Please join me in supporting our good friends Greg and Jennifer Willits and their Rosary Army Apostolate by supporting this year’s Rosary Army Giving Campaign.

Are you going to be taken up in the Rapture? Deacon Tom invites you to live in the NOW of the Eucharist rather than worrying about the End Times.

This week’s Mary Moment is a reflection on the wedding at Cana as Sarah Reinhard taps into Mary’s title Mother of Divine Providence.  You can read more of Sarah’s reflections on this title, including the history, at her column at Today’s Catholic Woman.

Links for this Episode:

• www.Kimand Jason.com
• There’s An Adult In My Soup
• Preorder The Handbook for Catholic Moms
• Yoursphere
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“Today, if you hear His Voice, do not harden your hearts…” Hebrews 3:15

Have you ever heard God talking to you? He does, you know, and He longs for you to listen. Sometimes, we’re so preoccupied with going here, doing that, that we don’t hear it. His Voice gets lost in our grocery lists, our work responsibilities, while driving the kids to music lessons, and while packing lunches. Others hear Him, but ignore what they hear. But how can you listen, and really hear the Holy Spirit for yourself?

You must be silent.

This doesn’t just mean turning off your iPhone or the TV. Getting rid of all external noise is a start, of course, and very necessary. But to really listen for God, you must also still your mind. Think about God, and think about how much He loves you and wants to talk to you. Be really, truly silent—with your ears and your heart.

St. Therese, the Little Flower, was good at this. She knew the importance of quieting the mind and listening for His Voice. Sometimes we are so busy talking to ourselves or hearing unimportant chatter of the day from electronics or people around us that we aren’t letting God get a word in edgewise.

Sometimes, though, God speaks to you when you least expect it, and aren’t even prepared for it. This happens a lot to me!

On a grey winter day, in the silence of my car, God told me He had a plan for me: I was to write a fiction book for Catholic preteens, and it would be about St. Therese, my dear friend in Heaven. I was excited, but I had many doubts. Would this be a book kids would want to read? Could it actually be published? What if I got some information wrong about St. Therese? I have to admit that I was plagued by doubt. As many do, I questioned the Voice.

God and St. Therese (who is wonderfully persistent!) had other ideas, however. Because I listened to Him, God made so many wonderful things happen in one year. I know that St. Therese was praying for me during this time, interceding for me and giving me new ideas while I wrote, nudging me along. Last month, I celebrated the one-year anniversary of Olivia and the Little Way, when God made my writing dream come true. In one short year, I’ve had three printings, a Catholic Press Association book award, met hundreds of wonderful, faithful people, and have thousands of readers and fans of my little book. Amazing. And to think it is all because of a Voice.

I love going to book signings and meeting my readers. They tell me their stories about St. Therese, their grandchildren, their parents, their teachers, their children. I’ve been told I have a friendly face, and I like to think that I am approachable. It must be true because people tell me, a person they have just met, their personal stories all of the time! I love to listen. They love to tell. There’s something about St. Therese that brings out so much love in so many people. Some of them have much emotion when they talk about her, and some start to cry. “Little Therese,” as she liked to be called, has had such a powerful impact on so many people.

At one particular book signing this past spring at a church, I sat and chatted with parishioners about my book and St. Therese. The day was very long, and, being human, I started to get hungry and a little tired. Anyone who knows me knows that when I get hungry, I can get a little…crabby. Usually all it takes is a handful of cookies or crackers and I’m back to my old self. At this book signing, I was starting to feel the effects of a long day. I stood up and straightened up the books and St. Therese chaplets on the table, then started to rummage through my purse for a quick snack. While I was doing this, a very old woman came up to the table. Elderly and frail, she stopped and looked at me.

“I do love St. Therese,” she said, her eyes red and brimming with tears.

I sat down, smiled, and asked her to share her story.

She began a halting explanation of how St. Therese had touched her life in many ways. As she spoke, I couldn’t help but notice that the frail woman had not bathed in a long time. While she was talking to me, a parishioner came up beside her and offered to treat her to a copy of Olivia and the Little Way. She was delighted to accept, and was very grateful.

I signed a book for her and watched her hobble away. I felt very saddened because I knew she was poor, but I felt very happy too that she had a loving friend in the parish. She lingered by the church and stared inside while I watched her quietly, feeling something in my heart I could not explain.

It was in that instant that I heard His Voice.

“Give her a chaplet.”

The Voice was as clear as day. It was the same one I had heard before, and I smiled. I glanced at the table, which held books and chaplets with pink rose beads.

“Give her a chaplet,” the Voice said again, very insistent.

I reached over and collected a chaplet and the instruction card that I make to go with it. I approached the lady and held both of them out to her.

“Excuse me, Ma’am, these are for you,” I said.

The look on this lady’s face was sheer joy as I placed the items in her wrinkled hands.

“Oh, thank you! Thank you!” she cried.

“Thank you for coming to talk to me and sharing your story,” I said. Then I thought to myself, You’ve given me so much more than what I have given you.

Listen to His Voice. Do what He wants you to do. Be still and hear what He wants to say to you and you will be amazed, as I was and still am.



Copyright 2009 Nancy Carabio Belanger

Finding Faith in a Godless World: A Catholic Path to God,

Lessons From the Master: Living Like Jesus

I hope you’ll also enjoy watching the video below – it gives a great overview of Alex’s first book and shows how it has impacted upon readers.

Please briefly introduce yourself and your family to our readers.

I have been married for 14 years to my beautiful wife, Allison. We live in Lynbrook, New York with our two children Alex and Maggie. I have taught at Kellenberg Memoial High School in Uniondale, New York for 13 years. I serve as the Religion Department Chairman and an assistant chaplain. I also produce music CDs for Kellenberg. We distribute these CDs to our students, their families and faculty free of charge. We have just finished our 15th CD. Our Catholic school has over 2600 students. Before I came to Kellenberg, I owned a delicatessen for 12 years. I have also performed in an Irish band for over 27 years called The Irish Mist ( www.theirishmist.net).

Please offer an overview of the book for anyone who has not yet read it.

My book Finding Faith in a Godless World: A Catholic Path to God is based on the many discussions that I have had with my students in and out of the classroom. I always tell my students that the presence of God is evident in the Catholic Church. Whether it be the Eucharist, the Resurrection, the saints, Mary, etc, we can easily find God if we can take off the blinders that prevent us from seeing Him.

What prompted you to write this book and what message do you hope to share with it?

There is so much resistance in our world to a relationship with Jesus Christ. Our culture does not endorse a faith filled life. Many of my students find the allure of materialism tempting. I spend many of my days using the headlines from Hollywood illustrating the dangers of this lifestyle.  Young people today must realize that they should not have to apologize pursuing a relationship with Jesus Christ.  It is the source of true happiness.

What type of research and preparation went into the writing of Finding Faith in a Godless World?

I sat down and made a list of the things in my life that have shown me that God exists. My approach is very staright forward and practical. I would rather forego abstract theology and give people simple ways to approach their search for God. I have shared my experiences and the experiences of my students as we have journeyed towards faith. I use some of the cornerstones of our faith and philosophy in my book.

It has been stated that your book is a wonderful resource for young people examining the role of faith in their lives.  How has your book been received by youth and other faith seekers?

My students and people of all ages have told me that my book has served as an excellent reflective tool for examining the most important question that we will ever ask ourselves: Does God exist?

How do you nurture your own relationship with Christ in today’s busy world?  What suggestions can you offer to readers looking to increase the role of faith and spirituality in their own lives? My students would tell you that I spend most of my time speaking about the importance of our relationships. Every relationship is interconnected. We can not love “Our Father” in heaven without loving our earthly dad. The key to every relationship is love. Love demands that we shed the veil of selfishness. Once we remove this we can see God much more clearly.

I also tell my students to reject the unhealthy aspects of our culture. I urge them embrace a faith filled world. Even when faith is lacking, go to church and pray. We can not discover Him if we stand on the sidelines.

Do you have any additional writing projects in the works?

My second book was recently released. It is called Lessons From the Master: Living Like Jesus (Saint Pauls/Alba). I also recorded the first ever audiobook on Finding Faith In A Godless World from Saint Pauls/Alba.

I am pleased to share the following Book Spotlight interview with Chris Benguhe, author of

Overcoming Life’s 7 Common Tragedies: Opportunities for Discovering God.

Q:  Please introduce yourself and your family to our readers.

A:  I grew up in the cozy confines of Phoenix, Ariz, where I was an alter boy, and I believed in my faith.  I went from attending a Jesuit prep school to being up to my scruples in the glamor and greed of Tinseltown, and at the ripe young age of 41, I have been kicked out of more places than most people ever get into – as a reporter for the National Enquirer, and then People Magazine.

It all started when I was a pre-med student in college and a piece of paper literally blew in my face for a writing contest. I entered on a whim, and I won. The next thing I knew I was sitting in an interview with a cagy British editor interviewing for a junior reporter’s position with the scandal sheet – the Enquirer.  My first story was to chase Farrah Fawcett around to catch her cheating on her husband. I was one of the first reporters on the scene of the grizzly Nicole Simpson murder, I covered every one of Tom Cruises “perfect” marriages and I knew Brittney Spears was crazy before anyone else.

Q: Please provide a brief overview of your inspiring book, Overcoming Life’s 7 Common Tragedies, for our readers.

A: The worst of times are windows to the best. Tragedies and tough times lead us to others – to love and to be loved – and to a greater understanding of our faith and our beliefs.

Overcoming Life’s 7 Common Tragedies: Opportunities for Discovering God offers a practical everyday faithful philosophy on how to apply the “positive potential” of problems to the seven most common catastrophic life situations through revealing personal reflections plus compelling anecdotes of everyday people who found joy through enduring life’s greatest tragedies.

Most of the people I featured in my first three books went through extremely difficult times in their lives and were made better by their experiences. In fact, those tough times were some of the best things that ever happened to them because the struggles brought them closer to loved ones and made them stronger in their faith and their beliefs. It made them say, no matter what, I’m going to stick up for what I believe. As soon as they realized and accepted those difficulties as opportunities to love and be loved, their whole life changed.

That philosophy inspired me to write this book which shows people prevailing in difficult situations and being better for them, though they may not have realized it at the time.

But I also included plenty of my own personal revelations about my own struggles with gambling, poverty, relationships gone bad and the like. This was the first time I bared my soul like that. It was tough at first, but quite liberating and cathartic once I finished. I think privacy is overrated.

Q: I’m interested in hearing more about your transition from being a secular journalist to a Catholic author and columnist.  How has your faith life impacted upon your professional career?

A: I bounced back and forth in the business and wound up finally as a senior editor for the Tabloids. But you feel so isolated in Hollywood – and in the culture of Tinseltown – it is much more desperate and soulless of a town and a lifestyle than you have ever seen in movies or on TV.  I really started questioning my identity and wondering if this was what life was all about. It really is all about self-centered self satiation out there.

Then the Columbine shootings happened in the spring of 1999, and it changed my life. I saw journalists from across America converge on this tiny Colorado town of Littleton, trying to out-sensationalize each other, and I was one of them!  I really believe that was a turning point in American journalism. Before, he said, there was an unwritten rule that journalists would be more respectful and less harassing of “ordinary people.” Not anymore. You make excuses that the people you’re writing about are celebrities. They got what they bargained for. But we would get right up in the faces of these parents who lost their children at Columbine and try to get them to cry, or hate or blame the shooters’ parents. It was ugly and heartbreaking. And it flew in the face of my faith and my upbringing. Plus the fact that the overtly sensational coverage was what I called “tragicide” and it was terrifying Americans into being afraid to send their kids to school even though the rate of violence of schools has been consistently dropping in the U.S.

I knew I couldn’t go on making money off the misery of others. So I walked into my boss and told him very respectfully that I just couldn’t do this anymore. He said, “You mean the story?” I told him, “No — the job!”

After about a month wandering on the beach and growing out my beard – the money and the margaritas started to run out.  I realized I had to get on with my life, doing something that I believed in – something that could make a difference.

I went back over my files of unpublished stories from my reporter days. Many of them were about ordinary people who overcame tough times. They were inspiring, but not sensational enough to make it into the tabloids. So I put them into a book and pitched it to Penguin – they gave me my first book deal. It was called “Triumphs of the Heart,” and President G. W. Bush the introduction for it, which was very appreciated. Then I wrote a sequel to that and a third book about heroes and the principles they live by called “Beyond Courage: The 9 Principles of Heroism”.

Q: Given today’s economic and political climates, your book is extremely timely.  What motivated you to write on this topic?

A: People are hurting. But could the worst of times be windows to the best? Yes, absolutely. But in order to realize that we need to get out from under the influence of the religion of success in America that tells us that if things don’t go our way, that we are worthless failures who shouldn’t even bother to keep trying.

What if we realized that our happiness is buried deep within the experiences of our ordeals themselves? What if obstacles are actually the intended route to our ultimate happiness? What if God purposely made us fallible and vulnerable?

Actually life’s struggles and failures are what lead us to others, to God and to finding purpose and meaning in our confusing world.

Tragedies will always happen and problems will always be a part of our lives — especially now!  More and more people are waking up to find themselves out of work, out of money and out of ideas for how they will stay afloat when everywhere they look ships are sinking.

But maybe in our increasingly demanding, confusing and failing economic environment, where a mainstream culture of success preaches it’s all about the bottom line, the innate value of work, social responsibility and human dignity has become muddled, if not completely lost, and maybe that’s exactly what led to our demise.

In other words, ironically, trying too hard to succeed has led to our failure. And maybe doing the opposite will actually lead to our success?

But what if true happiness is buried deep within the experiences of our ordeals themselves? What if we discovered that the shortest route to success wasn’t really about success at all, but instead about realizing our value and net worth is not only a relative RESULT of economic viability or human marketability but instead is an innate asset that can enable and create ethical and profitable behaviors that will lead to long-term and stable success?

Maybe it’s not about whether the glass is half full or half empty, it’s about the value of the glass- the glass of your life is always valuable.

Q: Please give a brief overview of your “Steps to Serenity”.

STEP 1 – Avoid the TRAGEDY SPIRAL
STEP 2 — REALITY CHECK
STEP 3 — Be LOVED
STEP 4– Be LOVING
STEP 5–LOVE yourself!
STEP 6 – Do the Leg Work
STEP 7 – Keep the Faith

(See Chapter 3 for more info)

Q: What are some of the common themes in the book that can help readers in their quest to overcome some of life’s challenging situations?

A: What’s the point of our lives?  It’s not to be perfect or to be a “success” or to “maximize” our potential.  All that misses the point of why we were created – to love and be loved!

As I said above I think the real point to take home from the book is that the worst of times are windows to the best because they lead us to realizing that purpose, they lead us to reaching out to others, to God and to finding purpose and meaning in our confusing world. We should love ourselves because we are part of God’s creation – part of his plan.

Q: Can you share a story or two from your own personal experiences or those stories you’ve shared in the book that will provide some inspiration for our readers.

A. There really are so many, but one in particular really stands out to me because it was the original impetus for the book – an equestrian champion named Lance who was left paralyzed and unable to speak after a swimming accident. Well it is an extraordinarily miraculous story that’s too long to tell here, but long story short after almost two decades of amazing love and devotion from his father, father and son developed the most incredible bond. And 17 years after the accident Lance woke up in his hospital bed after a routine surgery, turned his head for the first time in that long and spoke for the first time since the accident. First words out of his mouth were “I love you dad.”

But even more amazing was the father’s response whenever I asked him how he endured such a tragedy and kept the faith through such a long-lasting ordeal. His answer: “The way I saw it was that I got to love my son more than most fathers ever get a chance to.”

It was a totally different perspective on life when things go wrong.  And it changed my life.

Q: What do you hope readers will take away from having enjoyed your book?  What type of feedback have you received from those who have read it and implemented some of your precepts in their lives?

A: I hope that readers can see the same insights and life changing lessons that I was able to while writing the book – that’s the reason why I wrote it. I gave up a very lucrative career writing material that I thought added very little to the human consciousness for a career that was much harder to make a living at so that I could make a difference. These stories will make a difference in your life for sure. And every time I receive a letter from someone somewhere in the world who tells me that, it tells me that I made the right choice.

Q: Are there any additional thoughts or comments you’d like to share with our readers.

Right now America, and the world, are facing some of the toughest times in a long time. But we are obsessed with a religion of success. Do we realize that within that struggle are some of the greatest opportunities to reach out to others, to respect humanity, to realize what is important, to understand the difference between what we need and what we want, and finally to grow stronger in our faith and relationship with God.

Inspiring people and those who need to be inspired are all around each one of us everyday, in every way and every place we go. Whether I am on a plane or in a pub or a coffee shop – I can’t help reaching out and saying hello, asking how their day went and really wanting to know and to listen to their answer.  I have met people who have changed my life, and those whose lives I have changed saved doing just that. I hope this book inspires a whole lot of others to do the same.

Ultimately all of life’s struggles, and all of our imperfections, are a chance for us to reach out to others to love and to be loved. That is where we find our true purpose, our real value, and our greatest joy and triumphs.

Purchase Overcoming Life’s 7 Common Tragedies: Opportunities for Discovering God and help support CatholicMom.com.

In this Deacon Moment, Tom shares an incident that happened just this weekend when a Eucharistic Minister didn’t give a blessing to two young people coming forward at Communion time. What do you think about this?

Why does a picture need a frame? Is a giraffe still a giraffe if you draw it with a short neck? This week we contemplate frames on Chesterton Moments with Nancy Brown.

In this week’s Mary Moment, Sarah Reinhard shares a reflection on Mary written by her parish priest.

Today’s song:  Let’s Work Together by Gerard Faucheux

Share your feedback at 206-339-9272, comment here on the blog or email lisa@catholicmom.com.

Links for this Episode:

• Jim Merhaut:
  • JimMerhaut.com
  • Your Catholic Family: Simple Ways to Share the Faith at Home, Godparenting for Life
  • LifeLongFaith.com
  • Villa Maria Education and Spirituality Center
• Current CatholicMom.com Contests – Truth for Teens Contest
• SQPN Connect
• CatholicMom.com Book Club
• The Catholic Company
• Lisa’s Facebook Profile, SQPN Connect Page, Plurk, Twitter
• Catholic Mom Logo Store

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Everyone loves surprises. But only Chesterton realizes Who first thought about surprising us. What will you do to surprise your family today? Enjoy this week’s Chesterton Moment with Nancy Brown for the American Chesterton Society.

What’s that? The Leaky Deke? What the heck is that about? Today, Deacon Tom combines Confession, a visit by the Bishop and the Holy Spirit to help solve one of Tom’s problems.

This week, Sarah Reinhard shares a reflection on making grape jelly and the Blessed Mother’s upcoming birthday.

Share your feedback at 206-339-9272, comment here on the blog or email lisa@catholicmom.com.

Links for this Episode:

• Sr. Prudence Allen, R.S.M.:
  • The Foundations of Religious Life: Revisiting the Vision
  • Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious
  • Sacrifice of Enduring Love Eucharistic Congress
• Current CatholicMom.com Contests – Making Music Praying Twice Homeschool Edition
• SQPN Connect
• CatholicMom.com Book Club
• The Catholic Company
• Lisa’s Facebook Profile, SQPN Connect Page, Plurk, Twitter
• Catholic Mom Logo Store

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I am pleased to share the following Catholic Book Spotlight interview with Richard Maffeo, author of We Believe: Forty Meditations on the Nicene Creed and Lessons Along the Journey.

Please briefly introduce yourself and your family to our readers.

I was born into a Jewish home in 1950. Twenty-two years later, I discovered Jesus is the Jewish Messiah, and I served Him in evangelical Protestant churches for more than thirty-two years. During that time I earned my BA in Bible and MA in Bible languages, both from Assemblies of God schools. In 2005 I was received into the Catholic Church, where I continue my faith journey toward the One who died, and then rose again to save us from the penalty our sins deserve. Nancy and I are married 34 years and we have three grown children.

What prompted your conversion to Catholicism and how has your faith journey impacted upon your writing?

While I was deployed overseas with the Navy I met a Catholic man who was the first Catholic I’d ever met who was actually conversant with the NT – so much so that he was able to challenge my long-held assumptions about Christian doctrine (for example, the Eucharist, Communion of Saints and the doctrines about the Blessed Mother).  His challenges forced me to go back to the Bible so I could have an answer for him. But when I researched the Scriptures, I discovered he was right and I was wrong about many of my long-held positions.

Please describe your two books for readers who may not yet be familiar with your writing.

I wrote We Believe: Forty Meditations on the Nicene Creed because I had become too familiar with the words I said during each Mass. And I sensed the Holy Spirit ask me, “Do you know what you are saying?”  When I realized I was simply mouthing those ancient words of our faith, I went home and began to parse the Creed into words and phrases – and wrote meditations surrounding each thought.

My second book, Lessons Along the Journey, is actually a compilation of essays I’ve published in many venues over the years. The forty or so essays chronicle in a way my faith journey, but also illustrate how God is in the midst of the significant and not-so-significant events of our lives.

At your blog Equipping Catholics, you feature an online bible study.  What motivated you to begin the blog and what is your goal for this study?

If my Catholic friend I mentioned above had not been schooled in the Scriptures, I would not have become a Catholic. My passion is to teach God’s word, rooted in the authentic teaching of the Church, to my fellow Catholics. Through my online Bible study and other blogs I write, I hope to challenge, exhort, encourage and provoke a deeper hunger for God’s word among my Catholic brethren. Who knows how many other men and women are out there who, like me, would turn their hearts to the Catholic faith – if only someone would lead them through the Scriptures?

What do you hope readers will take away from their experience of reading and studying your books?

I hope they will take away three things: First, that God loves them. Second, God loves them. Third, God loves them.

Are you at work on any future projects?

I’m working on a couple of other books, each based on my current blogs (the online Bible study, and my Contemplative Catholic Convert blog (www.thecontemplativecatholicconvert.blogspot.com).

Are there any additional comments you’d like to share with our readers?

We have the awesome privilege to be co-laborers with Christ for the salvation of souls (1 Corinthians 3:9). For that, we should be most grateful to our God.

Happy hugs to Catholic author and friend of CatholicMom.com Regina Doman for the great news that her audio Drama based upon her amazing book The Shadow Of The Bear has won a big award!

The Shadow of the Bear Audio Drama Wins 2009 Uni Award from the Sonic Society
Press release from Chesterton Press.

MP3 of Award Presentation:  http://traffic.libsyn.com/sonic/SSociety158.mp3 (Shadow begins at about 22 minutes into the show.)

Based on the book by Regina Doman, The Shadow of the Bear audio drama has won the Sonic Society’s 2009 Uni Award for Best Audio Drama Show.

The Sonic Society (www.sonicsociety.org) is a Broadcast/Podcast out of Halifax, Nova Scotia Canada. It
showcases the very best of Modern Audio Drama from around the world.  On their show during November
2008 the Sonic Society featured the entire 4-hour audio drama of The Shadow of the Bear, produced by Andrew Schmiedicke and written and directed by Regina Doman of Chesterton Productions
(www.chestertonproductions.com).

At the end of May 2009, the Sonic Society invited its 50,000 listeners world wide to nominate their favorite
show for its 2nd Annual Uni Awards.  The finalists in seven different categories were chosen by popular vote
and announced on the Sonic Society’s blog on June 9. The listeners then voted on the finalists.  After all the
votes were in, Jack Ward of the Sonic Society said, “The Shadow of the Bear won by a clear majority the
“Best Audio Drama Show”.

“I couldn’t be more delighted,” said Regina.

“So many people helped to make this happen,” said Andrew.

Joe Miller donated the production studio and sound equipment.  Most of the cast came from Christendom
College, Front Royal, Virginia; but there were also some from Canada, and Leonardo de Felipis of St. Luke
Productions (www.stlukeproductions.com) played both the villain and the victim in the show.  The band
Scythian (www.scythianmusic.com) gave permission for their performance of the “Drums of Belfast” to be
used as the opening and closing music for the drama, and Johnny Doman (www.johnnydoman.com) wrote and performed most of the music used within the drama.

Ken Fast of Northern Rain Studio in Canada (www.northernrainstudio.com) handled all the post-production.
After receiving the digitized recordings of the actors and actresses, Ken and his team edited and mixed the
performance with music and sound effects.  “I think it’s a great example of how we can all work together no
matter where we are,” Ken said.  “Through the power of the internet we can transfer it, and way up here in
Alberta, we can do the sound track.”

And the result of this cooperative work is fantastic.  Not only did The Shadow of the Bear win the “Best Audio Drama Show”, it was also a finalist in 4 other categories:

1. Best Sound and Editing by Northern Rain Studio
2. Best Script by Regina Doman (www.ReginaDoman.com)
3. Best Actress for Theresa Ford Fisher’s performance of Blanche Brier
4. Best Actor for Alex Fedoryka’s performance of Bear

The Shadow of the Bear is about a mysterious young man, who lands on Blanche and Rose Brier’s doorstep in New York City. The two sisters have conflicting opinions on whether or not he is dangerous. Even as Blanche learns to trust him, her fears that Bear’s friendship threatens their family prove terrifyingly true. A modern retelling of the classic Brothers Grimm fairytale, “Snow White and Rose Red”.  For more information about this story and its sequels, visit www.FairyTaleNovels.com.

Throughout my academic career, I have maintained a commitment to the arts, and since my conversion to Catholicism in 2006, I have aspired to promote an appreciation for artistic beauty within the context of the Catholic faith. It was through my own encounter with the brilliance of Bernini’s Ecstasy of St. Teresa and The Fountain of the Four Rivers that I was awakened to the truth of the theological perspectives which informed them. It is now my earnest desire to facilitate a greater awareness of the indissoluble marriage of truth and beauty, in order that a demand for beauty might permeate the production of sacred arts today, and thus allow others to encounter in them the radiance of Christ.

The Foundation for Sacred Arts has been established for precisely this purpose. As a Catholic non-profit organization, we aim to stimulate a renewed vibrancy in the patronage and production of Christian sacred arts (art, architecture, music); and to advance the pursuit of excellence in conformity with truth, goodness and beauty in these arts; for the glory of God, the life of His Church, and the transformation of culture.

The Foundation’s initiatives include educational opportunities such as lectures, conferences and symposia; tours of museums, shrines, churches and places of pilgrimage throughout the country; an on-line archive of artists, architects, and composers; and events such as competitions, exhibitions, and concerts. Our objectives are thus in accord with Pope Benedict XVI’s directive “to stir up awe at and desire for the beautiful, form the sensitivity of souls and nourish the passion for all that which is an authentic expression of the human genius and a reflection of divine beauty.” Indeed, as Pope John Paul II stated is his Letter to Artists, “in order to communicate the message entrusted her by Christ, the Church needs art.”

Through the generous support of private donations, our organization has already been able to realize two national traveling exhibitions featuring the highest caliber examples of contemporary sacred art. Spring of 2009 brought our Washington, DC based lecture series, The Beauty that Saves: Art in the Life of the Church, and our Chicago, IL day conference, A New Way of Seeing: Understanding Christian Art. Both were met with enthusiasm and lively discussion.

Fall of 2009 will feature two additional highly anticipated events. Dr. Peter Kreeft, professor of philosophy at BostonCollege and author of over 45 books, will speak about “The Power of Beauty in the Sacred Arts” on September 12th at 7:30pm at St. Mary’s parish in OldTown, Alexandria, VA. The Foundation will also sponsor The Mysteries of the Rosary: an exhibition of 20 paintings by the renowned artist Anthony Visco, on view during the month of October (the month of the Rosary) at the National Shrine Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC. Mr. Visco was recently commissioned by Archbishop Raymond L. Burke as a principal artist for the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in La Crosse, Wisconsin.

The looming recession, however, has already encumbered many otherwise enthusiastic supporters of our work, and while private donations have already been allocated to cover the costs of our remaining 2009 projects, we are still in need of an additional $20,000 to cover general operating costs through the balance of this year. We have a number of exciting projects that we are eager to commence even in 2010, including a third national traveling exhibition and competition entitled, I Believe: The Creed in Art and our first sacred choral composition competition (details can be found at: www.thesacredarts.org). We also aim to update the Foundation website in order to feature an online archive of the finest examples of contemporary sacred art, architecture, and music, as a resource for art enthusiasts and patrons alike.

Though our tough economic climate may seem unfavorable to this aim, it is precisely during this time of anxiety and uncertainty that the beauty of Christ will offer hope to a troubled world. As the preeminent 20th century Catholic philosopher Dietrich von Hildebrand wrote, “Beauty opens our hearts, inviting us to transcendence and leading us ‘in conspectum Dei’- before the face of God.” We have been offered a pivotal moment for the transformation of culture, but our apostolate cannot succeed without continued prayers and support.

Ann Marra
Executive Director, The Foundation for Sacred Arts

Deacon Tom Fox begins a month-long series on Marriage with a reflection entitled “When Matt met Leysa”.  This month, Deacon Tom is sponsoring a monthlong contest – your chance to win one of four great Catholic marriage books.  To enter, visit SQPN.com and leave a comment on any of the June episodes of the Catholic Moments Podcast by June 30, 2009.  Four winners will be randomly drawn to receive one book apiece.

In this week’s Mary Moment, Sarah Reinhard discusses how Mary, Mother of God applies to the lives of today’s modern woman and continues her commentary on Marialis Cultus.

Don’t forget to register for SQPN’s upcoming Catholic New Media Celebration and enter to win this week’s Friends Forever Girls Doll Contest. Share your feedback at 206-339-9272, comment here on the blog or email lisa@catholicmom.com.

Links for this Episode:

• Halo Publishing International
• I am a Vivor by Leona Ashley
• The Little Frog by Crista Stewart
• Remembering D by the D Team
• InBetweenSundays.com – Great new podcast by Nick and Pat Padley
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Our guest this week is Fr. Joseph Kempf, Pastor of Assumption Church in O’Fallon, MO and President of Gospel Values, Inc. Fr. Joe is the author of a wonderful book entitled My Sister Is Annoying and creator of the Big Al DVD series.  Through his a non-profit company , Fr. Joe is dedicated to proclaiming the beautiful message of Jesus for children of all ages.

This weekend, tune in for the SQPN Podcast Marathon.  I will be appearing live on Ustream on Sunday, May 10 at 9 pm EST/6 pm PST and will have great giveaways and prizes for those in attendance in the chat room and on Twitter.  Be sure to follow me on Twitter for more news about this event.

Please consider SQPN during this year’s Giving Campaign and help us share the faith with new media.  Also, don’t forget to register for SQPN’s upcoming Catholic New Media Celebration.  Deacon Tom and I will be there and would love to meet you!  Share your feedback at 206-339-9272, comment here on the blog or email lisa@catholicmom.com.

Links for this Episode:

• Fr. Joe Kempf:
  • Gospel Values, Inc
  • Assumption Church in O’Fallon, MO
  • My Sister Is Annoying
  • Big Al DVD series
• Sarah Reinhard’s Blog – Just Another Day of Catholic Pondering
• The Catholic Foodie
• Immaculée Ilibagiza at St. Patrick’s
• All Things Guy Book Contest
• Catholic Spotlight Podcast Voting and Review Page
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Sister Marilyn Lacey, RSM is the founder of the nonprofit organization Mercy Beyond Borders and the author of This Flowing Toward Me: A Story of God Arriving in Strangers, a wonderful book based on her years of working with refugee populations around the globe.

Matthew Baute is a Catholic recording artist who travels across the US as a full-time lay “music missionary” sharing God’s message of mercy and love through prayer concerts and diocesan events. He strives to lead a simple, contemplative life in the midst of the busyness of the secular world, giving witness to the reality that God is continually whispering an invitation of love to every heart.

Deacon Tom Fox shares a wonderful Easter season celebration entitled “Pay it Forward”.

Please consider SQPN during this year’s Giving Campaign and help us share the faith with new media.  Also, don’t forget to register for SQPN’s upcoming Catholic New Media Celebration.  Deacon Tom and I will be there and would love to meet you!  Share your feedback at 206-339-9272, comment here on the blog or email lisa@catholicmom.com.

Links for this Episode:

• Marilyn Lacey, RSM:
  • Mercy Beyond Borders
  • This Flowing Toward Me: A Story of God Arriving in Strangers
• Matthew Baute – River of Grace
• Immaculée Ilibagiza at St. Patrick’s Parish in Merced, California
• Catholic Parish Media Liaison Kerry Madden – Dynamic Catholic Speaker:  Anna Scalley, Cornerstone Media and Kitty Cleveland
• Catholic Spotlight Podcast Voting and Review Page
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• The Catholic Company
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Visit our recent Book Spotlight interview with Justin Fatica for more information on this great resource.

To enter, you must leave a comment on this post with a valid email address (which won’t be published or shared) before Midnight PST on Saturday, April 4, 2009.  I’ll draw a random winners and announce the names over the weekend.

Update: Our prize winners are Patricia (#8), Elaine (#3),  Cathy C. (#17), Lisa H. (#5) and Erika (#16) – they will receive their books soon!  A new contest is now up and running here, so be sure to enter!

Justin has been described with the following words:  ‘Fatica has an electric presence in front of groups large and small, showing an emotional range from joy to anger, calmness to fervent pleas. His passionate, if unorthodox tactics have been remarkably successful in reaching teens and young adults. He has keen insights into the struggles of today’s young people that will prove eye-opening to your listeners.”

Deacon Tom Fox shares a reflection entitled Rembrandt and Reconciliation urging confession for all during this Lenten season.  Please consider SQPN during this year’s Giving Campaign and help us share the faith with new media.  Share your feedback at 206-339-9272, comment here on the blog or email lisa@catholicmom.com.

Links for this Episode:

• Justin Fatica
• Hard as Nails: A Mission to Awaken Youth to the Power of God’s Love by Justin Fatica
• Hard as Nails Book Contest
• SQPN Giving Campaign
• CatholicMom.com March Book Club
• The Catholic Company
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Deacon Tom Fox shares a refreshing Lenten reflection this week entitled “Donuts during Lent”.

Share your feedback at 206-339-9272, comment here on the blog or email lisa@catholicmom.com.

Links for this Episode:

• CatholicMom.com Book Spotlight Interview with Maura Hagarty
• The Catholic Connections Handbook for Middle Schoolers
• Catholic Connections Handbook Contest
• St. Patrick’s Parish – Merced, California
  • Immaculée Event
  • Divine Mercy Sunday Event
• CatholicMom.com March Book Club
• The Catholic Traveler
• The Catholic Company
• Lisa’s Facebook Profile, Plurk, Twitter
• Catholic Mom Logo Store

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Visit our recent Book Spotlight interview with Maura Hagarty for more information on this great resource.

To enter, you must leave a comment on this post with a valid email address (which won’t be published or shared) before Midnight PST on Saturday, March 21, 2009.  I’ll draw a random winners and announce the names over the weekend.

Update: Our prize winners are Monique (#24), Nancy (#47),  Sarah L. (#21), Tim B. (#12) and Theola (#10) – they will receive their books soon!  A new contest is now up and running here, so be sure to enter!

I am excerpting a few parts from my book, The Domestic Church: Room by Room A Mother’s Study Guide for reflection today

This Chapter speaks of the fact that we as mothers may not feel so inclined to relate or even compare our own motherhood to the Blessed Mother’s motherhood, although we know that we should try to emulate her virtues. After all, Mary was the Mother of God! She was sinless! She was given the tremendous gift of carrying the Redeemer of the world in her womb! We may feel that she is far removed from our lives. Nevertheless, do we dare ask ourselves: “How can a simple mother like me aspire to imitate such an amazing Mother? And in imitating Mother Mary, will I glorify and please God?

A few short excerpts follow which may give us food for thought as we journey through this week of Lent…

“A mother can learn from Mary by asking for God’s grace to entrust herself completely to him with the full submission of intellect and will.’”

“For mothers, it means service first in her family and then reaching out to the world. At times, good intentions and a mother’s loving heart may cause her to stretch herself too much to administer to the needs of others outside her home. It’s wonderful and holy to want to help, yet mothers must remember that their love begins first and foremost at home. Being sure that her family is properly cared for before she embarks in other areas of ministry will ensure that she is not inadvertently neglecting her family in the process of helping others.”

“Silence can ironically be found in the busyness of a mother’s day as a mother learns to retreat to her heart even as she is involved in the care of her family. Within the “silence” of a mother’s heart, Our Lord can speak.”

“It is when she realizes that Our Lord actually wants to use her attentiveness to her family’s needs that she will understand the value and prayerfulness in performing little things with great love. The mother becomes an everyday example to her family as she raises her children in holiness and goes about with a prayerful heart, striving to emulate the Blessed Mother’s virtues.”

Perhaps we can spend at least a few moments to ponder and pray about our own vocation of motherhood and how Our Lord may be calling to our hearts.

(Excerpts above from The Domestic Church: Room by Room A Mother’s Study Guide, Circle Press, 2008, available at  http://www.donnacooperoboyle.com)

I’m pleased to share the following interview with Thomas R. Collingwood, Ph.D., author of Spirit, Mind and Body: A Christian Foundation for Fitness

.  Tom’s book is a wonderful look at blending physical fitness and spirituality with profound results.  I hope you enjoy his insights and that you will check out Spirit, Mind and Body: A Christian Foundation for Fitness – I greatly enjoyed the book and highly recommend it to anyone with an interest in making the mind, body, faith connection!

Please introduce yourself and your family to our readers.

My wife Gretchen and I live about half the year (mostly in the winter) in Richardson Texas, a suburb of Dallas, and the summers in Estes Park, Colorado, where I volunteer as a Ranger at Rocky Mountain National Park and as a Hikemaster for the YMCA of the Rockies. Gretchen and I grew up in rural Indiana across the highway from each other and have been married for 43 years. She is a registered nurse and has been involved with telephone crisis counseling for many years. Both she and I serve as a Eucharistic Ministers and assist in providing lectures for RCIA.

We have two children. Our daughter Jennie lives in Paonia, Colorado where she is the high school Spanish teacher and volleyball coach. She has a boy and a girl. My son Andy lives in Estes Park where he manages a physical fitness and physical therapy center, He to, has a boy and a girl. Needless to say, when we all get together with 6 adults and four grandkids under the age of 4 it gets pretty wild.

With advanced degrees in both exercise science and psychology my physical fitness career started with the YMCA as a Physical Director and camp Unit Director where I developed a wilderness survival camp for at risk youth.  For over 15 years I served as the Director of Continuing Education for the world renowned Kenneth Cooper Aerobics Research Center where I instituted hundreds of physical fitness programs for employee groups and youths worldwide. In that capacity I trained over 10,000 fitness leaders and created the FitForce national law enforcement physical fitness program and the First Choice youth fitness project that was cited as one of the 20 exemplary youth fitness programs in the country.

For the last several years I have been involved in implementing faith based physical fitness programs by conducting seminars and retreats for diocesan priests, seminarians and Parish Family Ministries on the value of exercise for practicing ones faith. In addition, a new initiative titled “Eco-Fit” has been instituted through numerous environmental education and service projects that integrates environmental stewardship habits and physical activity. Working with Creatio, a Catholic based environmental education program I am now providing Stewardship of the Body and Environment retreats at the St. Malo Retreat Center in Estes Park, Colorado.

Over the years I have served in many leadership capacities for the Presidents Council on Physical Fitness and Sports and the American College of Sports Medicine and have authored eight books and over 100 articles in the field.

Please give an overview summary of Spirit, Mind and Body: A Christian Foundation for Fitness.

There is a rich Christian heritage in Scripture, the role models of Jesus and the Apostles, the thoughts and sayings of early Church fathers and modern Church leaders regarding our body and its relationship to spiritual and mental well-being. However, that tradition is little known.

The book consists of two major sections. The first four chapters provide a rationale for why we, as Christians, should be concerned about physical fitness and physical activity. A spiritual rationale with quotations from Scripture, early Church fathers and recent Popes is provided to define a faith based ethic for fitness and physical activity. Secondly a mental rationale is defined with conclusions provided from research on the effects of exercise and physical activity on emotional well being and cognitive functioning. The physical rationale summarizes the known effects of exercise on physical health dimensions and how physical activity can lower many health risks such as heart disease.

The last four chapters of the book provide a simple “how to” plan to get more physically active in a safe manner. A “getting started” section explores why the reader wants to get active and how to neutralize barriers. A general process is provided that enables the reader to assess their own activity and fitness level, set goals and design activity and exercise plans. A final section gives motivational guidelines for sticking with a program.

What prompted you to write Spirit, Mind and Body?

Over the years I have been involved in educating and training thousands of individuals and organizations to be more physically active. A major focus of this effort has been on designing programs that will motivate others to exercise. That experience has taught me that an individual will not change behavior unless it fits with a personal worldview. For most Christians our faith is that world view. A recent Gallup poll of practicing Christians found that our faith was considered a major influence on our behavior, yet many Christians and the majority of Americans (as in much of the western world) are still sedentary. So why, as Christians, are we not more active and fit? The Christian faith as expressed by the life of Jesus Christ, the Bible and the tradition of the Catholic Church is our worldview, yet we are not always educated on Jesus’ and our faiths’ teaching about our body. This book attempts to challenge Christians with that understanding.

This book grew out of my experiences in conducting physical fitness retreats and seminars for diocesan priests, seminarians and parishioners where I discovered that for an individual to take the steps to become more physical fitness required having an understanding of a faith based rationale. I believe we have a Christian obligation to care for our body and to maximize our energy so that we can fully serve the Lord. In turn, I believe God wants us to be as physically and mentally healthy as we can be. Once we become more aware of this and learn the skills to design and follow a safe and effective fitness program, then we will increase the chances of having and sustaining a healthier lifestyle. In short, we are better prepared for our faith journey by embarking on a fitness journey.

This book is my attempt to help meet the need for that faith based lifestyle change and lifestyle change that, in turn, reciprocates by supporting our faith. While most of my career has involved assisting others to be more fit for physical or mental reasons I am realizing that I am now being called to put that experience to work for spiritual reasons – to put my talents to work for the faith and the Church.

What value can physical fitness have on the spiritual life?

I have found that spirituality can mean many different things for different people. For me, spirituality is having a sense of experiencing and being close to God and all his creation. With that I think fitness can be of value in two ways. First, is the effect fitness has on increasing our energy level. It could be having the energy to act on our faith by volunteering at a soup kitchen, or having the energy to spend a contemplative hour at a Holy Hour of Adoration before the Blessed Sacrament, or having the energy to be more attentive during Mass, or having the energy to fully read and comprehend Sacred Scripture. That energy is an enabling force to experience God.

The second effect is what I call the “process” effect. The act of exercising, of sweating, of experiencing the heart rate increase provides us with an experience of the wonderment of God’s creation. Our bodies are a well designed machine. Physical activity instructs and reinforces that for us. In addition, physical movement can keep us humble. Exercise provides an introspection into ourselves. It is a very honest process in which we can not falsify or hide from what we really are able to do. That introspective relationship with ourselves can open the door for an introspection of our relationship to God. An example is what I call “prayer walking”. My daily morning “wake up” walk after breakfast is when I can talk to God as he walks with me.

In the book, you give some early Christian examples of the mind/body/faith correlation.  Could you briefly speak about a few of these?

“Sound body, sound mind” is a saying that goes back to the ancient Greeks. Likewise, the modern day YMCA motto of Spirit, Mind and Body conveys the same message. We are not one-dimensional beings. From a Christian perspective we see this mind/body/spirit connection first in the role model of Jesus.  We can infer much from the Gospels about him as a physical role model. First, Jesus was a long distance hiker.  The Gospels tell us that Jesus traveled great distances on foot. In Matthew 15:21 it is written that Jesus and His disciples walked from Jerusalem to Tyre and Sidon – a distance of 50 miles. Secondly, the Gospels tell us that his earthly father Joseph was a carpenter and implies that Jesus practiced the same trade. Thus, Jesus would have worked as strenuously as a lumberjack because carpenters in His day felled and trimmed trees. As such, He would have had to have high levels of muscular strength and endurance as well as flexibility.
The notion of the unity of sprit, mind and body was a belief of the earliest Christians. Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians is thought, by most biblical scholars, to be the first written Christian manuscript. In 1 Thessalonians 5:23 Paul directly refers to the perfection of an integrated spirit, soul and body through the coming of Jesus Christ. This was an important theme in many of Paul’s writings, especially in his first letter to the Corinthians. In it he makes many assertions to the linkage between sprit/mind and body. He alludes to the body being the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16-17 and 6:19). In 1 Corinthians 12:12, and 24-26 he expands on how we can not divide up ourselves but we are one integrated being.

The concept of spirit, mind and body unity was also expressed by the early Church Fathers and later Church theologians. St. Irenaeus, in the 2nd century, spoke of the body and soul together in what constitutes the “perfect man”. Another early Church father, Justin Martyr, noted that God has called all of us “our body and our soul” to happiness and resurrection through Christ. Perhaps the most famous early Christian theologian, St. Augustine, notes that it is our Christian responsibility to care for both the body and the spirit. Finally, the great theologian of the Middle Ages, St. Thomas Aquinas, noted how activity can aid in contemplation both as relaxation and as a means for learning and that “the body can help in the operations of the soul”.

If someone is currently leading a sedentary lifestyle, what are some easy ways to get started with living a more fit life?

I have found that in many respects the old saying “just do it” can work for some people. But it has to be in very easy and simple ways to “just do it”. This involves nothing more than looking for opportunities to expend energy in physical activity.  Examples are taking the stairs instead of an elevator. Move around the house or office whenever possible and instead of calling to people in other rooms, get up to see them. Throw away the TV remote. Rather than employing someone to always do the yard work occasionally do it yourself. Some people will deliberately park their car several blocks from work so that they have to walk further to the office. If one seriously thinks through a typical day, there will be ample opportunities to expend more energy.

Another approach to being more active is to try to decrease sedentary activities. A simple guideline is to stand instead of sitting and walk instead of standing. While there is nothing wrong in sedentary activities such as reading and watching TV, there are substitute activities. For example, you could get books on tape and listen to a book while walking. Instead of sitting around and talking when visiting friends try doing a “walk and talk” together. Even one’s prayer life can be made more physically active by doing prayer walking. The bottom line is that by seeking opportunities to be more active and expend energy, a movement habit will develop which helps to set the stage for more formal and structured activity.

A more structured approach could involve three basic steps. A first step could be to clarify and define the benefits of being active and develop a personal reason to become more physically active. It may be for a spiritual reason to develop a sense of connection with your body, an emotional reason to combat depression, or a mental reason to be more alert, or a physical reason to lose weight and prevent heart disease. The important issue is having a sense for why it is important to commit yourself to change your activity habits. This helps to keep you motivated.

A second step would be to review potential barriers to being physically active. It is not always easy to change or start a new behavior of any kind. Barriers are those obstacles that can keep us from starting and following a physical activity program. Yet, most barriers can be overcome if being active is a personal priority. There are physical, social and psychological barriers to exercising. Having a sense of what those barriers are and how to minimize them before starting a program greatly enhances the probability of success. Some of the more common barriers to address are inconvenience, lack of time, preexisting injury, lack of skill, and social/cultural barriers. Sometimes our circle of family, friends and co-workers are not active and may not be very supportive of our efforts to change our behavior. It may require doing it alone, which, for many, can be a barrier. An option is to join a physical activity group, health club or class. Another way to overcome this barrier is to find a “partner” who is also willing to exercise.

A third step is to set physical activity goals such as walking for 30 minutes day and incorporating those goals into an activity plan. Select an activity or activities based upon what you like to do, what is convenient, and what can be readily substituted for sedentary behaviors at home, work or school. The plan would include 1) listing the days of the week that you will do the activity or activities, 2) listing the duration and times that you will do the activity and 3) listing where you will do the activity.

Finally you want to keep a log of your activity and how well you follow the plan. Give yourself a reward each week you follow the plan for the first month to get you started. Hopefully, after that the activity will be its own reward.

Are there any additional thoughts you would like to share with our readers?

As I mentioned previously, changing any behavior is not easy but looking at habit change as part of our on going faith journey can aid in altering that behavior. I had a recent example that illustrates this. I am active in many Pro Life events. Prior to a march we had in Dallas a year ago a friend of mine who has been very active in Pro Life over the years said he felt bad for not being able attend because walking and standing for several hours was just too much effort for him. He had become fairly obese and he thought walking and standing was just too much effort. After a year of dieting and gradually increasing his level of physical activity and exercise he made this years’ march. He thanked me for helping him get back to what he considered his faith mission.     Independent of personal considerations for health and well being this , to me, is what this all about – Being active to have the energy to continue our faith journey and our faith based actions to build the Kingdom.

Purchase Spirit, Mind and Body: A Christian Foundation for Fitness

Deacon Tom Fox shares our second Lenten reflection, entitled “Little Deaths, Little Resurrections” as we continue our Lenten Journey.

Share your feedback at 206-339-9272, comment here on the blog or email lisa@catholicmom.com.

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Share your feedback at 206-339-9272, comment here on the blog or email lisa@catholicmom.com.

Links for this Episode:

• Chris Lowney:  Website, Heroic Living
• Heroic Living Book Contest
• The Catholic Traveler
• Sorrowful Passion from the Divine Mercy Podcast
• Michael Dubruiel’s book – The How-To Book of the Mass
  • Amazon
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