of Beauty
By Emily Stimpson at CatholicVote blog
No matter what your politics, this is interesting reading. The fight for true beauty and the preciousness of femininity -- a combination of fashion modesty and creativity -- is something we Catholic Christian must lead the way on. I'm no fashionista by any stretch, but this piece strikes a cord. 

Friday, February 17, 2012

"Coffee Break" with Mary Lou Rosien, author of Catholic Family Boot Camp

"Coffee Break" / Among Women 125 (mp3)

The F.U.N. Quotient... birthday edition

Today is my Hubby's birthday. So here's a little fun in his honor...

About the only thing that comes to us without effort is old age.
For all the advances in medicine, there is still no cure for the common birthday.
Age is something that doesn’t matter, unless you are a cheese.
Life is a moderately good play with a badly written third act.
Inside every older person is a younger person – wondering what the hell happened.
Birthdays are good for you. Statistics show that the people who have the most live the longest.
Men are like wine: some turn to vinegar, but the best improve with age.
After 30, a body has a mind of its own.
Last week the candle factory burned down. Everyone just stood around and sang, ‘Happy Birthday’.
Looking fifty is great – if you’re sixty.
The best birthdays of all are those that haven’t arrived yet.
Just remember, once you’re over the hill you begin to pick up speed.
Birthdays are nature’s way of telling us to eat more cake.
Old age isn’t so bad when you consider the alternative.
You are only young once, but you can be immature for a lifetime.
To me, old age is always 20 years older than I am.

Thursday, February 16, 2012

The word for "A Word in Season" is mercy: A guest post by Maria Morera Johnson

Maria Morera Johnson is a friend in real life and in my online writing and podcasting world. Since she lives in the South and I live in the Northeast, our virtual communications are punctuated by occasional road trips. It doesn't matter who is doing the driving or riding shotgun, half the fun is getting there!

We both do a fair amount of writing each week, and it's a pleasure when we can buckle up and share the road together... like she is today, guesting at my column at Patheos. Half the joy of the Easter-to-come is magnified in the getting there. Maria challenges us to consider a merciful road map for Lent, so let us be off!

Maria writes:                    

In today’s busy world – where we are pulled by our responsibilities to family, work, friends, and all the extra things we find piled on our plates, it’s probably not a bad idea to prayerfully discern a particular course for Lent. Why not get ideas from people who’ve managed to make it work, or managed to articulate it in a manner we can comprehend and apply.
So here I am jumping on the bandwagon and sharing an idea...  In fact, it’s one of those things that pushes the boundaries of my comfort zone. When that happens, I think maybe I’ve hit the right course of action for myself.
You see, the nature of my day job, as a professor, and the nature of my other job, in new media both give me a platform to run my mouth. I talk all day to a captive audience in my classroom, and then, I get on my soapbox on my blog and behind a microphone on my podcast and talk some more.
With all that talking, I figure it’s time I put my money where my mouth is…um…where my hands and feet are…as the hands and feet of Christ.
I’m going to embrace the Corporal Works of Mercy. It’s daunting.
Don't be daunted, read the rest. 

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Among Women Podcast #125: "Spiritual Bootcamp"

Among Women 125 is all about spiritual bootcamp and the fight against vices big and small and turning our hearts toward virtue. Join me for a reading on obedience from St Catherine of Siena's The Dialogue, and then catch my dialogue with author and OSV columnist, Mary Lou Rosien. Together we'll talk about faith, the challenges of family living and her new book, Catholic Family Boot Camp.  There's a free drawing for a copy of the book too so email me at amongwomenpodcast@me.com or visit our facebook page.

This is the last week to submit your favorite Lenten practice (thru 2/20)... what "works" for you in Lent? Call our feedback line and get your voice on the show: 206-203-2024.

The Heart of Jesus Beats for You on Valentine's Day




Learn more about this image of the Sacred Heart, and it's artist, Joseph Fanelli.

Great devotional prayers to the Sacred Heart at EWTN.

Learn more about the Sacred Heart at this website, and via the Among Women Podcast, episode 89.

image credit



Monday, February 13, 2012

This makes me think... being thankful all my days...

Thank you, Lord


My Father, you have carried me through
     wanderings
     and loved me through my rebelliousness.


I praise you.


You have given me untold riches:
     friends to love,
     beauty to enjoy,
     quiet spaces.


I praise you for life on this planet,
     for trust between people,
     and the unimaginable gift of the gospel.


Keep me thankful all my days,
that, against all the odds,
I may never lose sight 
of hope and delight.

---Angela Ashwin, A Little Book of Healing Prayers.


Saturday, February 11, 2012

Among Women ReadHER 2.11.12 Late breaking HHS news, Career/family balance, parenting, Valentine's angst & more...


Among Women ReadHER 
2.11.12

By the USCCB website
There is more to this story than fully being reported. Stay informed.
Don't miss this, either, a letter from the bishops.

I've added this to my bookmark bar.... to keep it accessible.

By Michael Brendan Doherty and Pascal-Emmanuel Gobry at Business
This is just more consideration by many considering the outcry of the Church against the HHS Mandate.

By Ashley Crouch at First Things
Read and consider this carefully. The author refers to a brilliant chapter by Dr. Angela Franks in Women, Sex, and the Church, (add it to your library!), compiled by Erika Bachiochi, a recent guest discussing this book on Among Women 98. 

By Jennifer Abbey
Ok, that's not something you hear every day. Let's credit God for both the young model's journey, and the writer who cared to publish the story. 

By Robyn Lee at Catholic Match
Here, here! A post for the single un-attached! By Robyn Lee, a recent guest on AW 122, give her a listen! 

By the USCCB
From the I-must-live-under-a-rock dept: I didn't know that! When did we get that? Makes sense with Valentine's Day coming up.

By Brandon Vogt at The Thin Veil
A most excellent post - chock full of resources for your spiritual growth. I highly recommend them all! Bookmark and save for further exploration and digestion.

By Leanne Willen at CatholicMom.com
Awww... sweet reflection about the little ones. 

By Michael Medved in the Wall Street Journal
Here's an interesting angle regarding the recent history of the presidency.

By Mike Myatt at Forbes
Great advice for working women and men. It's simple, Mike writes: "If you focus on your family, your career won't suffer, it will flourish. Get this wrong and not only will your family suffer, but so will you..." 

By Sarah Reinhard
Got saints? Sarah suggests a way to pray with the members of the communion of saints that are important to you. Sarah was a recent guest on AW talking about advent, and talking about blogging and books and more, way back on episode 11.

By Lacy Rabideau at Catholic Icing
Yes, emphasis on Easy!

By Susan Brinker at Women of Grace
It's February and Heart Awareness Month. Some good reminders here on the differences of heart symptoms between women and men.

By Steven Ertelt at LifeSiteNews.com
It causes more guilt. Hm. Sometimes guilt can lead us to do the right thing...

By Frank DeFord in Sports Illustrated
Ok, I love this story of the love of sisters and the love of basketball. 

Why the French make better parents. 
I don't think this is rocket-science, but I do think there are helpful insights if you need some encouragement in the parenting of small children. Some of these simple principles are inherent in a lot of parenting techniques I learned from Focus on the Family, and others, who emphasized the authoritative role (not authoritarianism) of parents. There is a corresponding article. 

And finally, a little hilarity... The Crescat and Nuns... do click through to the link to see Kat's spoof of the now-famous dating service video of the woman and her over-the-top love of pets. I shoulda put it on the F.U.N. Quotient, but...

Friday, February 10, 2012

"Coffee Break" with Kathryn Lopez and Elizabeth Scalia -- on a Special Edition of Among Women

"Coffee Break" / Among Women 124 (mp3)

Find the blog post for this episode.

Listen online. (You must have Quicktime.)

Or find it on iTunes- look for episode 124.

The F.U.N. Quotient... a goat rodeo... but a real treat for music lovers!

Reviewers are calling it a hybrid of bluegrass and classical... I'm calling it downright joyous. Here's a taste ...


I had the pleasure of seeing these gentlemen perform in concert in Boston recently -- a fun night out with my daughter. Anyway, this concert will be on PBS in the weeks to come, but for the time being I'm content with the music from this collection filling my speakers.

Thursday, February 9, 2012

On the subject of toes... a page out of my prayer journal

I'm over at Patheos...

In this chapel, directly above the monstrance, there is a statue of the Risen Jesus, arms outstretched. Faithful to the biblical accounts ( Jn 20: 24-28), the wounds of Jesus’ crucifixion are still visible on his glorified body.  This depiction of his once-crucified feet extends low into my field of vision, inches away from the monstrance, as I concentrate on his True Presence in the Host. 
And as I visit, the statue’s portrayal, and the Lord’s profound nearness in the Eucharist, is an ever-present reminder of “This is my body, which is given up for you (Lk 22:19). 
As I enter the chapel each week, my knees hit the floor and I bend low: My Lord and my God! 
Not insignificantly, my Lord and my God has toes. 
And I’m struck deeply by the delightful humanity of it all. The precious and weighty reality of the Incarnation becomes, remarkably, accessible. And in that moment of recognition, I find this God, who is undeniably wondrous and magnificent as the Creator of the Cosmos, all at once, very much lovable to my down-to-earth womanly sensibilities. 
I have a God with toes. Isn’t that amazing?!
Of course, there's more. 

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Among Women Podcast #124 features Elizabeth Scalia and Kathryn Lopez discussing Catholic opposition to the US HHS Mandate

Among Women 124 is a Special Edition that looks at objection of US Catholic Bishops, and multitudes of Catholics and others who view the federal mandate from the Health and Human Services Department as a violation of religious liberty. This Special Edition unpacks this issue with references to press releases from the USCCB, and commentary from Catholic opinion journalist, Kathryn Lopez, editor of National Review Online, and Catholic blogger and pundit, Elizabeth Scalia, managing editor of the Catholic portal at Patheos. 

Please listen to this podcast, read the links, and share with others.

Monday, February 6, 2012

"Coffee Break" Among Women with Lisa Schmidt.

"Coffee Break" / Among Women 123 (mp3)

This makes me think...

The Christian faithful are to hold the Most Holy Eucharist in highest honor, taking an active part in the celebration of the most august sacrifice, receiving this sacrament most devoutly and frequently, and worshiping it with the highest adoration. In explaining the doctrine about this sacrament, pastors of souls are to teach the faithful diligently about this obligation.


--- Code of Canon Law - par. 898

Saturday, February 4, 2012

Among Women ReadHER 2.4.12 Catholics against HHS Mandate... saints, sex, the examen & more

Among Women ReadHER 
2.4.12
Note: Earlier this week you may have read my post containing a variety of links regarding the Catholic concerns over recent decisions within the US department of Health and Human Services rejecting conscience clauses within "Obamacare". 


Here it is: Helpful articles, video & action tips re Obamacare's affront to religious freedom and conscience


Take time this week to pray and evaluate your role in fighting initiatives that demean the dignity of the human person and promote a culture of death. As I've said in the past, this is not a political commentary blog... and yet... we've had many discussions on Among Women regarding the moral issues surrounding certain health care issues, respect life issues, and our role in the public square. This intersection cannot be ignored, so check out that earlier post for links on that subject.


----


St Philomena Encourages Youth to be Pure
By Eddie O'Neill at National Catholic Register
Another send up to this great saint. Hear about St. Philomena on the Among Women Podcast episode 103.


Sex and the Eternal City
By Kathryn Lopez at National Review Online
An interview with Christopher West about his new book on the subject of Theology of the Body and the new evangelization. A good read.


The Eternal Child
By Heather King at Shirt of Flame
Beautiful. Haunting. Real. Healing. (You can hear Heather King speak of her latest book about the life of St. Therese of Lisieux on AW 108.)

Why You Should Wear the Miraculous Medal
By Taylor Marshall at Canterbury Tales
An info-packed teaching on this great sacramental.


The Conscience and the Examen
By Marcia Morrissey from her column at Patheos
Here's a healthy spiritual practice. 

Pretty Happy Funny Real
By Margaret Bern at Minnesota Mom
Delightful pictures and commentary about her daughter's first confession.


Inside the Mom (of a toddler) Brain
By Lauren Warner at Sipping Lemonade
A picture is worthy of a 1000's words...  you will smile.


Happy Birthday Coffee & Canticles - Giveaway week!
By Daria Sockey at Coffee & Canticles
Divine Office enthusiast gives real life advice for praying with the Liturgy of the Hours. She's also giving away some nice books.


Say No to Competition (among women, friends, etc.)
By Meg Meeker, MD at her website
Great advice from Dr. Meeker!


Why Catholic Women Don't Make Good Mommy Bloggers
By Betty Duffy, guest posting over at The Anchoress.
Oh, this is rich. Like the way dark chocolate makes so much more sense to me than white chocolate.


And finally, this ode to the tech "symphony" (?) around many of us... H/T to Deacon Greg at The Deacon's Bench

Digitals from Chris Crutchfield
on Vimeo.


Friday, February 3, 2012

The F.U.N. Quotient... more comics...

I've been following the Savage Chickens by Doug Savage for some time... (I never really appreciated the post-it note as a source of creativity before!)

A few recent favorites:

We all scream.

Insufficient.

Paying attention.

It's academic.

Thursday, February 2, 2012

A Word in Season: A Shrug is Meager Exercise... Or, whatcha gonna do with venial sins?

My column this week at Patheos is one part confession, and one part resolve.  I got some habits that be needin' some kicking.

Pardon me, but my spiritual mediocrity is showing. 
Lent is approaching -- Ash Wednesday on February 22 – and it’s causing me to consider my spiritual health. For a Christian, the resolution to be good and do good should permeate every day, not just at the onset of the penitential seasons. The call to holiness is in season and out. 
The trajectory of our lives should be a movement from our initial conversion -- a turning away from mortal sins and toward Christ. Indeed, the full maturation of the children of God is the call to be living saints, resembling Christ by imitation. 
Yet sometimes my witness is a bit shaky. 
No, let me say that more truthfully: I often settle for mediocrity. 
I settle for well, I haven’t broken any of the Ten Commandments recently, and I don’t have any mortal sins to confess, and so I coast. Even though I am old enough to know better, I am not immune to the lure of bad habits
Read the rest.

Please feel free to subscribe to this column for your RSS reader or email. 

Oh, and if you want a insightful look at the deadly sins in modern language, check this out, again at Patheos.

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Among Women Podcast #123 - Practice, Practice

Among Women 123 features ideas about being a practicing Catholic... and to get that done I "interview" St. Margaret Mary, and converse with The Practicing Catholic blogger herself, Lisa Schmidt. Together we talk about the joys of living in sync with the Universal Church and the graces God brings to us through his Word and his healing touch in our lives. You'll benefit about Lisa's stories about faith, marriage, John Paul II, healing from miscarriage, Mary's house, and more!

Join us for the coffee and conversation! Oh, did I mention I'm also talking about coffee on this episode?

One more thing: think about how you might contribute to an upcoming Special Edition of Among Women. Send me your favorite and most meaningful Lenten practices at amongwomenpodcast@me.com! Or call your ideas in to our voice mail: 206-203-2024.

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!

Ship a Cake, and Share a Blessing