Happy Birthday to Among Women!

Among Women is One Year Old today! 

Send a little birthday gift by way of a positive review on iTunes!

Go here.

Or feel free to sing Happy Birthday to Among Women 

or send your birthday greetings

at

206-338-6077.

15 easy ways (and even low-tech ways) to promote Among Women

1.   Tell a friend.
2.   Tell your mom.
3.   Tell your priest.
4.   Send out a tweet.
5.   Text your best friends.
6.   Email your contacts list.
7.   Send 5 postcards to friends.
8.   Burn a CD and give a show away to someone.
9.   Leave a review on the Among Women iTunes page.
10. Join the Among Women Podcast Friends group on Face Book.
11. Put an announcement in your church bulletin. Pre-written samples here.
12. Write the url address in the dirt on your car: "AmongWomenPodcast.com"
13. Put a link on your blog, or if you don't have a blog, leave a comment about a recent episode on someone else's blog.
14. Send a letter to the editor of your diocesan newspaper extolling the virtues of new media and making special mention of Among Women and sqpn.com.
15. Pray for the ministry of Among Women, especially when you pray the words "among women"in the Hail Mary.

Among Women Podcast #51

Among Women 51 celebrates the first anniversary of the podcast with feed back from listeners and a free drawing for Among Women coffee mugs.  (Send Pat feedback via email at amongwomenpodcast@me.com or facebook to enter your name.)

This week, Pat's guest is Dr. Ronda Chervin, a professor of philosphy with over 50 book titles.  Today's conversation focuses on the Treasury of Women Saints.

We also take a look at the life of 4th century Christian martyr, St. Catherine of Alexandria.

This makes me think...

Whatever did not fit in with my plan 

did lie within the plan of God.  

I have an ever deeper and firmer belief 

that nothing is merely an accident 

when seen in the light of God, 

that my whole life 

down to the smallest

 detail 

has been marked out for me 

in the plan of Divine Providence 

and has a completely coherent meaning

 in God’s all-seeing eyes.  

And so I am beginning to rejoice in the light of glory 

wherein this meaning will be unveiled to me.

           --St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein)  

Sr. Olga of the Eucharist -- video of the Boston Catholic Women's Conference

If you listen regularly to Among Women you may recall my interview with Sr. Olga of the Eucharist, the campus minister from Boston University. Sister is an Iraqi born Christian who became a religious sister, and in recent years became a US citizen. You can go back and hear that interview here.

Sister Olga gave a very stirring presentation about her life with Christ and the Catholic Church last month at the Boston Catholic Women's Conference. Catholic TV was there and their video presentation of that talk is available here.  Give yourself an hour to hear her story.

As you watch or listen, offer up prayers for those Christians in Iraq who continue to suffer persecution... especially these Dominican nuns currently defending their convent in the face of terror. 

Letting Scripture and the Catechism inspire our Holy Week

My latest over at Today's Catholic Woman talks about about plugging in to Holy Week in a deliberate and mindful fashion. It also gives some suggested reading within the Catechism of the Catholic Church for your inspiration.

Today is the Feast of the Annunciation.

INCARNATION.


ANNUNCIATION.


Big words.  


Total Truth.


Luke 1:26- 38:

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, "Hail, O favored one, the Lord is with you!" But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there will be no end."

And Mary said to the angel, "How shall this be, since I have no husband?" And the angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy,the Son of God.

And behold, your kinswoman Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.

For with God nothing will be impossible."


And Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her. 


A special Happy 17th Birthday greeting to my son, Peter James.  What a blessing to have a son whose birth shares this feast! Love you, Mom.

A review: Hope for Hard Times

Got troubles of epic proportion?  Got hard times that are downright biblical?  Need help?


In Hope for Hard Times, author, television host, and professor of theology, Dr. Scott Hahn provides a renewing Scriptural prescription for hope in the midst of woes.  This short new book from Our Sunday Visitor, part of the "30-Minute Read" series, traverses the well-worn path through trials and sufferings as trod by the saints before us.  


Hope for Hard Times by Scott Hahn outlines the deep spiritual truth that our happiness and our hope are anchored in a love more timeless thank our current situation... our hope is found and fixed in God's fatherly love.


Indeed, Hahn writes:

"God has spent thousands of years showing the world time and again how he brings the greatest good from the greatest evil.  The Crucifixion was the most horrific sin mankind ever committed against God. Yet it brought the greatest good: our salvation."

Using realistic examples from Scripture, the saints, and the sacraments, Hahn shows us how to re-set our spiritual compass to our true north: the redemptive and empowering act of hope that transforms our ills.


And yes, you really can swallow this book whole in 30 minutes, but you'll only feel its effects once you apply it. As with any supplement, take only as directed.


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 Hope for Hard Times .

Among Women Podcast #50

This week Among Women turns 50! (Episodes, that is!)  And we'd like to celebrate our First Birthday on the next show, so give us your feedback this week by email at amongwomenpodcast@me.com or voicemail at 206-338-6077.

This week, as we bring our Lenten series to a close, Pat talks about the importance of leaving a legacy of faith as she explores the life of Blessed Joan of Aza, mother to St. Dominic.  Pat also talks to wife, mother, and author, Heidi Hess Saxton about passing on the faith to children via family bible reading, as they discuss Heidi's latest book project: My Big Book of Catholic Bible Stories.  

Plus there's a link to the US Catholic Conference of Bishops' statement on the latest health care legislation.

Enjoy these upcoming conferences in New England for Men and Women.

In other news, take the Among Women survey online now! Plus enjoy the new Master Index that links all topics, saints, and guests for all 50 AW podcasts.

Finally, help promote AW in your home parish with these handy bulletin announcements.

50 episodes catalogued!

Among Women has reached episode 50 and we're celebrating one year!  Something that might be useful for new listeners is our new Master Index.  Every episode is listed according to subject matter.  There are three categories: Subjects, saints and women of the bible from our "Blessed are They" segments, and the names of our guests from our conversations "Among Women".

Check it out.

The Scandal of Evil is No Match for the Cross of Christ

In my latest article at Catholic Exchange, I share some of my favorite quotes that soothe my heart in the face of evil.

Here's a snippet:

We’ve all been victims of pain, hurts, other peoples sins, and our own.  And yes, we are victims of evil. 

The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) calls it “the scandal of evil” since it derails the providence of God that we are meant to know.  In fact CCC 309 boldly states:

There is not a single aspect of the Christian message that is not in part an answer to the question of evil.

A few passages in the Catechism bring me great comfort in regard to evil and the reality of the devil in our world. Oh, by the way, the Catechism reminds us that the devil exists too. (Though his marketing campaign would have us believe otherwise.) 

Read the rest here.

This ain't no Stevie Wonder song... Signed, Sealed & Delivered!

No, it's my latest over at Faith and Family Live!