Among Women ReadHER 8.18.12...all the stuff we love: women saints, the rosary, Mary, and more!

Sorry for the late post, folks. I left this in draft mode. Silly me.

Among Women ReadHER 
8.18.12

Saints and Scholars --Meet some brilliant, bold and holy women
By Emily Stimpson at Our Sunday Visitor
Among Women fans will love this article about some awesome women saints.

Bill Buckley on Keeping the Faith
By Kathryn Jean Lopez at K-Lo at Large
A good read from the late Buckley on Lourdes and the mystery of faith, among other tasty tidbits.

10 Rosary Tips for Rosary Strugglers
By Rhonda Ortiz at Catholic Mom
Oh! This is g-r-e-a-t!

Violin for Sale
By Leticia Velasquez at Cause of our Joy
For the right person, this could be a find. (Leticia has been my guest on Among Women in the past year. Hear her talk about her book on this show.)

Creativity: What are You Creating?
By Jason Kotecki at Catholic Mom
Go make some fun!

After the Assumption
By Rebecca Teti at Faith and Family Live
A retrospective of highlights from different articles on the Assumption this week, including the Pope Benedict's homily.

Speaking of the Assumption...
So, you remember that I've written a book, now, don't you? One of my favorite homilies of ALL TIME on Mary from Pope Benedict XVI is the Homily he gave in 2005 on the Assumption... and yes, I actually quote a small segment of it in my book... but the reason I bring this up--not the book but Benedict-- is that while we are in the Octave of the Assumption, you really should read this homily. It will give you food for thought for a while. Mary loves us so very much. So, run along now. Go read.

Of course, two recent Among Women podcasts give you good stuff on the Assumption on AW 141 and AW 143 on the Queenship of Mary, the feast coming up on August 22.

UPDATE: Sorry for the incorrect link on Jason Kotecki's article, it is now corrected!

I'm over at Catholic Mom, talking about fostering spiritual growth in the family...

My latest at Catholic Mom is somewhat a retrospective look back on 25 years of parenting. Spiritual Growth Within a Catholic Family, Part One gives the context for Catholic family life in the Gohn home. Part Two, coming next month, will talk about some of the family practices and attitudes that have worked to build up the spiritual life in each of our children.

Here's a snippet from the current article:

The spiritual milestones of our children’s lives began with their baptism. It slowly advanced with each of the sacraments that they made. In between those sacramental milestones, there’s a world of spiritual territory that we’ve traversed. And while we don’t make pencil marks on a door, or keep report cards, my husband and I were privileged to watch souls take shape and grow in our home. As parents, we spent a lot of time doing what we could to influence that growth both directly and indirectly. 

But every now and then, we see a shining moment -- a defining moment – when one of our children chooses Christ – growing as Catholic Christians – by yielding more and more to Him. These are the moments you pray for. Very few can be scheduled. Most are unpredictable, surprising, and happen as the Holy Spirit wills. But almost all of them can be prepared for. 

We’ve prepared our children as best as we can for such times, often deliberately. Just as we’ve been called to be role models for them, we’re called to educate them in three areas: daily life, academic life, and spiritual life. We often know what to do with the first two areas, but the spiritual life sometimes seems a little harder to articulate. This is the life of grace, of sanctity, of holiness. It is training a child not only in the basic knowledge of the faith, but calling them toward an interior life with Christ.

The rest is here. 

Among Women ReadHER 3.31.12... Papa Benny, Cuba, confession, sex, weirdness...

Photo credit: Maria Johnson, as we shared margaritas with the Holy Father

Among Women ReadHER

3.31.12

First, a few posts about Pope Benedict XVI's Apostolic Visits to Mexico and Cuba...

You can read his addresses and homilies on these trips here. There were lots of my favorite quotes, but here's one to give you a taste:

Dear friends, do not hesitate to follow Jesus Christ. In him we find the truth about God and about mankind. He helps us to overcome our selfishness, to rise above our vain struggles and to conquer all that oppresses us. The one who does evil, who sins, becomes its slave and will never attain freedom (cf. Jn 8:34). Only by renouncing hatred and our hard and blind hearts will we be free and a new life will well up in us. 

Convinced that it is Christ who is the true measure of man, and knowing that in him we find the strength needed to face every trial, I wish to proclaim openly that Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life. In him everyone will find complete freedom, the light to understand reality most deeply and to transform it by the renewing power of love. 

The Church lives to make others sharers in the one thing she possesses, which is none other than Christ, our hope of glory (cf. Col 1:27). To carry out this duty, she must count on basic religious freedom, which consists in her being able to proclaim and to celebrate her faith also in public, bringing to others the message of love, reconciliation and peace which Jesus brought to the world. 

If you only have time for one, read the rest of this one... pretty powerful words about religious freedom spoken aloud in Mass setting within a country with a communistic regime.

The Pope blesses image of Our Lady of Guadalupe...

He picked up a few new hats along the way...

Entrusting Cuba to Caridad

By Maria Morera Johnson, a guest at my column at Patheos this week

I recommend this piece by my friend, blogger and co-host of SQPN's Catholic Weekend Show, Maria Morera Johnson, a Cuban-American, writing about subjects close to her heart.

Other goodies....

Vatican Approves a Blessing of the Womb
Posted at Zenit
Well, here's a powerful pro-life move! Yay! Will watch for more details in the days ahead.

Confessing Who We Really Are

By Lori Miller at Catholic Mom

A good one. If you still haven't gone to confession this Lent, let this be a loving nudge.

When Shall We Begin to Do Good?

By Elizabeth Scalia at The Anchoress

When Elizabeth raves about something, I always pay attention. 

Looking Closer at the Hail Mary: "Blessed"

By Maria Morera Johnson at Snoring Scholar

Yes, it just worked out that way, here's another one from Maria, this time in a continuing series on the words of the Hail Mary, hosted by the delightful Sarah Reinhard at Snoring Scholar.


The Glories of Being Weird
By Emily Stimpson at CatholicVote.org
Another great take on life and love and simply being "counter-cultural" simply by living this awesome cannot-be-denied faith.


The Dark Night of the Soul: Or Why a Failing Lent Isn't
By Chris Capolino at Catholic Mom
Ok, might be the best piece from Chris ever. 


How to Pray with Your Spouse: 4 steps
Posted at the USCCB's "For Your Marriage" page
Some good advice.


Nothing Subtle About this Photo
By Mountain Butorac at Catholic Traveler
Just click on the link for a moment. Beautiful. 


Christopher Hitchins and Groaning During Sex
By Marc Barnes at Bad Catholic
If you've never read Marc Barnes, you might find that he is somewhat irreverently reverent... but he's young and he is on to a great career as a writer and apologist. 


Important Safety Information: Girls Around Me APP will make you tighten up your online privacy.

This song has a beautiful prayer within it: "Lord, break my heart with what breaks yours...."

10:50am: Here's a late update from today's Wall Street Journal:


When the Archbishop Met the President
By James Taranto at the WSJ
The continuing HHS Mandate saga...

I'm over at Catholic Mom today, with another installment of what I'm loosely calling "Tales from the Empty Nest"

Have I told you how much I love CatholicMom.com, and its intrepid and wise founder-turned-author Lisa Hendey? Sure, you've probably heard me sing those praises before. But, no joke, check it out if you are a Catholic Mom and you're looking for information, inspiration, and a dose of fun for your Catholic Mommy Years. Back in the dark ages of CatholicMom, oh I'd say about two website iterations ago, I started writing for Lisa, and it continues to be a favorite stop for me, even tho' I'm not in the trenches anymore with small children. So, I'm writing about what I do now as a Mom....

Here's a snippet from "The Letter to the College Freshmen":

Dear Peter, 

I hope your life at college is going well. Your last email and your Facebook statuses all sound pretty positive. Your departure as the youngest child off to college means that there are a few new things going on around here. So I thought I’d let you know about them before you arrive home between semesters. 

After 24 years of parenting, I’ve gotten rid of the infamous lost sock bag. That’s right. Let the purging begin. I matched what could be matched, and the rest will be recycled into grease rags for Dad’s auto repair kit, dust cloths, and doggie chew toys. There are only two people here now, one guy, one gal. Finding mated sock pairs is pretty easy. But I almost caved on the whole project when I got to the bottom of the bag and found blue socks from when you were little. No lie! Blue uniform socks from grade school! *sniff* Unmatched in size, of course! But I could not throw them away. Not quite yet. I am keeping them in an undisclosed location since there is no more random sock bag.

Oh there's more. Find it here.

The Gohn "kiddos"

(That's Peter's high school graduation.)

Here's an earlier installment on the launching and sending off of sons. (Um, and another one about the oldest finishing college and leaving home.)

Among Women Podcast # 119 - The Interior Life of Mothers

Among Women 119 welcomes author Dorothy Pilarski and a discussion centered on her book Motherhood Matters. Together we discuss the graces needed for mothering and the constant need to develop a stronger interior life, or life with God.

Also this week, don't miss the opportunity to put your name in for the free drawing for Dorothy's new book, by sending me an email at amongwomenpodcast@me.com, or sending me a note on the Among Women Facebook page.

This episode of AW also profiles the life and times of St Mary Di Rosa, a 19th century nun who lived a life of quiet heroism.

Reminder: SQPN's annual giving campaign needs your support. AW is an affiliate but all funds go to support the organizational needs of SQPN and its international apostolate that helps spread the gospel via Catholic new media. Please contribute if you can. Thank you.

The F.U.N. Quotient... Mom edition (part 1)

From Moms Today:

Request Back-up! -- Ellen Gable Hrkach - (cartoon)

Why We Don't Have A TV Show -- Sherry Antonetti 

Sick Days for Mom? Take the Quiz -- Karen Rinehart

On Launching Ships and Sons... (yup, we sent our "baby" to college)

I'm over at CatholicMom.com today, waxing nostalgic. Well, actually the column is more about my hopes for my youngest son being on his own in college than my transition to the part-time semesters-only "empty nest."

Here's a taste of it:

“Look at the ships also; though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs (James 3:4 RSV-CE).” 

I have kissed my son and waved goodbye. The day finally came for him, the youngest of the brood, to pull up anchor and sail off for college. As I’ve come to assess the condition of my mother’s heart, I find a contented peace, like a sunset after a long working day. My years of sailing a thousand smaller voyages with this young man now bring me here, standing on the shore of blessing. 

The giant ship -- that is, an adult child’s college career or work life -- and the sails that are made to harness the winds of successful living, are, in the end, steered by the smallest rudder… for the conscience is hidden deep. It invisibly navigates every journey, guiding the course. 

Such are the paradoxes of the Catholic faith. We can easily recall how the smallest Host of bread contains the greatest mystery and the holiest power. To consume it – to let it transform us – is to yield the tiller to Another’s gentle hand and influence. It never fails to reveal True North to the sailor.  

Read the whole thing. And check out the great line up over at CatholicMom! There's always something good cookin' over there!

Image credit 

On being more mindful in my conversational life...

I'm over at Catholic Mom today...talking about talking, and listening to what people say in answer to the question, "How are you?"

Here's some for starters:

For the last two months I have had my foot in a cast. This post-surgical immobilization is needed for the healing of a torn tendon in my ankle. Every time I am out in public these days friends, acquaintances, and even strangers stop to ask me, “What happened?” or “How are you?” And I politely tell them and thank them for their concern.

Recently, I was in a situation that truly impressed on my heart just how important it is to stop and intentionally ask the people in my social milieu and workplace the simple question, “How are you?”

At a recent church function, a woman who is a longtime acquaintance came up to me and expressed her loving concern for my predicament as I hobbled along.  For the fifth time that night, I had to explain myself, and I was getting a little tired of my on-going narrative.  I gave her the 60-second version of my story.  Knowing she was a nurse, I mentioned how wonderful it is to have great people like her in healthcare to suffer with the likes of me! As I thanked her for loving concern, I wondered aloud with her, how many people in this room with us have hurts and burdens that we cannot see… and if anyone rushed up to them to ask how they are doing?

At that moment, my friend’s eyes grew wide. She dabbed at a tear as she pushed back her glasses. So I asked the obvious: how are you? And then I listened.

Read the rest here. 

New CatholicMom.com redesign, with my latest Advent piece

This one's for the Moms... it's all about maternity and Momma Mary!  Check it out.  (Also I read it live as part of the most recent podcast.)

Will this school year plant seeds of a vocation in your child?

I've got a few thoughts on the subject, over at CatholicMom.com today.  C'mon over!

Here's a snippet:

Our goal as Christian parents points well beyond the academic education of our children: That of helping them to heaven. One of the ways we do this is by encouraging a sense of vocation.  And that means, encouraging not only “what” a child want to be when they grow up, but also “who”?

 When we know the ultimate goal, we can take steps toward achieving on-going Christian formation in the lives of our children. In a broad sense, it is what successful business managers call “beginning with the end in mind.”  It’s also what spiritual directors have called having “an eternal perspective”.

 So, as the new school year begins, it might be fruitful for us parents to wonder just how this coming year might shape the future Christian vocations of our children? Will this be a year that opens their heart more fully to God’s plan for their life? 

Read the rest here.

Among Women Podcast #56

Among Women 56 welcomes Lisa Hendey of CatholicMom.com back for another visit to talk about her book, The Handbook for Catholic Moms.  Plus, we turn back the hands of time and look at the life of Lydia, a woman of faith from the New Testament, as found in Acts 16: 11-15.

Also, it's time to register for the Catholic New Media Celebration coming to Boston Aug. 6-8, 2010.  Don't miss CNMC "mmx"!

You can also hear an earlier podcast with Lisa Hendey as a guest, here.

Launching A Son: A Mom Reflects

Ok, so humor me a bit...

A long, long time ago...

in a galaxy far far away...

before I was a mother of three, I was a mother to one.

That's a photo of Bob and I holding little Bobby way back in Easter '88.

Bobby graduates college next month and is "moving out".

That's what this article is all about.  (Nod your head if you'd been there, done this.)  

Here's a snippet:

Slowly, year by year, our children learn to walk on their own, in so many different ways.  Still more importantly, they really can learn to obey the voice that is heard from within their own heart. And we must revere what God may be telling them, where he might lead them. 

My latest over at Catholic Mom...

After 20 years of frequent flying.... my husband gets a job where he works from home (mostly).  Advice for the "frequent flyer widows" among us!

Sweet Dreams- A Novel by Katherine Valentine: Read it now on Catholic Mom!

Chapter One is online here!
Chapter Two is there too!
Happy Reading!

Among Women Podcast #27

Among Women #27 features the story of St. Frances of Rome who could see her guardian angel, and the AW interview of interviewer extraordinaire, Lisa Hendey of CatholicMOM.com and the Catholic Moments Podcast!

AW celebrates 6 months of podcasting! Meanwhile, your host, Pat Gohn fights seasonal allergies that have turned her usual baritone into a bass!