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Saint Padre Pio

Several years ago I received my first prayer book on Padre Pio. People in my parish love this guy. I knew very little about him except that he was given the stigmata. I struggled with this idea and as I prayed the prayers in the book, I kept thinking that if he lived during my time, I would ask to see his feet, hands, and side. I know I sound like Thomas, but this isn’t Jesus we are talking about. This is a Franciscan friar.

Why are we in competition?

One Sunday afternoon, I decided that I would watch the Padre Pio movie on the Formed channel. But before getting settled with popcorn and PJs, I decided to call my sister. We had a great conversation, as always. Then she told me about an old friend that was seeking God. My brother-in-law was raised in a Pentecostal church. My sister, like me, was raised Catholic. But also like me, she drifted. About five years ago she decided to go back to church but instead of the Catholic Church, she decided to go to the Assembly of God church where her husband grew up. She boasts about the fact that there are so many former Catholics that go to her church. Even the pastor, who is my brother-in-law’s cousin, was a cradle Catholic, but then around age 12, his entire family switched to the Assembly of God church. I listened as she complained about the rules of the Catholic Church and how she didn’t really understand what was going on in Mass. She is now convinced that if it is not in the bible, it is not truth, but doesn’t mention anything about which interpretation should be followed. On and on she talked about how welcoming her church was to everyone and how she felt like she had an extended family. Because of her strong feelings for her church, she invited her seeking friend to a church service. Her friend is now so blown away by the love and openness of her newfound church community.

As I listened to my sister, I found myself getting very offended. Yes, I too drifted and learned so much from my Protestant brothers and sisters, but there came a time when I realized something was missing. It was the Eucharist. When I shared this with my sister, she said that because her pastor was a former Catholic that he insists on Communion once a month. But when I told her it wasn’t the same Communion, she was silent. Is it possible that she has forgotten her Catholic school teaching?

Don’t be Afraid to Dig for Answers

When I returned to my Catholic faith, I didn’t understand much about the Mass, so I rolled up my sleeves and started researching about the Mass, about the sacraments, about the Blessed Mother, and all things Catholic. I walked away early in adulthood, not to go to another church, but to be free. I hated the rules of Mass every Sunday and holy days. I hated the obligation. But the Catholic Church doesn’t teach obligation. We do that to ourselves. The Church teaches relationships, with each other and most importantly with the Trinity. I am now in a Catholic church that has the same loving family environment that my sister talks about. But it is approached differently. In my sister’s church, there are greeters at each door that acknowledge you as you enter the church. At our church, we also have greeters. Most importantly, the Catholic Church has a tabernacle where the presence of God resides in a very intimate way. We go to church to worship God and our Mass is a sacrifice to God through Jesus. From the moment we enter church, we are focused on our Lord. We bless ourselves with holy water to remind us of our Baptism. We genuflect or bow before entering the pew as recognition for who is present in the tabernacle. We then kneel and pray to the One who is present. Our connection with others in our church family happens outside the church before Mass or immediately after Mass. A women’s retreat was posted in our bulletin shortly after I began attending my parish. I signed up for the retreat and a bible study and several other programs. It was during these events that connections with fellow Catholics were being made.

The Stigmata brings Controversy

What does all this have to do with Saint Padre Pio? The movie on the Formed channel, shared Saint Pio’s story beginning with his childhood. He was called by God as a child and experienced things that led him to the priesthood. The stigmata was one of many things about Padre Pio that intrigued so many. He had a huge following that concerned his superiors. The movie also showed how people exploited him by selling prayer cards and statutes of him which he adamantly frowned upon.

Toward the end of his life, a monsignor was given the assignment to visit Padre Pio to get him to tell the truth about the stigmata. It seems that Padre Pio was told by God not to show the stigmata to anyone and that the stigmata would be with him for 50 years. Padre Pio’s stigmata was seen by a small inner circle including his physician; however, it was the belief of this monsignor that Padre Pio was a hoax and he was determined to get the Padre to confess.

Here we have two priests in the Catholic Church arguing about what God is doing. This monsignor has a little more rank than a regular friar so it seems quite intimidating at times. The monsignor states throughout the movie that God is not in Padre Pio’s charade and yet Padre Pio insists that there is no one else but God in control of his life. As it turns out, the monsignor comes full circle as Padre Pio reveals to him an incident in his life known only to him.

We really are on the same team!

Why do we argue with each other about Christianity? I’m happy that my sister found a place to worship God. She is closer to God now then she ever has been. But I resent the inclination that her church is better than the Catholic Church because so many former Catholics now worship there. I remember the movie in the early 1970’s titled, The Poseidon Adventure. It wasn’t a true story, but I recall a moment in the movie after the ship encountered a tsunami and was capsized when a small group of characters were heading in one direction while the remaining survivors were convinced that they needed to go the opposite way. Of course, the small group at the end of the movie was the only survivors. I wonder if this will happen to us as we choose our church of preference. We are all Christians and, therefore, God is in this. Why try and prove ourselves? The monsignor was so determined to prove Padre Pio’s masquerade while Padre Pio was speaking truth about his experience with God. I believe our role is to encourage each other. And I further believe that it is each of our responsibility to do our homework, to research, to seek God in all ways. Choosing where we are to be should not be decided solely on feelings. Truth sometimes does not feel good.

I’m grateful to know a little more about Saint Padre Pio. My skepticism is somewhat calmed. I find this to be no different than the Marian apparitions of St. Bernadette and the children at Fatima. I believe that God will do whatever is necessary to get our attention. I pray that I will cooperate with Him in all things.

Byzantine Catholics – An Interesting Discovery

By Denise Mercado

What does it mean to be in Full Communion with the Catholic Church? The bonds of communion through faith, sacraments, and pastoral governance determine Full Communion with the Catholic Church. Through these bonds, believers receive the life of grace within the Church. However, the Catholic Church also recognizes Partial Communion with many Protestant denominations where elements of Christian faith are held in common.

Churches in Full Communion

As I continue to research for future writing projects, I discovered an interesting fact about the variety of churches in Full Communion with the Catholic Church. These churches include the Coptic Catholic Church of the Alexandrian liturgical tradition.

The Maronite Church, the Syrian Catholic Church, and the Armenian Catholic Church are also in Full Communion with the Roman Catholic Church. A quick google search identified several Byzantine Catholic Churches near my home. The Byzantine Church is also in Full Communion with the Roman Catholic Church. This was an interesting discovery that led me to visit Saint Anne Byzantine Catholic Church in New Port Richey, Florida.

A Special Visit

As I entered this beautiful church, I was reminded of the Russian Orthodox Church I visited in Alaska. But this was not an Orthodox Church. This was a Catholic Church in Full Communion with the Roman Catholic Church. As I researched for a clearer understanding, I learned new facts about the history of Christianity.

Byzantine History

Around the year 600 AD, there were five major archbishops within the Catholic Church that led five large dioceses. The cities where these patriarchs resided included Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem, Constantinople, and Rome.

The Roman Empire in the year 300 AD was split into the Western and Eastern Empires. The capitol of the Eastern Roman Empire was the city of Byzantium, which the emperor Constantine renamed Constantinople. This city is presently known as Istanbul in Turkey. The capitol of the Western Roman Empire was Rome. The language of the Eastern Empire was Greek, while the language of the Western Empire was Latin.

The Muslim Arabs in 600 AD conquered large parts of the Middle East and North Africa thereby reducing the influence of the Patriarchs of Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem. However, the two remaining Patriarchs in Rome and Constantinople thrived and spread Christianity far and wide. The churches established by the Eastern Empire from its capitol, Byzantium, were referred to as “Byzantine” or “Greek” Catholic. Byzantine Catholics in America are the spiritual descendants of Christians in Central and Eastern Europe and the Middle East who trace their spiritual heritage to the Great Church of Constantinople, known as Hagia Sophia – The Church of Holy Wisdom.

Distinct Differences

Although in Full Communion with the Roman Catholic Church, the Byzantine rite retains distinctive features which are evident beginning with the onion-like dome on the outside of the church. This history helped me to understand why I saw so many similar domes throughout my train trip through Austria. I knew Austria was predominantly Catholic but couldn’t understand why so many churches had what I assumed were Greek Orthodox domes. At the time, I didn’t know the rich history of the Byzantine rite and its connection to the Greek culture.

Upon entering the Byzantine church, the differences are even more distinct. The sanctuary is separated from the congregation by a beautiful screen covered in icons.

Behind this beautiful screen of icons is the altar and tabernacle.

Saint John Chrysostom

As I looked through the books and pamphlets located at my pew, I noticed a prayer book titled, “The Divine Liturgy of Our Holy Father John Chrysostom.” After further research, I learned that Saint John Chrysostom was an important early Church Father who served as archbishop of Constantinople. After his death, he earned the title, “Golden Mouth” because of his eloquent preaching and public speaking.

Other Differences

One of the women I met when first entering this church was raised Roman Catholic from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She loves coming to the Byzantine Church but said it took her a while to get used to the differences. In addition to the iconic screen separating the altar from the congregation, I also read that Communion is received under both species (Body and Blood in the form of bread and wine) and administered by the priest from a spoon.

The church was filling up quickly when I learned that a baptism would take place during the service. In the Roman Catholic Church, we call the service the “Mass.” In the Eastern Rite, the Mass is known as the “Liturgy.” Infant baptism is part of the Eastern Rite; however, baptism in the Eastern Rite includes Chrismation, which is another term for the sacrament of Confirmation. Infant baptism in the Eastern Rite also includes the Eucharist.

The child to be baptized was an infant – perhaps no more than one month of age. I was curious to see how they would administer the Eucharist to an infant. Unfortunately, there were so many family members surrounding the child that it was difficult to see all that was occurring. However, I had an opportunity after the Liturgy to speak with Father Oleksiy.

Father Oleksiy is a Catholic priest from Ukraine and the Administrator of Saint Anne Byzantine Catholic Church. He came to the United States with his wife and three daughters six years ago. When he mentioned his family, I was so focused on my other questions that I didn’t think to ask if Byzantine priests were allowed to be married. As I was preparing this writing, I researched this further and found that Eastern Catholic churches allow married men to be ordained, however, they do not allow marriage after ordination.

The Sign of the Cross

One of my first questions for Father Oleksiy was the difference in making the sign of the cross. Throughout the service, people in the congregation blessed themselves with the sign of the cross. Most crossed themselves from right to left. A few – like me – crossed themselves as do all Roman Catholics from left to right. I asked Father Oleksiy, “Why the difference?” He smiled and said that there are many different responses to this question. Some say it has to do with the importance and significance of the “right hand.” He shared the obvious that Jesus ascended to the right hand of the Father. He also shared a custom in the Byzantine rite when the bride and groom place their right hands on the Bible during the wedding ceremony. But then, Father Oleksiy shrugged his shoulders with a smile and said that there are so many different answers to this question – like the reasons for driving on the right or left side of the road. We both laughed and moved on to my next question.

Infant Baptism and the Eucharist

“So, how do you give an infant the Eucharist?” Father Oleksiy explained that a very small drop of the Blood of Christ is placed on the lips of the infant during the baptism ceremony.

Communion is also different in the Eastern rite. The bread is a cube soaked in the wine and given by the priest with a spoon. I received Communion at this church and was amazed at the difference in presentation.

As I spoke with Father Oleksiy after the Liturgy service, we talked about the tabernacle behind the screen on the altar. Father Oleksiy confirmed that Jesus in the form of the Eucharist is kept in the tabernacle on the altar. However, he also shared a lengthy process that he must go through before placing the Eucharist in the tabernacle. This is because the Eastern rite uses leavened bread rather than unleavened bread as is done in the Roman Catholic Church.

I truly enjoyed the Liturgy service. It reminded me of a High Mass from the old Latin days. Every part of the Liturgy service was chanted including the readings from the Old and New Testament. I was particularly impressed with the following prayer recited by all in the congregation before processing to the front of the church to receive Holy Communion.

Special Prayer

Prayer Before Holy Communion

O Lord, I believe and profess that you are truly Christ, the Son of the Living God, who came into the world to save sinners of whom I am the first.

Accept me today as a partaker of your mystical supper, O Son of God, for I will not reveal your mystery to your enemies, nor will I give you a kiss as did Judas, but like the thief I profess you:

Remember me, O Lord, when you come in your kingdom.

Remember me, O Master, when you come in your kingdom.

Remember me, O Holy One, when you come in your kingdom.

May the partaking of your holy mysteries, O Lord, be not for my judgement or condemnation but for the healing of soul and body.

O Lord, I also believe and profess that this, which I am about to receive, is truly your most precious body and your life-giving blood, which I pray, make me worthy to receive for the remission of all my sins and for life everlasting. Amen.

O God, be merciful to me, a sinner.

O God, cleanse me of my sins and have mercy on me.

O Lord, forgive me for I have sinned without number.

A Special Challenge

This was such a beautiful experience that I challenge each of you to look for a Byzantine Catholic Church in your area. I would love to know your thoughts on the Liturgy and the beauty of the icons.

10 Ways to Keep Holy Week Holy when You Work in a Parish

By Deanna Bartalini

Holy Week is upon us. And you, like most Catholics, want to enter into the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus.

But you’re not like most Catholics. You belong to that special group who have chosen to serve the Church by working in a parish. And sometimes this week is difficult to enter into because you have so much work to do. I’ve been there; actually, I am there. But I’ve learned a few things on how to have a holy Holy Week.

The best way would be to go on retreat or leave town. That is usually not possible, if you work with the RCIA group, direct the choir, serve as the lone sacristan, or are the liturgical coordinator.

Here are ten tips that can help and are doable!

1. Plan ahead as much as possible. This means not only for the parish but for yourself and family. Have all your clothes chosen and ready for each liturgy. Keep the calendar as up to date as possible, noting the time you need to be at church–not when an event or liturgy begins. Line up any childcare ahead of time. And ladies, wear comfortable shoes. Smiling is hard if your feet hurt!

2. Spend extra time in prayer. But probably not at your parish: outdoors, at home, at another parish church–where you can be there and no one will need you to help with “just one thing for just a minute.” If possible, go to a neighboring parish for Mass that week. Allow yourself to be in the presence of God without worrying if everything is getting done.

3. Buy your favorite spring flowers, the ones that say “Easter” to you and put them on your desk and in your home.

4. Make sure you sleep and eat. Don’t rely on caffeine to get you through a non-stop Easter morning. By the noon Mass you’ll be a jittery mess and, like shoes that hurt, it makes it more difficult to be welcoming and calm.

5. Don’t host Easter dinner at your house, unless your spouse and children are willing to do it without your help–or you are serving Chinese takeout.

6. Something will go wrong and you just need to roll with it. One year, the lector for Holy Thursday forgot he was the lector. I saw him sitting in his usual pew and wondered why he was getting up. I couldn’t get his attention, so I had to read. At the same mass, the usher started taking up the collection while the priests were getting ready to wash feet. Lessons learned: Be prepared to do whatever is needed; remind people of the plan before you begin because no matter how many times we’ve done it, we are only human. That was also the year the altar server never took up the bowl of soapy water so the priests could wash their hands after washing feet.

7. If it is not absolutely necessary for you to be at church, don’t go unless you have the time and energy and your family will not suffer. While it may be nice to be present, ask yourself who it serves before you go.

8. Attend Mass with your family. If you are “working” at the Mass, have your family sit where you need to sit or as nearby as possible. If you are the choir director, try to sit with your family during the homily–if you can do so without calling attention to yourself.

9. Make time for your family traditions. You may need to arrange your family egg hunt on Easter Monday, but better on Monday than with a tired parent on Sunday.

10. And remember, we serve in the parish; but it’s Jesus who saves us all.

May you have a Blessed Holy Week!

Faith Through Fiction Vlog Post – Sacrifice

By Leslea Wahl

About the Faith Through Fiction Vlog Series.

CatholicTeenBooks.com was founded upon the desire to provide entertaining Catholic fiction that can build your faith. And with this goal in mind, authors T.M. Gaouette and Leslea Wahl have taken it a step further by creating the Faith Through Fiction video blogs. With these vlogs, we will dive into issues that teens face and present fiction that addresses relevant themes.

Lent is all about self-denial…sacrifice. It’s about giving up those things that we have come to desire or rely on. It means showing discipline, strength, and sometimes even courage. But while sacrifice is the epitome of Lent through the very pillars of prayer, fasting, and alms-giving, sacrifice is not reserved for Lent alone. It should be practiced on a regular basis. Join T. M. Gaouette and Leslea Wahl, along with guest author, Corinna Turner, and learn more about what it means to sacrifice.

Featured author: Corinna Turner

Featured Books:

I Am Margaret by Corinna Turner

The Kings Prey by Susan Peek

St. Magnus, The Last Viking by Susan Peek

Rightfully Ours by Carolyn Astfalk

Chasing Liberty by Theresa Linden

7 Riddles to Nowhere by AJ Cattapan

Treachery and Truth by Katy Huth Jones

The Other Side of Freedom by Cynthia T. Toney

The Perfect Blindside by Leslea Wahl

Sacrifice (catholicteenbooks.com)

6 Ways to Pray Your Way Through #Lent

By Karee Santos

With Ash Wednesday right around the corner, many of us are already pondering what Lenten resolutions we’ll choose or what resolutions we’ll suggest to our students. No resolution can succeed without prayer, however, so here’s six ways to improve your prayer life this Lent.

1. Make a daily prayer date with God. Best friends talk every day, so use the days of Lent to renew and deepen your friendship with God. If you don’t pray every day, pick a specific time and commit to spending just five minutes telling God what’s in your heart. If you already have a habit of daily prayer, add five more minutes to your regular time. For example, if you normally pray ten minutes a day, make it fifteen minutes a day for Lent. Scheduling prayer for the same time every day will help you keep your commitment. You wouldn’t break a standing date with your husband, or your mom, or your best friend, unless you absolutely had to. So try to make and keep that daily prayer date with God.

2. Add a rosary to your day. St. Louis de Montfort said that praying the rosary was like giving a bouquet of roses to the Blessed Virgin Mary. So, make your mother happy this Lent. Saying an entire set of mysteries takes 20 to 30 minutes, depending on how fast you recite the prayers. If that’s too much time, just say the fifth Sorrowful Mystery — one Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, and one Glory Be while meditating on Our Lord’s crucifixion. Say it with your spouse and your kids, and include your whole family in this beautiful tradition of prayer.

3. Make a morning offering. Offer your entire day to God, and he will bless you for it. First thing in the morning, connect with him and ask for his support and consolation throughout the day. You can recite this exquisite formal prayer, penned by St. Ignatius of Loyola: Take, O Lord, and receive my entire liberty, my memory, my understanding and my whole will. All that I am and all that I possess You have given me: I surrender it all to You to be disposed of according to Your will. Give me only Your love and Your grace; with these I will be rich enough, and will desire nothing more. But you can also go a simpler route and create your own morning offering. Our family likes to say, “God please help me to do what you want today.” It takes just a few moments and can bring so much peace to your day.

4. Ask for God’s help more than usual. Sometimes when we feel stressed or overwhelmed, we forget to call on God’s strength. Mini-crises hit us more than once a day, on average, and they give us ample opportunity to request divine assistance. Even if your schedule is too harried to carve out specific times for prayer, you can choose a one-sentence prayer (also called an aspiration) to reach out to God throughout the day. Many people use the Jesus prayer, which is “Lord have mercy on me, a sinner.” Other possibilities are “God, make haste to help me” or “Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.”

5. Keep a prayer journal. If you decide to make Lenten resolutions, it’s a good idea to keep track of how well you’re doing. Writing down your success (or your failure!) is a great way to ensure accountability. So at the end of the day, you can note down in a journal whether you kept your resolutions that day or not. It will give you extra impetus to stay on track through the whole 40 days of the season.

6. Go to weekly confession. The Church encourages us to go to confession especially during Lent. Many people go at least once, but you don’t have to stop there. Going to weekly confession during Lent will bring you an avalanche of graces. Telling the priest about your progress with your Lenten resolutions will enhance your ability to persevere. Take the whole family with you on Saturday afternoons, and everyone can benefit from this powerful sacrament.

May God bless you during this holy season of Lent! And if you have other ideas for improving prayer life during Lent, please let us know in the comments!

Copyr. Karee Santos, 2014. Image courtesy of Pixabay.

Strengthen Your Lenten Journey Through Fasting

By Ellen Gable Hrkach

When you hear the word ‘fasting,’ do you automatically cringe? Do you dread Ash Wednesday or Good Friday? Or do you embrace the self-denial of fasting on those days? If you’re like most people, you might not look forward to Ash Wednesday or Good Friday, the Church’s compulsory days of fasting. However, when you become accustomed to the regular practice of fasting throughout the year, these “compulsory” days are opportunities for abundant graces and spiritual growth.

Why fast?

Many people mistakenly believe that fasting belongs only in the Penitential Season of Lent. However, the regular self-denial of fasting is a positive and generous act that we can do all year round. After all, Jesus fasted — and He fasted before every major event in His life — and His apostles fasted. In Scripture, fasting is mentioned numerous times in both the Old Testament and the New Testament.

“When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you may not appear to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.” Matthew 6:16-18

“But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up. After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, ‘Why couldn’t we drive it (demon) out?’ He replied, ‘This kind can come out only by prayer and fasting.’” Mark 9:27-29

Peter said to Jesus, “You have the words of eternal life.” John 6:68

Eternal Life

Eternal life…isn’t that our goal? How do we get there? A virtuous life, one that is sacrificial, one that is obedient to God’s laws, this is the way to eternal life. Lent is an ideal time to embrace the practice of fasting. And not just on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday! Fasting can happen on every Wednesday and Friday throughout the year. The regular self-denial of fasting is definitely one of the ways to get to heaven and eternal life. Why?

Fasting opens our hearts to conversion, gives weight to our prayer intentions. Fasting strengthens us in resisting temptations, promotes peace in our hearts and peace with one another. Fasting teaches us the difference between wanting and needing. Fasting reminds us of the plight of the poor and those who are perpetually hungry. Fasting and prayer can free us from addictive behavior. Fasting invites the Holy Spirit in to heal our hearts, our relationship with God and our relationship with others. Fr. Slavko Barbaric said, “Fasting will lead us to a new freedom of heart and mind.”

St. Jean Vianney once said, “The devil is not greatly afraid of the discipline and other instruments of penance. That which beats him is the curtailment of one’s food, drink and sleep. There is nothing the devil fears more, consequently, nothing is more pleasing to God.”

There are so many great reasons to fast and Lent is an ideal time to begin this regular practice of self-denial. For the elderly and those who cannot fast from food, they can fast from TV, social networking, treats or coffee on Wednesday and Friday.

Lent is a time for change and sacrifice. If you can do penitential acts during Lent, you can do them all year round! To get started with fasting, please check out the graphic below. And always check with your physician before beginning any fasting routine.

This Saint Valentine’s Day, Give Your Heart to The Sacred Heart

By Annabelle Moseley

Whether you have a Saint Valentine’s Day that delights or disappoints, the most important gift of hearts is the one each of us gives to Our Lord. The most strengthening Valentine we can receive is the chance to rest our head upon the Sacred Heart of Our Lord, listening to its beat; as St. John the Beloved did at The Last Supper. After all, St. John the Beloved was the only apostle to withstand witnessing the Way of the Cross. When we draw near to the Heart of Jesus, we are capable of so much more than we could do on our own!

Here’s a few ways to make this Valentine’s Day and Valentine’s Month extra heartfelt:

Place an image of the Sacred Heart with bouquet of flowers on the kitchen table or island as a reminder of your love, and His.
Pray one of the many beautiful Sacred Heart prayers as part of grace before meals. Here’s one I like: Prayer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Make Valentine’s food in honor of the Sacred Heart. After you make the cupcake recipe of your choice (I like chocolate with vanilla frosting!) top with strawberries cut into the shape of a heart. Or, bonus points: make Red Velvet cupcakes!
Try making an easy Sacred Heart craft with your kids. Get a grapevine wreath resembling the crown of thorns, and place in the center of your dining table. Make a large heart out of construction paper. Upon that heart, each family member can write a prayer intention or a work of mercy they will offer to the Sacred Heart all month long. Place the heart in the middle of the wreath.
Honor his Sacred Heart as present in the Eucharist through making a Holy Hour of Adoration and Reparation.
Buy a new statue, candle or image of the Sacred Heart for your home. If you already have yours, consider buying one to give someone else… especially someone in need of a little extra love this Valentine’s month!
Consecrate yourself to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Our House of the Sacred Heart is a 33-Day Consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus filled with art, stories, and reflections to draw our hearts closer to His. It’s a great preparation for Lent as well as a wonderful Lenten companion. The hard cover has full color sacred art on every page. A podcast companion to the book, sent to your inbox for 33 dayshttps://www.bethanyplan.com/consecration-to-the-sacred-heart-of-jesus/ offers reflections and music corresponding to each of the book’s chapters; another resource to make our hearts more like His… with each passing day. O Jesus, Meek and Humble of Heart, make our hearts like unto thine.

Happy Saint Valentine’s Month!

Teen Book Review – The Well

By Leslea Wahl

The Well by Stephanie Landsem

Review:

What an excellent story. I’ve heard wonderful things about this author but had never read one of her novels before. The Well was a true page-turner that I couldn’t put down. I just had to know what would happen next on this completely unexpected journey. The historical details of Jesus’ ministry were captivating and truly thought-provoking.

Although, as much as I enjoyed the book, I must admit there were times I wanted to change the course of the story because it wasn’t headed in the direction I wanted. But thank goodness the author didn’t seek my advice because her vision created an incredibly powerful book.

The basic premise is a tale we all know—Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well. This book gives a whole new twist to that story as it is told from two unique perspectives, the woman’s teenage daughter and a young man new to town.

This fictional account makes you ponder the additional lives that Jesus would have touched and changed through that meeting—something I’d never thought of before. I really loved the message that our plans are not always what God wants for us. But He, of course, has the perfect plan. Amazing things can happen if we have the courage to give Him control and follow where He leads.

This was an outstanding book for older teens and adults.

Summary:

Could he be the One we’ve been waiting for?

For the women of the Samaritan village of Sychar, the well is a place of blessing—the place where they gather to draw their water and share their lives—but not for Mara. Shunned for the many sins of her mother, Nava, Mara struggles against the constant threats of starvation or exile.

Mara and Nava’s lives are forever changed with the arrival of two men: Shem, a mysterious young man from Caesarea, and Jesus, a Jewish teacher. Nava is transformed by Jesus, but his teachings come too late and she is stoned by the unforgiving villagers. Desperate to save her dying mother, Mara and Shem embark on a journey to seek Jesus’ help—a journey that brings unexpected love and unimaginable heartbreak.

Amazon Link

Infant Loss Awareness Month #neverbestill

By Ellen Gable Hrkach

(Image courtesy Star Legacy Foundation)

October 15 is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day, but the entire month of October is devoted to Infant Loss Remembrance.

James and I are blessed, honored, and grateful to be the parents of five adult sons and three beautiful daughters-in-law (as well as two grandchildren!)

But not a day goes by that I don’t think about those seven precious babies we lost through miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy. This month, we remember in a special way these seven little souls (and intercessors) in heaven.

Here are some of my reflections on pregnancy loss:

Among Women Podcast Episode 89 (Pat Gohn interviewed me about miscarriage and pregnancy loss)

Five Little Souls in Heaven (This article was written 27 years ago and published in the Nazareth Journal)

Difficult Anniversaries/Responsible Parenthood

One of the themes of my first novel, Emily’s Hope, is pregnancy loss.

This excerpt describes Emily’s loss of baby “Seth.”

“I need to push.” She wanted so desperately not to push, to allow her baby to stay inside of her, and for her to continue to nourish and nurture her child, but her body wouldn’t allow that. She pushed only twice and her small child was born. Emily heard a sound like a kitten crying, then realized that her baby had let out a small, soft, weak cry.

As soon as the umbilical cord was cut, the nurse immediately carried the baby across the room as the pediatric staff attempted to work on their child. Emily and Jason sat quietly, their hearts heavy with emotion. A few minutes later, she felt another contraction and her placenta was delivered. She could hear a nurse referring to “him,” and realized that their child was another boy. After a few minutes, the doctor brought him back, his small form still hidden in the blue hospital blanket. He spoke in a hushed, almost apologetic voice, “There is nothing we can do for him.”

He handed the tiny less-than-one-pound baby boy to his mother. Jason held onto Emily’s shoulder and watched as she cradled the smallest baby they had ever seen. He was so perfect and looked identical to their oldest son, Jake. His small body was covered with minute white hairs. He was perfect as he struggled to breathe. He was perfect as he opened his mouth to cry. Emily held her new son as gently as she could. Jason reached over and poured a few drops of water on him and said, “I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Emily could feel the vibration of his tiny heart
beating fast.

The nurse came in with a Polaroid camera and asked if they wanted her to take a photo of their child. Emily nodded as the nurse took a photo of her and Jason and their tiny son. She gazed in awe at this miniature human being and marveled at the fact that even though he was tiny, he was so perfect. His little hands looked like a doll’s hands. She removed the baby blanket and laid his small, warm body on her chest. She could feel his heart beating rapidly. After several minutes, she wrapped him again in the small blue blanket.

Then, in an instant, he was still. She could feel that his heart had stopped, and he wasn’t breathing, but he continued to feel warm and soft. He looked like a sleeping angel.

Here is a list of Catholic novels that have miscarriage/baby loss as a theme.

In Name Only by Ellen Gable

A Subtle Grace by Ellen Gable

Stealing Jenny by Ellen Gable

A World Such as Heaven Intended by Amanda Lauer

Rose, Sola by Carmela Martino

The Rose and the Sword by Gina Marinello-Sweeney

Bane’s Eyes by Corinna Turner

Ornamental Graces by Carolyn Astfalk

If you have lost a baby through miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, stillbirth, or infant death, please click the link at my website “Baby Loss” for resources and helpful links.

In memory of our seven little souls in heaven:

Baby Hrkach Twins (June 1986)

Baby Hrkach (February 1991)

Baby Hrkach (June 1991)

Mary Elizabeth Hrkach (June 1993)

Seth Hrkach (April 1998)

Lucy Hrkach (March 2006)

The Rosary in Kid Speak

By Lisa Mladinich

Enjoy my interview with dynamic author, speaker, and educator, TJ Burdick, about his exciting new resource, The Rosary in Kid Speak.

What sparked the idea to write this book?

Every night, my family and I pray a decade of the Rosary together. When our youngest was born, we had four children, five years old and younger, which made the Rosary praying process a bit difficult. They’d get into the rhythm of the repetition of the prayers, but we never focused on the true beauty of Our Lady’s prayer- the mysteries. So, I started looking up images of Sacred Art to help my kids visualize the mysteries since they couldn’t read yet. Now, two years later, the oldest are reading, so it made since to accompany the images with easy-to-understand words that would explain the depth of each mystery to them. That’s how The Rosary in Kid Speak was born.

What’s inside?

Each Mystery includes a piece of Sacred Art and a kid-friendly description in words of each mystery. The images give children a focal point that allows them to place themselves in the scene with Jesus and Mary through the Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious, and Luminous Mysteries. The words then narrate what’s going on so as to give them a more complete experience while they contemplate the lives of Our Lord and Our Lady. On top of that, the book also includes sections on how to pray the Rosary, a Rosary schedule that tells you which days to pray which mysteries, and several more tips and tricks to help families pray the Rosary together.

Who would benefit most from this book?

The Catechism of the Catholic Church calls the Rosary “the epitome of the Gospel” (CCC 971). That being said, EVERYONE can benefit from this book, most especially those who care for the spiritual formation of children- parents, priests, teachers, administrators, catechists, Directors of Religious Education, etc. The greatest thing we can do to help our children come closer to Christ is to lead them to Our Lady who loves them with a more perfect love than we could ever imagine. With the combined efforts of her divine motherhood and our terrestrial care, the Rosary becomes the spiritual rope that binds us all together and lassos the souls of our children into her love. Like the reigns of a horse, Our Lady guides us along the path of salvation with her most beautiful Rosary.

What others are saying about T.J. Burdick:

“T.J. Burdick is smart, faithful, passionate, and a gifted teacher and blogger–precisely the sort of leader we need for the New Evangelization.”

–Brandon Vogt, Content Director @ Word on Fire

“T.J. Burdick is a fresh voice in the New Evangelization—and one of the pioneering voices of a new generation of Christians. He is showing us exciting new ways to tell the Greatest Story Ever Told, and he’s doing it with an infectious and disarming kind of joy.”

-Greg Kandra, Aleteia.org

(You can find more of TJ Burdick’s work at tjburdick.com.)