Entering into Scripture as we approach Holy Week... my latest at Patheos

The name of my weekly column at Patheos is A Word in Season... so, this week, I'm hoping to give you exactly that!

I have a few suggestions for finishing out Lent and entering Holy Week. Some of these practicing regarding Scripture reading and making forays into the Catechism might be helpful if you are feeling a little sluggish in your devotional life, or perhaps, like you've heard it all before...


Check out "The Drama of Scripture: Enter more deeply"

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.

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....

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!

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. 

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.

This makes me think...

I've been tagged with a Lenten meme

I was tagged by Fr. Jay Finelli of iPadre Catholic podcasting with a Lenten meme.

The rules:  Those tagged will share 5 things they “love” about Jesus/ Or why they love Jesus. Those tagged will tag 5 other bloggers. Those tagged will provide a link in the comments section here with their name so that others can read them.

Here's mine:

1. Jesus came into my life at my infant Baptism, but waited patiently until I was a teen to acknowledge him publicly. I so love that He loved me even when I was unaware and ignored his love, and then drew me into a lasting relationship with him that can last forever.
2. I never had anyone die for me before, nor can I fathom asking anyone to do so. But Jesus died so that I might live, and he did it without hesitation. I don't think I'll ever get over that one.
3. His Word and Sacraments are Life for me.
4. I will forever be grateful for His Love to me through my husband, family, and the family of God on earth and in heaven (Mary and the saints).
5. I love that He loves me even when I fail in my faith, hope and charity... and offers forgiveness, renewal and healing for the part of me that need it most.

Now I’m  supposed to tag 5 bloggers and spread this meme.

Lame Lent?

Here is my latest over at Patheos, better known as the Catholic Portal's column, A Word in Season...

It begs the question:
Am I Making a Good Lent, or is Lent Making Me Good?

Go here.

Among Women #91 - 40 Days and 40 Ways

Among Women 91 - 40 Days and 40 Ways kicks off the Lenten season with a discussion on our mortality, as we are marked with ashes on Ash Wednesday.

We follow that up with an inspiring reading from Marium Baouardy, the Christian mystic, whose words about being dust are more of a cause for rejoicing in her Lord. Finally we are joined by longtime faith formation expert, Sr. Janet Schaeffler, OP, who encourages us with 40 Lenten Ideas.

NY's Archbishop Dolan Makes the Pitch for Ash Wednesday - Nice!

You’re watching You’ve Got Archbishop Timothy Dolan. See the Web's top videos on AOL Video

Ash Wednesday - some basics

I hope you have a blessed Lent, in preparation for the coming Easter Season. Here's a few links that might be helpful.  Let us pray for one another!

USCCB's links for the season

The Holy Father's Lenten message

Why 40 Days of Lent? This explains it well:


Prepare for Sunday Masses by listening to podcasts by Fr. Robert Barron.

Here Fr. Barron comments on Lent:


Here's something about St. Therese of Lisieux from Catholic TV, as I re-read her autobiography this Lent.

Oh, and over at EWTN, be on the lookout for this, starting March 11th: The Catholic View for Women. Too bad they've only scheduled it for a monthly airing... pretty hard to build a viewership that way imho.

Articles from my archives that are Lent-worthy:

• Temptations, Jesus and Us
• Pilgrim Feet (On "going on pilgrimage" with the Lord during Lent)
• The Church as Mother and Teacher (On the Precepts of the Church - a good review for Lent)
• News of My Death (On getting in touch with our mortality)
• Turning Lent into Thanksgiving
• Spiritual 911 (On getting to confession)
• 25 Phrases from the Catechism Worth Memorizing
• Three Expressions of Prayer
• Entering More Deeply into Holy Week

And finally, there ain't nothin' like a red-hot linkfest administered by The Anchoress. Do tell her I told ya to drop by. 

Word of God Speak by Mercy Me

Let us listen keep trying to listen to God speak to us this Lent.

Among Women Podcast #47

In this expanded episode of Among Women, Pat explores themes of reconciliation and healing, both in our Lenten journey and as it pertains to recovery from sexual abuse.

Two unnamed women give us insight into this subject matter.

In "Blessed Are They", the nameless Samaritan Woman, (aka the Woman at the Well) gives us an example of personal transformation in Christ.

In "Among Women", "Margaret"  (a pseudonym) describes her life story and her recovery from sexual abuse as a child and a young adult. "Margaret's" story is one of faith, grit, painful honesty, truth-seeking, and, finally, hope.  Episode 47's show notes lists retreats and resources for women who have been sexually abused.  (Note: this show contains content unsuitable for children.)

Ash Wednesday: Prayer offerings

Besides all the normal encouragements you are likely to receive today to attend Mass, to fast, to pray, and to give alms, I thought I'd share a few gems from the saints as we begin the Lenten journey.

A recent article of mine advocated this prayer from St. Nicholas Flue, a 15th century patron of Switzerland:

My Lord and my God, take from me everything that distances me from you.

My Lord and my God, give me everything that brings me closer to you.

My Lord and my God, detach me from myself to give my all to you.

- St. Nicolas Flue

And I have long prayed the following prayer from St. Anselm, a 12th century Doctor of the Church from Canterbury, England. This reminds us that God is never finished with us, and that we can be remade anew as we travel through Lent.

O Lord my God,

teach my heart this day where and how to see you,

where and how to find you.

You have made me and remade me,

and you have bestowed on me

all the good things I possess,

and still I do not know you.

I have not yet done that

for which I was made.

Teach me to seek you,

for I cannot seek you

unless you teach me,

or find you

unless you show yourself to me.  

Let me seek you in my desire.

Let me desire you in my seeking.

Let me find you by loving you,

Let me love you when I find you.

- St Anselm 

Amen and amen.


Image credit.

Oh, to be thankful for the gift of Lent...

My latest over at Today's Catholic Woman.